The arena buzzed with rising tension. Whispers rippled through the crowd like electricity. Every spectator leaned forward, eyes fixed on Shinju, who stood calmly at the center of the platform—hands behind his back, a cryptic smile playing at the corners of his lips.
No one could figure out what he was planning. Not the teachers. Not the students. Not even the top strategists.
Except Shigeru.
He sat a few rows up, arms folded, one eyebrow slightly raised, an amused grin tugging at his mouth.
(You always save the biggest surprises for last, don't you, Shinju? What's it this time?)
And then, right on cue—Shinju moved.
He raised both hands into the air. The crowd went silent.
Fssshhhh…!
A low hum filled the arena as the floor at the center began to glow. A magnificent magical array unfolded beneath their feet—glimmering runes carved from pure mana spun into formation, the entire structure blooming like a lotus of light. The ground trembled faintly, reacting to the sheer volume of energy being released.
Gasps echoed through the arena.
Shinju's voice boomed, confident and composed.
"This," he announced, "is a teleportation array I prepared earlier. Students of the Second and Fourth Divisions—please step inside with Tomoki. It will transport you directly to the designated battlefield located at the heart of the enchanted forest."
Murmurs erupted. A teleportation array large enough to transport two full divisions? That wasn't just high-level magic—it was legendary-tier craftsmanship.
Shinju gave no further explanation. He simply turned on his heel and returned to his seat, as if none of this was extraordinary.
Tomoki didn't even flinch.
"About time," he muttered, stepping forward with a smirk. "Let's get this started already."
He entered the array—ZNNNNNT!—and disappeared in a flash of pale light.
One by one, the students followed. Some were nervous. Others were psyched. All of them vanished into light, transported to their battlefield.
Soon, the arena stood silent and empty.
And then—
Clap!
Shinju clapped once, sharply.
RUMMMBLE!!!
The ground shuddered.
The crowd jumped as the stone cracked and groaned. From deep beneath the arena, a gigantic screen began to rise—massive gears turning as the steel platform emerged like a titan awakening from slumber.
The screen flickered to life with a bzzzt—and the image of the forest battlefield snapped into view, crystal-clear.
Cheers erupted around the arena.
Meanwhile, in the center of the forest...
The students appeared one after another in flashes of light, materializing on a wide, circular battlefield made of stone tiles surrounded by water. The trees around them stood tall and ancient, their branches whispering secrets to the wind.
Mist clung to the edges of the arena like a curtain drawn back before a play.
Chop-chop-chop-chop!
A loud, rhythmic thudding echoed above them. They all looked up.
A sleek black helicopter soared overhead, hovering just above the treetops. Suspended beneath it was a massive screen—just like the one in the arena.
Suddenly, Shinju's face appeared on the screen, grinning like a showman stepping into the spotlight.
"WHOA!" Seichii nearly screamed, pointing. "Is this being broadcast on national television too!?"
Ryuu shot him a deadpan look. "Seriously? You're acting like a five-year-old…"
Seichii grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, but this is just so cool!"
On-screen, Shinju's voice echoed again—smooth, theatrical.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what you're about to witness is no ordinary fight. This is the grand battle—where the rising stars of tomorrow clash to determine who is worthy of standing at the top."
The students looked around, suddenly hyper-aware of the battlefield… and the weight of the moment.
"To spice things up," Shinju continued, "the rules are a little different. This will be a full team battle—Second Division versus Fourth Division. The arena is surrounded by water on all sides."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"If any team member falls into the water, they're instantly disqualified. If all members of a team are unable to fight, the opposing team will be crowned the winner of this grand battle—and the champions of the Inter-Division Competition!"
The crowd in the arena roared. Even from the forest, the students could faintly hear the cheers.
"Let the battle… begin!"
On the battlefield...
Tomoki stood calmly at the far edge of the lake, facing the opposing team. His cloak rustled as a breeze rolled across the water.
Across from him, the Second Division lined up. And at their front—Ryuu.
Before Ryuu could move, someone stepped forward.
"Looks like it's finally time, Aramiya-kun," said a familiar voice.
Rajin stood a few feet away, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. His lightning-charged aura crackled faintly in the air around him.
"I've been looking forward to this fight. Hope you're feeling the same."
Ryuu's brow furrowed. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. That aura… it was overwhelming.
But before he could answer—
Step.
Ryoko moved in front of him, her long white hair swaying behind her.
"If you want to get to Ryuu-kun," she said flatly, "you'll have to go through me first."
Rajin's confident smirk twitched.
"Ah, Ryoko-san!" he laughed. "I saw what you did in the solo battles. Honestly, I've been dying to fight someone like you."
He raised his hand, purple lightning dancing across his fingers.
"But… you are an S-Rank, after all. So, if you don't mind—please go easy on me."
Ryoko didn't blink. Her hand lifted—and an elegant sword of ice formed instantly in her grasp.
"I won't promise anything," she said coldly. "The solo matches were too easy. I've been waiting for something… entertaining."
She raised her sword high.
"Let the showdown begin."
RUMBLE!!!
With a roar, she slashed downward.
A wave of glacial energy burst forward—a slicing arc of ice racing straight toward Rajin.
But just before it reached him—
Zzzzzzzzp!
Rajin vanished.
BOOOOM!
The ice slash hit Shinju's protective barrier at the edge of the battlefield and exploded into mist.
Ryoko's eyes narrowed. She scanned the field—he was gone.
"Up here," Rajin's voice called playfully.
He reappeared near the other end of the field, still smirking.
"What—?" Ryoko narrowed her eyes. "There was no teleportation array. How did you dodge that?"
Rajin casually strolled closer, the storm still crackling around him.
"Did you forget? I'm a lightning-user. I've trained my body to channel electricity so precisely… I can move faster than the eye can track. Instant relocation—without any magic circles."
His smile widened. "And don't worry. That was just the warm-up. I've got more surprises waiting."
Ryoko's grip tightened on her sword. But before she could move again—
BOOM!!!
An explosion rocked the left side of the battlefield.
Smoke billowed up.
Ryuu and Ryoko turned—eyes wide.
"SEICHII!!" Ryuu screamed.
Seichii was kneeling in front of Taguchi, blood trickling down his face. Taguchi stood with a smug grin, his fists crackling.
"SEICHII-KUN!"
Masumi cried out and ran toward him, her eyes filled with horror.
"You planned this…" Ryoko growled, turning her gaze back to Rajin.
His smirk never faded.
"Of course I did. While you were focused on me… my teammates were already moving."
His eyes gleamed.
"This world is filled with cruel beings, Ryoko-san. Demons. Humans. Doesn't matter. The moment you let your guard down—bam!—you're gone. Just like that."
Ryoko's sword trembled in her hands—not from fear, but from rage.
"Then let's see how fast your little tricks hold up,"
She said, her eyes now gleaming with fury.
"Because you just made this personal."....