People fight and then complain about the pain, vowing not to repeat it. But I'm different. For me, the bruises bring a strange thrill—each ache gives me goosebumps. That's why some people call me "Crazy." Even after getting all beaten up, I still laugh and smile in the end.
I was still asleep in the infirmary while the others chatted in the dining room.
Yuna and Natsume spoke casually; they had recently discovered that Yuna was also from another world. They had been schoolmates back there, though in different classes. Yuna Ayanami—known in Anima as Suzune Tokigana of Class 1-B, alongside Mori Takanashi, whose real name was Sumire Hizuki—was now with Natsume, who went by Aiyami in Class 1-A. Unlike her reserved self back on Earth, Yuna was more relaxed here, though Suzune Tokigana still showed through.
Sheila excused herself to check on me. When she entered, she found me staring at the ceiling, as if waking up after a long sleep. Sheila called the others, and soon, I heard their voices approaching down the corridor.
The silver-haired girl with a soft pink hue approached me, a gentle light glowing from her palm.
"Good. You've recovered quickly. Thankfully, your wounds weren't very deep; you're almost healed, and it didn't take much of my magic to help," she said, her bright, calming voice giving off a big-sisterly warmth.
Memories suddenly resurfaced, and the first thought that hit me was my sword. Panicking, I sat up and asked about it.
Yuzuha stepped forward, holding the sword. She explained that she'd gone back to the spot where Yumi and I fell and found it, knowing how important it was to me.
I asked how badly I'd been hurt. The silver-blue-haired girl replied, "You took blows from the demon, but neither of you cared about the injuries—you kept fighting as if victory depended on the last strike. After your final attack, you burned the demon and the woods, standing there with your fist raised. And, you seemed to enjoy it."
It had been thrilling.
I looked at Chisaka and smiled, relieved to see her safe with Sheila. She hugged me, her expression calm, as if she'd been waiting for me without a worry.
After a warm reunion, the two girls who looked alike introduced themselves as the First Division Captain and Vice-Captain of the Land of Royal—the renowned Ayanami siblings, known as the strongest siblings.
Feeling no pain, I stood up to show my respect. Yet, I couldn't help but ask why someone like me would warrant their attention.
With no one else in the room, they shared their reason.
"It was a personal request from the princess herself: 'Bring Arisu Tosaki to the palace,'" Yuna explained. "But it's not just personal. Every princess has the gift to foresee signs or visions of impending calamities. In this prophecy, you, Arisu Tosaki, play a significant role. The prophecy must come to pass."
Yukiha smiled, with a hint of something hidden. "This conversation remains in this room. Everyone understands?"
Yukiha didn't share more about the prophecy and requested a private room. Everyone, except for Yukiha and Yuna, stayed with me.
I remained silent and still, fully aware of the overwhelming power radiating from the girls around me. Their magical strength was no joke.
An enchantment appeared on the ground, glowing around us like a barrier, inscribed with characters. Yuna explained that it was a spell to prevent any noise from escaping outside the enchantment.
Yuna, who had the largest magic power capacity, cast this advanced spell using script magic—far beyond what I'd learned. She was an Enchanter, which explained her immense magical presence.
"Give me your sword," Yuna demanded, her expression serious. I hesitated. She repeated her request, louder and clearer. Standing closer, I replied, "Pardon my rudeness, but I can't hand it over without a reason."
Inwardly, I was screaming, realizing how foolish it was to speak back to someone so powerful.
"Rest assured. Yuna, don't be so direct," Yukiha intervened, then explained, "We're here to clarify something about your sword. The princess herself mentioned it. If you're unsure, here's a message for you."
She handed me a magic crystal ball.
As I poured my magic into it, a face appeared—a blonde-haired girl, obviously a princess by her appearance and manner of speaking. "I'm Princess Juliet of the Land of Royal. It's a pleasure to meet you, Arisu Tosaki-san. We haven't met, but I've heard much from the master who took care of you as a child. Yuna-san and Yukiha-san are with you now to examine your sword. Would you cooperate? Thank you for understanding. See you at the Palace, Arisu Tosaki-san." The message ended.
Their expectation was clear: they wanted my cooperation.
Since it was only for examination, I saw no harm in lending them my sword.
Yuna held the sword horizontally, running her hand along the blade as she examined it with enchantment magic.
"I see. Big sister, just as Princess Juliet said, Arisu-san is deeply linked to this sword. The connection is complex, with multiple layers. I could remove it, but it would take hours."
"Understood. We'll handle this in the capital, where it'll be safer with the princess present. Is that acceptable, Arisu Tosaki-san?" Yukiha asked.
I didn't refuse; my own curiosity about the sword and its connection to me made me willing to comply.
Before they left, I asked if anyone from Founder Land had joined the Land of Royal Cops. Yukiha confirmed that a few had passed the test, though none had been placed in the second or first divisions. Her division, she explained, already had every necessary role filled, so those who passed the exam weren't added to the first division. However, there was still one open position.
"Arisu Tosaki-san, I'm aware of your capabilities. In my division, I fulfill both support and offense roles, and Yuna does the same. We also have members for tactical, tracking, and defense. All those roles are taken, but one is still available," Yukiha said.
Yuna added, "That's the all-rounded role."
"All-rounded?" I asked.
"That's correct. Arisu Tosaki, you're well-suited for it. You're primarily an offensive type, but you're adaptable enough to fill other roles as needed. An all-rounder can step in whenever another role is unavailable."
"Um… How did you learn about my abilities?" I asked, curious.
"While you were asleep, I assessed everything about you," Yuna replied with a straight face.
I understood—it sounded similar to Tokiro's ability or maybe even Natsume's, I thought to myself.
"What makes me an all-rounder?" I asked.
Yuna explained, "You possess a great amount of magic power and are a multi-elemental magic user. Your Sky Magic can cover offense, defense, and support. You also have heightened senses. While you may not be a perfect fit for tactical roles, the fact that you can act instinctively while thinking on your feet is more impressive than expected."
"Really?! Does this mean I'll be joining the top division?" I asked in surprise.
"You'll still need to pass the exam to prove you're fit to be a cop, but we'll get the princess's approval first!" Yukiha responded.
The thought of the exam unsettled me. Fighting with my own sense of justice was all I knew, and the exam for joining the cops was supposed to be rigorous.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Yukiha allowed them in, and a cop entered to inform us that we were approaching Golden Harbor, the famous port of the Land of Royal.
We stepped out of the room and looked out at the harbor in the distance. It was beautiful and grand, almost like a city, with its bustling docks and vibrant atmosphere. Yukiha explained that Golden Harbor had originally been just a port, but over time, people from various cultures had settled there, giving it a unique, multicultural vibe.
After a few minutes, the ship docked, and the cops began assisting passengers as they disembarked. We prepared to exit with Yukiha and Yuna, but a cop stood at attention in front of them, saluting.
"This is Layla Gardner, Captain and Vice-Captain. I've completed the assignments," she reported.
A green-haired girl with an impeccable cop's uniform greeted us. She looked the part perfectly, with her disciplined stance and serious demeanor.
"Layla, we'll be busy today, so I'll be assigning you my role to lead the first division's rescue team," Yuna said, glancing at her sister. "Are you okay with that, big sister?"
Yukiha smiled, "Layla is one of our most reliable members! I approve. I'll leave it to you."
"Julius-san was originally assigned to lead the rescue team, but I can assist if needed," Layla responded.
"It's been getting dangerous lately, so stay with Julius," Yuna advised.
Layla saluted, then turned and walked past us. As she did, she gave me a serious look, one of suspicion. Her gaze reminded me of someone else's from my past.
What did I do? I wondered to myself.
Looking around, I realized that the town of Golden Harbor was even more alive than it had appeared from the ship, with people of all backgrounds moving through its busy streets and markets. It truly felt like a melting pot of cultures.
As we were making our way through Golden Harbor, a man surrounded by a few cops approached us, greeting Yukiha and Yuna like old friends. He had dark purple hair and a friendly demeanor, dressed in a deep purple cape. He seemed older than us but not by much.
"So, you two have arrived. I was summoned by the princess days ago. She mentioned you'd be escorting someone, so we'll be managing the rescue team," the man said.
"I've been informed," Yukiha replied. "It's getting dangerous at Founder Land, so I'll be assigning Layla to the rescue team. Are you okay with that, Julius-san?"
"Absolutely! That'll be a big help," he said, then looked over at me with curiosity. "Are these the people?"
"Not all of them," Yukiha replied, gesturing toward me. "The princess specifically mentioned him."
I stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. "I'm Arisu Tosaki of Dakini Magic Academy! It's an honor to meet you, sir!"
"No need to be so formal," he laughed, extending a hand. "I'm Julius Schubert, fourth division captain. Nice to meet you, Arisu! Dakini Magic Academy, huh? You must be skilled!"
"That's very flattering, sir!" I replied, trying to hide my awkwardness.
Yukiha then excused us, saying we'd be heading to the palace. A carriage soon arrived, and everyone began to climb in. As I lifted my foot to step in, I suddenly froze, feeling like something was missing. I looked down and realized what it was.
"My sword! I left it on the ship!"
Without a second thought, I turned and sprinted back toward the dock.
How could I forget something so important? I thought as I rushed back toward the ship. Just as I reached the crowded dock, a cloaked man suddenly blocked my path, and I accidentally bumped into him.
"I'm really sorry! I'm in a hurry, so here—take this!" I said hastily, pushing past him and sprinting ahead.
Luckily, the ship hadn't departed. I spotted Layla by the entrance and quickly explained that I'd forgotten something onboard. Recognizing me, she allowed me back on the ship. I hurried to the room I'd been in, but my sword was nowhere to be found. I even asked a few cops, but no one had seen it.
Determined, I returned to the room for one last search, but then I noticed something strange—my hands were starting to glow.
"W-What is this?" I whispered, feeling a surge of dread as a light appeared behind me. It felt like something terrible was about to happen.
In an instant, the light exploded. The blast echoed throughout the harbor, and I was thrown across the room. Julius and the other cops immediately rushed to the scene. A panicked cop sprinted to inform Yukiha, who'd heard the explosion and was already on her way with Yuna.
The ship, surprisingly, wasn't destroyed entirely; it seemed something had contained the explosion's full impact.
"Well, you're a quick thinker," a voice sneered, breaking the silence. "You tried to escape, but at the last second, you used wind pressure to hold back the explosion. Interesting—I knew you'd be worth watching!"
As I lay on the floor, barely able to stand, a sword dropped in front of me. My sword.
"I took this when you ran into me in the crowd," said the cloaked figure. He pulled back his hood, revealing himself as a demon with piercing, predatory eyes.
"You… you're the one I bumped into…"
He laughed. "I was going to wait for you to come to me, but you saved me the trouble. Now I want to see what you can do—pick up your sword and show me!"
I forced myself to my feet, grabbing my sword with a glare.
"You caught me off guard, but that won't happen again—"
Before I could finish, he appeared behind me, reaching out to touch me. I realized he'd touched me before, where the glowing light had appeared. Anything he touches, it'll explode, I assumed.
Reading his movements, I swung my sword behind me, but he vanished.
"Trying to predict me, huh? You'll have to do better than that," he taunted.
The ground beneath me suddenly began to glow, and another explosion sent me flying. My vision blurred, my strength fading.
But I fought to stay conscious, pushing myself up with a scream of defiance.
Layla happened to be on the scene, looked stunned as she watched me struggle to my feet.
"I've never seen anyone withstand a direct explosion… let alone two in a row," she murmured, her eyes filled with both shock and admiration.
This time, escaping wasn't on my mind. I was here to fight, to win. Losing wasn't an option—if I lost, people would die. But facing him felt impossible; I couldn't find any openings. I'd thought he could only make things explode with his touch, but now I realized he could detonate anything within his range.
"I'm not going down to something like that!"
Just as another explosion was about to trigger, I deciphered the symbols and runes in his curse circle, instantly copying the script to cast the same spell, colliding with his and dispelling it.
I stood there, momentarily stunned. How did I just do that without even thinking?
"What?! You rewrote and dispelled his spell in an instant?!" Layla gasped, clearly in shock. "To do that—he's… a genius!"
More explosive circles appeared around me, and I barely managed to dispel them all. He could summon these endlessly, and I knew I'd run out of magic long before he ran out of curse energy. I had to go on the offensive, even if it meant taking some damage.
Every time he touched me, I could dispel some of his magic, but not all, so I still took hits. But doing nothing wasn't an option. I needed to react faster and hit harder. If I could just catch him off guard, I could make a difference.
I started with my usual opener, throwing knives to keep him guessing. Then I activated Vanishing Fire to boost my speed, honing my focus until every part of him was in my sights. He summoned circles to block me—exactly as I expected. I avoided the blasts, reappearing behind him with my sword aimed at his neck.
As he dodged, I unleashed my Dragon Sword Style: Ultimate Dragon Slayer. Though it looked like a single swing, it was a hundred rapid slashes. Mastering this technique made the slashes seem like one.
The demon took the hundred strikes, momentarily off guard, but as a high demon, he was tough. My cuts were too shallow; it was my first time using the move, and he likely saw through the additional slashes.
But I'd learned enough to know he wasn't invincible. And neither was I.
"What incredible physical ability! At your age, your strength is almost inhuman! I'm glad I came here! Come at me, Arisu Tosaki—"
Suddenly, a barrage of moon-like blades, light magic, and dark shadows surged at the demon, forcing him to step back.
"Good job holding on until we arrived, Arisu." Yukiha, Yuna, and Julius had arrived, their presence a relief.
The demon's expression shifted, his gaze narrowing on Yukiha with a new intensity.
This girl is dangerous, he thought.
"It's time out, Arisu Tosaki," the demon sneered.
A massive circle appeared across the harbor, glowing brightly, yet as the light faded, nothing was destroyed or harmed.
"W-What just happened? That was too large for you to dispel!" he exclaimed.
"It wasn't him. It was me," Yuna replied, stepping forward.
The demon's eyes flickered with concern. Yukiha was already a threat, but the one who'd dispelled his circle? She was even worse.
Shadows enveloped the demon, paralyzing him in place under Julius's magic. The others stepped aside, giving Yukiha room as she approached him.
"Any last words?" she asked.
"Fly…" he muttered with a twisted grin.
"Then I'll send you flying—to heaven!"
A brilliant light gathered around Yukiha's fist, intensifying as she prepared to strike.
"Life Magic: Heaven's Gate Purification Fist!"
But Yukiha froze as she noticed the demon's sinister smirk.
"I said, you all fly, dumbass!"
The ship trembled as gravity surged, crushing us down. But it wasn't just a downward force—the demon had lifted the entire ship high into the sky at blinding speed, slamming us against the floor with the force of ascent.
I felt the sharp sting of cold air, the vastness of the sky surrounding us. Above, the sun's warmth contrasted with the chilling atmosphere, exposing us to both extremes.
"I don't need the three of you! I want this enchanter!"
With a flick of his hand, the demon flung me, Yukiha, and Julius into the sky, leaving Yuna alone on the ship.
"What did you do to them?!" Yuna shouted.
"They're above us, suspended mid-air. They won't fall as long as they're in my range. Now, Enchanter, let's see if you're as capable as you seem—"
Yuna lunged, her blade flashing, but the force of the demon's power knocked her back. She struggled, barely managing to steady herself on her knees, but the demon clapped mockingly.
"I see... you're more resilient than most."
Her body seemed to waver, but it was part of her plan. When the demon glanced at her, he fell into her illusion. Yuna, empowered by the Moon's magic—water, shadows, darkness, and illusions—had trapped him the moment he met her gaze. In that brief opening, she moved silently behind him, her sword aimed for a lethal strike.
But just as her blade was about to pierce him, the demon sensed her, releasing a powerful shockwave that splintered the ship. Yuna was thrown back, barely keeping her footing as debris scattered around her.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Yuna's expression was unfazed. She felt neither fear nor hesitation. She knew facing a high demon was perilous, perhaps impossible, but something inside her urged her forward, compelling her to fight.
"Ayanami, huh? You're better than I expected. You remind me of... someone," the demon sneered, a dark grin spreading across his face.
At his words, Yuna's expression shifted, her calm composure giving way to irritation. She gripped her sword, shifting to a middle stance, her eyes narrowing with focus. With an explosive step, she launched herself forward. In an instant, a swirling spiral of water appeared before her, and she vanished into it.
The demon's gaze darted around, struggling to locate her. Suddenly, a similar spiral formed behind him in the distance, and Yuna emerged, her blade flashing. In a flurry of rapid slashes, she struck from the space between her entrance and exit points, each blow landing deeper than the last, cutting through the demon's defenses.
He stumbled, feeling the sting of her blade in multiple places. "Impressive… though you still lack the strength to finish me off," he scoffed, though his tone held a note of grudging respect. "Few humans manage to hit me so many times."
The technique Yuna had just used was "Moon Art: Dimensional Aqua" By entering the spiral of circulating water, she could move through a separate dimension, covering distance instantly. Within that space, her slashes stacked up, only to materialize and hit the demon the moment she re-emerged. It allowed her to land countless strikes in the span of a heartbeat, converging at once in the real world.
The cops on the surface gathered in a tight group, their eyes fixed on the sky. They knew there was nothing they could do to reach the height where the battle raged above. No transportation could scale the distance, and they were left to watch helplessly, hoping for a miracle, but knowing all too well the danger of the situation.
Meanwhile, the three of us continued to ascend, higher and higher into the sky. The gravity pressing against us made it hard to stay upright, but Yuna's determination remained unshaken. Despite the demon's overwhelming power and the increasing struggle, she refused to back down. For Yuna, retreat wasn't an option. Backing out meant certain death—plummeting to the ground below would accomplish nothing, and she didn't want to die without giving everything she had. She chose to fight, to push back with every ounce of strength, no matter the cost.