The Disguise

"Hmm? Hunt?"

Emilie tilted her head after hearing Eden's testimony.

Her face was still red due to the kiss they had before the explosion.

"Ah, my bad. Just talking to myself."

With a titter, Eden gaped outside as his gaze softened.

"So, what's this White Devil Organisation?"

Afterwards, he asked, since he didn't want to spoil his image as a naive boy.

"..."

Emilie's face shaped a serious look after hearing Eden's question as she paced towards the window, clarifying,

"It's an underworld organization that aims to mess with planetary cosmic energy. Those guys are really eccentric."

"Not only the Elite Dragon Team but many other organizations are trying to thwart their plans, but they always come up with strange ones. It feels… just like someone is backing them up."

Emilie's face shifted into a grave expression as she completed her words while gazing outside, noticing some blue-armored soldiers fighting the white-hooded people.

"Ah, I see."

Eden nodded as he acquired the basic level of information regarding this strange organization.

Then a little smile shaped his face, and he questioned her.

"So, since they're in front of our dorms, what do you think we should do?"

"We should exterminate them."

Without a hint of mercy in her voice, Emilie replied.

"Ho~", Eden cracked his knuckles and gazed outside, laughing.

"Then, let's do it. Also…"

Then suddenly his eyes softened again as he slowly raised his gaze at her, commenting,

"...it was a nice experience."

"Hmm?!"

Emily's face turned completely red at Eden's remarks as she averted her eyes while frowning in embarrassment.

Eden laughed and started walking outside, requesting,

"Hurry up, Emilie. I can't do it without you."

Sigh!

Seeing Eden's boldness, she just sighed and walked outside, mumbling,

"You're the real eccentric one here, Eden."

Meanwhile, the outside of the dorm was a complete mess, with the noises of explosions and bombardment happening almost everywhere.

"Gugh! What the hell?!"

Eden yelped as he got hit by an invisible wall. Rubbing his forehead, he squinted forward, noticing a blue barrier all around the dormitory.

Sigh!

"Is it because of this uproar?"

He sighed and raised his gaze to the left, asking,

"System, can you help me trespass on this?"

"Ding!"

[Surely!]

With its usual clangour, the system created an oval door in front of Eden, basically a pathway to the outside.

"As reliable as ever."

Eden smirked and finally managed to walk outside, with the door disintegrating after he went out.

"Charge!!"

In the interim, a soldier in blue, shining armour commanded while pointing at the hooded men in the front.

Upon hearing his commands, around five hundred to thousands of soldiers dashed forward with their variety of weapons, from a blade to a gun, in their hands.

"Die!!!"

Bang! Clash! Creak!

Despite the brutal clash that left many soldiers battered and the ground stained with blood, the hooded men appeared to be relatively unscathed in the midst of the battle.

"For real?"

Eden, who was observing them behind the bushes, made an indifferent face after noticing the incompetence of the Elite Dragon Team.

He was silently observing them, trying to look for an opening where he could attack silently.

After all, if he was found, then it would only bring trouble to him.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared behind Eden, and someone landed a palm on his right shoulder, asking,

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"?!"

Immediately upon feeling someone's palm on his shoulder, Eden tightened his fist as his golden blade materialized in his palm, and he swirled his blade behind him in an attempt to kill whoever saw him.

"Wait, wait, wait, it's me! Erika!"

"Hah?"

Eden halted midway as he noticed his mentor, Erika, to be the person who actually found him.

She donned a resplendent suit of cobalt-blue armor, radiating an otherworldly luster.

Her cascading, silvery locks bestowed an ethereal and mesmerizing beauty upon her.

Under the protective plating, she wore a seamless ensemble of sleek black attire, which complemented the metallic brilliance.

A crimson dragon emblem was displayed on her right breastplate, symbolizing the Elite Dragon Team, adding a touch of regal magnificence to her formidable appearance.

"No need to kill me, okay?"

While her arms were up, Erika expressed a slightly worried look since the tip of the golden blade was already touching her neck.

Sigh.

"You've scared me, you know?"

Eden sighed and retreated his blade, asking,

"So, how's the condition here?"

Asking this, he gazed forward and mumbled loudly enough for Miss Erika to hear.

"Because from what I'm seeing, the Elite Dragon seems to be struggling to overthrow the White Devil, no?"

Sigh!

"Indeed," Miss Erika replied with a sigh.

"Say, Miss. Why don't you take the lead? You're the vice leader, aren't you?"

Eden asked with a curious as well as puzzled look on his face.

"Do you think I'll hide like a coward if I can fight?"

In an irritated yet low voice, Miss Erika asked, sighing,

"My power has been blocked by them."

"What?"

Eden's face shaped a bewildered expression after hearing Miss Erika's testimony.

But before he could ask any further, Miss Erika started clarifying.

"They have a strange device with them. I don't know why, but my energy has been blocked."

Then, she added,

"Luckily, it only affects one person, so the soldiers can still fight, but the problem is that they're not strong enough, and students aren't allowed to fight the White Devil."

"If they were found fighting with them, it'd only cause trouble for their mentors."

Completing her statements, Erika sighed again and watched over the battle with a hopeless look.

"The newcomers within that organization wield a surprising level of power. Neither do I know the reason nor do I discern the source, but it feels as though they draw strength from some mysterious force."

"?"

Erika's testimony resonated deeply in Eden's mind.

Whether it was a mere coincidence or not, her testimony about the power acquisition from a strange source echoed the same as Emilie's.

Eden fell silent and cast an intense, contemplative gaze upon the white-hooded men.

They were battling with the blue mana energy around their bodies, as though it were divine essence being tainted by human influence.

'What's this sensation I've just felt? It can't be divine energy, can it? If it were, Miss Erika would likely have sensed it before I did.'

Eden contemplated, then gazed at Erika, asking,

"Miss Erika, have you really failed to comprehend the blue mana around their bodies?"

"Hmm? Blue mana?"

Erika repeated and gazed at the white-hooded men, but from her perspective, she didn't notice anything at all.

After not finding anything, with a mixture of anxiety and perplexity, Erika asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Eden. Do they even have any?"

"What?"

Eden made a baffled expression and looked back at the hooded men, but he could see the mana energy around them.

'System.'

Soon after, he called his system inwardly, knowing that only the system could answer his query.

"Ding!"

The system clanged and responded,

[Beats me. I don't understand why, but your crimson eyes are activated.]

'So, is this how the crimson eyes work?'

[I'm not certain about its true nature, as I haven't yet discovered its actual ability.]

[It seems to be just a glimpse of its full potential. It appears as if it can reveal hidden energies that others cannot perceive.]

'I see…'

Eden slowly nodded and placed his fingers on his chin, smirking inwardly.

'It looks like since my eyes are already crimson, maybe the crimson eyes stay activated forever.'

[Not really.]

'It was a joke, you idiot.'

Eden sighed, then slowly rose as he began to fathom the situation.

'This mana energy is strikingly similar to the deities of the land of honour. I'm not overthinking, am I?'

"Ngh! What's this?"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke Eden's contemplation.

He turned his head to the left and spotted Emilie, who was trying to break the barrier with her blade but failing miserably every time.

Noticing her struggle, Eden couldn't help but wear a pitying expression.

"She's kind of persistent, don't you agree?"

With a pitiful look, Miss Erika commented with her arms folded.

"Oh."

Abruptly, an idea came to Eden's mind.

He glanced at Miss Erika, asking,

"Miss Erika, I have a favour to ask you."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Erika tilted her head while raising her eyebrows.

Eden grinned and replied,

"It's…"

***

"Tch!!"

The purple-haired soldier, on the battlefield, clicked his tongue while kneeling on the ground.

"They're so many…"

He grumbled and viewed the student dormitory, mumbling,

'How can we protect the students now? If this goes on…I'm afraid…'

"Get up, sergeant."

A familiar figure stepped beside the man, glaring at the hooded men.

"Huh? Vice-Commander Erika?"

The purple-haired man called out, shaking his head since his vision started distorting.

"We can't…do this without you. There are so many…"

The man feebly replied while trying his best to stay conscious.

"Hehe, don't worry."

Erika giggled and took out her blade from the scabbard, assuring him.

"This fight will be over sooner."

***

"So, do me a favour and try to take the lead. I know it sounds unreasonable since your energy has been blocked. But please do as I say; I have a plan."

Eden requested while continuing to imagine something.

"Wait, I've already told you that students can't fight, remember?"

Erika interjected with a stoic look. She seemed to already understand Eden's intention.

"Yes, but what if no one finds out about it?"

"Hmm?"

Eden's statement quieted her down as she sighed, commenting,

"I hate saying this, but since the situation is like this…"

Her gaze glinted as she asked,

"What's your plan?"

Eden grinned after noticing Erika trying to be supportive as he requested.

"Like I said, take the lead. Act like your energy is back."

"Hmm? How so?"

Erika tilted her head in puzzlement.

"It's up to you. Now, hurry."

Eden pushed her and hid behind the tree.

***

"You, there!"

Erika pointed her blade at a white-hooded man, exclaiming,

"Fight me if you dare!"

Meanwhile, Eden smirked after noticing her taking the lead and raised his right arm, commanding,

"System. Remember that dress, and change my appearance."

"Ding!"

[Got it.]

The system clanged and suddenly Eden's body was surrounded by blue lines, and shortly after that, his clothing underwent a complete transformation.

His sweatshirt and jeans were replaced with a red-colored dazzling shirt with a Phoenix sign in the centre, a black shining coat with fur on the collar materialized, and black shiny jeans, along with a red Flintlock having a blue grip and a black lock fastened to the right side of his black belt.

A pair of blue gloves were seen on his palms.

They were displaying his fingers, and there were some black circles near their knuckles. His right wrist also had a red wristwatch around it.

"Well…"

Eden grinned, looked around his body, and exclaimed, yet in a low voice,

"That's beyond fantastic!"

[Also, here's the last thing.]

The system responded, and a hovering black mask with crimson and white feathered corners emerged beside him.

"Thanks!"

Eden beamed and wore the mask. Now completely disguised, he outstretched his arms, remarking,

"The real match starts now!"