"I think I've heard of similar methods before. Forcing out one's hidden potential through extreme conditions and then stabilizing that growth through real combat…"
As she spoke, Erza's eyes gradually lit up with excitement.
She suddenly grabbed Mira's hands and stared at her seriously.
"I want to try it. Mira, come with me."
'Come with your head!'
Mira desperately wanted to snap back at her. Her strength had already been steadily improving through ordinary training. If possible, she absolutely did not want to use such a brutal method.
But this training had been proposed by Irene and even approved by Selene.
And if Erza accepted it… then rapidly grew stronger because of it… maybe even surpassed her…
Just imagining that possibility made a strong resistance rise within Mira's heart.
'No. Absolutely not. I refuse to lose to her!'
"Fine then. I'll do it too. Irene-sis, use your magic on me!"
Mira shook off Erza's hands and stepped forward on her own initiative.
Hearing that, Cana and Ultear's expressions changed immediately.
But with both Erza and Mira willing to go through with it, neither of them wanted to back down either.
"We're joining too! Irene-sis, hit us with it!"
Looking at the three girls standing there like warriors marching toward execution, Erza felt deeply moved.
Then she turned toward Irene.
Irene immediately understood and raised her staff toward the four girls.
…
99… 99… 99…
1.00…
The instant he finished his ten-thousandth push-up, Kabe's arm finally gave out.
Supporting himself with a single finger until the very end, all the strength in his body suddenly collapsed, and he slammed face-first onto the ground.
"Hah… hah… finally… done…"
Lying flat in the "stream" of sweat pooled beneath him, Kabe's arms were so sore they were practically numb, yet a satisfied smile still hung on his face.
After remaining sprawled there in that miserable posture for nearly half an hour, he finally recovered enough strength to shakily stand back up and head into the bathroom.
After a quick shower washed away the sour smell of sweat, Kabe wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out onto the second-floor balcony.
'I wonder how Erza and the others are doing. Training under Irene and Selene should've taught them a lot by now.'
Thinking that, he leaned against the railing and looked down.
Then his entire expression froze solid.
On the training field below, five "walking corpses" with stiff limbs staggered around the track with twisted, unnatural movements.
Ahead of them and behind them, Irene and Selene each wielded a whip, shouting loudly like slave drivers supervising prisoners.
The bizarre scene made Kabe rub his eyes repeatedly.
"What the hell… are they performing modern art down there??"
He genuinely could not understand what he was seeing. It felt like he had somehow become disconnected from reality itself.
And just then, Juvia, who was trailing at the very back of the zombie procession, finally gave out.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
"What are you doing?! You're already done after only half an hour?! Get up immediately!"
Selene shouted sharply as she strode forward, raising her whip without hesitation and bringing it down fiercely.
A shrill scream instantly echoed across the training field.
Seeing that, Kabe's heart tightened immediately. Forgetting all thoughts about how absurd the situation was, he leapt straight down from the second floor and roared:
"Stop! Put the whip down!!"
At his furious shout, Selene paused mid-swing.
Kabe stormed over, glared at Selene's innocent-looking face, then crouched beside Juvia to check her condition.
"Juvia, are you alright? Do you need me to take you to a doctor?"
"Uuu… Kabe-sama… it hurts… Juvia hurts so much…"
The moment she saw Kabe, Juvia immediately threw herself into his arms and cried pitifully.
"Where are you hurt? Let me check."
Kabe carefully turned her over and laid her across his lap to inspect her back.
But strangely enough, her clothes weren't damaged at all. Even after lifting the back of her top, all he saw was smooth white skin without the slightest trace of injury.
"Where's the wound? Your lower body?"
Hearing Kabe's concern and smelling the faint fragrance of body wash lingering from his shower, Juvia's cheeks flushed red as she nodded shyly.
"Mhm… on my butt. Kabe-sama absolutely has to inspect it personally with his own hands."
Before Kabe could even respond, she raised her hips and swayed them side to side invitingly.
"Hurry, hurry! Take my pants off! It's okay, Juvia doesn't mind at all!!"
"…"
Kabe may have panicked for a moment earlier, but he was not stupid.
There was no way someone acting this horny was actually injured.
SMACK!
"Kyaaaaah!!"
A loud slap landed hard against her backside, drawing out a sharp cry from Juvia.
Kabe stood up with a dark expression before turning toward the girls, who were finally able to stop and catch their breath thanks to his arrival.
"Someone explain this to me right now. What the hell are you all doing?"