The atmosphere inside the Occult Research Club room was thick with tension and quiet dread.
Rias Gremory sat at the head of the long table, her usual regal posture slightly slumped. Her crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders, but her blue-green eyes were distant, staring at nothing in particular. The weight of the situation had finally settled on her like a lead blanket.
Ten days.
She had exactly ten days until the Rating Game against Riser Phenex.
If she won, the engagement would be cancelled. She would keep her freedom.
If she lost… she would be forced to marry Riser Phenex and bear his children, becoming nothing more than a political tool for the Gremory and Phenex houses.
Rias clenched her fists under the table. Her peerage watched her in silence. Akeno stood beside her with a gentle but concerned expression.
Kiba leaned against the bookshelf, trying to look calm. Koneko sat quietly on the couch, legs dangling. Asia sat nervously beside Akari, still adjusting to being around so many devils.
The reality was sinking in for all of them.
Rias had always known this day would come. Her current peerage was strong, but Riser had fifteen pieces, all experienced, and his Phenex immortality made him nearly impossible to defeat in a direct confrontation.
She needed a miracle.
Meanwhile, Akari sat casually on the edge of the table, swinging her legs, looking completely unbothered by the heavy mood in the room.
She had been quietly observing Rias's internal struggle for the past few minutes. After a while, she decided it was time.
Akari opened the System Shop with a thought.
She selected Buy.
The catalog unfolded in front of her eyes. She scrolled down steadily, passing over countless high-tier items until she found what she was looking for.
Ticket to Instant Dungeon
A private dimension where time has no meaning.
Only 2 seconds will pass in the real world, while the user and any chosen allies can spend as much time as needed inside for training, rest, or preparation.
User can bring allies (up to the user's discretion).
Entry: Tear the ticket in half.
One-time use.
Cost: 2,000,000 System Points
Akari's eyes lit up. This was exactly what she needed.
Without hesitation, she tapped Purchase.
Ticket to Instant Dungeon purchased.
-2,000,000 SP deducted
Current System Points: 32,000,000
Item can now be summoned at will (one-time use).
Akari dismissed the System Shop with a satisfied nod.
She looked at the group and spoke clearly.
"Well, I might have a way to make all of you stronger."
Rias's ears perked up instantly. Her gaze snapped to Akari with renewed intensity.
"What way do you propose, Akari-kun?"
Akeno tilted her head, curiosity sparkling in her violet eyes.
"What is the way, Akari-kun?"
Koneko stared at her with a cold, skeptical tone.
"This better not be a joke."
Kiba straightened up, genuinely interested.
"How can you possibly help us?"
Akari smiled confidently.
"Well, I can take us to a dimension where time has no meaning. We can train there as much as we want. After all, only 2 seconds will pass in the real world while we'll be inside the dimension, training."
Asia, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly looked up with wide green eyes. She stood up and walked over to Akari, tugging gently at her sleeve.
"And what about me? You'll leave me here alone?"
Akari turned to her with a soft smile and gently patted her head.
"No, Asia. I won't leave you."
She leaned in and whispered quietly into Asia's ear so only she could hear:
"You'll train your Sacred Gear in secret with me in there."
Asia's cheeks turned pink, but she nodded shyly, a small smile forming on her lips.
Akeno raised an elegant eyebrow, her voice teasing.
"Ara-Ara, what talk is going on with you and little Asia over there?"
Akari straightened up with an innocent look.
"Oh, it's just a sister-to-sister conversation."
She then addressed the whole group again.
"But anyways… everyone ready to go with me?"
Rias's eyes burned with determination. Akeno smiled lovingly. Koneko gave a small, respectful nod. Kiba grinned cheerfully. Asia blushed but looked excited.
All five of them answered in unison:
"Hell Yeah!"
Akari summoned the Instant Dungeon Ticket into her hand. It appeared as a glowing golden slip of paper. She held it up for everyone to see, then tore it cleanly in half.
A brilliant white light engulfed the entire clubroom.
In an instant, the six of them vanished from the old school building.
They reappeared in a vast, empty white space that stretched endlessly in every direction. The ground was smooth and featureless, like polished marble.
There was no sky, no horizon — just infinite white. Time felt strangely fluid here, as if it didn't exist at all.
Akari stretched her arms above her head, feeling the perfect training environment around them.
"Welcome to the Instant Dungeon," she announced with a grin. "We can stay here for as long as we need. Days, weeks, months — it won't matter. When we leave, only two seconds will have passed in the real world."
Rias looked around in awe, her crimson hair swaying as she turned.
"This… this is incredible."
Akeno's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Ara-Ara… such a wonderful place for training."
Koneko nodded slowly, already looking eager to start.
Kiba smiled brightly.
"This changes everything."
Asia clutched her hands together, nervous but hopeful.
"I'll do my best…"
Akari cracked her knuckles, looking at the group with a confident smile.
"Alright then. Let's get to work. We have a Rating Game to win."
The six of them stood together in the endless white void, ready to train harder than they ever had before — all while the real world remained frozen for just two seconds.