Chapter 30

It's been 1 year since the battle in the forest happened, and over this past year, Vincent, Klaud, Alex and Lenalee increased their strength at a rate far faster than ever before. Of course, it was all because of Vincent that they could increase in strength this quickly, but only they knew that. As per Vincent’s wishes, no one besides Klaud, Alex and Lenalee were to know of who he really was.

The one who showed the most improvement in the group was Lenalee, since she had always been the weakest member of the group, what with her limited resonance with her innocence. To solve this, Vincent had bought her an enhancement related to her innocence. It would also significantly enhance her specs while also making her trademark dark boots into a crystal type innocence. After getting it, her dark boots suddenly became covered in her blood as they transformed into the form that was shown later on in the show.

Crystal Type Innocence (A-tier)

Origin: D.grayman

Description: Boosts amount of faith energy while also increasing the enhancers stats. Transforms innocence into a part of the user by merging with their blood.

Cost: 10,000

Now Vincent was only left with 29,179 C-points left to spend. The before and after was drastic enough to nearly drive him to tears… however, he was still glad to have gotten the things that he considered to be of utmost importance out of the way. He wouldn't have to worry about anything happening to Klaud and the others in case he failed his mission, so that was a huge load off his chest.

So, with his remaining points he decided to get some things for him and maybe to give Ezra a little boost. He also made sure to buy more Senzu Bean stalks since he could expand without having to spend any points, though he was still salty about the fact that he couldn't expand indefinitely yet since the spatial farms overall level still wouldn't allow him to. He could change the way the space looked and make pocket dimensions with his new Noah ability; though, he still wasn't allowed to plant crops he bought directly from the system in them. Not only that, the spaces he created could not yet be created with life nor have any special properties.

Actually, to counteract this, Vincent had been considering buying the Gamer Enhancement since it was by far the best enhancement he knew of for training skills, but such a cheat level enhancement was still ways ahead from what he could afford.

Gamer Enhancement

Origin: The Gamer

Description: Transforms the system for 1 of the host's body to be that of a video game character. Different stats, inventory, and fast level/skill grinding are the main points of this enhancement. The enhancement comes with the togglable “on” or “off” passive skills Gamer’s Mind and Gamer’s Body. *Recommended that the enhancement be used on a new body since the effects will be more efficient. Also, partying cannot be done with other bodies that have not had their systems converted.

Cost: 500,000 C-points and 5 X-ticket

Yup, even looking at how in the future the Akuma would be at a higher level and in larger quantities, making this sum would be quite the challenge. Still, Vincent knew once he got this skill, the body he used it on would probably be his bread and butter for the next few worlds considering that he would have any easy time powering it up. Though he did wish the enhancement would travel between bodies, he would still be happy to be able to train so quickly.

As for the others:

Alex had been able to master her new eye to the point where she could see about 3 seconds accurately into the future, which was more than enough to protect her from most dangers. Since her floating shield could block most attacks, she would have plenty of time to move it to protect her. Although her stats still lost to Vincent, she was still able to match Klaud and Lau in a fight, which was still a pretty good achievement. As for how her brother reacted to her new eye, he had not yet gotten the chance to see her since they were still in Japan. Each day she would get a mountain of letters from him that would ask her constantly about her well-being...

Klaud also started mastering her new Zanpakuto. Although she had yet to learn its name (Mike was very lucky to learn Ana’s so early on), she was getting pretty good at wielding it despite the fact that her preferred weapon was either her fists or a whip. Though Vincent speculated that her Zanpakuto would transform in the near future to fit one of those two fighting styles, nothing was certain since it was not his Zanpakuto. As for the soul energy Vincent had lost, he had already regained it during this past year.

For Ezra, Vincent simply bought her some more armor from the system. They only cost about 10,000 in total, so he still had enough to get himself something nice.

Nanites (B-tier)

Origin: Generator Rex

Description: Allows for the body to transform into different mechanical weapons/tools. Also allows for some boost in stats. *Only allows access to certain weapons

Cost: 15,000 C-points

It originally only costed 7000 C-points, but after spending so many points the price more than doubled. This made Vincent want to save his remaining points, but he knew it was better to get stronger in the present to deal with the near future than to die trying to prepare for another life-time (literally).

Vincent also had another region in his spatial farm added for his akuma to reside in. He named it the "Graveyard of the Fallen" and also had Road reside there as well. After having her soul completely wiped away, Road was now a completely different person. Though she still carried a bit of childish retained from her previous self, there was no doubt that she was someone completely different. For one thing, she showed no gostility towards Klaud and the others and she even tried to frequently get them to play with her. Though, Klaud and the others still tried their best to avoid being around her...

Still, the number 1 most important event to have occurred during this past year had to have been Vincent finally gaining Ana's recoginition. He had long since been able to fight her 1v1 and capable of summoning her into the real world, but he wanted to make sure he was absolutely prepared to defeat her before attempting to fight her in the real world.

Flashback

On a battlefield constructed from one of Mike’s pocket dimensions, the group was gathered, waiting for Mike to fight against Ana. Needless to say, the result of this battle would decide whether or not they would have one more trump card against the forces of the Millenium Earl. After all, Vincent already had confirmation from CE that he would be helping the other side...

Alex: Are you really sure you'll be alright?

Mike: For the last time, yes. I've been preparing this entire time, so it won't make a difference if I challenge her now or in the future.

Lenalee: Vincent, be careful.

Mike: (I kinda wish she hadn't stopped calling me her nii-chan)

Klaud: Alright, hurry up and get this over with. I expect you to win unless you've been slacking off all this time.

Mike: (Says the woman who doesn't let me sleep every other night... Only in an anime world does this happen.) *sigh*

Ana: (C'mon Mike, hurry up and summon me. Remember what happens if you win?)

Mike: ...Will my vitality be enough?

Alex: Did you say something?

Mike: Nothing. (At least Alex and Lenalee haven't shown signs of being like Klaud or Ezra yet...) Alright, let's get this over with.

With that, Mike impaled his Zanpakuto into the ground in front of him. From the hilt glowed the bright, golden colored innocence which was bound to Ana. As the glow intensified, the roots ingrained into the blade started to become real as they started to impale themselved into the ground. In a matter of seconds, a golden, mettalic tree was now in the place where Mike’s Zanpakuto had once been. It glistened in the plain field as if it was the only thing that existed in Mike’s dimension, as if the space was created just for it.

The girls were mesmerized while Mike had a solemn face on. The flashy entrance had reminded him of something that had slipped his mind. His Zanpakuto wasn't the average bleach universe version, it also had properties of the D.grayman world. That meant that even though he himself had strengths outside being a shinigami, she was the same. The way this battle would go was completely unpredictable since even Mike had no idea what Ana's true power was.

Ana: Is that the kind of look a man should make when greetng his significant other?

Mike: Well, it's the kind of face I make when I'm about to face a powerful adversary, does that please you?

Ana: Well, I guess it's true that until this battle is over we're nothing more than enemies. So, hurry up and finish this!

Right after saying so, the golden tree no longer spoke as golden roots came out of the ground and aimed at Mike. The girls at the sidelines saw nothing but a golden blur as they whisked towards the lone black-haired man. Ana would be pulling no punches in this fight. As per necessity, Mike had to defeat her at her full power if he was to be worthy of wielding her. There was no other way around it.