Kechara has had combat training already and has fought the driders before. Asuna, however, was just a baby and has never fought anything before. So I mainly focus on her and begin teaching her how to fight the driders.

Once she has the hang of it I call Kechara over and start teaching them how to fight together. Since they have completely different fighting styles I focus on teaching them how to not hurt each other. Kechara has a much easier time of it since she can fly, but Asuna has to be a lot more careful.

When I create a large group of driders for them to face I end up getting a nasty surprise. When the group appears both of them move side by side and suddenly cones of ice and lightning blast out. It seems without me knowing both of them have figured out how to use their breath weapons.

The group of driders that I expected to challenge them ends up destroyed in seconds. Having never seen Kechara actually use her breath weapon I am surprised by how devastating it is. While Asuna's breath just freezes the driders, Kechara's tears them apart.

Even though I know she would never turn against me, watching her breath weapon at work makes me really glad I am immune to lightning. Asuna's isn't as scary even though I am not immune, but she is younger and lower rank. It is entirely possible that her breath weapon will become just as terrifying.

After getting over my surprise I continue creating driders for them to fight. Not only do I want Asuna to have more practice, but I want them both prepared for the number of driders inside the city. That is my goal for going back into the cavern, I want to finish investigating the city.

I make them fight for a few hours straight before I stop, they both handled themselves just fine. Once they finish off the last of the driders I change the soulscape to a forest and let them play. Since we are in the soulscape they don't really get tired, so I let them play for a few hours.

When I finally end the soulscape all the mental fatigue catches up to them and they are both asleep within a minute. It doesn't hit me as hard since I am used to it, even though I technically did more work. After watching the two of them fight I am much more confident about going back into the city tomorrow.

My main goal is to pray within the barrier so the goddesses can see inside and hopefully tell me what is behind the driders. The driders don't really worry me, given enough time I can probably kill them all. What made and is controlling the driders is what worries me, as well as what else it might have besides the driders.

The secondary goal is to get some experience, I am really looking forward to leveling up for the first time ever. When playing games leveling up was always a good feeling, doing it for real should be ten times better. Not having a class and being able to level is probably the thing that has bothered me most about this life.

Now that I can, this life will be a lot closer to what I always imagined being summoned to another world would be. Now that I can raise my level and get stronger I plan to do so as much as possible. I want to be at a decently high level before the war, which means I have a few years at most.

With that in mind I go digging in my pouch and pull out the weapons and armor I got from the angels I killed. Since the angels had wings it would make sense that their armor has wings slots. When I examine the armor I find that I am right, and I am relieved that touching the armor no longer burns me.

The weapons don't really compare to Blitz so they go back into the pouch. The two suits of armor I examine and quickly determine that the one from the higher ranked angel is much better quality. It is made of many small bands of a silvery metal that I still can't identify.

Considering the source it is probably a metal only found in the higher planes. As I try the armor on I am glad to find that it adjusts itself to fit me perfectly. That was a concern since while humanoid my body has some major differences from a human body.

The armor even protects the spot where my wings meet my shoulders which is nice. The only drawbacks I can see are there is no helmet and the armor is shiny. That will make sneaking harder but the cloak and tabard should cover most of it.

The armor is obviously enchanted, but I can't tell how, it wasn't done using mana or sacred power. When I try to scan the armor with my will, it is like there is an invisible bubble around it that I can't get through. While it makes me a little nervous not knowing how it was done, that won't stop me from using the armor.

Once I get back to Illium I can have Walter alter my drake armor to accommodate my wings. So I will use the angel's armor until then, it should be good enough for now. With that I am as prepared as I can be and decide to get some sleep.

In the morning I relight the fire and start warming up some food, it doesn't take long for the smell to wake the kids. After we eat we leave the cave and head for the cliffside tunnel. It is the closest entrance to the cavern that I know of.

Getting to the cliff is easy, but Asuna doesn't appreciate it when I pick her up. She has gotten a lot heavier since the last time I picked her up, but not enough to really bother me. With her in my arms I jump from the top of the cliff and glide down to the cave opening.

Once inside I put her down, she seems to have enjoyed the brief flight. Kechara waits until we move out of the way then flies down and joins us in the cave. Asuna sticks by my side as I head down the tunnel, she can tell that I am being serious.

Before we reach the barrier I summon Bones, he would never forgive me if I left him out of a fight. When I get close to the barrier a small tendril forms and reaches out towards me. While it looks creepy I am guessing it is wanting me to give it my power.

Since I expect to be doing some fighting I only give it a quarter of my sacred power. As I do I can sense the entire barrier, and from what I can tell the barrier is still holding strong. There are no signs of any breeches in the barrier which is reassuring.

Telling the others to stay put I step through the barrier and then try to return. Unlike previously I am able to pass through the barrier on my own, maybe because I gave it power. When I have Asuna and Bones try they both can only pass one way through the barrier.

Since they are blocked from returning it means either Kechara or I will have to help them when we leave. That is good to know ahead of time just in case we end up running for our lives like last time. Bones I can always dismiss, but Asuna will have to be helped through the barrier.

With that figured out we all cross the barrier and head towards the cavern. Honestly, I was expecting to be attacked as soon as we entered, but maybe the driders have gone back to sleep. When we reach the cavern and can look around I know my guess was wrong, the driders are awake.