The third day of the competition featured the Shield Down Pairs and Pillars Break Pairs Final League. Men's matches were held in the morning, women's in the afternoon, so Tatsuya's responsibilities didn't overlap. Yugen observed from the headquarters tent, idly tinkering with a foldable terminal.
"Yugen-kun, are you sure you're okay?" someone asked.
"Shuji and Leo's final adjustments were done yesterday," Yugen replied. "Besides, once Leo's defense held firm in the qualifiers, their opponents' loss was practically sealed."
Even during Shield Down pair practice, Leo's defense withstood Kirihara's High-Frequency Blade and Sawaki's Mach Punch Pressure Wave, showcasing near-perfect resilience. Yet, Leo, drawing from his experiences in the Yokohama Incident and Parasite Incident, humbly remarked, "Still got a long way to go."
Leo's defensive magic alone was formidable, but Shuji's fire-based Tenjin magic sliced through ice pillars as if mocking opponents' reinforcement spells. On the monitor, the first match of the Men's Pillars Break Pairs Final League showed the opposing team's ice pillars reduced to just two.
One might associate cutting objects with wood (wind) attributes, but other attributes could achieve it with intent. As a Miyamoto, Shuji excelled in swordsmanship, giving him a strong mental image for slicing. Moreover, Tenjin magic's trait—gaining power by "devouring" modern magic—made reinforcement spells counterproductive. Shuji tempered its force to avoid damaging the venue.
The Men's Pillars Break Pairs Final League was nearly assured, and for the women's pairs, Shizuku's Phonon Tears could sweep the field if needed, so Yugen wasn't worried. Knowing Tatsuya, he'd already planned strategies for both.
The Shield Down pairs, both men's and women's, were undeniably polished. Jusanotsume, due to his magic's nature, excelled at Contact-Type Gram Demolition and touching-based spells but struggled with long-range psion projection. Recalling a magic scholar's observation—that Jusanotsume's "core" strongly attracted psions, a trait of the Linker Core—Yugen secretly analyzed it with Osiris Sight of Tenjin. The results confirmed Jusanotsume's Linker Core was exceptionally unique.
Gram Demolition, the ultimate counter-magic, wasn't widespread due to its high psion consumption—a misconception. It didn't use the magic calculation area but converged psions from the Linker Core. Uncontrolled psions released into the atmosphere caused excess consumption. Tatsuya's vast psion reserves and unconscious control of even leaking psions allowed him to master Gram Demolition efficiently. One could only say, "As expected of Onii-sama."
To digress, Jusanotsume's Linker Core had an exceptionally high psion convergence and emission rate. Magic formulas leaving him via the Gate were absorbed back as atmospheric psions, making remote or emission-based magic difficult.
"But to think you'd solve Jusanotsume-kun's issue like that," someone remarked.
"Just a slight shift in perspective," Yugen replied.
Tatsuya had changed Jusanotsume's mindset, Chiaki improved the Blast activation sequence, and Yugen provided a final touch with a new spell: Shield Demolition. It mimicked Contact-Type Gram Demolition on a shield while incorporating hardening magic traits, neutralizing opponents' defensive spells and shattering their shields.
Even if Jusanotsume struggled with distant targets, treating the shield as an extension of his body—combined with hardening magic's convergence-based nature—eliminated the need for remote control. Opponents, misled by rumors that Jusanotsume couldn't manipulate air, were left defenseless, while his presence drew aggression, freeing Kirihara to move.
The Men's League Final featured First, Second, and Third High. First and Third High each had one win, setting up a de facto final. Third High's players, relying on prior intel, were stunned when Jusanotsume blocked their compressed air masses. Kirihara seized the moment, using vibration wave synthesis to shake the ring and unsettle opponents. Together, they destroyed the opposing pair's shields, clinching the championship.
◇ ◇ ◇
The third day's results: first place in both Men's and Women's Pillars Break Pairs and Shield Down Pairs.
In the Women's Shield Down Pairs, despite facing Third High in the qualifiers, Sayaka's swordsman precision and Erika's near-sonic speed overwhelmed opponents, blasting them out of bounds—mostly due to Erika's shockwaves from high-speed movement. Erika seemed displeased, but her banter with Leo upon his arrival showed her characteristic tsundere nature, rooted in their long childhood friendship.
For the Women's Pillars Break Pairs, Tatsuya had perfectly anticipated Shinkuro's strategy. Third High aimed to counter Kanon's Minefield by balancing ice pillars on a single point, but Kanon's Swift Minefield resonance vibration magic and Shizuku's Phonon Tears obliterated all opposing pillars, securing the championship.
Sweeping all four pair events, First High ended the third day with 460 points, far ahead of Third High's 260.
On the fourth day, the Pillars Break Solo Final League for both genders took place—women's in the morning, men's in the afternoon. Yugen and Miyuki, the competitors, were in peak condition.
"…I knew it, but that's brutal," Yugen remarked.
"Don't put it into words, Yugen," Tatsuya chided.
Miyuki dominated her two final league matches with Shiva Raid Edge and Diamond Dust, sealing victories in under ten seconds. It was enough to traumatize opponents, but Miyuki showed no concern, her smile captivating onlookers.
Watching from the waiting room, Yugen commented, prompting Tatsuya's gentle rebuke.
Yugen could adjust his own CAD, and due to Tenjin magic's nature, he avoided letting others handle it. This time, using only spells Tatsuya knew, he entrusted final adjustments to him—partly at Miyuki's request.
"Adjustments are done. Check it," Tatsuya said.
"…No issues. Solid work, as always," Yugen replied.
With Tatsuya's support, the Men's Pillars Break Solo Final League began in the afternoon, pitting Yugen, Shoki, and a Second High player. In the first match, Yugen versus Second High, he activated Meteorite Fall at the start, destroying four front-row pillars and using them to spread dense fog across the field.
Even for those adept at perceiving psions, projecting magic with limited visibility was challenging at a magic high school level—or even in modern magic's scope. With their pillars obscured, the rattled opponent had no chance. Yugen destroyed the remaining eight pillars with Meteorite Fall, securing victory.
The second match saw Shoki defeat the Second High player with Explosion, without incident.
The third match, Yugen versus Shoki, was the effective final. In last year's Rookie Pillars Break, Yugen had won instantly with Tensho Kenran. Shoki had no idea Yugen wouldn't repeat that tactic.
As the blue start lamp lit, Yugen projected magic across the field. Shoki, knowingly or not, cast Explosion, targeting all of Yugen's pillars.
(No interference this year? Then I'll exploit that overconfidence!)
Shoki, puzzled but assuming Yugen's complacency from last year, activated Explosion without hesitation.
Unbeknownst to him, Yugen wore a faint smile.
"Shoki, did you think I'd let last year make me careless or arrogant?" Yugen said.
As Shoki triggered Explosion, fog enveloped the field. It seemed like the first match, but Shoki grimaced instantly.
"Guh…!? (What's with this massive psion surge…?)"
Direct attacks were banned, so the dense psions filled only the field with 24 pillars. However, mages relying on psion perception were forced to sense them, affecting Shoki as he cast toward the field. His Explosion damaged only the front four of his own pillars.
Yugen had used a multi-cast of Tenjin magic from last year's Rookie Monolith Code: Gori Muchu to generate high-density fog and a psion field to disrupt perception, Phase Burst to redirect Explosion's force, and Mirror Force. He'd stored Shoki's Explosion power, returning it via Phase Burst to Shoki's pillars—a simple yet effective tactic. Sparing some pillars was deliberate, to showcase his next spell.
As Shoki paused, Yugen raised a hand toward the fog.
"Your Explosion won't work on me—Checkmate."
His general-purpose CAD loaded the activation sequence, and Yugen cast Zero Ocean Blast. Instantly, Shoki's field erupted with water vapor, rising and falling as a misty shower over the audience. The fog cleared, leaving Yugen's pillars unscathed. Facing Shoki's stunned expression, Yugen exhaled, adopted a serious look, closed his eyes, and bowed silently.
With a 2-0 record, Yugen won the Men's Pillars Break Solo championship.
◇ ◇ ◇
The fourth day's results: first place in both Men's and Women's Pillars Break Solo and Shield Down Solo, completely outpacing Third High, the second-place school. With many second-year students, the results were convincing.
In Shield Down, Yume and Sawaki won all matches with swift attacks, securing championships effortlessly.
Inquiries about the spells used flooded in, but Yugen, involved in their activation sequence modifications, rejected them all on behalf of the Kagurazaka family to prevent magical technology leaks. The National Magic University hinted at registering them in the Magic Index, but as the Kagurazaka heir who countered the spring's anti-mage movement, Yugen faced no pressure. The Ueyama and Kagurazaka families' firm stance halted further inquiries.
Revealing even one activation sequence could disrupt the USNA, a modern magic leader, forcing a strategic overhaul. The Linker Core's existence, if exposed, could render Gate-based modern magic obsolete, as it bypasses traditional casting.
Yugen wouldn't tolerate foreign interference but had no desire to revolutionize modern magic. Relic replication was established and experimentally reproducible, but deeming it unwise to reveal, he entrusted it to the Ueyama family.
"…Miyuki, you're in high spirits," Shizuku noted.
"Don't pinch my side while saying that, Shizuku," Miyuki replied.
Shizuku understood her position and knew Miyuki slept in Yugen's room. Though a fiancée, her overwhelming experience of being loved during spring break made her wary of over-relying on Yugen. Pinching his side was her small act of resistance.
"Congrats on the win, Yume," Yugen said.
"Thanks, Yugen. Honestly, it felt anticlimactic," Yume replied.
"Don't be unreasonable. Among our female peers, only Erika could keep up with your speed."
At Third High, Kazuko took second in Women's Roar and Gunner Solo, and Kanna second in Women's Pillars Break Solo. They weren't weak, but Celia and Miyuki were exceptional.
Tonight's tea party was limited to close acquaintances due to the large group: Tatsuya, Miyuki, Yugen, Himeri, Yume, Shuji, Shizuku, Honoka, and Kento. Others, like Toya, enjoyed a tea party at the maintenance vehicle.
"Ugh, I think Miyuki, Shizuku, and Himeri could keep up," Yume teased.
"Yume, that'd risk destroying the venue," Himeri chided.
"Agreed," Shizuku added.
"Even I couldn't go that far," Miyuki said modestly.
Yume's remark was met with Himeri's reprimand, Shizuku's agreement, and Miyuki's humility. They understood the need to hone their skills for the Divine Assembly, but Yume had no intention of showcasing that at the Nine Schools Competition.
The looming Steeplechase and German involvement were the primary reasons.
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