The Newcomers' Tournament Monolith Code Finals. A buzz rippled through the stands near the officials' seats. The cause? Heads of the Ten Master Clans and their direct descendants were seated there, including Retsu.
True, the finals pitted direct heirs of the Ten Master Clans against each other. Even so, their presence in the stands rather than the officials' box signaled intense interest in the match. Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Kasumi muttered under her breath.
"...What is this situation?"
"For once, I'm right there with you, Kasumi-chan..."
Kasumi and Izumi had arrived early to watch from a spot where they wouldn't bother anyone, but they ended up greeting wave after wave of Ten Master Clan members. The added tension of their own father being among them didn't help.
"This is probably all about coming to see Yugen-nii, right?"
"Likely. Plus, it's a showdown between direct heirs of the Ten Master Clans."
More than half the Ten Master Clans were represented in these stands: Ichijou, Mitsuya, Yotsuba, Itsuwa, Rokuzuka, Nanakusa, and Kudou. Kasumi and Izumi vaguely sensed that gathering this many influential figures couldn't be solely due to the Ichijou heir's pull.
The two had also watched the Newcomers' Ice Pillars Break finals. Yugen's instant victory there would likely shine in Monolith Code too. It wasn't hard to imagine people flocking to witness that.
"I mean, don't they think this is kinda shameless?"
"If they dwelled on that every time, they couldn't function."
They spoke in hushed tones, veiling their target to avoid prying eyes, but Kasumi harshly critiqued her own father. Izumi let out a wry smile, murmuring unforgiving words. Kasumi responded with a strained grin.
Perhaps resentment toward the father who shattered her engagement lingered in the background. Then, a voice addressed them, having overheard.
"Oh my, the Nanakusa ladies are quite fierce."
"Eh? Um..."
"Who might you be?"
Even the sociable Nanakusa daughters didn't recognize this woman. She appeared in her twenties, model-like figure clad in modern fashion. Deftly twirling a fan in her fingers, she introduced herself.
"I'm Kagurazaka Chihime, current head of the Kagurazaka family. You might have heard the name."
"Kagurazaka... I recall Uncle Gousan mentioning them as masters of ancient magic."
"Um, about what we said earlier..."
"No one around heard it."
Chihime had used Tenjin magic to shield their conversation from eavesdroppers. Her activation, devoid of any signs, was impossible with modern magic.
With that, she sat beside Kasumi. Appraising the pair, she asked:
"You two seem here for Monolith Code. Got someone in mind you're rooting for?"
"I'm just accompanying my sister Izumi, who insisted on watching."
"Kasumi-chan! ...Well, I won't deny worrying about Yugen-onii-sama."
Chihime had researched Kasumi and Izumi beforehand, including Izumi's broken engagement to Yugen due to the Jyuuzan family's interference. Knowing this, she probed further.
Kasumi spoke politely, mindful of the woman's high status. Izumi raised her voice slightly but snapped back, remembering the crowd.
"You're Izumi-chan, right? Do you like this Yugen-kun?"
"Um, well... yes. If Father hadn't gotten greedy with the Yotsuba, the engagement wouldn't.ha broken... that sneaky old fox..."
"Izumi, you're starting to sound like me. Calm down, okay?"
Usually, Izumi reined in the impulsive Kasumi, but roles reversed this time. Meanwhile, their eldest sister had grown more affectionate toward Yugen lately, fueling Izumi's jealousy—to the point Kasumi inwardly sighed in exasperation.
Their mother, the Nanakusa matriarch, rarely stayed home, busy as the clan's sociable negotiator traveling nationwide.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Pfft, ahahaha! W-what is that...?"
"I get the feeling, but maybe don't laugh so hard?"
In contrast, Erika clutched her stomach in laughter from the general seats. Leo, beside her, reluctantly chided her. Her excuse fell flat, forcing Mizuki to back her up.
The cause? Tatsuya wore a hooded mantle similar to Mikihiko's, made from the same material.
"Yeah, I know it's probably some strategy from Tatsuya-kun."
"Erika-chan... There's an insane number of spirits swirling around."
Removing her glasses, Mizuki observed spirits clustering around Yugen and Mikihiko. No magic was active, obviously. Mikihiko's mantle likely helped, but Yugen drew even more without aid, leaving her stunned.
Spirit perception was rare; even Ten Master Clan heads mostly lacked it.
One exception, Kana, watched the First High team on the monitor after CAD checks. Seeing spirits flock to Yugen, she exhaled in awe.
(Controlling that many spirits... Yugen's truly amazing.)
No magic activated; rather, he suppressed outbursts, avoiding rule violations. Sensing spirit movements required exceptional perception, like Kana's.
Kana was midway in Tenjin magic mastery, but her brother surpassed even that, earning her genuine admiration.
To those without perception, Tatsuya and Mikihiko's sudden mantles drew eyes—including Third High's team.
"What's that... George, any idea?"
"Probably countermeasures for 'Invisible Bullet.' Not just for show."
Shinku replied to his teammate. Mere performance seemed unlikely for finals. Shoki agreed but worried more about Yugen, mantle-free.
(Shiba Tatsuya in a cumbersome mantle, while Mitsuya Yugen wears nothing... What's going on?)
The siren blared across the grassland field, signaling First High vs. Third High start. Shoki raised his specialized CAD to seize initiative, but compressed air bullets flew from First High faster—no foul called, meaning quicker activation.
(What...!?)
Multiple bullets targeted Third High, all missing Shoki's team in 16 shots. His teammates grew cocky.
"...What, misses mean nothing."
"...(No, that's not just misses.)"
But Shinku sweated, eyeing impacts: four bullets per direction, radiating evenly 2 meters from Third High's monolith. Power restrained to expose dirt and scatter grass, but clearly within range.
Such precision seemed beyond Shiba Tatsuya... As if proving it, Yugen advanced slowly from First High's monolith, dual gun-shaped CADs in hand.
Shoki's face hardened; he raised his CAD and advanced.
"So he steps forward... Think he's okay?"
"His magic arsenal is vast, so low chance of blunders. Plus, ancient magic expertise means less struggle than Tatsuya-kun upfront."
"I know, but... Against someone who crushes enemy cards effortlessly, it might not matter."
Yamanaka and Kyoko murmured from the stands. Yugen's prowess in the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion was proven: honed family martial arts plus rare magical talent. They watched partly to ensure no military secrets leaked under scrutiny, but Yugen upfront reduced risks.
"Ichijou-kun's 'Rupture' is banned, but lesser power means nothing to him. He aced that demo unscathed and sparred with Sanada-san and Yanagi-san."
"...Honest question: Is there a way to beat him?"
Yamanaka's words drew Kyoko's wry smile. Visits to the Shin'in-ryu dojo were common; even elite Yanagi struggled. She'd love tips on defeating master-level Yugen.
Shoki attacked mid-advance with right-hand CAD, but Yugen's right CAD—'Gram Demolition'—shattered it pre-activation. Simultaneously, left CAD fired at Shoki, power curbed to not breach interference armor.
The magical shootout thrilled the stands; First High cheers swelled with victory hopes. In First High's tent, Mayumi, Katsuto, and Suzune gaped at Yugen.
"Hey, is he dual-wielding CADs simultaneously?"
"...Probably."
Perfect psion wave control wasn't established in modern magic. Multi-CAD use was advanced, unstable. Yet Yugen fluidly dual-activated continuously, implying psion wave isolation.
His skill honored the Ten Master Clans. Using 'Gram Demolition' surprised, but paled beside Ice Pillars Break flair.
Monolith Code banned A-rank lethal magic anyway; subtlety was inevitable.
"But attacks aren't landing on Ichijou-kun. Yuu-kun wouldn't misjudge power... What do you think, Juumonji-kun?"
"Attack volume's increasing, not decreasing. Mitsuya's aiming for something—not just pinning Ichijou."
Yugen dismantled Shoki's spells without glancing back, shattering visualized formulas in fantastical displays. He gradually ramped power against Shoki, who hid inner panic.
(Bringing specialized CAD backfired... Damn, meant to lure Shiba, not drag out Mitsuya...)
No guarantee Yugen stayed put, but his semifinal defense bred complacency. Shinku might've anticipated if not for the building collapse. No time for gripes; Shoki bolstered barriers.
Yet attacks persisted, shattered pre-activation by Yugen's 'Demolition.'
Shoki's skills were solid, so Yugen's counter: concealed multi-CAD simultaneous use. He considered 'Phase Shift Armor' but nixed it, mindful of Defense University observers.
The tech wasn't hard—with solid magic control (often called mana control in fiction). Modern magic researched control decently, but prioritized speed, scale, strength via CADs, sidelining it.
Control training was tedious, clashing with modern magic's flashiness. Yet essential for Tenjin magic.
Ancient magic retained psion control techniques, but without clear methods—just "effective."
Yugen unwittingly refined them, blending Mitsuya training, Kamizumi techniques, and personal imagery into a unique regimen—his alone so far.
Trigger: Kanazawa Magic Research Institute training.
Back to point: Psion control enabled interference-free multi-CAD use. Yugen grasped its implications.
(So far, as planned... Tatsuya and Mikihiko are moving.)
Via 'Visual Synchronization,' he confirmed allies: Mikihiko's mantle wove spirit-magic arrays, illusions blocking Shinku's 'Invisible Bullet' sightlines. Shinku targeted Tatsuya, but his robe's arrays shifted perception.
Tatsuya's build speed was Second Course level, but psion reserves excelled. Pre-charged engraved formulas suited him.
Plus Yotsuba and Yakumo-honed martial arts; knowing 'Invisible Bullet' conditions, no need to stand still like typical mages.
All good—until Shinku neared defeat, prompting Shoki's protective instinct. He fired regulation-exceeding compressed air at Tatsuya and Mikihiko: 16 shots, lethal power evident.
"Tatsuya, Mikihiko! Don't move!!"
'Auditory Enhancement' wasn't just listening; it directed his voice selectively to allies.
He loaded 9 sequences into right CAD, projecting at them.
Post-activation, Shoki's bullets seemed to hit—then grassland fog erupted from projected impacts.
"...What just happened...?"
Shoki stared blankly.
Enduring Yugen's assaults, he'd overfired to save Shinku. Now fog blanketed the field—none from his magic. Regret and confusion hit, but no time.
Psion wave synthesis assaulted him like vertigo; consciousness faded.
"...One down."
Murmuring warily, Yugen eyed fallen Shoki.
He'd fired hemispheric 'Phalanx' at allies—regretting not using it during building collapse to save Morisaki and Takasu; no hesitation now.
Plus Tenjin water magic for droplets, riding Shoki's air to chill field-wide fog.
Insurance: Tenjin 'Hakke Tonkou' for perception shift. Like Kudou 'Parade,' but redirects all actions to false coordinates.
'Parade' diverts via illusions; 'Hakke' rewrites perceived positions. Ally-enemy distinction set Tatsuya/Mikihiko as friends.
Shoki's KO: Adapted vibration multi-variable synthesis like Tatsuya vs. Hattori, forcing blackout.
Approaching foes mid-turmoil showed inexperience; despite combat, unexpected events exposed weakness. (Pot, meet kettle—Yugen mused.)
(Wow, flashy... Tatsuya's... crap!)
Shifting focus, lightning struck—'Visual Sync' confirmed Shinku out via Mikihiko's 'Raidouji.'
Now Tatsuya: Location spotted, Yugen reflexively cut 'Auditory Enhancement,' covering ears.
Amplified vibration echoed field-wide, even to stands; fog cleared instantly.
Confused spectators saw Third High down, First High intact. Ending siren blared; cheers erupted for First High's win.
"—So, reason for amplifying vibration to burst your eardrums?"
"Maybe 'cause you took out 'Prince' and 'Cardinal'...?"
"Wait, acting fine with burst eardrums is weird?"
Seemed Miyuki's encouragement sparked brotherly response, plus rivalry after Yugen felled Shoki.
Tatsuya spoke casually; Mikihiko fretted over injury. Normal reaction—yet Yugen, unfazed, wryly smiled at his own abnormality.
"Mikihiko, I get it, but Tatsuya's just like that. Trying to fit him into normal is wasted effort."
"Yugen, you saying that?"
"Ahaha... (Birds of a feather, huh?)"
Mikihiko thought unspoken: Yugen blending modern/ancient magic, Tatsuya's unreal combat/CAD skills—kindred spirits. Though spirit-mage Mikihiko had no room to judge.
---------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 On Patreon you can read 20+ chapters ahead, plus there will be exclusive stories available only there.
💖 If you'd like to support me, check it out: patreon.com/Greyhounds
🔓 Patreon will always stay ahead of the public release — and some stories won't be published anywhere else.
✨ All support is completely optional — even if you don't join, I'm still grateful to have you here reading!