28. [Announcement: Moving to Paid Subscription]

Blue lightning was released from the blue gemstone embedded in the sword’s crossguard. No longer needing to hold back for anyone’s sake, the Blue King finally fought this battle with his full strength.

Every member of Scepter 4 drew their blades, their collective power as a clan converging upon their King. A blue sanctuary expanded, accompanied by wild, serpentine arcs of blue lightning.

The holy sword hovered high in the sky, its blade aimed at the [Dragon] rampaging within the mist below—much like the sword of Damocles suspended above a king’s head in legend.

With a surge of blue energy, a terrifying bolt of blue lightning struck down from the King’s sword. The red dragon in the mist had no way to escape and was forced to withstand the attack head-on.

The column of energy collided with the lightning in mid-air. After a brief stalemate, the King’s sword gained the upper hand.

The lightning serpents tore through and devoured the beam, biting fiercely into the red dragon beneath. The dragon let out a mournful cry, attempting to resist, but the King’s sword in the sky would not grant it any chance to turn the tide.

As the sanctuary contracted, a second, even more terrifying bolt of lightning struck down like divine punishment, tearing the suppressed red dragon apart and reducing it to specks of light.

Once the two attacks concluded, the King’s sword in the sky dimmed, its massive blade shedding a few more fragments. Reisi Munakata stumbled, though he quickly steadied himself.

Unknown to anyone, Saruhiko Fushimi had positioned himself beside Munakata, his eyes behind his lenses scanning everyone present with vigilance.

The state of the Blue King’s sword was precarious. During the previous battle at the Mihashira Tower to wrest the Dresden Slate from the Green King, the Green King’s subordinates had repelled Munakata, even going so far as to shatter his blade.

Coupled with the sin of killing a King, his previously stable sword had begun to crack and crumble. If Munakata were to use his power recklessly and without regard, just as Mikoto Suoh had done, it would not be long before his own sword fell as well.

Fortunately, Reisi Munakata was calm and composed; he would not continue to exhaust his power recklessly while knowing the danger.

Yet, this incident involving Tatsuhiko Shibusawa had forced him to go all out. Protecting Chuya Nakahara, who might one day become a Singularity, was undoubtedly worth the risk.

France had once again reopened their investigation into the assassination of the King and his partner during the mission in Yokohama.

If Chuya Nakahara were to be exposed to the eyes of the Order of the Clock Tower, it would mean France would seize upon this matter, demanding that the government hand over the man who bore a striking resemblance to the deceased assassin King.

Although N’s laboratory had been destroyed, everything that had existed in this world left traces. Chuya Nakahara’s origins were not clean; as long as France was willing to investigate, they would surely find the truth.

The chances of a small nation like Japan, which lacked a Singularity to hold its ground, successfully protecting Nakahara from France were slim to none.

If the second Red King, Mikoto Suoh, were still alive, perhaps he could have served as a deterrent, but that had become a source of regret following his death.

Sheathing his sword, Munakata turned to face Osamu Dazai and Akira Somori as if nothing had happened. Dazai wore a smile that Munakata could not decipher, while Somori, struggling to maintain his ability, had no energy to spare for the tension between the others.

Dazai remained silent, and Munakata had no intention of offering further explanation. Tomie Tsujitsuji sat bored on the rubble beside Somori, playing with the burning flames. A strange silence fell among them.

***

Since the [Dragon] was dead, the rest could be left to others.

Munakata adjusted his glasses and looked toward the direction of the Meursault prison, breaking the silence first. "Dazai-san’s students are truly exceptional talents."

Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Atsushi Nakajima—though their methods remained immature, their combat prowess was undeniable. Their unique abilities combined with their battle talents were more than enough to deal with a Tatsuhiko Shibusawa who had already lost his [Dragon].

Moreover, he had sent Seri Awashima to assist. As long as nothing unexpected happened, this "farce" would soon come to an end.

Dazai was not surprised that Munakata knew of his plans. In truth, aside from the unexpected rescue by Tomie Tsujitsuji, everything else had been within the calculations of both Dazai and Munakata.

"The Captain has also sent people, it seems. It appears you cannot fully trust matters to others," Dazai said, his smiling expression resembling that of a cunning old fox.

Munakata admitted it candidly. "After all, I am currently constrained by many things and cannot trust others entirely. Unlike you, Dazai-san, you are a lone wolf with no need to worry about such things."

Saruhiko Fushimi could not help but sigh as he watched the two trade barbs and poke at each other's wounds. Rubbing his brow, he walked over to Tomie Tsujitsuji, just about to ask something, when the Colorless Sword, which had been silent, suddenly erupted with a powerful glow.

The flames on the ground broke free from their constraints, drifting into the air like feathers. The white fire flew in a single direction.

The sudden anomaly successfully silenced the two men who had been trading snide remarks. Both Dazai and Munakata’s expressions turned grim.

"What is happening?"

Fushimi took a step back, indicating he had done nothing. "I don't know."

Tomie Tsujitsuji stood up gracefully, cast a disdainful look at the group, and brushed the dust off his clothes. "Making such a fuss. Somori-sensei has awakened a remarkable soul."

Instantly, the gazes of Dazai and Munakata fell upon Tsujitsuji—scrutinizing, measuring, and threatening.

"Oh my, it seems Tsujitsuji-kun has a rather deep connection with the Colorless King."

Tsujitsuji lifted his chin triumphantly, hugging Somori’s waist as if to provoke them. The human intelligence that had once resided in that beautiful face vanished completely. He was beautiful, perfect, and eerie—like a humanoid doll that made one feel deeply uncomfortable.

"I know everything about Somori-sensei. I will never, ever leave him. Tee-hee, hahahahaha!"

The black chains wrapped around the King’s sword tightened as if they had a life of their own, coiling around the radiant blade as if to drag it into the abyss.

Sharp, wanton, arrogant, and jarring laughter echoed through the surroundings. Tsujitsuji’s eyes had turned completely white as he stared at them. No one present took his words as a lie.

***

Paul Verlaine did not know how long he had been asleep. The last time he had awakened was when he had turned his ability into the core that sustained Rimbaud’s life.

By rights, having lost the function of "Illuminations," he should have died completely as a deceased person. But he had awakened from the darkness once more, and the tidal wave of memories left him dazed.

He looked down at his hands. His slender palms emitted a faint glow. He was neither human nor in the state of consciousness barely maintained by "Illuminations."

A soul? Or a dream? But could a dead man dream?

Rimbaud did not know, but the current situation left him puzzled. However, he soon realized what had happened. Cold, white flames enveloped him, and unexpectedly, he felt a warmth he had never known before.

It was like a child returning to the womb, protected by the mother. The hypnotic warmth and sense of safety allowed Rimbaud’s tense nerves to relax.

A solitary flame flew before him, stopping within his reach.

Wrapped in the flames, Rimbaud immediately understood. He was indeed dead, a specter who should have been sleeping on the other shore, but someone had awakened him.

He was now a soul that the living could neither perceive nor detect, lingering on the shore belonging to the dead. If he wished to return to the world of the living, he would need to sign a contract with the owner of the flames.

As a Singularity, his soul was powerful and unique. It was for this reason that the owner of the flames sought his consent to sign the contract rather than forcing him back into the world.

Rimbaud hesitated, but he soon felt a sense of release. He still could not let go of those who were still alive.

He reached out to touch the flame. The contract was sealed. A surge of powerful energy poured into his soul, molding a body capable of existing in the world of the living.

***

Golden subspace cubes suddenly appeared, layering themselves around [Tatsuhiko Shibusawa]. [Shibusawa] retreated in alarm, attempting to use his ability to separate the newcomer’s powers.

Seri Awashima shielded Ryunosuke Akutagawa, who had temporarily transferred his ability to Atsushi Nakajima. "Who are you?"

A shimmering shadow slowly emerged. His features were unclear, revealing only that he was a young man with long hair.

"Me? Just a restless spirit that has been awakened."