"Is Haruki Aizawa actually some kind of sorcerer?"
"This… it feels like a dream…"
Amidst the confused murmurs of the audience, the referee checked the status of Song and Luo. Once it was confirmed that neither could continue, the official announcement rang out.
"Match over!"
"The winners: Haruki Aizawa and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld!"
With the mechanical voice declaring the result, the Round of 16 officially concluded.
Haruki retracted the massive energy he had unleashed. This battle had managed to burn off a fraction of the tidal wave of power inside him, but he was still far from depleting that overwhelming reserve. Consequently, he remained trapped in the backlash of the Ser-Veresta. He was currently enduring a torture of high-velocity heat a thousand times more painful than what Song and Luo had experienced.
Even with Haruki's iron will, the side effects were becoming unbearable. The moment the match was over, he retreated to the waiting room, focusing every ounce of his concentration on suppressing the boiling temperatures within his veins.
As mentioned before, the Ser-Veresta's influence wasn't an external attack; it was a unilateral discharge of pure energy from the inside out. It wasn't "damage" he could block; it was a flood he had to guide or vent.
The recent match proved that the sheer volume of this energy far exceeded his initial estimates. He couldn't burn it off through standard combat alone. He needed another way.
While Haruki sat in the waiting room, trapped in a state of sub-human agony, the door opened.
"What are you two doing here?" Julis asked, her voice sharp with suspicion. "Song? Luo? Don't tell me you came here to congratulate us."
The two fighters from the Dragon Gate Academy shook their heads. Song spoke up first. "While we respect the victory, we didn't come for pleasantries. We're here because we noticed something."
"Noticed what?"
"Aizawa-kun… your body is currently suffering from the backlash of an Ogre Lux, isn't it?"
"How did you—" Julis started, but she quickly cut herself off.
The team from Seidokan had agreed to keep Haruki's condition a secret to avoid giving future opponents an advantage. In fact, after Haruki's dominant performance today, most people assumed he had mastered the weapon. They couldn't fathom that someone suffering from a weapon's rejection could move with such terrifying precision.
But Song, having felt Haruki's energy firsthand in the ring, knew the truth.
He sighed deeply. "To think you could dismantle us while enduring that kind of rejection… your strength is honestly frightening. You're approaching the level of our Master, Fan Xinglou."
"Get to the point," Haruki grunted. The heat was spiking again, and he felt like he might accidentally melt the floor if he didn't vent soon.
Song sensed the shifting atmosphere and bowed slightly. "I came for two reasons. First, to apologize. If we had known you were in such a state, we wouldn't have pushed for that level of intensity. Second, I am here to deliver an invitation on behalf of our Student Council President, Fan Xinglou."
"An invitation?"
"Master invites you to the Dragon Gate. she says she can solve your current 'problem.'"
Haruki paused, the name Fan Xinglou echoing in his mind. She was a living legend—the "Ban'yuu Tenra." After a few seconds of silent calculation, he nodded.
Haruki accepted the invitation. It wasn't that he placed all his hopes on her, but he was genuinely curious about the President of the Dragon Gate Academy. He had heard the rumors—that she was an immortal who had lived for over a thousand years, possessing power that transcended modern science.
He told Song and Luo he would visit when he had a moment of free time. The two fighters didn't seem bothered by his cautious attitude; they simply nodded and told him he was welcome at any time.
Before leaving, Song added, "One more thing. The bracket for your next match has been finalized."
"And?" Haruki hadn't checked the rankings yet.
"Your next opponents are the Li twins—Shenyun and Shenhua. They are also from our academy."
"Wait, they're from your school?" Julis looked at Song with narrowed eyes. "Why are you giving us intel on your own classmates?"
Song waved a hand dismissively. "Being in the same school doesn't make us allies. Does Seidokan have that kind of unity?"
"Well… I suppose not," Julis admitted, looking away. She thought of Ayato Amagiri and Saya Sasamiya, another Seidokan pair that had fought their way into the Quarter-Finals. They were technically rivals now.
Song continued. "The Li twins are… well, let's just say we don't get along. We won't give you their specific weaknesses, but we prefer your company to theirs. Consider this a friendly warning."
Song's expression turned grim. "The twins specialize in psychological warfare, deception, and dirty tricks. They are geniuses at finding a flaw and exploiting it with zero mercy or respect for the art of combat. They don't fight fair; they toy with their prey until they break. It's disgusting. If you can, please beat them senseless."
"Understood," Haruki nodded. He didn't care about their personalities. He only cared about the obstacle in front of him.
After the guests left, Julis locked the door. "Haruki, are you sure about this? It could be a trap. Fan Xinglou might be trying to sabotage you before the next round."
"Maybe," Haruki said, standing up. He moved with a forced steadiness, hiding the fact that his internal temperature was reaching a critical point. "But it doesn't matter. If she has malicious intent, I'll just make the Dragon Gate pay the price."
Julis watched him walk toward the door, a sense of awe washing over her. Haruki was a monster, but he was her monster. "Fine. Just be back before the next match."
The Dragon Gate Academy was located in the southeastern district of Asterisk. The campus was a sprawling complex of traditional, mainland-style architecture—朱-red pillars and yellow-tiled roofs. It felt less like a school and more like a massive, ancient palace.
Haruki was escorted to the very heart of the complex: the Hall of the Yellow Dragon.
Inside, he found a young girl who looked no older than six or seven. Yet, the pressure she radiated was the most staggering thing Haruki had ever felt. If he had to compare, the Stage IV "Aldebaran" he had slain in the previous world was a mere kitten compared to the predator sitting before him.
"Oh? So you finally decided to grace me with your presence?"
The girl, Fan Xinglou, smiled. It was a cute, innocent expression that chilled Haruki to the bone.
"The Student Council President…"
Haruki's posture shifted into a combat-ready stance. Since arriving in Asterisk, this was the first time his survival instincts were screaming at this volume.
Despite Haruki's tension, Fan Xinglou remained calm. She sat on a traditional wooden bench, swinging her legs like a child. Then, she stood up.
Fwoosh—!
The moment her feet hit the floor, the environment warped. The palace walls dissolved into a vast, open field under a starlit sky. Thousands of glowing butterflies swirled around them, forming a shimmering "Galaxy" in the air.
"An illusion?" Haruki muttered, his Mind's Eye trying to pierce the veil.
"It is a barrier created by twisting space with Prana," Xinglou explained, her voice airy and playful. "Think of it as the ultimate expression of energy control."
Haruki stiffened. To create a space this large and stable using pure energy required a level of mana control that defied logic. The rumors were likely true—this wasn't just a powerful student. This was something ancient.
"President Fan Xinglou," Haruki said, staring at the girl. "Why did you invite me here?"
"Hehe. I think we can skip the boring small talk, don't you?" Xinglou grinned. "You're trapped in the backlash of that unruly magic sword. You came to see me because you want a solution. Am I wrong?"
"Can you help?" Haruki asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I wouldn't call it 'help,' but I can offer some advice," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Of course, I'm not a saint. In exchange for my guidance, I expect you to do something for me in return."
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