Part 1
The long-awaited day had finally arrived.
After classes ended and clubs began their activities, it seemed every student had gathered in one place: the Seisen Battle Arena.
At the heart of the campus, the Grand Outer Arena had been activated for the first time in months for an official duel.
An open-air coliseum—circular, surrounded by floating structures, holographic screens, and energy barriers forming a transparent dome over the battlefield.
The ground was made of reinforced plates, designed to withstand magical abilities and high-energy attacks. Floating stands surrounded the area, filled with hundreds of students murmuring with anticipation.
It wasn't an official event, but it felt like one.
"Live broadcast initiated," announced the SEI system. "Combat authorized by Director Rheinhardt. Category: Validation Duel. Participants: one-on-one."
At the center of the field, Evangeline Strassburg stood firm, like a marble statue, holding her light rifles with unwavering grip.
Her council uniform fluttered gently in the breeze.
Across from her, just a few meters away, a silver-haired girl walked calmly to meet her with elegant poise.
Shizuki Tokisaki.
Wearing her personalized uniform, dark gloves, and a pocket watch glinting under the sunlight, she moved with composed grace—as if she weren't about to face the most feared person on campus.
"Validation Duel. The Council has proposed the disbandment of the Literature and Film Club," the system continued.
"The accusation: the club lacks a meaningful purpose and is used only to avoid responsibilities."
"The defense: meaningful contribution to student life."
Neither said a word. But their eyes said everything.
From the stands, Touma activated his earpiece communicator.
"You ready, Shizuki?" he asked in a low voice.
She didn't reply with words. She simply tilted her head slightly toward the sky, as if measuring time—then smiled.
"I was born ready, Touma."
"I figured… but I needed to be sure," he replied, adjusting his earpiece. "According to my database, Strassburg has 100% accuracy. She fires light projectiles and—based on reports from NovaTech Germany—she can manipulate both the direction and speed of her shots."
"I already knew that, though I'll admit—it's impressive you do too."
"That's because my Astra Lens show me everything NovaTech collects."
"Sounds handy. Got any suggestions?"
Touma swallowed hard.
"I don't know how long you can keep Golden Time active, but… for now, I've only got one piece of advice: don't let her look you in the eye."
"Understood."
Across the arena, one of the floating panels displayed a countdown in bright red:
3...
2...
1...
Let's duel.
Without missing a beat, Eva raised both rifles and aimed without hesitation.
"Donnerlied."
Bursts of light projectiles exploded into the air, launched with surgical precision. The shots were so fast, most spectators couldn't even follow them.
But Shizuki wasn't there.
A violet electric trail shot across the field, zigzagging like a lightning bolt with a will of its own.
It wasn't normal speed—it was something else entirely.
Touma understood instantly.
"She's activating and deactivating Golden Time in bursts… just to dodge."
From an outside perspective, it looked like she was teleporting in jagged lines of light.
But to her, the world slowed down for just a few seconds—enough to read the shots and reposition herself with precision.
In her left hand, her silver hand-cannon vibrated with residual energy.
In her right, her rapier-like sword remained still, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Shizuki, stay focused," Touma whispered through the voice channel. "Four more shots… and Strassburg will enter magical cooldown. That's your window."
She didn't answer, but the sharp focus in her eyes didn't waver.
Meanwhile, in Eva's mind, only Leonhardt's warning echoed:
"We know nothing about Tokisaki… so don't let your guard down."
For the first time, Eva frowned.
Not because she missed her shots… But because Shizuki was moving as if she knew exactly when time was hers.
Eva's final shots tore through the air—but failed to land.
Shizuki moved like a lightning bolt, erratic and unpredictable. Electric trails etched impossible shapes across the reinforced floor of the arena.
The audience held their breath, unable to comprehend how a student from the Research Division could evade Strassburg's offensive without taking a single hit.
Eva narrowed her eyes.
[Energy Recharging – Entering Magical Cooldown Mode]
The crystals on her rifles began to dim gradually. Her breathing remained measured, but her tense shoulders betrayed the strain.
"I didn't think she'd be this fast…" she muttered under her breath.
At the far end of the field, Shizuki came to a sudden stop. Violet sparks still floated around her like a crackling halo.
"Touma, this is my chance, right?"
"Yeah. Eva's crystals are recharging. You've got exactly five seconds before they're ready to fire again."
"Perfect," Shizuki replied, elegantly turning the side dial of her pocket watch.
A sharp metallic click sliced through the air.
And with a new burst of violet energy—her figure vanished in a flash.
"Golden Time."
Time froze.
The projectiles, the floating particles—even the wind—stood still. Everything, except her.
Shizuki Tokisaki moved forward with purpose, almost dancing between the frozen seconds.
There was no doubt in her eyes—only determination.
"Electro Piercing."
Like a trained academy fencer—refined, precise, and lethal—she thrust her blade straight toward the center of Eva's chest.
But just as the tip was about to land—
Clang!
A golden light barrier erupted from the core of Strassburg's uniform. The impact deflected the thrust with brute force, unleashing a radiant shockwave that knocked Shizuki backward.
"Tch…!" she hissed, tumbling across the ground and flipping back onto her feet, still in control.
From the stands, all the audience saw was a blink.
A flash of violet lightning. A golden explosion.
And then—both opponents standing apart again.
Shizuki was just finishing her roll when she felt it—magical pressure recharging in the air.
Eva had already regained her stance. Her rifle was aimed with pinpoint precision.
With a slight tilt of her head and a nearly imperceptible smile, Eva spoke with razor-sharp calm:
"Got you, Häschen." (Little bunny.)
Without waiting for a reply, light began gathering at the barrel of her weapon, forming a white sphere—bright as a star on the verge of collapse.
"Ragnarökklang. Bye bye..." she said, with surgical coldness.
A powerful beam of light fired from her rifle, striking dead center where Shizuki had been just seconds earlier.
The blast shook the arena, kicking up a thick cloud of dust and leaving a smoldering crater in its wake.
Eva held her stance—composed. For a moment, a faint smile of satisfaction crossed her face.
"In the end… you were all talk, little Fräulein."
But just as she lowered her rifle—
Clank!
A figure emerged through the smoke screen.
Shizuki Tokisaki.
She had used the very explosion of light as cover.
Kneeling with one leg down and eyes locked on target, she raised her silver hand-cannon and took aim with pinpoint precision.
"Look who's talking..."
"Stun Bolt!"
A crackling electric shot fired, striking Eva square in the chest before she could react.
The bolt surged across Eva's reinforced uniform, and for the first time—Evangeline Strassburg was stunned by the electric discharge.
Her breathing grew erratic. She took a shaky step backward, struggling to stay upright.
"I don't understand…" she muttered, frustration seeping into her voice.
"With all that power… why?"
"Why waste it on a club with no purpose… no future?"
Her tone—once tightly controlled—finally cracked.
"Do you have any idea how many lives you could save?!" she shouted, as if that truth hurt more than any physical wound.
"Do you realize what you could achieve if you stopped hiding behind that 'cold girl' act?!"
Shizuki didn't respond right away.
She reloaded her weapon with practiced grace. Took a step forward. And then, in a calm yet resolute voice, she spoke clearly.
"Power isn't everything, Strassburg."
She lifted her gaze toward the stands, eyes sweeping across every corner of the arena.
"Listen to me, students of Seisen."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, and the SEI system automatically amplified her voice.
"You're not here to become soulless weapons."
"Nor to play the part of perfect heroes from anime or manga."
Shizuki turned her head slightly toward Eva.
"Power can be a blessing…"
"But it can also corrupt even the noblest of hearts."
She paused. The wind carried her silence like a blade.
"Tell me, Miss Strassburg…"
"Why do you try to force your logic onto others?"
Silence fell.
Even the recording drones seemed to freeze in midair. No one knew what would happen next.
But everyone—every single person—was listening intently to the British girl's words.