Chapter 70

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The day after the battle with the Black Organization.

Ria and I, still exhausted, headed to the classroom.

"Yawn... I'm so sleepy, Allen..."

Ria covered her mouth and yawned softly.

"Yeah, me too..."

These past two days.

We haven't been able to sleep properly because of the Black Organization.

A few hours of sleep weren't enough to fully recover.

When we arrived at Class 1-A and opened the classroom door,

"---Ah, it's Ria-san!"

"I'm so glad... You're safe!"

"That was really a close call... But it's a relief that you're safe!"

The whole class rushed to Ria's side.

"When we heard you were kidnapped by the Black Organization, I thought my heart would stop..."

"Did they do anything to you? Are you okay?"

"Those guys... If I see them again, I won't let them off easily..."

Everyone, genuinely worried about Ria, expressed their relief and concern.

"Sorry for making you worry, everyone. But don't worry—nothing happened to me."

As Ria reassured everyone that she was fine, the door behind us creaked open, and Rose, looking even more sleepy than usual, entered.

"Ah, good morning, Rose."

"Good morning. ...Your bed head is even worse than usual."

"......Good morning."

With a prominent cowlick, she moved unsteadily and plopped down into her seat.

It seems she, like us, was thoroughly exhausted.

As we chatted idly, the pre-class bell rang.

Then,

"---Good morning, everyone! What a great morning!"

As usual, the energetic Ms. Reia burst into the classroom.

Even though she must have barely slept these past two days...

Unlike us, she seemed quite energetic.

"Alright, for the morning homeroom, there are no particular announcements. Let's start the day with energy! First period is Soul Armor class! Gather at the Soul Armor field immediately!"

Ms. Reia clapped her hands, and we began to move to the Soul Armor field.

---

Upon arriving at the Soul Armor field, we each picked up a Spirit Crystal Sword and began to communicate with our Spirit Cores.

(Sigh... It feels like it's been a while...)

Even though it hasn't been that long since the last time I entered that world of souls...

Recent events have been so intense that it feels like it's been a long time.

(Well, let's get started...)

I gripped the Spirit Crystal Sword firmly with both hands and focused my consciousness deep into my soul.

As I submerged my consciousness inward and slowly opened my eyes, I found myself in a desolate wasteland.

Wilted trees.

Wilted earth.

Wilted air.

This desolate place is his world.

A massive rock, cracked and broken, loomed before me. At the top, he sat cross-legged.

"Hah... You never learn, do you? Haven't you realized that no matter how many times you try, you can't beat me? ...What?"

He muttered, thoroughly exasperated.

"I'll keep trying. Besides... It's not decided that I can't win, right?"

"Are you an idiot? A shrimp like you can't beat me, got it? Understand?"

Without hiding his displeasure, he emitted a bone-chilling aura of killing intent.

"That's something you won't know until you try...!"

Determined not to be intimidated, I responded strongly. The killing intent vanished instantly.

"Alright... I was in the mood for some exercise today, so I'll play along...!"

As he said this, he slowly stood up. Instantly, pitch-black darkness began to emanate from his entire body.

"What!?"

"What are you surprised about...? This is originally my power. Thanks to your slight growth, I can use a bit more of my power."

He smiled wickedly.

However, what surprised me wasn't just that he was using 'darkness.'

(The density... It's completely different...!)

The darkness between him and me was incomparably different.

In density, quantity, and intensity—everything was on a different level.

It seems the power I took from him last night was just a tiny fraction.

"Damn... I can do it too...!"

I focused my mind and, with the same strong heart as last night, sought out the black sword.

However,

"Huh...?"

The black sword didn't appear—only a faint 'black mist' floated in my palm.

"Hah. You're still just a kid... Trying to materialize my black sword! Your 'spirit energy' is completely drained...!"

"Spirit energy...? What's that?"

Tilting my head at the unfamiliar term,

"Ask the Black Fist...!"

He lunged at me with incredible speed.

"Damn..."

Unable to summon the black sword, I reluctantly drew my usual sword. In that instant,

"Hey, where are you looking?"

He was already behind me.

(He's so fast...!)

Enveloped in darkness, he was incomparably faster than before.

"Here—brace yourself!"

"Ugh!?"

He boasted incomparable physical strength.

(What kind of physical ability is this...?)

I managed to block his powerful kick with my sword, but I was sent flying horizontally like a ball,

"Ugh..."

I slammed into the massive rock, expelling all the air from my lungs.

The shock made my consciousness waver, and my sword fell from my right hand.

(My defense... It's meaningless...!)

Against his overwhelming violence, the defensive techniques I had learned were useless.

"Here, the finishing blow!"

"Damn... I won't lose...!"

As his fist approached, I instinctively thrust both hands forward.

A circular darkness expanded in front of me, perfectly blocking his right straight.

At this unbelievable sight,

(I did it...!)

I opened my eyes wide.

Even when I tried to block with my sword, I couldn't neutralize his overwhelming power, and my defense was meaningless.

However, this time, I completely neutralized all the power and achieved a perfect defense for the first time.

(I see... The darkness can be used like this...!)

For the first time, I manipulated the darkness and grasped a sure path to becoming stronger.

"Damn... Don't get cocky, kid!"

A powerful right straight, enveloped in darkness, pierced my abdomen,

"Ugh..."

I was blown far back.

Blood splattered in all directions, and intense pain coursed through me.

(Haha...!)

I was filled with an incredible sense of fulfillment.

(More, more... I can become even stronger...!)

If I can master this 'darkness,' I can become even stronger...

(If I can do that, I might be able to draw more power from him and eventually manifest a Soul Armor like everyone else...)

Thus, I obtained two significant achievements: 'manipulating darkness' and 'spirit energy,' and was pulled back into the real world.