Charles flew at incredible speed, accelerating beyond the speed of sound and creating sonic booms in the sky.
In no time, he arrived above Hagun Academy—and saw black smoke rising from its direction.
As he shifted his gaze toward the school gates, he saw what was happening.
Kurogane Ikki and the others had just returned by bus from the joint training camp at Chimon Academy, and they too saw the smoke rising from Hagun's direction.
After the bus parked, the identity of the attackers became clear. Of the seven attackers, six were actually contestants from the other six Seven Star Academies.
These individuals revealed that they were actually students of a hidden institution known as Akatsuki Academy. Their goal in attacking Hagun Academy was to secure a spot for Akatsuki in the upcoming Seven Star Sword Art Festival.
Hagun Academy was recognized by the International Mage-Knight League as a top school. Being attacked—especially by students from other schools—was far more than just a loss of face.
The League monopolized all Mage-Knight education in Japan. The annual Seven Star Sword Art Festival was a showcase meant to justify that monopoly and affirm the legitimacy of the system to the public.
But if another institution produced even stronger Blazers, the implications would be grave.
Thus, the League could not back down in the face of Akatsuki's challenge. As Akatsuki desired, they would be granted a spot in the tournament.
Akatsuki Academy's confidence came from their undeniable strength.
Hidden in the shadows as the "eighth academy," all of Akatsuki's members were elite fighters from the underworld—specifically recruited by a certain organization and contracted from Rebellion to challenge the League.
Kurogane Ikki and the others stood facing the seven figures... and a black lion. The overwhelming pressure and killing intent left no doubt about the threat they posed.
With a thunderous crash, like a meteor falling from the sky, a figure wreathed in flames landed between the two sides.
The flames and rising dust dispersed, revealing the figure in the center. Charles stepped forward, first examining the seven Akatsuki members, then turning to Arisuin Nagi.
"Alice, you owe us an explanation for what happened with Kagami."
Arisuin gave a wry smile. His freshly laid plans had just been thoroughly upended. Who could have predicted Charles would make such a dramatic entrance?
Kurogane Ikki stepped in front of Arisuin and said to Charles, "Don't worry. Alice is our ally."
It seemed Charles understood something then, turning his gaze elsewhere.
"So these fake dummies were meant to test Alice's loyalty, huh?"
Arisuin looked surprised. He had only just confessed everything to the group on the bus and proposed an attack plan against Akatsuki Academy.
But now, even though what appeared had been puppets, Charles had already identified them. Arisuin didn't believe he had slipped up. Then how was he exposed?
If something was unexplainable, it had to be due to some unknown Blazer ability.
"Alice, watch out!" Kurogane Ikki, who also knew how to read ki, had sensed something and warned him.
Arisuin realized the danger just in time and activated his ability, sinking into his shadow.
Silver daggers struck the ground where he had been. If he hadn't moved, he'd have been skewered.
Arisuin emerged from another shadow and looked at the figure who had suddenly appeared behind him.
It was a short boy with an innocent, childlike smile—and a silver dagger in his hand.
"Shinonome Amano! It was you!"
Arisuin instantly realized how his betrayal had been discovered. This seemingly frail boy's ability could indeed expose his thoughts.
"What a shame... I missed such a perfect opportunity. But impressive—so quick to figure out my power!"
He turned to Kurogane Ikki and said with a cheerful grin, "Good to see you again, Kurogane-senpai. I'm really happy we meet again!"
Kurogane frowned. They had met once before during the training camp.
At that time, Ikki had encountered a random murderer on the street—but Amano had intervened first, in a bizarre, inexplicable manner, to stop the crime.
Afterward, Amano claimed to be a huge fan of Kurogane's and had acted overly friendly. But through his ki, Ikki sensed only hostility from the boy.
So, he never believed a word Amano said.
Charles reached out and grasped something in the air—something that suddenly solidified like a fabric being crumpled—and revealed a figure in thick clothing.
He had grabbed onto a spiritual device that resembled a chainsaw.
"'Unmoving' Todoroki Yui. If you want to sneak attack, your killing intent is way too obvious."
Even though Todoroki Yui's face was hidden beneath thick garb, her surprise was evident. A professional assassin from a lineage of killers, with an ally's ability masking her presence—yet her ambush had failed.
But Charles's physical strength was leagues above hers. She had no choice but to recall her device and retreat.
"I told you—this guy from Shindoryuu Temple isn't someone you can just mess with."
Like figures walking out of smoke, more individuals appeared one after another.
The seven figures who had previously stood before them all fell to the ground—the sound of wood striking earth revealed their true nature.
"They were just ordinary puppets, animated by a puppeteer," Charles said. "And their lifelike appearance was thanks to someone else's ability."
A jester-like man named Hiraga Reisui clapped his hands. "Well spotted! It was only thanks to Sharalabudlili's artistic touch that we were able to pull it off."
Charles glanced at Sharalabudlili, who was wearing nothing but a paint-stained apron, then turned his gaze back to Hiraga.
"That magic… You're the one who attacked us in Odawara with puppets, aren't you?"
Hiraga froze. In this world, people couldn't identify each other through magical signatures—only through powers.
Even he didn't expect that would give him away.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a flash of flame appeared—and then everything was engulfed by a flaming hand.
Charles slammed Hiraga into the ground like a broken doll, the impact shaking the earth. The mask on Hiraga's face shattered under the pressure.
"You cowardly bastard. Just another puppet. But I'll find the real you eventually."
In a mere instant, Akatsuki Academy had lost a member. And the rest of Akatsuki now understood exactly why Charles had been labeled the greatest unpredictable threat to their entire plan.
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