The bus left the city and entered the mountain roads.
Familiar roadside trees and asphalt roads gradually came into view.
The closer they got to Hagun Academy, the stronger Eiji's sense of unease grew.
Inside the bus, Ikazuchi Saijou was driving. All six representative fighters including Eiji were present without exception—even Arisuin Nagi sat calmly in his seat as if nothing was wrong, along with Kagami.
Theoretically, this lineup was already incredibly strong.
As long as they weren't facing world-class opponents like Nene, they stood a fighting chance.
Moreover, they had a tactic with a 100% hit rate.
Yet, he couldn't shake the restlessness in his heart.
It felt as though an immense danger awaited them ahead, their advance akin to sheep entering a tiger's den, filling him with unease.
"But no matter how uneasy I feel, there's no other way."
Eiji forced himself to accept it.
For some reason, none of the people who could resolve this situation were reachable.
Now, they could only rely on themselves to overcome this crisis, and they had already devised the most effective tactic on their own. There were no other options left.
Fortunately, according to Arisuin Nagi, their client had given them orders not to kill anyone, so there was no need to worry about casualties.
Even in the worst-case scenario, no deaths would occur.
With the clarity of still water, Eiji suppressed his wavering heart while steeling himself with courage, entering his optimal combat state.
"Junior, look!"
Touka suddenly pointed out the window.
Dark plumes of smoke rose in the distance, flames spreading across the horizon.
"That's the direction of the school!"
"Those bastards are already there!"
The group inside the bus gritted their teeth in frustration.
Judging by the flames and smoke, Hagun Academy must have already been attacked and was being ruthlessly destroyed by the enemy.
Nagi gazed calmly at the flames outside the window.
Shizuku sat beside him, her head lowered as if lost in thought.
The bus climbed the slope and stopped at the front gates of Hagun Academy.
Everyone rushed out of the vehicle, charging into the campus with urgent determination.
Destruction was everywhere.
Trees had fallen in large numbers, walls were shattered, and flames spread through the woods—the vast grounds of Hagun Academy were engulfed in a sea of fire.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
A frivolous, clownish voice suddenly echoed through the air.
The source came from above.
Following the sound, the group spotted a jester-like figure standing atop the blazing roof of the faculty building.
"Members of the Hagun Academy delegation, welcome back from your long journey! We've been waiting for you for quite some time, heeheehee!"
The man spread his arms in an exaggerated theatrical pose, laughing triumphantly.
Reisen Hiraga!
First-year student of Bunkyoku Academy, the Puppeteer!
"Was this your doing?"
Ikki's expression was icy, his Device manifesting in his hand, his entire aura sharp and lethal.
"Oh-ho, no need to rush!"
Reisen Hiraga chuckled.
"To be precise, it wasn't just me!"
Then, he took a step forward—leaping down from the thirty-meter-high rooftop!
But he wasn't alone.
From behind him, more figures emerged one after another, following him as they all descended together.
Invisible threads spread across the sky, catching the figures of several people and gently lowering them to the ground.
"It's not just me—it's all of us, the 'Akatsuki Academy'!"
Kurogane Ouma held a three-meter-long odachi, his cold gaze fixed on Stella.
Amane Shinomiya smiled innocently, looking at Eiji with reverence.
Sara stared intently at Eiji.
Rinna Kazamatsuri examined him like a piece of art, her face full of admiration, while Charlotte Corde faintly revealed hostility. The two rode together on a black lion.
Tatara Yui grinned savagely, her chainsaw in hand, looking like a pure-blooded murderer.
Seven people in total, plus one lion.
All familiar faces.
"Akatsuki Academy—you mean all of you?"
Eiji's eyes swept over the seven one by one.
This lineup matched exactly the list he had discovered.
Everything connected now.
It began with Sara, who had inexplicably targeted Eiji at the exhibition hall, marking the start of their entanglement. Then came the night ambush on the long street and the Okutama incident, which solidified their enmity and ultimately exposed them.
"The Akatsuki Academy, of course, refers to the eighth knight-training school in Japan, independent of the Seven Stars Academy!"
Reisen Hiraga adjusted his clown mask. "Opposed to you, who symbolize the Big Dipper, we are the Dawn. Quite an artistic name, don't you think?"
"An eighth school?"
Hearing this, everyone was stunned.
This wasn't an act.
Even with Arisuin Nagi's intelligence support, they had no prior knowledge of this!
In other words, even Nagi didn't know about this!
Each of them was a representative fighter of the Seven Stars Academy.
And now they had joined forces to form an eighth school?
What kind of joke was this?
How could such a thing be recognized? The League would never stand idly by. Once that international organization intervened, the Akatsuki Academy would be crushed in an instant.
"What the hell is going on?"
Ikki couldn't help but look at Kurogane Ouma across from him.
"Brother Ouma, I've never heard of this Akatsuki Academy—"
"Don't call me that. I've long severed ties with you."
But Kurogane Ouma's response was so cold it sent chills down their spines.
Facing his own younger brother and sister, he couldn't even spare them a glance, his focus entirely on Stella, not shifting an inch.
"This man is strong!"
Stella's expression tensed.
Facing Kurogane Ouma directly, she felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from him—terrifyingly powerful!
In an instant, Stella understood. While the others were no pushovers, Kurogane Ouma was undoubtedly the strongest among them!
Compared to the rest, his presence was on an entirely different level!
"What exactly is the Akatsuki Academy? What is our goal? I'm sure you're wondering about that! Allow me to explain!"
Reisen Hiraga stepped forward willingly, openly revealing their purpose.
"The answer is simple. Our Akatsuki Academy is a new school not recognized by the League. Even if our students could participate in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, we'd be disqualified if the Executive Committee doesn't approve. So we must use the most obvious method to prove that this 'battle to determine Japan's strongest student knight' would be meaningless without our participation!"
***
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