Chapter 56

The rustling of the trees that occurred during Soji and Io's battle indirectly spread Io's presence, and the anomaly spread throughout the forest, which was the venue for the survival recreation.

"What the hell is going on..."

When I returned from the toilet, the recreation area was enveloped in silence. It wasn't that no one was there; people were present, but everyone was standing still, just staring blankly.

"Shida! Aihara!"

I called out their names and tried to shake their bodies, but there was no response.

"It seems the same thing is happening to the people around us. It's a bit scary."

"The teachers are in the same state. Not only people, but animals and insects seem to be in a similar state."

Uru was perched on my head, and Nia was poking her head out of my tracksuit pocket, looking around.

"Are Nia and Uru okay?"

"Totally fine!"

"I'm fine too."

Since Nia and Uru are unharmed, this phenomenon might not affect beings with special abilities.

"By the way, where is the class president? Even Runa and Auru are not here."

If my theory is correct, the class president, who is a mage, should be unharmed. However, I couldn't see her anywhere.

"I can feel the presence of the girls' fairies from deep in the forest!"

"I see. So the class president and the others went deeper into the forest."

There's no choice. I'm worried about the class president, but I'll try to figure out the cause of this phenomenon first.

"Hmm..."

"Master, what are you doing?"

I stared directly into Shida's vacant eyes. Nia and Uru were looking at me suspiciously, but I ignored them and continued.

"Huh?"

That's strange. If it were a special ability or magic, I should be able to understand the details with my acquisition ability. I might even be able to acquire it, but I'm not getting any information from staring at Shida's eyes.

"What's going on?"

Not only Shida and Aihara, but the other students too, I stared at them... but I didn't get any information.

"Master, you're doing something weird."

"I'll organize the information to understand your hobby. Please wait a moment."

"No, no, no! It's not that! Nia, you don't have to try to understand it!"

They're completely misunderstanding. I explained that it's an analytical ability that activates by staring.

"Thank goodness, I thought you were indulging in your hobby in such a situation!"

That's not it at all.

"Sorry. I also misunderstood. So, did you figure out the cause?"

"No, I have no idea..."

Is it not a special ability or magic?

Or is it a power that can't be analyzed by my acquisition ability...? That would be scary if it's an overwhelming enemy. I should prepare just in case.

"Although time is precious, can we practice a bit of spirit magic? I want to try something."

"Spirit magic?"

"Sure!"

"Blade."

I tried a bit of the spirit magic I saw when Runa and Auru fought in Daido Park. I tried to create blades of earth and spears of water, but the destructive power was too great to control. When I launched them into the sky, they split the clouds.

"Sure enough, it's too dangerous with Uru around."

"Wait, it's my fault!?"

"Can I try using spirit magic while connected to me through a spirit energy thread?"

"Huh? You mean using magic through Nia?"

I connected a spirit energy thread to Nia, and Nia connected one to Uru. In that state, I tried the same spirit magic as before. Then—

"Wow, I can control it!"

"Nia, you're amazing!"

—We successfully used low-output spirit magic.

Nia?

"I can adjust the magic power by being in the middle, so we can control the output of the magic."

"I see. Can you try something for me? I want to apply the spirit magic we just used to create this."

I drew a picture on the ground and explained my idea to Nia.

"It's a bit difficult, but I think it's possible."

"Great! Can we try it? If we can make this, it will be a powerful trump card."

"This will be a trump card...?"

When I explained the effect to Nia, she froze for a moment. Uru also seemed to disbelieve, blinking her eyes.

"If it's possible, I definitely want to make it. With this, we should be able to handle any monster."

"That's right. If what you said is true, it will be a powerful trump card."

"Seriously, we can beat anything! Let's make it!"

"Let's practice a bit more and then go to where the trees are rustling. If the class president and the others are heading there, the cause might be there."

Although time is precious, I decided to practice spirit magic with the serious Nia and the carefree Uru for a while.

◇

"Io, why are you doing this!?"

"Doing this...?"

"Yes. The mission of a magician is to support the world in secret. Yet, you are involving so many innocent people. What are you doing!?"

Auru, who is a magician, showed her anger at Io's misguided actions. However, Io's expression remained calm, showing no change.

"Auru, if you buy new makeup, do you want to use it right away?"

"?"

"If you buy new clothes, do you want to wear them right away? If you buy new accessories, do you want to wear them right away?"

"What are you talking about...?"

Auru felt an indescribable fear at the sudden questions and took a small step back. Runa and Runa, who were standing next to her, also felt fear and increased their vigilance against Io.

"I want to use them right away, wear them, and wear them. It's the same. When you get new power, don't you want to wield it?"

"...Who are you? Are you really Io?"

Auru, who had spoken to Io many times in the past as a member of the moderate faction of the 'Twilight and Dawn Group,' asked a question, as Io's appearance was far from her usual impression.

"I am Io, okay? I... to take revenge, I got power... to wield power, is that... not my purpose. Who am I? My purpose is... my purpose is..."

Suddenly, Io began to suffer as if she were broken, and the surrounding trees attacked Auru and the others as if to protect her.

Runa's water barrier defended against the attacks, but the attacks intensified in response to Io's suffering cries.

"Auru, focus. We need to concentrate on the battle! 'Wall'!"

"I understand. Gran, 'Wall'!"

Runa's words helped Auru regain her composure and defend against the tree attacks.

"Still, what incredible magic. To control the surrounding trees and earth without incantation... Water, spear, shoot, 'Continuous Water Spear'!"

Runa took advantage of a gap to launch a water spear, but even her attack aimed at Io's blind spot was blocked by a wall of earth.

"I'm glad you're here. If it were just me and Auru, we would have been on the defensive."

"Sorry. I'll explain later, but I was supposed to help before things got this bad."

While apologizing to Runa, Runa continued to cast yin-yang magic.

"Runa and Auru, you're amazing."

"Is that a special ability...?"

Since Shizukana and the others don't know about yin-yang magic or magic, they were just amazed at the scene before them.

"I don't understand, but I'll help. 'Cold Heat'!"

"Thank you!"

"Thanks a lot!"

In the midst of this, Soji, who had recovered a bit of his strength, burned the approaching trees with his special ability and provided support to Runa and the others.

"Now we can counterattack. Sanda, 'Shot Bullet'!"

With Auru joining the attack, the earth barriers created by Io began to crumble. However, a decisive blow had yet to reach Io, and the situation remained a stalemate.

"Kasai, Runa, can you give me a little time?"

"I need a little time too."

"How much time do you need?"

"Three minutes... no, three minutes is enough."

"Me too!"

Soji, who still hadn't fully grasped the situation, decided to buy time in response to the serious expressions of Runa and Auru. With Runa's support, the countless vines and leaves did not reach Runa and the others.

"Is it ready yet!?"

"Just a little more!"

"It's almost done!"

When Runa and Auru finished their incantations and raised their hands, a vast amount of magic power gathered in the air.

"Supreme Dragon King Manifestation!"

"Supreme Golden Giant!"

The coiling dragon king and the golden giant skeleton appeared, distorting the space.

"What is this!?"

"Wh-What is this!?"

"It's like a monster movie."

Soji and the others, who witnessed the scene, opened their eyes in amazement, forgetting their fatigue.

"We don't have time. Dragon King, please!"

"Golden Giant, go!"

Following their commands, the tail of the Dragon King and the fist of the Golden Giant struck Io, who was clutching her head in pain. The earth and tree barriers that protected Io were easily shattered, and a cloud of dust rose.

"Wow, no mercy..."

"It's fine. I didn't intend to hurt her."

"They didn't hit her."

As they said, the tail of the Dragon King and the fist of the Golden Giant caught the ground slightly away from Io, not hurting her.

"The situation is overwhelmingly in our favor. Surrender quietly..."

"Obey me."

Io's single word, which interrupted Auru's words, instantly changed the battle situation. The Dragon King and the Golden Giant, who had been following Runa and Auru, were now under Io's control.

"Just one word and the control was taken away!?"

Runa looked at the Dragon King and the Golden Giant, now her enemies, with a despondent expression.

"Hehehe, it doesn't matter who I am. I just need to move forward for my purpose."

Io, who had been awakened by the Dragon King and the Golden Giant, spoke to Runa and the others with a sunny expression, unlike her previous state.

"As a thank you for waking me up, I'll give you a painless end. Goodnight."

"Sand, 'Blast Bullet'!"

Auru released a thunderous explosion on the ground, creating a loud noise. Knowing that Io had used the 'Fool's Great Army' in the past to make targets obedient, Auru suspected that Io was using a more powerful version and tried to interfere with the sound so that the command wouldn't be heard.

"Good judgment, but a bit too late."

Runa, who was next to Auru, was saved by the loud noise, but Runa, Soji, Akari, and Shizukana, the other four, fell to the ground and fell into a deep sleep.

"They won't wake up unless I cancel the command. Of course, I have no intention of canceling it."

"What are you doing to my sister! Diene, 'Blast Lance'!"

Runa, in a fit of anger, launched a water spear, but it was blocked by the giant's hand and didn't reach Io.

"I didn't want to use brute force, but there's no choice. Dragon King, Golden Giant, do it."

Following Io's words, the Dragon King's charge and the giant's fist were launched at Runa and Auru.

"Diene, 'Great Wall'!!"

"Runa!"

To protect Auru, who was at the limit of her magic power and strength due to the activation of the 'Supreme Golden Giant,' Runa created a wall of raging water with all her might.

"Oh, that's impressive."

"Ugh...!"

Runa's wall of raging water, which was several times stronger than usual, successfully blocked the attacks of the Dragon King and the Golden Giant.

However, the wall was broken after a few seconds, and the attacks of the two beings exploded towards the two.

"The end was very interesting."

Io, sensing the end of the battle, whispered these words to the rising dust.

"Triple Barrier!"

However, the scene that appeared when the dust cleared was different from what Io had imagined.