"Yes, yes." Linoshi nodded in wholehearted agreement, her blue eyes gazing into the distance as well, wearing an expression of deep understanding.
Sunlight fell upon them, casting long shadows across the jagged rocks.
"How long do you think it'll take me to grasp Ultra Instinct?" Reiz suddenly asked, pulling his gaze back to look at her.
"Huh? Well... um... that's hard to say." Linoshi stammered, her fingers once again unconsciously rubbing at her Battle Suit.
Leino felt like she was rubbing the color right off the armor.
"Is it something we'll only know if I give it a try?" Reiz asked again.
"Yes..." Linoshi gave a small nod.
"Then let's try it now." Reiz urged her eagerly, his eyes shining.
"To grasp Ultra Instinct, the first thing you have to do is cast aside distracting thoughts and emotions, and enter a mindless state." Linoshi's expression grew more solemn as she spoke earnestly, her blue eyes glimmering with focus. "A lot of people find that alone very difficult."
"I'll give it a try." Reiz took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes and stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, his arms hanging naturally at his sides as he relaxed his whole body.
Then Reiz tried to let go of every distracting thought and think of nothing at all.
He didn't think about Frieza or Cooler. He didn't think about the imminent destruction of Planet Vegeta, or the life-and-death struggle that awaited him a month from now.
Think about nothing.
Just stand there quietly.
Time passed, second by second.
Gale-force winds roared past his ears. Now and then, he heard rocks tumbling in the distance, their sound especially clear across the silent wasteland.
About ten minutes later.
Reiz was suddenly delighted to feel as if he had become one with his surroundings.
He could clearly sense the wind around him, feel it brush against his skin, feel the hardness and warmth of the rocks beneath his feet, and feel the warmth of sunlight falling on his body.
Everything was so vivid, and yet so natural.
"Oh my, Reiz... you're incredible!" Linoshi exclaimed excitedly, her blue eyes sparkling. "I never thought you'd reach the mindless state so quickly."
Reiz slowly opened his eyes and looked quietly at Linoshi.
His gaze was as tranquil as water, yet as deep as an abyss.
"That's amazing! Amazing!" Linoshi clapped excitedly, her face alight with genuine joy. She even gave a little hop in place.
"So, at my current rate of training, how long will it take me to grasp Ultra Instinct?" Reiz asked, emerging from that wondrous state.
"I can only give you a rough estimate," Linoshi mused, tilting her head as she thought it over. "It might take at least a month for you to just barely get started."
"A month... just to get started?" Reiz fell into thought.
Now he was curious to see what Linoshi meant by getting started with Ultra Instinct.
Would it be stronger than an ordinary Super Saiyan?
After all, it was a divine technique!
Reiz thought it over carefully and decided to put ordinary Super Saiyan training aside for now.
Even with a whole month, it would be hard for him to raise his base Combat Power to ten million.
Realistically, if he could raise his Combat Power to five million within a month, that would already be an incredible feat.
He might as well train in Ultra Instinct instead!
Perhaps he'd get even better results!
Besides, from what Vegeta had said, the boy was going to fight on another planet.
If Reiz left Planet Vegeta with him, perhaps Frieza wouldn't set his sights on him.
"Keep at it! You can definitely do it!" Linoshi nodded firmly, her blue eyes full of encouragement.
"Okay. I'll be counting on you during this time." Reiz bowed politely to Linoshi.
After all, this girl was teaching him Ultra Instinct. He should take it seriously when it mattered.
"I'll practice some more!" Reiz said, taking another deep breath and returning to the mindless state.
He closed his eyes again, emptied his thoughts, and merged with his surroundings.
Linoshi watched quietly beside him, without saying a word.
Her gaze rested on Reiz. She watched the sharp lines of his profile, the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and the beads of sweat still on his face, glittering in the sunlight.
Especially when Reiz entered the mindless state, his expression calm and focused, a blush spread across Linoshi's face once more.
She bit her lower lip, her blue eyes fixed on him without a blink, as if she wanted to etch his image into her heart.
Time passed, second by second.
The sun slowly sank from its place overhead. The sunlight shifted from golden to orange-red, then from orange-red to dusky purple.
The rocks on Star-Shattering Cliff were bathed in warm colors, like sculptures gilded in gold.
No one knew how much time had passed. When Reiz opened his eyes, he was astonished to find that the sun had already set.
Only a dark red glow remained on the horizon, being swallowed bit by bit by the night.
Stars began to appear in the deep blue sky, one, then two, and then more and more.
Reiz stared in astonishment at the dim sky, momentarily unable to take it in.
It felt like only a little while had passed, yet it was already dusk.
Then Reiz immediately turned to look toward Linoshi.
To his surprise, Linoshi was still standing where she had been, gazing at him in a daze without moving at all.
She seemed to have turned into a rock, standing there silently. Only her hair, stirred by the evening breeze, showed that she was still alive.
When she saw Reiz open his eyes and look her way, Linoshi suddenly snapped out of it. Her cheeks flushed again, and even her neck turned pink.
"D-did you finish training?" Linoshi asked shyly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"How long was I training?" Reiz asked, rolling his stiff shoulders.
"More than eight hours," Linoshi replied, then added, "You're doing really well. At your current rate, I think you'll get started with Ultra Instinct in less than a month."
"Really? That's great!" Reiz took a deep breath, growing even more excited and eager.
He was truly looking forward to experiencing Ultra Instinct once he got started.
"Are you hungry?" Reiz suddenly asked, his gaze settling on Linoshi.
"Me? I... I'm not hungry." Linoshi first froze, then gently shook her head, a glimmer passing through her blue eyes.
Only then did Reiz realize.
Angels didn't get hungry!
They ate just to enjoy good food.
If the food wasn't delicious enough, they'd rather not eat.
But when it came to good food, that was no problem!
It was my specialty!
I'd definitely make you happy!
Before you continue