[1]Shirakawa's Awakening and the Dark Trial In a dimly lit experimental chamber, Shirakawa slowly opened his eyes.
Once clear and mirror-like, his silver irises now shimmered with a tainted golden hue. He was no longer the Vice Captain of the Tokigumo Academy Swordsmanship Club - he was "Designation S-013".
"The 'V-A Factor' in your body has completely fused."
"Your next task: eliminate the remaining otherworldly strays."
A black-robed research officer pronounced the sentence with the tone of a death sentence.
Shirakawa remained silent as he donned a new battle suit. A double-bladed sword embedded with otherworldly crystals was locked in the scabbard on his back.
"If this power allows me to surpass Tendou Kyouichi...
Then falling into darkness might not be damnation, but liberation."
His first mission: to hunt down the infiltrated copy of the [Iron Fist of the Otherworld].
2]Yomi Aoi's Trial of Will: BLACK JACK Meanwhile, Yomi Aoi sat in silence inside a dilapidated mountain shrine, his body pulsing with the surge of his first-phase magical power.
A mysterious traveler stood behind him, his voice like stone:
"Your maps are no longer illusions. They are your domain."
"BLACK JACK - this is the test of your will and the limit of your magic."
Yomi's consciousness was drawn into a psychic space - a black casino where countless versions of himself stood in a circle.
One version, dressed in a black cloak and mask, spoke softly:
"The more failures you can endure, the more chances you have of drawing a winning hand.
"To win, you must gamble your entire life."
After hours of mental assault, Yomi finally drew his first successfully fused "Black Card":
◆ Black Card No.07 - Necromancer - Temporarily allows the user to control residual enemy will as a puppet in battle.
A black card materialized in the palm of his hand. A cold sweat ran down his temple.
"I... can't fall here."
[3]Byakuran's Solo Infiltration
At the same time, Byakuran had quietly breached the outer perimeter of the Seiyuu Foundation's sealed zone.
Wearing a cloak enchanted for concealment, he infiltrated a classified archive chamber and discovered a cache of student experiment records.
On one of the folders, bold letters read:
"Designation X-01: Black Blade" ◆ "Designation S-013: Shirakawa" ◆ "V-A Serum Enhancement Log" ◆ "Otherworld Test Codename: BRIDGE TO HELL" He transferred the data into a magic crystal, but then - footsteps.
He slipped into a blind spot woven by illusion magic, but the air carried a muffled conversation:
"...After Shirakawa completes his mission, he'll be assigned to the [Campus Hunter Unit]. One of his targets is Yomi Aoi."
Byakuran's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yomi... you've already been marked for cleanup."
[4]Sayo's Emotional Awakening and Covert Pursuit In the Academy's infirmary, Sayo Hōdō had not slept all night.
Yomi Aoi's parting words lingered in her mind like poison: "This is not a war you should be dragged into.
"If I don't come back... live well, Sayo."
She stared out of the window at the morning sun, her fingers clenched tightly.
She had decided to follow the same path as Byakuran and infiltrate the surveillance network around the Seiyuu Foundation.
Wearing the light sniper armor Mikage Rei had once left behind, she brushed her fingers along a last red signal flare at her waist.
"Even if you go to hell... I'll go with you."
[5]Final Assembly: Revised Operation-Iron Fist Extermination Plan Late at night, under the old library of Tokigumo Academy.
Tendou Kyouichi stood in front of a dim tactical projection, still dressed in his sword uniform, his fringe wet with sweat. Gathered around the war table were a recovering Mitou Karuma, Byakuran, Sayo Hōdō and a barely upright Gouzanshi Retsu.
"Yomi Aoi is currently on vacation. It would be inappropriate for him to participate."
Kyouichi's voice was icy but clear.
"From this point on, I take command of this extermination mission."
"Target: The true body of the Otherworld Iron Fist."
He pointed to the center of the projected map.
"Based on the information we received just before Gouzanshi Retsu was injured, the core body of the Iron Fist has broken through the fifth line of defense and is moving toward the library zone."
"It appears to be a manifested spatial anomaly - without human weaknesses."
"Victory condition: Total destruction of its energy core - the purple radiant core in its heart."
Mitou Karuma wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth:
"If it really is a spatial embodiment... Then this isn't just a contest of strength."
"Byakuran," Kyouichi turned to him, "can your illusion magic disrupt his core structure?"
Byakuran paused, then nodded: "I can create a false core, but it has to be triggered close by - and I won't be able to maintain it for long."
"Good. You'll work with me."
"Karuma, support from the middle. Sayo-rear sniper and sensory coordination."
Sayo hesitated, then nodded, eyes resolute: "...Understood."
Gouzanshi Retsu forced a wry smile and raised her head with difficulty:
"You... don't look like students anymore."
Tendou Kyouichi turned around, his gaze as sharp as a blade: "This is war."
The projection flickered. The timer for the operation was set.
-- Operation: TERMINATE IRON FIST -- Initiate in 72 hours -- Commander: Vice President - Tendou Kyouichi -- Objective: Destroy the invading entity within Tokigumo and determine if the portal to the Otherworld has closed After the meeting, Kyouichi lingered briefly in a corner, his eyes fixed on an old photograph on the wall - a group photo of the Swordsmanship Club from years ago.
In it, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Black Blade.
He murmured:
"You came back... to destroy everything?
Or to remind me of what I once was?"
And so this meeting would mark the true beginning of Volume II - The First Unified Battle of the Five Clubs.