As a result of intercepting with "Decomposition" while concealing his classified spell—the "Gram Dispersion" that disassembles information structures—Tatsuya couldn't neutralize the last two shots and took Masaki's attack head-on.
The damage to his body triggered his other "freely usable" magic faster than his consciousness could register.
It erased his injuries at a speed invisible to any eye, so swift that even Tatsuya's awareness couldn't confirm it.
He had no idea why Masaki stood frozen before him, utterly exposed. But if he was vulnerable, there was no need for mercy. Tatsuya thrust his right hand toward Masaki's left ear and snapped his thumb against his middle finger. The vibration-based spell installed in his bracelet CAD amplified the sound into a thunderous roar like a sonic grenade, knocking Masaki out cold.
"What... was that just now...?"
In First High's tent, Mayumi let out a meaningless groan. It was a sight no one could explain, so demanding an answer would have been unreasonable anyway.
"...He probably snapped his fingers and amplified the sound."
"Yes... It's a simple activation sequence, so even Shiba, who struggles with high-speed spellcasting, could pull it off."
"I can see that much!"
Katsuto and Suzune's responses weren't what Mayumi wanted to hear.
"So why could Tatsuya move at all!? Wasn't he supposed to be down!? The interception... 'Decomposition' shouldn't have made it in time! At least two shots hit him directly! He should've been severely injured from that over-attack! How is he still fighting!?"
"Saegusa, calm down."
Katsuto soothed Mayumi, whose face had gone pale at the thought of Tatsuya's grave injury.
"Shiba's trained under a master of ancient styles. What we know isn't all there is to magic. Magic isn't the only source of miracles."
"...You're right. Sorry. And the match isn't over yet."
Regaining her composure, Mayumi turned her gaze to the screen showing Tatsuya. He was down on one knee, perhaps from damage to his own ears from the blast, but his eyes still burned with resolve.
At the same moment, in the general stands, Major Yamanaka watched the unfolding events with keen interest.
"Man, his self-restoration spell is as ferocious as ever, no matter how many times I see it."
"Did the self-restoration really activate? I didn't see anything."
"I didn't either. And neither did Elder Kudou, I'm sure. After all, his self-restoration operates at speeds beyond human perception."
Yamanaka noticed the look Kyoko was giving him only after saying that much.
"Ah, no... I didn't see Shiba Tatsuya using any self-restoration spell he's not supposed to have. Wow, he's just extraordinarily tough, huh?"
"Being tough doesn't justify human experimentation. Tatsuya is one of only two in this country... and fewer than fifty worldwide—such a rare asset."
"...That's not your real reason, is it, Fujibayashi?"
Her words were correct, of course, but Yamanaka knew she opposed the experiments for different motives. Pointed out, Kyoko blushed and turned away.
The two had stopped watching the match. They'd come primarily to monitor whether Tatsuya would breach his classified restrictions, so it was understandable—but in their eyes, only the kneeling Tatsuya remained.
With Masaki down, Shinkurou plunged into panic. He'd considered the team might lose, but never that Masaki would fall.
That panicked state was nothing but an opportunity for Mikihiko. Pinned to the ground for so long, he struggled to breathe—his ribs might even be broken. Yet, amid the pain, he silently praised Tatsuya in his heart.
(You did it, Tatsuya. You're amazing as always... But!)
At this rate, it'd be said they won thanks to Tatsuya. Mikihiko felt the same deep down, but his pride—as a former child prodigy—refused to accept it.
(If Tatsuya took down the 'Crimson Prince' head-on, then at least I'll defeat 'Cardinal George'! I'll prove what you said, Tatsuya.)
He activated his CAD, unleashing five spells at once. As ancient-style magic, it caught Shinkurou off guard more than necessary. The idea of manipulating grass to entangle feet never crossed his mind.
Of course, it wasn't the grass moving but airflow controlling it—yet Shinkurou, oblivious, leaped skyward with excessive force, leaving himself wide open.
"Damn—!?"
Lightning struck from above, felling Shinkurou and rendering him unconscious.
"You bastard!"
Though Mikihiko had downed Shinkurou, he'd expended all his remaining strength, leaving him defenseless against the last opponent's attack.
(Ah, well... Guess I'm done for...)
As he dazedly watched the incoming "Land Tsunami," a black wall materialized before him.
"Woooryaaah!"
Leo, creator of the shielding wall, swung "Petit Lien" downward, incapacitating the final player.
Thunderous cheers and applause erupted from the stands, and finally, First High's leaders realized their school had won.
"That said, you stole the spotlight there. Was that on purpose?"
"No way. I was really out of it for a bit. That impact was the worst since getting hit by a big motorcycle two years ago."
"Huh? You got hit by a big motorcycle!?"
Mikihiko sought confirmation, thinking it a joke, but Leo recounted the incident with deadpan seriousness. Hearing he'd endured the recent attack with his bare body, Mikihiko stared in disbelief.
"Ah, speaking of which, is Tatsuya okay?"
"Hm? Sorry, say that again."
"I said, is Tatsuya okay?"
"Oh... One eardrum's ruptured, so I'm at lip-reading level. Otherwise, he's fine."
"Uh, so Tatsuya didn't hear any of our conversation just now, right?"
"Sorry. I caught the part about Leo getting hit by a big motorcycle."
"And you didn't question that?"
Mikihiko clung to hope as he asked Tatsuya. He wanted to believe the oddity was Leo, not himself. But Tatsuya's reply wasn't what he hoped for.
"Question? About what?"
At that, Mikihiko's shoulders slumped in defeat. In the end, it wasn't powerful magic or advanced tactics that had the last word—it was sheer physical resilience...
"Hey, Mikihiko, what's wrong? We won the championship!"
"Yeah... You're right."
Leo threw an arm around his shoulder, and Mikihiko managed a response. But inwardly, he pondered something else.
(My training's not enough...)
From a short distance away, Tatsuya watched Mikihiko with quiet observation.
Next time, it might veer off track a bit.
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