[SYSTEM]: You have obtained A+-Rank: Infinite Martial Training.
Izumi's heart leapt. He couldn't believe that by sacrificing Hyoudou Issei, he had actually gained these two incredible items.
Without hesitation, he fused both into his body.
As the Third Method merged with him, Izumi felt a subtle but profound change ripple through his body. What had once been a limited amount of magical power suddenly became infinite, flowing endlessly like an unbounded river.
His muscles tightened and strengthened, and in his mind, countless combat techniques appeared, as if waiting for him to use them.
This… this was Infinite Martial Training.
In some bygone era, legendary warriors had trained their body, mind, and technique to perfection, achieving total harmony. Their fighting ability was unaffected by fatigue, fear, or pain—they were simply unstoppable.
In other words… Izumi could now fight with his eyes closed and still obliterate anyone in his path.
He opened his status panel and stared. Everything had changed.
[Izumi]
Overall Strength: A+
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Talent: None
Skills: Projection, Unlimited Blade Works, Phantasm Collapse, Third Method: Soul Materialization, Infinite Martial Training
Other than having no innate talent, Izumi's strength had skyrocketed to A+-Rank, possessing city-destroying power.
Even his advanced sword techniques had merged into Infinite Martial Training, becoming slightly stronger in the process.
Thanks to the Third Method, Izumi could now project legendary swords like a certain magical girl from another world—just as Illya did with Saber's holy sword—without worrying about insufficient magical power.
Previously, he lacked enough mana to pull this off. But now… it was all possible.
It reminded him a little of Red-A's situation. Sure, Red-A was flashy, but in reality, he was weak. His combat power in the fourth and fifth battles was laughably low.
In the fourth battle, besides Hassan, he would probably lose to anyone. In the fifth, he was repeatedly beaten, barely holding his ground against a few heroic spirits.
Even the little black Servant from Illya's universe was stronger, thanks to the Holy Grail inside her that granted virtually infinite magic. That allowed her to project the Holy Sword and duel Black Saber. Without that, Red-A would have been useless.
Now, Izumi possessed the complete Third Method, making his strength self-evident. He had reached city-destroying level.
Even his photon cannon could be fired casually. No wonder he exclaimed that he had been ridiculously lucky.
Standing up with a broad grin, he thought: "This system really isn't bad at all. Maybe I can find more artifact owners, defeat them, and offer their treasures. Then I'll get even more goodies."
As Izumi picked up some of the ingredients he had bought earlier, a crimson magic circle suddenly appeared before him.
He raised an eyebrow.
The next moment, Rias Gremory appeared gracefully in front of him.
"Huh… Izumi-kun?" she said softly.
"I sensed the presence of a Fallen Angel… and that human's wish," she added, frowning as she noticed the pool of blood and a few black feathers behind him.
Something had clearly happened here. Her perception was precise.
Izumi shrugged casually.
"Yeah, a Fallen Angel appeared, but she killed one guy and then left."
He casually mentioned Hyoudou Issei, one of the three notorious perverts of their school.
Rias' eyes narrowed at that.
"Then, Izumi-kun… can you explain what exactly happened?"
"And why did a Fallen Angel attack a human?"
Izumi rolled his eyes, slightly exasperated.
"How would I know? By the time I arrived, he had already turned to ash. Yes, ash! Then the Fallen Angel ran off, and you showed up next. So… I really have no clue."
Rias' brows furrowed. Something about this didn't feel right. Izumi was definitely hiding something.
Besides the Fallen Angel's presence, she could sense the aura of a powerful artifact.
Could Izumi be an artifact wielder? Or was the human who turned to ash an artifact user?
Izumi clearly didn't intend to explain further, so Rias didn't press the matter. She still hoped he might join her side one day; since he wasn't offering answers, she let it go.
"I see. Very well. I'll report this properly."
"The appearance of a Fallen Angel is never good news."
She sighed, thinking about the ongoing tension between Fallen Angels, Devils, and Angels—races that were natural enemies.
Hearing that a Fallen Angel had appeared in the city, Rias, as its guardian, could not stand idle. She needed to report to her brother.
Izumi nodded.
"Nothing else to discuss? Then I'll be going. Do as you please."
With that, he turned and left decisively. Some things were better left unsaid. Bodies disappearing? That was normal in this world.
Who knew how many people died every day? Hyoudou Issei, after all, was just a human awakened to the warrior template. If he vanished… well, that was that.
Rias wouldn't overthink it. At most, she'd inform Issei's family.
Watching Izumi leave, Rias frowned.
She cast a small magic circle, and in an instant, the bloodstains were gone.
Sighing, she muttered:
"This world really is getting more chaotic. This is the seventh incident… I have no idea how many people have died. And Izumi-kun… he's grown even stronger."
"Incredible… and yet, he still refuses to join my retinue."
With another magic circle, she vanished from the scene.
Her demonic senses clearly felt Izumi's new strength. He was stronger than when they had met that afternoon.
Had he been hiding his power, or had he truly grown this much in such a short time?
Either way, it only strengthened Rias' resolve to recruit him.
Izumi's potential was far too enticing. She even suspected… could he be an artifact wielder himself?