Satoru let out a breath, slow and measured—shoulders rolling back as his sunglasses caught the glint of chandelier light overhead. His gaze flicked downward first, scanning the royal candidates—Emilia, Crusch, Anastasia, Priscilla—his expression unreadable. Then, finally, his head tilted slightly and his eyes snapped toward the nobles seated ahead of him.
A subtle shift in pressure filled the air.
Gone was the lazy smirk, the casual posture.
Now? Satoru stood still. Calm. But with the kind of calm that made the back of your neck itch.
"You know," he began, voice low—but carrying. "Every time one of you opens your mouth, it just makes me more confident that this place needs to be flipped inside out."
A few nobles shifted uncomfortably alongside one another. Others scowled outright.
"You're all so damn focused on appearance, etiquette, bloodlines—" he waved a hand dismissively. "That you forgot what it even means to lead. Or to even just serve."
Priscilla scoffed, eyes narrowing.
"Tch. Such crude speech. Do you intend to lead a kingdom or tear one down?"
Satoru's gaze didn't even twitch, instead he smirked.
"Depends on what's left standing when I'm done cleaning out the rot."
Gasps echoed through the room. Reinhard stayed silent beside him—smiling just faintly, as if he'd expected this exact firestorm.
"And for the record," Satoru added, tilting his head, "I don't need any of your approval. The dragon already gave it to me."
He held up the insignia again, letting it shimmer in the air. "Shiny rock says I'm legit, remember?"
Anastasia chuckled under her breath, leaning to the side on her feet.
"Heh... ballsy. I like him."
Crusch, ever composed, gave a small nod. "He speaks without fear, but not without thought. There may be merit in that."
A tense silence followed—but it wasn't rejection anymore. It was the kind of hush that came with the sudden realization that a storm was already inside the palace walls… and smiling at you.
Satoru adjusted his sleeves slightly.
Down below, Subaru whispered under his breath.
"...Yeah. He's definitely crazy."
Emilia just watched Satoru carefully, expression unreadable—but in her eyes, a flicker of curiosity- surprise.
Respect.
The nobles continued to murmur among themselves—quiet, nervous, uncertain—but none dared raise their voice again. That silence? That submission?
It made Satoru smile.
Coolly, he stepped forward, hands in his pockets, voice ringing clear through the hall like a bell struck in the dead of night.
"I'm not here to give you sweet little lies wrapped up in ribbons. No empty promises. No lip service to tradition or pride."
He paused, head tilted slightly, almost casually. "Instead, I'm giving you the truth. The ugly, brutal, necessary truth..."
His eyes swept across the chamber. "This nation is broken. And I will tear it down. Rebuild it from the ashes. Fix what you people never had the guts to."
A ripple ran through the gathered nobles and candidates alike.
Then, he grinned wider—mischievous, electric—as he brought one hand up to the stem of his sunglasses and tapped it once with a finger.
"Oh—almost forgot."
The grin grew sharper.
"Did I mention I plan on killing a certain flying whale?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the reaction was instantaneous.
Crusch Karsten's eyes flew wide open. Several nobles gasped aloud, some recoiling like they'd heard a ghost speak.
The White Whale. A legend. A curse. A wound left festering in the kingdom's history.
Satoru rolled his shoulders like it was nothing.
Yeah. Credit where it's due—Reinhard planted the idea. Funny, really. I did all this reading, studied everything I could, and I still somehow forgot those monsters existed.
The silence that followed was thunderous.
Nobles stared, some pale-faced, others clutching the arms of their chairs. The Council of the Wise leaned forward ever so slightly—attention gripped, no longer by formality or position, but sheer disbelief.
Satoru's words had landed like a hammer on fine glass. And it was cracking.
"Did… did he just say the White Whale?" one noble whispered, barely audible beneath the gasps and mutters.
Crusch Karsten, known for her iron composure, stepped forward—her lips parted, eyes wide with unmistakable shock.
"You speak of the Demon Beast that devour everything, not just people- but their very being itself… and has also gone unchallenged for over four centuries?"
Satoru's head tilted again, that playful, too-confident grin forming once more.
"Yup. Big, floaty, screams like hell itself. Real pain to deal with, At least I am told."
He waved a hand dismissively, like he was talking about an annoying bug.
"You can't be serious," a noble hissed, finally speaking up, but not with contempt—with fear.
"Even our best knights barely survive encounters with it, and many never return—!"
Reinhard's voice cut cleanly through the tension.
"And yet, if anyone in this room could defeat the White Whale… it would be him."
Eyes snapped back to Satoru, who gave Reinhard a lazy thumbs-up before turning his attention back to the council.
"See? Told you he's reliable."
His expression shifted slightly—still confident, but a trace of sincerity flickered beneath.
"Look, I don't want your worship, or your fake smiles. I want change. And if you're too scared to follow, then stay out of my way. But don't pretend I didn't give you a chance."
He let the weight of that hang in the air for a moment, then looked toward Crusch.
"If you're really a soldier or whatever, then I bet you know it better than most. This kingdom's rotting. Corruption in the courts. Starving kids in the streets. Nobles drunk on power while monsters roam free outside the capital."
His jaw tightened ever so slightly. "I'm not here to dance around it. I'm here to burn it down and build something better."
Crusch took a slow breath—her eyes locked with his. Then, to everyone's surprise, she gave the faintest nod.
"…Then I hope to see your actions live up to your words, Satoru Gojo."
Satoru just smiled, sharp and wide.
"Oh, I guarantee it."
Crusch Karsten's eyes narrowed—not out of skepticism, but strategy. Her mind raced behind her composed expression, dissecting the implications of Satoru's declaration.
This man… no, this outsider, He may be reckless with words, but he has Reinhard.
She thought, eyes fixated on Satoru's casual stance.
And that changed everything.
Crusch wasn't the type to be shaken by bravado. She had stood before battlefields drenched in blood, led men through slaughter and survival alike. But Reinhard was not just a knight.
He was a one-man army.
A divine anomaly in human form.
An existence so overwhelmingly powerful that is almost godlike.
If Reinhard swore loyalty to someone, then power, authority, and legitimacy followed in kind—regardless of where they came from. That fact alone reshaped the entire Royal Selection playing field.
That fool of a noble didn't grasp the gravity of what just happened, Gojo Satoru could be a farmer from Kararagi and he'd still walk into the throne room with the weight of a god behind him and would still be telling the truth just because of that one man, the Sword Saint.
She mused darkly. Still, there was something… unnerving.
Crusch's scowl deepened.
What kind of man earns Reinhard's loyalty so freely?
She didn't believe Reinhard was the type to be manipulated or coerced. Which meant...
He believed in this man's ideals. His vision. His ambition..
He speaks of tearing down the nation, not reforming it. Of purging it, from the roots. That's not politics—that's revolution.
She crossed her arms, the leather of her gloves creaking faintly as her jaw tightened.
This man is one I cannot afford to ignore. Nor can I afford to stand idly by if he truly intends to bring change by fire.
Satoru spoke up yet again, grinning- almost wildly.
"Hell..! To make you all believe in me even more, I'll do it without Reinhard!- Eh? Whatcha think!?"
The hall erupted—not with applause or admiration, but with stunned disbelief and murmuring panic.
Satoru Gojo, grinning like a madman, had just thrown away his trump card in front of the entire council of nobles, knights, and royal candidates.
Reinhard's eyes widened briefly—not out of disapproval, but sheer surprise.
"He's... serious," the Sword Saint thought.
A noble shot to his feet, face red with fury and confusion.
"He's insane—!"
The word tore through the tense silence like a blade.
"You're just a stranger from who-knows-where, boasting like some court jester! And now you're saying you'll face the White Whale without Astrea's protection?!"
Others chimed in, voices overlapping—
"This is no longer boldness—this is arrogance, foolishness!"
"Has the Dragon truly chosen this man?!"
"Without Reinhard, he's just another lunatic!"
But Satoru didn't flinch. If anything, the storm of doubt only fed the fire in his grin.
He spread his arms slightly, sunglasses catching the light as his voice rang out, powerful, undeterred:
"Yup. I'm insane."
He laughed, soft at first—then louder, sharper.
"But you see—insane people change the world. Normal people? They keep it broken!"
Even as some nobles tried to scoff, they found themselves falling silent. Why?
Because even stripped of Reinhard's presence, there was something so terrifyingly sure about Gojo's confidence.
Something not human in the way he stared them down, smirk unwavering, hands still in his pockets.
"I'll beat that oversized flying whale. No Sword Saint. Just, me."
Reinhard, standing quietly at the back of the stage now, watched with a slow, dawning smile.
So this... is what you wanted, Satoru-sama. Not my power—but the chance to prove yours.
Reinhard was already aware of Satoru Gojo's might thanks to their sparring sessions, and truly believed he could do so.
Meanwhile, Emilia blinked, wide-eyed.
"He's… really doing this without Reinhard? I don't understand..."
Crusch's scowl deepened once more.
"He's forcing us to recognize him not as a man with The Sword Saint—but as his own force."
Then came the kicker.
Satoru leaned forward slightly, gaze razor-sharp beneath his shades.
"If I win without Reinhard... you'll have no choice but to accept that I'm the real deal."
The chamber was dead silent as he stepped down, Subaru gawking at him- though he just gave the boy a thumbs up.
Then came the rest of the candidates.
Priscilla Barielle stepped forward, chin tilted high, eyes gleaming with disdain.
"This entire selection is a farce!" she scoffed.
"It is obvious to any with functioning eyes and ears that I alone am worthy to rule. The rest of you? Simply kneel at my feet and rejoice—serving me shall be the greatest honor of your pathetic lives."
Crusch Karsten followed, composed and resolute, voice unwavering.
"Should I take the throne, my first act will be to break the Dragon's Covenant. This nation shall no longer be bound to ancient promises. The Empire of Lugunica belongs not to a dragon, but to its people."
The crowd stirred. Murmurs of approval—and apprehension.
Then came Anastasia Hoshin, with her fox scarf and businesslike smirk.
"I'm a greedy lil' gal, no point hiding that." She winked, twirling a lock of hair.
"Commerce, power, wealth—I've conquered it all. So why stop there? It's only natural I aim for a whole nation next~"
Satoru's gaze shifted subtly as Anastasia stepped back. His eyes briefly locked with Subaru, still lingering near the back—an anxious, clenched presence.
Hope he doesn't try pop off… Nobles are already side-eyeing Emilia hard enough as is…
Then, Emilia stepped forward, flanked by Roswaal. She took a soft breath, steadying herself, before placing her palm gently to her chest.
"I have only one wish," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
"To build a nation where all people—no matter their race, blood, or birth—stand equal."
She bowed with grace.
Roswaal chimed in behind her, his tone exaggerated and theatrical.
"I must confess, I feeeel quite out of place amidst all these knightly types, mm?~"
As they turned to step down, a sneer cut through the chamber. That same noble from before stood again, venom on his tongue.
"This entire spectacle is a disgrace. A man from another world vying for our throne—and now, a half-elf?! What madness is this?!"
Before the council could respond, Bordeaux—grizzled and blunt—raised his voice.
"It is madness! To think that Margrave Roswaal brings a half-devil into this sacred hall as a candidate! It's an insult to every tradition we hold dear."
Roswaal's smile didn't budge as he turned his head slightly.
"Now now… let's mind our manners, shall we? After all, nobody likes being called a devil, especially when they've said nothing to deserve it~"
Satoru remained silent, eyes darting toward Subaru, whose expression was twisted in growing fury.
And then the noble crossed a line—
"She looks just like the Witch of Envy! You think we should ignore that? Just allowing her presence in this chamber is a sin in itself—disgusting creature!"
People here really are idiots, Satoru thought. Loud, proud, and dumb.
Then—
"ENOUGH!!"
Subaru's voice thundered through the hall, raw with rage.
"That's enough bullshit!"
"Subaru... please!" Emilia whispered in panic.
"It's okay—don't make things worse..."
"No." Subaru shook his head, fists clenched, tears welling at the corners of his eyes.
"I won't shut up. You people… You're all so full of it! Sitting there on your thrones, judging someone you don't even know! Apologize. Apologize to Emilia—now!"
"Subaru!!" Emilia cried out again—but he didn't stop.
She turned back to the council, voice steady despite the trembling.
"My name is Emilia."
"I've come here accompanied by the Great Spirit of Fire—Puck. And yes… I am a silver-haired half-elf."
Gasps surged through the hall.
"I understand I may resemble the Witch. But I will not let fear or prejudice dictate my fate—or this nation's."
A long pause. Then, Miklotov, calm and measured, finally spoke.
"And the boy who shouted… What is his position?"
Subaru straightened. His hands trembled slightly, but he smiled—a fierce, proud smile.
"I'm Emilia's knight!" he declared, voice ringing out.
He raised one hand, index finger pointed skyward.
"Her one and only!!"
There was no point in stopping it—not now.
As bad as I feel, this could serve as a lesson for him.
Satoru closed his eyes, exhaling quietly.
Miklotov raised a brow. "A knight, is he?"
Then—
A figure stepped forward from among the knights, his uniform just as sharp as Reinhard's, purple hair glinting beneath the sunlight. Golden eyes locked onto Subaru with quiet intensity.
"Forgive the interruption," the man said calmly.
"But there is something that must be addressed..."
He paused.
"What exactly are you proclaiming when you declare yourself Emilia-sama's knight?"
Subaru tilted his head, confused. "Yeah, I said it. What about it?"
The man—Julius Juukulius—shook his head slightly.
"You've made that claim here, of all places. Before the very order of Imperial Knights, without reserve."
With a sweep of his arm—
THUD.
The synchronized stomp of polished boots echoed through the chamber. Each knight moved in perfect unison, blades unsheathed, steel catching the sun like a challenge issued from the heavens.
Satoru whistled softly under his breath.
"Nice. That coordination—do you guys rehearse this stuff or what?"
"Of course we do," Julius replied.
"Now—tell me. Do you have the resolve to match that performance?"
Subaru's eyes widened. He leaned back slightly, instinctively recoiling. But then—
"I... I'll make Emilia the next ruler!"
Julius's gaze sharpened like the edge of a blade.
"You believe you have the will and the strength to make that happen?"
Subaru took a breath, deep and shaky.
"Strength? No, not yet. I've only just started training... I'm still weak."
He clenched his fists.
"But I don't lack willpower. Not even a little. One way or another, Emilia will become ruler—and I'll make it happen!"
Julius exhaled. His voice, though calm, was edged with quiet disappointment.
"A bold claim... but laced with self-doubt. That is not something to be proud of. Have you earned the right to stand here and call yourself her knight?"
Subaru's fists trembled, knuckles white.
"I-I don't care. I'll still do it!"
Julius stepped forward, his tone more puzzled than hostile now.
"Why? Why do you insist on standing here, defying us—the Imperial Knights?"
Subaru's head lowered—then snapped up, voice cracking with emotion.
"Because... she's special!"
Julius blinked, visibly caught off guard by the answer. For just a second, his mask slipped.
A pause hung in the air—quiet, but heavy.
"I understand," he finally said.
"And I accept that reason. But I still cannot acknowledge you as a knight."
Subaru's face contorted. "What… what do you mean!?"
"Anyone who wears that expression—"
Julius gestured subtly toward Emilia.
"—on the face of the one they wish to stand beside... is no knight."
Subaru didn't turn to look. He couldn't. His teeth clenched hard enough to ache.
"Is being a knight really such a big deal!?" he shouted.
"What, you think you're better than me just 'cause you were born into the role? Stop acting like a big shot just 'cause your dad handed you a sword!"
Julius sighed. "Subaru Natsuki... That is not a good look for you."
"That's enough..." Emilia's soft voice cut in like a whisper across stormy seas.
She placed a hand on Subaru's back, gently pulling him back, turning toward the council.
"I apologize deeply for wasting the court's time."
Without another word, she began to walk away, guiding Subaru by the shoulder. His face was a storm of anger, shame, and disbelief.
As they neared the door, Miklotov finally broke the silence.
"Emilia-sama... If nothing else, your attendant has shown us something important today—"
He paused.
"That you are not to be feared. And that alone speaks volumes."
Emilia stopped, eyes flickering over her shoulder.
"Thank you. But..."
"He's not my attendant."
The door shut with a final echo, leaving silence in its wake.
Satoru let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
Damn... second-hand embarrassment hitting like a truck. I feel bad for the guy—but yeah, this is something he's gotta learn the hard way.
—————————————————
Subaru sat in a small, sparsely furnished room, his expression blank—empty, drained. Across from him stood Reinhard van Astrea and Felix Argyle, quietly observing.
"The royal selection has… finally begun, Subaru." Reinhard's voice was calm but firm.
"Subaru, you are Emilia-sama's knight, ain't nya? So, let's do our best~!" Felix chimed cheerfully, his playful tone in stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere.
Before Subaru could respond, the door opened.
"Forgive me for interrupting." Julius Juukulius entered, his face composed as ever, though his eyes briefly flickered with concern as they landed on Subaru.
"W-What're you doing here?!" Subaru blurted, wary.
Julius sighed.
"I sincerely wish you wouldn't wear such an unpleasant expression. I never expected a warm welcome, but if you keep this attitude—"
Subaru clenched his fist and leaned forward sharply.
"Then what?!"
"I only suggest you proceed with caution." Julius's voice was steady but carried a warning.
"Now… you asked why I'm here, yes? I came to see you, of course."
He glanced out the window for a moment, lost in thought.
"There's something important we need to discuss. I want you to come with me."
The scene shifted.
Subaru stood alone in the center of a vast colosseum-like arena. Rows of knights lined the balconies above, their gazes sharp and watchful.
His suit was off, replaced by simple training gear. He was stretching, preparing.
Opposite him stood Julius, with Reinhard just behind, holding out a wooden sword.
"Julius... you really shouldn't do this..." Reinhard murmured, concern evident.
Julius's gaze hardened as he took the wooden blade in his hand.
"He insulted the knights directly. It is only just that he faces punishment."
He exhaled deeply, stepping forward deliberately, ignoring any protests Reinhard might have offered.
Raising the wooden sword high overhead, he declared loudly:
"I hereby administer the death penalty to this insubordinate man who has sullied our knighthood's honor. Under normal circumstances, such insolence would be met with death by the sword. But... considering you are Emilia-sama's attendant, we will fight with wooden blades."
Subaru's eyes flickered down to the wooden sword in his hand. His grip tightened around the hilt… then slowly loosened.
With a swift motion, he tossed the wooden sword aside and raised his fists into a fighting stance.
"Sorry. I refuse. I fight better with my fists."
Julius's brows furrowed, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.
"You truly are a foolish man..." he muttered, shifting his stance. One hand slipped behind his back in perfect form, the other angled his blade forward with fluid grace.
"Fine, then. Let us begin."
"Yeah... alright." Subaru's tone was steady, his teeth grit with determination.
"I won't hold back even a bit!"
But he didn't charge. Not yet.
Instead, Subaru took a long, deep breath—gathering everything. His focus sharpened, and the cursed energy that lay dormant within him surged to the surface.
It erupted.
A raging aura of black and blue energy spiraled around him, coiling skyward like a living flame. It crackled violently, humming with raw, unstable power before dissipating as if absorbed.
Julius's eyes narrowed, his golden gaze catching the flicker of that strange, unfamiliar energy. Magic in a way, perhaps—but not like any he's felt before. He remained silent, poised, observing.
Then—
SMASH-
Subaru's foot struck the ground with such force that cracks webbed out beneath it. Dust exploded around him as he lunged forward at blistering speed, closing the distance between himself and the "Finest Knight" in hardly a second.
His fist, cloaked in cursed energy, came screaming through the air—aimed straight for Julius's head.
But—
SWISH.
Julius stepped aside. Not with panic, not with desperation—but with elegance. His body pivoted effortlessly, sliding across the dirt like a gust of wind. Subaru's punch tore through empty air, the shockwave whipping through Julius's violet hair.
Subaru's eyes went wide, thrown off-balance.
Julius's counterattack came instantly.
The wooden blade in his hand thrust forward—a blur. It met Subaru's chest… and skidded off, as though it had struck an invisible wall.
A barrier...? No.. his body is just that tough. He thought, blinking- though not shaken.
That opening was all Subaru needed. He twisted his hips and drove another punch forward, this one faster, tighter—aimed straight for Julius's side.
But it still wasn't enough.
"Hoh..." Julius exhaled lightly, sidestepping once more.
It wasn't just experience. It wasn't just training.
It was everything. Subaru lacked everything, in comparison to this knight.
THUD.
The butt of Julius's wooden sword slammed down hard onto the top of Subaru's fist, driving it down violently. The impact jolted through his arm and crushed his momentum, sending his strike crashing into the ground with a spray of dirt and dust.
And then—
SWISH.
Julius moved like a phantom, slipping behind Subaru through the cloud before he could recover.
CRACK!
The wooden blade slammed against Subaru's ribs with brutal force. A sickening crunch rang out, echoing across the colosseum. His cursed energy flared—then fractured.
The blow broke through his defenses, lifting him off his feet and sending him flying.
He rolled, tumbled, skated across the arena like a ragdoll, his body finally slamming into the far wall with a heavy CRASH.
Silence fell across the arena, save for the settling dust.
Julius didn't gloat. He didn't smile.
He stepped forward slowly, eyes unwavering.
"You are lacking in every way," he said evenly.
"Skill. Experience. Power. Speed. Resolve."
His voice was calm—but resolute.
"Now get up, this has only just begun."
—————————————————
A knight burst into the throne room, armor clanking loudly as he skidded to a halt.
"R-Report! The knight Julius and Natsuki Subaru are engaged in a mock battle in the arena!"
Emilia's eyes widened. Her hand flew to her mouth.
"W-What?! How did that happen…? I—I have to—"
Anastasia lazily raised a hand.
"Sooo~ I just wanna know one thing: who issued the challenge?"
"It was Sir Julius, though Natsuki Subaru accepted."
She waved dismissively.
"Then I'm against stopping it."
Subaru… that fool, accepting a duel like that just because of his pride…
Satoru's eyes narrowed.
"Your knight and my friend are fighting. Aren't you the least bit worried?"
Anastasia smirked.
"Worried? About what—Julius going a little overboard and us needing to pay a healer premium? That's nothing new."
Crusch spoke next, her voice steady.
"Regarding the duel… I too oppose interfering. A battle begun must be seen through to its end."
Satoru sighed, brushing back a lock of hair.
"Tch. That idiot… should've known not to accept just because he was angry. Julius is way above his level right now."
He turned to the knight. "Why are we hearing about this just now?"
The knight swallowed.
"B-Because, well... it's been rather quick.. and one-sided."
Emilia gasped and immediately sprinted from the room.
Satoru rolled his shoulders, stepping to follow.
Well… I might as well see if he can at least land one punch. Even a miss would be impressive.
—————————————————
THUD— Julius's wooden blade slammed into Subaru again, cracking against his bruised shoulder with brutal force.
Subaru's stance faltered. His legs buckled—but didn't break. Bloodied and wheezing, he clenched his fists and twisted into a sudden left hook, aimed straight at Julius's face.
SWISH— The knight ducked low, his back bending fluidly as Subaru's fist soared overhead, ruffling his hair.
He's still standing? Julius mused, eyes narrowing. He's surprisingly durable…
"…Very well," Julius muttered. His body flickered—his speed ramping up drastically, becoming little more than a blur to Subaru.
SWISH.
Subaru's world flipped. A single kick to the shin sent him spiralling.
Then before he even hit the ground—
WHAM—!
Julius stepped forward, swinging his wooden blade like a bat, crashing it into Subaru's ribs midair. His body launched several meters across the arena, rolling and smashing into the dirt.
"Guhhh… uufff…"
Why…? Subaru groaned internally, clawing at the ground.
"Just surrender." Julius's voice echoed. "Admit you've reached your limit. I underestimated you slightly—but this is the extent of your strength."
Those words—cut deeper than the blade ever could.
Subaru's fingers dug into the sand. Slowly, shakily, he pulled himself upright again, blood trickling down his chin. He wiped it away with his wrist.
"Screw you. Like you said… this has only just begun!"
From the arena entrance, the royal candidates filed in—Emilia at the front. And behind her…
Satoru Gojo.
Subaru's eyes twitched.
Gojo-sensei… is watching me get my ass handed to me… Alright then. It's time for my SPECIAL move!
He inhaled deeply. His pupils dulled, his body swaying slightly as he reached within—deeper than ever before.
I figured it out. The Witch's Miasma… it's similar to cursed energy. I thought—what if I could use it the same way?
It hadn't worked—at first, I didn't get it...
But now—
WHOOSH-!!
A new aura erupted from him—dense, oppressive, violent. It wrapped around his battered frame like a storm. No longer black and blue—this was purple, and it radiated something far more sinister.
From the viewing stands, Gojo's expression sharpened.
What the hell is that?
His cursed energy—it's almost doubled.. the output is higher aswell.
Subaru's eyes widened, glowing faintly as a savage grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
"I… can return by—gkHHK!"
His cursed energy flared violently again, rising like a tidal wave.
What is this? Gojo thought, almost smiling.
Even if I'll never say it to his face… he's insane.
Julius, meanwhile, sensed it—his stance tensing.
The air had changed.
Not just the energy—the atmosphere itself became darker.
Reinhard's gaze darkened, a rare shadow crossing his face as his brows furrowed.
The Witch's miasma… it always clung to Subaru. But now… it's far more intense than before.
Then suddenly—
"SHAMAAAC!!"
A surge of darkness erupted from Subaru's feet, spiraling upward like a tidal wave of smoke and shadow. The arena vanished beneath a blanket of pitch black.
Gasps echoed from the stands.
Subaru lunged forward—racing through the void as fast as his battered body would allow. His bloodied fists clenched tight.
Come on… just one hit. Just one at least!!
—————————————————
Julius narrowed his eyes.
He didn't flinch. He didn't retreat.
Instead, he raised his sword, sliding it backward over his shoulder with quiet grace.
"Out of respect for your efforts," he muttered, almost solemn, "accept this gift."
He stomped down—BOOM—a wave of force scattered the darkness in an instant, revealing Subaru barely a meter away, his face twisted in determination and desperation.
The air shimmered.
Flecks of multicolored light danced across Julius's wooden blade—now glowing with an ethereal, radiant hue.
A brilliant white—tinged with the colors of the rainbow.
"Al Clauseria."
He thrust forward—not at Subaru's chest, but at the space between them.
From the tip of the blade, a spiraling beam of spiritual light erupted—an attack not meant to cut the flesh, but to judge the soul itself.
FWOOOOOM—
The beam slammed into Subaru's chest, washing over him in a tidal burst of rainbow-colored brilliance. The cursed energy—twisted and corrupted by miasma—was ripped away, cleansed in a blinding cascade spiritual energy.
CRAAASH—!!
Subaru was flung across the arena like a ragdoll, smashing into the far wall with enough force to crack the stone. Dust rose. His unconscious form crumpled to the ground.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of the shattered remains of Julius's wooden sword clattering to the floor—nothing left but a scorched hilt.
—————————————————
Felix dropped down beside Subaru in an instant, aura flaring as his healing magic began to pulse.
Reinhard landed moments later, stepping up beside Julius, his expression tight.
"That was too much." His voice was low. "You could've beaten him without calling on your spirits..."
Julius didn't meet his gaze at first. He simply sheathed the broken hilt at his side.
"I could have. But… I misjudged him."
He looked back at Subaru's unconscious body.
"He's a fool, yes—but one with resolve. I can't ignore that. So, I returned his sincerity with a bit of effort of my own."
—————————————————
Up in the stands, Satoru Gojo sat perched, arms folded, eyes focused on the fallen boy.
He exhaled through his nose, an odd little smirk tugging at his lips.
"He's got a lot of explaining to do when he wakes up."
He tilted his head.
"Because I definitely didn't teach him that."