The ground of Reikosha Academy was already cracked and torn apart, dust floating in the air as the pressure between the strongest fighters suffocated everything around them.
Himiko stood in the center, calm as ever, her naginata resting lightly on her shoulder as if nothing around her mattered.
Shougo stepped forward first, his eyes sharper than before, his aura shifting as hikari slowly wrapped around his body.
"You're not touching my students again."
Himiko tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanged. "You speak like you can stop me."
Lady Chõko laughed loudly, stepping beside him, her grin wide and unhinged. "Yayayayaya! I like her already! She talks like she owns the world!"
She cracked her fingers, her eyes locked onto Himiko. "But let me tell you something, lady…"
Her tone dropped slightly, still smiling but darker.
"…this world doesn't belong to you either."
In an instant, she vanished.
The ground beneath her shattered as she reappeared in front of Himiko, her fist already swinging.
Himiko blocked.
The impact sent a shockwave across the yard, splitting the ground further as wind blasted outward.
Judas narrowed her eyes. "Her reaction speed… she's adapting."
Griffin adjusted his hat, watching carefully. "Not just adapting… she's reading movements before they happen. That's not normal instinct."
Shougo moved.
Fast.
Hikari boosted his speed as he appeared behind Himiko, his fist glowing with condensed light.
"Don't look away."
He struck.
Himiko's body flickered.
Illusion.
The real one appeared above them.
"…Too slow."
Her naginata came down.
Griffin fired instantly, his flintlock echoing through the air as the shot forced her to shift mid-attack.
"Oi, don't ignore me," he muttered.
Judas stepped forward, her hand glowing faintly. "She relies on perfect timing. If we break that rhythm, she becomes vulnerable."
Lady Chõko laughed again as she rushed back in. "Yayayayaya! So she's like a dancer? Then I'll just step on her feet!"
She swung wildly but with terrifying precision, forcing Himiko to actually move instead of standing still.
Himiko blocked again, but this time...
Crack.
A small fracture formed along her weapon.
For the first time, her eyes shifted slightly.
"…Interesting."
Meanwhile, behind them, the students gathered, breathing heavy, watching the fight they couldn't yet reach.
Kairo clenched his fists. "Damn it… they're on a different level…"
Tyouro stepped forward slightly, flames flickering faintly around his hands. "Doesn't matter. We're still fighting."
Reji shook his head. "If we rush in, we die. Simple as that."
Seiyan crossed his arms. "So we think. Strategy, remember?"
Yura stayed silent for a moment, her eyes locked onto Himiko.
"…She's not invincible."
They all looked at her.
Yura continued, calm but serious. "Her illusions… she switches positions after impact or before contact. That means there's a delay… even if it's small."
Hero blinked. "So… she's not untouchable?"
"Exactly."
Kimimaru slowly stood up, holding his side, still a bit dizzy.
"Tch… took you long enough to figure that out…"
Ishika popped out slightly from his arm and poked his cheek. "You almost died, idiot."
"…Shut up."
Tatsuo looked at him. "You good?"
Kimimaru exhaled. "…I'm not dying here."
Dracula smirked slightly. "That's the spirit."
Kairo looked at all of them, then back at the fight.
"…So what's the plan?"
Yura's eyes sharpened.
"We don't fight her alone."
She pointed forward.
"We support them. Create openings. Even a small one is enough."
Tyouro grinned. "Now that sounds fun."
Back in the battlefield, Himiko pushed Lady Chõko back with a sudden burst of force, sliding across the ground before stopping herself.
"Hm… annoying."
Lady Chõko wiped her cheek and laughed again. "Yayayayaya! You finally said something real!"
Shougo stepped beside her again, calmer now, more focused.
"We overwhelm her."
Judas nodded. "And don't let her control the pace."
Griffin smirked slightly. "Finally… a proper fight."
Himiko looked at all of them.
Surrounded.
Outnumbered.
Yet...
She smiled faintly.
"…Good."
The air shifted again.
Heavier.
Dangerous.
"…Show me more."
Her body blurred-
And the next clash began.