Awakening of the Dark Tide × Bluelan's Lonely Infiltration

I]Shadow Infiltration: Bluelan's Mission Bluelan, disguised as a covert infiltrator, moved silently through the 13th level of the NOX DOME underground research facility operated by the Seiyu Foundation.

In his hand was a slim, black-silver wand that glowed faintly with illusory light and spirit runes. This was his primary weapon-[Illusionary Guidance]. The wand served as the core medium for misdirection magic, channeling mental streams, creating visual interference, and generating illusionary clones.

He leaned close to a reinforced observation window, his eyes fixed on a subject in cryogenic stasis.

Subject ID: M-09 Type: Meme Infection Type × Hallucination Enhancement Class Status: Sealed - Danger Level: S "That thing... it could be a remnant from the time of the Academy disaster."

Bluelan's fingers trembled - not only from the subzero temperature, but because the face inside the capsule bore a shocking resemblance to a long-missing student.

As he prepared to record the information, the alarm sounded.

"Mental disturbance detected in security zone. Source: M-09."

The capsule burst open.

In an instant, M-09 burst free - its form ghostly as it lunged straight at Bluelan!

"Perception trick: Mirrored Overlap!"

Using his wand as a focus, Bluelan chanted an incantation and projected five overlapping illusionary clones. M-09 hit empty air - but immediately recalibrated and locked on to the real one!

"It can see through them!?"

Bluelan's pupils shrank. He quickly slashed his wand and activated a mirrored sigil:

[Mirror Realm: Reflected Barrier] The space around him distorted, forming a bouncing mirror wall. M-09 was violently thrown back down the corridor as a shockwave echoed through the level, bathing everything in red emergency lights.

Bluelan escaped into a hidden subway below, panting and sweating coldly.

"That wasn't just a test subject... it's already awakened as a 'Residual Esper Entity.'"

II]Mirror Realm Training Chamber: Yoru Mikasa and the Mysterious Wanderer "Are you afraid of Black Jack?"

A cloaked wanderer stood on the water of the Mirror Realm, shrouded in shadows.

Yoru Mikasa knelt nearby, bound in threads of psychic silk, all converging into a single card: the Jack of Spades.

"Every time it appears... it eats away at my mind," Yoru whispered.

"But it is a reflection of something within you. The more you run... the deeper it eats."

The wanderer approached slowly and pressed the palm of his hand to Yoru's forehead. In an instant, Yoru was drawn into a vivid hallucination: -He saw himself in black, smiling as he drove a card into a teammate's throat; -He saw the Jack of Spades hovering, grinning with ghostly malice.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!" Yoru howled in desperation.

The Mirror Realm distorted. He collapsed again, unconscious.

The Wanderer stepped back into the shadows, leaving only a whisper:

"The day you learn to coexist with Black Jack... is the day you awaken as The Joker."

[III]Eastcloud Parking Garage 1F: Mitō Karuma vs. The Ice General The steel whip cracked and shards of ice exploded.

Mitō Karuma was covered in blood, his summoned beast, Spirit Fox × Thunderwind, barely able to stand.

The Ice General sneered and spun his clawed gauntlet. With a stomp, he shattered the ground and sent a battalion of ice puppets charging forward.

Karuma's eyes narrowed. His whip flicked, forming a sigil in the air:

[Summoning Contract: Thunderwolf-Helvis] A silver lightning wolf burst forth, its jaws snapping onto one of the Ice General's claws!

"You're not my first opponent... and you won't be my last."

Karuma growled. The wolf leapt - and shattered the ice claw with a thunderous roar.

IV]Death Beneath the Sakura Grove: Windcutter Rin's Final Battle "You're not from the Academy..."

Windcutter Rin, vice captain of Eastcloud's Swordsmanship Club, stood with his short blade ready, his eyes sharp as a hawk.

Opposite him stood a figure dressed in black, wielding a pitch-black longblade.

Across from him stood a figure clad in black, wielding a pitch-black longblade - the Black Godblade.

"I was on patrol... and I came upon you, a spirit from another world."

Rin lunged forward, his blade carving spiral paths of slashing wind.

[Heart Blade: Sevenfold Wind Sever] Seven simultaneous strikes, layered in a spiral, converged on Black Godblade-Rin's ultimate burst technique.

But - CLANG!

With a single horizontal slash, Black Godblade unleashed: [Black Flash: Zero Moment] In an instant, all seven afterimages shattered. Rin spat blood and was thrown backward.

"Your wind... is too weak."

Black Godblade's voice was cold. He stepped forward, blade raised.

Rin struggled to stand. Blood dripped from his lips, but his eyes did not falter.

"You're... the 'Blade from Beyond,' aren't you..."

"Tell Eastcloud Academy - do not underestimate the fury of the other world."

In the next moment, the black blade swung - blood fell.

"V]The last thoughts of Windcutter Rin Rin collapsed under the blooming cherry blossoms.

His hand reached up and tried to grab his windblade again.

In his mind, a memory returned - his first day at the Swordsmanship Club.

-Tendō Kyōichi had handed him a sword and smiled.

"You move like the wind, Rin, but you hesitate too much.

The purpose of a sword is not to cut enemies - it's to cut through your fears."

"So... you saw that coming, huh..."

"Too bad... I still had things to say. Especially... about her..."

His gaze finally faded.

Petals fell. The wind carried him away.

"VI" Magic Club Meeting: Bluelan's Footage The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy.

Bluelan's recorded footage played on the projector wall. The final image: a destroyed containment area and a flashing message - "B-03 Out of Control. BLACK GODBLADE NO LONGER UNDER COMMAND."

"We must accelerate our training."

Onimaru Setsura stood up, his voice harsh.

"Before Yoru Mikasa returns, each of us must become battle-ready."

His gaze swept across the room - Mitō Karuma, Gōzanshi Retsu, a projected image of Bluelan... And finally, it rested on a single playing card lying on the table.

The Jack of Spades - still smiling.

After the Meeting × Onimaru Setsura's Monologue As the report of Windcutter Rin's death appeared on the table, the room fell into a momentary silence.

Onimaru clenched his fist.

"...We cannot afford to lose anyone else."

One by one, the others nodded.

He turned and walked towards the training grounds - but in his heart, a voice echoed: "Even the Wind Blade couldn't stop him... Yoru Mikasa, you better come back soon.

I can't wait to push you to your limits... myself."