MTLNOVEL Chapter 25: Chapter 24: Yuugen's Unmatched Brilliance
Tatsuya Siba's mock battle against Hanzo Hattori, the vice president of First High's student council, ended with a swiftness that left the seniors stunned, struggling to process the outcome. As Tatsuya began to stow his CAD, Mari halted him with a sharp call.
"Hold on. Was that self-acceleration magic deployed in advance?"
She referred to Tatsuya's lightning-fast movement at the match's start. Yet, she'd noticed no signs of activation or preparation. Could it have been a concealed acceleration spell? Tatsuya shook his head, offering a calm explanation.
"No, that was a physical technique. Yuugen can confirm it."
"Tatsuya's psions showed no disturbance during his movement," Yugen added. "What he says is true."
"My brother trained under Master Yakumo Kuzuha, a ninja master," Miyuki chimed in.
"That Master Kuzuha?" Mari's eyes widened, her voice tinged with awe. She knew only someone of her caliber could master such martial prowess.
Tatsuya turned to Yugen, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Well, Yuugen, you saw everything. Explain it clearly for the seniors."
"Throwing it all on me? You and Miyuki are relentless…" Yugen sighed, relenting under the weight of curious gazes.
"Right after the match began, Tatsuya used a physical technique for high-speed movement, slipping behind the vice president. He then unleashed a triple-shot vibration-based, single-process spell, perfectly aligned with Hattori's position. The spell's psion wave synthesis tricked Hattori into sensing an overwhelming external psion surge, inducing severe vertigo, like seasickness. Then, Tatsuya's high-speed movement compressed the air, delivering a knockout blow. So, how's my analysis?"
"Perfect," Tatsuya said, nodding. "Full marks."
"Good. I'd hate to think identical spells would come flying my way if I flunked," Yugen quipped, a wry smile breaking through. Miyuki beamed, proud of Yuugen's precise breakdown. Mayumi, however, interjected, her voice sharp with disbelief.
"Wait a second! Did you say triple-shot identical spells?"
"If he has that kind of processing speed, his practical scores shouldn't be low," Suzune added, puzzled.
"That's because of the CAD Tatsuya uses," Yugen clarified.
Mayumi's eyes flicked to Azusa, who was already peering at Tatsuya's CAD with a gleam in her eyes. Right, she's a device otaku, Yuugen thought, recalling her obsession from the source material.
"Um… could that be a Silver Horn?" Azusa asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Silver? As in the Taurus Silver?" Mayumi pressed.
Azusa's face lit up, her words tumbling out in a fervent rush. "Yes! The mysterious CAD engineer exclusive to FLT, shrouded in secrecy no face, no name, no profile! The genius programmer who pioneered the Loop Cast System! The Silver Horn is a specialized CAD model fully customized by Taurus Silver, optimized for the Loop Cast System!"
Yugen marveled at Azusa's ability to deliver such a spiel without stumbling. She's usually so reserved, but get her on devices, and she's unstoppable. Reminds me of Kana. His sister's eyes would blaze the same way over CADs. He recalled her frenzied excitement over Third Eye Zero, begging to disassemble it—an offer he'd firmly declined.
"But, Rin, that doesn't add up," Mayumi said, frowning. "The Loop Cast System is for rapid-firing identical spells. Didn't Yugen mention multivariable spells?"
"Exactly," Suzune said. "You said 'multivariable,' didn't you, Yugen?"
"I did," Yuugen confirmed. "Coordinates, intensity, duration, and frequency were all variables. But this school's magic evaluation system doesn't account for that."
"Impressive, Yugen," Tatsuya said. "You'd make a great commentator."
"Doesn't feel like a compliment," Yugen groaned, clutching his head. "I'm not a slow-motion camera."
Miyuki watched their banter with a fond smile. Meanwhile, Hattori, staggering as he regained consciousness, drew everyone's attention.
"Practical exams judge spell deployment speed, formula scale, and target rewrite strength," Hattori muttered. "So this is what it means when tests don't reflect true ability."
"Hanzo-kun, are you okay?" Mayumi asked, concerned.
"I'm fine!" he insisted, though his effort to impress the president was painfully obvious.
Hattori approached Miyuki and Yuugen. "Siba, Mitsuya, I was the one with clouded judgment. Forgive me."
"No, I was presumptuous. Please forgive me," Miyuki replied.
"My apologies as well," Yugen added.
They exchanged apologies, though Hattori didn't extend one to Tatsuya. Given Tatsuya's demonstrated skill, no objections arose.
As the mock battle concluded, an unexpected figure strode into the training room.
"It seems the match is already over," said Katsuto Juumonji, his voice steady but commanding.
"What!?" Mayumi gasped.
"Juumonji-kun!?" Mari echoed.
The head of the club committee and acting heir of the Juumonji family, a prominent figure in the magical world, had arrived. Katsuto quickly deduced the situation, addressing Hattori.
"You lost, Hattori. You understand why, don't you?"
"Yes," Hattori replied, chastened.
"Then learn from it. Complacency will only trip you up again."
Hattori nodded, starting to leave, but Katsuto's hand on his shoulder stopped him, a silent command to stay. Katsuto then approached Mari and Mayumi.
"This was supposed to be a private match," Mayumi said. "Who told you?"
"I had business with you, but the student council room was empty," Katsuto explained. "I heard the third training room was in use and took a chance."
His gaze swept the room, landing on Yugen. Stepping forward, his imposing presence felt like a mountain. "Mitsuya, I challenge you to a mock battle."
"Juumonji-kun!?" Mayumi exclaimed.
"I don't mind," Yugen said calmly. "May I ask why, Juumonji-senpai?"
Katsuto's expression grew serious. "Two years ago, I unofficially challenged your sister, Kana, with Mika as witness. She broke my Phalanx, and I yielded. When I requested a rematch, she said, 'That was child's play. My brother is far stronger.'"
*What's Kana saying
going on about?* Yuugen thought, skeptical. That technique required at least Speed Loader and Elemental Sight-level perception, a feat few could achieve.
"Fair enough, but I've always wanted to test my skills against your Phalanx," Yugen replied. "I accept your challenge."
Mari raised a concern. "Is the training room booking okay?"
"No issue," Katsuto said. "I extended the reservation by an hour. Mitsuya, need time to prep your CAD?"
"No, I'm ready," Yugen said, drawing Valkyrie, a gun-shaped CAD with unique cartridge storage, from a concealed holster. Its ornate design, unlike any known brand, drew wide-eyed stares.
Katsuto took his position, Yugen mirroring him. Mari, continuing as referee, outlined the rules: "No spells causing death or irreversible harm. Direct attacks causing no more than sprains are allowed. No weapons, but bare-handed strikes are permitted."
As Mari spoke, Tatsuya, having packed his CAD, joined Miyuki. She whispered, "Good work, Onii-sama."
"It was nothing," Tatsuya replied. "Compared to Yugen, anyway."
"You're curious about Juumonji-senpai's Phalanx?" Miyuki asked.
"Yes. And I'm even more intrigued by Yugen's sister, who defeated him."
Tatsuya knew Phalanx, the Juumonji family's ultimate barrier magic, was nearly unbreakable, even by his own Decomposition spell. He was eager to see how Yuugen would tackle it, especially with Valkyrie, a CAD with near-black-box hardware despite Tatsuya's own programming.
As the match began, Katsuto deployed Phalanx a seamless blend of all barrier and counter-magic types, boasting unmatched defense and physical power. Mayumi gasped, "Phalanx right from the start!?"
"Look at that stance!" Azusa added, stunned.
Katsuto charged, Phalanx forward, clearly aiming to knock Yugen out with a tackle. Unfazed, Yugen raised Valkyrie and fired. In an instant, the activation sequence loaded, the spell unfolded, and Katsuto's Phalanx shattered. Before Katsuto could react, Yugen slipped out of sight, delivering a hand-chop that left Katsuto unconscious on the floor.
Mari, momentarily stunned, declared, "Winner, Mitsuya Yugen!"
The crowd reeled some at Phalanx's destruction, others at the defeat of the Juumonji heir. Tatsuya, outwardly calm, was struck by a deeper realization. Miyuki noticed. "Onii-sama, what's wrong?"
"Yugen's a prodigy beyond comprehension," Tatsuya said.angono. "His sister breaking Phalanx wasn't an exaggeration. And that activation sequence… he likely crafted it."
Tatsuya had tried to read Yuugen's spell with his Elemental Sight but found not one but thirteen simultaneous activation sequences, a new-system magic beyond known categories. He also suspected Yuugen had enhanced the Mitsuya family's Speed Loader, enabling up to nine pre-loaded spells, to handle thirteen at once a near-impossible feat.
Yugen approached the fallen Katsuto, placing a hand on his back. A faint psion glow flickered, and Katsuto stirred, slowly rising. Mayumi and Mari rushed over.
"Juumonji!" Mayumi cried.
"You're okay already?" Mari asked.
"Just a light knockout," Katsuto said. "Mitsuya, what was that spell? No such magic exists in your family."
Yugen exhaled, explaining. "It's an outer-system magic, Round Blade. Kana's version was optimized for her."
"You optimized the activation sequence?" Katsuto asked, stunned.
"Not quite. I heavily modified the Mitsuya family's multi-type, multi-magic control, Speed Loader. It's practically a new skill—call it Lightning Order."
The revelation that Yuugen had advanced Speed Loader into Lightning Order, capable of shattering Phalanx, left everyone in awe. Advancing magic technology to such heights was unprecedented.
"A barrier-breaking spell," Katsuto mused. "I lost fair and square. Thank you for the match."
"Thank you," Yugen replied. "Phalanx is a rare sight to behold."
They shook hands, Katsuto's grip subtly firm a Hints of petty revenge, no doubt. Their families' faces—Kana's embarrassed, Miyuki's red told the story.
Yuugen playfully blew into Mayumi's ear, startling her. "Hey, wake up! You've got student council and discipline committee work to do."
"Doki-doki!" Mayumi yelped, blushing. "Yuugen, you're… sneaky."
Tatsuya just grinned. "Keep it up."
The room regained its composure, the student council and discipline committee members returning to their duties, leaving Tatsuya and Miyuki to ponder Yuugen's enigmatic CAD and the mystery of his sister's defeat.