After returning to the real world, they went back to the Student Council room.
"Tsubaki, can I borrow a pen and some paper?" Ace asked.
"Of course, wait a moment," Tsubaki replied as she went to get them.
"What do you need those for?" Tomoe asked.
"To write down the training routines you need to follow when I'm not around," Ace answered while taking the pen and paper from Tsubaki.
Ace immediately sat down on a nearby chair, crossing his legs casually. The pen was already in his hand as he spread the paper across the table.
"When I'm not here, you still have to grow stronger," he said while writing quickly. "Training can't stop just because the coach disappears."
When he finished, he handed the paper to Sona. The others leaned in to look as well.
Everyone fell silent as they read.
Momo slowly raised her hand. "This… looks really serious."
Ace looked at them one by one.
"Fights never wait until you're ready. So the only thing you can do is get ready faster."
Tsubasa clenched her fist. "If we follow all of this… how far can we really progress?"
Ace grinned. "That depends on how hard you work."
Sona stood up from her chair.
"We'll do it," she said.
Her voice was calm, but there was firm determination behind it.
Ace stood as well. "Good. You can start tomorrow morning."
Saji clicked his tongue. "Man, we haven't even gone home yet and we're already getting a schedule."
"Get used to it," Ace replied lightly. "Enemies don't give extensions."
He returned the pen to Tsubaki.
"Well then, my job here for today is done."
Tomoe tilted her head. "Where are you going?"
"Other business. See you." Ace turned and left the Student Council room.
---
In the courtyard of Kuoh Academy, Ace checked on Bagogo through the insect-camera drone attached to him. Bagogo was in the middle of a transaction with another alien.
"Hm… I should check this out in person."
Ace activated the tracker in the drone. Once he confirmed their location, he stepped into the Mirror World and transformed his phone into a motorcycle.
He sped across the empty roads of the Mirror World.
The glass-like asphalt reflected the pale evening light, while the inverted buildings of Kuoh stood in eerie silence around him. There was no sound except the roar of his engine.
Ace finally stopped at a remote, deserted warehouse district. From this reversed world, he could see the same building perfectly aligned in the real world.
He got off his bike and entered the warehouse through the Mirror World, approaching a window to peer into reality.
Several aliens were carrying metal barrels out of the building. Outside, Ace spotted Bagogo's spaceship.
"As far as I remember, Bagogo rarely comes in person. The only times were his debut and when he and his brother attacked Earth. System, what's inside those barrels?"
[Chocolate.]
"…Well, that's good, I guess. Are the aliens with Bagogo here for Lala?"
[Yes, host.]
Ace created a mirror behind one of the aliens and pulled him into the Mirror World. He coated his fist with aura and punched the alien in the face, knocking him out instantly.
"…That was easy."
After restraining the alien, Ace left the Mirror World and confronted Bagogo, who jumped in surprise when a human suddenly appeared.
"Whoa, hey, brother! Don't scare me like that."
"Aren't you going to ask what happened to your client?"
"I should, but I see a new potential client right in front of me."
"What did he buy from you?"
"Oh, this, brother! A Blade Pistol 2500DII!!! A gun equipped with three rotating blades spinning at 900 kilometers per second! Effective at both long and close range. It slices through anything in the blink of an eye!"
"How much?"
"Cheap, brother! Just three million and three cents!"
"…How much is that in Earth currency?"
"Hm, that's tricky. Earth doesn't have a direct exchange rate with space currency, and you guys have too many types of money."
"Then let's say I replace your client and take the pistol. How about that?"
"Hm…"
"You know who I am, right? I'm the fiancé of the Galaxy Princess."
"Eh!? You're that fiancé everyone talks about?"
"Talks about?"
"Of course, brother. The fiancé of the princess is famous."
"What are they saying?"
"Well… some rumors say you're threatening the princess, so many people want to 'save' her."
"…Threatening the princess? Are they insane? What idiots."
"Exactly, brother. Who would dare do that?"
"Anything else?"
"There's a rumor about a knight from planet Elyndor who wants to rescue the princess."
"When is he coming?"
"I don't know. That's all I've heard."
"I see… That's enough. Get lost."
"Thank you for your generosity." Bagogo bowed before leaving with his subordinates.
"It's still daytime… does that ship have camouflage or something?"
---
Ace returned to the Mirror World. The alien he captured had regained consciousness but was shaking as Dragreder hovered overhead.
"Hey! Do you know who I am?!"
"Nyeh nyeh… you sound like the spoiled young master from a Chinese novel."
"Watch your mouth—!"
Dragreder aimed its sword like tail at the alien's neck.
"That's enough. Go to sleep again." Ace knocked him out once more.
"Time to take you to Zastin."
Ace loaded the alien onto a small cart attached to his bike and rode off toward Zastin's hidden spacecraft, Dragreder flying alongside him.
Upon arrival, Ace created a mirror and brought both himself and the cart back to the real world.
"Zastin!"
Zastin emerged from the ship. "Ace-sama, what do you need?"
"Another alien."
"Understood. Would you like to come inside first?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty tired."
Inside the ship, Ace looked around.
"Why is your ship so small?"
"This is only the Earth base. The main base is on the Moon."
Ace watched as Zastin placed the alien into the prison.
"So captured aliens just get imprisoned?"
"Yes, but bounty hunters may be executed."
"And nobles?"
"Probably imprisoned as well, along with heavy penalties for their families."
Ace leaned against the corridor wall, looking at the trembling bound alien.
"If we just keep locking them up, prisons are going to overflow."
Zastin nodded. "True. The number of intergalactic prisoners has been steadily increasing."
Ace smirked. "Then let's just shrink them."
"Sorry?" Zastin blinked.
Ace created a large box-shaped device, had Zastin deactivate the barrier, pulled the alien into it, and activated the machine. Smoke filled the chamber. When it cleared, only a small figurine remained.
Ace nodded in satisfaction.
"His consciousness is active but locked. He's alive, just unable to do anything."
Zastin paused. "That's… very efficient. But what about security?"
Ace created a bottle and placed the figurine inside.
"This keeps it safe. If anyone tries to restore him without proper procedures, he'll explode into pieces."
Zastin bowed deeply.
"This technology will save enormous resources."
'Yeah, I copied the idea from the Timeranger prison, with a few changes,' Ace thought.
"Use it for now," Ace said, waving it off as he handed over the bottle. "So handling uninvited guests gets easier. I'll be going."
"Safe travels, Ace-sama."
Ace opened another mirror and returned to the Mirror World, walking leisurely while rereading the instructions to create Evildiver that he'd been putting off.
Once finished, he began constructing Evildiver.
"Whew, this was faster than making Dragreder. Let's test it."
Ace mounted Evildiver like a hoverboard and shot into the sky, Dragreder flying beside him.
He smirked. "Not bad."
Banking low, he raced along the empty streets, weaving past the silent buildings as the wind whistled past his ears.
"Yep… this is my new ride."
A few minutes later, he slowed down and hovered above one of the tallest buildings.
Standing atop Evildiver, Ace looked out.
"Aliens, devils, fallen angels, whatever you are… you're starting to get me excited."
Dragreder roared softly in agreement.
Ace took a deep breath and opened a small portal beside him. With a single light step, he walked into the mirror.
The portal closed.
The Mirror World fell silent once again.
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I might not be able to post updates for two weeks because of exams.