Tension was hovering in the spacious hall of the committee headquarters. The committee members continued to discuss the assumptions and possible courses of action of the Bloody Carnival, trying to unravel its mysterious intentions. The brains of the committee members were working at the limit, they were struggling to create an action plan in case of any development of the situation. Suddenly, while Haruki was deep in his thoughts and plans, his phone broke the silence with its ringtone. The unknown number caused a lively reaction in the audience, but Haruki apologized to his colleagues and grabbed the phone:
— I'm sorry! Alo! — Haruki answered the call affably.
— Hi, Haruki. I propose to organize a diplomatic meeting between our committee and the Bloody Carnival. Can you discuss this issue with your colleagues? Rikuto's voice was heard from the other end of the line.
— Wow! This is unexpected. I will definitely discuss this idea with the others. Haruki smiled almost automatically, forgetting about his previous thoughts.
The call ended, and Haruki, immersed in thoughts about Rikuto's proposal, stopped thinking about his own plans. Now there was only one question in his mind: "What is Rikuto up to?"
— Haruki, who called? — Ryoma, not hiding his curiosity, asked, still waiting for an answer.
— Oh, however. It was Rikuto. He offered to organize a meeting of our teams. — Haruki shared the information with the committee.
- what? You can't meet them! I am against this idea. They're obviously up to something. You shouldn't trust them. Yukio angrily rejected Rikuto's offer.
"Maybe you're right, Yukio. But we can find a way to beat them. Why not eliminate Rikuto? Haruki suddenly expressed his thought.
- what? Are you crazy? Kazuto objected, exclaiming with fear.
— Well, what's the big deal? If we kill Rikuto, consider that we will end the history of the Bloody Carnival. Haruki couldn't understand why everyone objected so strongly.
— Well, even if we accept this idea, we need a perfect plan. — Yukio, in his constant analysis mode, has already begun to think about possible options and scenarios.
— Yukio, understand, Rikuto is not stupid. He, of course, understands that he may be killed, but at the same time he still offered a meeting. It's strange, but we should at least try to understand what his idea is. Haruki tried to justify his offer.
But Masao, who had just entered the room, interrupted the committee's wavering thoughts by asking a question that hung in the air, making everyone alert.
—Kill Rikuto?" What are you guys up to? — Masao, looking at the audience with bewilderment, gave a noticeable fear to the surrounding atmosphere in the hall.
All the members of the committee exchanged smiles full of sinister meaning.
— Well, in that case! The plan will be ready now! Yukio suddenly remembered his magic. He decided to use it to develop a detailed and reliable plan to kill Rikuto, who was not only the treacherous leader of the Bloody Carnival, but also the most dangerous enemy of the committee.
All the members of the committee paid attention to Yukio, trying not to miss any of his thoughts or ideas. In the blink of an eye, suppressing his excitement and concentrating, Yukio took a deep breath and spoke:
— Magic: Critical Thinking!
Instantly, the room was filled with strong and bright energy, igniting an inner fire in Yukio's head. It was as if magic threads were weaving around him, linking all the pieces of the puzzle. Yukio saw before him images of all the details of the plan, which he gradually began to transform into concrete steps and actions.
— I have a plan! Yukio said, breaking the long silence and filling the room with a new spirit of optimism and determination.
*After 3 hours*
Haruki, clutching the phone in his hand, gave Rikuto the information about the meeting place:
— Alo, Rikuto, we are waiting for you in an abandoned chemical research building. Be there for 40 minutes. We have a lot to talk about.
The members of the committee, setting themselves up for a deadly game, prepared for the meeting with confidence and certainty. They put on gloves, armed themselves with machine guns, pistols and grenades. After checking their equipment, they took up their positions, still with smiles on their faces, ready to face Rikuto and the rest of the participants of the Bloody Carnival.
— Is everyone ready? Great! We continue. Yukio, with a steady gaze and fearlessness, headed for the elevator, the others followed him.
The elevator, the trusted way to accomplish their plan, took them to the top floor, where there was a parking lot with ready armored vehicles. All the committees got into their cars, carefully placing their weapons, ready to go to the meeting place. The cars were reliable and prepared for rapid movement.
"Takumi, get in my car and wait for me there. Be ready for anything. Haruki ordered Takumi, showing him a seat in the back seat of his car.
— Ah! Good! Takumi agreed, folding his arms across his chest, trying to remain calm despite the intensity of events.
The members of the committee took their positions, feeling internal tension and readiness for confrontation. Kazuto, smoking his cigarette, stood next to his car, listening to the surrounding sounds, remembering his time in the army.
— More exciting than the first time in the army! Kazuto said to himself, feeling the adrenaline begin to flood his blood.
At this time, Haruki, standing near his car, noticed that all his comrades were ready. He checked that they had full control over their weapons and equipment.
— Is everyone ready? Great! Hold on to your seat belts and wait for my signal. We'll be the last to go. Haruki said, looking at his companions through the rear mirror.
— Got it, Haruki. I'm waiting for you," Takumi replied, rolling down the window in the back seat.
All the committee members left, Haruki stood alone in the parking lot and looked at Takumi who was in the back seat.
— Well, let's go.
Pressing the gas pedal, Haruki carefully drove out of the parking lot to join the rest of the committee.
— What do you think, Haruki, what awaits us? Takumi asked excitedly, not hiding his anxiety and nervousness. They continued to move towards the abandoned building where the meeting with Rikuto, the leader of the Bloody Carnival, was supposed to take place.
"If I'm not mistaken, you listened carefully to our plan, just like everyone else. Don't ask stupid questions, we are acting according to our prepared strategy. Haruki replied to Takumi, showing that there was no time for doubts and hesitation.
The trip took place in silence. Takumi and Haruki caught up with Kazuto, who was smoking a cigarette, sitting comfortably behind the wheel of his car. The ruins of an old building passed by, and Haruki couldn't help smiling openly when he saw Kazuto showing him an indecent gesture.
— Haha! You idiot! Haruki blurted out in response to the provocation.
They continued on their way to the meeting place, turning around at the intersection and moving in a single order. Suddenly, Haruki received a call from Rikuto. He answered immediately, politely lifting the phone to his ear.:
— Alo! We're on our way, we'll be there in a few minutes.
— Come on, hurry up, your speed is like a turtle. I'm waiting for you. Rikuto was impatient and a little annoyed.
— We're on our way! Get ready! Haruki closed the conversation with a slight excitement and threw the phone on the seat.
An abandoned building appeared before the eyes of the committee. Haruki bit his lip slightly, feeling a surge of adrenaline. Rikuto and his close allies, Kohei, Naomi and Taito, were already waiting at the meeting place.
— Well, hello! Dear Committee! Rikuto greeted them loudly and solemnly, sitting by the ruins, surrounded by debris and dust.
— I'm not very happy to see you, so what kind of diplomatic dialogue will we have? Yukio, trying to keep calm, asked Rikuto directly and soulfully.
— Well, first of all, we need to clarify some points. Rikuto smiled, folding his arms across his chest.
— And what exactly do you want to clarify? Yukio waited tensely for an answer, sticking to his resolute attitude.
— This! Rikuto made a sharp gesture and suddenly clapped his hands.
The next moment, Haruki felt a sharp pain and a sudden piercing stab in his stomach, a trickle of blood escaped from his mouth. All the eyes of the committee members turned to him, they were stunned and did not understand what had happened.
— Aah! And this was not in our plan! Haruki screamed in horror, blood was streaming from his mouth, but he did not lose consciousness and remained on his feet, clenching his hand into a fist. He had difficulty controlling the pain, knowing that time was working against him.
Haruki knelt down, pressing his hand to his side, barely holding back the sighs of pain. His eyes, full of determination, shone in the dark, as if he was ready to fight to the last drop of blood.
— Meet the committee, — Rikuto leaned forward, carefully keeping the tension in his voice, — this is Kotaro Kawaguchi, a special Carnival fighter. His magic allows him to become invisible and maneuver in the shadows of his opponents. Given his anti-magic, we won't be able to successfully conduct a diplomatic dialogue if Haruki remains alive. In his presence, my own magic seems to be burned to the ground and loses all power.
—Wh-what?" Damn it! Yukio, call me! Kazuto shouted unrestrainedly, the fire of determination and anger burning in his eyes. He was clenching his fists, ready to give it his all.
At the same moment, Yukio quickly pulled the phone out of his pocket and pressed it to his ear. He was about to press the dial button, and excitement permeated his body. However, the figure of Kohei appeared before his eyes, instantly approaching at supersonic speed. He swung his leg, and Yukio didn't have time to react until he crashed into the wall with the force of the blow, knocking the last air out of him.
— Damn freaks! Kazuto shouted, barely restraining his aggression, looking around for support. He looked accusingly at Rikuto, rage filling his heart.
"So that's how it is... Takumi whispered, listening to the conversation. He watched Haruki, Kazuto and Yukio closely, ready to join the battle if necessary. When the moment of an unforeseen collision arose, he couldn't help but smile on his face. He knew that now was his time.
— Magic: Kletoginesis: Kohei. Takumi said these words slowly, feeling the fire inside that filled his body. His contours began to distort, and soon he turned into an exact copy of Kohei, down to the smallest detail.
— How dare you... What kind of madness is this, youngster?! Copying my personality! Kohei shouted in anger, his voice sounding strained, as if he was on the verge of losing control.
— Do you remember the moment when I ran over you with a truck? That's when I was able to touch you and record information about your cells. Takumi narrated, holding his Kohei imagery as if he was an angry snake. His voice sounded cold, he knew that with every second the power in him was growing, and he was ready to use it to the fullest.
"It can't be. His magic is so powerful. But he still lacks an understanding of her full potential," a thought flashed through Kohei's mind.
In the blink of an eye, patterns appeared on the face of each member of the committee that vividly expressed their strength and character. On Kazuto and Ryoma's face, patterns bloomed in the form of flowers, each petal deliciously reflecting their magical essence. On Yukio's face, the pattern formed the image of a man, symbolizing his wisdom and devotion. On Takumi's face, the pattern turned into a cellular structure, demonstrating his unique ability to copy and adapt to the situation. And on Haruka's face, the pattern turned into an elegant waterfall, personifying his emotional depth and calmness, hiding behind them the power of the restless ocean.
— Finally! Let the fun begin! Kazuto shouted joyfully, his voice sparkling with thirst for victory, the consciousness that the end was coming filled his heart with the strongest excitement.
"Goodbye, Rikuto. Goodbye, Bloody Carnival," the thought constantly occupied Yukio's head.
— Magic: Supersonic waves! Koheya concentrated, the energy burst out of his body, emitting waves of sound aimed directly at his own copy, cutting through the air.
— Magic: Army of doppelgangers! Naomi joined the fight, emphasizing her alliance with Kohei with her actions. She began to create an army of her own doppelgangers, confidently leading the battle.
— Haha! Die bastards! Magic: Tank Transformation! — Kazuto started turning into a tank. His power and strength embraced his being, reflecting the country's readiness to defend its territory.
The army of Naomi's doppelgangers, holding pistols in their hands, aimed at Kazuto, ready to shoot into the very heart of the enemy.
— Magic: Ray Attack! Ryoma uttered these words, and numerous rays appeared from his hands, chopping all Naomi's doppelgangers into pieces. His magical essence permeated the air, turning it into a weapon of crushing destruction.
Takumi deftly dodged the supersonic waves of Kohei, convulsively conducting a battle of dancing fire and energy. He strung deft evasions on deft punches, moving away from the edge of defeat. However, in an instant he was met by an unexpected wave, knocking him off his feet, stomping on the ground. Takumi collapsed to the floor, his eyes glittering with despair and pain while Kazuto finally turned into a tank.