[AN: I saw that one(or few) of you got a bit frustrated why Marc is not showing off his power. Well, it's because he was completely occupied on achieving a different goal. It seems like I hid it pretty well as no one (in comments) noticed it ;D ]

***

During the next month Vorst did not challenge a single opponent. All he did was observing them and absorbing basic techniques of photon usage. During all that time one girl was continuously secretly stealing glances at him.

[--Lily--: I think in this world they call that 'Stalking'.]

[--Marc--: ... Maybe...]

[--Calla--: Is m'lord cheating on us? Again?]

[--Lily--: Beast! Demon! After making our bodies unable to live without him, he doesn't care anymore and moves to his next target. We are so unfortunate. Sob sob. *Fake tears*]

[--Marc--: ...]

***

Two months passed.

[Claire: How is he?]

[Mistglan: *shakes his head* No idea. He doesn't participate much, completely passive. Girls are not bullying him, but they aren't accepting him either.]

[Claire: He is a 'powerless' after all.]

[Mistglan: Other teachers are also confirming my observations. In both Alchemy and Engineering practical classes he just silently listens and does the work.]

[Claire: Yes, I heard their report, but they also said that Vorst is extremely talented when it comes to Alchemy and Engineering. Who would have thought...]

[Mistglan: And there is one more thing...]

Seeing liger make difficult expression Claire's eyes shone with interest. The only things powerful and incredible Mistglan was bad with were sour food and relationships!

[Claire: Did you lay your hand on student? Well, as long as you didn't force yourself on her we can hide it somehow until she graduates. I hope she wasn't underage.]

[Mistglan: AS IF! And what with that treatment?!]

[Claire: Huhu, all the girls in this school are proper ladies, you should go ahead and pick a favorite. After you settle down you should be able to get better with dealing with female population.]

[Mistglan: ... *depressed*]

[Claire: Enough. What you wanted to say?]

A serious atmosphere returned as if the scene from several seconds ago never happened.

[Mistglan: It's about the boy, three days ago he started meeting with another girl...]

[Claire: Oh?]

[Mistglan: Celina Za. Engineer. 16 years old. 2nd HST.]

[Claire: Celina? Oh, that's interesting.]

[Mistglan: From what I got is that he is helping her with Controlled Bots...]

[Claire: Celina is a genius. Psychic with ability of Mind, she applied it to her Controlled Bots, with it she is even capable of rivaling Circle Engineers. Mind Psychics, though incredibly rare even among Psychics, are also known to be weakest among them, with no offense and defense they were forgotten with communication system, as their only useful ability of Telepathy went completely obsolete. Celina invented Direct Control over the bots, with her immediate mind instruction they are faster and more accurate. Anyway what happened?]

[Mistglan: Nothing. It's just... Is it alright to leave them?]

[Claire: For young ones, when a love rival appears is the time they show a true growth.]

Headmistress answered with an utmost certainty in her voice. Besides she also showed that spark of playfulness on her eyes, and liger didn't miss it... It seems like his worries will only increase...

[Mistglan: Next month... Are you sure about putting him inside the LIBT (Lower Inter-school Battle Tournament?)]

[Claire: Certainly, why not? He can work as an Engineer, his grades are excellent, teachers are praising how thoroughly he does his job. Repairing damaged M-Armors is a very valuable job. And maybe if he dies there once, Mersa will treat things even more seriously?]

[Mistglan: ...]

Every school can only deploy 1000 of their students, and that would normally be 700 Soldiers, 200 Engineers and 100 Medics. Athena's number of students easily exceeded 100,000. To be appointed for the tournament was a great honor, but if Vorst were to be included only because of Wolf Princess he will be obviously hated by many others...

***

One day, after the practicing session, Vorst was just about to leave when a shadow approached him. It was Celina. Seeing her he stopped as he faced her.

[Celina: ... Um.. um...]

[Vorst: Hello.]

[Celina: Uh! Oh. Hello...]

Silence...

[Vorst: You need something?]

[Celina: W-why? Why aren't you fighting?]

The truth was that after what he showed her the other day she was curious about his fighting ability but she didn't dare to show it openly. She thought that it was a sensitive topic for him, but today she couldn't hold back anymore.

[Vorst: Hm. Because it's just a waste of time.]

Hearing him say that it only reinforced her train of thought. Well, in her eyes he a 'powerless' after all.

[Celina: T-Then... I-I heard that you picked up Engineering... Um.. U... Do you want to s-study it together?]

[--Lily--: See? He is doing it.]

[--Calla--: *Nod*]

[--Lily--: Actually I was surprised that it lasted this long.]

[--Calla--: *Nod*]

Just as Vorst was going to reject her...

[--Calla--: Take her.]

[--Marc--: ...]

[--Lily--: ...]

[--Calla--: I have 'that' feeling about her.]

Marc looked at Lily.

[--Lily--: Since Ragna-nee said that, I'll adhere.]

He shook his head in resignation.[/i]

[Vorst: U-um.. Okay.]

[Celina: T-then join me after classes in 5th hangar okay?]

[Vorst: Got it.]

Tiger girl smiled sweetly as she waved and left.

[--Marc--: ...]

***

Another month passed.

During those two months Vorst diligently studied both Engineering and Alchemy. It has to be noted that though Marc is lazy by nature, when he takes something seriously the results will show themselves incredibly fast. When he is focused he absorbs the knowledge, put it to use, refine it, put it to use, and even invents new ways. Infinitely.

After two months his skill in both of those disciplines advanced tremendously. His skills already couldn't be comparable to his peers anymore, right now he was already somewhere close to Celina's level! What's more every day he was hunting hundreds of Crystal Monsters by himself. If someone was to look up logs in his armor they would be totally surprised.

Two months of merciless slaughter of the monsters, gathering materials and intense studying. Today all his work will take shape.

On the sides of his workshop hundreds of small bots lay inactive, most of them partially dismantled, no one knew how many he really created during all this time. Testing metals, testing scripts, assembling, disassembling, continuous work.

Finally he took a large breath as his concentration relaxed.

He just finished finishing touches on a bot core that he was working on. It had 7 Energy Crystals as core, on which innovative scripts were applied. Also they all were bound by incredibly mysterious runes that were carved on their surface.

Boy took three steps back and closed his eyes. Using his full concentration he released all of his photons. Immediately thousands of parts rose from the nearby shelves. It was a Psychic power of Telekinesis! Every single crystal and A.Metal (alchemical metal) part was inscribed with profound runes. As they slowly came together they formed a black sphere. Every single part fit together perfectly. Click, Click, Click. Clang. Finished.

[--Marc--: Try it Calla.]

There was a new addition to a throne room, on the floor, there was a big soul inscription on the side. Raven-haired goddess came over, sat on top of it and closed her eyes.

[--Calla--: Yes m'lord...]

Black Sphere lighted up as golden lines appeared on it's surface.

It's...

It's...

It's ALIVE!

[???: It works m'lord.]

A mechanical sound could be heard from the Sphere as it made a few circles in the air.

[--Lily--: How about it functions?]

[Calla(bot): All sensors are working properly, I can use sight, sound and touch as planned.]

[--Lily--: Hehehe, Marc is amazing. As always.]

[Vorst: Mhm. Now I need to make another one.]

[--Lily--: How do you want to name this one?]

[Vorst: Hm... The Battle Drone ]

Clap, clap, clap. Lily was very excited.

***

Week after.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Clang.

And with that a pure white bot was completed. And when crimson lines appeared on it, it started moving. The Intelligence Drone .

[Lily(bot): Fufu, it's perfect. Your craftsmanship is as great as ever Marc.]

***

Headmistress was smile was so wide that it threatened to rip her pretty face.

[Claire: Two Controlled Bots! Two!]

That's right, a day before Vorst showed up with his two Controlled Bots. Whole academy was in uproar, the 'powerless' showed that he surpassed all of his peers in technical prowess.

[Claire: He certainly knows how to surprise.]

[Mistglan: How is it possible? Even Celina is not capable of using two of them.]

[Claire: Fufu, did we just accidentally found an unpolished gem? He already is in joint with Celina's team. Now do you have any objections about him being in the LIBT?]

[Mistglan: He just started engineering two months ago...]

[Claire: According to Celina his ability is on par with hers, and he uses two of his bots at once, thus he works twice as fast as she does. He is extremely gifted. Plus Mersa approved him as her exclusive Engineer. There is nothing you can do even if you wanted to forbid him from joining the tournament.]

Wry smile have appeared on Mistglan's face.

[Mistglan: If he dies in the tournament, it will be a great shock to her.]

[Claire: It's better if he dies in the tournament... So she gets even more motivated.]

Tournaments are done in the simulated environment, in the special capsules students are connected into 100% real virtual world. According to many teachers, seeing their comrades dying in front of their eyes in the virtual world is one of the greatest motivations that young cadets can get.

[Mistglan: What if it breaks her? Shouldn't we give her more time to get used to it? Just her current teammates might be enough shock for her.]

Of course a shock as big as that can also break their will making a huge set back...

[Claire: No worries. If she breaks, he will fix her.]

[Mistglan: I'm not so sure...]

[Claire: Trust me, I've seen them together for the past month...]

Elf Headmistress observed them as they were together several times. Now she finally understood a hunch that she had on the day they arrived. He was a true emotional pillar for the wolf girl, that made Claire revise the situation.

It was completely different compared to the Wolf Girl and him as her pet, it was more like she would be useless without him. Seeing a complete opposite of what she expected Claire was troubled at first, but now as he showed incredible talent it totally put her at ease.

***

[Mersa: Fufu, those bots are beautiful. I can't believe there are so many tools inside them.]

Two spheres were hovering around them as Vorst laid on the Wolf Princess' lap. One pitch black, one pure white... Perfectly round and completely smooth, even Celina admitted that they were on a level above hers.

[Mersa: Too bad I can't use them...]

[Vorst: Nah... Aren't Elves Psions?]

Psion - a psychic capable of using not only Telekinesis and Barriers which are their main powers, but all other psychic powers too.

[Mersa: Other than my main ones, seems like my compatibility with others are weak.]

[Vorst: That means that you only need to grow stronger. When you get strong enough to use it, I'll make you one.]

[Mersa: Really? Hehe, it's a promise~]

[Vorst: Seems like you became a 7th HST recently, you are called the most talented being in the history.]

To get from 1st HST to 7th an average being would need somewhere around twenty years, inside Athena's Institute the average was 10 years, among the most talented, the A Class, average was 2 years. Mersa did it in two months.

[Mersa: Hehe~~]

[Vorst: I'm proud.]

As he said that his hand brushed against her cheek.

[Mersa: *blush, blush level 100*]

As she played with his hair, happiness was simply radiating from her.

***

After that day the attitude towards the 'powerless' completely changed. Right now in the mornings girls that he met would greet him, there were even several Senpais that came directly to invite him to be their Engineer. In the morning practice Vorst would gather quite a number of onlookers too...

No one tho was interested in fighting him though, and he didn't express wish to spar with anyone either...

***

Welcome Vorst. Measurement of your core indicate 10th LST. No change. Try harder!

Map updated. Please register party members. When finished please issue command End.

[Vorst: End.]

Your party has one party member: Vorst. Enjoy the Hunt.

[--Lily--: You've been 10th LST for a week now. Are you close to breakthrough?]

[--Marc--: According to manuals last ranks of Tiers are hardest to pass. And I can't feel the limit of it yet, it's gonna take a bit more.]

Marc's speed of power gain pace was astonishing. But it wasn't as fast as Wolf Princess'. It's because with his training method his potential starts low, but it grows with him.

[--Marc--: Today we will challenge 3rd HST Cave, test the Drones.]

[--Lily--: Yes.]

[--Calla--: Roger. I can't wait.]

A predatory smile appeared on her beautiful face. Rather than ugly, more like that fierceness complemented her delicate features. It's as if a perfect statue suddenly came to life. A similar smile showed on boy's face.

[--Marc--: Fufu, yesterday 2nd HST Cave was quite challenging, I can't wait to fight even stronger foes.]

[--Lily--: *Sigh* "These two battle maniacs..."]

***

[Time: Day before the tournament.]

Marc was leisurely sitting on a corpse of a 5th HST beast. His armor was scratched all over, several places were showing his bare skin, he was even bleeding slightly in on his left arm. With natural healing ability of nano-photons injuries like these will be gone in the morning.

Congratulations! You have reached 1st HST!

Please inform your instructor to have a M-Armor crafted for you!

[Lily(bot): Congratulations!]

[Calla(bot): Great!]

Vorst was grinning from ear to ear. He will finally be able to use 'it'. No matter how old they are, boys will always be overjoyed when they get to play with a new 'toy'.

As he closed his eyes he noticed the difference in his Photon Core.

Previously his Crystal Core was a solid sphere, but now it was additionally covered by a layer of liquid nano-photons. Those are known as 'spare' nano-photons, and they are used to power the M-Armors. There is a limit to how much a Crystal Core can store at any moment, but Marc also found additional effect of his unique training practice. His liquid nano-photons were recharging way faster than the 'normal' rate...

***

Two shadows were continuously intertwining in a sacred dance.

[--Marc--: Fufu, to come to me and beg for it, you are a dirty girl Calla.]

Adult Marc said that as he was licking sweat beads that appeared on black-haired girl's neck. Right now both of them were short on breath after the intense exercise.

[--Calla--: O-only for you m'lord. I'm only yours.]

[--Marc--: Still, you came right before tomorrow's tournament...]

[--Calla--: It, It couldn't be helped. M'lord can't assume this form every day and Lily took the last one... I, I've been waiting.]

[--Marc--: Heh, then I can't let you wait forever, we don't have much time left.. My angel, how about I take you back to heaven tonight?]

[--Calla--: No~ Not that~ Please~~ Wait m'lord~ I'm still~~ No~ Please~~ Mmmmm~~]

At the end of that night, her powers went completely out of control and six pitch black wings sprouted from the back of the girl. Their soft touch on his skin tickled him. The contrast of black feathers on her beautiful white skin as she laid helplessly in his arms was breathtaking. With this sight Marc only reinforced his addiction towards her.

[AN: Here are Marc's two main goals that he is going focusing on: 1: Wake up all the girls/women inside his soul. 2: Break them from the prison of his soul. The latter was just partially achieved.

Tomorrow back to classes and daily work, expect drop in speed >.>

I might finish one more tonight, but no promises! hehe.]

Tried different formatting for reality/soul realms