Fantasy Library, Ch 66-70

Chapter 66: A Celebration Before the Finals

Seidoukan Academy – Student Council Office

As night fell, most of the campus buildings had already turned dark, their lights switched off. Normally, the Student Council office would be among them, its vast space shrouded in darkness.

But tonight, the lights remained on, and the sounds of conversation drifted out from within. The atmosphere inside was lively, filled with warmth and laughter.

Listening closely, one could hear the unmistakable sounds of celebration.

And indeed, that was the case.

"Then, allow me, as the president of Seidoukan Academy’s Student Council, to offer my congratulations to the four of you for advancing to the finals!"

Claudia, acting as the host, raised her glass with a smile.

"Cheers!"

The four individuals present—Kaiser, Kirin Toudou, Ayato Amagiri, and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld—exchanged glances as they watched Claudia raise her glass. Though some sighed in resignation and others merely shrugged, they ultimately relented and lifted their own glasses, clinking them together in unison.

Tonight’s gathering was a celebration for Kaiser and his fellow finalists.

However…

"Who starts celebrating before the finals have even taken place?" Julis muttered, holding her glass with an exasperated expression. "And besides, we’re going to be opponents tomorrow. Is it really a good idea to throw a party where we’re all gathered together like this?"

This was something Julis had wanted to say from the moment the celebration began. Beside her, Kirin and Ayato both let out awkward laughs.

"There was really no other choice," Claudia responded nonchalantly, still smiling. "All of you are students of Seidoukan Academy. Once the finals are over, regardless of who wins or loses, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me, as Student Council president, to only celebrate one side, would it?"

"So, I figured we should just have a joint celebration today instead."

For Kaiser and the others, tomorrow’s finals were undoubtedly crucial. But from the perspective of Seidoukan Academy as a whole, the outcome didn’t matter nearly as much.

No matter who won or lost, the champion would still be a student of Seidoukan Academy.

With all four of their representatives securing spots in the finals, the event had already turned into a spectacle that stunned everyone.

Seidoukan Academy’s complete domination of the tournament’s final stage had caused an uproar online—the academy had secured both the championship and runner-up positions in the Phoenix Festa.

Such a situation wasn’t entirely unprecedented.

For example, Saint Gallardworth Academy, a powerhouse in the Gryps Festa, had dominated that event numerous times, even producing finals where both teams belonged to their school.

But Seidoukan Academy?

A school that had been struggling at the bottom of the rankings for the past several seasons—now making a comeback by securing both first and second place in the Phoenix Festa?

It was an outcome that no one had expected.

With that in mind, Claudia had taken it upon herself to arrange this celebration.

Holding it tonight, before the final battle turned them into opponents, was indeed a clever idea.

"Unless… none of you actually want to celebrate together?" Claudia blinked mischievously. "Are you trying to avoid each other because you’ll be facing off tomorrow?"

"…That’s not it," Julis frowned, clearly uncomfortable.

For someone as principled and serious as the Princess of Lieseltania, the idea of sharing a joyous celebration with her final-round opponents did feel a little awkward.

But at the same time, she wasn’t so narrow-minded as to view this match as a grudge match.

Even though only one of them could win, only one of them could claim victory and make a wish to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, that didn’t mean they were mortal enemies.

They all had good relationships with one another.

Unless someone valued winning the tournament more than their friendships, there was no reason to turn this into a hostile rivalry.

So, despite her discomfort, Julis ultimately chose to accept the situation.

"I'm sorry, Senpai," Kirin suddenly apologized, sensing Julis’ unease.

"You idiot, why are you apologizing?"

Julis immediately reached out, placing a hand on Kirin’s shoulder to stop her from bowing.

On the side, Kaiser and Ayato merely watched the exchange, offering no comments.

For them, there was no issue at all.

Unlike Julis, who felt awkward about celebrating before the finals, Kaiser and Ayato were completely at ease, exchanging amused glances before clinking their glasses together.

"Julis doesn’t have a problem with you guys," Ayato said, explaining to Kaiser. "She’s just… too serious about these things."

"Yeah, I can tell."

Kaiser shrugged indifferently.

The two of them shared a quiet laugh before continuing to sip their drinks.

"By the way, how are your injuries?"

Kaiser turned to Ayato, scanning him briefly before asking the question.

Unlike Kaiser and Kirin, Ayato and Julis had barely made it through the semifinals.

Just like in their previous matches, their victory had come at a heavy cost—Julis had collapsed from exhaustion by the end, and Ayato had sustained significant injuries.

"We’re fine now," Ayato assured him, flexing his arms casually. "I’ve mostly recovered, and Julis should be in good shape as well."

This was where the difference between Genestella and normal humans became evident.

Neither Ayato nor Julis had suffered minor scrapes—their injuries were substantial.

If an ordinary person had taken damage like that, they would have required weeks of hospitalization to recover.

But Ayato and Julis? They had healed within half a day.

Of course, even if they hadn’t, Asterisk had its own medical facilities, staffed with Strega and Dante healers capable of miraculous recoveries.

It was often said that as long as someone wasn’t outright killed, they could be saved.

Though the accuracy of that claim was debatable, it was enough to reassure competitors that injuries weren’t a serious concern.

"Then I don’t have to worry about you two not being in top form for the finals," Kaiser said with a grin. "I’m really looking forward to our match."

"Same here," Ayato replied, matching his enthusiasm. "And so is she."

He patted the sheath at his waist, where his Orga Lux—Wole-Zain—rested.

"Vmm!"

"Vmm!"

Both Ser-Veresta and Ayato’s sword began to vibrate faintly.

Though silent, their presence exuded an unmistakable excitement, anticipation, and battle-hunger.

It was clear—these two legendary weapons were eager to clash.

"Make sure you don’t hold back tomorrow," Kaiser smirked.

"You either," Ayato responded.

At that moment, the casual grins vanished, replaced by expressions filled with fighting spirit.

The celebration among five companions continued in a relaxed and amicable atmosphere until late into the night.

By the time the dorm curfew was approaching, Claudia clapped her hands together, announcing the end of the party.

Julis and Kirin left together for the girls’ dormitory.

As for Kaiser?

He didn’t return to the boys’ dormitory with Ayato.

Instead, he approached Claudia, requesting a favor.

And when Claudia heard his request—

Her expression became rather intriguing.

"This isn’t difficult," she said, "but… are you sure about this?"

"It’s dangerous, you know?"

Kaiser did not answer.

"Fine."

Claudia nodded.

"I’ll have the intel delivered to me immediately, and once I receive it, I’ll send it to you."

"Just… be careful."

With that, Claudia turned and left.

Leaving Kaiser alone.

He walked down the quiet corridors of the high school division, gazing out the window at the night sky.

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

Suddenly—

He stretched out his hand.

Golden markings appeared across his palm.

And in the next instant—

A Lux Activator materialized in his grip.

Bathed in moonlight, its violet Urm-Manadyte core shone beautifully.

Holding the suddenly-appearing Activator, Kaiser smirked.

His smile was cold.

Chapter 67: Blood in the Night Sky

Asterisk – Outer Residential District

As its name suggested, this district was situated on the outskirts of Asterisk.

Unlike the bustling city center, which was designed to accommodate tourists with pedestrian-friendly streets, the Outer Residential District was dominated by wide highways that stretched across the artificial island like elevated corridors, crisscrossing in an intricate web.

Even though it was now deep into the night, the district remained illuminated. Rows of streetlights lined the highways, casting their glow across the surroundings and highlighting the towering skyscrapers in the distance.

Atop one of these skyscrapers, on the highest rooftop, a lone figure stood at the edge, facing the wind.

"So high up..."

Standing outside the railing, balanced on the very edge of the skyscraper, Kaiser murmured to himself.

A single step forward would send him plummeting into the abyss below.

Yet, he remained utterly unfazed.

Tonight, he was not dressed in his usual Seidoukan Academy uniform. Instead, he wore a pitch-black outfit—from his shirt to his pants, to his boots, and even the hooded cloak draped over his shoulders. Every part of his attire blended seamlessly into the night.

Additionally, he wore a mask—a masquerade-style mask that covered the upper half of his face, leaving only his mouth exposed. It was ornate, decorative rather than functional, with no real practical use.

But for Kaiser, this level of disguise was more than enough.

"If this were before, I definitely wouldn’t dare stand somewhere this dangerous..."

Looking down at the city streets dozens of meters below, Kaiser felt as though he were standing on the edge of a cliffside abyss.

He had once been afraid of heights.

But ever since obtaining power beyond human limits, he realized something—his fear of heights had vanished without a trace.

Even if he fell from this height, it would still be lethal for a Genestella.

But now, he had more than enough ways to defy gravity.

Previously, he had used Ser-Veresta’s heat currents to propel himself, achieving limited flight.

But now…

"Let’s see how you perform tonight."

Kaiser reached into his cloak, pulling out a Lux Activator and triggering it.

"Vmm—!"

As the Mana resonance echoed, digital grids materialized, forming a massive scythe—both its long handle and its crimson blade gleaming under the night sky.

The violet Urm-Manadyte core embedded within the scythe pulsated, casting an eerie glow onto its blood-red blade.

This was Gravisheath, the Blood Scythe of Supreme Collapse—an Orga Lux belonging to Le Wolfe Black Institute.

It should have belonged to Irene Urzaiz.

And yet, it was now in Kaiser’s hands.

What was more—

It was behaving obediently.

Unlike when Irene wielded it, Gravisheath now exuded absolute submission—a stark contrast to its usual violent and domineering presence.

If Irene were here to witness this, she would have undoubtedly been shocked.

After all, Gravisheath was not a weapon that submitted to anyone.

Quite the opposite—like Pan-Dora, it was an Orga Lux with an extremely malevolent will.

Pan-Dora delighted in tormenting its wielder with visions of death and suffering, savoring their fear and despair.

Gravisheath, however, possessed an overwhelming sense of self, refusing to be a mere tool for its wielder—it sought to control them instead.

Some Orga Luxes, particularly those with strong self-awareness, had a tendency to corrupt their users, altering their minds, personalities, and even bodies to suit their own preferences.

And among them, Gravisheath was particularly infamous for this trait.

It did not simply demand compatibility from its wielder.

It modified them.

It transformed its wielder’s body into that of a true vampire—a perfect host for its insatiable hunger.

If the wielder ever let their guard down, Gravisheath would take the opportunity to override their will, seizing control and driving them into madness.

The glowing red eyes that Irene displayed in battle?

That was the influence of Gravisheath’s consciousness, slowly overtaking her.

The brighter the crimson glow, the stronger the corruption.

Irene’s violent temper, her impulsive aggression—these were not purely her own traits.

They had been exacerbated by Gravisheath.

If Ser-Veresta was a weapon that wanted to be wielded as a sword, existing as a tool for its user…

Then Gravisheath was the complete opposite.

It saw itself as the master, and its wielder as the tool.

Yet, at this very moment—

In Kaiser’s hands, Gravisheath was utterly docile.

An impossible sight.

"Let’s give you a little taste first."

Even though Gravisheath had already merged with him, becoming his personal weapon, Kaiser did not treat it with the same respect he gave Ser-Veresta.

Ser-Veresta was his partner—a weapon he saw as an equal, treating it with mutual respect.

But Gravisheath?

To Kaiser, it was nothing more than a tool.

A useful one, but a tool nonetheless.

He brought his hand to his mouth, biting his finger and letting a single drop of blood fall onto the scythe’s blade.

"Vmm! Vmm! Vmm—!"

The moment the blood touched the blade, Gravisheath reacted violently, trembling with exhilaration and anticipation.

It was only a single drop—practically nothing compared to the vast amounts of blood it usually demanded.

And yet—

Gravisheath had never been more satisfied.

Because not all blood was equal.

The blood of a king could not be compared to the blood of a peasant.

A mere drop of supreme blood was worth far more than countless ordinary sacrifices.

To Gravisheath, Kaiser’s blood—the blood of someone with ultimate authority over weapons—was the greatest possible gift.

Even with just a single drop, it could now unleash its full power.

As Kaiser watched, the violet glow from Gravisheath’s Urm-Manadyte core flared—brighter than ever before.

"Good."

Satisfied, he turned his gaze downward.

Below, on the wide road beneath the skyscraper, a sleek black limousine cruised by.

Cross-referencing it with the intel Claudia had provided him earlier, Kaiser confirmed—

That was his target.

His lips curled into a cold smirk.

Then—

He jumped.

With a single leap, he descended from the skyscraper.

In his grip, Gravisheath’s blood-red blade gleamed eerily against the backdrop of the moonlit sky.

—At the same time, within the limousine—

"The Blood Scythe is missing?"

Inside the luxurious interior, far more akin to a private lounge than a conventional car, a voice echoed.

The seating was not arranged in standard rows. Instead, plush leather sofas and a heavy wooden table gave the vehicle an air of sophistication and power.

Seated at the center was a short, stocky youth with deep crimson-black hair.

His expression was perpetually scowling, his dark, sunken eyes filled with impatience and irritation.

This was Dirk Eberwein, the Student Council President of Le Wolfe Black Institute.

He was the first non-Genestella in the school’s history to hold the position.

Unlike Priscilla Urzaiz, who at least possessed Strega abilities despite not fighting, Dirk was a completely ordinary human.

Yet, despite that—

He had still risen to power.

Because he didn’t need strength.

His cunning, ruthlessness, and tactical brilliance allowed him to manipulate and control others like pieces on a chessboard.

That was why people called him—

"The Tyrant."

And right now, for the first time in a while—

Dirk’s usual scowl was replaced by genuine shock.

But before he could even react—

"BOOM!"

A tremendous force crashed down from above—

Crushing the limousine in an instant.

Chapter 68: Fine, I’ll Choose for You

"Boom!"

A violent explosion rocked the wide highway of the Outer Residential District, sending a pillar of fire and thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.

The stretched limousine had been crushed in an instant, reduced to burning wreckage that slowly smoldered on the asphalt.

Anyone who witnessed the scene would have assumed that no one inside could have survived.

But—

Dirk Eberwein was still alive.

"Tch…"

A low, irritated click of the tongue sounded from the highway.

Dirk’s short, stocky figure inexplicably reappeared a short distance away from the burning limousine, completely unscathed.

His perpetual scowl deepened, his dark red hair bristling with frustration as he glared upwards.

There, floating in midair, was the culprit—a figure clad in a black hooded cloak, standing effortlessly against the night wind.

The flames below cast shifting shadows across his silhouette.

Dirk couldn’t see the person’s face, obscured beneath the deep hood. The only thing vaguely visible was a mask, covering the upper half of his face.

But what the figure held in his hand—

Dirk recognized it instantly.

"So you’re the bastard who stole Gravisheath?"

His voice was low and dangerous, his eyes dark with fury, as if staring at his greatest enemy.

"Who the hell are you?"

But before an answer could come—

"Vmm!"

The response came not from words—but from Gravisheath itself.

The scythe vibrated, reacting to its wielder’s command.

With a mere flick of his wrist, Kaiser swung the blood-red scythe—

And in an instant, countless gravity spheres materialized in the air.

Each one was pure black, pulsating ominously as they formed an overwhelming storm around him.

Dirk’s pupils shrank violently.

Because—

The scale of this ability was far beyond anything Irene Urzaiz had ever displayed.

The difference was like night and day.

When Irene used this technique, the number of gravity spheres she summoned was limited.

But now—

A storm of thousands upon thousands of gravity spheres had appeared, densely packed, stretching dozens of meters in every direction, flooding the entire space.

Dirk’s entire field of vision was consumed by them.

Even his breathing faltered.

"Ten Thousand Ruin."

The masked figure calmly named the technique.

This—

This was the true version of the ability Gravisheath possessed.

"Go."

With a casual swing, Gravisheath descended—

And the storm of gravity spheres rained down.

"BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!"

Each sphere impacted the ground like a meteor, detonating with enough force to tear apart the asphalt, shatter stone, and reduce the entire highway to rubble.

Explosions erupted one after another, filling the air with chaotic wind and debris.

Above it all, Kaiser watched.

But then—

His instincts screamed.

Without hesitation, he shifted his weight, his body moving as if weightless in a vacuum, smoothly gliding aside.

The very next instant—

A darkness surged through the air, black spikes suddenly materializing and piercing through the space where he had just stood.

Had he been a moment slower—

He would have been impaled like a porcupine.

"Darkness?"

Kaiser’s golden eyes narrowed.

"No… Shadows?"

The black spikes weren’t solid objects—

They were shadows.

"…You saw through it that quickly?"

A cold voice echoed from the darkness.

And then—

A figure emerged from the shadows.

A man clad in tight black combat gear, his silhouette eerily resembling that of a ninja.

Unlike Kaiser’s upper-face mask, this man wore a lower-face mask, covering everything but his eyes.

His eyes—

Narrow, sharp, golden—like a cat’s.

Cold.

Emotionless.

Predatory.

Seeing this newcomer, Kaiser remained unshaken.

"As expected…"

His tone was calm, almost amused.

"No matter how weak Dirk is, he’s still the Student Council President of Le Wolfe Black Institute."

"Even if he’s just a normal human, of course he’d have a ‘cat’ watching his back."

"Cats"—

That was the codename for Le Wolfe’s intelligence operatives.

Le Wolfe Black Institute was deeply entrenched in Asterisk’s underworld, and within the academy, there existed a covert intelligence division.

Their official reputation? The greatest intelligence-gathering force among the six academies.

The truth?

They were more than just spies.

They handled all illicit activities, from covert assassinations to black-market dealings, making them one of the most feared underground organizations in Asterisk.

Other schools, including Seidoukan Academy, also had secret intelligence divisions under their Student Councils.

But Le Wolfe’s "Cats" were known to be particularly ruthless—a faction with no moral limits, willing to do anything for their missions.

And members of this faction—

Were given codenames.

"You must be ‘Gold Eyes.’"

Kaiser scrutinized the man before him.

Le Wolfe’s operatives were divided into two groups—

"Silver Eyes" – Operatives who worked within the academy.

"Gold Eyes" – Operatives who worked outside the academy.

And this man?

Clearly, he was a Gold Eye, assigned to personally guard Dirk during his outings.

Kaiser had already anticipated this.

Not just because of his knowledge from the original story, but also because of the intelligence Claudia had provided him earlier.

He had known from the start—

If he attacked Dirk, the "Gold Eye" protecting him would immediately surface.

And yet—

"The one who should be answering questions here is you."

The shadow-clad man’s cold, feline eyes locked onto Kaiser.

"You have no right to ask anything."

"Right now, you have two choices."

"One—identify yourself and explain your reasons for attacking us."

"Two—I take you down, drag you back for interrogation, or kill you and find the answers from your corpse."

As he spoke—

He lifted his hands.

On each wrist—

Twin daggers gleamed under the moonlight.

These were not Lux weapons, nor Orga Lux.

They were real blades, akin to Senbakiri, meant for pure assassination.

"Choose."

The Gold Eye declared emotionlessly.

But Kaiser—

He simply smiled.

Not his usual calm, relaxed smile.

No—

A deeper, sharper grin.

One that carried a hint of mockery—of disdain—

And amusement.

"Quite the arrogant tone."

"Looks like you’ve been abusing your authority in Asterisk for far too long."

Slowly—

Kaiser raised Gravisheath.

"Fine, I’ll give you two choices as well."

"Would you rather be cut apart by this scythe?"

"Or be crushed to death by gravity?"

"…Never mind."

Kaiser smirked.

"I’ll choose for you."

"Vmm!"

A surge of violet light erupted from Gravisheath, expanding instantly.

"BOOM—!"

A tremendous gravitational force crashed down like a solid wave, distorting the air, bending the very fabric of space.

"—!"

The Gold Eye’s eyes widened.

His entire body sank, his chest tightening painfully—

And before he could react—

He was ripped from the shadows and hurled toward the ground.

"Damn… it…!"

Even behind his mask, his face twisted in shock.

He knew what Gravisheath’s abilities were.

He had studied the data.

And yet—

This level of power was completely beyond what the reports had ever described.

"Gravisheath was… never this strong…!"

As the ground rushed toward him, he had no time to think.

In desperation—

He unleashed his shadows, sinking into them like diving into water, vanishing from sight.

But—

Kaiser’s golden eyes remained cold.

"Your tricks won’t save you."

He raised Gravisheath high.

And the battle truly began.

Chapter 69: Stay Out of My Way

"…You’ve got to be kidding me."

Down on the ruined ground, the shadow-clad operative emerged once more, staring at the massive gravity sphere expanding in the sky.

A bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

That thing—

At least ten meters in diameter, pitch-black like a falling meteor.

The moment it appeared, the air itself trembled, as if space itself was being crushed under its weight. A low, ominous creaking sound echoed through the surroundings, the sheer gravity distorting the atmosphere.

Was this really something Gravisheath could do?

Could that Orga Lux truly wield such terrifying power?

The shadow operative’s mind raced with disbelief.

What he didn’t know—

Was that once Gravisheath had bonded with Kaiser as his personal weapon, it had undergone the same transformation that Ser-Veresta once had.

Just like Ser-Veresta, Gravisheath had been amplified by Kaiser’s unique authority, unlocking its true potential.

More than that—

Kaiser’s weapons grew alongside him.

The stronger he became, the stronger his weapons became.

And compared to a few months ago, Kaiser’s growth had been immeasurable.

Perhaps he still wasn’t at the level of the true monsters in Asterisk.

But as the current Rank One of Seidoukan Academy, his strength was undisputed.

Add to that his perfect mastery over Gravisheath, as well as feeding it his blood, allowing it to reach a state of absolute satisfaction—

The result?

This absolute power.

Compared to Kaiser, Irene Urzaiz—the scythe’s former wielder—was nothing more than a child playing with a toy.

"If you’re a cat, then act like one."

Kaiser’s golden eyes gleamed coldly as he gazed down at the shadow operative struggling below.

"Go scurry back into the dark corners and chase rats where you belong."

"Stay out of my way."

And with that—

He swung Gravisheath down.

The colossal gravity sphere plummeted, distorting the air around it as it fell, creating a deafening pressure wave.

"—Dangerous!"

The shadow operative’s instincts screamed.

Without hesitation, he dived back into the shadows, fleeing with everything he had.

"BOOOOM!!"

The massive gravity sphere crashed into the ground.

The impact shattered everything.

For an instant—

It was as if a meteor had struck the city.

The earthquake-like tremor shook the entire district, sending dust and debris flying in a violent storm.

The entire road was obliterated, reduced to a crater of destruction.

Nearby pedestrians—even those several streets away—felt the tremors.

"What was that?!"

"What’s going on?!"

Alarms blared across Asterisk.

The emergency security systems detected the attack, sending out distress signals across the entire city-wide network.

It wasn’t until several minutes later that the gravity sphere finally dissipated, vanishing into nothingness.

All that remained—

Was a massive crater where the road once stood.

Inside, dust swirled.

The ground was covered in broken stone, shattered asphalt, and scattered debris.

Kaiser hovered above it all, his gaze sweeping the ruins.

"Escaped, huh?"

His expression remained calm, unbothered.

"Well, makes sense. There’s no way someone like that would go down so easily."

A shadow operative like him was one thing—

But Dirk Eberwein, the Student Council President of Le Wolfe Black Institute?

There was no way he would allow himself to be killed so easily.

Kaiser had never expected Dirk to be completely defenseless.

Of course, Dirk would have other Gold Eyes guarding him.

Perhaps even other powerful individuals, beyond just the intelligence operatives.

The moment things went south, Dirk had immediately retreated, abandoning his subordinates to cover his escape.

Not even Kaiser had noticed exactly when Dirk had fled.

That meant—

Someone else had helped him escape.

"Whatever."

Kaiser wasn’t the type to dwell on things unnecessarily.

Dirk had sent people after him first.

So he simply returned the favor.

A fair warning.

If Dirk didn’t know his place, Kaiser wouldn’t mind getting serious.

While his current strength might not yet be enough to directly threaten someone as high-ranking as Dirk, there was one major difference between them—

Kaiser knew the original story.

He knew Dirk’s secrets.

And if he chose to expose them—

Dirk wouldn’t be able to escape the consequences.

"For now, that’s enough."

His gaze shifted downwards, glancing at the scythe in his hand.

"You did well tonight."

Kaiser murmured to Gravisheath, his tone almost amused.

"Keep it up."

In response—

The blood-red blade trembled, producing a low, eerie hum—

A sound that almost resembled a purring cat, as if it was basking in its master’s praise.

Kaiser chuckled softly.

But then—

He noticed vehicles approaching in the distance.

Flashing lights.

The Stjarnagarm.

Asterisk’s primary law enforcement organization, responsible for maintaining order and dealing with crime.

If they found him here—

It would be an annoyance.

Without wasting any more time, Kaiser manipulated gravity, allowing his body to float upward.

Then, with a turn—

He vanished into the night sky.

....

Le Wolfe Black Institute – Student Council Office

Dirk Eberwein had returned.

Silently, without a word, he walked into his office, sinking into his massive leather chair.

"Did you identify him?"

His voice was cold, shadowed by irritation.

Before him—

The shadow operative, the man who had fought Kaiser, emerged from the darkness.

But his expression was grim.

"…Unfortunately, there are no leads regarding his real identity."

Dirk did not react with anger.

"I figured as much."

He crossed his arms.

"If he was bold enough to attack me so openly, then of course he’d be confident in hiding his identity."

"If even you, someone who fought him directly, couldn’t find any clues—"

"Then even scanning the surveillance footage, security feeds, or satellite imagery wouldn’t do us any good."

The shadow operative fell silent.

Because he had already tried all of those methods.

And yet—

None of them had produced a single clue.

It was as if the attacker simply didn’t exist.

Every system that relied on Mana-based technology had failed to detect him.

"…Was it severed?"

Dirk muttered something under his breath.

The shadow operative’s eyes flickered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Dirk didn’t elaborate.

Because he had no proof.

Speculation was meaningless without evidence.

But one thing was certain.

"This was a warning."

Dirk let out a low scoff, shaking his head.

"Looks like that kid isn’t as simple as I thought."

"Treating him as just a wielder of Ser-Veresta was my mistake."

The shadow operative frowned slightly, but remained silent.

"Forget it."

Dirk leaned back.

"Clean up the mess. Handle the aftermath."

The shadow operative nodded.

"What about Gravisheath?"

"Do you really think we can take it back?"

Dirk let out a mocking chuckle.

"Just from that fight alone, it’s obvious—Gravisheath has completely evolved under his command."

"If we act carelessly, we’ll just be giving him more opportunities."

"For now—we wait."

With that—

The shadow operative disappeared into the darkness.

Breaking News: Attack on Le Wolfe’s Student Council President!

The sheer scale of the destruction had made it impossible to cover up.

Overnight, the news had spread like wildfire.

"The ‘Tyrant’ got attacked?"

"Seriously?"

"Hah! Serves him right!"

Most people weren’t sympathetic.

Dirk Eberwein was widely hated, both for his scheming nature and his repulsive personality.

Normally, this would have remained a hot topic for weeks.

But—

The Phoenix Festa finals were about to begin.

And that was what everyone truly cared about.

Chapter 70: The Most Exciting Moment

On this day, half an hour before the final match, the Sirius Dome was already filled to capacity.

Countless spectators eagerly awaited the decisive battle. Some had come to witness it in person, while many more had tuned in early to the live broadcast, ensuring they wouldn’t miss a second of the action.

The gambling tables were fully open, with people betting fervently, awaiting the final outcome.

Naturally, the competitors had also arrived, waiting in their respective preparation rooms, ready to take the stage at any moment.

"Are you nervous, Kirin?"

Kaiser had once again donned Seidoukan Academy’s school uniform, the unbroken school badge still proudly displayed on his chest.

Despite everything that had transpired the previous night, he sat there calm and composed, smiling at Kirin Toudou, who sat properly across from him, clutching the bag containing Senbakiri.

"…A little," Kirin admitted, offering a sheepish smile.

She wasn’t the type to put on a brave front—so she spoke honestly.

"Here."

Kaiser handed her a carton of milk, which he had prepared at some point.

"Have a drink. It’ll help you relax."

"Thank you." Kirin accepted it quickly, bowing her head slightly in embarrassment. "I’m sorry for making you worry, Senpai."

"We’re partners, aren’t we?" Kaiser replied casually. "Besides, I know you. Maybe you feel nervous now, but the moment you step onto the battlefield, all those distractions will disappear."

"You’ll be completely focused on the fight."

"And that’s why—I’m not worried at all."

Kaiser said this with absolute confidence.

After spending so much time together, he knew Kirin better than anyone at Seidoukan Academy.

At a glance, she might appear timid and meek, but beneath that exterior, she was remarkably strong-willed—a true swordswoman with unwavering conviction.

Especially after breaking free from Toudou Kouichirou’s control, Kirin’s mental growth had skyrocketed.

It might not be immediately obvious from her demeanor, but those who truly knew her could see it clearly—

She was already a fully-fledged warrior.

"Just fight as you normally do."

Kaiser reassured her.

"In terms of raw strength, we definitely have the advantage. No need to be too anxious."

If one set aside all other factors and judged purely based on ability—

Kaiser and Kirin undoubtedly held the upper hand.

Between Kaiser and Ayato Amagiri, it was hard to determine who was stronger.

Their Prana levels, physical abilities, and swordsmanship were all incredibly close.

Both were also wielders of Four-Colored Magic Swords.

If they didn’t fight directly, neither could say for certain who would emerge victorious.

However—

Between Kirin and Julis?

The outcome was much clearer.

Kirin had once been Rank One, while Julis was currently Rank Five.

Even in the original story, Julis had admitted there were three people in Seidoukan Academy she couldn’t defeat.

Ayato Amagiri

Claudia Enfield

Kirin Toudou

In terms of overall strength, there was no doubt—

Kaiser and Kirin held the advantage.

"But in terms of teamwork… Ayato-senpai and Julis-senpai are the superior pair," Kirin pointed out quietly.

She wasn’t wrong.

From a tactical standpoint, Ayato and Julis were a much more balanced duo.

Kaiser and Kirin were both close-combat swordsmen.

Neither had long-range attacks or support abilities.

Ayato and Julis, however, were different—

One was a frontline warrior, the other a long-range fire mage.

If they coordinated well, their teamwork could create synergy that exceeded the sum of their individual strengths.

"I also researched Ayato-senpai’s background," Kirin continued, her voice serious.

"I found that his strength fluctuates a lot."

That was true.

The Amagiri Shinmei Style was an ancient sword school, unlike Toudou-ryuu, which was a more modernized discipline.

"Since it’s an old-school style, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has hidden techniques we haven’t seen yet," she added.

By this point in the tournament, some of Ayato’s secrets had already been exposed to the world.

For example, people now knew that he practiced the Amagiri Shinmei Style.

It was a sword art over 500 years old.

Unlike Toudou-ryuu, which specialized in one-on-one combat, Amagiri Shinmei Style was built around battlefield survival—meant for taking on multiple opponents at once while wearing heavy armor.

As a result, its techniques were large, sweeping, and highly versatile.

It wasn’t suited for duels, but in a chaotic fight, it was unpredictable.

And nobody knew exactly how many techniques Ayato had at his disposal.

That unpredictability was one of the reasons why he kept pulling off miracles in battle.

As a fellow swordswoman, Kirin took this extremely seriously.

"And Julis-senpai’s flames have a lot of variations."

Julis could wield fire in dozens of ways—

Flame spears for piercing.

Fireballs for bombardment.

Traps laid across the battlefield.

And those were just the abilities she had shown so far.

She might still have hidden trump cards.

Moreover—

Her abilities covered offense, defense, and support.

Even though her individual strength was lower than Kirin’s, in a team battle, she was arguably more valuable.

That was Kirin’s biggest concern.

She knew—

She couldn’t take on Ayato directly.

His Wole-Zain had undeniable destructive power, and its defensive negation was too dangerous for a purely defensive fighter like her.

Only Kaiser, wielding Ser-Veresta, could face him head-on.

That meant Kirin’s role was clear—

She had to take down Julis before Julis could interfere too much.

"If we could create a one-on-one situation, that would be ideal," she murmured.

If she could isolate Julis, she was confident she would win.

But—

"The enemy knows that too," Kaiser reminded her. "They won’t let us separate them that easily."

Kirin’s lips pressed together, but Kaiser’s next words made her relax.

"Just focus on fighting with everything you’ve got."

"We’ve made it this far. Now, we just give it our all."

Kirin took a deep breath.

Then, she nodded firmly.

Moments later—

Their school badges began to glow.

"The time has come," Kaiser said, rising to his feet.

"Let’s go, Kirin."

"Yes, Senpai."

The final battle was about to begin.

Sirius Dome – The Stage

As the finalists emerged from the tunnels, stepping onto the illuminated battlefield, a deafening roar erupted from the crowd.

It was louder than ever before.

The sheer energy of the moment made the arena lights seem even brighter than usual.

Kaiser strode forward, Kirin by his side—

Surrounded by blazing spotlights and thunderous applause.

He felt it—

His pulse quickening.

His blood surging.

Even his mind felt sharper, his thoughts racing.

Memories of the past three months flashed through his head.

And now—

At long last—

He had arrived at the most thrilling moment of his life.

On the opposite side of the stage—

Stood the original protagonist of this world.

Ayato Amagiri.

Like Kaiser, he wielded a black Lux Activator.

His eyes met Kaiser’s.

In that instant—

Battle intent erupted between them.

And it only continued to grow.

(End of Chapter)