Proof of Determination
♯
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage (Semifinal) 《DOT (DropOutTamers)》, late Day 2.
Since Saeki’s “Sanctification,” the 《Duel》 had, frankly, ground to a halt.
Well, that’s only natural. It’s not just that the Final’s slots dwindled; Saeki’s 《Restricted Sharing》 has locked away Tamers critical to victory conditions, leaving us clueless about what to aim for. Advancing the S-Grade quest is pointless with 【Daitenshi】 trapped, and no team has A-Grade or higher Tamers to fight with anyway.
“Pinch…”
Even the ever-carefree Minami was pouting, kicking her legs restlessly.
By the way—we’re currently at a corner of an open café, not far from where we clashed with Minakami earlier. Minus Yuikawa, who cleared 《DOT》 early via Sanctification, Team VI’s four members are gathered around a round table. As for Minakami, she wandered off unsteadily right after. I was worried, but Himeji volunteered to keep tabs on her without me asking.
And then there’s Nitta Sana, another 《Hexagram》 victim, who’s been silent the whole time. She’s not even pretending to cope anymore—her face is pale with fear of Saeki. It’s reigniting my anger toward 《Hexagram》.
“—For now, let’s start by sorting out the situation.”
Breaking the silence was Fujishiro Keiya, who’d been deep in thought. His fierce gaze swept over us one by one before he continued in a low tone.
“That ‘Sanctification’—《Hexagram》’s big move—has nearly blocked every path to clear this 《Duel》. I want your takes on it.”
“Mm… I hate that guy. Stalkers and delinquents are still better…”
“Yeah, sure. But that’s not the point. Is this a checkmate or not?”
“? Then it’s simple… No way it’s checkmate.”
Tilting her head, blue hair swaying, Minami said flatly. As if backing her up, I nodded slightly.
“Yeah, I agree. Saeki’s ability created a devastating situation, but I wouldn’t call it fatal. There’s definitely a way to turn this around.”
“Oh? Evidence?”
“Two things. First, the 《Duel》’s still running. If this was truly an unsolvable checkmate, the organizers would’ve stepped in by now, right? They could just hold the Final with the nine who’ve already cleared. Second—”
“—Tsuzuki Koto’s still here.”
As I started on the second point, Minami cut in with her usual flat tone. Her blue eyes fixed on me as she continued quietly.
“《Hexagram》 exec… the buff guy. Him sticking around is the weirdest part… If they’re thinking about the Final, they’d definitely want him there.”
“Yeah, exactly. Maybe he’s a ‘traitor’ and couldn’t clear without 【Suzaku】, but even then, he wouldn’t be abandoned. He’s got some kind of ‘role’ for sure.”
“Role, huh… Straight-up, probably 【Suzaku】-related. Some folks couldn’t meet their win conditions without that A-Grade. Otherwise, leaving seven Final slots open is just sloppy.”
“Yup. So Tsuzuki’s job is to grab 【Suzaku】 and get the rest of 《Hexagram》 to the Final. If that’s the case—or even if it’s not—Saeki’s ‘prison’ is built to be broken eventually, right? If it couldn’t be undone, Tsuzuki himself wouldn’t make it to the Final. That’s unthinkable.”
Summing up their guesses, I said as much. …It might not be the perfect answer, but it’s close enough. Tsuzuki Koto, 《Hexagram》 exec. His presence is the biggest proof a clear route remains in 《DOT》.
“The problem’s figuring out what that is…”
Muttering thoughtfully, I leaned back in my chair, discreetly touching my right earpiece. …To break this stalemate, I need details on Saeki’s ability. That’s why I’d asked 《The Company》 to analyze it earlier.
Right then—responding to my signal—Shiina’s excited voice came through.
‘Big bro, big bro! Analysis done! That guy’s ability is, like, super strong! It’s like, 《Restricted Sharing》 has conditional triggers… uh, what was it?’
‘Aha, yep, lemme handle it. …Yo, Hiro-kun, you good? So, like Tsutsu was saying… Saeki’s a dual-color, right? Besides “Poaching,” he’s got another Unique Star, mentioned briefly in his stream—a fuchsia star with “Conditional Designation” effects.’
“…?”
‘Simply put, it’s a chain-reaction ability that lets him craft “If X, then Y” effects at will. 《Restricted Sharing》 is built with it—a virtual storage that auto-locks into a prison when Sanctification triggers. …Crazy, right? It’s not just the storage; the transformation’s part of the ability. And that’s just one example of what “Conditional Designation” can do…’
Kagaya-san’s voice, slightly more serious than usual, left me stunned yet somehow unsurprised. …No wonder things felt too convenient—his Unique Star’s reach is that broad. “Conditional Designation”—despite some limits, it’s insanely versatile. The prison holding B-Grade and higher Tamers was crafted with that star’s ability.
(Break it… or find a way to revert it to an accessible virtual storage?)
With a bit more info, I dove deeper into thought.
But—it’s a tough puzzle. 《The Company》 could probably force the prison open, but with 《Hexagram》 watching, that’s way too risky. Plus, my starting point was how Tsuzuki plans to reach the Final. 《Hexagram》 claims justice, so they wouldn’t bank on cheating.
“…”
At that point, I glanced at Nitta, sitting diagonally across.
She’s the key here—Nitta Sana, first-year from District 20’s Azuminodai Academy. She’s definitely here on 《Hexagram》’s orders. She was guaranteed wins up to the Third Stage, and her assignment to my team in 《DOT》 is no coincidence. Maybe Saeki used “Conditional Designation” back then, giving Nitta an ability like “If the next stage is a team-based 《Duel》, you’ll be placed on Shinohara Hiroto’s team”.
(All that just to crush me? …No, there’s more. To borrow Saeki’s words, she’s got a unique “role”…)
A wild idea hit me. Not 100% impossible, but normally unthinkable. Still, it’d explain everything.
“…Hey, Nitta.”
Turning fully to her, I spoke directly.
“Please. Tell us what you’ve been hiding—the ‘mission’ they gave you. It might be the key to fixing this mess.”
“…No way. Me, useful? …Even if I was, why should I help you?”
“Why? I’m the one who wants to know. They’ve treated you like garbage, haven’t they? So why not ask us for help? Why stay silent and give up? That won’t change anything.”
“Tch… What do you know?”
“I know everything about your situation. And yeah, I get how dangerous 《Hexagram》 is. Even so, I’m telling you to join us. You might’ve given up against their power, but do you really know who’s standing here? I’m the strongest in Academy Island—don’t lump me with small fry.”
“—!”
Choosing harsh words deliberately, I watched Nitta bite her lip hard. Holding back tears, she hesitated, then pulled out her terminal. Instead of answering, she projected a screen—her registered, or rather forced, abilities.
《Mutual Ruin》—If you’re executed as a “traitor,” you can choose one of the target player’s (=Shinohara Hiroto) Unique Stars and its effects to erase.
《False Hope》—If you’re alive when the target player meets the Fourth Stage’s win condition, they’re eliminated from 《SFIA》 instead of advancing to the Final.
《Price》—If neither of the above abilities triggers by the end of the Fourth Stage, you lose one star. This applies even if you’re a 1-Star.
“…Tch. That’s sickening.”
“Agreed… Sharing an opinion with a delinquent? That’s how bad it is. Just… awful.”
Seeing Nitta’s abilities, Fujishiro and Minami showed near-anger. Minami, without another word, stood, shuffled behind Nitta, and hugged her tightly.
It’s no wonder—likely crafted by Saeki’s “Conditional Designation,” these pinpoint, vicious abilities ensure my star’s lost whether Nitta fails or I clear. Plus, they’ve cut off any escape by tying her fate to them.
“…See? I told you.”
Still hugged by Minami, Nitta muttered.
“This can’t help. Even if you’re a 7-Star, the strongest in Academy Island, you can’t beat 《Hexagram》. Since nothing’ll work, just give up—”
“—Nah.”
Cutting her off, I grinned boldly. …Sure, Nitta’s three abilities are brutal. Brutal, but still.
“Exactly what I expected. …Yeah, this’ll do.”
“““—…Huh?”””
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage (Semifinal) 《DOT (DropOutTamers)》, Day 2.
As the blaring end-of-day alarm rang, I said that with a fearless tone.
♭
“—Tch… Haa.”
My body feels heavy.
Somehow, today’s 《Duel》 ended without me noticing. Since the “Sanctification,” I’ve lost all sense of time.
Leaning against a nearby shop window to catch my ragged breath, I closed my eyes like I was sleeping. …Probably just escaping reality. Deep down, I’m still rejecting the message I got hours ago—my only guiding light.
“Rely on Eimei’s people, huh…”
…Right.
That message came from the person I love most—my big sister, Minakami Mayu, Eimei’s genius. Hardly any of my disgrace was broadcast, yet she sent that message like she saw right through me.
Since it’s from my beloved sister, I want to obey. …But I’m just as resistant. Betrayed twice, abandoned—how can I cling to someone again? Even her advice can’t make me nod easily. I’m terrified of being discarded again.
“I mean, I’m the one who betrayed my seniors…”
The words slipped out. …Yeah, that’s definitely gnawing at me. Shinohara-senpai called me an “Eimei ally,” but I flat-out denied it. I bought Saeki-san’s words, doubted him without proof, accused him, and swatted away his outstretched hand. After doing something that awful, I can’t face them. …I was on the verge of tears. Clinging to my beliefs was hitting its limit, and I wanted to throw everything away—
“—Is that okay?”
Just then, a familiar voice cut through my selfish despair. Cool, cute, and clear—Shinohara-senpai’s personal maid, Himeji Shirayuki-senpai.
“If you escape now, you’ll never come back. That choice means accepting a lifetime of running. I’m not your maid, but I’d advise against it—if you still choose to flee, take care on your way.”
With that, Himeji-senpai bowed deeply. Her calm expression didn’t seem angry at all… so I mustered the courage to ask.
“Himeji-senpai… why can you stay with Shinohara-senpai?”
“Why? …Because I’m Master’s maid.”
“N-No, not like that. …What if he’s lying? People can lie. Isn’t that scary? No matter how fun it is, or how much they smile, there’s no proof it’s genuine. When will that smile turn cold—when will they betray you?”
“…I see, that’s what you meant.”
To my question, Himeji-senpai brought her white-gloved right hand to her mouth. Shinohara-senpai does that too—a habit they’ve probably picked up from each other.
Then—her clear, beautiful blue eyes met mine as she continued.
“I’d swear Master would never betray his allies, but for you right now… hmm. What matters is what you want.”
“…Huh? Me…?”
“Yes. …Minakami-sama, 《Hexagram》 deceived you all along. Used you, toyed with you. …Aren’t you angry? Don’t you want to fight back?”
“Fight back… but, that’s—”
“By the way, I’m angry. You might dislike me, but to me, you’re a cute junior.”
“Tch…”
Himeji-senpai said that with a straight gaze—maybe mixed with my hopes, but it didn’t sound like a lie at all.
“One last time, Minakami-sama. Do you want to wallow in defeat? Escape reality? If so, fine. But our 《Duel》 isn’t over—will you fight with us?”
Her words felt a touch softer than before.
And I—
♯
I returned to Eimei Academy a little past 6:30 PM.
The student council room’s mood was, well, painfully obvious. Enomoto’s usual scowl was even grumpier as he tapped his keyboard; Asamiya’s eyes were red and swollen, her lip bitten to hold back emotions; and even Akizuki, always smiling, puffed her cheeks in rare anger.
“Let’s definitely save them, Hiroto-kun!”
…She said with zero cunning, her tone pure.
By the way, Minakami hasn’t shown up yet. Given her position and state of mind, it’s tricky… but I can only trust and wait. With Himeji watching her, physical safety’s covered. It’s just her mental state now.
And then—
“—I see. That’s a reasonable take.”
After sharing our team’s discussion with the Eimei crew, Enomoto was the first to respond. Arms crossed beside Asamiya, he nodded seriously.
“With Tsuzuki Koto still here, the win condition’s still achievable. That’s certain. …But how does Nitta Sana’s ability tie in? From what I heard, she only has anti-Shinohara abilities.”
“Yup, yup. Erasing one of Shino’s Unique Stars and its effects… right? That’s pretty nasty. Never heard of anything that outright steals a Unique Star before.”
“…Well, yeah, that’s true.”
I replied lightly to Asamiya’s grave tone. …“Pretty nasty” is an understatement—it’d be “all my lies exposed, socially dead”—but anyway.
“But that’s not the key—it’s simpler. Nitta’s ability can erase a Unique Star’s effect. And Saeki’s 《Restricted Sharing》 and its ‘prison’ are both driven by a Unique Star effect, right?”
“Yeah… wait, huh? You mean… no way…”
Akizuki’s eyes widened slightly, catching on. Her chestnut twin-tails swayed as she leaned closer.
“Tsuzuki’s trying to hijack Nitta-chan’s ability to undo the prison? Using the ‘erase a Unique Star’s effect’ to restore the virtual storage!?”
“Yup, that’s it. And we can guess what that ‘hijacking’ method is, too. An ability that steals resources, benefits, and more from a defeated opponent for a set time—it was shown off in today’s 《Duel》.”
“…【Suzaku】!”
“Bingo.”
I smirked slightly at Akizuki’s answer.
Right—A-Grade Tamer 【Suzaku】’s unique ability, “Collection.” It’s meant to selectively take positive effects from a target, but there’s no rule against taking drawbacks. By stealing Nitta’s “erase a Unique Star’s effect” aimed at me and applying it to 《Restricted Sharing》’s key, the prison unlocks… It’s complex logic, but it holds up.
“Basically, 《Hexagram》’s plan was two-pronged. If Nitta crushed me, great. If not, they’d use 《Restricted Sharing》’s Sanctification to monopolize Final slots. But missing 【Suzaku】 threw that off. So Saeki turned to a ‘third plan’—use Nitta and 【Suzaku】. First, lock the virtual storage without 【Suzaku】 to create a pseudo-prison. While Tsuzuki grabs 【Suzaku】 and sets up a full clear, Nitta’s used to undo the prison. …Whether her ability wipes 《Restricted Sharing》 entirely or just the prison is iffy, but if Saeki’s banking on this, he’s probably aiming for the latter.”
“W-Wow… Shino, aren’t you too smart? Who figures that out?”
“I could.”
“Shut it, Shinji, you’re not normal.”
Asamiya flicked her blonde hair, snapping back sulkily.
“Mm… So if we get 【Suzaku】, we can break the prison too, right? But… that means clashing with Tsuzuki-kun.”
“…Yeah, can’t avoid that.”
I nodded slightly to her muttered words, arms crossed.
Tsuzuki Koto—《Hexagram》 exec, 5-Star third-year. Given why he’s still in 《DOT》, we’ll inevitably fight over 【Suzaku】. It’s unavoidable. We can’t win without beating him.
“We’ve already ID’d Tsuzuki’s combat ability.”
Enomoto spoke up suddenly, tapping his terminal.
“《Hollow Creator》—an ability to craft a ‘fake’ Tamer by setting any stats. The fake can’t count for win conditions, but it’s enhanced for combat. That means Tsuzuki’s likely bringing a powered-up 【Daitenshi】.”
“【Daitenshi】… the strongest Tamer, huh. Akizuki, you fought it in a quest, right?”
“Yup. …It’s strong. High stats, but its ‘Healing’ ability fully restores LP every turn. In our quest, we overwhelmed it, but… with commands, it might be unstoppable.”
“No, it’s not unstoppable. It’s tough, but 《Hollow Creator》’s effect lasts an hour at most. Stall that long, and we’ve got a shot.”
“…Got it, that’s the play.”
Enomoto’s addendum clicked for me. It’s not impossible.
“But—big picture, 【Suzaku】 alone isn’t enough. We need a 《Restricted Sharing》 key too. That’s what we hit with Nitta’s ability to undo the prison.”
“? But only 《Hexagram》 folks have keys, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right. And among those still in 《DOT》 that we’ve met, there’s only two. Tsuzuki Koto… and Minakami Mari.”
“Ah… right, yeah.”
Catching my drift, Akizuki nodded slightly.
Exactly—Saeki probably can’t destroy a key once given. Minakami’s key disable was “temporary,” so it’s likely active again. To get a key, we need her cooperation. We have to pull her to our side.
(If she doesn’t show by tonight, we’re pretty much screwed…)
Glancing at the student council room’s entrance, I saw no sign of anyone. …If Minakami’s still shutting everyone out, that won’t change tomorrow. The longer it takes, the harder it’ll be for her to show up. Even relying on us now takes guts.
Still, she’s the only one who can flip this board.
“Mm… Let’s move forward for now. We’ve gotta take Tsuzuki down either way, so let’s plan to counter 《Hollow Creator》 and 【Daitenshi】—”
Shaking my head slightly, I started to say—right then.
“—Excuse me!!”
The door burst open with a clack, and a girl rushed in, breathless. Flowing black hair, earnest expression—same as always, but her uniform’s collar was slightly open from the heat, sweat glistening faintly on her collarbone, cheeks flushed… quite a distracting sight.
But I’m not the guy to point that out now. With a glance to confirm Enomoto and the others’ approval, I stood for Eimei and stepped toward her.
And said,
“You ready to join us, Minakami?”
That was my question—because from here, it’s Eimei versus 《Hexagram》 in a one-on-one showdown. Siding with us means defying the justice she believed in. Entrusting her fate to mere district seniors like us. A brutal question: does she really have that resolve?
“…Yes, absolutely. Betrayal scares me, but I realized running won’t cut it. No—I was taught that.”
But Minakami didn’t waver. Answering straight without flinching, her face twisted slightly. It looked like a tearful smile, but she was probably trying to grin wickedly. With that clumsy villain’s smirk, Minakami—our junior, holding the final, crucial “key” to Eimei’s comeback—
“Please, senpai. Let me… let me fight with you all!!”
—said clearly, her resolve firm.
♯
《SFIA》 Fourth Stage (Semifinal) 《DOT (DropOutTamers)》, Day 3.
Coordinating votes to avoid eliminations, Team VI gathered in District 0’s corner at the 《Duel》’s start time.
The core issue from last night’s student council strategy meeting was how to even find 【Suzaku】. Quest details were totally hidden—even Kagaya-san couldn’t crack it.
So, stepping out briefly, I consulted a reliable source—aka Saiouji—who gave me this:
‘—【Suzaku】’s quest location? Of course I know.’
‘That quest’s a bit special. Only 【Daitenshi】’s current holder or someone who’s held 【Suzaku】 can track it. So it doesn’t get shuffled like other quests.’
‘I’ll send the coordinates… What? N-No, it’s not like that! My clear’s locked in, so it’s your turn to advance. If you crash out, it screws me too.’
‘Payment? Hmm… alright.’
‘Let me in on that strategy meeting, on the sly.’
…And yeah, she kept lending her brain after that.
Anyway, thanks to Saiouji, we pinpointed 【Suzaku】’s location. But tackling its hidden quest means Tsuzuki Koto and other top players will definitely interfere. It won’t be easy.
So, factoring that in, we built our strategies—
“Pleased to meet you, Team VI. Here for 【Suzaku】’s quest?”
We reached the quest guide, “Delta,”—as Saiouji tipped us—barely an hour into 《DOT》’s Day 3.
Kneeling before our four, Delta bowed with exaggerated courtesy. When we nodded, she launched into her explanation.
“Understood. Let me explain the A-Grade Tamer 【Suzaku】 quest. It’s straightforward—prove you’re worthy of 【Suzaku】’s stature.”
“…Huh? What’s that mean? Spell it out clearly.”
“As you wish. 【Suzaku】 is a legendary divine bird, so its stature demands overwhelming strength. If you held 【Daitenshi】, I’d hand over 【Suzaku】 now. But since you don’t, you’ll need to defeat me—its tamer—to prove I can entrust it to you.”
“Oh…? So just beat you, and we’re good?”
“In essence.”
Delta nodded. …Saiouji hadn’t shared quest details despite holding 【Suzaku】 initially, but it’s a combat quest. Defeat the guide, get the A-Grade Tamer 【Suzaku】.
If that’s it, simple enough… but,
“—More guests?”
Still bowing, Delta muttered. Turning, I saw three familiar players.
“Shtatatatata… Skid! I arrive in style! You cut me off yesterday, Shinohara-san, but today we settle this! Flash! I wink, showing my fangs!”
First, Yumeno Misaki, first-year from District 17’s Amanezaka Academy. Her eyes were squeezed shut—apparently attempting a wink.
And—approaching slowly behind her—《Hexagram》 exec Tsuzuki Koto. The muscle-bound 5-Star tasked with securing 【Suzaku】 to get all members to the Final.
“Good work, Shinohara Hiroto. Trailing you led us to 【Suzaku】… just as Kaoru said. Thanks for revealing its location, but it belongs to 《Hexagram》. Hand it over.”
A calm opening line. …First time hearing him properly, but his deep voice matches his look. No overt hostility, yet I feel looked down on. Beside him, Minakami Mari kept her lips tight, staring at the ground, avoiding eye contact.
His other two teammates aren’t here… Rumor is, Team IX fell apart after yesterday’s Sanctification. After that mess, non-《Hexagram》 members wanting distance from Tsuzuki and Minakami makes sense.
But—anyway.
(…Figures, they showed.)
Seeing them arrive on cue, I shook my head inwardly. …So far, almost exactly as predicted. Yumeno aside, Tsuzuki was likely tracking us. If not now, when would he jump in?
Thinking that far, I shifted my gaze from Minakami to the other two and called out.
“Yo, you lot stalking me? Pretty rotten to aim for a steal.”
“What’re you saying? 【Suzaku】’s just a bonus! My only final boss since forever is you, Shinohara-san!”
“…It’s no bonus to me, but I don’t think stealing’s wrong in a 《Duel》 like this. You disagree, Shinohara?”
“Nah, I don’t. But…”
Turning back, I questioned Delta, the quest guide.
“What’s the quest ruling here? Do we, the first arrivals, get to challenge? Or all at once? Or… since it’s about proving strength, if I beat both teams, I win, right?”
“…I see. Very well.”
Delta nodded gravely to my proposal.
“Then, Team VI—Shinohara-san’s team—will face Tsuzuki-san (Team IX) and Yumeno-san (Team X) simultaneously. Defeat both, and you’ll be deemed worthy of 【Suzaku】. Tsuzuki-san, Yumeno-san—if you defeat Team VI, 【Suzaku】 is yours.”
“Nice, keeps it simple. …But simultaneous battles need two main players, right? I’ll take Tsuzuki. For Yumeno—”
“!? W-Wait, Shinohara-san! Why ignore me, the protagonist, and focus on him!? Is this neglect play? I’ll cry!”
Sensing the flow, Yumeno rushed me. As I opened my mouth, Fujishiro stepped forward, cutting me off with a raised hand.
“Tch… Yapping like a dog, small fry.”
“Gah! Small fry!? You said small fry! Unforgivable… Blondie, you’re just a Four Heavenly Kings wannabe before the final boss!”
“So what? If I’m a Heavenly King, you’re picking herbs in the starting town. No need for our leader—I’ll crush you single-handed.”
“Ughhh! I’m mad! Really mad! It’s on!!”
Fujishiro baited Yumeno effortlessly. Glancing at me for approval, I nodded with gratitude. …Fujishiro vs. Yumeno, set. Yumeno’s a dark horse, but Fujishiro’s Ouka’s secret ace and ultimate weapon. Couldn’t ask for a better ally.
“Phew…”
Watching Fujishiro stride toward Yumeno with a clack of his shoes, I turned back to Tsuzuki. This is it—the turning point for 《DOT》’s future. Win, and we secure all pieces for a comeback… but even if not, it doesn’t matter much. I’m done holding back my emotions.
—So,
“Come at me, 《Hexagram》—your ways have pissed me off for too long. Sorry, but I’m blowing off steam here.”
Narrowing my eyes slightly, I grinned fearlessly and said it.
♯
A-Grade Tamer 【Suzaku】 Acquisition Quest—simultaneous battle against Yumeno Misaki and Tsuzuki Koto.
Catching Fujishiro facing off with Yumeno in my peripheral vision, I stood opposite Tsuzuki.
Simultaneous battles don’t involve anything fancy. Fujishiro’s the main player against Yumeno, and I’m the main player against Tsuzuki, each selecting Tamers and commands. Since I’ll set commands for Yumeno per Fujishiro’s calls, I can focus solely on Tsuzuki.
First, the Tamer selection phase—I chose the C-Grade Tamer 【Fairy】. A speed-specialized Tamer that shut down Minakami’s 【Byakko】 yesterday. Its other stats are pitifully weak, but for our strategy, it’s the best fit.
And Tsuzuki’s choice?
“…《Hollow Creator》 ability, activate.”
A low, calm word from his hulking frame.
Instantly, a sinister vortex-like thing appeared behind him. It’s technically a Tamer, I guess, but its overlaid stats all read “???”. Of course, it doesn’t stay that way. First LP (health), then ATK (attack)… stats gradually lock in, the vortex morphing each time.
And then,
“Now—lend me your strength, 【Daitenshi】.”
“Tch…!!”
With Tsuzuki’s declaration, the black vortex shifting behind him suddenly blazed with divine light. All stats finalized—《Hollow Creator》 unleashed its true power, manifesting a Tamer matching those stats. 【Daitenshi】, with beautiful wings. The holy angel, smiling serenely, clasped its hands in prayer above Tsuzuki’s head.
Right after, both sides’ stats were displayed prominently.
【Team VI: Shinohara Hiroto. Tamer: C-Grade “Fairy”】
【Tamer Stats: ATK 1, DEF 1, SPD 15, LP 1】
【Team IX: Tsuzuki Koto. Tamer: S-Grade “Divine Messenger Daitenshi”】
【Tamer Stats: ATK 15, DEF 18, SPD 12, LP 25】
(A monster…!?)
I’d heard from Akizuki, but seeing the stat gap up close made my cheek twitch. …This wasn’t just a loss—it was annihilation. Even my one edge, SPD, was barely ahead. The gap between S-Grade and C-Grade, huh.
“…Rest in peace…”
Behind me, Minami muttered ominously in her usual flat tone, but probably everyone watching this battle via stream felt the same dread.
Still—Tsuzuki using 【Daitenshi】 was something we’d predicted in yesterday’s strategy meeting. So, glancing briefly at Minakami, who stood head-down behind him, I raised a slight smirk and made an offer.
“Hey, Tsuzuki. Since it’s a big showdown, how about a special rule this time?”
“Special rule? …Details?”
“Call it a speed rule. Normally, both teams use up their preset commands before resetting, right? So the smaller team can only attack until the other’s commands run dry. This rule’s different—once either side’s commands are spent, we reset immediately. No turns without commands. For your smaller team, it’s pure upside.”
“…? Sounds like it disadvantages you.”
“Not quite. I’ll let you in—our goal’s wearing down 【Daitenshi】, aiming for 《Hollow Creator》’s time limit. More ‘command selection’ phases mean more time burned, which suits us. …See? Pros and cons are clear. Battles don’t usually drag for dozens of minutes—decent deal, right?”
Hearing me out, Tsuzuki fell silent. He’s probably weighing my two points. Given 【Daitenshi】’s strength and his team’s state, the scales should tip toward acceptance. …But, per Minakami, he’s extremely cautious. That’s why Tsuzuki Koto’s a 《Hexagram》 exec.
Thus,
“—Scrutinize it, Minakami. Every detail of their rule.”
Instead of nodding, he gave that order to Minakami behind him. She flinched slightly but replied softly, “…Yes,” and looked at her terminal.
It’s a natural move—despite being Eimei, Minakami fundamentally can’t lie. It’s her character, her policy. Being abandoned by 《Hexagram》 or no longer their ally changes nothing. She’s sworn to never lie herself, and Tsuzuki knows it.
“…Checked. No issues, Koto-senpai.”
So Minakami lifted her face slightly and said that. Tsuzuki peered into her eyes, gauging her sincerity, then nodded once.
“Alright, I accept—your proposal’s on, Shinohara Hiroto. Battle start.”
“Hah… Bring it.”
To Tsuzuki’s low battle cry, I grinned and picked my first command. Basic command 【Speed+】. Boosted to +2 by 《Fragile Oath》, but 【Daitenshi】’s SPD isn’t low, so dodging’s a long shot. Tsuzuki, playing cautious, used a defensive skill command 【Guard Function】, aiming for a one-shot kill.
“—《Degraded Copy》 ability, activate.”
But… right before, my long-held ability kicked in. Purple Star’s special ability 《Degraded Copy》. Duplicating anything, it tripled 【Speed+】, triggering the combo command 【Swallow Reversal】—evade the enemy’s attack while landing a defense-ignoring hit—from turn one, same as against Minakami. The damage to 【Daitenshi】 is just 1, but I safely boosted 【Fairy】’s SPD.
“…”
Tsuzuki showed a faint hint of irritation.
From there, my tactic was what you’d call “dodge-and-strike.” Using 《Degraded Copy》 for 【Swallow Reversal】 to evade while piling 【Vitality+】 against unavoidable skill commands. With 《The Company》 reading Tsuzuki’s commands, missteps were unlikely.
“Tch…”
But that didn’t mean I could relax—the longer the fight dragged, the clearer 《Degraded Copy》’s use limit became. 【Fairy】’s SPD now topped 60, decently likely to dodge without combos, but LP-wise, it could barely survive one normal hit. Plus, 【Daitenshi】’s Healing ability meant no damage from 【Swallow Reversal】 ever stuck.
“…Why not give up, Shinohara?”
After a few turns of traded blows, Tsuzuki spoke calmly, surveying the fight.
“Dodging’s pointless. You’re banking on my ability’s time limit, but it’s not even fifteen minutes in. Think you’ll last?”
“Who knows? Gotta try to find out.”
“No, I know. Because Kaoru entrusted this to me—I don’t think I’m that strong. But his strength is real. If he calls you evil, you are. If he says you’ll be judged, it’ll happen. So… Shinohara Hiroto, your fate ends here.”
“Kaoru this, Kaoru that—how long you gonna play ‘hero’ for that scum? Is it a joke?”
“I don’t know about others, but to me, Saeki Kaoru is justice. So I’ve no doubt 《Hexagram》 is a righteous group. …Also, your stalling’s blatant, Shinohara. That copy ability’s running low, isn’t it?”
“…”
To Tsuzuki’s quiet, piercing words, I shrugged with a cocky look. …He’s right—《Degraded Copy》 has barely any uses left. His precise, lethal command choices are draining me faster than expected.
(Damn… it should be here soon.)
Feeling slight panic, I picked 【Speed+】 again. With the current stat gap, 【Daitenshi】’s hit chance is about 20%… a dicey line. To guarantee a dodge, I’d need 《Degraded Copy》 here too.
(What do I do… what do I do!?)
But while I hesitated, 【Daitenshi】 readied its attack. No time for ability interference. A near-fatal blow aimed at 【Fairy】—
“—Skill Command 【Reflect】!!”
…And then.
The instant a familiar voice hit my ears, a massive wall appeared before 【Fairy】, perfectly deflecting the attack. Naturally, no damage got through.
Tsuzuki furrowed his brow slightly—at the same moment, a blonde girl dashed to my side, raising her terminal-holding right hand.
“Kept ya waiting, Shino! Got a bit delayed, but I snagged tons of handy commands instead! So, time to let us join the fun—!”
With a slight smile, she barked boldly—“Golden Night.”
Right—using the skill command 【Reflect】 to block Tsuzuki’s attack was Eimei Academy’s 6-Star, Asamiya Nanase. Not alone, of course—her teammate players were nearby, terminals ready.
“Heh… Hahahaha! Sorry, 《Hexagram》, but we’re flipping the script here! And claiming justice while ignoring my goddess? That’s a laugh!!”
…Kugasaki Seiran’s familiar caped figure cackled loudly.
But this kind of interference shouldn’t be possible. Third parties jumping into an ongoing battle is normally unthinkable. Yet Asamiya pulled it off for a clear reason.
“…No way.”
Muttering as if realizing something, Tsuzuki glanced at his terminal—likely checking the modified rule for this battle. And he’s right—the “speed rule” I pitched had one extra clause beyond what I’d explained aloud.
That being,
“Free-for-all special rule…? Any team can join mid-battle by declaring, and only the last team standing wins…!?”
“Yup, that’s my rule. Got it vetted, didn’t we?”
“Tch… What’s this mean, Minakami!”
Catching on, Tsuzuki raised his voice, turning back. After all, Minakami vetted the rule. And she’d said, clear as day, “No issues.”
He pressed her in a low tone.
“Didn’t you swear never to lie…!? Or what, now that you’re not 《Hexagram》, you think it’s fine to trick me? If so, you’re the evil you despised!”
“…? That’s odd, Koto-senpai.”
But to his accusation, Minakami replied calmly, without a hint of guilt. Lifting her face—downcast till now—her flowing black hair swayed. Her expression wasn’t despair—it was a radiant smile.
“I said ‘no issues.’ …Not a lie, okay? It might be a problem for you, but for me—for an Eimei Academy member—it’s no issue at all!”
“Wha…!?”
Flipping every assumption, she spoke, yanking the hexagonal badge from her chest and stuffing it into Tsuzuki’s pocket. With bold steps, she strode toward us. But it was bravado—by the time she reached us, her face was frail, on the verge of tears. In a voice barely audible, she whispered, “…Please, senpai.”
“Yeah—good work, Minakami. Leave the rest to me.”
Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, I stepped forward in her place. Facing Tsuzuki Koto, now alone.
With a slight smirk, I opened with a fearless grin.
“Hah… Get it now? This isn’t some one-on-one duel—it’s a massive free-for-all where any 《DOT》 player can jump in. Since Tamers swap out when LP’s gone, we won’t run dry easily.”
“Tch… But what’s the incentive to join this mess—?”
“Plenty. Win here, and you get 【Suzaku】, right? Plus, all resources used in the battle go to the winning team’s reward pool. More players, bigger payout. Who wouldn’t join?”
“Guh… Then I’ll end it before the rabble piles in!”
Raising his right hand defiantly, Tsuzuki powered up. Some enhancement ability—【Daitenshi】 glowed stronger, hitting Asamiya’s Tamer. The brutal strike nearly killed it, but Asamiya’s “Whoops” held no panic—because,
“Heh heh heh… Looks like fun! And I heard anyone can join! Then the protagonist—me—can’t sit out! Fresh off crushing the Four Heavenly Kings, I’m taking on 【Daitenshi】!!”
“Don’t twist facts. You were annoying, so I let it slide as a draw.”
—Yumeno and Fujishiro joined our battle, trading words. Fujishiro reported back with a glance, standing by Minami and glaring at Tsuzuki. Yumeno Misaki, too, instantly applied to join, her excited gaze not on me but Tsuzuki’s 【Daitenshi】.
‘…Hear me, Shinohara?’
And—piling on—Enomoto’s voice came through my connected terminal.
‘Info update. Nearly every team’s paused their quests to watch this battle. Three are already in District 0, four more en route. Probably half the players will join—a massive clash.’
“Nice. Stellar instigating, Enomoto.”
’Not me. Credit goes to Akizuki Noa, who pulled every string—island tube, STOC—to rile up players. Even after dropping out of the _《Duel__》… she’s got a knack for moving people._’
“…Ha, got it.”
I smirked, picturing the chaos without specifics.
A few turns later, fighting alongside Asamiya and Yumeno—sure enough, other teams poured into the 【Daitenshi】 fight. It’s a “free-for-all,” so they can target anyone, but most aimed at Tsuzuki, figuring 【Daitenshi】’s too strong to leave. Seven teams already—over thirty players in a colossal battle.
Yet—
“Pointless… Pointless, pointless! Trash siding with evil—I’ll crush you all!”
This chaos seemed to be Tsuzuki’s aim. Supercharging 【Daitenshi】, he picked an AOE skill command. 【Hellhound】’s 【Abyssal Inferno】—a ultra-wide attack from 50+ ATK. Without defensive commands, it’s a near-instant kill… but,
“Is that okay, Koto-senpai? …That’s my command.”
“Tch…!?”
Instantly, with a deafening blast, it was 【Daitenshi】 that exploded from within. As stunned players gaped, Minakami stepped forward beside me, hand to her chest, and continued.
“AOE skill command 【Abyssal Inferno】… Perfect for this situation, so I knew you’d pick it. But, senpai, it’s risky. If even one Tamer dodges the hit check, the attack fails, and the damage rebounds to your Tamer—!”
“Wha… So, Shinohara Hiroto’s 【Fairy】!?”
“Exactly. …Of course, 【Daitenshi】’s DEF and LP are high, so one hit won’t kill it, and after this, Healing will kick in. But—at this moment, Koto-senpai, you’ve got no defense!!”
With a sharp slash of her right hand, Minakami declared.
“““—RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!”””
As if spurred by her, every player in the battle roared, and from there, it was over in a flash. A barrage hammered the once-sturdy 【Daitenshi】, its LP (health) shaved away rapidly. Around then, 《Hollow Creator》’s effect must’ve expired—its divine form reverted to a black vortex, which soon vanished entirely.
Witnessing that end, Tsuzuki Koto stood frozen, stunned.
“I lost… I lost? Saeki Kaoru… miscalculated…?”
A mutter laced with anguish, regret, and above all, shock. …He never even considered losing to me. He thought his side was obviously justice, destined to win—only to be tripped up by me—no, by Minakami Mari, true justice.
‘Well done, Master. …But it’s not entirely over yet.’
(Hm? Oh… right, Himeji.)
Himeji’s cool voice brushed my eardrums, and I nodded with a slight smile. …Yeah, with the free-for-all rule, felling 【Daitenshi】 doesn’t end the fight. Nearly ten teams’ worth of players are still eyeing victory.
(But—we were ready from the start.)
Still, I flashed a small, confident grin and glanced at my terminal. Displayed was my C-Grade Tamer 【Fairy】’s stats—not the pathetic numbers from the battle’s start, but something else entirely.
【ATK 1 (+46), DEF 1 (+32), SPD 15 (+99), LP 1 (+80)】
—That’s right.
Truth is, I didn’t pitch the free-for-all rule just to stall or bolster forces. In this rule, the battle continues no matter how many join or drop, so basic command stat boosts persist. Layering buffs with 《Fragile Oath》 and combo commands endlessly could birth a Tamer with monstrous stats, surpassing even 【Daitenshi】.
“…Hah.”
So, signaling Minami, Fujishiro, and Nitta to drop 《Fragile Oath》, I unleashed skill commands. For Nitta, there’s no reason left to sabotage this fight. The stat boosts are enough—now, it’s time to dominate.
“Alright… ready for round two? The one with a foregone conclusion.”
—A single, sly grin.
It didn’t take long for the last stubborn team’s Tamer to fall.
Eimei Third-Year Chat (4)
noa: Yay, we did it! Finally, finally, finally, this 《Duel》 is over, so we absolutely have to celebrate! noa: Ehehe, it’s been a while ♥
nanase: Mumu! But Noa’s dream was too dreamy!! Wasn’t it super tough luck to get attacked by a player like that? noa: Ehehe, it’s been a while ♥
shinji: …Sometimes the worse side wins, that’s karma. There are things in this world that make you think so. Of course, I definitely could’ve supported the honor student! But still.
noa: Uwah! Mumu, but finally, finally… huh? Putting someone in a dream…?
nanase: Mumu, it’s a bit complicated. Somehow… the first one to fake the data feels kinda suspicious…
Today’s guy got mistaken for a potato, a potato, an error.
shinji: …We’ll talk later. Seriously, we can’t let our guard down yet.
noa: Ehehe, I helped out after a long time ♥ Mumu, that’s super evil. Mumu, let’s get fired up—! At first glance, it doesn’t seem serious, but the serious ones…
mayu: GOOD!
noa: Mu, a stamp—! Noa’s acting all mature, huh?
shinji: Hmph, this is why the frontliners—I wish they’d grip the floor a bit more.
…That said, it’s a huge difference from last year.
If we had this much support for even ten minutes, surely he’d have…
