The quarry's dust still clung to my clothes like a second skin as I teleported back to the Occult Research Club room, the familiar creak of the wooden floorboards grounding me in the real world. Day one of the grind had been brutal but promising—Rias's peerage had pushed their limits, their stats ticking up incrementally through sheer exertion and my guided drills. Akeno's lightning had chained with devastating precision by the end, Kiba's sword forms blurring into afterimages, and Koneko's punches had left craters that would take weeks to fill. Rias herself had landed a Power of Destruction blast that simulated a direct hit on a "Riser hologram," her blue eyes alight with that rare spark of unbridled determination. Their levels hadn't jumped yet—still hovering around 20-25—but the foundation was set. Nine days remained, and with my Intelligence orchestrating the chaos, we were on track. Or so I thought.
The ORC room was a haze of post-training haze: Akeno fanning herself with a stack of occult scrolls, her ponytail disheveled but her sadistic smile intact; Kiba wiping sweat from his brow, his sword sheathed but humming with residual energy; Koneko curled on the sofa, a half-eaten candy bar clutched like a talisman, her golden eyes half-lidded in exhaustion. Rias leaned against her desk, crimson hair tousled, sipping tea that Akeno had somehow conjured mid-debrief. Gasper's box rattled faintly in the corner, a muffled "G-Good job, everyone..." escaping like a whisper on the wind.
I slumped into a chair, Gamer's Body muting the ache in my muscles but not the mental fatigue. Boosted Gear had carried me through the spars—doubling my stats to 300 had turned me into an unyielding trainer, spotting flaws and countering with precision strikes that forced growth. Ddraig's gravelly voice echoed in my mind: "Not bad, partner. They're raw, but they've got fire. Keep stoking it, and that phoenix'll choke on his own ashes." Rias's relationship score had climbed to 48/100, a quiet nod of thanks in her glance as she recapped the session: "We adapt faster tomorrow. Issei, your insights on chaining attacks—brilliant."
Akeno giggled, pouring me a cup. "Ara ara, such praise from Buchou. Careful, Issei-kun, or we might start thinking you're peerage material after all." Her score: 20/100, the flirtation laced with genuine curiosity. Kiba offered a respectful fist-bump—14/100—while Koneko tossed me a spare sweet with a grunt: "Not bad, pervert." 10/100. Progress, inch by inch.
But as the group dispersed—promises of "rest and refine" hanging in the air—a sharp, ethereal chime pierced the quiet. The Gamer System's blue screen materialized, unbidden and insistent, its glow casting long shadows across the antique rugs.
No one else reacted; to them, it was invisible, a secret veil between me and the mechanics of this twisted reality. My heart thudded once, then steadied under Gamer's Mind's iron grip. Gifts? In the middle of an arc? The system was never this generous without strings.
System Gift Allocation: Temporal Boon
Rationale: Player's training regimen demands accelerated progression. To facilitate allied growth without real-world temporal disruption, the following one-time gifts are granted:
Gift 1: Empty Dungeon Ticket (x2)
Description: Single-use portal to a pocket dimension (Empty Dungeon). Real-world time dilation: 5 seconds pass per entry. Internal time: Infinite (no decay, fatigue, or resource depletion). Environment: Customizable barren expanse for training/combat/meditation.
Usage: Verbal activation ("Enter Empty Dungeon") or mental command. Supports up to 10 occupants per ticket. Exits at will; no cooldown.
Warning: One-time use only per ticket. Irreversible consumption upon activation.
The screen dissolved like mist, leaving me staring at empty air. Two tickets? Infinite time in a five-second real-world blink? That was a godsend—a literal cheat code for grinding levels without the world noticing. Rias's peerage could train for months in what felt like a nap to them. But the "up to 10 occupants" clause sparked an idea: my fallen angel girlfriends. Raynare, Kalawarner, Mittelt—they were Level 18-20 at best, their stats in the 40-60 range, loyal but outclassed by the boosted Riser.
Before I could dwell, another chime layered over the first, the screen reforming with quest parameters that sealed my path.
New Quest: Harem's Ascendance
Objective: Train your three girlfriends (Raynare, Kalawarner, Mittelt) to Level 45 using one Empty Dungeon Ticket. Leverage infinite time for intensive combat simulations, skill honing, and stat optimization. All their stats will receive +4 per level gained (compounding with base growth).
Rewards:
Relationship status with Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt rises to 99/100 (Lover status upgraded; locked at 99% until marriage rite performed, then 100/100 - Eternal Bond).
+100 Stat Points (allocatable post-quest).
Failure Penalty: Girlfriends' levels unchanged; -20 to user's Luck; relationship scores capped at 80/100.
Time Limit: 10 Days (integrates with ongoing Rating Game preparations).
Accept? [Y/N]
I selected Y mentally, the weight of it settling like a crown. 99% relationship—near-total devotion, with marriage as the capstone. The system was nudging me toward a harem dynasty, but with the restriction against revealing its secrets, I'd have to frame this as a "discovered magical artifact" or some devilish loophole. Infinite time meant no excuses; we'd emerge gods among fallen angels.
The ORC meeting wrapped soon after, Rias assigning "homework"—reviewing arena maps—and I slipped out under the cover of dusk. My mind raced with logistics: activate the ticket tonight, pull the trio in, grind until they hit 45. Asia would need covering; she'd worry if we vanished. My Luck would smooth it—maybe a "girls' night out" excuse.
Home was a beacon of controlled chaos. Mom and Dad were out for a rare date night—bless their hearts—leaving the house to us. Asia was in the living room, curled on the couch with a book on Japanese myths, her blonde hair haloed by the lamp. She looked up, smiling that pure, trusting smile. "Issei! Training went well? You smell like rocks."
I chuckled, dropping my bag. "Dust and sweat, yeah. Rias's group is tough—pushed me hard." Her Best Friend score flickered to 84/100; her concern was genuine, a balm after the quarry's brutality. "Hey, big favor? The girls and I are doing an... intensive study session tonight. Late. You okay holding down the fort? Order pizza if you want."
She nodded eagerly. "Of course! I'll pray for your success. Be safe." A quick hug, her Twilight Healing resonance humming between us—my copy pulsing in sync, a reminder of our shared "gift."
Upstairs, the trio awaited in my room, wings partially unfurled in the privacy of drawn curtains. Raynare lounged on the bed, her black leather outfit hugging her curves like a second skin, violet eyes sharpening as I entered. "You look like you wrestled a devil and lost. Spill—how'd the grind go?"
Kalawarner leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her ample chest, her tall frame casting a shadow. "Yeah, lover. That Gremory bitch wearing you down? We could crash their party—show 'em real power."
Mittelt bounced on the desk chair, her gothic dress swirling, blonde drills framing a mischievous grin. "Or illusions! I could make Riser think he's fighting a horde of angry chickens!"
Their energy was infectious, fierce, unyielding loyalty forged in combat and passion. I locked the door, pulling the three into a group embrace, their scents mingling: Raynare's smoky allure, Kalawarner's earthy strength, Mittelt's sweet mischief. "It's good," I said, kissing Raynare's forehead, then Kalawarner's lips, Mittelt's cheek. "Rias's team is stepping up. But Riser... he's juiced. Stronger than before. We need you three at peak—beyond."
Raynare arched a brow, her hand tracing my jaw. "Beyond? We're fallen angels, Issei. We've got light spears that could pierce the heavens."
"Not enough," I replied, Gamer's Mind scripting the reveal. No system talk—just a "discovery." "During training, I stumbled on something—an old artifact in the quarry. A pocket realm. Time bends there: seconds outside, eternity inside. Infinite training ground, no fatigue, no limits. We go in, grind levels like never before. You hit 45, you're untouchable."
Their eyes widened—Raynare's calculating, Kalawarner's hungry, Mittelt's sparkling. Observe on Raynare: "Artifact? Sounds like holy relic bullshit, but if it amps us... yes." Kalawarner: "Infinite time? I'll crush boulders into dust." Mittelt: "Endless playtime? Whee! But with Issei? Even better."
Raynare pulled back, smirking. "You're full of surprises, lover. How do we activate this 'artifact'?"
"Mental command," I lied smoothly, the restriction a silent sentinel. "But it's one-shot—two tickets, actually. One for us now. Ready?"
They nodded in unison, wings folding tight. I focused, the ticket's power surging like a key turning in reality's lock. "Enter Empty Dungeon." The air rippled, a swirling vortex of azure light blooming in the room's center—silent, contained, invisible to outsiders. No fanfare, just a doorway to infinity.
"Step through," I said, taking Raynare's hand. She squeezed, then Kalawarner's, Mittelt's—a chain of trust. Asia wouldn't notice; five seconds real-time, and we'd be back.
The transition was seamless: one step through the vortex, and the world inverted. My bedroom vanished, replaced by an endless expanse—a customizable void I'd mentally shaped into a vast arena. Towering obsidian spires pierced a starless sky, craters pocked the obsidian floor, and holographic dummies shimmered into existence: spectral foes modeled after Riser's peerage, complete with boosted stats (Level 42, 126 across the board). Gravity was tunable, weather simulated—blizzards for endurance, flames for resistance. Infinite time stretched before us, the system's magic ensuring no hunger, no sleep, no erosion of will. Gamer's Body extended to them here, a subtle perk.
"Holy shit," Kalawarner breathed, her wings flaring wide. "This is... endless."
Mittelt spun, giggling. "It's like a dream! Look—I can fly forever!"
Raynare tested a light spear against a dummy—shattering it in a burst of pixels. "Efficient. No holding back, then. Issei, lead."
The grind began in earnest, my Intelligence architecting a regimen that layered combat, synergy, and recovery. Phase one: baseline assessment. I summoned waves of holographic exorcists (Levels 10-15), forcing the trio to coordinate. Raynare orchestrated from afar, her spears piercing clusters; Kalawarner charged melee, her enhanced strength (base 40) crumpling foes; Mittelt wove illusions, turning enemies on each other. Kills netted "EXP" via the system's invisible flow—levels ticking after every dozen waves.
First milestone: Level 20 for all. Two "hours" in (though time meant nothing), Raynare hit it first, a surge rippling through her. "+4 to all stats," the quest noted internally—her Strength jumping from 45 to 49, Endurance 50 to 54, Agility 55 to 59, Intelligence 60 to 64, Luck 30 to 34. HP to 5,900/5,900, MP 7,400/7,400. She gasped, power flooding her veins. "I feel... sharper."
Kalawarner followed, her bust heaving with exertion, Level 20 boosting her tanky build: Strength 45 to 49, Endurance 50 to 54 (HP 5,900), Agility 50 to 54, etc. Mittelt squealed at her ascent, her agility spiking to 64, illusions becoming tangible mirages.
I sparred them personally, Boosted Gear humming. "BOOST!" My stats to 300, dodging Raynare's barrage while barking corrections: "Flank left—Kalawarner, cover her blind spot!" Punches landed light, Gamer's Body converting impacts to minimal HP loss (dipping to 14,800/15,000). They adapted fast, their bond syncing like a well-oiled machine.
Phase two: elemental trials. I dialed the arena to Phenex flames—holographic infernos licking at 1,000 degrees, forcing resistance. Mittelt's illusions shielded them, creating "cool zones"; Kalawarner's raw power shattered fire walls; Raynare's spears pierced the heart, dissipating blazes. Levels climbed: 25 by "day three" (arbitrary marker), stats +20 across (+4 x5 levels). Raynare's Agility hit 75, her spears curving mid-air. Kalawarner's Endurance 74, shrugging off burns that would fell lesser beings. Mittelt's Intelligence 85, her tricks evolving into multi-layered deceptions—fake Risers multiplying chaos.
Breaks were intimate, the infinite time allowing vulnerability. We'd collapse in a conjured pavilion—soft sands under stars I willed into existence—bodies entwined in rest and passion. Raynare's kisses were commanding, her hands mapping my scars; Kalawarner's embraces crushed with affectionate strength, her curves pressing like anchors; Mittelt's playfulness turned tender, her small frame curling into mine. No fatigue meant endless exploration—nights blurring into lovemaking that deepened our connection, their moans echoing in the void. Observe showed thoughts shifting: Raynare's from "strategic ally" to "my everything"; Kalawarner's "protector" to "soulmate"; Mittelt's "fun partner" to "irreplaceable."
Mid-grind, at Level 30 (+40 stats total), synergy drills intensified. I summoned a full Riser peerage simulation—Level 45 Riser (135 stats) flanked by his boosted knights and bishops. The trio shone: Raynare sniped from shadows, Kalawarner tanked flames (her 94 Endurance regenerating via simulated Twilight fields I projected), Mittelt's illusions turned the tide—fake allies confusing the holograms into self-destruction. Kills poured EXP; Level 35 hit in a rush, stats to 110-120 range. Their wings gleamed brighter, light spears evolving—Raynare's homing, Kalawarner's explosive, Mittelt's illusory duplicates.
Challenges mounted: I upped the ante with multi-phase bosses—chimeric horrors blending fallen angel light with Phenex fire. They faltered once, Kalawarner taking a "fatal" hit (HP to 1/11,800), but my Twilight Healing copy surged, blue rings enveloping her in Balance Breaker glory. "Up!" I commanded, pulling her to feet. She roared back, smashing the beast. Tears in her eyes post-fight: "For you, Issei—we'll burn the world."
Level 40: +80 stats. Godlike. Raynare's Intelligence 140, outthinking simulations; Kalawarner's Strength 130, rivaling mine; Mittelt's Agility 140, a blur of deceptive strikes. Their relationship, fueled by shared triumphs.
The final push: a gauntlet of 100 waves, escalating to Riser himself. Infinite time wore on "years" in simulation, but bonds held. At wave 99, exhaustion mirrored—mental, not physical—they collapsed around me, wings draped like cloaks. "One more," Raynare whispered, her hand in mine.
We triumphed. The final hologram shattered, EXP flooding. Level 45 for all: +100 stats total (+4 x25 levels from 20 base). Raynare: All 145, HP 14,500, MP 7,250. Kalawarner: Same, her tankiness mythic. Mittelt: Agility/Intelligence 155, a trickster goddess.
The system chimed, victory sweet.
Quest Complete: Harem's Ascendance
Rewards:
Relationship status with Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt: 99/100 (Lover - Eternal Flame; locked until marriage rite).
+100 Stat Points (unallocated).
Updated Relationship System:
Raynare: 99/100
Kalawarner: 99/100
Mittelt: 99/100
They rose, transformed—power radiating, eyes locked on me with devotion bordering worship. Raynare pulled me into a searing kiss. "Husband... soon." Kalawarner crushed me in joy, Mittelt twining between. The void echoed their vows unspoken.
"Exit," I commanded. Five seconds later, back in my room—Asia none the wiser, pizza box open on the counter.
They collapsed, spent but exalted. "What... was that?" Mittelt panted.
"A gift," I said, holding them close. "For us."
The grind continued—for Rias's team, for the game. But now, my queens were ready. The board tilted.