Part 3
Haruto gripped his sword tightly, both hands wrapped around the hilt as his gaze locked onto Armonio.
The light elf stood like an unshakable wall—relaxed, composed, waiting calmly for the human boy's move.
Haruto closed his eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath.
"Olivia, I'm going to burn through more mana than usual. Activate the reserve system."
As he spoke, he pulled five mana gems from his pocket.
"Notification!" Olivia's drowsy monotone echoed. "Understood, Master. Maximizing mana reserves. I will alert you when reserves approach their limit."
"Thanks."
Haruto smiled faintly, then looked up at the fairy.
"Kizuna, time for the show."
The little fairy twirled in excitement, her body glowing with a faint light.
But something else began to glow as well.
Rina.
Yuna narrowed her eyes slightly as she noticed the detail.
"Kikiki… time to bring out the ninja samurai, Kizu," Kizuna laughed, fluttering with glee.
"Multiply!"
In a flash of energy, Haruto split into five identical copies.
The audience reacted with surprise, though not enough to cheer just yet.
Rina tilted her head curiously at the sight.
"That… be Rina's technique…" she murmured, confused.
"It must be because of his link with you," Yuna explained calmly. "His fairy, Kizuna, also allows him to share the powers of his allies."
But Haruto didn't give the crowd time to recover.
He raised his katana, his dark aura intensifying, and with a smooth motion, settled into his ultimate battle stance.
"Now comes the real thing…"
His voice sharpened, the rush of adrenaline elevating him to a higher state of focus.
"Musashi Mode. Secret technique…"
The wind stirred violently around him. For a brief instant, Haruto's katana seemed to dissolve into a shower of glowing petals.
"Petal Wind."
All five Harutos surged forward at blinding speed, leaving a storm of cherry blossoms in their wake. Each blade shimmered with an invisible edge, swift and merciless as the wind itself.
Armonio didn't flinch.
Not a twitch, not even the lift of an eyebrow.
He simply watched, tranquil as ever, as the five Harutos closed in with flawless coordination.
And then, Armonio's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Metronome."
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
The sound pulsed in Haruto's ears. Suddenly, the world slowed.
Armonio moved with eerie fluidity, as though following the beat of some unseen melody. Every step, every swing of his light saber aligned perfectly with the rhythm—like a dancer tracing an unbreakable score.
The petals of sakura floated through the air…
And one by one, Haruto's reflections were erased.
With subtle, precise cuts, Armonio dismantled the entire assault—slicing down each clone in a single stroke.
In mere seconds, the battlefield was empty once again.
But Haruto wasn't finished yet.
From the side, he emerged out of his invisible camouflage.
Armonio turned his head slightly, eyes already tracking the attack before it happened.
But Haruto was already on top of him.
"Musashi Mode, Secret Technique: Hidden Petal!"
Haruto's black katana descended in a decisive slash, calculated to break through Armonio's rhythm in the instant it seemed vulnerable.
The blade whistled through the air—
The crowd held its breath.
In a flash, Armonio spun, and their blades met—light against darkness, colliding with explosive force.
The arena blazed with blinding radiance as the ground trembled beneath their feet.
Haruto clenched his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into his katana, but Armonio's pressure was overwhelming.
"You have versatility…" Armonio said calmly, though his voice was firm. "…but there is an abyss between us."
His light saber flared brighter, and Haruto felt his mana plummet as he struggled to hold the clash.
"Warning!Mana reserves near depletion."
Olivia's monotone rang in his ears like ice water poured down his back.
Haruto's eyes widened.
He couldn't hold the block much longer.
"Cut in F Major!"
Musical notes shimmered in the air around Armonio's blade, vibrating in perfect, harmonious rhythm.
The radiant edge curved with divine brilliance, and with one precise strike, Haruto felt the crushing weight become unbearable.
His katana shook violently in his hands…
And then he heard it.
Crack!
Horror seized him as a fracture split across Sakuragiri's blade.
"No…"
Before he could react, a surge of light engulfed him in a devastating impact.
With a final blinding flash, half of Sakuragiri was blown away, spinning through the air before embedding itself into the arena floor.
At the same moment, Haruto's body was hurled aside like a ragdoll.
He slammed against the wall with a dull crack, then collapsed onto the ground with brutal force.
The blow had knocked him out of the fight.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned in the arena.
Then the referee raised his hand and proclaimed firmly:
"Haruto Kibou is unable to continue the battle! The victor—Armonio Luminis!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their applause thunderous for the son of House Luminis.
Armonio bowed gracefully, basking in the recognition of his people.
On the ground, Haruto tried to move. His body began to mend slowly, thanks to the arena's blessing.
But none of that mattered.
Sitting there, he didn't think of the duel, the power gap, or the humiliation of defeat.
His eyes were locked on the fragments of Sakuragiri scattered across the floor.
His katana—a precious gift from his grandmother—shattered, cracked, broken.
A deep sorrow welled inside him, sharper than the sting of his loss.
Armonio approached and extended a hand, offering to help him up.
But Haruto didn't even look at him.
With a cold motion, Haruto brushed aside the elf's hand and forced himself to his feet, walking silently toward the other half of his sword.
The crowd, who had been cheering only moments before, fell into a tense hush.
From the stands, Yuna pressed her lips together, her eyes filled with quiet sorrow.
Rina, however, reacted differently.
Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously, her muscles tensing as if she were about to leap down and attack. Her animal instincts were clawing their way to the surface.
Before she could move, Simmone elegantly raised her parasol, barring the raptor-girl's path with calm precision.
"The best thing we can do now… is stay still," the Briton said firmly, her voice steady.
Rina growled low in her throat, but did not advance.
Thalindra, arms crossed, watched intently, her gaze fixed on the way Armonio had dominated the duel.
"A short fight, but intense…" she murmured. "Without a doubt, we still have a long way to go."
Haruto bent down and picked up the broken half of his katana.
Carefully, he fastened what remained of the scabbard back to his belt, then slipped on his long red coat once more, hiding himself beneath the crimson fabric before turning toward the exit.
He never lifted his head.
With firm, steady steps—and without a single word—he left the arena.
Armonio's eyes followed him, savoring the moment as he strolled leisurely behind.
"Oh, come now… not even a word?"
Haruto didn't stop. He didn't give Armonio the satisfaction of a reaction.
Without turning, he muttered with cool indifference:
"Good match. I know the way back."
Armonio smiled.
But then, his voice dropped lower—sharp, cutting.
"And what would Melodia say… if she saw you in such a pitiful state?"
The air grew heavier.
For an instant, it seemed Haruto might stop.
But he didn't.
He kept walking, unshaken.
It wasn't just his sword that had been broken.
His spirit, too, had taken a brutal blow from reality.