The air ruptured.
BOOM!!!
The first clash exploded in the middle of the street. Youhei's fist hit Essedeu's chain. The shockwave pushed the rubble aside. The ground cracked. Both of them were thrown in opposite directions.
Essedeu got up first. He raised his hand, and magic circles flared to life at once. Fire, lightning, and ice appeared all at the same time.
"DIE!"
The fireball flew first.
BOOM!
Smoke swallowed Youhei's body. Lightning struck the same point. Ice spears followed from below and shattered the ground.
The second explosion shook the street.
For a split second, everything went still.
Then—
BUKH!
A figure stepped out of the smoke.
Youhei.
His clothes were scorched at the shoulder. A thin line of blood ran from his temple. His steps remained steady.
"...Not bad."
He moved forward.
Essedeu grinned, and the chain around his arm shot out immediately.
CLANG!
The chain smashed into Youhei's head. The sound of metal rang out.
Youhei turned his head slightly. His hand rose.
And the chain... stopped in his grip. His fingers tightened. The metal trembled.
Several people behind Essedeu swallowed hard.
A sudden pull dragged Essedeu forward.
BUKH!
Youhei's fist slammed into his stomach. The air burst from Essedeu's lungs in an instant. An elbow followed into his jaw. Essedeu's body lifted, then was smashed hard into the ground.
BRAK!
Dust rose.
Youhei stepped on his chest.
Essedeu grinned as he coughed up blood.
Another chain immediately wrapped around Youhei's neck.
Chk!
A burst of mana exploded from Essedeu's body.
BOOM!
Youhei was blasted several meters away. His body rolled once, then he stood again, rubbing his neck.
Essedeu's face was bloody. His smile changed. His eyes grew even wilder.
"Now I'm serious."
More magic circles appeared. They grew larger. The light pouring from them made the air tremble. Small rocks lifted into the air. Cracks spread beneath his feet.
Emily narrowed her eyes.
"...He's an amateur."
Ana remained silent. Her gaze never left Youhei.
Essedeu raised both hands.
"DIE!"
He unleashed all his magic at once.
Fire swept forward in a straight line. Lightning crashed down from above. Ice spears shot in from every direction. The road in front of the internet café turned into a sea of explosions.
DUARRR!!!
Dust swallowed everything.
The remaining glass shattered. Debris flew everywhere. Several customers threw themselves to the ground, covering their heads.
The dust rose high.
The dust hung in the air, and for a moment no one spoke.
Someone whispered, "...Is it over?"
Footsteps came from within the smoke.
Slow.
Then the figure emerged.
Youhei. Still alive.
His left arm was covered in burns. Blood ran from his temple down to his jaw. One side of his jacket was torn apart. But his eyes stayed sharp. He kept walking. Each step made Essedeu grow quieter.
"...Is that all? Awakened? Hunter? Or whatever you call it," Youhei said softly.
For the first time, Essedeu took half a step back.
Youhei stopped right in front of him. "Those who can't control their power are no more than shattered glass."
His shoulder dropped slightly. His waist twisted. His right fist drew back.
Essedeu reflexively raised both his arms and his chains.
And in the next instant—
Youhei vanished from sight.
BUKH!
The punch came from the side and struck Essedeu square in the stomach.
"Hue—!!"
His body bent forward. His hands reflexively dropped to clutch his stomach. His guard opened.
Youhei was already in front of him.
CRACK!
The first punch smashed into his jaw.
Right.
BUKH!
Left.
BUKH!
Then right again.
Essedeu's head snapped wildly. Blood sprayed. Teeth flew loose. A Dempsey Roll.
Emily gave a half smile. "...A liver blow, then a Dempsey Roll? This man... is a professional."
Youhei kept pressing forward. Punches rained down on Essedeu without pause. The man remained standing, but only because he hadn't had the chance to fall yet.
Suddenly—
BLAST!
A wind bullet slammed into Youhei from the side.
BOOM!
His body was hurled away and crashed into the back of a car.
BRAK!
The car's body caved in. Glass shattered. The alarm immediately began blaring.
WEEE—WEEE—WEEE—
Youhei fell to the ground.
Essedeu staggered, laughing.
"Hahahahaha! Take that—"
His steps wobbled. His knees weakened.
Then he collapsed to the ground himself.
A beat of silence.
"You shameless bastard!" One of the internet café customers stepped forward, his face burning red.
"It was a one-on-one duel and you still interfered?!" Another moved too.
"Bastards!"
"You gang up on him and still want to act tough?!"
The remaining members of Cerberus Guild immediately raised their hands. Magic circles lit up. Fireballs, Wind Blades, and Ice Spears shot out together.
BOOM! SHRRT! CRACK!
The street exploded once more from the clash of magic.
But the internet café kids kept charging forward. Some fell. Some bled. Some were blown back. None of them retreated.
Emily watched the chaos with one brow slightly raised. Ana remained silent, but her gaze never left Youhei's body lying near the car.
Then—
BOOM!!!
Another explosion erupted from the middle of the crowd.
Everyone stopped.
Dust rose and blocked the view.
From within the smoke, a figure stood still.
Someone swallowed hard. "...Who is that?"
A woman stepped out of the smoke.
Her hair was tied back neatly. Her military uniform was torn in several places. A thin scar cut across her cheek. Her gaze was still sharp.
Delliah.
"Enough."
Her voice was flat, but everyone stopped immediately.
Behind her, military troops had already surrounded the area. Weapons were aimed. No one dared move.
Her gaze swept over the fallen bodies, the wrecked car, and the damaged café.
"...You really did make a mess."
She raised one hand slightly.
"Take the injured to the hospital. Those still conscious, bring them to the military office. If they refuse, you may use force."
Her troops moved at once. Essedeu was lifted up. The remaining Cerberus members who were still conscious were cuffed. Youhei was taken as well. A few of the internet café customers tried to protest, but one look from Delliah was enough to silence them.
On the other side, Emily let out a long sigh and folded her arms.
"Ah... how boring. It was just getting good." She tilted her head slightly. "Right?"
There was no answer.
Ana was crouched near the end of the room, organizing the things that had fallen. She moved quickly and calmly. She gathered plates, cables, and broken monitor pieces like it was just extra work.
And inside the room, Mikoto was sleeping soundly, drooling all over the mattress.