A Beach Episode In the Middle of The Test, Young Man?!

The Five Stars—Kirie Isogai, Alden Vael, Nyx Nocturna, Ignatia Calden, and Zenric Florendar—collectively agreed to venture to the rides first (with a strong lead from Ignatia), drawn to the sprawling water playpark that stretched beyond the horizon.

It unfurled like a liquid kingdom, its vast expanse shimmering under the sapphire sky, a marvel of magic and technology intertwined. Towering slides hovered aloft, suspended by invisible currents of arcane power, their sleek surfaces glinting as they twisted through the air.

Some melded holograms with solid forms—graceful statues of Ophelia, the goddess of light who reshaped the world, poised in respectful yet striking swimsuits. Her luminous figures struck elegant poses mid-slide, one arm outstretched as if blessing the revelry below, her form flickering between ethereal projection and tangible stone.

Certain rides pierced the heavens, their peaks vanishing into wisps of cloud, while others dared the impossible—teleportation portals pulsed with radiant glyphs, whisking riders through daring drops in a blink, water splashing in their wake. Wavy riptides churned with artificial vigor, lazy rivers meandered in gentle loops, all powered by a seamless fusion of tech and enchantment.

Even the parasols dotting the sandy expanse hummed faintly, their canopies laced with ice magic that cast a cool, refreshing mist, warding off heatstroke. Beach chairs, aligned in neat rows, thrummed with the same chilling charm, their cushions firm yet inviting beneath the tropical sun.

At the heart of it all loomed a grand refreshment bar, its sprawling counter vast enough to serve over a hundred students at once. Drinks materialized in a symphony of service—some conjured by swirling magical runes that poured juice into hovering cups, others delivered by rhombus-shaped androids.

These sleek, AI-powered waiters and waitresses glided silently across the deck, their metallic facets catching the light as they offered trays of frosted smoothies and sparkling water with a soft, mechanical whir. The air buzzed with the playpark's energy, a testament to Empyrea Solis's opulence, beckoning the Five Stars into its embrace.

"Woah! Soooo cool!" Ignatia's voice burst forth, a bright spark of awe as she took in the playpark's endless possibilities. Her swimsuit dazzled—an exotic weave of white, gold, and brown that hugged her toned, pugilist frame, each hue accentuating the hard-earned muscle rippling beneath her sun-kissed skin.

"They have the teleport slides here, look!" She'd point at the detached, glowing half-pipes floating across the sky. Her fiery hair, swept into a neat ponytail, swayed with each eager step, unhindered by the short pareo skirt draped around her wide hips. The flounced bikini top lent a graceful flourish to her bouncy, healthy breasts, charms dangling from its edges with a faint jingle, pulsing with the same fiery energy that defined the Fist of Fire.

"You just love being the center of attention, don't you...?" Nyx, by contrast, exuded a quieter allure in a seductive, dark purple cutout bikini, its daring design veiled beneath a sheer, flowing robe. The translucent fabric teased glimpses of her slender yet bountiful figure—graceful curves softening a frame slightly pudgier than Ignatia's taut musculature.

The black embrace of her robe seemed an extension of her power, shadows clinging to it like a living shroud, even weaving upward to form a wide-brimmed straw hat that shielded her pale skin from the sun's glare. The Dark Maw's mystery draped her as naturally as the garment itself.

"Energy is good, at least! Ahaha..." Kirie stuck to the peach polo and light chinos Mille had provided, their loose fit doing little to showcase his compact, toned physique beneath. The bright Empyrea Solis sun demanded more protection, and a sleek nanotech visor—its surface shimmering with faint glyphs—shielded his eyes, filtering the harsh rays while lending him a subtle, futuristic edge. The oversized clothing billowed faintly as he moved, masking the dense muscle he'd flexed earlier.

"There are patches of soil here and there... the spirits can rest while we all enjoy ourselves." Zenric Florendar kept it simple, his short-sleeved zip-up hoodie—earthy green, naturally—paired with loose shorts that hung comfortably over his lean legs. The Son of Gaia's casual attire mirrored his grounded demeanor, the fabric rustling softly as if kissed by a breeze only he could summon.

"Sun is good... for sleeping..." Alden Vael, meanwhile, opted for dark blue shorts that complemented his gray, blue-tipped hair, the color streaking like lightning against a stormy sky. The Blue Flash's minimalist choice left his wiry frame bare, his lethargic air unbothered by the tropical heat.

"Let's try the surfing pools! Those look fun!" Ignatia seized Kirie's and Nyx's hands with an eager tug, her grip firm and unyielding as she dragged them toward the surfing pools. Her ponytail bounced with each determined stride, her golden-brown swimsuit flashing in the sun as she charged ahead, the Fist of Fire's enthusiasm igniting the air.

"O-Okay, don't pull!" Kirie stumbled slightly, his oversized polo flapping, while Nyx's sheer robe billowed behind her like a dark sail, her protests muffled under Ignatia's relentless pull. The pools churned ahead, artificial waves cresting with a frothy roar, powered by a seamless blend of magic and tech.

"I'll go laze around and let the spirits recharge..." Meanwhile, Zenric Florendar surrendered to the lazy rides, his lean frame sinking into a cushioned float that bobbed along the meandering river. The Son of Gaia's green hoodie darkened as water lapped at its edges, his eyes half-closed in tranquil surrender to the current's gentle sway, the earthy motes in his aura dimming in the cool embrace.

Alden Vael, ever the pragmatist, lingered behind, reserving five self-cooling parasols for the group. The Blue Flash's languid movements belied his efficiency, his blue-tipped hair glinting as he staked their claim, the parasols humming softly, their ice-laced mist curling into the humid air like a promise of respite. "Ahhh... chilly and sunny... perfect for sleeping..." was all he heard before he succumbed to sleep.

"Ugh…" Nyx let out a low grunt, her voice thick with reluctance as Ignatia yanked her toward a slide crafted for three riders. Its sleek, curving design demanded a tight formation—two sandwiching one in the middle. Among the trio, Nyx stood tallest, her slender frame looming over Kirie and Ignatia, relegating her to the rear position.

Kirie, smallest and nimblest, was destined for the front, a lineup that left Nyx with a strange pang of emptiness gnawing at her chest. The sensation—elusive, unsettling—confounded her as much as it stirred unease, its source a mystery that shadowed her thoughts through every step of their positioning debate.

"Kiki, you're front!" Ignatia declared, her tone brimming with unshakable confidence as she tugged Kirie forward. She maneuvered him into the lead spot of their compact harness—a buoyant contraption of hydrophobic cushions woven with shimmering magic, its surface repelling water with a faint, iridescent sheen.

Ignatia wedged herself snugly into the middle, her toned body pressed tight against the harness's contours, her golden-brown swimsuit gleaming as she settled in. Nyx, resigned, took up the rear guard, her dark purple bikini peeking through the sheer robe that fluttered faintly with each reluctant shift.

"K-Kiki—o-okay, sure!" Kirie stammered, caught off guard by the sudden pull. A flicker of instinct urged him to take the back—to shield the women, to ensure their safety—but Ignatia's raw strength overpowered his hesitation. Her tug was swift and unyielding, dragging him into place before he could protest, his peach polo flapping as he stumbled into the harness's front. His nanotech visor glinted under the sun, a fleeting shield against the chaos of Ignatia's command.

"Here we go, guys! Get ready…" Ignatia's voice buzzed with excitement as she nestled into position, her breasts pressing snugly against Kirie's shoulders. Their taut softness enveloped him, a warm, yielding cushion that sparked a fleeting memory of Panthera's embrace back in the car (Chapter 2). Ignatia's arms slid around his chest, her grip casual yet firm, locking him in place within the harness.

How these women—especially Ignatia—grew so at ease with a man pressed this close remained a mystery to Kirie, his mind blissfully unaware of the intimacy, focused instead on the ride ahead. Nyx, at the rear, stayed silent, her presence a shadow against his back.

Before another word could escape, a sharp burst of propulsion hummed from their magic harness—its hydrophobic cushions flaring with arcane light. The trio lurched forward, rocketing down the clear, see-through tunnel.

Empyrea Solis blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors—turquoise waves, golden sunlight, and Ophelia's shimmering statues streaking past in a dizzying spectacle. Ignatia's fun-filled squeal erupted, a high-pitched burst of glee that bounced off the cylindrical walls, reverberating through the tube as they twisted and rocked, the harness swaying with each wild curve.

The trio shot upward, flung skyward by the slide's final twist, the magic harness propelling them into a brief, weightless arc. Then they plummeted, crashing into the pool below with a thunderous splash, water erupting in a frothy cascade around them. Kirie sank beneath the surface, bubbles streaming from his nose as he flailed in the cool depths.

The two taller figures—once snug behind him—tumbled toward him through the churn. Where he'd braced for their heads to collide with his face, he met instead the soft, firm press of their breasts, Ignatia's and Nyx's curves enveloping him in an unexpected embrace. Instinct kicked in; his forearms tensed, hands grasping their waists as he steadied them, the group bobbing back toward the surface in a tangle of limbs.

Nyx and Ignatia flinched at his hold, a jolt rippling through them as Kirie's face pressed unwittingly against their chests. Their eyes met above the waterline, flushed cheeks mirroring each other—Nyx's pale skin blooming pink, Ignatia's tan glowing with a startled flush.

Wordlessly, they kicked upward, parting the waves to grant Kirie air. He broke the surface with a gasp, his nanotech visor fogged with droplets, eyes blinking wide as he sucked in the humid Empyrea Solis breeze, oblivious to the awkward intimacy he'd just stumbled into.

"G-get off, Isogai…" Nyx rasped, the first to squirm free, her hands pressing against Kirie's flexed forearm. Her slender fingers brushed over dense, packed muscle, taut beneath his damp skin, and that sickeningly sweet scent flooded her nostrils—golden, cloying, burrowing into her psyche like an unwelcome whisper. Her dark eyes narrowed, a shiver of unease rippling through her as she pushed harder, desperate to break the contact.

"Mmm? Is it just me, or does Kiki smell so sweet?" Ignatia mused, her tone light and unguarded, a stark contrast to Nyx's tension. She tilted her head, ponytail dripping as she leaned closer, inhaling with unabashed curiosity. The Fist of Fire's open-minded wonder shone through, her golden-brown swimsuit glistening as she shrugged off the oddity, blissfully clueless where Nyx recoiled.

"Pwah…! I feel like years were shaved off me from that slide…" Kirie exhaled, a relieved sigh escaping as he slumped forward, his cheek brushing against one of Ignatia's breasts in the tangled heap. A beat later, realization jolted him upright. "O-Oh, sorry!" he yelped, his arms slackening as he released them, hands retreating with a sheepish flinch. "I-I saw you two barreling toward me, so I got scared you'd sink straight to the pool floor…" His eyes darted between them, wide with apology, his nanotech visor still fogged from the splash.

"It's okay! That was fun!" Ignatia's voice rang out, bright and buoyant as she beamed at Kirie and Nyx, her grin a radiant flare. She waved them toward the pool's edge, her toned arms cutting through the water as she urged them to regroup.

The tropical heat pressed against her skin, warm and familiar, coaxing her to arch her back and push her chest forward—a subtle stretch for comfort that doubled as an unintentional tease. Each deep inhale to steady her racing pulse drew Kirie's golden scent deeper into her lungs, a heady oil stoking the vibrant fire simmering within her, her golden-brown swimsuit glinting as she basked in the afterglow.

"I didn't expect the magic harness to pop when we were in the sky…!" Kirie gasped, hauling himself onto the poolside with heaving breaths. He sprawled back against the smooth, cool marble, its surface faintly thrumming with tech designed to wick away excess water from dripping swimmers. His peach polo clung to his frame, sodden and oversized, as he let the stone soak up the dampness, his nanotech visor tilted askew, lilac-cyan eyes catching the sun's gleam.

"Tsk…" Nyx clicked her tongue, arms folding tightly across her chest as she lingered in the shallows. Vulnerability gnawed at her despite the dark purple bikini and sheer robe cloaking her more than the others. The fabric hugged her too snugly, the cutouts pressing against her skin, and even the robe—normally a seamless extension of her shadowy power—felt stifling, an alien weight she longed to shed. Her pale cheeks still burned from the earlier press, her dark eyes darting away as she wrestled with the urge to retreat.

"I think we should go around the rivers and more slides!" Ignatia's voice erupted with infectious zeal, her energy surging anew as she sprang into motion. She seized Kirie and Nyx by their wrists, her grip a warm, unyielding ember that brooked no hesitation. Her igneous spontaneity swallowed their fleeting comfort whole, dragging them back into her orbit with the relentless force of a wildfire.

Her golden-brown swimsuit flashed as she pivoted, ponytail whipping through the humid air, her toned legs already propelling her toward the lazy rivers and towering slides shimmering in the distance.

Kirie stumbled along, his damp polo flapping against his thighs, caught off guard yet again by her fervor, his nanotech visor glinting as he tried to match her pace. Nyx, tugged in her wake, stiffened briefly, her sheer robe trailing like a dark banner, the damp fabric clinging to her skin as her dark eyes flickered with a mix of resignation and unease.

Ignatia's boundless drive steamrolled over their pause, her fiery momentum a stark contrast to the cool water lapping at their feet, pulling them toward the next thrill.