After a night filled with laughter and noise, the special training squad resumed their rigorous training the next day.
Natsu was already practicing flame control in the deep sea, while Gray was once again frozen in Ur's Black Ice.
The others each had their own training methods.
Jet and Droy idly observed.
The salty sea breeze brushed against his cheeks as Ankh sat cross-legged on a reef by the shore, regulating his breathing and adjusting his condition.
With the transformation of the God of Illusion and Reality, Ankh's imbalance between Life and Death God Power was temporarily resolved.
The Death God Power would no longer spiral out of control when not in use.
However, to solve this issue for good, he needed to enhance his Life God Power to counterbalance the Death God Power again, just like he had done back at the Tower of Heaven.
'My Living God Physique has gained two additional Divine Powers from Chronos and Vierte.'
'As long as I integrate them into my Magic system, my physique should improve rapidly as well.'
Ankh silently contemplated his training goals.
Learning too many miscellaneous skills wouldn't help in high-level battles. He needed to consolidate his combat system.
Titan Gravity magic went without saying—this was Ankh's first form, used against ordinary enemies.
Death God Power manifested as God Slayer Magic in practice.
Combined with Titan Gravity's passive effects, this became Ankh's second form.
Life God Power had many magical manifestations.
Ankh had previously made numerous attempts—altering his own physique, replicating others' physiques, collecting materials for Archieve Magic—yet he never found an integrated Magic that could interpret Life God Power flawlessly.
But his battle with Dimaria had inspired him.
God Soul Take Over—this Magic was suited for unleashing Life God Power.
The Divine Powers of two gods had already merged with his Living God Physique.
Using Magic to Take Over them would be the ideal expression of Life God Power!
Taking Over various godly physiques, wielding the power of the God of Death, with passive mastery over physical strength—this would be Ankh's third form!
However, unlike God Successors who gained powerful combat capabilities upon inheritance, Ankh still needed to refine this God Take Over Magic.
The aura around Ankh grew profound, leaving Jet and Droy somewhat dazed as they watched from afar.
"Looking at the Magic Power around Ankh is making me want to vomit," Jet said woozily as he averted his gaze.
Droy sighed in admiration. "As expected of the Tenrou Team. Everyone's Magic Power has shown noticeable improvement on just the first day."
Lucy, who had been focusing on enhancing her capacity, collapsed exhausted on the beach, sensing the Magic Power within her.
"With this, we might actually catch up to other guilds in three months!"
Happy laughed cheerfully. "Aye! After all, everyone's unemployed and training wholeheartedly!"
As Lucy adjusted her breathing, she felt a small mound slowly swelling beneath her bottom.
She shrieked in surprise and tumbled to the side.
The others gathered around and exclaimed upon seeing the person emerging from the sand.
"Virgo?"
Gray, shivering while wrapped in a blanket, looked curiously at Virgo. "Speaking of which, since Lucy was sealed for seven years, does that mean all of you who contracted with her stayed in the Celestial Spirit World without coming out?"
The pink-haired maid with her usual deadpan expression stood respectfully in place and said, "To be honest, that's not the issue."
Lucy was taken aback, noticing Virgo's troubled mood, and asked, "Has something happened?"
Virgo hesitated for a moment before bowing. "Actually, the Celestial Spirit World is facing an extinction crisis. Please, everyone, save us."
"What?!" Lucy gasped.
With a serious expression, Erza asked, "What's going on? What happened?"
Virgo, her slightly vacant blue eyes wide open, replied in a flat tone, "The Celestial Spirit King is already waiting. He instructed me to bring everyone to the Celestial Spirit World right away."
Natsu roared, "No problem! Leave it to us!"
Helping Lucy's Celestial Spirits resolve trouble was something everyone agreed to, though Lucy hesitated and said.
"But... humans aren't supposed to be able to enter the Celestial Spirit World, right?"
Virgo explained, "As long as you wear clothes from the Celestial Spirit World, it'll be fine. Alright everyone, we're setting off!"
Virgo spread her arms, and a massive earthy-yellow magic circle formed beneath everyone's feet.
A golden pillar of light surged upward, and the once lively beach lost a crowd of people in a flash.
Jet and Droy looked around in confusion. "Wait... Why didn't they take us along?"
Ur lounged on a beach chair, enjoying her vacation while sipping juice. "I was ignored by that Celestial Spirit too. Don't worry, the crisis of destruction is probably fake. It's likely just the Celestial Spirits wanting to mess with those kids a bit..."
...
The Celestial Spirit World—a mysterious realm almost never tread upon by humans.
A sky full of dazzling starry seas, shimmering streams of the Milky Way flowing past, and even the air nearby seemed to float with fragmented starlight.
The group that appeared in the Celestial Spirit World was captivated by the breathtaking scenery before them.
Wendy gazed in awe at the star-filled sky. "It's so beautiful..."
Even Lucy, a Celestial Spirit Mage, couldn't help but marvel. "So this is the Celestial Spirit World... I'm seeing it for the first time too..."
Ankh, now dressed in the splendid attire of the Celestial Spirit World, frowned as he looked behind them.
With the inheritance of the God of Time, he sensed something unusual.
The flow of time is different here...
Ankh thought for a moment and, while everyone admired the scenery, quietly cut his finger and let a drop of blood flow out.
The blood radiated a golden glow, melting into a subtle light that gently brushed past everyone.
Ankh's constitution allowed him to resist the tricks of time, and this would prevent his companions from being affected by the differing time flows between the two worlds.
Just as Lucy was about to venture deeper, a booming voice echoed from the clouds.
A majestic giant with an enormous beard, clad in bright starry armor, appeared before them. Crossing his arms, he looked at Lucy and said.
"We meet again, my old friend."
Lucy greeted him, "Celestial Spirit King! What exactly happened in the Celestial Spirit World? According to Virgo, there was a disaster here!"
After a long silence, a mischievous grin broke across the Celestial Spirit King's solemn and dignified face.
Lucy was stunned.
Ankh stared at the colossal figure before him, and a strange feeling welled up in his chest.
Then, the Magic Crystal bracelet on his wrist began to glow once again!