Part 1: Lightning in the Library
Time: Just after the lunch break, between the bookshelves of the school library.
Ayano gently touched Takuto's jaw with her fingers and murmured, "Your eyes have become so beautiful." Just then, they heard the footsteps of Kaori Ichinose coming from the library entrance.
Kaori walked into the aisle and saw the close proximity between Takuto and Ayano. The moment she saw Ayano's cold eyes, Kaori's Agent Instinct immediately activated.
Kaori: "You!"
Kaori's body was instantly enveloped in a brilliant red Stellar Flow. She had activated her Kinetic Speed Enhancement (Lightning Surge) ability. Her movement was incredibly fast, emitting a crackling sound as she aimed a punch directly at Ayano.
However, Ayano, without even blinking, avoided Kaori's Lightning Surge attack by moving only about an inch, in an extremely calm manner. Kaori's fist sailed past Ayano's cheek and into the air.
Ayano: (Laughing softly) "Oh? That technique looks similar to Elestro Flash? But you have so many weaknesses, Ichinose-san."
Kaori quickly positioned herself between Takuto and Ayano, her pale yellow lights growing brighter, ready to defend.
Kaori: "Don't you dare try to touch Takuto-kun. I know who you are."
Ayano observed Kaori's steady stance and curved her lips into a cold smile.
Ayano: "Don't worry. I only wanted to meet Takuto today. I have much better plans for getting what I want easily."
Ayano took one last look at Takuto. (Grinning)
Ayano: "See you later, Takuto... You should try harder to control your Phoenix Ember faster."
Ayano: "Because if you remain weak, everything you value will be taken from you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ayano's image blurred in the air and she silently and swiftly vanished from the library. Kaori didn't even have a chance to follow her.
Kaori: (Clenching her fist tightly) "She's fast! Takuto-kun... are you alright?"
Takuto was replaying Ayano's last words in his mind.
Takuto: "I'm fine... I just feel a little uneasy."
Kaori: (Gritting her teeth) "She was too fast... She didn't just avoid it with the Elestro Flash technique. She might be an Eye User. Her power level could be very high. A first-class agent of the Shadow Syndicate!"
Takuto was now standing with his back against a bookshelf. After confronting Ayano, his body was filled with tremors and fear.
Takuto: "What should I do now..." (In his mind: Do I have to confront her... the person who was my first love?)
Takuto's hands were trembling, and he was mentally unstable.
Kaori noticed this and said, "Takuto-kun, calm down." She gently shook his shoulder.
Takuto: "Oh! Ichinose-san, I'm alright... What should we do now?"
Hearing Takuto's question, Kaori nodded, casting off her previous warm demeanor and immediately resuming the leadership posture of a Crimson Aegis agent.
Kaori: "Your question already has an answer, Takuto-kun. You can't just react to her threat. To surpass Ayano's level, you must reach the next stage of your Phoenix Ember."
Takuto: (Nodding) "Alright. Aura Flare..."
Kaori took Takuto's hand and quickly led him out of the library. They didn't have a minute to spare because of Ayano's threat. They headed towards an uninhabited part of the school, an old, unused laboratory.
The laboratory was filled with dust and old equipment, giving it a deserted look. Kaori went to a broken table in a corner of the room and entered a secret frequency on her phone.
A section of the floor beneath the table opened with a quiet mechanical sound, revealing a steel staircase. It was a secret passage leading directly to Crimson Aegis's Underground Training Facility.
Takuto: "Huh? What is this?"
Kaori: "This is a secret passage. During the war a long time ago, they used this place as a bunker. Now, no one uses it. Crimson Aegis connected to it and converted it into a secret route."
Takuto: (Whispering) "This kind of passage... is actually beneath our school!"
Kaori: "Sora-san is waiting for you at the training ground. From now on, Aura Flare (Step 3) must be your only goal. Let's go!"
Takuto headed down the stairs. Kaori followed him for security and then re-sealed the secret passage.
(Crimson Aegis Underground Training Ground)
After changing into his training attire, Takuto arrived in the center of the training ground.
Sora: "Are you ready, Takuto-kun?"
Sora-san: "Phoenix Ember (Step 2) is your 5-minute prison. Today, you must break that limit and achieve Aura Flare (Step 3). Begin!"
Takuto pushed past the pain and utilized Phoenix Ember at its full capacity, training vigorously. Kaori watched the clock from the side.
Time: 4 minutes 50 seconds.
The Black Marks beneath Takuto's eyes began to show signs of leakage. His body overheated and trembled.
Sora-san: "It's almost 5 minutes, Takuto! Try to Loop the flow! Re-absorb your power into your Inner Core!"
He tried to maintain physical control with only sheer, desperate will.
Takuto: (Gritting his teeth) "Ahhhhhh!"
Result: At 5 minutes, Takuto's physical power failed. The Phoenix Ember completely vanished, and he collapsed onto the floor, exhausted.
Kaori: "Takuto-kun!"
Sora stood beside Takuto. His face was stern.
Sora: (Sharply) "Your anger can push you past the limit for a moment. But there is no stability, Takuto. To cycle the flow back into the Inner Core requires Fine Control. You haven't found that stable mental anchor."
Sora: "But I can say it's good that you stopped at the limit."
Sora: "If the Stella flow channels were blocked because you were careless, you wouldn't be able to protect yourself."
Takuto hung his head in frustration. He didn't have time to confront Ayano, but he still hadn't achieved Aura Flare.
Sora-san: "That's enough for today. Kaori, take him home. We'll try again tomorrow."
Part 2: The Daughter's Report
Time: Evening. Shadow Syndicate's Secret Underground Base, The Leader's Private Office.
Ayano had removed her school uniform. The Leader of the Shadow Syndicate, shrouded in shadows, sat before her.
The Leader: "I understand your report, Ayano. Takuto has felt the psychological pressure and won't return from the training ground until he achieves Aura Flare."
Ayano: (Bowing respectfully) "Yes, Father. He hasn't found his Mental Anchor yet. Our Plan A ensures he won't be distracted."
The Leader: "What about Toki's power enhancement?"
Ayano: "Toki is ready, Father. To achieve the results we want, we have implanted the fragments of the Demon Eye(Void oculus)we received from Aoi's parents into Toki. His power has been tripled, and even if Takuto achieves Step 3 (Aura Flare), Toki's power will surpass it."
The Leader: "Good. Then, let's begin the Final Stage. It's time to capture Aoi Mizuka and set a trap for Takuto. Who will lead the capture?"
Ayano: "Our most trusted agent, Hayate, will secretly lead the capture plan, Father. Hayate will extract Aoi from under Crimson Aegis's security perimeter."
The Leader: "Tomorrow at 6 PM. Aoi must be the perfect bait for Takuto. It is your duty, Ayano, to lure Takuto into Toki's trap."
Ayano respectfully departed into the shadows.
Part 3: The Silent Wisdom
Time: Evening.
Location: Takuto's home, a Minka-style traditional Japanese house.
Takuto's steps were heavy after returning from the training ground. Not only was his body in pain, but Ayano's threat and the frustration of not achieving Aura Flare weighed heavily on him. Kaori was performing security checks outside the house.
Takuto sat down in the living room on the Tatami mats.
Aoi silently approached him. She stared at Takuto's face for a moment, appearing to sense the stress from his Inner Core through her Void Oculus.
Takuto: (Sighing) "Aoi-san... are you alright?"
Aoi did not respond, but her deep blue eyes looked at Takuto's distress with sympathy.
Takuto: (Looking up) "I failed today. I didn't get Aura Flare (Step 3). Sora-san said my mind lacks stability. When cycling the power back into the Inner Core, I need Fine Control. But... I don't know what gentleness is. All I know is to force it with anger..."
Takuto looked at his palms in frustration.
Aoi moved for the first time then. She sat down beside Takuto and, without speaking, slowly drew a Circle Pattern on his palm with her slender finger.
Takuto: "A circle...? Are you telling me to Loop the flow?"
Aoi gently nodded. Her expression conveyed the profound sensory awareness of a Void Oculus possessor.
Takuto: "Yes. Sora-san told me to Loop it. But every time I try to Loop, the energy just spirals out of control and breaks."
Aoi stopped drawing the circle on Takuto's palm and gently pressed her index finger onto the center of his palm. Then, with her facial expression, she demonstrated the calm actions of breathing in and out.
Takuto: (A thought suddenly struck him) "Stability... Inner Core... like the center of the palm... Do I need to make my mind a Void? Like Aoi, create a space with no feelings and control the power there?"
Aoi smiled this time. It was not the happy smile from before, but a smile of understanding.
Takuto understood. Both his anger and his joy were still straining his mind. What was needed for Aura Flare was to first put the power core into a Calm/Empty state, and only then use a warm memory from the past to build the flow pattern with a stable light.
Takuto: "Thank you, Aoi-san. I understand your method."
Takuto closed his eyes. He focused on his Inner Core and removed the anger. Then, following Aoi's advice, he created an empty state of mind, like the center of the palm.
Only then did he gently pull out the memory of the happy times spent with his father and mother. A warm stability passed through his body, and this time, the Stellar Flow was able to Loop through the empty space with incredible ease.
The red Stellar Flow emanating from Takuto's entire body shone brightly, as if it would pierce the entire room. The Black Marks subtly transformed into shapes of stable flow.
In that instant...
Red streaks, like flames, visibly appeared scattered throughout his black hair. His eyes were not red with anger as before, but glowed with a pure and deep Crimson light. The previous Black marks changed into Stable Red Marks, systematically displaying the Stellar Flow.
Takuto opened his eyes. His face mixed the joy of successfully achieving Aura Flare with firm resolve.
Takuto: "I did it!!... Thank you, Aoi-chan!"
Takuto, overwhelmed with uncontrollable joy, hugged Aoi tightly. The warm, stable red Stella flow emanating from his body enveloped Aoi's small frame.
Aoi was surprised by the sudden embrace, but she did not push him away, sensing Takuto's stable energy flow and emotion. She felt a warmth she hadn't experienced for a long time. A faint pink blush appeared on her pure face, and she remained still, slightly stiff.
Aoi: (In a low voice) "You're welcome..."
(Location: Underground Area of the Shadow Syndicate Base)
"BOOM!!!"
The wall was completely destroyed. The one who punched through it was Toki Takamatsu. His eyes were glowing a deep blue, and black Stellar Flow was coursing through him.
Toki: "Takuto!! Just you wait!"
Toki: "The next time we meet, I won't let you get away!!"
[END OF CHAPTER 7]