Chapter 4: The Hero's Sacrifice

Startled by the encounter with his old friend, Tendou quickly and carefully pulled a smoke bomb from beneath his cloak. Without hesitation, he dropped it to the floor. Instantly, thick smoke billowed out, enveloping the area in a dense fog. When the smoke began to clear, Tendou had completely vanished from Aura, Emmy, and Yukari's sight, as if he had never been there.

Two weeks passed after the Pegasus Mall incident. The media and public were filled with questions: who was the mysterious hero? What were his motives for saving all the civilians? His purpose remained an unsolved mystery. Meanwhile, Raymond was declared an international fugitive by both Japan and Korea, as he was proven to have stolen advanced weaponry from a Korean army transport vehicle just before the Pegasus Mall incident.

Tendou enjoyed his days, which had returned to normal, until college classes resumed. That morning, Otoya was already waiting for him at the campus gate, his face eager. They didn't discuss the Pegasus Mall incident, in accordance with Tendou's promise to keep it a secret.

"Sensei, what training will we do today?" Otoya asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"We'll talk about it later," Tendou replied curtly, walking into the campus.

Classes began as usual, with a slightly livelier atmosphere than before. In the middle of the lesson, the lecturer finally announced that a new student would be transferring to their class, news that immediately became a hot topic of conversation throughout the class. Otoya and Tendou didn't care who this person was. Tendou's thoughts were more focused on Emmy, who wasn't present today. He wondered what had happened to her after the incident.

Not long after, the classroom door opened, and a girl entered. She had short white/silver hair framing her face, and clear blue eyes like water that stared straight ahead, without excessive expression.

"Hello," she said in a calm, flat voice, almost without intonation. "My name is Aura Hoshimi. Nice to meet you all."

Unexpected Normal Days

Immediately, the entire class became boisterous. Enthusiastic whispers greeted Aura, many trying to introduce themselves and ask questions. However, Aura only responded with a brief nod or a one-word answer, maintaining her flat expression. Tendou, still sitting at his desk, was incredibly shocked. This unexpected reunion with his old friend was completely beyond his expectations.

Finally, the break bell rang, signaling the end of the first lesson. Tendou unhesitatingly rose from his seat and approached Aura, who was still sitting calmly at her desk, surrounded by several classmates trying to talk to her.

"Aura?" Tendou greeted with a familiar tone, as if they had just met yesterday.

Aura looked up, her clear blue eyes gazing at Tendou for a moment, then she nodded slightly. "Tendou."

"Wow, I never thought we'd be in the same class again!" Tendou continued, a faint smile gracing his lips. "How have you been after all this time? Why did you suddenly move here?"

Otoya, who had been standing beside Tendou, looked confused. He knew Tendou didn't interact much with others on campus, let alone greet them so familiarly. Who was this quiet girl, and why did Tendou know her so well?

"Good," Aura replied curtly, her voice remaining flat. "Business." She didn't elaborate.

Tendou didn't mind Aura's brief answer. He actually seemed pleased with this meeting. "You're still as cold as ever, aren't you?" Tendou quipped, his smile widening slightly. "You know, I thought you'd stay at the magic academy forever."

Otoya, feeling ignored and increasingly curious, finally interjected. "Sensei, who is this?" he asked, pointing at Aura.

Tendou turned to Otoya. "Oh, Otoya. This is Aura Hoshimi, an old friend of mine. We were in the same high school." Then he looked at Aura. "Aura, this is Asakura Otoya. My student."

Hearing the word "student," Aura raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression barely changing. Otoya, wanting to clarify his relationship with Tendou so as not to be misunderstood as a regular school student, quickly introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Asakura Otoya! I'm..." He almost blurted out something about their training or the Pegasus Mall incident, but quickly pulled back his words. "...I'm... Tendou's close friend too!" he said with an awkward smile. Tendou merely glanced at him flatly, while Aura nodded faintly, as if accepting the information without further comment.

Aura's Report to Hikari

Time passed until late afternoon. Five o'clock arrived, marking the end of college classes. Tendou, Otoya, and Aura walked out of campus together. At the gate, a luxurious black car was waiting for Aura. Without much talk, Aura said goodbye with a small nod to Tendou and Otoya, then got into the car.

As soon as the car door closed, Aura immediately pulled out a special communication device. On the small holographic screen, Hikari Kurushima's face appeared.

"Lady Hikari," Aura reported calmly, without any trace of emotion from the previous encounter. "Tendou Amamiya has been confirmed not to be a magic user. He is just an ordinary human."

Hikari merely smiled faintly. "Oh really?"

Aura continued. "Regarding the incident in the arena that time, it's most likely just a coincidence that he was affected by someone's Overclock. And regarding the magic orb that exploded... it was probably just a normal magic explosion, not because of him. There are no traces of magic or abnormal energy on him." Aura reported everything with cold data and analysis, without any personal emotion.

Hikari was still smiling, a faint smile full of hidden meaning. "I see," she murmured, her eyes glinting slightly. "Thank you for the report, Aura. Continue your observation."

Hikari knew it was all a lie. Aura might be able to perfectly hide her emotions, but Hikari had known Aura for years. Her instincts told her there was something far greater and more interesting about Tendou Amamiya than what Aura reported. Hikari's smile widened.

Unexpected Guests at Night

Night arrived. Ayano wasn't home as she was staying at a friend's house to work on a college assignment. Tendou, after finishing his dinner alone, walked to the living room, intending to relax.

As he stepped into the living room, his eyes widened. There, sitting on the sofa, as if waiting for him, were two figures whose presence in his home was completely unexpected.

One was a woman with long brown hair flowing gracefully, a witch's hat perched on the top of her head, and her hand holding a staff/magic tool that emitted a cold yet authoritative aura. She was Hikari Kurushima, whom Tendou knew as Mage Number 1.

Beside her, standing with a serious gaze, was a girl with light blue hair tied up on the upper right side of her head. From her back stretched transparent wings that flickered faintly, indicating her ability to fly. She was Haruno Himari, whom Tendou had seen in the news as Mage Number 3.

Both women turned to Tendou.

"Good evening, Tendou Amamiya," Hikari said in a calm but authoritative voice.

Haruno Himari merely nodded faintly, her eyes locking onto Tendou.

The Inescapable Offer

Tendou simply stared at both of them expressionlessly. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice flat.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hikari Kurushima, head of the Valkyrie Force and Mage Number 1. And this is my partner, Haruno Himari, Mage Number 3."

Haruno Himari merely gave a small nod as a greeting.

"We didn't come here to fight, Tendou Amamiya," Hikari continued, her gaze fixed on Tendou. "We came to negotiate. To offer a deal and an offer that will greatly benefit you."

Tendou crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not interested in any deals or offers from the Valkyrie Force. I've made it clear from the start that I don't want to be involved with your magic world."

Hikari sighed softly. "We know that. But, some things have changed. You are already involved, regardless of your wishes. And we need you."

"I work for no one," Tendou refused firmly, his voice containing a note of finality. "I have my own goals."

Hikari stared intently at Tendou, her faint smile disappearing, replaced by a serious expression. Suddenly, she uttered a name.

"Are you sure you don't want to accept this offer, Oscar?"

Instantly, Tendou/Oscar's magic aura exploded, filling the room with an overwhelmingly powerful pressure. An invisible wave of energy spread, causing the windows to rattle violently and small furniture to creak. People around Tendou's house felt a strong tremor in the ground, thinking there had been a sudden earthquake. However, inside the house, that tremor was a manifestation of immeasurable magic power.

Although Tendou/Oscar's power unleashed and caused chaos, Hikari remained calm. She looked at Tendou, her eyes glinting sharply.

"I came here only to negotiate and offer a deal and an agreement," Hikari said, her voice calm despite the tremors from Tendou/Oscar's power still being felt. "Nothing more than that."

The Unavoidable Agreement

Tendou, after a moment of tense silence, finally let out a long sigh. The golden aura around him dimmed, and the tremors in the room slowly subsided. He knew he had no choice. The word "Oscar" was their last card, and it worked.

"Alright," Tendou said, his voice now softer, showing resignation. "I accept your offer. But, I have my own conditions."

Hikari smiled with satisfaction. "We're glad you changed your mind. We're ready to hear your conditions."

Haruno Himari stepped forward, her gaze serious. "According to prophecies from ancient ruins," she explained, her voice sounding urgent, "the Demon King and his army will soon attack. We don't have much time."

Hikari continued, "From the same prophecy, humanity will not fight alone. They will fight alongside the Hero of This World and the Hero of Another World." Hikari looked intently at Tendou. "You, Oscar, are the prophesied Hero of Another World."

"Information about this prophecy is still kept secret by the government," Haruno added. "That's why we came personally, to prevent mass panic and secure your cooperation."

"Our agreement is," Hikari said, "we will allow you to remain an ordinary teacher in your daily life. You will be free to do whatever you want outside of our missions. However, in return, we need your cooperation to fight this threat. We want you to work with us, form a team, and lead the front lines."

Tendou nodded, accepting the conditions. After that, a curiosity that had been bothering him surfaced. "Then," Tendou began, "about Emmy and Aura... do they both know who I really am?"

Hikari chuckled, a giggle that was both amused and slightly mischievous. "They don't know who Tendou Amamiya really is. Especially Emmy." Suddenly, Hikari's laughter turned into loud, hearty guffaws, making Haruno Himari next to her merely shake her head slowly. "Oh, my sister..." Hikari burst into laughter again, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "She's fallen in love with that mysterious hero! She thinks you're the prince she's been waiting for since childhood!"

Tendou stared at Hikari with a surprised expression, but then a faint smile appeared on his lips. He knew his sister liked to tease Emmy. "Ara ara," Hikari said, looking at Tendou with an amused gaze, "it's unusual for you to care about others." Hikari's words held a deeper meaning, considering that in high school, Tendou was known for rejecting many women and was dubbed the "Ice Prince" due to his cold and indifferent attitude towards romance.

After that conversation, Hikari and Haruno stood up.

"Alright, we will contact you again for further details," Hikari said.

"We will ensure your sister's safety," Haruno Himari added.

With that, the two strongest mages said goodbye. In an instant, they vanished from sight, leaving Tendou alone in the living room, pondering the agreement he had just made and the burden of "Oscar" that now rested on his shoulders once more.

A Plan for Revenge and Chaos in the City

At a hidden location, Raymond, still a fugitive, was approached by a mysterious hooded man who emerged from the shadows. The man handed Raymond two strange pills.

"These are special pills," the hooded man said in a hoarse voice. "One will strengthen you, and the other will turn you into a monster. You can use them to exact your revenge."

Raymond's eyes gleamed with anger and madness. He couldn't wait to take revenge. "Finally!" he muttered, clutching the pills. "This time, I'll do it openly. The whole world will know who Raymond is!" He began to formulate a crazy plan that would destroy the city.

The next day, at campus, Tendou had just entered the gate when he saw Emmy arrive. There was a faint sense of relief in his heart seeing Emmy seemed fine. However, Emmy looked different this time. She walked with an arrogant stride, as if she already had a rich and handsome boyfriend. She seemed to be gossiping with her friends.

"You know, that mysterious hero... he's truly my dream prince!" Emmy exclaimed with sparkling eyes, unaware that the subject of her conversation was so close. "He's so handsome and strong! I'm sure he'll come to pick me up again!"

Tendou, who kept hearing his name called "the mysterious hero," felt cold sweat on his back. Otoya, who stood beside him, could only hold back a laugh, while Aura, who happened to pass by, looked at Emmy with a confused and slightly flat expression.

Classes began as usual. However, the calm didn't last long.

In the middle of the city, Raymond appeared in the main square. With a wide grin, he swallowed both mysterious pills. His body instantly convulsed, his muscles swelled, his skin hardened, and within seconds, he transformed into a horrifying Monster. From his back, he opened a swirling magic portal, and from within it, a horde of ferocious goblins, burly arc demons, and terrifying undead emerged.

Raymond, now in his monster form, continued to grow, reaching the size of surrounding skyscrapers. With a thunderous roar that shook the city, he challenged all mages to attack him.

Special forces with armored vehicles immediately arrived at the location. They began firing at the goblins and undead, trying to hold back the demonic horde. However, their shots had no effect on the colossal Raymond.

At the campus, Aura Hoshimi's phone alarm blared loudly, indicating a high-level threat. Without wasting time, she immediately asked for permission to leave class. With swift steps, she headed to a safe location to prepare herself. There, she quickly donned her Exo Suit, complete with energy swords and other advanced weapons. Apparently, other Valkyrie forces had also arrived at the disaster area, ready to deal with the giant monster, who turned out to be Raymond, whose size continued to increase.

Suddenly, the campus alarm blared, evacuation sirens wailing loudly. Panic began to spread among students and staff. Tendou turned to Otoya, his gaze serious.

"Otoya," Tendou said, his voice low and resolute. "This time, you're coming with me. I want to try my father's Railgun mixed with special magic energy." Tendou continued, his eyes sharp. "I know you never miss, just like what happened at the mall."

Otoya nodded, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. He no longer asked for details, simply obeyed. From a distance, they both observed first, not directly interfering in the chaos.

In the midst of the escalating battle, an Exo Suit Mark II of white silver suddenly darted forward, assisting the Valkyrie forces. It was Emmy. Apparently, after the Pegasus Mall incident, Emmy had trained hard, motivated to match the strength of the "mysterious prince" who had saved her.

Raymond, in his Kaiju form, immediately realized that Emmy was inside the silver Mark II Exo Suit. A cruel grin appeared on his monster face. With his gigantic strength, he ripped a car from the street and immediately threw it at Emmy. Fortunately, Emmy swiftly dodged, the car hitting the ground behind her, creating a cloud of dust and debris.

On the other side, Tendou and Otoya continued to observe, evaluating whether the Valkyrie forces led by Aura and Emmy could defeat Raymond. They waited for the right moment.

Suddenly, Tendou's phone vibrated. A call came in from Ayano. Tendou answered it.

"Big brother!" Ayano's voice on the other end of the phone sounded panicked. "What's happening in the city?! Why is there a giant monster and all this commotion?!"

"Raymond," Tendou replied curtly, "He swallowed a pill made from a magic stone. I feel that the magic energy from that pill is very similar to the magic energy from my own world. That's what turned him into a monster."

In the midst of the commotion and panic, Ayano suddenly said in a very serious tone, one Tendou had never heard from his sister before.

"Doing nothing is useless!"

The fierce battle fully erupted. The Valkyrie forces led by Aura, along with Emmy in her Exo Suit, continued to attack Kaiju Raymond, trying to penetrate his defenses. On the other hand, Tendou and Otoya were busy fighting the lesser demons, clearing the way for evacuation and easing the burden on the special forces. The sky turned gray, filled with the thunder of magic, the sound of explosions, and the roars of monsters.

The Arrival of the Mysterious Hero

Tendou observed the arc demons that had managed to break through the special forces and police barricade. They moved quickly, threatening civilians who were still in the process of evacuating.

"Otoya!" Tendou commanded firmly. "Take out those breakthrough arc demons! Use the Railgun."

"Understood, Sensei!" Otoya replied crisply, battle enthusiasm burning in his eyes. He immediately aimed his unactivated Railgun device, targeting the arc demons with precision.

While Otoya focused on the arc demons, Tendou himself darted towards the scattered goblin horde. With swift movements and without visibly using magic, he began to eliminate the goblins one by one, using a combination of martial arts and deadly combat techniques.

The battle now commenced from two different sides. The Valkyrie forces, led by Aura and Emmy, focused on fighting the towering Kaiju Raymond, trying to breach his defenses. On the other hand, Tendou and Otoya were busy battling the lesser demons, clearing the way for evacuation and alleviating the burden on the special forces.

Media crews, already on standby at the scene, quickly covered the event. Cameras pointed at the chaos, and soon, a live report appeared on TV: "The Mysterious Hero Returns!"

At Ayano's friend's house, she and her friends were glued to the TV. Ayano's eyes widened, a broad smile spreading across her face as she saw the Mysterious Hero busily destroying enemy forces, aided by another figure she believed to be his "right-hand man." Although Ayano didn't yet know who was behind the mask, she felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

News of the "mysterious prince's" arrival reached Emmy's ears as she fought fiercely. A faint smile etched itself on her face behind her Exo Suit helmet; her spirit doubled. The same went for the rest of the Valkyrie forces. The arrival of the Mysterious Hero was a savior, ensuring no civilian casualties as most of the smaller creatures were dealt with.

At Headquarters, Hikari Kurushima and Haruno Himari watched the live broadcast from a large screen. A satisfied smile graced Hikari's face, while Haruno Himari nodded slowly, as if extremely pleased that the hero had sided with humanity.

In the middle of the city, a large Tron screen on one of the buildings displayed images of the Mysterious Hero dispatching his subordinates. Seeing his forces constantly falling and the hero reappearing, Raymond, in his Kaiju form, roared in anger. His grudge, originally only against the Valkyrie Force, now completely shifted towards the Mysterious Hero.

"Damn you, hero!" Raymond growled, his voice booming. He began to move, intending to leave and confront Tendou/Oscar directly. The Valkyrie units, continuously firing at him, couldn't completely halt his progress.

Emmy, who had already drawn the energy sword from her Exo Suit, prepared to finish Raymond off. She wouldn't let the monster touch her dream prince. However, Raymond, annoyed that Emmy kept bothering him on his way to the mysterious hero, immediately lifted a destroyed train car and threw it at Emmy.

Emmy tried to dodge, but the train's speed was too high. She took the hit, her Exo Suit slightly dented, and she felt pain in her right arm, which now felt broken. A critical alarm blared loudly from her Exo Suit. But she didn't stop. With burning determination, Emmy got back up. She would do everything she could to keep this monster away from her prince, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

The Hero's Sacrifice

Raymond, utterly exasperated by Emmy's persistent interference, swung his building-sized fist. The blow landed squarely on Emmy, sending her flying and crashing down, her Exo Suit emitting a deafening critical alarm. Emmy, lying helpless, could only resign herself to her fate, watching Raymond's colossal fist poised to strike her for a second time, ending her life.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, a figure darted swiftly, directly blocking the monster's fatal blow. The Mysterious Hero had arrived. Raymond's powerful punch shattered the hero's helmet and visor into countless pieces. Simultaneously, a deafening critical alarm blared from Tendou's suit, indicating that the user was dying and needed immediate medical attention.

"SENSEI!" Otoya shouted from a distance, his eyes wide in shock. He wasted no time. Immediately, he pushed energy into the Railgun, charging it to its maximum capacity, preparing to unleash the final shot.

Emmy, still weakly lying down, tried to lift her head. Her vision was blurry, but she could clearly see the hero's face, now severely wounded and unconscious. Instantly, her heart seemed to stop, her breath hitched. The prince she loved, the mysterious hero she had adored all this time, now lying injured before her, was Tendou Amamiya! A wave of shock, a mixture of overwhelming surprise, panic, and guilt, washed over her. She stared at Tendou's face, unable to believe it was real. Tears began to well up in her aching eyes.

Aura, who was fighting not far away, also turned towards the source of the impact. Her usually calm eyes now widened in shock, her pupils dilating as she saw the familiar face lying unconscious. A choked gasp escaped her lips. Tendou, her indifferent friend, whom she had reported as "an ordinary human," was lying severely wounded. A surge of unusual emotion swept over her, a blend of profound shock and deep concern.

At that moment, Otoya's Railgun had reached maximum power. A bluish-purple glow enveloped its barrel. Without hesitation, Otoya pulled the trigger. The Railgun Blaster fired with full force, creating a shockwave that tore through the air.

The deadly beam struck Raymond's colossal body squarely, penetrating his defenses. Instantly, the monster's body began to crack, explode, and shatter into countless pieces. Raymond, along with the remnants of his monstrous form, vanished without a trace.

The remaining demonic forces, leaderless, felt the terrifying surge of energy from the Railgun's blast. With gripping fear, they immediately retreated, disappearing back into the slowly closing magic portals.

Victory had been achieved, but at the cost of a hero.

At Headquarters, Tendou's Grandfather, who had been monitoring the situation, immediately after seeing his grandson take a direct hit and fall unconscious, contacted all media outlets. With full authority, he silenced them, ensuring no coverage would show Tendou's severely injured face or his connection to the "Mysterious Hero." The media was only permitted to report Raymond's defeat, caused by "a weapon from the Second Mysterious Hero."

Otoya, ignoring both Aura and Emmy who were also stunned, immediately ran with all his might towards Tendou's location. He didn't care about anyone else there; he only cared about his teacher.

The scene ended. Tendou, unconscious and severely wounded, was immediately rushed to a hospital in secret, far from public view. The city began to calm down, but the memory of the fierce battle and the hero's sacrifice would be etched in history.