Marvel Multiverse System

Yuri stared at her intently. Though she was smaller than him and her eyes trembled, her expression remained firm. He noticed how she approached—hesitant, yet determined. Deep in his heart, he cursed the gods who never truly understood the beauty of Hephaestus. At the same time, his hand moved on its own, gently caressing the right side of the goddess's face.

"Honestly... you're much more beautiful than Freya," he said with a slight smile.

"Even now, being so shy. Hephaestus... in my opinion, you're the most beautiful forge goddess of them all. You should believe more in yourself."

The words struck Hephaestus deeply. Her eyes widened, and a soft blush colored her cheeks. She gazed at Yuri in silence for a few seconds, until a timid smile slowly appeared on her lips. Gently, she adjusted the eyepatch on her face, shaking her head to move her red hair from her eyes as she looked away.

"You idiot... stop saying such sweet things out of nowhere. I still have work to do... Just go already!"

"Huh?! Why did your expression change all of a sudden?!"

After lightly pushing him out and shutting the door, Hephaestus leaned against it from the inside. Slowly, she crouched down to the floor, pressing her hands to her blushing cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with emotion—full of the innocence and wonder of a girl in love.

"Hestia... I'm sorry... but I can't hold back anymore..."

---

Later that same day, Yuri strolled peacefully through the streets of Orario, his stomach full after a satisfying lunch at the Hostess of Fertility. Mia had insisted on serving him personally, while the cat girls flirted with him as usual. It was a familiar, almost comforting scene.

Ryuu had officially joined his Familia, but he still let her live there with her friends at the Hostess of Fertility. She seemed happier in that environment, and that was more than enough for him. After all, Yuri never intended to cut the roots that gave his people comfort.

The breeze blew gently—until a sharp sound tore through the air.

The sound of blades.

Reflexively, Yuri looked up. He was already near the Loki Familia's headquarters, and in the open courtyard, Ais was wielding her sword with precision.

Alone, like a steel ballerina, she carved silver lines through the air with graceful, calculated movements. Each strike was deadly in accuracy, yet carried a subtle beauty—the dance of one who trains not only with the body, but with the soul. Vertical. Horizontal. Diagonal. Her figure moved like a shadow slicing the wind, her lower body steady, barely moving, spinning only as needed to maintain balance.

No one had told him about this kind of training. She had started it alone nine years ago. Perhaps in an effort to master the sword, she practiced over and over again—day after day—and did so almost every day when at the headquarters. Compared to the results she achieved in the dungeon, this training might seem insignificant, but she never skipped a single day. She simply couldn't be lazy. Because, like many people, Ais's greatest fear was stagnation—and being unable to move forward.

With a final strike, she raised her sword... and sliced a falling leaf in half.

As she turned, her eyes were already seeking the approaching figure. She knew him too well to be surprised.

Though not much time had passed, the young man behind her had already grown familiar with many members of the Loki Familia. Now, even in the mornings, when he came to see Ais, the guards no longer stopped him.

"If you're done warming up..." Yuri said, drawing his katana with a slight smile,

"Then it's time to start the real training."

Ais nodded silently. No words were needed. Like two musicians tuning instruments, their swords clashed in a sharp, swift first strike.

The sound of steel echoed like thunder.

A few minutes later, Ais stepped back, breathless, her eyes locked on Yuri. Even in a simple spar, he left no openings—his technique was refined, his presence overwhelming. But there was something different this time: the way he moved... how the air around him seemed to bend to his will.

Yuri slowly twirled his sword and spoke calmly:

"You have strength and speed, Ais. But you're still cutting against the wind. I want you to learn to become part of it."

She tilted her head, confused. He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A gentle breeze swept across the field, stirring the dust in the courtyard.

The sound of his breathing was like a whistling kettle.

Yuri opened his eyes and said to Ais:

"I know I've shown you this several times over the past few days, but I'll do it again. Pay attention—these are the Forms of Wind Breathing..."

"Wind Breathing – First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter."

He dashed forward in a blink, spinning in a horizontal cyclone pattern, slicing the air with continuous strikes. Each arc of his blade left visible trails of wind, like rotating blades. The whirlwind of slashes circled Ais, and even without touching her, she felt the power.

Yuri stopped with an elegant spin and reset his stance.

"Second Form: Purifying Wind Claws."

The sword suddenly rose—four vertical slashes crashing down like claws. The air snapped under the pressure of the strikes.

Ais stepped forward, captivated.

"Ais, the most important and essential part of these techniques... is the way you breathe."

He positioned himself at the center of the courtyard, spinning with greater intensity.

"Third Form: Wind Tree – Clear Tempest!"

Whirlwinds of slashes spiraled around him, forming a shield of wind that could deflect any attack. Dust and leaves rose into the air in circles—a wild and beautiful dance.

"Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm!"

Yuri raised his sword. Spiraling slashes burst upward, like furious columns of wind erupting from the ground toward an invisible foe.

"Fifth Form: Cold Wind of the Mountain!"

He turned his body with fluidity, drawing sweeping arcs above him. The strikes grew in breadth, as if slicing the very sky. Ais stood frozen, barely breathing—no matter how many times she saw it, it was always stunning.

"Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist!"

Yuri spun in an uppercut motion, his blade slicing the air with force. The windstorm that followed swept everything around him, and Ais had to shield her eyes for a moment.

"Seventh Form: Sudden Gust Barrage!"

Leaping into the air, Yuri unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes. Blades of wind exploded like bursts from a sudden storm, making the ground tremble from the pressure.

"Eighth Form: Prime Wind Strike!"

A jump. A rotation. Circular slashes expanded in all directions like cutting rings. Ais watched, unblinking.

And then, the final technique.

Yuri leapt high, spinning mid-air, inverting himself as he soared.

"Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon!"

Upside-down, he spun with ferocity, creating a powerful spiral gust that exploded downward. The ground beneath him was sliced into deep rings.

Yuri landed softly, sword lowered, body relaxed.

Silence blanketed the field.

Ais took one step, then another, until she stood before him.

Her eyes made her intentions clear.

"Shall we begin breathing training?"

She nodded.

Yuri stepped toward her, gently touching her hand, adjusting her grip on the sword.

"Then let's begin. Breathe with me."

They closed their eyes together. Their chests rose and fell in perfect sync. The wind surrounded them gently, as if it recognized the two.

Inside the headquarters, a few adventurers watched from the windows, expressions serious. The fact that both of them trained in the field every day—except for when they were in the dungeon—made even the laziest feel ashamed.

Yuri's sword techniques never failed to surprise them, and though some wanted to ask him for training, they didn't have the courage.

Meanwhile, in another part of the yard, Bete continued training Bell. The massive white-haired Amazon shouted instructions as the rabbit boy struggled to keep his guard up.

"Watch your footwork!" she roared, making Bell stumble again.

"Do you want to die in the dungeon?!"

But even as he fell, Bell smiled.

Because every fall was one step closer to his dream.

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(End of chapter)

I am officially back my friends 🤩🤩