Aozaki Aoko Joins the Battlefield

Tokyo, the Great Underground Cavern.

Atop a massive altar, built at some unknown time.

*CRACK!*

Hearing a sound from behind, [Manaka], standing at the altar's center, didn't turn but asked: "What is it?"

"Why did you stop me last night?"

[Naoki] asked with a grim face, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar.

"My other self was clearly on the verge of collapse. Five… no, four more rounds, and I could've made him unable to stand. You ordered me to kill him, so why stop me at the last moment?"

"You think you could've killed him?" [Manaka] countered. "Thinking that shows you don't know him. You should realize your own self wouldn't die here. The explosive will to live from someone in despair can easily change everything."

"You mean I'd be killed by him in despair? By that weak, baby-like him?"

[Naoki] sneered in disgust.

"Tch, ridiculous. Him, barely holding on—how could he defeat me? Even if he used all his strength, he couldn't scratch me."

"You've already used all your strength and still couldn't beat him. I'm curious where you get that confidence."

*CRASH!*

The pillar beside him collapsed.

Clenching his fist, [Naoki]'s furious face glared fiercely at [Manaka]: "Are you mocking me? Mocking my incompetence? My arrogance and pride!?"

"Just stating facts. Fix that pillar later."

"Hmph!"

Casually summoning an earth fairy mutant to rebuild the pillar, [Naoki] coldly surveyed the altar: "How's it going? Your boring new world model—finished yet?"

"That's not your concern. Just do your job."

His job—kill anyone trying to enter here.

[Naoki] raised his hand: "No one's coming. I'm so bored it feels like thousands of ants are crawling over me. My hands are itching, wanting to find someone to use as a punching bag—"

*BOOM!*

Before finishing, [Naoki] was flung into the wall at the cavern's edge.

Without glancing at him, [Manaka] said: "If you want to die, I don't mind replacing you with a more obedient dog, but I'm at a critical stage now and don't want to waste energy."

"Ugh… Ah… Hah… How dare you talk like that!"

"Enough nonsense. Get out. You have a job."

"Huh? Someone's coming?"

"No, but someone's already entered." As [Manaka] finished, a magic circle appeared beneath [Naoki]'s feet. "It's a separate space. Kill them or keep them contained. You can handle something this trivial, right?"

"Who do you think you're underestimating!"

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Aoko was certain she'd been trapped.

At some point, the sunlit road had been shrouded in dark clouds. The crowd walking beside her had vanished.

A cold wind whipped through the streets, black clouds obscuring the blazing sun.

"This is a Bounded Field."

The advantage of vast knowledge was this. Having traveled most of the world and witnessed countless things, Aoko could recall similar memories for most sudden situations.

She'd faced something like this years ago—a trick by a vile Magus in North America, using a model to map part of the world, turning it into a cage or hidden space.

Back then, it took some effort to break.

(This happening means the enemy's found me… I expected it, but this speed is fast. When did it start?)

Since she'd been discovered, the enemy was likely on their way, perhaps already lurking nearby.

Aoko's already heightened alertness sharpened further. After all, this was an enemy who'd injured her junior. No amount of caution was too much.

Just as she was on high alert—

*ZHENG!*

In the middle of the road, a magic circle suddenly spun and opened, a figure emerging from the light.

Seeing who appeared, Aoko, previously vigilant, couldn't help but freeze: "That's… Kouhai-kun?"

(Is he okay?)

From Gray and the others' demeanor, Aoko had assumed Naoki was in grave danger. But he seemed fine? Despite Merry and Zelretch's earlier worry.

"Hey! Kouhai-kun!"

Aoko smiled and waved at Naoki. Noticing her, the Naoki emerging from the circle looked at her.

Then.

*WHOOSH!*

Flames erupted instantly. A towering inferno froze the smile on Aoko's face!

(Why did Kouhai-kun suddenly use Magecraft?)

(Something's wrong…)

"So, it's you who came, Aozaki Aoko?"

Amid the sea of flames, [Naoki]'s voice rang out. Though identical, it felt jarring to Aoko, like her jerk of a sister speaking politely to her.

"You… aren't Kouhai-kun?"

"Why not? What's not him? It's only been a few months, and you don't recognize me, Aoko?"

*CRASH!*

The ground amid the flames cracked with a single stomp. [Naoki] bared a savage grin.

"Don't recognize me? Fine. I'll make you remember—down to your bones—that I'm the real one, the one you know!"

Flames swept like a tsunami, plunging Aoko's world into a sea of fire. The scorching heat forced her back half a step.

In her fight with Vlov months ago, Aoko had faced a similar inferno, but compared to now, Vlov's flames seemed gentle.

As an ally, she hadn't felt it much… but as an enemy, he exerted this kind of pressure?

It felt like she'd burn along with the world.

"Come on, Aoko! Witness my power! Then… carve the current me into your body and soul! And die with them!"