Shimmon trailed after Georg, his gaze fixed on the seemingly endless expanse of floating rocks that stretched before them. Georg halted at the edge, turning to face Shimmon. "To reach our training grounds," he announced, his voice carrying over the silent void, "you will have to traverse these floating islands."
A confident smirk touched Shimmon's lips. "There is nothing that beauty cannot accomplish," he declared, a hint of playful arrogance in his tone.
With a graceful leap, he propelled himself onto the nearest massive stone, landing with an almost balletic poise. He continued his ascent, a mesmerizing display of agility and control. He bounded from one precarious perch to another, at times using only a single hand for balance, executing effortless pirouettes in mid-air as if dancing with the wind.
Georg, a more pragmatic figure, followed with steady, powerful jumps, his eyes never leaving Shimmon's fluid movements. Eventually, they reached their destination: Georg's island.
Shimmon's breath hitched. It wasn't the serene natural landscape he might have expected from a training ground. Instead, an enormous cityscape sprawled before him, a dense collection of towering skyscrapers that pierced the clouds. Georg led him through the silent metropolis. The city was strangely deserted, yet vibrantly colored, a stark contrast to the emptiness. They arrived at a central area, a wide expanse of concrete crisscrossed with pedestrian walkways and punctuated by motionless traffic lights.
"Do you like my city?" Georg asked, a hint of pride in his voice. "I created it this way because I adore street fighters."
Shimmon's gaze swept over the unusual training arena. "Everyone has their own appreciation for beauty," he mused, "but the important thing is that it pleases you."
"Wise words," Georg conceded, his attention shifting. "But now, show me your unlock."
A sudden intensity flickered in Shimmon's eyes. "Unlock! Divine Dragon Form!" he exclaimed. The draconic arm that had been hidden beneath his sleeve began to glow with an ethereal, multicolored light. The limb visibly transformed, scales shimmering in every shade imaginable, radiating an aura that felt almost holy. Behind him, on his right side, a majestic draconic wing of the same vibrant hues unfurled, catching the nonexistent breeze. Shimmon settled into a combat stance, his gaze sharp.
Georg mirrored his posture, and a powerful, golden aura erupted around him, crackling with energy.
Without a word, Shimmon launched himself forward, a blur of motion. He aimed a devastating punch, his multicolored fist a streaking comet, but Georg reacted instantly, deflecting the blow with a surge of his golden aura. Georg retaliated with a punch of his own, a fist imbued with immense power that slammed into Shimmon's guard. Yet, Shimmon stood firm, unyielding.
In a swift counterattack, Shimmon unleashed a point-blank roar, a concentrated blast of multicolored energy erupting from his draconic features – the Divine Dragon's Roar. The attack slammed into Georg, forcing him to stumble backward.
"You are fast, and your strikes possess considerable power," Georg acknowledged, his golden aura flaring slightly. "But your unlock is only halfway there. Only when you fully master it will you be truly strong."
A confident smile bloomed on Shimmon's face. "My beauty will only increase, be certain of it!" he declared, settling back into his stance, his multicolored wing twitching slightly.
Christy followed Anty, her footsteps echoing on the strange, ethereal path that led to an enormous expanse of floating rocks. Anty stopped at the edge, gesturing towards the chaotic landscape. "Surpass these floating boulders," she instructed, her voice crisp and efficient. "I'll see you in my laboratory."
Before Christy could even formulate a question, Anty's fingers danced across a holographic keyboard that materialized in the air before her. With a soft shimmer, she vanished, leaving Christy alone amidst the silent, floating islands.
A sigh escaped Christy's lips. Without Anty's guidance, she was left to her own devices. With a determined glint in her eyes, she began her ascent, carefully navigating the treacherous terrain. It was a slow and arduous process, each jump requiring precision and focus. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she reached the island.
Her initial impression was one of stark emptiness. It was simply a flat expanse of rock, devoid of any discernible features. But as she took a tentative step forward, something unexpected happened. A pristine white wall materialized before her, seemingly out of thin air, complete with a sleek, automatic door that slid open silently.
Intrigued and slightly bewildered, Christy stepped through the doorway. She found herself in a vast chamber. In the center of the room stood a figure that flickered and glitched in a strange, unsettling way, yet it remained motionless. Then, Anty's voice echoed through the room, seemingly coming from nowhere.
"Apologies for not mentioning this earlier," Anty's disembodied voice said, her tone matter-of-fact. "But I am not a fighter like the other three. My role is support, assisting them in various ways. Therefore, you will be training with my little friend in front of you."
Christy stared at the glitched figure. "Is that... a glitch?" she asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.
"No," Anty clarified. "That is 'BOT.' It's an artificial glitch, but unlike Bruhsuperdoom or Benamoth, it lacks consciousness and is fully controllable. It cannot be deployed in actual combat, only for training purposes. BOT is similar to the glitches you encountered in the Null Fortress. It can learn your movements, forcing you to adapt and utilize new abilities."