Silence filled Reikosha Academy.
The battlefield that had been overflowing with hope only moments ago had become a sea of broken stone, shattered weapons, and wounded students. The smell of dust and blood lingered in the air as the cries of the injured echoed through the destroyed campus.
Yura slowly forced herself onto one knee, gripping the ground tightly. Blood dripped from her shoulder, and every breath burned her lungs. She tried to stand again, but her legs immediately gave out.
"...Damn it..."
Kimimaru leaned against the remains of a collapsed pillar. His right arm trembled violently from the recoil of the broken Astral Lock, while blood continued flowing from several deep wounds across his body.
"My soul..." he muttered, taking a painful breath. "...Even my soul took damage..."
Not far away, Kairo struggled to rise. The destruction of the Black Monarch had sent an overwhelming backlash through his body. His vision blurred, and his Yami refused to respond no matter how hard he tried.
"...Come on..."
Black particles gathered around him...
Then disappeared.
"...Not now..."
Griffin lay on the broken ground beside his shattered flintlock. He let out a small laugh before coughing up blood.
"Heh... she even broke my favorite gun..."
Aoi crawled toward Yuki, whose telekinetic energy had completely vanished.
"Yuki!"
"I'm... okay..."
"No, you're not."
Daiki painfully stood beside them, supporting Tyouro, who could barely remain conscious after the countless slashes that had struck him.
The students who had remained behind to rescue the wounded stared at Akira in fear.
Nobody moved.
Nobody attacked.
Because they finally understood.
This woman...
Was still holding back.
Akira quietly walked forward.
Every step echoed throughout the ruined academy.
She stopped several meters away from the wounded students and slowly looked around the battlefield.
"So this..."
She spoke calmly.
"...is the next generation that will protect this world."
Her voice held neither hatred nor pride.
Only observation.
Then...
She continued walking.
Straight toward the injured students.
Yura's eyes widened.
"...No..."
She forced herself to stand despite the pain.
"You..."
"...aren't touching them."
Akira didn't answer.
She simply kept walking.
Kairo gritted his teeth and forced himself forward.
Kimimaru stepped beside him despite barely being able to stand.
Then Griffin.
Then Daiki.
Then Tyouro.
One after another...
Every injured student stood in front of those who could no longer fight.
Even while shaking.
Even while bleeding.
Even knowing they couldn't win.
Akira stopped.
For a brief moment...
She simply looked at them.
"...Interesting."
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
A burst of golden light erupted from beneath the rubble.
The broken remains of the academy exploded apart.
Shougo slowly walked out from the debris.
Blood ran down the side of his face, and one sleeve of his uniform had been completely torn away, but his calm expression never changed.
He adjusted his glove.
"...You all did well."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Sensei!"
Shougo smiled.
"I told you before..."
"A battle isn't decided by who falls first."
He stepped in front of every student.
His back faced them.
No one noticed...
His hands were shaking.
Only he understood how terrifying Akira truly was.
She wasn't an opponent they could defeat through teamwork alone.
Akira looked directly at him.
"You still wish to continue?"
Shougo answered without hesitation.
"As long as my students are behind me..."
"...I will."
For the first time...
A faint smile appeared on Akira's face.
"Then show me."
Shougo slowly raised one hand.
Golden Hikari gathered around his body.
Dark Yami followed immediately afterward.
The two energies circled him together, causing the ground beneath his feet to crack once more.
Yura stared at him.
"...Sensei..."
Kimimaru frowned.
"...He's using too much energy."
Kairo noticed something else.
Shougo's breathing...
Had become much heavier.
His body...
Was reaching its limit.
Yet he continued gathering more power.
Akira calmly raised the Aether Reaper.
The silver blade pointed directly toward Shougo.
The wind stopped once again.
The atmosphere became unbearably heavy.
Two overwhelming spiritual pressures collided before anyone had even moved.
Neither side blinked.
Neither side spoke.
Everyone watching instinctively held their breath.
Because they all realized...
The next clash...
Would decide the direction of the entire battle.