Kazuki stood tall, a wicked grin on his face.
"Oh, so you're the trash who took down Shiba with one punch? Hahaha…"
"What do you want, Kazuki?" Hiro asked coldly.
Kazuki's eyes flared. "You touched one of my people, you bastard! I'll crush your jaw!"
"Tch. Trash like you is nothing but dead weight," Kazuki spat. "That's why your parents are gone, right? Hahaha—"
"Screw you," Hiro growled.
Kazuki snarled and launched his attack. The ground beneath Hiro's feet cracked as sharp stones rose, twisting toward him. Before they could strike—
CRACK!
Akira appeared in a flash, eyes glowing blue. A single wave of his hand and the flying stone shattered mid-air.
"Thanks, Akira," Hiro said without turning. "But let me end this… myself."
Akira gave a slight nod. "If you need me, I'm here."
Kazuki roared, slamming his hands into the ground. Spires of rock burst upward, binding Hiro's legs in place.
"You can't move now!" Kazuki shouted. "I'll bury you!"
Hiro winced as pain surged through his arm—he couldn't use Stasis Veil anymore. But then...
He closed his eyes. "Telekinesis…"
Rubble around him trembled, floating slowly into the air. Dust swirled in a gentle cyclone.
Kazuki's smile vanished. "What… the hell?"
"I may not be able to use my hand," Hiro said, opening his eyes, "but I can still fight… with my mind!"
The ground binding his legs exploded into dust. Kazuki stepped back, stunned.
"What kind of power is this?! Where did you get it?!"
Hiro smirked. "I don't know. I just do… what misfortune taught me."
Then, he took a step forward. His body radiated strange energy—like a shadow of the masked man appeared behind him.
Kazuki's eyes widened. "That stance… no way!"
BAM!
A flash of movement.
Kazuki's body was lifted off the ground from a single, invisible punch to the face. He crashed down hard, groaning.
Shiba and Milo stood frozen.
"Kazuki… just got hit?" Shiba gasped.
"By what?! Nothing even touched him!" Milo shouted.
Kazuki tried to rise, body trembling.
Hiro took one step closer.
> "Skill: Imagine – Invisible Strike."
The wind howled—and Kazuki flew back once more.
He didn't get up.
---
Hanako walked forward, her eyes fixed on Hiro.
"Hiro… you may not realize it yet, but today… wasn't just a warning to Kazuki. It was a warning to the entire school."
She narrowed her eyes, voice low.
"The next arc… won't be a game anymore."
She looked toward the horizon.
"A war between schools is coming. And you, Hiro… you'll be their greatest threat."
"…Me? A threat?" Hiro said, confused.
Hanako nodded. "Yes. You've just stepped into a world far darker than you imagined."
Hiro turned away, cold expression on his face.
"Do whatever you want. I don't care."