"Cough...!"
As her body was slashed by the sharp magic blade, almost cleaving her in half, Hotaru couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, staining it red.
Her magic circuits were capable of manipulating pressure—a power that, when applied to the body, could provide superior defence. However, under that single slash from Raishin, she couldn't even resist in the slightest, getting taken down immediately.
It was, without a doubt, a fatal wound.
Magnus watched this scene, his gaze completely drawn to the magic blade in Raishin's hand.
Staring at that blade radiating with overwhelming magic energy, Magnus muttered its name.
"Kanze Masamune..."
Kanze Masamune.
This was a renowned sword crafted by the famed Masamune of Sōshū at the end of the Kamakura period. It was the epitome of a righteous blade, a symbol of authority and the proof of power being conferred.
In the past, when a daimyo entrusted a province to a loyal retainer, they would often gift a famous sword as a token. To be given a Masamune blade by a daimyo was the highest possible honor, symbolizing that one had been granted the governance of a nation.
Kanze Masamune was just such a sword. It was once the possession of Ishida Mitsunari, a key vassal of the Toyotomi clan. After the Battle of Sekigahara, when Mitsunari was captured by Tanaka Yoshimasa and faced execution, he returned this Masamune blade—not just as proof that he had once been entrusted by the Taiko, but also as a silent protest toward Tokugawa Ieyasu. After the battle, the blade was presented to Tokugawa himself, and its full name became — The Famous Kanze Masamune.
This blade had existed for hundreds of years. It was forged from natural magic stone, imbued with magic nature, not only capable of severing magic but nearly indestructible.
It had been used multiple times in large-scale magical rituals. After centuries of absorbing magic power, it had become incredibly strong.
And now, this famous blade was in Raishin's hands.
"I know. Even if I've mastered the power of the Mind's Eye, even with the Crimson Wing Formation, it would still be difficult to defeat you. Because you have the same powers, and on top of that, six automatons fighting in coordination with various kinds of magic. No matter how much I hone my swordsmanship, I might beat you, but I'll never be able to kill you."
Raishin raised the Masamune in his hand, pointing it at Magnus.
"Like right now. If you were determined to retreat, you could just activate Space Manipulation Magic. I know nothing about magic—I couldn't stop you. All I could do is watch you escape."
That was something Raishin absolutely couldn't allow.
"So, to make sure I can kill you, I agreed to serve the military in exchange for them giving me this blade."
This was Raishin's reason for joining the Japanese military.
Of course, it wasn't his only reason.
Raishin joined the military partly because his master, Hibari, was part of it. He trained there, used its resources to grow stronger. To get stronger, he had to join. Also, because Akabane Tenzen was a traitor who annihilated his own clan, and the Japanese military was undeniably his enemy. The enemy of his enemy was a friend—by that logic, Raishin chose to join.
And this blade was one of the resources he aimed to obtain after joining.
"With this magic-breaking blade, no matter what kind of magic you throw at me, I can cut through it. That's how I'll kill you."
Raishin had prepared to this extent just to come to the UK, to the Machinart City, to seek revenge against Magnus.
Rozen had seen through all of this the moment he met Raishin.
That was why Rozen had such high regard for him.
And it was because of this magic sword that Raishin, as a mere swordsman, could break through so many magic traps and barriers and reach this place.
"You probably thought that my quest for revenge was foolish. That I'm nothing but a joke, right?"
Raishin squeezed out those words in a low growl.
"That's fine. You can keep laughing at me."
"To kill you, I've been a joke for a very long time already."
"This time... I'll definitely, definitely—!!"
The magic power in Raishin's body went completely berserk. The Crimson Wings behind him transformed into pure mana and wrapped around the magic sword in his hand.
With the tenfold amplification of the Crimson Wing Formation, his magic became psychic power, forming a Magic Resilience far stronger than before. It clung to the blade, making it shine brilliantly.
At that moment, the killing intent emanating from Raishin was as violent as a storm.
"I will definitely kill you—Akabane Tenzen!"
Roaring so, Raishin leapt forth.
His speed now was far beyond what it had been just moments before.
With the Crimson Wing Formation supplying ten times more magic power, Raishin's Rigid Body had also been enhanced far beyond its previous level, pushing his physical strength into the realm of superhuman.
Facing such a Raishin, Magnus's expression turned grave. He could no longer afford to hold back. He got completely serious, and ten magic threads shot out from his hands, connecting to all of his automatons—including the gravely wounded Hotaru.
By now, Hotaru's injuries had mostly healed under the glow of a shimmering light.
That was the magic of Mitsubachi, whose circuits could transfer life force to the other automata and restore them.
Recovered, Hotaru rejoined her sisters. All six girls, weapons in hand, launched a fierce assault on Raishin.
What followed was a battle worthy of a textbook.
Magnus, with astonishing technique, used the Crimson Wing Formation to control his unit with thread manipulation, launching formation after formation, combining them with the automaton's various magics, attacking Raishin in waves.
Raishin responded using Mind's Eye to perceive all of the automaton's movements. His figure darted like a gust of wind, dodging their attacks while swinging his magic sword, wounding the automatons one by one.
Thanks to Kanze Masamune's magic-breaking effects, the automatons's spells were repeatedly countered in the most direct manner—cleaved apart. Several times, they barely escaped destruction.
However, Magnus was the most gifted genius in Akabane family history, the top student in the history of Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart. In terms of raw talent, he surpassed Raishin. Even though Raishin displayed incredible power, Magnus's skill and experience repeatedly helped him survive.
Seeing this, Raishin couldn't help but become agitated. He wanted to break through and strike down Magnus directly. But with Kamakiri's spatial transfer magic in play, every time Raishin approached, he was teleported away and intercepted again by the automatons.
The automaton girls paid a steep price, becoming increasingly battered. Only thanks to Mitsubachi's healing magic could they keep up the fight.
Thus, the Akabane brothers gave it their all—and found themselves locked in a stalemate.
In this situation, both of their faces began to turn pale.
That was the side effect of the Crimson Wing Formation.
By burning blood into mana, once too much blood is lost, there's only one outcome.
But neither Raishin nor Magnus cared about their state anymore. Blood-mad, they continued burning their life force, pushing their bodies to the limit.
Just then, as both were nearing collapse, a voice finally rang out.
"[ Stop ]"
A ripple of magic surged through the air and penetrated into Raishin's and Magnus's ears.