The atmosphere in the Magic Club's meeting room was heavier than ever.
The defeats of Hakuran and Mitou Karuma had sent a shockwave through the entire club. Mitou sat quietly, deep in thought, while Hakuran, wrapped in bandages, still looked as sharp as a blade.
"We didn't lose because of strength - we lost because of his fundamental nature of 'shattering illusions'," the vice president murmured, tapping his magic whip on the table in a calm yet determined tone. "Onimaru Setsura... is a natural enemy of illusion."
"So..." Mitou asked in a low voice.
"The next battle will be fought by our president himself."
All eyes turned to Yoruomi Sou, who had remained silent all this time.
He rose to his feet and pulled out a silver glowing magic card, his gaze drifting towards the night beyond the window.
"This fight... I will overturn with my own hands."
Academy Courtyard - Night Sayo stood there in her archery club uniform, her golden hair swaying gently in the evening breeze. She looked as if she had been waiting a long time.
"You're here," she said, looking at Yoruomi with an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"You're not just here to say 'good luck', are you?" Yoruomi replied calmly.
Sayo lowered her gaze, her fingers lightly clasping the pendant on her chest.
"Did you know...? When I first saw you use your cards in the Newcomer's Martial Arts Tournament, I should have just analysed the tactics -" she paused, her voice trembling slightly. "But at that moment, my heart stopped beating."
Yoruomi's eyes widened slightly.
"I know that you will challenge Onimaru Setsura... and I know that you won't back down. But please... don't die."
For a moment, Yoruomi was silent. Then, with a slightly bitter smile, he placed a single playing card in her hand.
"This is for protection," he said in a low voice. "If one day I don't come back..."
Sayo bit her lip, her eyes reddened, but no tears fell.
"I'll wait for your victorious return... and I'll return it to you myself."
Battle scene: Ryuga Arena - Simulated Night Battle Closing his eyes, Yoruomi immersed his mind in the simulated battle space. He reconstructed Onimaru Setsura's battle model using every observation and battle record at his disposal.
That monstrous spear - Gokuretsu - crackled with thunder, capable of piercing even illusions.
"Direct confrontation is unrealistic," Yoruomi muttered. "The only way to win... is to risk my life."
He quickly ran through his simulation:
Phase One: Use three disruption cards to create false targets.
Step One: Dodge. Step two: Cast 'Mirage Field' to distort perception.
Onimaru would respond by unleashing a thunderous shockwave to dissipate the fog.
At that moment, Yoruomi had to find the smallest crack in his opponent's consciousness.
"I must make him see my failure... and at the moment of his victory, deliver the final blow."
In the simulation, Gokuretsu pierced Yoruomi's chest, shattering his illusion.
Simulation failed.
Restart.
This time, he devised a more complicated sequence of cards, creating the illusion that he was retreating in defeat before counterattacking.
Failed again.
Restart.
Failed again.
Yoruomi opened his eyes, sweat dripping from his brow - yet his gaze burned brighter than ever.
"To defeat a natural enemy... I must become weakness itself."
He whispered to himself:
"Magic isn't meant for direct combat - it's meant to make the audience believe the illusion is real."
（夜见苍 vs 鬼丸刹罗 · 心理预演篇）
魔术部的会议室内,气氛前所未有的压抑.
白蓝与御堂狩真的落败,狠狠震撼了整个魔术部.御堂坐在一旁低头沉思,白蓝则缠着绷带,眼神却依旧锋利如刃.
"我们并非败给了实力,而是败给了对方的'破幻本质'."副部长眯起眼,手中魔鞭轻点桌面,语气冷静而坚决,"鬼丸刹罗,是为幻术而生的天敌."
"所以..."御堂狩真低声问.
"下一战,将由部长亲自出战."
众人目光齐齐看向一直沉默的夜见苍.
他站起身,掏出一张泛着银光的魔术卡,望向窗外的夜色.
"这场战斗,我会亲手扭转."
夜晚,学园中庭.
纱夜身穿弓箭部的制服,金色的发丝被夜风轻轻吹拂.她安静地站在那儿,像是早已等候多时.
"你来了."她看向走来的夜见苍,眼中隐有异样情绪.
"你想说的,不只是'祝我好运'吧?"夜见苍淡淡道.
纱夜低下头,指尖轻轻握着胸口的吊坠.
"你知道吗...我曾在新生演武大会看到你第一次用出卡牌的那一刻.我明明应该只关注战术——但那时候,我的心跳乱了."
夜见苍一怔.
"我知道你一定会挑战鬼丸刹罗,也知道...你不可能回头.但请你...别死."
夜见苍沉默了一瞬,嘴角露出一丝略显苦涩的笑意,将一张纸牌交到她手上.
"这是保命用的."他低声说,"万一哪天,我回不来了..."
纱夜咬唇,眼眶泛红,却没有流泪.
"我会等你胜利归来,然后亲手还你."
[战斗场景:龙牙场 · 黑夜模拟战]
夜见苍闭上眼,将自身思维完全投入模拟对战空间.他调动所有战斗记录与观察到的细节,构建出鬼丸刹罗的战斗模型.
那巨大的枪影——獄裂,雷电流转,连幻象都能撕碎.
"正面对抗不现实."夜见苍喃喃自语,"要赢,只能用赌命的方式."
他迅速展开模拟:
初始阶段,放出三张干扰卡制造假目标.
第一步闪避,第二步施放"镜象迷界"试图扰乱感官.
鬼丸会用雷爆横扫一切迷雾.
而自己...必须在那一瞬,赌中他心中的破绽.
"必须让他'看到'我失败,然后在他胜利的一刻,送出终结一击."
模拟中,獄裂刺穿夜见苍的胸口,幻术破碎.
模拟失败.
再来一次.
这一次,他预设更高复杂度的卡组操作,模拟出自己受伤撤退的"假象"后,再次反攻.
又失败.
再来.
失败.
夜见苍睁开眼,额头渗出冷汗,但眼神前所未有的明亮.
"想赢过天敌,就要让自己成为'破绽本身'."
他轻声自语:
"魔术...本就不是为了正面作战,而是为了让观众'相信假的是真的'."