"Boom!"
The slash of the demon blade thundered like a bolt of lightning, unleashing an overwhelming force as it came crashing down.
But the strike didn't land on Magnus—it struck a girl who leapt out from the ripples that spread in front of him.
Embroidered on her veil was the Kanji character— Dragonfly.
It was Kagero.
"Space teleportation...!?"
Seeing Kagero emerge directly from the spatial ripple, Raishin immediately recognized the true nature of the magic, and his expression shifted.
Clearly, Raishin understood how incredibly difficult it was to operate an automaton with a magic circuit possessing Space Manipulation Magic.
Yet Magnus had done so with ease.
And what's more, that wasn't even Kagero's magic circuit.
The Space Transfer belonged to Kamakiri.
As for Kagero's own magic circuit, if Rozen were here, he could've identified it in an instant.
Because that magic had once given him a hard time.
At this moment, Kagero intercepted Raishin's slash in place of Magnus.
However, upon closer inspection, the slash hadn't truly landed on Kagero—it had struck the rippling force conjured between her raised hands.
"Boom!"
In the next second, the power of Raishin's strike was fully reflected, blasting back like a storm and hurling him away.
That was Kagero's magic circuit—a force that reflected all attacks back with shockwave-like energy.
Raishin was caught in his own power.
For a mere mortal body, being subjected to that kind of impact should've meant total destruction, torn apart on the spot.
In other words, it was a fatal blow for Raishin.
However, as if he had seen through the direction of the reflected force, Raishin's body, though flung into the air, had only been struck by the aftershock. The true force had been completely redirected and neutralized by him—it hadn't affected his body at all.
Thus, Raishin managed to stabilize himself mid-air and landed on one knee.
"Tch...!"
The failed surprise attack made Raishin click his tongue in frustration.
Only then did Magnus finally speak.
"So this is the power you spent all those years to obtain?" Magnus said coldly. "Utterly pathetic."
The moment those words were spoken, the hatred in Raishin's eyes deepened.
He responded with scorn.
"Really?" Raishin sneered. "If it's truly so pathetic, then how did that wound on your face happen?"
At those words, Magnus's eyes narrowed as a faint stinging sensation came over his cheek.
He reached up to touch it—only to find blood.
Only then did he realize his cheek had been sliced.
Earlier, Kagero's reflection had been a split second too slow, and Raishin's slash too fast. The Magic Resilience infused into the scabbard had grazed Magnus's head, leaving a small cut on his cheek.
"If I'd been just two centimeters closer, I might've sliced off a piece of your head. What a shame."
Raishin rose to his feet as he pointed his demon blade at Magnus.
"You think my power is pathetic? Then come test it for yourself, Akabane Tenzen."
A dangerous killing intent surged from Raishin's body.
That aura made Magnus's eyes flicker.
He knew it—Raishin had truly grown. He was no longer the boy he had struck down without effort two and a half years ago.
Now, Raishin had not only mastered swordsmanship, but also gained control over abilities like Rigid Body and Magic Resilience. Even his perception had reached the level of Mind's Eye. That's why he could dodge the joint assault from the automaton dolls with such incredible footwork, and even see through the direction of Kagero's reflected impact, dispersing it without harm.
Rozen was right.
Raishin truly possessed power no lesser than his own.
But Magnus wasn't going to admit that.
"Martial arts are nothing but heresy," he said coldly. "To abandon magic and pursue such power—do you really think that can defeat me?" His voice was icy. "If your strength can only leave a scratch on my face, and that's enough to satisfy you, then let me show you what true power looks like."
As he spoke, Magnus's eyes glowed red, and blood-colored energy burst from his back.
"Boom!"
An enormous surge of magic erupted from him, forming a pair of crimson wings that slowly unfurled.
"Crimson Wing Formation!"
Raishin's pupils contracted.
"Look closely," Magnus declared.
"This is true power."
He extended both hands, ten searing lines of magic connecting to Hotaru.
In an instant, Hotaru's entire body exploded with overwhelming magic, emitting scorching heat that whipped up violent winds and surged forward like a beam of light—straight at Raishin.
Empowered by tenfold magic, magnified tenfold in strength, Hotaru's power had reached its absolute peak. Even compared to Asura's Indra, Sonechka's Jörmungandr, or Charlotte's Sigmund, it was not one bit inferior.
Hotaru launched this terrifying power straight at Raishin.
In response—
"Boom!"
Raishin's own magical energy erupted with a roar.
His eyes turned red, and from his back, crimson energy surged forth as well, forming a pair of wings.
"What...!?"
Magnus's expression finally changed as a look of shock crossed his face.
Raishin had also activated the Crimson Wing Formation secret art.
"Clang!"
With a sharp clash, Hotaru's short sword, carrying overwhelming force, was blocked by Raishin's demon blade—now enhanced with all his magic and infused with Magic Resilience.
The ground beneath Raishin shattered, and a massive shockwave burst outward like a storm, rattling the entire sanctuary.
But Raishin stood unharmed.
"You thought only you possessed the Crimson Wing Blood? That only you could use the Crimson Wing Formation?"
Raishin shouted at the stunned Magnus.
"I am also an heir of the Akabane clan!"
He, too, had the right to use the Crimson Wing Formation.
But as the Akabane family's ultimate secret technique, it wasn't something one could master easily.
Yet Raishin had done it.
After reaching the realm of Mind's Eye, he had gained perfect control over his own magical energy. He unearthed the secret scrolls he'd found in the ruins of the Akabane estate, and through tireless study, finally mastered the Crimson Wing Formation.
Rozen had said Raishin was reborn—his power no less than Magnus—and he had every reason to believe it.
Having reached the level of Mind's Eye and mastered the Crimson Wing Formation, Raishin had forged a unique path through swordsmanship.
He had not only caught up to Magnus—but surpassed his master, Hibari, in every sense.
No, even more than that.
"In order to kill you, I didn't just master the Crimson Wing Formation—I obtained this blade for the sole purpose of destroying your unbreakable team."
Raishin reached with his other hand, gripped the handle of the demon blade, and finally drew it out completely.
In the next moment, a terrifying demonic aura surged from the blade.
Raishin didn't even infuse it with Magic Resilience—he simply slashed.
That strike came so fast—it was like a flash of light.
"Splurt!"
Just as Hotaru tried to retreat, the demon blade's slash flashed across her chest. A burst of blood sprayed into the air, and her body was split in two.
She hadn't even been able to fight back.