In any case, this was an official meeting. The sooner it started, the better.


    With that in mind, I implored everyone to have their seats, and after organizing an introductory session, I finally dered my reason for bringing everyone together.


    "I gathered all of us here for one major reason... and that is because of a new threat that has emerged."


    The whole act of the Demons was a mere prelude to the emerging darkness.


    At the very least, I wanted to protect my own. But, more than that, it was within my rights to squash the enemy''s side.


    The problem was that they were a group, and so another group was necessary tobat them.


    In essence, to stop the Cult, I needed to work with a team.


    "Everyone, I need your help."


    Neron, Serah, Lemi, Maro, Aloe, Edward, Ana, Jerry, Ciara, Maria, and Ivan.


    With me in the mix, we made twelve individuals—enough for the kind of effective group I intended on managing.


    ''Looking at their abilities, there are better candidates I could have employed...''


    People like Ivan and Lemi weren''t even very strong. However, they made considerable progress daily.


    If this would help them in their advancement, I was fine with having them on board.


    "So, what do you all say?"


    ***************


    ''Well, this is good.''


    I was currently on a wide expanse, watching my dearest friendsy out before me.


    The good news was that they all epted the request, but the not-so-good issue was that a majority of them were still considerablycking in many ways.


    That meant I had to set them straight one way or the other.


    "I teleported us to this vast field for a reason." I was sure many of them would recognize this ce.


    It was the same spot where we battled the Demons not too long ago.


    Since it was located on the outskirts of the Eastern Empire, it was perfect for the kind of activity I had in mind.


    "Out of everyone here, I''m exempting only Neron, Maro, and Serah from this exercise."


    Well, I was nning on simting a sparring experience, and adding those three would have been too unfair.


    For one, Neron and Sarah were too strong. As for Maro, he was more into engineering thanbat.


    It wouldn''t do any good by making him actively deviate from his area of expertise.


    The remaining eight; Ivan, Maria, Ana, Edward, Lemi, Ciara, Jerry, and Aloe were going to be my primary focus.


    "We''re here to train. Or rather, I want to test your capabilities."


    During the war, I had the chance of observing some of them, but none were pushed to the point of disying their limits.


    If we were to go up against monsters on par with Legris Damien, I needed to be certain that my team could keep up.


    "You''ll all be facing a single opponent. I want to see how you''ll fare."


    I wasn''t trying to insult them by putting all nine against one target, but this was simply the way I knew to bnce things.


    "H-hold on, I''m fighting too?" Lemi interrupted me with an entitled yelp.


    ''Ah, yes... I forgot.''


    This girl didn''t have anybat experience.


    ''Well, she''s gotta learn sooner orter.''


    I smiled sweetly and my daughter and gave an emphatic nod.


    "Your Aunt ced me in charge of you. We''re friends, you know?"


    "B-but, this isn''t friendship! You''re just—!"


    "It''s friendship. I''m doing this for your own good. Isn''t that what friends do for each other?"


    "W-well, it''s not exactly like—"


    I could spot Edward smiling like an idiot as he watched Lemi throw a fit. Something about his face glowing pink made things feel terribly wrong.


    "Alright, enough dawdling. Let''s get down to business." Ignoring Lemi''s pouting, I floated to midair.


    "Who will we be fighting, though? You?" The statement came from Ana.


    Her re still hadn''t vanished—most likely because of the just-concluded exchange between me and Lemi.


    ? "Really? We''ll be fighting Jared?!" Edward''s eyes lit up in excitement.


    The boy had grown even more to be a battle maniac. He resembled Gawain now more than ever.


    ''Martial Art idiots...'' I smiled at my muscle-brained friend.


    "Isn''t that too unfair? It''s eight against one, but still..." Ivan looked hesitant.


    He probably didn''t want to fight me.


    "I don''t see what the big deal is. I''ll knock him down myself." Ciara made a defiant tone.


    ''What''s with the attitude? It''s not like I forced her here...''


    After Jerry agreed to join the team, she did the same. To be honest, I wasn''t very close to the girl, but I realized her potential.


    It was a shame that she didn''t seem the least bit interested in being friends with me, but for some strange reason, she was always involved in my affairs.


    ''Is it because of Jerry? Hmmm...'' To think of it, back in the Academy, she was also quite fixated on him.


    The best course of action would be to ask Jerry all about their rtionshipter on. For now, though...


    "Don''t say that, Ciara. You don''t know how powerful Jared is."


    "Yeah... he''s simply amazing."


    "Aloe, don''t patronize him too much. You sound like a fangirl."


    "What''s got you so prickly today, Ana?"


    "Alright, I''m pumped up!"


    "I''ve never fought before, though..."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll protect you!"


    "....."


    After watching them all converse for a few, I pped my hands and regained their attention.


    "You won''t be fighting me."


    It seemed they were misunderstanding many things.


    But, that was also fine.


    "Your opponent is one of my constructs." At this point, I could make out many disappointed gazes assailing me.


    Those with a lot of pride would have even felt insulted.


    "It''s my best Automaton. If you guys manage to defeat it, I''ll fight you myself."


    Before they couldin, I snapped my fingers, and the tinum-armored being appeared.


    "Everyone, meet Gawain—the Ultimate Automaton." I smiled sweetly.


    The being beside me was floating too, and his majestic form took in the gazes of everyone. Thankfully, a few more of them were now interested in fighting the thing.


    "Alright then. You may begin on my count."


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    Some people have asked, so here we go.


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