Klaus opened his eyes as he materialized in the transportation pod located near the epicenter of the city.

In front of him stood the magnificent golden gate, positioned at the exact center of the entire city. Atop the gate was the ball that perpetually ascended and descended, marking the passage of time. The ball was about midway through its cycle, aligning with Klaus’s departure from Main World at around eleven in the morning.

As Klaus continued to gaze at the gate, he recalled that it led to the outskirts of the city—the parts of Higher World that were shrouded in an endless, foggy whiteness, reminiscent of their training rooms. With more time to ponder, he realized it was akin to how people in Main World viewed space, but with a different, more tangible grasp.

Deciding to cut his musings short, Klaus proceeded towards the Arena of Valor. He needed to check in with XVII to get in touch with IV and commence his training, making a detour to his apartment unnecessary.

On his way to the Arena, Klaus accidentally bumped into one of the demigods. As she turned to face him, Klaus knew that his journey would be delayed.

CONVERSATION

Quinn: Oh hey, Klaus. I see you finally chose to show up.

Klaus: So it seems.

As Klaus responded, he continued on his path to the arena.

Quinn: I'm guessing you're headed to XVII so you can go ahead and train immediately, correct?

Klaus: Oh wow, what gave it away?

Quinn: Haha, very funny. Anyway, it's not surprising, considering the dedication of those who came back.

Klaus was surprised by Quinn's statement which made him ask his next question.

Klaus: So I'm guessing not everyone came back then?

Quinn: Yeah. Most of us did, but a few people, like X and Ash, didn't.

Klaus: I figured.

Quinn: Same. But it's still impressive how much effort everyone is putting into their training. I guess people didn't like their performance too much in the Cosmic League and wanted to redeem themselves.

Klaus: I guess.

Quinn: I mean, even Lincoln. He's been working hard lately on upgrading his drones ever since he found that weird metal at the resource facility.

Klaus: Resource facility?

Quinn: It's this place where you can find a lot of raw materials that you can use for anything you want. When he was there, he found this material that had the typical properties of metal like its weight and tensile strength, but he claimed that one of its properties was that the material had its own electric charge, which was revolutionary to him. He seemed extremely happy about it and hasn't left his training room since then, except to get food.

Klaus was shocked that even Link was that determined to harness his abilities.

Klaus: I guess everyone really is focused on getting stronger, huh?

Quinn: I guess so.

After the last statement, Klaus continued once more on his path to the arena, but it didn't seem like Quinn was done.

Quinn: Hey, relax. We haven't seen each other for a while, so how about we catch up for a bit?

Klaus sighed as he turned around to respond.

Klaus: Didn't we see each other by this time last week?

Quinn: Yeah... but don't you think that's more than enough time for me to gather a lot of information from the Cosmic League to disclose?

Klaus paused for a moment, analyzing Quinn's words. He knew that when someone like her made such a statement, it meant she had discovered something significant, especially given the grin on her face.

Even though it was clear she was using it as an excuse to bug him, Klaus had grown somewhat accustomed to it. Quinn always saw him as someone to share her gossip with, and besides, extra information never hurt.

"Fine," Klaus responded with a heavy sigh, turning his attention to Quinn, who wore a manipulative smile. "What do you want to say?"

"Well..." Quinn began. "I've been watching some replays and doing a lot of research since the league, particularly about the final battle between Lance and Ash. I got curious about how Ash had a completely different mind inside his head that could trade places with him, depending on the conditions. He called it Drake."

"Learn to take breaks in your sentences," Klaus softly commented, but Quinn continued undeterred.

"So, I wondered why that was the case since it didn't align with his father being the God of Fire. Then it hit me. Humans and gods have almost identical physical properties and features, which is why our appearance remains that of a human. But for demons, assuming Drake's appearance is that of a typical demon, it's safe to say that demons and gods don't share the same physical properties. This might be why there are two different minds in one body, with Drake being the demon part and Ash being the god part. It also explains why Ash's pupils are white with a bit of smoke as pupils."

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"How sure are you about all this?" Klaus asked.

"At the end of the day, they're just assumptions, but it's not like I can confirm anything from someone who barely says up to ten words in a sentence," Quinn replied with a smile. "Plus, Ash didn't show up for training, so I'm guessing he has some duties back in Under World."

The truth was, Quinn's theories sounded plausible to Klaus, but without Ash present, they couldn't confirm anything.

"Another thing I discovered was how Drake could spawn explosions. It's clear he can conjure fire by waving his hands at a location—like when he burned Riley's roots during their fight. After watching his battles a few times, I noticed that the explosions always occurred exactly where his eyes were focused. I wondered why he needed both visual contact and his hands pointed at the location to create the explosions, so I tackled the ability with pure logic. I guess, similar to reality, to cause combustion out of thin air, one possible method is to fill the area with oxygen. This means there's a possibility Drake can create an invisible, combustible area filled with oxygen wherever he concentrates his vision."

Quinn turned to Klaus, noticing he seemed lost in thought.

"I'm guessing you stopped listening," Quinn said.

"He creates combustible fields of oxygen where he stares and combines it with his flames to cause an explosion. Isn't that easier to say instead?" Klaus replied, surprising Quinn that he had been paying attention.

"And that's why I choose to gossip with you," Quinn said with a smile.

After a while, Quinn decided to change the topic.

"Enough about my unmatched intellectual analogies. What about you? Anything new?"

"Not really," Klaus replied.

Quinn smiled, studying him for a moment before responding. "How about Avalon?"

Klaus raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How do you know about that?"

"You realize that a simple thought that brushes through your head is enough to narrate an entire story to me when I read your mind?" Quinn explained.

"You and your brother really need to learn about invasion of privacy," Klaus replied with a frustrated sigh.

Before the conversation could continue, Klaus suddenly felt two hands resting on his shoulders from behind, and palms covering his eyes.

"Guess who, papi," the person behind him said.

"You realize you're the only one who does this, right?" Klaus responded. "Also, the Spanish accent isn't making you any more incognito."

"Oh come on, papi," Iris started as she walked around to face him. "It's a Latina accent, not Spanish."

Klaus looked a bit confused, so Iris elaborated.

"I speak Spanish, but I'm not Spanish. I'm Brazilian," Iris explained.

"They don't even speak Spanish in Brazil," Quinn said.

"Yeah, well my family does," Iris explained. "My mom is half Columbian as well, from her mother's side, which is why."

Klaus didn’t have much to say; he hadn't expected her to be Brazilian. It wasn’t that he had assumed she was Spanish or anything else; he simply hadn’t given it much thought.

"Didn't expect you guys to be friends," Quinn stated, watching them both.

"Klaus has a soft spot for me, what can I say," Iris replied, smiling at Klaus.

Quinn looked at the two of them for a while, something clearly brewing in her mind. After a few seconds, her eyes widened as she blurted out her realization.

"Wait..." Quinn said, drawing Iris and Klaus’s attention again. "You two had sex."

Klaus closed his eyes, placing a palm on his forehead, releasing a heavy sigh. Iris, meanwhile, smiled at Quinn. That was all Quinn needed to confirm her suspicions.

CONVERSATION

Klaus: Do you have to say everything you think of out loud?

Quinn: Yes. And I still can't believe it.

Quinn still seemed a bit confused so Iris decided to share a bit more about what happened.

Iris: To be fair, we were both hammered so it wasn't his fault entirely.

Quinn: Even though. Damn, at this point you're probably gonna end up sleeping with all the girls in Higher World.

Klaus: Can you not say that?

Quinn: *giggling* What? I'm just wondering why girls flock desperately to you despite your attitude.

Klaus: Been wondering the same thing.

Quinn: Especially someone like Iris here, who doesn't even swing that way.

Iris: I'd ask how you know that, but what's the point?

After a few more minutes of conversation, Klaus managed to steer the topic away from the awkward revelations and, eventually, he excused himself to continue with his initial goal of training.

He headed to the Arena of Valor to find XVII, who was happy to assist. XVII explained that IV would be waiting for him in the training room. With this information, Klaus set off towards his destination.

On his way, he unexpectedly bumped into Lance, whose presence surprised him. Klaus hadn't anticipated seeing certain people return for training, and Lance was one of them. He had assumed that Lance would not see the need to train further, which only amplified his surprise.

As Klaus continued walking, he remembered something and stopped in his tracks, catching Lance's attention.

"Lance?"

"Ah, Walker," Lance said, smiling as he noticed Klaus. "It seems you chose to train at Higher World as well."

Klaus remained silent for a few seconds, causing Lance to notice his unusually moody demeanor.

"Is something troubling you?" Lance asked, concerned.

"Shade," Klaus finally replied. "You didn't have to say what you did to him."

Lance looked confused. "What I said?" he asked, seeking more clarity.

Klaus's frustration grew as he realized Lance didn't remember, but he decided to continue.

"You didn't have to tell him that he was weak, whether it was true or not," Klaus said, as Lance's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh. I had not intended to hurt him," Lance explained. "The heat of battle required bluntness at the moment, but believe me, I did not say that with ill intent."

This was what Klaus needed to hear. Lance's reaction and explanation made it clear that he hadn't intended to harm Shade, and that was enough for Klaus to drop the issue. As he turned to leave, Lance stopped him.

"Where is he now? I would like to apologize if I can."

"He's not here right now," Klaus responded.

"Oh," Lance said. "Then I will make sure to do so when I encounter him again."

Klaus nodded, waving his hand dismissively. "Sure, why not." He then continued towards the training room.

Lance, feeling a deep sense of disappointment in himself, understood why Klaus was upset and respected his protective stance over his brother. After a moment of reflection, Lance resumed his own path.

Klaus walked into his training room, immediately spotting IV waiting patiently.

"Welcome back, Klaus Walker," IV greeted as Klaus stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

Klaus took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "You know why I came back to Higher World, right?"

"To train, correct?" IV responded, watching Klaus intently.

Klaus hesitated, then continued, "During the Cosmic League, I tried my hardest not to be a burden to my team. I thought I was doing well keeping up until I eventually wasn't. First was Lance... then Ash... and then X. I was completely outclassed."

IV's expression softened with understanding. He could see the frustration and determination in Klaus's eyes. Klaus looked down at his left palm, lost in thought, before meeting IV's gaze again.

"But I know I can do better," Klaus asserted.

IV nodded. "Your ability isn't tailored for offense, yet you made it work somehow. If you still desire to push yourself further, I am certain you can overcome any adversary."

Klaus appreciated IV's confidence in him, though he knew it would be easier said than done. His dedication to improving wasn't just about his duties as a demigod; it was also fueled by his intense dislike of losing.

"So," IV began, "what do you plan to do for training?"

"I want to master my abilities and surpass my current state," Klaus replied after a brief pause.

He then had a specific question in mind. "My solar ball ability seems to be my best option for offense, especially considering my speed nullification in Higher World. But creating light particles to make it function is extremely exhausting. Is there a way to relieve the stress on myself?"

Klaus knew that while the solar ball was his most effective offensive ability, its energy demands were unsustainable.

"The truth is, there's no way to prevent stamina loss when creating light from your own energy," IV explained. "However, if you consistently practice, your body can get used to the energy required, reducing the impact on your stamina over time."

This was encouraging news for Klaus. "An example is your burst speed in Main World. When you first achieved that ability, your maximum distance was much shorter than it is now, correct?" IV asked.

"I guess," Klaus admitted.

"The same applies to all your abilities," IV continued. "The more your body strains itself, the more it adapts, making the strain less over time."

Klaus nodded, understanding that mastering his techniques through continuous practice was a sound strategy.

"Are you ready to begin your training?" IV asked finally.

Klaus recalled his brutal battle with X, each punch a reminder of his current limitations. He remembered the pain not as a source of bitterness but as a driving force to push beyond his current self.

"Yes," Klaus affirmed with determination. "I must get stronger."