Boom!
Crashing through the wall, Aya Tokoyogi was flung from the second floor of the research lab.
Landing below, she steadied herself, her expression turning grave.
At the jagged hole where she'd broken through, Kojou Akatsuki stepped forward, standing on the second floor and looking down at Aya Tokoyogi below.
"Yuma is my friend. I won't let anyone hurt her."
"Everything that child has—her life, her appearance, her blood, her knowledge, even her soul—I gave to her."
"Yes, you created Yuma. But she's grown up now. Her life is her own to decide, not yours."
"Since I created her, she naturally belongs to me."
"You're really pissing me off—Mesarthim-Adamas!"
Boom!
A massive ram made of indestructible diamond materialized in midair, charging toward Aya Tokoyogi at Kojou's command.
Unfazed, Aya summoned her Dark Guardian.
Clad in pitch-black armor, the guardian wielded a dark shield, effortlessly blocking the Diamond Ram's assault.
Boom!
Even the impact of a progenitor-level familiar couldn't shake the Dark Guardian.
Kojou's eyes widened in shock before he began summoning more familiars.
"I, Akatsuki Kojou, successor to the blood of "Kaleid Blood", now release your constraints. Come Ninth Familiar: Al-Nasl-Minium!"
Rumble!
Terrifying magical power erupted around him.
A ten-meter-tall amber-colored minotaur forged from molten lava, wielding a massive war axe taller than itself.
A golden lion wreathed in crackling lightning.
A twin-horned horse with a deep crimson mane.
All three familiars launched themselves at Aya Tokoyogi.
"How is this possible? You've awakened so many familiars! Didn't Natsuki say you'd only awakened two?"
"That was then, Aya Tokoyogi."
"Damn it—"
Crack!
Fuming, Aya manipulated her guardian, conjuring additional weapons to fend off the familiars.
But four progenitor-level familiars were far beyond her ability to handle.
Roar!
With a ferocious bellow, a blast of golden lightning streaked through the air.
Aya's focus was entirely on blocking the familiars, leaving her defenseless against the lightning.
Crackle!
The bolt struck her directly, knocking her back.
As she staggered from the blow, her guardian wavered. In the next instant, the four familiars breached its defenses.
Bang!
Aya's clothes were torn to shreds, though fortunately, her layered attire spared her from complete exposure.
Still, the assault from four familiars left her reeling, her blood surging painfully.
She realized then that she'd underestimated him. The Fourth Progenitor had hidden his true strength too well.
Dark energy gathered behind Aya, forming wings that lifted her swiftly into the air.
"Fourth Progenitor, I'll remember this."
With those parting words, Aya Tokoyogi turned and fled.
Kojou, meanwhile, grinned. Summoning four familiars at once had nearly drained his magical reserves, but the payoff was worth it.
For once, he'd won a fight.
Step, step, step.
Mimori Akatsuki approached, stepping over the rubble.
"Not bad. You're my son, alright. So, how does it feel to beat an enemy?"
"Thanks, Mom."
"Hm? What's with the sudden gratitude?"
"If you hadn't forced me to feed, I wouldn't have awakened so many familiars. Without them, Yuma might've been in danger today."
"Looks like you get it now. In this world, might makes right."
"Yeah, I understand."
Kojou nodded. Now commanding five familiars, his confidence was soaring.
Defeating Aya Tokoyogi, who'd come to attack, only bolstered it further.
On the other side of the story, the injured Aya Tokoyogi hurriedly returned to Saikai Academy.
Thud!
Only upon arrival did she let her guard down, collapsing in front of Natsuki Minamiya.
"Aya, what happened to you?"
Natsuki stared at Aya—her clothes in tatters, her face pale, clearly battered—and felt a surge of concern.
"Natsuki, the Fourth Progenitor is strong."
"Strong? You mean Kojou?"
"He's awakened at least five familiars."
"What? Five familiars? That's impossible!"
"It's true. When I went there, four of them attacked me directly. The one that turns into mist didn't even show up, so he's got at least five."
"He's hidden it that well? Seems like getting beaten by August changed him more than I thought."
Aya's words made Natsuki narrow her eyes, a flicker of killing intent toward Kojou stirring within her.
She already felt guilty about Aya, but now that her own student had injured her, anger flared.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It was just a heavy hit. I'll recover with some rest."
Since it had been a brief clash and she'd retreated upon realizing she was outmatched, Aya's injuries, while significant, weren't severe.
"Natsuki, where's our master right now?"
"He's probably still at home. Why?"
"We should inform him about this as soon as possible so he can prepare."
"You don't need to worry about that. August is incredibly powerful. Even if Kojou's awakened five familiars, he's no match for him."
Unlike Aya, Natsuki knew just how terrifying August truly was.
Especially his familiar, dubbed the "Reaper"—a creature existing between reality and illusion.
That single familiar was a cheat-level entity. Though he only had one, it rivaled Kojou's five familiars combined.
Master of elemental forces, capable of creating clones, traversing and tearing through space.
Because it straddled the line between real and unreal, it had no concept of "death"—impossible to defeat or kill.
Add to that August's calamity-level magical power, his countless unknown abilities, and that mysterious treasury of his. Even if Kojou awakened all twelve familiars, he still might not beat August!
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