The surroundings of the Dragon Fang Arena fell silent. The sunlight pierced through the high sky like needlework, casting its glow onto the battlefield.
"The second round of the Mixed Battle... will now begin!"
With the broadcast announcement, the clash between the five clubs erupted once more.
On the flank of the Magic Club, White Blue twirled his wand between his fingers. Around him, several pale blue illusions flickered, like phantom butterflies twisting the very fabric of vision.
"White Blue, step in." His voice was calm, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade. "As long as I collect their movement data, I will win."
On the opposite side stood Yomi Chigusa's successor, the "Phantom Archer" Asaka Ritsu, from the Archery Club.
She held her bow, the arrowhead vibrating slightly as she aimed directly at White Blue's chest.
"So you're the illusionist who defeated Chigusa, aren't you?" Asaka Ritsu asked coldly.
White Blue smiled, his blue hair swaying slightly.
"That's me. And also... the one who's going to blind you next."
In the next instant, the phantom butterflies exploded and the entire field shattered like broken mirrors.
"Illusion Construction: Fivefold Distortion - False Vision Field].
White Blue activated an advanced illusion technique, constructing five layers of visual interference in the local space while distorting the target's neural signals, causing their movement, judgement and perception to be misaligned.
Asaka Ritsu frowned and quickly retreated, attempting to use her perception technique, [Heart Arrow]: Rotational Insight] to track White Blue's true location.
But by then, White Blue had already slipped behind her. With a flick of his wand, another illusion expanded.
"You can't find me, can you? Then you never will."
--Tactical data, collected.
Meanwhile, at the centre of the battlefield, Yomi Kuro stood in the main formation of the Magic Club, staring across to the opposing ranks of the Archery Club.
There stood Houdou Saya, her silver hair and crimson eyes still in the wind.
She said nothing today. She just drew her bow and aimed at him from a distance.
The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stand still.
His heart beat wildly. Yomi Kuro muttered under his breath:
"She stands against me... again."
He had often thought about Saya's position. But deep inside, he always believed that she would hesitate. That she would waver when she turned on him - just for a fleeting moment.
But this time, she didn't.
"The arrow has not yet been released, but the heart has already been severed.
Saya's aim was no longer distracted by emotions.
Yomi Kuro gritted his teeth and drew a card. An illusionary magic circle manifested, icy blue runes spiralling in his palm.
Agility Magic: Instant Reformation - Phantom Edge Cards].
Silent cards sliced through the air, whipping up pressure as they shot towards her.
--She did not dodge. She just watched.
No hesitation. No wavering.
As if telling him: "This is my answer."
"Yomi Kuro," Saya finally spoke, her voice light, "if we die at each other's hands today... will you regret it?"
Yomi Kuro lowered his gaze, his voice eerily calm.
"I regret that you are not at my side."
"But I regret even more... that I couldn't save you."
Before the words could sink in, the entire battlefield shook.
"--!!"
The ground shattered. A spearhead erupted from below.
鬼丸刹罗 (Onimaru Setsura) stepped onto the field with an overwhelming presence. His massive mechanised spear, "Gokuretsu", scraped the ground as he walked, destroying any illusions in its wake.
"Enough talk." His eyes swept the battlefield. "Anyone still breathing - keep fighting."
He challenged no one. He simply stepped forward.
But each step felt like it was crushing everyone's back.
This was the stride of a battlefield master.
The rhythm of a hunter finishing the game.
Midou Karuma's voice came through the Magic Club's communication channel, calm and steady:
"White Blue, fall back from the flank. Yomi Kuro, regroup with me - we will execute the 'Second Round Core Strategy'".
"Onimaru Setsura is not an opponent we can defeat right now. We must wait for 'that person' to return."
Yomi Kuro was stunned for a moment. "'That' person?"
Midou Karuma didn't answer. He simply closed the channel.
The flames of the battle had not yet died. The rifts continued to spread.
Emotions and strategy intertwined, brewing the next storm.
And Yomi Kuro - amidst the roaring fire - would soon have to make his choice.
混合战·第二轮「崩界的曙光」
龙牙场四周沉寂,天光如针线穿透高空帷幕,落在战场中央.
"第二轮混合战,即刻开始——!"
随着广播室一声令下,五社交锋再度爆发.
白蓝站在魔术部侧翼,轻旋指尖魔术棒,身旁浮现出数个淡蓝色虚影,像光的幻蝶,在空中扭曲出视觉裂缝.
"白蓝出战."他语调清淡,眼神却锐利如刀,"只要能收集到他们的行动数据,我就有胜算."
对面,是弓箭部的影足型战术手——御影千草的继任者,被称为「弓翼幻影」的朝霞律.
她拉弓在手,箭头微震,瞄准白蓝胸口.
"你是那位...用障眼法打败千草的魔术师,对吧?"朝霞律冷然问道.
白蓝笑了,蓝发轻扬.
"是我.也是...接下来让你眼睛坏掉的人."
下一秒,幻蝶炸开,整片视野像镜面碎裂.
[幻界构筑:五重干扰·假象视域]——
白蓝启动高级障眼法构式,在局部空间内制造五重视觉干扰,同时引导目标神经信号的扭曲反射,使其行动,判断与感知出现错位.
朝霞律皱眉,迅速后退,试图用感知弓技[心箭·回旋识]捕捉真实动向.
但白蓝已悄然绕后,魔术棒一挥,幻影再度扩散.
"找不到我吧?那就永远别再找到."
——战术数据,收集完毕.
与此同时,战场中央的另一边.
夜见苍站在魔术部主阵线上,望向对面——弓箭部的阵列中,凰堂纱夜静静而立,银发与红眸在风中静止.
她今天没有说话,只是拉弓,遥遥对准了他.
两人目光交错的瞬间,时间仿佛停止.
心脏剧烈跳动.夜见苍低声喃喃:
「她又站到了敌人那一边...」
他不是没有想过纱夜的立场.只是,他始终愿意相信她会犹豫.会在瞄准他时,哪怕一瞬...迟疑.
可这次没有.
[箭未出,心已断.]
纱夜的箭,已不再因情绪而偏离.
夜见苍咬牙,抬手抽出卡牌.幻影魔术阵浮现,冰蓝色的符文在掌心盘旋.
[敏捷魔术:瞬间重组·迷踪纸刃]——
无声卡牌飞出,切裂空气,在两人之间掀起风压.
——她没有回避,只是静静看着他.
没有动摇.没有犹豫.
就像是在告诉他:「这就是我的答案.」
"夜见苍."纱夜终于开口,声音很轻,"如果我们今天死在对方手上...你会后悔吗?"
夜见苍垂眸,声音却出奇地平静.
"我后悔你不在我这边."
"但我更后悔...我没能拯救你."
话音未落,整片场域突然震荡.
"——!!"
地面炸裂,枪尖破土而出!
鬼丸刹罗,以压倒性存在感强行登场.手中重型机关长枪「獄裂」拖地前行,所过之处幻术纷纷崩毁.
"废话够多了."他抬眼望向战场,"谁还没死透,就给我继续战下去."
他没有对任何人宣战,只是缓缓踏入中央.
可每一步,都像踏在所有人的背脊上.
那是支配战场的步伐.
是猎人终结游戏的节奏.
魔术部通讯频道内,御堂狩真的声音冷静传来:
「白蓝,撤离边线.夜见苍,和我汇合,准备'第二轮策略核心'.」
「...鬼丸刹罗,不是现在能击败的对手.我们需要等待'那个人'的归位.」
夜见苍微微一愣:"'那个'人?"
御堂狩真没有回答,只是切断了频道.
战火未熄,裂痕蔓延.
情感与战略的交错正在酝酿下一场风暴.
而夜见苍,终将在这烈火中,做出自己的抉择.
镜裂蝶舞「白蓝的觉醒」
龙牙场边线,战局骤然升温.
朝霞律的双眼在幻术中不断扫动,却始终抓不住白蓝的真实方位.
"果然是高级的障眼法..."她咬牙,指尖不断微调弓弦,"但你的幻术,也不是无敌的."
[弓术·心识感域]——
她将弓箭化为精神感知的触须,尝试用波动来描绘真实的地形纹路.
——她感受到了一道残影的落点!
"找到了——!"她毫不犹豫地射出一箭.
破空声划破五重幻术,箭矢在半空中绽放蓝色电芒,击穿了一道残影.
但下一秒,来自背后的低语几乎贴在她耳边:
"找错了."
白蓝如幽灵般现身,魔术棒点在她脖颈侧方.
[魔术·多重交错·假象螺旋]——
是更深层的幻术套叠——刚才那一击,不过是他设下的"假感应残像".
朝霞律急速旋身反击,短弓横挡,却被白蓝一记魔术震荡直接击退.
"可恶...!"她被震出五米,单膝跪地,眼神却越来越冷,"你这个人...根本不正面战斗."
白蓝站在远处,没有回应.
但在他看不见的角度,指尖——在微微颤抖.
他感受到了一个临界点.
自己的幻术在逐渐被逼出极限,朝霞律的箭术不仅仅是感知型——她在用心灵击穿"虚假的自己".
"不能被看破...我...不能."
脑中浮现出魔术部那个尚未稳定的未来,浮现出夜见苍信任的眼神,也浮现出——凰堂纱夜站在敌方阵线的身影.
他握紧魔术棒的手更用力了.
就在这时,朝霞律忽然抓住空隙,再度提弓,这一次,箭矢竟包裹着闪烁的赤光!
"结束了,白蓝!"
[弓术·贯视一箭·心眼贯通]——
这是将"感知"转化为杀意的箭矢,一旦命中,将直接击溃幻术师的心神防御!
白蓝瞳孔微缩.
——这不是我能挡下的箭.
这一瞬,他本能想启动逃脱魔术.
但脑中浮现夜见苍的声音:
「你说你能胜任战术核心——那你能直视失败的可能,仍然不退后吗?」
——我不能逃.
白蓝闭上眼,像是在坠入幻境的底层.
而下一刻,他睁开眼.
[障眼法·临界突破——镜裂蝶舞]
只见他将魔术棒贯地,一整片场域瞬间光影翻转,无数破碎镜面在空中盘旋,像蝶翅一样,反射,散射,折射,构建出一座超越五感的镜像迷宫!
箭矢穿透而至,却在逼近之时——被"倒映出来的白蓝"斩断!
朝霞律震惊.
"你...居然在瞬间改变了领域结构?"
白蓝站在镜影中央,额角冷汗滑落,脸色苍白,但眼神澄澈得可怕.
"...谢谢你,逼出了我不愿面对的那一步."
"这是我真正的幻术体系...不是为了隐藏,不是为了逃避,而是为了击破真实."
[镜裂蝶舞]——以多维镜面反射敌方行为与意图,让对手在每一击落下的同时,击碎自己的"行动逻辑".
——这是一种将"幻术"化为"反击"的攻击式障眼法.
白蓝轻轻一挥手,镜面蝶群从天而降,瞬间吞没朝霞律的身影.
尘烟落定,朝霞律手中弓弦被切断,跪倒在地,失去了战斗能力.
胜负分晓.
魔术部频道内,御堂狩真一声轻笑:
「原来...你的'真正武器',是能逼出敌人自我崩溃的镜面幻术.」
夜见苍亦低语:
「这家伙...终于不再逃避了.」
而远方高台上,鬼丸刹罗眯起眼.
"这副架势...倒是比预期更有趣了点."
他转头望向混战中央——那正在压抑自己,死死盯着弓箭部阵线的少年.
夜见苍.
"但你才是我的目标——'魔术部的心脏'."
流火心弦「凰堂纱夜的新动向」
龙牙场另一侧,凰堂纱夜伫立在高处的瞭望台,目光紧紧锁定着白蓝战胜朝霞律的全过程.
她的长发在风中轻扬,手指却死死攥住围巾的一角.
——她从未见过这样的白蓝.
不再只是战术工具,不再只是夜见苍的"副手"——
而是一个真正能改变局势的战士.
"...终于也觉醒了吗,魔术部的新星."她低语,语气中有淡淡的复杂.
她看得出来,白蓝那一刻的突破,绝不是单纯的术式提升.那是心理的临界,被现实压迫后喷薄而出的战意.
也是——她所曾熟悉的夜见苍,曾经拥有的那种"觉悟".
然而,她现在站在敌方.
这种觉悟,已不再只属于她所相信的人.
她的心弦,被悄悄拨动了一下.
就在这时,通讯频道内传来弓箭部副将・夏木苍一的声音:
「纱夜队长,朝霞律败北,接下来...要我出手吗?」
凰堂纱夜没有立刻回应.
她的视线,从白蓝身上缓缓移开,转向远处那道熟悉的影子.
——夜见苍.
此刻的他,站在魔术部侧翼战术指挥点,正以极度冷静的眼神审视战局,仿佛方才白蓝险死还生的一战,从未动摇他的判断.
但纱夜知道,那只是他"演出来"的冷静.
她记得那个曾在深夜屋顶上,被情绪吞噬的夜见苍.
那个用微笑掩饰伤痕的人.
现在,这种压抑只怕更深了.
他什么都不说,甚至连看都不看她一眼.
——这比敌视更让她难受.
纱夜眼中的寒意慢慢褪去,取而代之的,是几近哀伤的宁静.
"夜见苍...你到底,还要把自己逼到什么时候?"
耳边响起弓箭部战术席的催促声.
凰堂纱夜却忽然切断频道,向身后几名副将下令:
"——混合战第二轮,弓箭部暂时全员停手."
"欸!?队长!?"
"我要亲自出战."她轻声说,"目标——夜见苍."
全场静默.
她缓缓搭起长弓,箭矢搭上弦,但并未立即发射,而是缓步踏上前线.
龙牙场中线——夜见苍忽然抬头.
他感受到了某种"情绪",强烈而熟悉,像火焰灼烧心口.
当他看向那道正在缓缓走来的身影时——
四目交错.
凰堂纱夜,站在战场的对面,弓箭已然低垂,但眼神仿佛燃烧着残阳.
"苍...如果你连'自己'都不愿拯救,那我会在这场战斗里,把你——逼出来."
夜见苍眉心微跳,喉咙仿佛被什么堵住了.
那一刻,他不再是魔术部的指挥者,不再是夜见家族的叛徒,不再是被五社关注的"变数".
他只是夜见苍——
一个在那对眼瞳中看见"无法拒绝的约定"的少年.
而战场的风,已为新一战,奏响前奏.