"This really is some impressive defensive gear."
To completely withstand Urga's edge and Tiona's full strength without so much as a scratch—Finn couldn't help but marvel at the absurd level of defense. The armor didn't even cover much of the twins' bodies, yet all the vital areas were well-protected. He also noticed the armguards wrapped around both Tiona and Tione's hands—clearly designed to double as weapons or shields in an emergency.
"So, what exactly does Tsuna want you two to test?"
A piece of gear that could defend against both physical and magical attacks already sounded perfect. Finn was curious—what else was there to test?
"Mm-hm. Tsuna said these haven't been stabilized yet. He's not sure how long they'll last, so he wants us to test their duration."
"Testing stabilization, huh?"
That was indeed important. Finn knew Tsuna's ability—Annihilation Maker—allowed him to create creatures and objects purely from imagination. But making them permanent—solidifying them—was a whole different challenge.
"Right. Stabilization would be a huge step for Tsuna's power. If he can solidify his creations, he won't just be able to make beasts more efficiently—he'll also make them last longer. That would be a massive advantage."
Finn suddenly remembered something. "Tiona, you still have that Gravity Bracelet, right?"
"Yeah. Tione and I both do. We were still using them for training the day before the expedition. They really helped us out."
"In that case, Tsuna's creations can already last quite a while. But clothing and the Gravity Bracelet are different. Gear used in battle will wear down faster—it might start failing early."
"It's fine. Tsuna already thought of that. He said he'll make us spare outfits along the way as replacements. The ones we're wearing now, even if they get damaged, we'll keep them and see how long they can still hold up."
"A more comprehensive test, then?" Finn nodded, satisfied. That kind of data would help determine whether wear and tear affected how long his creations could last in combat.
"Speaking of the Gravity Bracelet—Riveria, you're sure Ais won't be using hers during this time?"
"Relax. I already took that into account. Two days before the expedition, I confiscated Ais's Gravity Bracelet. I didn't want that girl pulling something that would give me another headache."
Riveria had seen this coming. That "surprise" Ais had given everyone that morning had kept her on guard ever since. More than anyone, Riveria knew exactly how Ais's mind worked.
To prevent the Sword Princess from cooking up any dangerous or troublesome ideas, Riveria had taken preemptive action—by simply taking the Gravity Bracelet away. That was the safest move.
"What the hell? Clothes, Gravity Bracelet—what are you guys even talking about?" Bete muttered, thoroughly confused. He'd been listening the whole time, but it felt like half the Familia knew something he didn't. The feeling gnawed at him until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Finn, what were you guys just talking about?"
"Just some things Tsuna created. He's been working hard preparing for the expedition. Some of it might even come in handy along the way."
"That rookie's ability can help with the expedition too?"
Bete had known the guy's power was busted from the start, but he didn't expect that level of versatility. Creating any kind of creature from imagination—that was practically tailor-made for countering personal weaknesses. If someone's weak point got exposed, Tsuna could literally create a monster designed just to exploit it. No one could stand up to that.
Up until now, Bete had assumed the guy could only make beasts for combat. He never imagined Tsuna could use that same power to create strange gear and tools.
"Hehehe~ Tsuna said it himself—what matters is the concept. A 'beast' can be defined however you want. Like my outfit here—he called the material Holy Shroud Cloth. No one ever said fabric can't be a beast. And no one said a beast has to look like a monster."
So the very definition of "beast" could be reimagined? That was insane. The more Bete thought about it, the more he realized just how ridiculously overpowered that ability was. Tsuna's power was multi-purpose, unrestricted, and bound only by his imagination.
"Does that rookie's ability even have any limits? Don't tell me he can bring people back from the dead or something."
"Hmm… resurrection, huh? I've never tried that. But I do know there are ways to revive the dead."
"!?"
Bete practically jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice, spinning around instinctively.
"Tsuna!"
Tiona beamed and immediately leapt into the boy's arms, delighted by his sudden appearance—unlike Bete, whose heart was still racing.
"You were here the whole time?"
"Yeah. Loki told me to stay cautious. Since my personal combat ability isn't great yet, I erased my presence and followed along. I've already confirmed this stealth technique works—even monsters can't sense me. It's pretty safe."
"Then what you said just now—about resurrection—can you really do it?" Tiona asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Resurrection, huh? I know of something that can bring the dead back, or grant immortality. But whether it actually works… that I don't know. This world has gods, and naturally, it has a place where souls go. Once a soul reincarnates, true resurrection should be impossible."
He paused, his tone turning more serious. "Besides, a power like that would definitely draw divine attention. I doubt it's something that can be achieved easily."
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