Vale spent a little more time in the training room, not only to keep practicing his [Intermediate Shapeshifter] in combat, but also to assess his warriors' strength.

From what he saw, he was thoroughly impressed.

As long as they worked together, a group of four capable warriors could fight Toy to a draw.

As for the most impressive of his warriors… that would have to be Diana the Archer, although currently wielding a sword. While she was the one who had [Draw Back], they still did not have the means to craft arrows, so she was still stuck using the sword.

The next best would have to be Seven, who was a part of Alpha's squad and used a dagger. And Alpha herself was third…

As for why these three mattered, it was because they were going to be candidates to become the general and commanders of the warriors of his Legion for his attack on Liora.

Stacy was one as well, but he didn't get the chance to properly assess her.

With the time on the ink door ticking down, Vale left the training hall behind and waited until it opened.

He waited a minute to try to avoid a situation like last time, then walked in.

'Oh, you've got to be shitting me!'

Vale found himself once again alone with Sloth.

Vale gulped in fear as he put one foot in front of the other. Walking slowly, like he had something wrong with his ankle.

As he got closer and closer, no one else had entered. Then, Vale remembered what had happened at the last meeting…

Envy had skipped because she was preparing for the invasion, which was about a month away now, at the earliest.

Greed was probably on her way to Envy's dungeon, assuming she was going in person.

Pride and Wrath…

'They're not going to show up, are they…'

Vale begged that Gluttony would somehow show up, but even if they did, the hell were they going to do to help him? They would be weaker than him?!

Not to mention, they had most likely not been summoned to Pandora yet.

'Yeah, screw this!'

Sure, he had some questions and was in need of an oracle, but surely he could find another one other than this creepy fucker!

Vale was in the act of turning tail when he saw a flash of green off in the distance.

'Envy?'

Begrudgingly, Vale halted his retreat and faced the table, reining in his fear.

He had too many questions for the bitch to turn away from her. Especially at a moment when they might be the only two who show up — Sloth not included.

Vale trudged onward and sat down on the pink throne, not once glancing at Sloth.

'If you can't see them, they can't see you, right?'

Eventually, Envy arrived at the table and, after a cursory glance at the empty chairs, sat in the green throne next to Sloth.

'If I were her, I would've run…'

Was Envy brave, or foolish? Or was she expecting Wrath to show up?

Vale, despite his apprehension, spoke first:

"Hello, pleasure to see you again, Envy."

Instantly, the crystal in the middle of the round table grew red and shot a red beam into his chest.

Envy's gaze narrowed before she responded:

"Likewise."

The red beam barely went dormant for a moment before it reactivated and shot toward Envy.

Vale gave the wicked woman a snarky smirk.

"I heard you're a native of this world. Tell me, how did you become a Dungeon Master?"

A flicker of surprise washed through Envy's face.

The first time they'd met, he revealed he knew a fact he shouldn't have about her dungeon, and now he knew where she came from.

Envy would obviously conclude Wrath had told him, but it would still unnerve her.

"Can't get me off your mind even when I'm not here?"

Vale couldn't help but joke:

"You could say that."

Envy looked at the crystal only to watch as it remained dormant.

"I know my visage is flattering, Lust. But do control yourself. I have enough on my plate as is. At least wait to give me a reason for killing you once I'm done with the Hero of Virtue, not before."

Vale's leer inadvertently drifted toward Sloth, drawn by her subliminal beauty, while he ignored Envy's last comment:

"How are preparations going?"

Envy looked off to her right.

"What's it to you?"

Vale's pink eyes held a sinister look as the corners of his lips curled upward:

"Oh, I don't know. I was going to poke and prod to see if you'd reveal your hand. Never know who your next enemy will be."

Envy stared deeply at Vale, then sighed.

"That's the first sensible thing you've said or done."

Vale reeled back.

"The first? I think I've done and said many sensible things?"

Envy rolled her eyes and slouched over:

"First, you say you summoned an Anathema and a Demon Class. And then you say you obtained over 300 Aether in the first month. You really want to piss me off with every word. Then you defeat another Dungeon Master in your second month. So, yeah, not much sense about you."

'...Is that so?'

Vale's eyes narrowed for a moment before he eased up and laughed.

"I suppose my ordinary feats would look anomalous to you."

After a momentary pause, Vale changed the subject naturally.

"Why are you even here, by the way? Shouldn't you be preparing for the invasion?"

Envy scoffed, then looked at him:

"I was hoping Wrath would be here so I could get his advice on something."

Vale leaned back as he peered at Sloth, who was rolling her head, snoring quietly. No matter how much he willed it, his eyes kept falling on the beautiful, terrifying girl.

"What do you need advice on? I'm a pretty smart guy, I think I can help."

Envy nearly cackled.

"Smarts and lust don't typically go together."

Vale joked:

"Well, it's not like they can't."

"That is true. But in your case, it doesn't seem to be."

The crystal shone red and shot into Envy's chest.

Vale started laughing obnoxiously. Then, he said:

"Aw, how sweet of you. Was that your way of flirting with me?"

Envy gritted her teeth and then screamed:

"Hate that fucking thing! It wasn't even a lie! I don't think you're smart yet, but Masters are not chosen at random, and I doubt an idiot would be chosen. There. Happy?"

Vale watched in slight disappointment as the crystal remained colorless.

'Ah, damn.'

Vale sighed:

"I thought you had a high opinion of me for a moment, I was nearly moved to almost like you. Y'know, I'm not an easy man to make look your way."

The crystal shone a deeper crimson than ever before as it shot the beam into his chest.

Envy almost laughed, but caught herself:

"Oh, please. Don't act like you're not staring at my chest once again. While I don't particularly mind being oogled, I am slightly put off by you."

Vale laughed:

"Slightly? Not entirely? C'mon, say it again, but say entirely."

Envy ground her teeth, then grumbled:

"I don't know how you shrank, but this form of yours is much more to my taste than the last one. Not that I hold an ounce of ardor for you as a person. And if I did, it would merely be for your body."

'Oh?'

Vale had gotten so comfortable in his current body that he'd forgotten he had yet to shapeshift back. Well, obviously, he fixed his hand and shin, but he was still smaller, and his muscles condensed.

'Maybe I should keep my body like this.'

After all, it was very close to his form back on Terra, except his muscles were now much more defined.

'But a true shapeshifter has no need for one form, why not change as per how I feel for the day!'

Vale smiled:

"I'm glad to receive such high praise from you, Ms. Envy."

Another red beam collided with his chest.

Envy looked off to her right, growing impatient.

"Where is he! He's only missed once in all the time I've been here!"

Vale snickered as he said:

"Envy, don't ignore me. I thanked you for your praise."

Envy shouted at Vale:

"Holy crap! Do you ever shut up! If I weren't waiting for Wrath, I'd leave your ass behind in a heartbeat. Gods, you are so annoying. I thought Greed and Pride were bad, but holy shit! You are the worst! The absolute worst!"

Vale's expression grew confused:

"The worst? At what? You're going to have to be more specific."

Envy's hand clenched, and her anger flared. But, after a long, deep breath, she calmed down.

Then Vale finally decided to add:

"By the way, he most likely isn't showing up today. He and Pride had some catching up to do."

Envy sighed, too exasperated to screech.

"Ah, I see… It happened again. Would have appreciated telling me earlier, douche. I'll be off, then. I wish you the best of luck, Lust."

As Envy started to get up, the crystal grew red and shot a beam at her chest.

'Should I confirm it?'

'Or should I maintain my advantage?'

Envy began to slink away. Vale stared at her back.

He muttered much too softly for her to hear:

"Likewise…"

In the end, he chose the advantage.

The crystal glowed red, shooting a red beam into his chest.

'Now… how did you know I won my fight?'

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