At that moment, Chen Xiangshan stood before the Magic Association branch to achieve his goal. But an unsettling premonition gripped him. The security-locked door stood ajar.
(What's this? My instincts scream not to proceed…)
The main databank was steps away, yet his soldier's intuition warned of doom. Considering retreat, his brief hesitation trapped him.
"What!?"
The surroundings turned monochrome, shocking Chen. A powerful barrier magic blocked spellcasting through intense domain interference. Footsteps approached from the left corridor. Chen's gaze met a girl in combat attire—one of his prime targets.
"Shiba Miyuki…!?"
"So, you know me. You're behind the recent stalking of Onii-sama and Yugen-san," Miyuki said coldly.
Her icy stare pinned Chen, who didn't notice his legs trembling. Another woman approached from the opposite corridor.
"Miyuki, this is Chen Xiangshan?" Shizuku asked.
"Yes, Shizuku," Miyuki confirmed.
"Kitayama Shizuku… what's happening?" Chen stammered.
Their power exceeded his imagination—beyond his ability to counter. Then, a boy emerged from the Association, delivering the final blow.
"First meeting, Chen Xiangshan. Kagurazaka Yugen, Godo Kai, Imperial Palace Police. We've known about your snooping. Your crime of trying to suppress our power is grave—no, you've wounded His Majesty's heart. Death's too lenient a punishment for a soldier like you."
Yugen aimed Odin at Chen, who sweated coldly, unable to move—not even a finger. Yugen's magic, Hakuroujin (White Cage Barrier), stripped all freedom except for speech, which Yugen allowed. Barrier magic, rare in ancient styles without mediums, marked Yugen's world-class skill, honed since joining the Kagurazaka. To him, this was nothing special.
Yugen pulled the trigger, and Chen's consciousness blacked out. Releasing the barrier, Chen collapsed like a cut puppet.
"…Phew. Mikihiko, Mizuki, all clear?" Yugen asked, turning to the Association's depths.
Mikihiko, Mizuki, and Honoka emerged from hiding, cloaked by Honoka's optical magic bending light to conceal them. Yugen brought them to probe Chen's Kimon Tonkou. While capable himself, he valued their ancient magic experience.
"No hostility or malice detected," Mikihiko reported.
"No signs around, and the entrance aura's settled," Mizuki added.
"Good work, Honoka," Yugen said.
"It's nothing," Honoka replied, driven by Tatsuya's efforts.
Miyuki smiled at Honoka's resolve. Himeji's voice, Hoshimi, came through the comm.
"Yugen—cough, Commander. Heli's at the tower front."
"Got it. Tried the title, but it's not for me. Let's stick to names. Others okay with that?" Yugen asked.
"Fine by me, Yugen. My feat's just wrecking Chinatown's gate," Yumeyume replied.
"Don't whine, Yumeyume. Ichijou handled Chinatown's attackers, but Zhou Gongjin handed over escapees," Genji added.
Genji held the entrance, Shuji and Yumeyume tackled the northern force, Himeji oversaw the battle from the roof, and Yugen's kin handled other fronts. Kana and Mika, in Association protectors instead of casual clothes, appeared unharmed.
"Yo, Yugen! That outfit? Miyu-cchi and Shizu-shizu too!?" Kana exclaimed.
"Read the room. You didn't listen to Dad, did you? Sorry, Yugen," Mika said.
"It's fine. I know Mika-neesan's quirks," Yugen replied.
"Harsh!" Mika protested.
Their banter defused tension, drawing wry smiles. Yugen addressed them.
"Nee-sans, heli's at the entrance. Board it with Genji-niisan's team and evacuate."
"What about you?" Kana asked.
"Beyond here, no ordinary mage—even Ten Master Clans—can intervene," Yugen said.
He avoided specifics, but they quickly grasped strategic-level mages were involved. Mika spoke first.
"Got it. Let's go, Kana-nee."
"Right," Kana agreed.
Mikihiko, Mizuki, and Honoka followed. Yugen, Miyuki, and Shizuku remained. Shizuku clasped Yugen's left hand; Miyuki, his right.
"Be careful, Yugen," Shizuku said.
"Please stay safe, Yugen-san," Miyuki added.
"You too, both of you," Yugen replied.
He watched them leave until they vanished, then sprinted to the tower's roof with a grave expression. What lay ahead wasn't mere slaughter.
At the tower's roof, Kazama, Fujibayashi, Sanada, and a suited figure awaited. Yugen, familiar with the figure, kept formalities.
"Kagurazaka Yugen, Godo Kai, Imperial Palace Police. Also Major General Uesugi Tatsu in the Defense Force, though I'll rarely use that title."
"Special Lieutenant Daikoku Ryuya, 101st Brigade, Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion. Forgive the suit for privacy," Tatsuya replied.
Their theatrical introductions drew wry smiles from Kazama's group. Sanada spoke up.
"You two know each other, yet pull this charade? Pillows might rain from the sky," Sanada teased.
"Formality matters. Captain Sanada, got the item?" Yugen asked.
"Right here. You hold the final release," Sanada said, pointing to a large attaché case.
Inside was Third Eye Eclipse, Tatsuya's dedicated CAD, recently finalized. Yugen requested.
"This case exceeds standard forces. I request the battalion authorize Daikoku's Material Burst for Godo Kai."
Tatsuya's Material Burst had three safeties: Yotsuba head approval, battalion CAD release, and Godo Kai's final key, held solely by Yugen. Joushima and Kagurazaka deemed the battalion alone too risky to control it. Yugen inwardly grumbled at wielding such power as Kagurazaka proxy.
"We recognize the case's gravity. Daikoku's Material Burst will handle the landing ship and Alliance; I'll address contingencies," Yugen said.
Nodding to Kazama, Yugen knelt, inserted a card key, and placed his left hand on the case.
"Rin-Pyo-To-Sha-Kai-Jin-Retsu-Zai-Zen."
"Password authenticated."
The triple-locked case opened, revealing a sniper-like CAD. Yugen handed it to Tatsuya, who checked it meticulously. Kazama issued orders.
"Daikoku, sink the landing ship with Material Burst."
"Understood," Tatsuya replied.
At the roof's edge, Tatsuya aimed Third Eye Eclipse. Satellite-linked, the suit's monitor showed the landing ship. His Spirit Eye targeted a water droplet.
"Material Burst, activate."
The trigger pulled, the ship vanished in a light sphere, leaving no wreckage. Third Eye Eclipse performed perfectly, and Yugen exhaled. But HQ reported the Alliance regrouping at Jinhae Naval Port. Kazama's team saluted Yugen and left for Tsushima Fortress. Alone, Yugen activated his magic.
"Coordinates confirmed. Mirror Gate, activate."
A silver rectangle appeared. Yugen stepped in, vanishing with it.
Yugen reappeared in Sado Island's forest. Mirror Gate, derived from Kaleidoscope, linked coordinates for long-distance travel. Rarely used due to its secrecy and unique reliance on his magic, Yugen had set a barrier and camp here, preparing for the New Soviet invasion with a meal—no war on an empty stomach.
Night fell; November's chill prompted a campfire. A comm buzzed.
"Kagurazaka here."
"Yugen-kun, it's me. The battalion's at Tsushima. Six hours ago, a fleet left Vladivostok, nearing the midline," Chihime reported.
The Alliance was a decoy; the New Soviets moved, led by "Igniter" Igor Andreevich Bezobrazov. Yugen steeled himself.
"I authorized Material Burst there. Hope they don't overdo it," Yugen said.
"Understood. Be careful," Chihime replied.
After the comm, Yugen doused the fire, drew Odin, and flew high with flight magic. Using Tenjin's Eye, he located the fleet and Bezobrazov's ship, connecting via comm in Russian.
"To the unidentified fleet from Vladivostok nearing the midline: declare your affiliation and retreat. I'll spare pursuit."
Naval movements, even in territorial waters, required international notice for non-combat purposes. Unannounced entry signaled hostile intent. Minutes from crossing, Yugen's warning was mild, but the response was provocative.
"Don't mock us! We have our pride! Retreating now means death. We won't!"
Likely New Soviet hardliners, their words evoked old Soviet rigidity. If capture was their shame, Yugen had no obligation to indulge their hopes.
"Device limiter, fully released. Construct range: 300km radius, Sado-centered."
Aiming Odin, a silver light sphere formed, stars converging as night darkened. The fleet saw it clearly.
"What's that!? Such magic exists!? Contact Igniter!" a crewman shouted.
Bezobrazov, prepping Tuman Bomba, sensed Yugen's magic. As he loaded its sequence, his magic power drained rapidly.
(This… is this Titania the Annihilator's magic!?)*
His spell shut down, forcing Bezobrazov to discard his headgear and leap from his chair. Consciousness intact, feedback minimal, he stared in shock. The New Soviet supercomputer aiding his magic had melted, the floor partially liquefied.
"What happened…?"
Yugen's magic answered. Kaleidoscope's vast computational domain converged psions and photons at explosive speed, imbuing plasma-like properties with looser physical constraints. Incorporating Meteor Line's convergence and Meteor Snowlight's wide-range data, it included Gousan's Thunder End Dragon event alteration (taught secretly). It devoured Tuman Bomba and melted the computer.
High-compression photons, fired superluminally, created 100% light-transmissive lines, detonating on psion contact. Matching Material Burst's speed, it was Yugen's exclusive strategic magic:
Superluminal Particle Convergence Magic: Starlight Breaker
Normally instant, Yugen delayed for simultaneous activation with Tatsuya's Material Burst at Tsushima, linked via Yata no Kagami. Hearing Tatsuya's voice, Yugen focused.
"Starlight Breaker, activate."
"Material Burst, activate."
Triggers pulled simultaneously. Tatsuya's Material Burst erased the Alliance fleet and Jinhae Port. Yugen's Starlight Breaker consumed the New Soviet fleet, devastating Vladivostok's port.
Historians later dubbed it "Halloween of Scorching Heat and Aurora."
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