CHAPTER 1 — PART 6: MEMORIA MORI

I heard a high-pitched noise, then a massive beam of darkness.

"!" My body acted on its own; I stood protective of Oharu.

Right before a massive black beam engulfed both of us, I yelled:

"[Mana Release: Brilliant Break!!]"

"Master, don't do it! You'll die!" Amai's voice reverberated with concern, her attempts to dissuade me futile against my determination.

The beam collided with me, my hands stretched out, trying to stop such massive energy.

"Ghht... RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The primal roar of my war cry reverberated through the air as I strained against the beam, my palms sore with agony. My aura flared, and the world around me seemed to warp.

Yet as the torrent of energy threatened to erase me, my strength ebbed, my consciousness blurred, and darkness encroached.

Tap.

An unexpected touch, gentle yet firm, arrested my descent toward oblivion. Oharu used her remaining strength, both of us pushing as our lives depended on it.

I then noticed how the massive Blighted elongated its maw into a grotesque "o", making the beam bigger and extremely volatile, which immediately sent us both flying in the air. I embraced Oharu, ready to take the crash.

Our bodies hurtled dangerously close to a wall, but a sudden portal materialized through my mother's intervention, whisking us away just in the nick of time.

"You fool!" Exasperation dripped from her voice as she seized me, pressing a bottle filled with a blue liquid into my hand, urgency evident as she urged me to drink before things escalated further.

"This is bad... you cannot unleash Malice, it could kill all of us..." Breathless and grim-faced, my mother's words conveyed the weight of the situation.

A dark pulse resonated within my body, an ominous rhythm akin to a venomous toxin. Even Oharu, caught in the ripples of my pulse, struggled to catch her breath, her eyes locked onto mine, understanding the direness of the circumstances.

"P—Pardon me? Yami... has Malice!?"

My mother hesitated, an unspoken secret lingering in the air. She shared the truth with Oharu, recognizing the significance of her clan's clearance level.

"Keep this between us, Oharu-san... My son bears the Malice. Yet he isn't ready to wield its power. His mana depletion accidentally shattered the restraints holding it back. If I hadn't intervened, the entire arena would have been consumed."

BOOM!

The relentless assault of the Blighted persisted, but my mother gently guided me toward Oharu. With a bashful flinch, she caught me, her eyes a mix of concern and confusion. As consciousness ebbed, I felt cradled in her arms, chaos and uncertainty swirling around us.

"I've alerted security... please take care of my son." A shift in my mother's demeanor brought forth seriousness, her features tinged with foreboding darkness. Her words carried an unspoken promise. "I'll return..."

In an instant, she vanished, reappearing right in front of the colossal Blighted that had nearly claimed our lives.

"Yami, you've shown great skill, but your execution of my Ultimate skill still falls short." A mixture of pride and expectation tinged her tone, a sly grin curling her lips. Continuing her monologue, she proclaimed, "Allow me to demonstrate the true [Brilliant Break]."

The world seemed to bow to her power as it trembled. The very ground quaked under the pressure of her mana, and a surge of energy engulfed the arena. The once-illuminated surroundings turned dark, akin to an eclipse consuming all light. The sun appeared to vanish, leaving the world cloaked in an eerie obscurity.

With a resounding cry, "[Mana Release: Brilliant Break!]", the arena quivered as her aura surged. The ground beneath us shook as reality itself seemed to unravel.

"[Light Magic: Bright Lance!]" In an instant, a lance of pure light materialized in her hand, its brilliance blinding and magnificent. With incredible swiftness, my mother's silhouette dissolved, only to reappear behind the Blighted. The creature met its end as a sudden surge of light engulfed it, a single, devastating blow eradicating its existence.

This was the last sight I beheld before slipping into unconsciousness, my vision enshrouded in darkness as my body yielded to the tumultuous forces that had unfolded.

...

I found myself enveloped in a surreal dance within the depths of darkness, my body weightless as if disconnected from reality, my senses swimming in a sea of confusion. My gaze wandered through the void, shifting between undefined shadows, a dance of left and right...

"Amai?"

Her ethereal form floated before me, an apparition in the abyss.

Navigating through this enigmatic plane, I drew closer to Amai; her tearful form was a beacon amidst the obscurity.

"Amai? Where are we?" I inquired, my voice laced with bewilderment.

Her response was wordless, a tender embrace that almost left me breathless, as if she intended to shield me from some unseen peril.

"I'm sorry, Yami... I..." Her voice quivered with a hint of sorrow.

A wave of sadness emanated from her, palpable even in this abstract realm.

"I've accessed your memories... I had no idea about your past, the pain you endured," she sobbed.

My heartache seemed to disperse with her confession. Gently, I patted her head and spoke softly.

"It's okay, Amai. I've already let go of those memories."

"No... You haven't. I saw everything," she retorted, her words echoing the haunting truth.

Silence lingered, burdened by the weight of my past that I had desperately tried to bury.

Screams of agony, flames devouring, the stench of death, the agony of countless lives sacrificed to Blighted...

Blighted...

Blighted...

Blighted...

My existence had been consumed by a quest for vengeance against these cosmic terrors. My father, my guiding light, my reason for existing, was taken from me in that blaze. And where was my mother during this tragedy?

She could have saved him...

No, it was my irresponsibility, my inertia, that led to his demise.

I was the one who ended his life.

Amai's gaze bore into my anguished expression, witnessing the turmoil that swirled within me.

In response, she held me tenderly, attempting to quell the surge of malice within me.

I was responsible...

My recklessness had cost him his life.

If only we had left home sooner...

If only I hadn't been so complacent...

If only I weren't the way I am...

He might still be alive...

The image of his dying moments seared across my mind, an indelible scar.

Agony throbbed through my being, a physical manifestation of my torment. In my despair, I pushed Amai away, a dark pulse of malice lashing out uncontrollably.

"Yami, it's your fault! You killed him!" The voice reverberated, echoing in this unearthly plane.

Amai recoiled, her form shrinking in response to the loud echoing voice.

"No... it wasn't..." I groaned, my voice strained with anguish.

"His death was your doing!" The voice taunted, a sardonic edge twisting its tone.

"Yami..." She stood there, a helpless witness to my inner turmoil.

"Remember what you've done!" The voice thundered, and the memory materialized before me...

"Daddy! Daddy!"

The memory clawed at me, the agony of that day freshly rekindled. I could still feel the heat of the flames, smell the acrid scent of burning wood and plaster. Often, I awoke to the suffocating weight of carbon in the air, a never-ending nightmare.

"Wake up, Daddy!"

His face, pallid and lifeless, was his final smile amid the inferno that consumed our home.

"Dad! Please... don't leave me..."

A younger Amai stood beside me, her pained gaze mirrored my own.

Her hand reached toward my back, a gesture of comfort cut short by the overwhelming cries of others, the relentless flames, and the carnage that ensued.

A guttural scream tore from my throat, a torrent of mana bursting forth, obliterating the very memory I had been trapped within. Amai was ripped from that harrowing scene and transported back to the cold, dark plane.

In this place, she saw me once more. Hanging from a ceiling fan. My wrists slashed. My lifeless form sprawled across the pavement.

Her gaze met mine...

And she couldn't contain her anguish any longer. The memories I had harbored were wounding her soul, tearing at her heart.

This wasn't the first time she had witnessed my self-inflicted pain, my acts of violence towards myself and others.

My true self...

My dark reality...

I had ended my own life countless times...

Yet, here I was, still trapped in this cycle of despair. Still coming back from death itself.

I had tried to forget...

I had tried to escape...

But I couldn't...

"Wake up, you idiot."

Death could not absolve me of my sins...

"Wake up, Yami!"

And I would... do it...

"Wake up!"

Once more...

Laughter, sinister and mocking, reverberated through the abyss. An entity, vile and malevolent, materialized before me, its grin oozing with a nauseating sense of amusement.

"Embrace it. Embrace the darkness within you. You will take lives, and there's no escaping it. You cannot hide from me, from your own Malice."

A surge of mana surged through me, my senses snapping back into focus, my surroundings regaining color. Amid the swirling vortex of energy, I glimpsed a familiar figure...

"Idiot..." A voice rang out, proud yet breathless.

"You could've killed us!" An elegant voice chimed in, dripping with irritation.

"What just happened?" Monotone tones mixed with confusion.

"Yami..."

My vision cleared, and I found myself lying in an infirmary bed, a chorus of voices filling the room. Girls surrounded me, their faces etched with concern and relief.

A throbbing headache pulsed within me, and I clutched my head in agony.

"Where... is Amai?" My words hissed through the pain.

"A-Amai?" The voices of those around me echoed in unison, their concern palpable.

"O-oracle..." I managed to respond, the pain within me reverberating like an echo.

"O-oh... she's lying beneath the sheets," Shizue gestured toward my legs, and there she lay, tears streaming down her face, her body contorting in distress as crimson lightning crackled through her.

I gently lifted Amai into my arms, enfolding her in a tender embrace. "I'm sorry... You didn't need to witness my memories..."

Her tears flowed more freely, her grip on me tightening as if she feared letting go.

Of all the memories she had witnessed, it was the depth of my own that truly shattered her. It fractured her heart and wounded her soul...

My mother stood there, taken aback by the revelation. Amai had seen my memories, my torment. The questions stirred within her, a curiosity tinged with worry.

"I'm never leaving your side again! I won't let you do it again!" Amai's voice cracked as she declared, her tears mingling with her words.

A collective gasp swept through the room. Shock painted the faces of those present.

"A-Amai... what did you see?" My mother's inquiry was gentle, laced with a mixture of concern and anticipation.

We both remained silent... Amai didn't want to say anything without my consent.

"I..." I hesitated, seeing all the girls looking at my mother and me. This revelation was too fragile and heavy, but I wasn't going to hide anything anymore. I'll bear my feelings out—what I am, what I've done...

"I have killed myself countless times, and was brought back to life every damn time..."

Silence.

I expected as much. Mother was the first expression I noticed; it was horror with sorrow. She even took a step back in pure instinct.

Everyone was at a loss for words. How could a human die and come back to life?

"It's the truth... I saw it all... his memories..." Amai confirmed, still sobbing, still not letting go.

Shizue stood frozen, skin pale. She didn't even understand the full scale of things, but she knew what killing oneself meant...

Oharu looked away, eyes closed, feeling like she wasn't alone with such complicated emotions; she now saw me in a new light.

Katsumi was used to such things; those thoughts were a normal occurrence to her, but someone who actually attempted such things?

Hotaru had her first shock. Her emotionless face twitched, and she embraced her chest; she didn't even know what was happening to her. She felt pain and confusion.

Another ripple of darkness passed through everyone, coming right from my body. Everyone flinched and tensed. The Malice really hurt; it was a wave of emotion that hurt the soul.

"M—Master... calm down... it's... hurting us..." Amai held me tightly.

"I—I... can't stop it..." I grit my teeth.

Hotaru stepped forward, taking action. She grasped my hand and placed it on her chest, making me recoil and blush hard; it was extremely effective.

"H—huh!? W—what are you doing, Hotaru!?" I barked, embarrassed.

Everyone was shocked by Hotaru's action.

Shizue pouted angrily and "Hmph'd" loudly.

Hey! I didn't do this on my own!! Why are you mad!? My head was screaming.

It should've been me! Not her!! Shizue ran a marathon in her head.

I wish I could read everyone's mind...

"W—well... that's one way to do it..." Katsumi mused, a bit nervous.

Mother, who was being eaten alive from within by her emotions, flinched at Hotaru's actions, bringing her back to reality. She had never expected Hotaru to do such a thing.

Even Oharu seemed pissed as well. I noticed a cold aura surrounding her. What the hell is going on!?

"Umm... a—anyway... thanks... for the help..." I finally let go of her chest and looked away, embarrassed.

"It's my pleasure, Master." Hotaru bowed.

"Master!?" All the girls yelled angrily.

Oh boy... here we go...

After taking about three days to recover my strength, it became clear that using [Brilliant Break] twice had taken a significant toll on my body. Not to mention, I had used techniques I had never practiced before.

Ugh... my body still aches. Hopefully there's no more invasions...

Then I remembered the berated looks from my squadmates; it seems Hotaru's lewd action stirred up something between them. God only knows what...

Shizue, of all girls, straight-up ignored me. As I exited my dorm, I saw her also getting ready to leave.

"Yo, good morn—"

"Shut up, pig."

Whoa... she was giving me chills; isn't her magic fire? How did she do it?

Well, in any case, I walked towards my first class.

The way there was a bit odd; there were so many strange looks aimed right at me, making me sleepy already from everything that had happened.

"Heheh, you're famous now, Yami! Or should I say infamous?" Amai began.

"Ugh... shut up, it's too early for that crap." I retorted with a strained voice, husky almost.

"Yikes, you're such a sleepyhead, Yami. Should I channel mana so you wake up?" Amai didn't wait for me to respond and began channeling her own mana into me.

"Hah? Can you do something like that? That's incredible, please do!" I immediately felt revived, as if coming back from death.

"You're reliable, Amai, sankyuu!" I grinned, seeing more girls staring at me as I walked by them... huh? One just snapped a picture! I saw the flash!

What the heck is going on?

Stepping into the classroom, I was met with an unexpected scene. Several girls rushed toward me in excitement.

"Hu—Huh?" I involuntarily took a step back, a bit overwhelmed by their sudden attention.

"Are you truly the Queen's son?"

"How did you master [Brilliant Break]?"

"It's impossible that you're just an E rank! I can sense it!"

Maintaining my usual stoic expression, I felt a bit lost in how to respond to the sudden barrage of questions and curiosity.

These girls... Amai's disappointed voice resonated in my mind.

Out of nowhere, Amai materialized beside me, her voice laced with anger as she lashed out at the girls.

"Leave my Master alone!"

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Amai had shouted that out loud, exposing our connection.

I couldn't help but worry about the repercussions of her outburst.

"L-Lady Oracle?" One of the girls stammered, taken aback by Amai's sudden presence and her assertive tone.

The room was filled with a mixture of shock and confusion. Why was Oracle here? Wasn't she supposed to be in my Mother's possession?

Amai returned to my inventory, disappearing just as suddenly as she had appeared.

I awkwardly made my way past the girls, seeking refuge in a corner of the room. I took my seat and stared at my desk in silence.

Most of the girls eventually returned to their seats, except for one who approached me with unparalleled energy.

"Heeeyaaa!" She came dangerously close to crashing into my desk, creating quite a scene.

"U-uh... hi?" I responded, somewhat taken aback by her exuberance.

Who was this hyperactive girl? I had a foreboding feeling about where this was headed.

"Hiii! I'm Nonaka Teruko! It's a pleasure to meet you, Yami-kun!" Her smile was as bright as the sun.

It marked the second time I had seen a genuine smile, which made me relax.

"The pleasure is mine," I replied, matching her smile with one of my own.

There was no need to ask how she knew my name; it was clear. I vividly remembered my mother teleporting me to the ceremony and the duel between Oharu and me. In some circles, I was gaining notoriety. Or perhaps infamy was a more accurate term.

"That fight was incredible! Who would've thought you'd use [Brilliant Break]! Especially not a guy... no offense," she added with a chuckle.

"Y-yeah... I didn't expect it either."

"I can imagine... You're Lady Oracle's new Master, right? Kimiko is going to be so jealous," she said with a nervous laugh, picturing her friend breaking mountains with her bare fists.

"Kimiko?" I mused aloud, a sense of familiarity tugging at my memory.

"You mean you don't know Onishi Kimiko?"

Just saying her full name seemed to carry gravity.

"She's the Battle Maiden Representative for Asaimizumi High!" Teruko exclaimed with excitement. "I'm determined to take her place and represent our school someday!"

I smiled as I looked at her, appreciating her determination. While she aspired to greatness, I couldn't help but ponder my own purpose.

Images of my father's face flashed through my mind, intertwined with thoughts of Blighted... Blighted, all of them must die.

"What an admirable goal you have. I'll be cheering for you," I offered sincerely.

Idiot!! Amai's voice echoed in my thoughts, laced with frustration.

I flinched internally at her outburst.

You're going to have to face her and her team eventually! Kimiko is part of Squad 14, the strongest team in Asaimizumi High! I redirected my gaze toward Teruko, who was still looking at me with a determined fire in her eyes.

"In fact... I was hoping we could face each other, to compete for Kimiko's spot," she said, pausing briefly before turning to gaze out the window. "There's an annual event, the Battle Maiden Royale. It surpasses even national sports and events. Representatives from different schools duel in a tournament. I've always dreamt of participating. Winning would grant you privileges for a lifetime—fame, wealth, and more."

"Our school holds a tournament to select its representative," she continued, locking eyes with me. Her finger pointed playfully at my face as she exclaimed, "I'll defeat you, even with [Brilliant Break] activated! I'll show the Queen how strong I've become!"

Ah, a challenge right to my face?

Rising from my seat, I closed the distance between us until we were face-to-face.

"You're on," I declared confidently, a smirk forming on my lips.

Teruko's excited smile matched my challenge.

I returned to my seat just as the teacher entered the room. To my surprise, Teruko took the seat next to mine.

As the teacher entered the room, the chatter among the students gradually subsided, and the classroom settled into an anticipatory hush. It seemed it was time for the class to begin.

The teacher, a seasoned magician with an air of authority, began the lesson by writing a series of complex magical symbols on the chalkboard. My gaze followed the lines and curves, the unfamiliar patterns leaving me bewildered.

"Today, we shall delve into the foundational concepts of magical manipulation," the teacher announced, her voice steady and knowledgeable. "Magic is the essence that flows through all things, connecting us to the very fabric of reality. It's the energy that allows us to shape and bend the world to our will."

I leaned forward slightly, trying to absorb her words, but my understanding remained elusive. The terms she used were foreign to me, and the concept of manipulating reality through energy seemed distant and intangible.

Amai's voice resonated in my mind, offering a simplified interpretation. "Think of magic as a powerful force that permeates everything. It's like the currents of a river that flows through the world, connecting all living things."

I nodded internally, grasping her analogy. It was like an invisible river that carried an energy I couldn't see, but I could feel its existence in some form.

The teacher continued her lecture, discussing various aspects of magical theory. She spoke of mana, the raw magical energy that practitioners harnessed, and the importance of channeling it through the correct symbols and incantations to create the desired effects.

Despite my efforts to understand, the lecture felt like a torrent of information that I struggled to navigate. I glanced at my notes, a mess of doodles and scribbles that held no meaning to me.

Amai's voice intervened once more, attempting to bridge the gap between my confusion and the lecture. "Think of mana as the fuel that powers magic spells. Just like a vehicle needs fuel to move, spells need mana to work. And those symbols the teacher is talking about? They're like the instructions that guide the mana to do what you want."

"I see... but how did I create a sword made out of light? I remember just materializing it, not a single magic circle."

"Oh, that? You just did the impossible and showed your mana. Normally, in the physical realm, no one can see your mana, or an aura, only under specific circumstances or... rather illogical or by miracle... your mana was so dense that it materialized into that sword, something that should've been impossible to do."

"I—I did what?"

The impossible? Something that can't be done? So I can't see mana from others? But I clearly... saw colors...

Oharu had a light greenish color. Shizue had red... shocker! Hotaru was light blue, and Shizue's friend, I think her name was Katsumi? She had a dark blue color. And Mother had a golden one.

"You sure, Amai? I did see colors around my squad mates and Mother... actually, I see colors from every girl in this room..."

"Eh?"

"What do you mean by 'Eh!?'"

Amai was excited. "You can see mana!? That's amazing!"

"Is it that great? It's just colors to me..."

"Idiot! Seeing mana means you can actually see how much mana they have. You can use that for your advantage!"

"O—Oh, I see. I didn't know that's what it meant. I did see Oharu's color slowly dimming out... huh, so that's what it was."

Back to the lesson.

The teacher then introduced the concept of elemental magic, explaining how different types of mana were attuned to specific elements—fire, water, earth, air, and two rare ones: light and dark.

She described the interactions between these elements and how magicians could tap into their energies to create spells of varying effects.

Amai's voice chimed in once more, breaking down the concept further. "Imagine each element as a distinct flavor of magic. Just like you can mix ingredients to create different dishes, magicians can combine elements to create unique spells. Fire and air might create a spell with heat and speed, while water and earth could form a spell with stability and fluidity."

As the teacher delved deeper into magical philosophy, discussing concepts like astral planes and mana convergence, my head wanted to explode from information overload. Amai's explanations provided an anchor, helping me grasp the core ideas amid the complexity.

The class continued, and Teruko, who sat beside me, seemed captivated by the lecture. She scribbled notes enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement. However, my notes remained sparse, and my understanding was still a jumble of vague concepts.

Amai's voice persisted, offering her insights in a way only I could hear. "Don't worry, Yami. It's normal to feel overwhelmed at first. Magic is like learning a new language. It takes time to grasp the basics, but with practice and guidance, you'll improve."

I appreciated her reassurance; her presence was soothing the frustration that threatened to creep in.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson, I closed my notebook with a sigh. The magical world was vast and intricate, and I had only just scratched the surface. But with Amai by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope that understanding and proficiency would come in time.

Teruko turned to me with a wide grin, her energy infectious. "Wasn't that amazing, Yami-kun? I can't wait to learn more!"

I offered her a small smile in return. "Yeah, it was quite... enlightening."

"So... what are you up to after class?" Teruko's question hung in the air, her eyes fixed on me with genuine interest.

I chuckled nervously, feeling a bit caught off guard by her directness. I shifted my gaze away, trying to evade her playful scrutiny.

"Mmmm? Are you hiding something?" Teruko leaned in closer, her teasing tone laced with mischief.

My heart skipped a beat at her proximity. "N-no, it's not that... I'm just planning to visit someone," I stammered, my attempt to sound casual falling a bit flat.

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as if she was expecting more than just that. I internally sighed; the struggle to resist her infectious energy was real.

"Wanna come along?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, prompted by those puppy-like eyes she was giving me.

"Yaaaay! Where should I wait for you?" Her enthusiasm was palpable, her excitement contagious.

"Main gate. I'm heading to the mall with someone," I replied, my inner monologue cursing myself for letting her tag along.

Ah, damn it! There goes my original plans!

I glanced at her and asked casually, "Do you hang out with any friends?"

Her reaction was sudden and dramatic. Her eyes lost their sparkle, her face clouded over, and she fell into silence.

Did I just step on a landmine? I felt a pang of regret. I hadn't expected that she might not have many friends with her vibrant personality.

How is that possible...? She's like a bundle of sunlight. Girls sure are mean in this school, huh...

Then, unexpectedly, her expression brightened.

"Aww, you didn't have to say that, you..." She smiled like a kid who had just been given a treat.

Perhaps she was a sucker for compliments?

"N—no, I'm not..." I tried to play it cool, but her retort caught me off guard.

Wait, she retorted?

My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. Her sudden change in demeanor, the dramatic shift... she must have read my thoughts.

"Y—You can read minds?" The words left my lips before I could stop them, my surprise evident.

Teruko nodded, her playful demeanor returning. "Yup! Sure can! So, what's up with all those dark thoughts, huh?"