And then—
A voice.
Sharp. Composed. Unshakable.
"Enough."
It wasn't shouted, yet it cut through everything like a blade through silk.
The crowd froze.
Heads turned toward the highest balcony.
Someone whispered, "Wait... that voice—"
Another followed quickly, "Princess Valeria...!"
All at once, mouths shut. Even the most panicked nobles went still.
"I ask you all to remain seated," the voice echoed, calm but absolute. "The Supreme Knights have already been dispatched. The barrier is being assessed. No civilians will be permitted to leave until the area is secure."
Silence gripped the stadium.
She spoke again—no hesitation, no falter.
"There is no benefit to shouting. No one will find their loved ones faster by panicking. The safety of every student is being prioritized."
Host Rock exhaled, blinking rapidly.
"Y-You heard that, folks… Princess Valeria has spoken. Please cooperate with the Supreme Knights while the situation is brought under control."
Murmurs died down. People sank back into their seats. The fear hadn't vanished—but the chaos had been strangled at its root.
High above, Princess Valeria turned her gaze toward the distant forest—toward the glowing dome that still crackled with mystery.
Her expression didn't change.
Princess Valeria turned her head slightly, her gaze calm as ever.
"Chief Kaito. Go right—"
She paused.
The seat beside the Four Holy Knights was empty.
He was gone.
A voice answered from behind.
"Chief Kaito is already on his way to the forest," said Elira, stepping forward with a sharp nod. "He left the moment the barrier formed."
A faint smile touched the princess's lips—subtle, confident.
"I see," she murmured. "Then you may go and assist him."
Elira didn't hesitate.
"Yes, Your Highness."
With a graceful pivot, the First Squad Captain vanished from the royal balcony, her footsteps silent against the stone floor.
The forest, just outside the massive dome of energy, buzzed with tense motion.
Knights rushed between trees, lifting groaning students who lay scattered across the ground.
These were the ones fortunate enough to have been outside the barrier's reach.
Many were injured from the shockwave or the chaos that had rippled out just before the dome sealed.
Some were conscious, barely. Others blinked in confusion, trying to process what had happened.
In front of the glowing wall of light, Second Squad Captain Walter stood still, hand pressed against the smooth surface of the barrier.
"Just as I thought…
This was made with a full Zone release.
But none of the students here should even know how to access that level of ability, let alone control it.
So then… the three dead bodies earlier, and now this massive attack…
Could it all be the work of the same person?"
A sharp rustling came from the nearby bushes.
Walter turned, eyes narrowing.
From the underbrush, a tall figure stepped out, calm, composed.
"How's your investigation going, Walter?"
"Oh, it's you, Chief Kaito." Walter eyes widened
"…How long have you been here?" Walter asked, his eyes still fixed on the massive dome, though his voice carried a clear note of deference.
"Not too long," Chief Kaito replied, his tone light.
He stepped over a fallen branch, brushing off his coat with deliberate ease. "I was helping calm down a girl with an umbrella. She looked very depressed. Couldn't just leave her like that."
Walter gave a subtle nod but didn't comment. He knew Kaito wouldn't mention something like that unless it mattered.
Kaito's gaze settled on the towering barrier before them.
The light shimmered faintly across his eyes as he took a step closer, hands behind his back.
"So," he said, voice dipping into something quieter, more serious, "have you figured out who's behind all this? Or at least how it happened?"
Walter straightened his posture.
"No, sir. Not yet," he said, his tone sharp with focus. "But given the sheer scale of this… the precision, the power involved—there's no doubt in my mind. Whoever caused this is still inside that barrier."
Kaito narrowed his eyes at the barrier, the glow reflecting faintly off his irises.
"Walter," he said calmly, "even I can tell that much just by looking at it."
He took a slow breath, then added with a sharper edge:
"The real question is—what are they after? Why go this far… in a kids' tournament?"
Walter didn't respond at first. His jaw tightened slightly. He didn't have an answer. Not yet.
The silence stretched for a moment—until a flicker crossed his face.
His eyes widened just a little, as if a puzzle piece had abruptly dropped into place.
"Chief…" Walter turned toward him, his voice suddenly more urgent. "Did you receive the report about that student? The one the bounty hunters were after?"
Kaito's head tilted slightly.
"…Go on," he said.
Walter stood a step behind Kaito, hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the eerie shimmer of the barrier.
"But still, sir," he said after a pause, his voice low and thoughtful, "even if they are bounty hunters… I don't think they'd go this far."
"To take this kind of high-risk action—attacking during a national tournament, with someone like you present, along with the Four Holy Knights—it doesn't make sense. No bounty is worth provoking the Imperial Nation like this... unless there's something more behind it."
Kaito didn't reply immediately. He remained motionless, his eyes studying the barrier with quiet intensity.
"…I see," he murmured at last.
Walter looked up, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple.
"Then… what do we do?"
Kaito's voice remained calm.
"We wait."
He turned his head slightly, just enough for Walter to hear clearly.
"If this dome was created by someone in full Zone Release… there's a limit to how long they can maintain it. Once that time runs out—"
His gaze hardened, the glint of strategy in his eyes.
***
Ito slowly rose to his feet, staggering slightly.
Sara immediately rushed toward him, her Zone still flickering faintly.
"You're okay," she said, her voice tight—not with anger, but with relief. "I thought you got hit directly…"
Ito gave a weak nod. "I… I almost did."
Sara looked him over quickly, her brows still furrowed. "Don't push it. Your leg—can you stand?"
"I'm fine," he replied, though he wasn't. His hands were still trembling.
Behind them, the others were slowly gathering their bearings.
Shion leaned against a tree trunk, catching her breath.
Eriska wiped dust from her cheek with the back of her glove.
Kajin sat down on a rock, arms hanging loose, like all the strength had drained from him.
Zayden gave a shaky sigh and slumped to the ground, resting on his elbows as he tried to catch his breath.
"…That was too close," he muttered, eyes fixed on the sky. "If Gakurei hadn't moved when he did…"
Shion glanced his way, nodding silently, her expression tense.
Gakurei, the only one still standing fully, hadn't said a word.
Shion turned toward him, frowning.
"Gakurei… you were the one who—"
Gakurei didn't look back. His eyes were still focused on the faint white barrier far ahead.
"I felt something shift," he said at last. "Didn't know what it was… just knew we needed to move, that all."
Ito exhaled slowly, gaze scanning the battered forest floor.
"…I'll go look around," he said quietly. "See if anyone else is here."
He took a step forward—
A sharp pain shot through his knee.
He froze, sucking in a breath, his leg trembling slightly. But he didn't stop for long. He clenched his jaw, forced the pain down, and pushed forward.
That's when it happened.
A flash of silver tore through the air.
Before Ito could react, a dual blade was already at his throat, mere inches from slicing it clean.
But Kajin moved first.
He tackled Ito aside, the sudden shove sending them both to the ground.
"Ito! You okay?" Kajin asked, landing beside him.
Ito's hand flew to his right eye—excruciating pain searing through his skull.
Blood streamed down his face, dripping onto the earth below.
His fingers came away soaked.
He blinked.
Only darkness stared back.
His right eye... it was gone.
The blade had cut it clean.
The dual weapon spun back into the shadows, into the hand of its silent wielder.
And now—
Three figures stood before them.