While he has been enrolled since his birth in Darkeas, the school of supervillains, Uchiri Nanaya ends up by mistake in Aitori ... the school of the Magical Girls.
Mineko walked determinedly towards the arena, Udo floating by her side. She was fully aware of her opponent's identity. Only Ichirō was left, the last one who had not yet fought, and she knew it was him she would face. This thought made her heart beat faster, not out of fear, but out of fierce determination. His arrogance, his vulgarity, and especially the way he treated Nanaya, as if he belonged to him, deeply revolted her.
She felt a visceral antipathy for Ichirō, an aversion that went far beyond mere rivalry. It was personal. Mineko saw him as an obstacle to be eliminated, not for herself, but for Nanaya's honor and the principles she cherished. She was determined to teach him a lesson he would never forget.
As she entered the arena, Mineko focused on the task at hand. The spotlights were on her, the crowd awaited action, and at the center of it all was Ichirō, her opponent, with his sneering, arrogant smile. Amaretto watched them for a moment, well aware of the rivalry between these two, then raised his whistle, and the sharp sound echoed in the arena, signaling that the duel could begin. Ichirō, still with his mocking smile, stared at Mineko. His gaze was provocative, as if he had already won, but Mineko was not intimidated. She knew her worth, and she was determined to prove it.
The fight began with an explosion of energy. Mineko, with her pink flames, drew complex patterns in the air, each attack a fiery work of art, illuminating the arena with their vibrant glow. Ichirō, for his part, responded with spectral mastery, his ectoplasmic forms twisting and multiplying, a fluorescent spectacle that defied the very light of Mineko's fire.
Their initial exchanges were cautious, each testing the other's defenses. Mineko launched pink flames that crackled and hissed in the air, while Ichirō, with almost nonchalant ease, formed ectoplasmic barriers that absorbed the assault. But Mineko was undeterred; she increased the intensity of her fire, the waves of heat becoming more insistent, more pressing.
Ichirō, however, was not an opponent to be underestimated. He responded with a series of easy counterattacks, his ectoplasmic forms becoming more aggressive, sharper. They lunged at Mineko like hungry snakes, seeking to surround and trap her.
The fight intensified, the attacks becoming more frequent, more dangerous. Mineko dodged and countered with a grace and precision that testified to her mastery of fire. Ichirō, despite the obvious signs of fatigue, continued to push his limits, his ectoplasm becoming a storm around him. Ectoplasmic liquid—his blood—flowed from his nose and mouth, a testament to the energy he was expending. But he did not falter, pushing his powers to their limits.
Sensing that victory was within reach, Mineko intensified her attack, a rain of pink fire falling on Ichirō. But in a final effort, Ichirō channeled all his remaining power into an explosion of ectoplasm that swept across the arena.
Mineko was caught off guard, overwhelmed by the wave of energy. When the light dissipated, Ichirō stood, panting, his face marked by effort, but victorious. Mineko had been thrown against one of the arena walls with Udo, and even Amaretto had struggled to stay in place.
In the locker room, Nanaya had cried out in concern, but she did not seem injured, as she got up, albeit with difficulty. Of course, Phen-X quickly joined the arena to take care of her.
Ichirō stood in the center of the arena, a triumphant smile stretching his lips. He wiped the ectoplasmic blood from his face with the back of his hand, as if it were a medal of honor rather than a nuisance. His eyes scanned the screens, which displayed images of the audience for the fighters, looking for admiring faces, and he raised his arms in victory, absorbing the cheers with obvious satisfaction.
Then, approaching Mineko, who was struggling to get up, Ichirō spoke to her in a condescending tone:
"Don't worry, I was sure I would win from the start. You fought well, but there are levels of power you simply cannot reach."
He patted Mineko's head as one would with a child, a gesture meant to be comforting but which was just another mark of superiority.
Finally, turning away from Mineko, Ichirō walked towards the exit of the arena, saluting the crowd one last time, his arrogance palpable with every step. He did not look back, confident in his uncontested superiority, leaving behind a seething Mineko.
Phen-X had also heard everything and frowned, annoyed by the young man's arrogance. He gestured to Mineko and left the arena with her to treat any possible injuries before sending her back to the locker room.
Now that everyone had fought, they had a break before the semi-final. Mineko headed to Nanaya's locker room instead of her own. As soon as she entered, she was engulfed in a hug. Nanaya had been worried about her, knowing Ichirō's temperament.
"I'm fine," she reassured in a soft voice, patting his back, "I have enough fat to act as an airbag." She laughed softly.
Nanaya stepped back, looking at her suspiciously.
"You're degrading yourself again," he muttered.
"No, I'm making self-mockery jokes." She stuck her tongue out at him and turned to Kenji. "Hey Hase-kun," she called with a mix of playfulness and authority, "do me a favor and annihilate that guy in the semi-final, will you?"
"No need to tell me," Kenji replied with a predatory smile. He too was eager to teach Ichirō a lesson.
Finally, the three of them took advantage of the break to join their friends outside. Rena made a few signs to assure her girlfriend that she had fought well and had been amazing. Mineko thanked her with a hug and a kiss. Everyone else confirmed that she had been impressive and also congratulated Nanaya. They then headed to the stands to buy some snacks and additional card packs.
After their purchases, they all returned to Nanaya's locker room to play a few games, unfortunately interrupted by Ichirō, who insisted on playing with them. He boasted of being the best player of Giants Battle in Heritage, and they all took great pleasure in defeating him, with almost boring ease.
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