Deep beneath the glowing canopy of the Akatsuki dimension, Avi stood before an ethereal mirror of origin magic. The reflective surface rippled not with his own image, but with fragmented visions of future possibilities. Some showed a throne of corpses, others a golden age. All paths, however, led through chaos.
Avi (thought): "Zagred's whisper still lingers... but now, a darker presence awakens. Not Lucius. Not yet. This... is older. More primal."
Avi waved his hand. The mirror vanished.
---
In the capital of Clover Kingdom, Magic Knights from every squad assembled in the grand arena for the Magic Knight Squad Gathering. It was a celebration, a demonstration of strength, and a front — for the nobles to observe, the citizens to cheer, and for the hidden players to act.
Avi, wearing his Akatsuki cloak with red clouds shimmering like embers, stood beside Asta and Yuno in the crowd. His hood was pulled slightly forward, concealing his true appearance.
Asta: "So many captains..." (he looked around, eyes burning with excitement)
Yuno: "This is beyond an exam. This is a message to the world."
Avi: "And some will use this chance to send messages of their own. Be sharp."
Among the captains, Fuegoleon Vermillion stood with quiet pride. Nozel Silva carried a composed air of superiority. Dorothy Unsworth, Jack the Ripper, and even William Vangeance were present.
Julius Novachrono, smiling, greeted everyone from the top stage.
Julius: "Today, the might of Clover's future and present shall unite. Let the celebration begin!"
---
But even as matches began and squads clashed in friendly battle, a shadow flickered.
Above the arena, a spatial crack formed momentarily — gone before anyone could react. Only a few noticed.
Avi's eyes narrowed.
Avi (thought): "That magic... it wasn't just dimensional. It reeked of despair."
Moments later, a massive mana shockwave ripped through the southern quadrant of the city.
From the horizon, a blinding light exploded. Screams echoed.
A figure descended from the sky — a man cloaked in white robes with demonic markings, wielding light and sword magic.
Yuno: "What the hell?!"
Asta: "He's attacking the capital!"
Avi (serious): "...That's Licht. The leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. The real one."
Fuegoleon leapt into the sky, flames roaring. "Everyone! Evacuate the civilians! All captains — with me!"
But before he could reach Licht — a blinding beam struck him directly in the chest.
BOOM!
Fuegoleon crashed into the arena's wall, unconscious, arm burned and twisted unnaturally.
Gasps rose across the stadium.
Nozel: "Fuegoleon!?"
Julius (whisper): "It's too soon... the elves weren't meant to awaken yet. Zagred... is accelerating the timeline."
Avi clenched his fist.
Avi (thought): "This isn't just Licht. It's Zagred's hand pushing through the veil. I must act... carefully."
---
Suddenly, portals opened above the city — releasing elf-possessed Magic Knights. Their bodies glowed with ancient runes, their auras far beyond normal.
The crowd descended into panic.
Yuno: "They're... strong."
Asta: "But we can't let them destroy everything! Avi — we need a plan!"
Avi: "You two lead the civilians to the safe zones. Yuno, take the skies. Asta, defend the streets. I'll intercept the higher threat targets."
He turned, eyes glowing with emerald fury under his hood.
---
Using a wood clone disguised as himself, Avi leapt into the chaos, defending with just enough strength to seem overwhelming, but not suspicious. Behind the scenes, his true self activated a hidden dimensional node beneath the capital.
Avi (true self): "Begin Project Sanctuary: evacuate high-risk zones into temporary dimensional pockets."
In moments, hundreds of innocents vanished from harm's path — appearing in illusion-wrapped, hidden pockets outside space-time.
From the shadows, he also sent invisible constructs to neutralize elf-possessed Knights without killing them — absorbing their corrupted mana and preserving their souls for future purification.
---
In the center of the capital, Licht floated above a burning spire. His eyes glowed.
Licht: "You all reaped what you sowed. Today begins the judgment."
Julius floated up, grim-faced. "I will not allow this kingdom to fall. Not yet."
They clashed in the sky — time magic against light magic, each blast reshaping the skyline. Every second, time froze, shattered, rewound. Avi watched carefully.
Avi (thought): "If Julius dies here, Lucius takes the body. I can't interfere directly. But I can guide the outcome."
He sent a hidden curse-breaker device toward Julius, strengthening the time hold momentarily, just enough to give Julius the upper hand.
But he didn't stop there.
He began tracing the true source of the elf awakening.
In a hidden forest beyond the city, deep below the roots, Zagred's cursed heart pulsed inside a containment seal. It cracked slightly.
Avi: "You shouldn't have started early, demon. Now I can mark you."
He summoned a spectral chain of Origin Magic — pure, radiant, and invisible to all but the highest beings. He flung it through dimensions, anchoring it directly to Zagred's essence.
Avi: "Now you can't hide anymore. Wherever you crawl, I'll find you."
---
As night fell and the battle waned, many elves retreated, confused by their own actions — fragments of their true selves flickering within.
The capital was left in chaos. Julius survived, barely. Fuegoleon was rushed to the hospital.
In the royal chamber, captains discussed the emergency response. Avi watched silently from a shadow.
Julius: "This... was only the beginning."
Avi (thought): "And I'll be there when it ends. From the first whisper... to the final scream."
[To be continued...]