Finally passing through the door she thought would be the gate to his demise, Dante instead entered what appeared to be a somewhat sizeable area of a room that divided itself among a conflict of interests. On the very front was what any room would come to need, a bed, wardrobe and another two small cabinets for storing items in spanning across a vertical area, all next to each other, with the bed being right below a sunlit, wide window that looked out and down below. However, right in front of him, spanning from the bed to the door, were two completely different areas. On one side on the right, a fully loaded lab with actual, expensive looking equipment, ranging from computers, all the way down to different substances that were placed on shelves above, locked tightly and labelled, with even a 3D printer and a holo-table present. On the other side, is a very professional looking and very impressive gym area, all with every single thing and equipment one would need to train every part of their body in a rather safe and protected manner, as opposed to amateur and self-crafted equipment?

Dante was impressed, "On one side, wow...you really made most of everything you were given here, considering how it all surprisingly fits without it feeling overloaded. On the other side, this is all state of the art looking. How deep is Drima's wallet and influence to abuse such power to get all this?"

Tiki folded her arms, "Drima just had to give the word to bring all this down here. Essentially, it's a remade version of the bunker in Corosta, since I had gotten used to it after liking and living there for so long. Plus, all this was paid for by yours truly. You see, living rent free in the palace while the monarchy still existed was among the best ways to get to save money, not to mention my income from my job and my place in the military."

"At the very least, we won't have to see Drima having another heart attack for now."

"Would probably survive it, considering he's still standing after the hearing of the moans from the 'Snu Snu Tablet'.", she recalled.

"Fair point...but all this? I mean, sure, but the conflict of interests is real."

"Hey, on one hand, we will be deployed on many battles to come and on the other, I have a life outside fighting. Sure, war, military and the supremacist culture were what I was raised with, still a big part of me, but that doesn't mean that I don't dare touch a little grass outside of military metal facilities."

"Which honestly begs the question. What the hell did you do for a living before all this? Because you've been doing an awful lot of weird things, comparing how you act one moment and then another."

Tiki sighed as she wished to be able to hide her true nature and interests a little bit longer, in the face of the impenetrable, short fused and all-powerful war figure she had very well established up until this point.

"I was a chemical engineer. There, I said it, so all this wacky shit you might have been thinking about me can be easily explained now. I was the one who originally made the anti-gravity directional system that forced the two big towers in Corosta apart from falling into each other and that's precisely why I also knew about and was surprised when you survived ingesting botulinum toxin. Was also part of the R&D department in the military as my primary authority before attempting for my general spot?"

"Oh, that's super interesting, actually. Does that also mean you know about my gigs and stuff as well, since you asked me before? You did say you wanted a weapon created from me as well."

"I know a bit about it, but my studies were on larger objects and chemical developments, mostly weapon and war related."

"So that's what that entire area is all about?" he looked at the lab.

"Kind of, yeah. Ever since I felt the M.O.D.'s power, Drima stating that more could be made and for them to be specific to someone, I've been way into it. Here," she pulled out a tablet, showing him some schematics, "Take a look."

Dante looked at the blueprint of a weapon, "Ok...woah. That is...a lot. A turbine like system in the back, crumbling and reusable material with blades at the front...a directional ranged attack precision system? The hell?" he got baffled.

"It's a rocket hammer of sorts, one sided since I always wanted a turbine system to propel it forward for maximum swing power."

"So between all this, the armor looks the most normal, since the suit is made to fit and distribute the Obsulyte. The weapon though? Cost and even plausibility is somewhat way off."

"Always a first time for everything. I'll attempt it one day, you can count on that, but then again, I won't be dragging assing around and praying that I stumble upon a Gate like you guys have until that day comes."

"So this is what you wanted to show me then? A possibly implausible plan for a weapon and armor?"

"You wish. I don't think that'd even require you even be in my room. We're here to beef up.", she cracked her knuckles.

"Eh?"

"I told you about training with me. What, you thought I make friends by the typical 'Oh, I'm looking for a rival so I can focus on beating them while getting better myself'? Nope. You're here to audition as a potential gym buddy."

"So all this crying and offering of cookies and stuff when I helped you with Luna was specifically so that it benefited you in the end?" Dante folded his arms.

"Hey, it's exactly how the world works, meatbag. I thought you already knew that, though you are constantly giving me looks of being born yesterday at that."

"Well, you lose a part of that anyways, since I've been wanting to train myself. It's a no brainer that better physique equates to overall better Obsulyte flow and control throughout the body, so I'm down. What are we starting with?"

"The usual." Tiki showed him the weights, "But, before everything, warm up Hang on while I go to the bathroom and change real quick. I got a mini fridge with water and snacks if you'd like back there too, like a proper gym.", she went towards the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Dante explored her room a little bit further, going around and looking at anything she hadn't concealed away, as to respect the fact that if she did, it was for the simple reason she had wished for it not to be seen. Aside from the schematics in the lab and the gym equipment, he approached the bed and cabinet area of the room, looking around at everything that was displayed. Atop one of the cabinets, however, was something she dared not put away, small as it was with a probable big fear of being lost. A silver bullet on a small metal pedestal, grey in color as it stuck out between the wooden furniture and the colorful books, was faintly sparkling at the tip as the sun rose and placed itself on her window. When going in for a better look, he could very clearly make out the name written on that bullet, "Minerva". Just as he went to pick it up, Tiki, having very quickly swapped into her workout outfit got out of the bathroom, and looked at Dante peeking at the bullet as he looked at her back, preparing his defences. Inside the day that was already filled with surprises, yet another one came about, when she instead calmly and without any sign of a threat, walked up to him slowly, despite her hyperactivity.

"Before you ask, no, that is a recent discovery or I guess rediscovery since I lost it a while ago. Came from inside 'your' amulet, the one Cecilia gave you." she quickly explained before he had a chance to ask the obvious question.

"Wait...that was inside the amulet? Something was inside the amulet, to begin with?"

"Because the amulet was mine. At least it was, before I gave it to Neker, as soon as I realized that the mission he was going to, that was to kill you, was going to be his last one. I thought maybe if superstition was real, it could be a good luck charm, or at least have the stars align to where it would suck a bullet or two if he was to receive them. But I guess, superstition is indeed, fake, considering he's having a party with the worms right now."

"Mom gave that to me, you know...rather, my little sister repurposed it and gave it to me. How did you realize it was yours, even back then?"

"Multiple reasons to why. Between me seeing that you bore a crest that belonged to Cecilia, or I guess Valkyries from the Previous Era, realizing you're Cecilia's child and the fact that Neker's leftover Obsulyte was able to let me in the concealed part of the Corostan palace, having access to documents before the monarchy fell, it all added up. You got it back in a violent manner, yeah, but upon realizing that Neker was basically liquefied into Obulyte and giving that Other Dante a chance to speak to you but initially feeding off it, I gave up on daydreaming about any chances of someone from my past being alive, other than myself and would have given it back to you or throw it away. The bullet was actually very snuggly fit in there, hence why it didn't bounce around, though I guess after receiving ample damage, the amulet itself couldn't stay shut much longer. I appreciate the gesture of you giving it back, actually." she showed him the amulet, grabbing it from a nearby drawer, "As I appreciate Lina for taking it for a small arts and crafts session to make it a little more colorful. You and I were tied up in a mess long ago, and as it stands, the reason why we haven't fought over something actually worth for is because there isn't anything. Casting aside your little outrage in the destroyed leftovers of Dirunon. Like I keep reminding myself all the time, we will not be paying the sins of our fathers-or I guess mothers, as it stands. What was done, was done. All I care about is finishing off that old conflict that seeks to affect us since we were caught up in it without the choice of doing so after we were born here before a new one inevitably starts."

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"Been two days and more since that happened anyway. I...it's still a long way to go about it, but I won't keep a groggy attitude for everyone's mood to constantly be on edge about it anyways."

Tiki sighed, "I couldn't care less. If the others are such kids that they can't realize that your attitude stems from the fact that you are currently trying to cope with not only the loss of your mother, in the way that she died but also all the other shit, then that's their problem. Although, I guess Terna and Risa got a taste of it, Terna more recently than others, although it doesn't seem to cause as much sadness as it does melancholy to her, for some reason."

"She tends to be way more on the calm and condensed side of showing how she feels. Has always been that way, although there are definitely moments where I have seen her go at it, showing how she feels completely under the circumstances. But I guess her demeanor does fit that of her talent and career, given how she needs to retain calmness to proceed with what she does, off and on stage."

"Probably has three songs written about it already, I bet you." she joked around.

"I'd actually say that over the last few months, a lot has changed. Anya who used to be a constant party goer being more real to herself and talked to me in ways I thought her braincells couldn't possibly put together, Terna managing to break free of all that nasty industry stuff, even Hikari...hmph. I still have a bone to pick with the last one. Even you. Been two months already, and you look like a different person...somewhat. Way less pissed and conversable than what you were."

"Because of course, I'd pour my heart out at a total stranger I didn't know when I've been fighting basically a localized zombie apocalypse after my people were poisoned, exploded and stabbed to death. Takes time, dumbass." she scoffed, "Make a comparison of me a year or two from now, not on such short notice. The others, Luna aside, you've known basically for years before you came back together."

"If we stay alive for that long where this is going? But before I drag ass along more, as you said, and keep you waiting in this outfit, do tell me...what's up with this bullet?"

"The name and everything? That's nothing." Tiki firmly said, avoiding the question as blatantly as she could.

"So much for trying..." he sighed.

"Now either get your ass going on the gym area or drop it. I unsurprisingly don't have male sportswear in here, so you're stuck with your jeans and T-shirt. And no, you're not stepping out to change before we start. Now, come in front of me and repeat all my movements." she took her position in front of the gym area, "Stretches up first. Hands all the way up."

"Alright.", he was simply left with no choice. Not that he really had any to not be left with, to begin with.

Following along Tiki's moves, basic warming-up stretches, consisting of simple lifting of the heels, to leg and arm stretching, to pelvic twists followed for more than 20 minutes, sweat starting to drool down Dante's forehead as he sometimes struggled to even keep up with Tiki's insanely fast intensity and rhythm. Noticing it very much, mid-warm up, Tiki gradually started slowing down, making her way towards the level she found Dante was feeling uncomfortable keeping up, but not struggling with, as she kept going. For some odd reason, despite fatigue somewhat creeping up on him, Dante could not help but keep following along, to match with Tiki, as he grunted and panted through her empowering yelling and workout shouts.

"Alright, time to get down!" Tiki fell down stomach first, pushing up against the ground.

"Hah-ah, dam-mit, hah." he followed after her, lamenting as he knew what was about to happen.

"Obviously, you haven't been doing shit, besides being deployed in actual combat. Great, miracle you haven't pulled a muscle yet, since I'll tell you right now, that happened to me, and it hurts like a truck smashing right on your head. Hands spread!" Tiki spread her arms, "Legs tied!", she brought her legs together.

"I hate this.", Dante spread his arms and legs in a starfish like position.

"Not your legs, dumbass. I don't care about a clear view of your asshole, now cluster them together!" she demanded.

Dante did as told, taking a similar position to Tiki, "How the hell-", he kept panting.

"No talking! You clearly are out of shape, despite your fancy, flashy moves and weight! It's only been like 30 minutes! Now, start slow, give me 10!" She lowered her chest until it touched the floor, "In sync! That's one!" she waited for Dante as his chest also touched the floor, "Up!" they both pushed up in sync, "One!"

They proceeded to doing 10 grueling, very harsh push-ups that made Dante start struggling to keep up yet again, as Tiki was even able to instruct him throughout the exercise with ease, breathing in and out without a single moment of struggling, even as she talked and enticed him to keep up.

She finished her 10th pushup along Dante, "Now, don't stop, both hands tied between fingers." she lowered back down, "Spread your legs now!"

"Oh-fuh-ah.", he did as told, tying his hands in a praying like manner as he spread his legs along with Tiki.

"I'll count to 30 in my head, you hold that planking position until I tell you otherwise. Stars...now. One." she said out loud before returning to counting in her head.

Further physical torment followed, as on the hands that were laced together in front of his face as he looked at the ground, laid a puddle of constant sweat that drooled over his face, down to the tip of his nose before it fell. Struggling to keep up anymore, he started dropping down slowly before Tiki's next command.

"Alright, legs tight, arms spread, we're up for another set!" she took the push-ups position again.

Dante got angry at her, "You wanna give me pain?! Come on then." he forced his anger into strength, taking the pushups position again.

Tiki smirked, "That's it! Double down to 20! Go!"

They both vigorously continued their 'warmup' for the next thirty minutes, repeating the exercises based on Tiki's instructions as they went along, eventually turning normal pushups into jumping jacks, all while Dante's anger slowly faded away along with his stamina, before Tiki chose to end it herself, instead resetting them both to doing cooldown stretches. To say that Dante was unprepared would do little justice to what he had just experienced, as his heart was pumping and trying to pop right out of his chest, even when it was all over and they resumed to stretches, where his lungs also seemed to want to catch up to him, somewhat hyperventilating as he tried his best to hold on.

Tiki stretched as she wiped the sweat off her forehead, "And that's a proper morning routine. I'd say go to the weights next, but you're not ready for that yet."

Dante relaxed, "Can you at least tell me to not come in my jeans next time? Damn. And what was that whole rhythm you were going with, I'm starting to feel a massive pain down my sides!"

"Yeah, about that, this is why we're doing cooldown stretches right now. I noticed you were feeling uncomfortable midway, and I pushed you. Pain, however, I know really well during workouts, so I'm not moving us to another part yet." she explained.

"Ever heard of 'No pain no gain'?"

"Yeah, I heard it. Hope the guy who said it wound up in hospital as well. Dude, you want to tell me how to do this? This isn't even a fraction of what I used to do when in the military for a workout. However, whenever I felt pain, I stopped immediately. Being fatigued and uncomfortable is when you should be pushing yourself because that's when the real workout starts, but pain? That's your body telling you something is clearly wrong, hence why you halt whatever you're doing and either stop completely or do something else to relax."

Dante was inspired, "Never quite thought you'd actually be so...logical and right? Or even make genuine sense for that matter."

"Watch it, meatbag. You wish to actually die trying to catch up to me when doing the real thing, provoking me is the perfect way to do so."

"What the hell is even the real thing about?"

Tiki momentarily paused her stretching, before pulling up her right hand with her pointer finger up, in a successful effort to intimidate Dante.

"A whole 8 hours of the following. One thousand pushups." she raised another finger, "One thousand sit-ups.", She raised her third finger, "One thousand squats."

Dante fearfully looked at her, "Good god..."

Tiki lowered her hand, "All before a one hundred kilometer run, every single day since I was 14. You really haven't seen the best of me. Breaking my arm? Sure, that hurt like hell, made me tear up, but who wouldn't.", she took a serious look at Dante, "You haven't seen my attempt in doing the same to you yet."

Dante got intimidated, "O-Ok, I got it. But like you said, I wasn't really 'me'."

Tiki perked up, "Of course you weren't. Why do you think I haven't lost multiple nights worth of sleep being pissed about it? Now, with our stretches done and everything set, go take a bath and cool off. We've got a lot to discuss with the others."

"About what, exactly?"

"I take it the past few days were hectic, and you might have forgotten it, but I'll remind you. We, as a newly founded party, were supposed to be deployed in some Victorian frontline today to protect the villages from the ongoing rush of Enmities and Shadowers. And it's a big event, mind you. Perfect time to make a first impression."

Dante stopped, "Oh, right...I, uh..."

"We all know that even if we did try to prepare, with how scattered all of our brains are, it wasn't going to do shit, so might as well see if we can do actual, coordinated combat instead.", she folded her arms.

"Right. But when you bring other soldiers and possibly villagers who'll take arms beside us, the plot thickens."

"I will try and do most of the coordination using my experience, and you all can help based on yours. You ain't experts, but you were trained, albeit wrongly, to be a leading figure, Hikari has lived wars she fought before and Terna was the de-facto leader of the whole rebellion in Delpha, or whatever, city. I think we have a chance, even with the monster's intelligence. The furry ain't here either, that's a huge dent, but we have to work with what we got. Now, before we talk this any further, I'll take my own bath and go tell everyone else, because I guarantee you, if you forgot it because of the abundance of issues that popped right out of the forgotten box for you to deal with, the recent events would've probably made the others want to fly off and plan a trip for the winter."

"I'll get Drima to set up the conference room then. When are we to deploy, by the way."

"In like 6 hours? Do none of you check your messages?" Tiki sighed.

Dante pulled out his phone, "I do when I get them. Oh..." he realized.

"'Oh' what?"

"I left it on read."

"Dead ass?" Tiki sarcastically asked.

"Look, I just don't like the notification bubble popping up on the app, that's all."

"So you clicked on the chat, just to get rid of it without even attempting to look what it was about?"

"It was from Drima anyways, based on what I saw on his tablet, like your heart, it might've been a spam link or a virus, whatever."

"Fair point." Tiki grabbed her sweat towel, "Done talking about this dumb shit. Off to a bath, and do the same. You smell like ass."