Far away from the battlefield where Ryūsei had fought Sandā and the others, the ruined streets of the replica Kingdom of Ryūgū had finally begun to grow quieter.
The first round of the Grand Shōtotsu was rapidly approaching its conclusion.
Only fifteen minutes remained on the enormous magical clock displayed throughout the arena.
Across the vast replica kingdom, countless Chīmas were still fighting desperately for points. Some battled in the middle of ruined streets, while others had already withdrawn after suffering injuries or exhausting their mana. The giant holographic displays positioned throughout the arena continued broadcasting the remaining battles to the spectators, allowing the audience to follow the chaos from every corner of the kingdom.
The commentators' voices echoed through the enormous stadium, announcing the latest developments as the first round entered its final stage.
For Ryūsei and his friends, however, their battle against Sandā had finally come to an end.
At least for now.
A short distance away from the previous battlefield, a faint white glow suddenly appeared beside a large stone.
Embedded into the stone was a sword made entirely from Meteor Dragon energy.
Ryūsei had deliberately left it there before entering the battle.
It was his marker.
The blade began glowing brighter.
A familiar energy spread through the surrounding air.
"Here we go."
Ryūsei's voice was barely audible as he prepared himself.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Switch."
The instant the technique was activated, a brilliant flash of white light erupted around him.
Space seemed to bend for a fraction of a second.
Then, in an instant, Ryūsei, Sora, Kasai, and Kayosha disappeared from their previous location.
They reappeared beside the stone.
Their sudden arrival startled the people waiting nearby.
Yuki immediately turned around.
Her eyes widened when she recognized the figures standing beside the sword.
"Ryūsei!"
Before she could say anything else, however, her attention shifted toward Kayosha.
The moment she saw her childhood friend, Yuki's expression changed completely.
"Kayosha!"
Yuki rushed forward and wrapped both arms around her.
Kayosha's eyes widened in surprise.
"Y-Yuki?!"
Yuki hugged her tightly enough that Kayosha nearly lost her balance.
"What were you thinking, facing Sandā and the others on your own...?"
Yuki's voice trembled.
She had been trying to remain composed while waiting for them to return, but the moment she saw Kayosha standing in front of her, all of the fear she had been holding back came rushing out.
Tears began flowing down her cheeks.
"Do you know how worried I was when I heard what happened?"
Kayosha's expression softened.
"Yuki..."
She gently placed a hand on Yuki's shoulder.
Yuki continued holding her for several more seconds before finally pulling back.
She immediately began inspecting Kayosha from head to toe.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did Sandā—"
"Stop being so dramatic, Yuki."
Shizen's voice interrupted her.
He stood nearby with his arms crossed, looking considerably calmer than his younger sister.
"She's safe now, thanks to your little brother."
Yuki slowly turned toward Ryūsei.
Her eyes were still wet with tears.
Ryūsei scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Yeah..."
He wasn't quite sure what to say.
Shadow, who had been waiting alongside them, looked toward Ryūsei with a mixture of surprise and admiration.
"I'm surprised that Ryūsei managed to defeat Sandā and the others all by himself."
Ryūsei immediately shook his head.
"I didn't actually defeat him."
Everyone looked toward him.
Ryūsei continued calmly.
"I just told them to withdraw."
Shizen raised an eyebrow.
"You call that not defeating him?"
Ryūsei shrugged.
"There were only fifteen minutes left until Round One ended."
He glanced toward the distant holographic clock.
"If we kept fighting, someone could've gotten seriously hurt."
Yuki nodded slowly.
"That was probably the right decision."
Ryūsei looked toward her.
"Speaking of which, Yuki..."
"Hm?"
"Have you located the thing I asked you to find?"
Yuki immediately understood what he meant.
Her expression became more serious.
"You mean the A-Rank Demon?"
Ryūsei nodded.
"Yeah."
Yuki pointed toward the far southern portion of the enormous arena.
"It's located at the far south of the arena."
Ryūsei's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The far south..."
Yuki hesitated.
"But, Ryūsei..."
He turned toward her.
"A lot of Chīmas have already tried to eliminate that A-Rank Demon."
She lowered her voice.
"They've all been eliminated."
The atmosphere around the group changed.
Ryūsei didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly turned away from them.
Yuki noticed the movement immediately.
"Ryūsei?"
He began walking.
"I'll be going now."
Yuki's eyes widened.
"Wait."
Ryūsei stopped, but he didn't turn around immediately.
"Yuki, take care of Kayosha."
He finally looked back at them.
"And I'll see you on the next round."
Yuki's expression immediately became concerned.
"Where are you going, Ryūsei?"
Ryūsei answered without hesitation.
"To the A-Rank Demon."
Yuki stepped forward.
"Ryūsei, wait!"
But he continued walking.
"It's best that you should not follow me."
Shizen frowned.
"And why is it best that we shouldn't follow?"
Ryūsei stopped again.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he turned around.
"You might get hurt."
His eyes became serious.
"Or worse... eliminated."
Shizen's expression hardened.
"With us there, you can't go all out?"
Ryūsei shook his head.
"With you guys there, I can't go all out."
Kasai's expression immediately changed.
Ryūsei continued.
"If I suddenly go all out..."
His hands slowly clenched.
"I might hurt you guys."
He looked toward his friends.
"I don't want that."
His voice was calm, but there was something beneath it.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of what might happen to the people standing in front of him.
"But if something goes wrong, or if the fight gets too intense..."
Ryūsei paused.
"What'll happen to you?"
Kasai suddenly stepped forward.
He grabbed Ryūsei by the shoulder.
Ryūsei looked at him.
Kasai's expression was unusually serious.
"I don't know what's going on in that empty head of yours..."
His fingers tightened around Ryūsei's shoulder.
"But if us being there will be a bother..."
Kasai glared at him.
"It's not cool!"
Sora looked toward Kasai.
"Kasai... control yourself."
Kasai ignored her for the moment.
Ryūsei calmly reached up and removed Kasai's hand from his shoulder.
"I'm not saying you're a bother to me."
Kasai stared at him.
"I'm saying I can't go all out if you're there."
Ryūsei's voice remained calm.
"If something goes wrong, or if the fight gets too intense, what'll happen to you?"
Kasai didn't answer.
Ryūsei continued looking at him.
"That's what I'm worried about."
Kasai's expression softened slightly, although his frustration remained.
"Ryūsei..."
His voice lowered.
"We've been friends for so long."
Ryūsei looked at him.
"Since I can remember."
Kasai's eyes narrowed.
"But now... something is different about you."
Ryūsei remained silent.
"Ever since you've awakened your Elemental Art..."
Kasai took a breath.
"You've changed."
Ryūsei's eyes lowered.
"You've been distant with us."
Kasai's voice became more frustrated.
"You keep doing everything on your own without having someone to count on."
Ryūsei finally looked back at him.
"What are you saying?"
His voice had become slightly colder.
"Am I supposed to be someone I'm not?"
Kasai shook his head.
"No."
He stepped forward.
"I'm saying stop that stupid soloing attitude of yours!"
His voice echoed through the ruined street.
"During the battle with Sandā, I've let that stupid attitude of yours slide."
Kasai pointed toward Ryūsei.
"But now I'm putting my foot down!"
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Ryūsei simply stared at Kasai.
The others remained silent as well.
Nobody wanted to interrupt them.
Finally, Ryūsei turned around.
Kasai's expression fell.
"Ryūsei..."
But Ryūsei had already begun walking away.
"It's best not to follow me."
His footsteps carried him farther down the ruined street.
Kasai remained where he was, staring at Ryūsei's back until the silver-haired boy gradually disappeared into the distance.
Sora gently placed a hand on Kasai's shoulder.
"Kasai..."
Kasai clenched his fists.
"He's acting like he has to carry everything himself."
Yuki looked toward Ryūsei's disappearing figure.
"Maybe something happened to him during that battle."
Shizen remained silent.
Shadow sighed.
"Whatever the reason... he's definitely acting differently."
None of them knew what to say after that.
Meanwhile, Ryūsei continued traveling south.
Five minutes passed.
The scenery around him gradually changed as he moved deeper into the southern portion of the replica kingdom.
The streets became quieter.
There were fewer signs of active battles.
The distant explosions that had once echoed constantly throughout the arena became increasingly faint.
The damaged buildings stood like abandoned shells along the streets.
Ryūsei continued walking alone.
His footsteps echoed softly against the cracked pavement.
Why is he so contradictory?
Ryūsei lowered his eyes.
I'm only doing this so I can protect them.
His hands tightened.
If they're around me, I have to worry about protecting them.
He continued forward.
If I have to hold back because they're nearby, then I can't fight properly.
The thought weighed heavily on him.
He didn't want Kasai, Sora, Kayosha, Yuki, Shizen, or Shadow to get hurt because of him.
He had already watched Kayosha suffer.
He couldn't allow something like that to happen again.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
An icy blast tore through the air.
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
His body reacted before his mind had time to process what was happening.
He immediately jumped sideways.
The icy blast struck the ground where he had been standing only moments earlier.
A thick layer of ice spread rapidly across the street.
Ryūsei landed several meters away and immediately turned toward the direction from which the attack had come.
His expression became serious.
"I know you're there."
He looked around.
"Show yourself!"
A voice came from nearby.
"You're pretty bold to be coming after the A-Rank Demon all by yourself."
Ryūsei turned.
A young boy stepped out from behind one of the ruined buildings.
He had white hair and wore thick Arctic-style clothing designed to protect him from extreme cold.
The clothing immediately caught Ryūsei's attention.
Ryūsei studied him carefully.
"Those clothes..."
His eyes narrowed.
"You're from the Northern Palace?"
The boy nodded.
"Indeed I am."
He stepped forward.
"My name is Kori Uwagusuri."
He gave Ryūsei a calm look.
"But you can call me Uwagusuri."
Ryūsei continued studying him.
"What business do you have with me?"
Uwagusuri tilted his head.
"Isn't it obvious?"
He gestured toward the southern portion of the arena.
"Why are you here?"
Ryūsei didn't answer.
Uwagusuri continued.
"It's best to stay away from the A-Rank Demon."
His expression became serious.
"A lot of Chīmas have already tried to eliminate it, and all of them failed—"
"You sound like my sister."
Ryūsei simply walked past him.
"I'll be going now."
Uwagusuri's mouth fell open.
"Wait!"
But Ryūsei continued walking.
Uwagusuri watched him disappear farther down the road.
"That kid wouldn't let me finish."
He sighed.
"It's his loss, after all."
A strangely amused expression appeared on his face.
"Because the one he's facing is..."
He paused.
"...not actually an A-Rank Demon."
Uwagusuri looked toward the direction Ryūsei had gone.
"He'll be facing a Gādian from the Kingdom of Ryūgū."
Meanwhile, Ryūsei continued toward his destination.
The farther he traveled, the stronger the strange presence became.
There was something unusual about the atmosphere.
It wasn't simply mana.
It was a presence that seemed to permeate the entire area.
Ryūsei suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
"There you are."
He reached toward his side.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade!"
Meteor Dragon energy gathered around his hand.
A brilliant white sword materialized in his grip.
The blade illuminated the surrounding ruins.
Ryūsei raised it.
"Come out."
His eyes scanned the surrounding buildings.
"I know you're there."
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then a figure slowly emerged from behind the ruins.
It was a woman.
She possessed long whitish-purple hair and an elegant appearance that seemed strangely out of place among the destroyed buildings.
Her posture was calm.
Her expression was peaceful.
Yet there was something intimidating about her presence.
Ryūsei immediately raised his sword.
The woman smiled.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
She placed one hand against her chest.
"I am Violet Ryūgū."
Her smile widened slightly.
"But you can call me Violet."
Ryūsei stared at her.
"You're looking for the A-Rank Demon, are you not?"
"I am."
"Do you know where it is?"
Violet smiled.
"Yes."
She looked directly into Ryūsei's eyes.
"In fact..."
She slowly pointed toward herself.
"You are looking at it."
Ryūsei froze.
For a moment, he couldn't process what she had just said.
"Wait..."
His eyes widened.
"The A-Rank Demon is an Elementalist?!"
Violet laughed softly.
"Ryūshi thought it would be a good plot twist."
She shrugged casually.
"So he asked me to participate."
Ryūsei's expression became blank.
He lowered his sword slightly.
"I should've known you'd do something like this, Ryūshi."
He muttered the words under his breath.
Violet smiled.
"Are you here to challenge me as well, Ryūsei Ryūgū?"
Ryūsei immediately looked at her.
"Wait."
His eyes narrowed.
"How do you know my name?"
Violet's expression became slightly more serious.
"Of course I would know your name."
Her gaze shifted toward the Photon Blade in his hand.
"After all..."
Her eyes sharpened.
"You are the one who took down my former comrade."
Ryūsei froze.
"Former comrade?"
Violet answered without hesitation.
"Moyasu."
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
"Wait!"
He lowered his sword further.
"You know Moyasu?!"
"Of course I know him."
Violet's expression became nostalgic.
"After all, we were Gādians during the era of the Third Grand Elementalist."
Ryūsei stared at her.
A Gādian from the era of Arashi Ryūgū.
One of the people who had fought alongside his grandfather.
The revelation left him momentarily speechless.
Before Ryūsei could ask another question, however, the spectators watching from the surrounding holographic screens began whispering among themselves.
"Hey... isn't that the Synthesis Sorceress?"
"Violet Ryūgū?"
"The Elementalist who received the position of Aries Gādian from Arashi?"
"Are you sure that's her?"
"Rumor has it that she's not around anymore."
"I'm telling you, that's her!"
"There's something strange about her presence."
"Even from here, I can feel how intense it is."
"If she's really Violet Ryūgū, then what is the Synthesis Sorceress doing here in the Grand Shōtotsu?"
"And what's a Gādian doing in the Grand Shōtotsu?"
"Especially fighting a kid?"
The whispers spread rapidly throughout the stadium.
Thousands of spectators were now focused on the same holographic display.
The commentators reacted as well.
Prof. Hex leaned forward in his seat.
"Violet Ryūgū."
His voice echoed throughout the arena.
"She became a Gādian at a very young age."
The audience grew even louder.
"She is known as the Synthesis Sorceress..."
Hex paused deliberately.
"And the Aries Gādian of the Kingdom."
Prof. Volt looked concerned.
"Isn't it a little harsh to be sending an S-Rank Elementalist against a young Elementalist of lower rank?"
Prof. Hex shrugged.
"This isn't a daycare where you can go easy on people."
He looked toward Ryūsei's image on the holographic screen.
"Besides, the person she's facing is the same person who defeated Arashi's Scorcher."
The spectators erupted into another wave of murmurs.
Back on the battlefield, Violet looked at Ryūsei.
"I must say..."
She smiled brightly.
"I must congratulate you for standing a chance against Moyasu."
Ryūsei remained silent.
Violet's expression became more confident.
"Still, don't get too overconfident."
She raised one hand.
"Thinking you can take me on would be a mistake."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Fire suddenly erupted around Violet.
The flames began spiraling around her body, growing brighter and more intense with every passing second.
Ryūsei tightened his grip around his Photon Blade.
Violet inhaled deeply.
"Fire Dragon..."
The flames gathered around her mouth.
The heat became so intense that the surrounding air began to distort.
Ryūsei narrowed his eyes.
Violet released the attack.
"Hellfire Breath!"
A tremendous torrent of flames exploded from Violet's mouth.
The attack surged forward like an enormous dragon made entirely of fire.
The intense heat washed across the battlefield.
Ryūsei immediately responded.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Ray!"
Meteor Dragon energy gathered in his hand.
He thrust his arm forward.
A massive beam of brilliant white energy erupted from his palm.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Fire and Meteor Dragon energy exploded against one another.
The shockwave tore through the surrounding ruins.
Dust surged into the air as the ground cracked beneath their feet.
The tremendous collision illuminated the entire southern section of the arena.
Neither attack immediately gave way.
The white Meteor Dragon beam pushed against Violet's Hellfire Breath while the flames continued roaring forward with tremendous force.
The spectators watched in stunned silence.
The Synthesis Sorceress.
The legendary Aries Gādian from the era of the Third Grand Elementalist.
And Ryūsei Ryūgū, the young Elementalist who had only recently awakened his mysterious Meteor Dragon power.
Two generations of Elementalists now stood against one another.
Their powers continued to collide in the middle of the ruined battlefield.
And with the first clash between Ryūsei and Violet, the battle for the so-called A-Rank Demon had finally begun.