Only David Thompson's mind entered the training state, but with Little James's technological power, synchronizing the effects of mental training with the physical body was extremely simple. This technology had already been achieved by the Mayan civilization five hundred years ago. If the requirements were too high and the damage too severe, even Little James wouldn't be able to accomplish it, but this requirement was really not a problem. The database was quite complete, and the actual operation was also rather straightforward.

The Little James in the simulated space was just a phantom; its real body was still in the process of self-repair, which was extremely slow. This time, it barely activated only because it sensed the intense mental fluctuations from David Thompson. So, in the end, the reason still lay with David Thompson himself.

The illusion “materialized,” becoming almost indistinguishable from the real world. The area around David Thompson gradually transformed into a training ground—a truly luxurious one. Some of the equipment David Thompson had seen before, some he knew of, and some he had never even heard of, which probably weren’t things from Earth.

These were also the training devices David Thompson had been longing for. The ones Maka bought were already falling behind, but no matter how thick-skinned he was, he felt embarrassed to ask for more. Seeing so many great things, he couldn’t help but excitedly rush forward.

“Master, phase one training begins. The equipment in this training ground is designed according to your physical condition and can exercise every important part of your body. This training phase is also divided into two aspects: active training and passive training.”

“Ah? What is passive training?”

“Passive training is to train your body’s endurance when under attack.”

Chill… does that mean getting beaten up?

But… he just wanted to be a mobile suit pilot, not a martial arts master!

However, looking at the meticulous robot, he realized it didn’t care at all about its master’s wishes, only responding mechanically. Maybe the civilization on that planet was just too backward, or the damage from crossing parallel spaces was too severe… Wait, parallel space???

Although David Thompson didn’t attend class much, he was still a fine young man of the twenty-third century. Parallel space was still a power in the realm of science fiction speculation, a theory even harder to imagine and reach than simple time-space travel… It just said it crossed over… Is that for real?

“You really came from a parallel space?”

“Yes, Master. The original master has already become a god, merged with the universe. Little James was thrown into parallel space by His Highness the Prince. For some unknown reason, the originally impossible crossing actually succeeded.”

“…Then why do you call me Master?”

Oh god, this is so cool, but hopefully it won’t just get rid of its new master right away—that would be tragic.

“Due to severe damage, upon sensing a bloodline of the same origin as the master, according to the robot’s master recognition protocol, a robot that has completely lost its master must choose a new master with the same bloodline as the original. Upon landing, I happened to encounter you, Master, and simultaneously initiated the master recognition program.”

David Thompson more or less understood now. That Earth was another Earth, only its civilization had reached an unimaginable level. He and that master were probably both Earthlings.

…But on this Earth, there are so many Earthlings. Won’t it just switch to someone else?

“Can you change masters? I mean, if you find someone more suitable than me?”

David Thompson probed cautiously—this was a matter of life and death.

“Unless the master dies, the robot cannot recognize a new master. Moreover, if it’s because the robot failed to fulfill its protective duty, it must self-destruct.”

The reason for coming to Earth to recognize a new master was because system analysis showed it had reached another plane and could never return, and it was also the original master’s wish.

Crossing over comes at a price, but he hadn’t expected that, despite the severe damage, the robot he picked up was still so awesome.

“Master, according to the principle of efficiency, if you have no further questions, please begin training.”

“Alright!”

David Thompson was feeling a bit high-spirited too, and enthusiastically started training according to the instructions. The sequence was already arranged, but as soon as he picked up the oldest dumbbell… so heavy! It didn’t look big—how many pounds was this?

“Master, all equipment is designed according to your sub-limit physical capacity. To encourage your training, if you slack off, you will randomly experience electric shocks, fire burns, magnetic explosions, ultrasonic impacts, laser beams, and other tactile effects.”

…

David Thompson didn’t mind and eagerly began training following the virtual coach’s movements. The first set required only ten reps. David Thompson made it to eight before feeling his neck cramp up. He pushed himself to finish the ninth, and just as he was about to let out a big sigh of relief—

Zzzzt… boom.

Lightning attack… David Thompson blacked out.

His whole body was wracked with pain, soreness, and numbness, as if he’d really been struck by lightning. The sensation lasted five seconds, but to David Thompson it felt like five years.

“Master, please continue. The system is designed according to your physical and mental limit thresholds. For example, just now, under your physical limit, you could do a maximum of eleven reps. If your mind is especially stimulated, you could even reach thirteen.”

Little James’s stiff voice sounded. At this moment, David Thompson no longer found it cute at all—it was a total devil!