Chapter 46: Stay and Fight

The moon hung heavy above the city, veiled by storm clouds that swallowed the light. The High Elite Headquarters loomed ahead — a fortress of iron and runes.
Within its shadow, six figures cloaked in black moved like phantoms.

Kanata led them forward, his face hidden beneath his hood.
Celestine, Itsuha, Envy, and Rio followed close behind — silent, tense, ready.

“No turning back,” Kanata whispered.
“Never planned to,” Itsuha muttered, gripping her weapon tighter.

The guards at the front gate barely had time to react.
“W-who are you—”
A flash of movement — the man collapsed, unconscious.

One by one, every guard fell.
Cameras sparked, circuits fried, alarms were cut before they could sound.
The hallway lights flickered as the group advanced deeper into the heart of the building.

“This way,” Envy said, holding up a crystal that pulsed with energy. “The cell’s ahead.”

Inside the cold, sterile cell, Lucy hung weakly from her restraints, her breathing faint.
Her once bright eyes were dimmed to pale crimson, her skin pale from lack of blood.

“Lucy…” Kanata knelt, cutting through the seals with his cursed right hand.
Her body fell forward — and he caught her gently.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

Her lips trembled, whispering barely above a breath.
“Onii-chan…”

But before they could move, the sound of heels echoed from the corridor.

From the shadows emerged a familiar figure — long white hair flowing like moonlight, and eyes that gleamed with authority.
“I had a feeling you’d come.”

Kanata stood, his grip tightening on Lucy.
“Evelyn…”

She sighed, flipping her blade with effortless grace.
“Kanata-kun, you’re far too easy to read. Always charging in without a plan — and dragging your friends into it.”

Her gaze shifted to Celestine. “And you… what are you doing here?”

Celestine didn’t flinch. “I told you before. Kanata isn’t a criminal. He’s only doing what’s right.”

Evelyn smirked, brushing a lock of hair from her face.
“Ah, so the young and in love really are hopeless.”

The air crackled as she raised her hand. Blood flowed down her finger, shaping into a blade once again.
“Then maybe it’s time you children learned what happens when you defy the High Elite.”

Kanata stepped forward. “Envy, Itsuha, Celestine — take Lucy and go.”

“What?! What about you?” Celestine cried.

He smiled faintly. “I’ll hold her off. Go.”

Envy hesitated, then nodded. “Understood.”
The others took off, Lucy held between them.

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve chosen to stay and fight. Fine — I’ll indulge you.”

Their clash shattered the silence.

Each strike of Evelyn’s crimson blade sent shockwaves down the corridor. Kanata met her strength with raw power, the Dragon Arm glowing with infernal light.

“You’re reckless, Kanata!” Evelyn shouted, her sword cutting across his shoulder. Blood splattered the tiles.
He winced, but his grin didn’t fade. “Yeah, I know. But at least they’re safe.”

“You fool!” she hissed. “You’d throw your life away for them?”
“If that’s what it takes.”

Their blades collided again, sparks raining down like crimson fire.

Meanwhile, Envy, Itsuha, and Celestine raced through the corridors, alarms beginning to blare behind them.

“Almost there!” Envy shouted — but two figures blocked their path.

Reiga and Kobayashi.

“If you want to leave,” Reiga said, his tone calm but deadly, “you’ll have to go through us.”

Itsuha cracked her knuckles. “Fine by me.”
She lunged at Reiga, her strikes sharp and unrelenting.

Celestine faced Kobayashi, magic flaring around her hands. “Sorry, but we’re not backing down.”

The clash echoed through the hallways, magic against magic, will against will.

When the dust settled, both Reiga and Kobayashi were on their knees — battered, unable to move.

“Let’s go!” Itsuha yelled.

The group pushed forward, unaware that outside, a much greater threat awaited them.

Back in the underground corridor, Evelyn and Kanata clashed one final time — both exhausted, both bleeding.

Evelyn’s blade trembled as she lowered it.
“You’re stronger than I thought,” she admitted, breathing heavily.
“Now I see why the Elders were so interested in you.”

Kanata frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Evelyn smiled faintly, touching his shoulder.
“Take care of Celestine, will you? She’s the only one who still believes in light.”

Then she turned away. “Go. I’ll deal with the fallout.”

Kanata stared for a moment — then nodded and ran to rejoin the others.

But when they reached the exit, the world outside erupted in blinding light.

Searchlights blazed down from circling helicopters. Dozens of soldiers in tactical armor surrounded the compound.
Guns raised. Magic arrays glowed.
And among them — the insignia of the High Elite Wizard.

“Surrender now!” barked a commander through a megaphone. “Hand over the girl. She’s classified as an international threat!”

Reiga and Kobayashi, now conscious again, stood behind the troops, fury written across their faces.
Evelyn stepped out as well, her eyes wide.

“What is this?!” she demanded. “Who authorized this operation?!”

No one answered. The soldiers only aimed higher.

Kanata glared at them, lowering Lucy gently to the ground.
“You call her a threat? She’s just a child…”

A sniper laser dot traced across his chest.

“Last warning. Hand her over.”

Kanata took a deep breath. Then, slowly — he began to unwrap the bandages around his right arm.

The air thickened instantly. Mana pressure exploded outward. The soldiers staggered back as the crimson-black aura of the Dragon Arm ignited.

Cameras flashed. The media feed began broadcasting live across Tokyo.

“Then you’ll have to take her from me.”

The commander’s voice faltered. “O-open fire—!”

Gunfire roared. Magic burst through the night.
Kanata raised his right hand — a massive energy wave erupted, knocking back entire squads.

The ground trembled under the force.
Helicopters reeled in the turbulence, alarms screaming.

Watching from afar, Naomi’s expression twisted in fury. “They cornered him like a criminal!”

Nagisa clenched her fists. “They’ve gone too far.”

Aine, silent beside her, whispered coldly. “Then it’s time they learned who they’re dealing with.”

As the smoke cleared, Kanata stood amidst the chaos — battered, his coat torn, but unbroken.
The Dragon Arm still glowed, burning against the rain-soaked night.

Beside him, Lucy trembled — eyes half-open, whispering weakly:
“Onii-chan… please… don’t fight anymore…”

Kanata looked down, his heart twisting — then turned toward the descending soldiers.

“Sorry, Lucy,” he whispered. “But if they want a fight… then I’ll stay and fight.”