Chapter 73: The Duel Between Light and Song

The next morning, Tokyo Magical Academy was no longer just a school.
It was a coliseum.

Thousands of students filled the grand arena, waving banners and cheering.
Every seat shimmered with enchanted lights, and the air trembled with excitement.

“This is it! Rinko Tachibana Ichigo versus—The Brave Dragon himself, Tendou Kanata!”

The announcer’s voice boomed through the magical sound system, echoing across the sky dome.

Kanata adjusted the black gloves on his hands, exhaling deeply.
Across from him, Asuna sat on the bench, pretending to stretch but clearly nervous.

“Kanata-kun, are you sure you want to get involved in this?”
“This was my challenge, not yours.”

Kanata looked up, expression calm.
“There’s no way around it. If I don’t step in, this whole place might get destroyed.”

“You really think she’s that dangerous?”
“No…” Kanata replied, glancing toward the arena. “…I think she’s that stubborn.”

Asuna smiled faintly, but there was a shadow behind her eyes.
“Before it starts… can I ask something?”

Kanata nodded.

“Ever since the Silver Dragon resided within me, I haven’t felt any different… but I still sense something—like the Air Fountain is calling.”

Kanata’s gaze softened.
He remembered the same glow, the same burden, in the middle of that collapsing world.

“Then don’t ignore it,” he said quietly.
“That instinct’s what kept us alive.”

But Asuna’s expression changed suddenly.
She pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Kanata-kun… I might not be able to fight today.”

“What?”

“If I release my power here… Rinko won’t just lose. She’ll die. Just like when I almost killed you.”

Kanata froze.

Then he smiled, faint but steady.
“Then I’ll fight for you.”

Asuna’s eyes widened.
Before she could protest, Kanata was already walking toward the gate.

Celestine, observing from the control room, nodded approvingly.
“We’ll authorize it. Kanata will represent Asuna in the duel.”

The stadium lights dimmed as the narrator’s voice boomed across the magical speakers.

“Attention everyone! Due to schedule conflicts, Miss Asuna Shiraiyuki will not be joining today’s exhibition match!”
“We’ve been informed that she is currently preserving her voice for an upcoming concert!”

The crowd groaned but quickly recovered, clapping and cheering anyway.
After all—another legend was taking her place.

Rinko stood at the center of the field, magic crackling around her.
Her silver-gray hair shimmered like mercury under the dome lights.
She was annoyed—furious even.

“So Asuna’s running away again, huh?” she muttered.
“Fine. I’ll just crush whoever they send instead.”

From the opposite gate, Kanata stepped into the light.
The audience erupted.

“The Brave Dragon! He’s actually fighting!”

Rinko’s glare sharpened.
“You’re the one who bumped into me yesterday, aren’t you?”

Kanata sighed.
“You’re still mad about that?”

“Of course I am!” she snapped, summoning her wand. “Let’s see if the so-called hero can dodge this!”

Celestine sat beside Nagisa, sipping tea calmly as the match began.
Itsuha burst into the room, still panting from the run.

“Am I late?!”

“Just in time,” Celestine smiled. “Your idiot’s about to do something reckless again.”

“He always does,” Itsuha muttered, taking a seat beside her.

Nagisa asked, “What about Aine and Rio?”

“Still handling that zombie outbreak,” Itsuha replied grimly. “It’s spreading faster than expected.”

The three women fell silent.
The cheers below drowned their unease.

“Let the duel begin!”

The whistle blew—
and Rinko moved first.

She inhaled sharply, gathering air in her lungs until her throat glowed with runic light.

“<SCREAM TIGER>!”

ROOOOOOOAAAR!!!

A shockwave ripped through the field, loud enough to shatter windows.
The very ground cracked beneath her scream.

Kanata’s ears rang, but he dove sideways, the blast missing him by inches.

“She really lives up to her nickname,” he muttered.
“The Voice of the Tiger.”

Rinko twirled her wand, gathering wind.

“<SCREAM BLOWING WIND>!”

The second roar blasted outward, a spiraling gale tearing through the arena.
Shattered glass and debris flew toward the stands.

But before anyone could scream—
a dark figure moved in the air, spreading her hand.

“<Reverse Structure>.”

The shards froze midair—then reassembled perfectly.

Envy had arrived.
She hovered above the spectators, eyes glowing violet.
“Honestly… children these days.”

Kanata smirked faintly.
“Thanks for the save.”

Rinko attacked again, relentless.
Every spell she cast shook the entire arena.

Kanata blocked, dodged, redirected—never once countering.
But finally, he sighed.

“Alright. Guess I can’t keep holding back.”

He raised his hand.
The arena dimmed.
And with a snap of his fingers—

“<Gamma Illusion>.”

Three silhouettes appeared beside him—
flickering forms of A.R. Kanata, Future Kanata, and Shadow Kanata, each drawing a blade.

The crowd gasped.

“T-those are—!”
“Multiple Kanatas?!”

Even Celestine leaned forward.
“He’s… using multiversal energy projection…”

Itsuha’s jaw dropped.
“He can do that now?!”

The illusions charged, their attacks seamless and synchronized.
Rinko blocked one slash, but another hit her from behind.
A third came from above.
She stumbled, panting, her aura cracking.

“Y-you think… illusions can beat me?”

She raised her wand again.
“<Resonant Howl>!”

Her voice split the air—a sonic wave that scattered the clones instantly.
Kanata shielded his eyes from the blast.

When the dust cleared, he was still standing.

He smiled faintly.
“Not bad.”

Rinko gasped for breath, sweat dripping down her chin.
Her knees trembled, but her pride wouldn’t let her fall.

Kanata walked forward slowly.

“You’ve got power,” he said quietly.
“But power without control is just noise.”

Rinko glared up at him.
“Shut up… you don’t know anything about me!”

Kanata stopped a few feet away.
His eyes softened—not pitying, but understanding.

“Then let me show you what you hate the most.”

He lifted his hand again.

“<Gamma Illusion>.”

Two figures appeared—
Asuna Shiraiyuki and Celestine Aelvianne, smiling, glowing with gentle light.

Rinko froze.
Her hand shook.

“No… not them…”

The illusions moved—not to attack, but to embrace.
To forgive.
To remind.

Rinko screamed, firing off a barrage of magic—but every blast dissolved before touching them.

The crowd watched in silence as the girl’s fury melted into tears.

When her wand finally fell, Kanata caught it.

“You don’t need to outshine anyone,” he said softly.
“Just be someone you’re proud of.”

He extended his hand.

After a long, trembling moment—
Rinko took it.

The arena erupted.
Students cheered, teachers clapped, and even the reporters shouted in excitement.

“The Brave Dragon wins by surrender!”

Celestine exhaled in relief.
“He did it without hurting her.”

Asuna, watching from the infirmary, smiled faintly.
“That’s Kanata-kun for you…”

Rinko wiped her eyes, trying to hide her blush.
“D-don’t think this means I like you.”

Kanata laughed softly.
“Of course not. Just get stronger next time.”

She scowled.
Then smiled.

And somewhere above the clouds,
a faint ripple of power stirred—
as if something beyond the veil had begun watching once again.