In a blink, Touya vanished in a blur appearing right in front of Noah, who didn't even have time to blink as Touya swung down Wole-Zain to him.
Fast…!
Noah's eyes widened. That speed was well beyond what Touya had shown before. He barely raised his Lightsaber Lux in time to block the blow, sparks flashing at the impact.
"Holy crap!" Eishiro swore, nearly stumbling back.
"That speed!" Julis exclaimed, eyes wide.
"He didn't even channel prana…" Saya murmured, jaw slack.
Their clash erupted. Touya and Noah engage in a breathtaking duel, their swords flashing with light. At first, they moved cautiously, testing each other's reaction and rhythm. Each exchange was measured: a clean parry here, a faint feint there. But it didn't take long before restraint gave way to instinct.
Touya roared forward, Wole-Zain arcing in a powerful upward slash, only to be met with Noah's Lightsaber-Lux, humming with energy as it deflected the strike in a tight spiral. The recoil from the clash cracked the ground beneath them.
A heartbeat later, they vanished reappearing a few meters apart before clashing again, sparks erupting in a burst of pressure. Wole-Zain's sweeping arcs were now being twisted mid-air into feints, while Lightsaber-Lux flared between parries and counters, guided by Noah's smooth motion.
Each step they took triggered shockwaves. Every parried strike was followed by another, each brother reading the other's intention as if reliving old memories burned into muscle. The sound of their blades rang like a chorus, but no one could see them clearly anymore, only afterimages left from where they once stood, trails of motion that couldn't keep up with the real thing.
"Did they just vanish?!" Kirin gasped.
"No! They're just moving too fast!," Shizuka said quietly, watching closely.
Koutaro and the rest of the forward team stop, eyes darting around trying to follow the figures of Noah and Touya as they duel.
"Crap… Touya's not even holding back," Itsuki muttered, sweat trailing down his temple.
The others nodded silently, equally stunned and maybe a little afraid of just how far Touya had come.
—-
"F-Fast?! Was Touya-kun always that fast?!" Minami cried out, eyes glued to the field.
"No sign of prana use either. That was just raw physical acceleration," Chitose added, stunned.
"Ehem! Well, Touya is improving every day after all," Alya said with a proud, smug smile.
Masha leaned closer with a teasing grin. "Alya-chan, you sound like a girlfriend bragging about her boyfriend."
"P-PFFT—M-Masha!! Wh-What are you even saying?!" Alya stammered, face flushing bright red as she flailed in embarrassment.
"Brother Touya is amazing!" Nahida beamed. "He actually pushed back Big Brother Noah!" Her eyes sparkled with awe.
"This might be the very first time that Touya-kun fought with everything he had." Kaori added in awe.
The comment section of the livestream lit up like fireworks. For most of the audience, this was their first glimpse of Touya Alden's true strength.
「Touya Alden is cracked!!」
「Bro's faster than the frame rate!!」
「Wait, he is the younger brother?! What's in the Alden family breakfast??」
「Touya supremacy!! Touya supremacy!!」
「HELP I CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM!!」
The stream chat scrolled faster than anyone could read, fans cheering, screaming, or just flat-out losing their minds at the surreal clash playing out before them.
Just then, the doors to the simulation room slid open and in walked the Alden elders.
Elena Alden strode in with purpose, clearly displeased, while her husband, Haruto Alden, rushed in behind her, slightly out of breath. Their father, the legendary Caelus Alden, followed at a much more relaxed pace.
"Huh?! Auntie Elena?! Uncle Haruto? Grandpa Caelus too?!" Masha stood up from her seat and hurried over. "What are you all doing here?"
"Hello Masha-chan, we saw Minami-chan's broadcast and rushed over the moment I saw my wayward son return, even if just as a projection," Elena said with a sigh, crossing her arms.
"Hi Auntie! Uncle! Grandpa Caelus!" Mina waved brightly, then turned to face the camera. "Everyone! Looks like we've got special guests on today's broadcast! Please welcome the Alden family elders—Elena and Haruto Alden, and the legendary Caelus Alden himself!"
The camera zoomed slightly as the three waved at the audience, their presence instantly lighting up the chat.
「Wait, is that THE Caelus Alden?! The real deal?!」
「Elena-sama looks like she's about to drag Noah by the ear LOL」
「Uncle Haruto rushing in like he forgot to lock the front door haha」
「This family is seriously OP… help??」
「Auntie Elena is giving 'Noah-you-have-5-seconds-to-explain' energy」
Viewers flooded the comments, stunned by the sudden arrival of the Alden elders and already imagining the incoming family drama with the same intensity as the battlefield itself.
Elena's expression softened as she turned toward Nahida. "You must be Nahida-chan. You're even more adorable in person than you were on screen."
"Eh?! Ehehe… thank you so much," Nahida blushed, her ears twitching red as she looked away shyly.
Caelus chuckled, arms folded. "They look like they're having way too much fun in there."
"Not just that, Dad," Haruto added, squinting at the battlefield. "Noah's gearing up and, Touya, he is nearing his limit."
—-
Back on the field, Touya could already feel that Noah had adapted. His elder brother was no longer just reacting; he was predicting. Every strike Touya launched was subtly led astray, guided into Noah's tempo.
Noah's stance had changed ever so slightly, but the effect was massive. He was no longer defending out of necessity; he was slowly gaining control. When Touya tried a double slash combination, Noah preemptively stepped into the space, parried the second strike with his Lightsaber-Lux's hilt, and nearly disarmed him with a sharp twist.
"Not good! He's already pulling me into his rhythm," Touya thought, gritting his teeth. "Like I'm dancing to his tune."
The momentum is changing rapidly. Where once their fight was evenly matched, now Touya was chasing moments, struggling to stay ahead of a current that kept sweeping him back. Noah is shaping the battlefield into his advantage.
Still, Touya didn't back down, gritting his teeth. He adjusted his stance, narrowing his eyes. "I won't be left behind again… not this time."
Meanwhile back to the rest of the team.
"Everyone," Mahiru's voice rang in the minds of Koutaro and the others.
"Huh? Mahiru?" Athena blinked.
"Yes, Athena-nee," Mahiru confirmed calmly. "I've cast a communication spell for our minds and an enchantment that'll let you sense and track Onii-chan and Touya's movements, at least partially."
Moments later, the entire team could finally perceive their high-speed duel. Though Touya pressed the offense with relentless speed, Noah's defense was growing sharper, his counter rhythm starting to emerge.
"To cast both spells at once....such an amazing control," Maki whispered, genuinely impressed.
"Ugh… Is it just me or is Mahiru-chan seriously giving Nana-san a run for her title?" Yurika muttered.
Nana more formally known as Rainbow Nana was the famed archmage of Folsaria and Yurika's former mentor. Though she had retired due to past injuries, her legend lived on. But that tale… was one for another time.
Mahiru stood at the edge of the field, her eyes narrowed, hand clenching.
"Everyone, please be ready," she called aloud this time. "Touya's near his limit. Onii-chan… he's about to stop playing defense."
"Roger that," Koutaro's voice answered back in their minds. "Middle guard, once you see an opening, separate Touya from Noah. Forward group, be ready to move in right after."
"Understood!" came the united reply from both teams; Hayate, Yuuya, Shizuka, Ayato, Kirin, Claudia in the forward team and Athena, Theia, Ruth, Sanae, Yurika, Maki, Julis, Itsuki, Saya, and Eishiro in the middle guard.
All eyes turned forward, breaths held. The next phase was about to begin.
-----
Back in Sumeru City, Teyvat, Kiana, Elysia, Lumine, Miss A, and Buer were all gathered around a large screen, eyes fixed on the intense battle unfolding. Behind them, the scholars monitoring the Inteyvat network continued to murmur in growing fascination, their data long forgotten in favor of the spectacle.
"Captain's younger brother is amazing…" Kiana muttered wide-eyed. "He's actually keeping up with the Captain."
"Mm," Lumine nodded. "And Noah's brother hasn't used that starfield-like technique yet. Both of them are still holding back."
"As expected from the Alden bloodline," Miss A said, tapping her chin. "Technique, talent, and terrifying discipline they've got the full set."
Buer tilted her head and looked up at Elysia, who had gone unusually silent beside them. "Miss Elysia? You've been quiet. Is something wrong?"
Kiana, Lumine, and Miss A turned at once.
Elysia blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "Ah~ sorry for zoning out," she said, sticking out her tongue. "I think I picked up a trace of emotion from Touya-kun just now."
"Trace of emotion?" Kiana tilted her head. "Like what he's feeling?"
"Not exactly… It's more like residual emotions from his memories. Kind of like an aftertaste of what lingers on someone's spirit or body." Elysia scratched her cheek, searching for a better way to explain it.
Buer chimed in gently, "Maybe you mean… you were able to read the feelings tied to his memories?"
Elysia's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it. Since I'm a Pathstrider of Remembrance, I can read traces of memories that people leave behind, even unconsciously I am somewhat able to feel the traces of emotions from those memories as well."
Kiana, Lumine, and Miss A all nodded in understanding.
"So~ what are you getting from Touya-kun?" Miss A asked.
Elysia turned her gaze back to the screen, her voice softening. "That he worked really hard to reach where he is now. Everything, from his skill, his strength. It was all because he wanted to catch up to our dear Noah."
The others followed her gaze.
On screen, they saw Noah's eyes that held pride. A small, approving smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he matched Touya's strikes.
"He's proud of him…" Lumine whispered.
Kiana smiled faintly. "Such a heavy love from Captain."
"And because of that," Miss A added with a sigh, "he's going to push Touya-kun even further."
Right on cue, Noah's stance changed. No longer passive, he lunged forward with precise footwork, parrying Touya's next strikes with swift, minimal movements. Sparks flew with every clash of blade and energy, their motions too fast for the untrained eye. With a subtle twirl in grip, Noah twisted his Lightsaber-Lux to deflect Wole-Zain's edge, sliding past Touya's guard and grazing his shoulder. In that split second, Touya spun away, countering with a sharp backward slash only for Noah to catch it mid-arc, their weapons locking together in a surge of tension.
The two brothers stood locked in place, pressure crackling between them.
With a sudden pulse of Force, they broke apart again, swords flashing as they resumed their high-speed dance.
"That spark in his eyes," Elysia said, voice warm. "He's acknowledging Touya. This is his way of recognizing all of Touya-kun's efforts."
-----
At the commentary booth in Asterisk World, Elena, Haruto, Caelus, Minami, Kaori, Chitose, Masha, Alya, and Nahida watched as the momentum of the duel changed. Noah is now gradually taking the advantage.
Masha let out a soft sigh. "Touya-kun might be feeling a bit complicated right now."
"Eh? Why's that, Masha?" Alya asked curiously, glancing at her older sister.
Masha's gaze lingered on the battlefield. Touya locking blades with Noah, sweat trailing down his jaw, the signs of strain now showing.
"Noah-kun acknowledged him," Masha said quietly. "He saw Touya-kun's efforts, all the relentless training and growth just to reach this point, just to stand on equal ground. So now, he's pushing him further, past his current limit. After this fight, I'm sure Touya-kun will break through again… he's almost there."
Alya frowned slightly, though her voice was soft. "...He really is trying to bring out the best in Touya-kun, isn't he?"
Even the live chat reacted in kind:
「Wait... so getting slammed harder means he's proud?!」
「Noah: I believe in you... punches harder」
「Someone give Touya a hug AND an energy drink」
Chitose tilted her head. "That's… weirdly sweet?"
Hearing Masha's words, Elena, Haruto, and Caelus exchanged knowing smiles.
"Wow... Sister Masha said the same things as Sister Kiana, Sister Lumine, Sister Elysia, and Sister Alice," Nahida said with a soft gasp, looking up at her with wide, sparkling eyes.
Masha blinked, then quickly looked away, her lips turned into a pout.
"They must know Noah really well," Elena added with a teasing smirk. "To say the same things about him as you did… must mean they share a deep bond."
"E-Even so…" Masha mumbled, crossing her arms. "I knew him first."
Haruto chuckled under his breath. "The classic childhood friend card, huh?"
"My, my~ it seems our dear Masha has quite the competition now," Caelus mused playfully, folding his arms as his eyes twinkled.
Masha muttered under her breath, "I won't lose."
Then once again, the rhythm of the fight changed. Just before Noah could push Touya even further, a serpent-like ethereal creature came between them. Its glowing form hissed as it lunged, forcing Noah to retreat and evade.
Touya landed a few meters back, breathing heavily, as Koutaro, Hayate, Yuuya, Shizuka, Ayato, Kirin, and Claudia rushed past him, taking advantage of the gap. They advanced on Noah, who now danced between their attacks and the swaying body of the phantom serpent.
----
At Touya's side, he is catching his breath, recognizing the creature instantly Mahiru's Patronus, the Basilisk. One of the guardian spirits of the Alden-Peverell line.
"Touya, you okay?" Mahiru's voice rang softly in his head.
"...Yeah," he replied between breaths.
"Don't get all down, you dummy. We already knew Onii-chan's still way ahead of all of us," she said, tone somewhere between teasing and comforting.
"Ahaha, yeah... I know. But it's still frustrating. Just when I thought we were catching up..." Touya muttered.
"It's fine, Touya-nii. We still have time. And besides, I think it's better this way," Mahiru said with a soft smile. "At least we can be at peace knowing that with Onii-chan's current strength, he can take care of himself… even out there in the universe."
"You saying that, does makes sense....hmm?,"
Touya blinked. Her words made too much sense. Then realization hit.
"Wait… wait a sec. Did you just call me Touya-nii?!"
Mahiru feigned confusion instantly. "Huh? What are you saying, Touya? Hearing things now?"
"No way! I definitely heard it! You did say Touya-nii just now!" Touya pointed a mental accusatory finger at her.
"Hee~ sorry, I don't understand~ Mahiru-chan doesn't know~" she teased, twirling a strand of hair like an innocent bystander.
"OI!! Don't act all cutesy now!"
"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ARGUING ABOUT THAT NOW?!" everyone shouted across their shared mental link.
"Ah…" both Mahiru and Touya paused, grinning sheepishly at the collective scolding.
"Seriously, you Aldens just follow your own pace in any situation…" Koutaro sighed, brows twitching. As Noah pushed him back with a slash.
"...You're really that blockhead's sibling," Athena muttered, rubbing her temples while dropping ice spears at Noah who casually sliced it off.
"This feels like getting crushed by politeness... and overwhelming skill," Hayate mumbled with a drained look. Twitching slightly from pain from Noah's counter punch
"Well, what do you expect? They're Aldens," Yuuya deadpanned as brought down his great sword aim at Noah who redirected the trajectory towards Ayato.
Mahiru and Touya exchanged awkward glances as the commentary about their family kept rolling.
"Alright, that's all very insightful, BUT CAN SOMEONE HELP US PLEASE?!" Itsuki's panicked voice cut through the link. "Alden-senpai is seriously about to fold us like laundry!!"
The two looked toward the battlefield and winced. Noah moved with terrifying grace, sidestepping Ayato's thrust, spinning to parry Claudia's blades, and using Shizuka's momentum to throw her towards Kirin . Each motion was effortless, like a dance choreographed long before the fight began.
Then, with a casual breath, Noah clenched his left fist. The moment it hit the ground, a shockwave burst out a visible Force Wave that exploded from the impact point. Both the forward and middle guard teams were blown backward, rolling across the field like leaves in a storm.
"…Yup. We should probably step in now," Touya muttered, already moving.
"Let's go," Mahiru nodded, eyes sharp. "Before Onii-chan finished them."
-----
"Ouch… I felt that…" Minami winced, a phantom ache crawling up her spine as the middle and forward guard teams were thrown back from a single punch.
".....I've heard the stories from Mahirun and Alya… but isn't Alden-senpai way too absurd?" chitose gawked, pointing at the chaos. "That's a team of twenty elite genestellas of our generation! And he's making it look like a light workout?!"
Noah had caught Ayato's Ser-Veresta mid-swing with the Force while effortlessly parrying Koutaro's Signaltin with his blade in the same motion. A heartbeat later, he kicked Hayate into Yuuya's charging path, sending both tumbling.
Before they could recover, Noah redirected Koutaro with a flick of his wrist slamming him into Ayato. He then turned just in time to slice through Julis' flame wheels with a single, clean arc.
Then came Itsuki's relentless spear strikes. Noah dodged them with minimal movements. Then, with a calm grip, he caught the spear mid-thrust then spun it using the force turning it into a shield, holding it up just in time to absorb blasts from Clan, Theia, and Saya's combined cannon blast.
"P-Pfft! My spear!!!" Itsuki wailed, watching his poor weapon crumble under the force. He blinked and Noah was suddenly right there and instinctively rolled away like his life depended on it.
"Poor Ikkun," chitose sighed, hands clasped. "Thank you, brave spear-san. Your sacrifice shall not be forgotten."
The chat exploded with grief and mock eulogies for the fallen spear.
「RIP Spear-san 」
「He died so Ikkun could run…」
「Alden-senpai really out here turning weapons into shields like a flex」
Masha, Alya, Kaori and Minami all shared dry smiles.
"Ahahaha, as expected of my grandson! Using even discarded gear like a true Alden!" Caelus boomed with pride.
Haruto rubbed his temples. "Still… enchanting Akazawa-kun's spear in an instant to survive three cannon blasts? That's a bit much, even for Noah."
Elena's eye twitched. "...My world-renowned enchantment technique… used on a practice spear… to tank high-grade weaponry… just like that..." She deadpan. "I don't even know how to respond to that."