Kazuto, after turning into an invincible tank, suddenly launched an attack. With great speed, a deadly projectile flew from the tank's muzzle, heading straight towards Kohei, who was about to attack Takumi. Soon, the projectile reached its destination, exploding near Kohei with a deafening impact. Smoke billowed, and dust swirled in the air. From the strong impact, Kohei lost consciousness for a moment, his body frozen.
"Bastards!" Taito grumbled, indignantly observing the chaos engulfing the room.
In his tank-like performance, Kazuto did not relent. He steamed towards Taito, determined to take him down. However...— Magic: Aeration: Wind Control! Taito concentrated, using the power of the wind to lift Kazuto's tank. With the help of a strong wind, he rolled the tank out and threw it mercilessly into the street. The tank smashed everything in its path, like a garbage bag.
"Wow, what kind of magical power is wind control?" Yukio thought, rapidly considering every detail of the event.
— The committee, you've lost everything. Ha ha! Rikuto gloated as he enjoyed his victory.
— You promised a diplomatic dialogue but attacked. You freak! Yukio accused Rikuto fiercely, standing firm before him.
— Shut up! You mutt of a committee! Rikuto shouted angrily, giving Yukio an angry look, not wanting to hear further criticism."You know, Rikuto... I expected more..." Haruki said with great effort, struggling to his feet. His voice was filled with painful emotions.
"Rikuto," Yukio said, smiling slyly, more confident than ever in his words. "According to my calculations, you only have a couple of seconds left to live."
"What do you mean?" Rikuto asked, depressed by Yukio's prediction. His voice betrayed the wariness in his heart.
Suddenly, a bullet pierced Rikuto's head, causing him to be shocked and disbelieving.
- What? Kohei turned around in horror. Shaken by this sudden incident, he searched the room for confirmation of Rikuto's murder.
Naomi, shocked and unable to take her eyes off Rikuto's body, cried out.
Taito and Kotaro stood there, frozen in place. Unable to speak, they were overcome by the horror that had taken hold of their throats.
Kazuto entered the building feeling the insidious joy of his victory. "Our plan worked, didn't it?" he asked.Everything was going according to plan. Rikuto had been neutralized, and Yukio was walking towards Kazuto.
"Haruki, how are you feeling?" Kazuto asked, sitting down next to him and offering him support.
Haruki barely spoke, struggling to stand up. He showed his indomitable strength, trying to get back on his feet.
Kohei shouted at the whole room in desperation, his voice filled with indignation and disgust.
"How dare you kill Rikuto! You pathetic committee! You incompetent weaklings!"
Because we are a team, and you, Kohei, only mimic this true power alliance, Haruki said, although blood still flowed from his mouth. He tried to emphasize his firmness and determination.
What did you say? Die, you monster! Magic: Supersonic Waves.
With full rage, Kohei attacked Haruki.
Huh! Magic: Aura Suppression. Haruki raised his hand, and a green shield appeared in front of him. It absorbed and suppressed Kohei's magic attack.— Okay, okay! That was well played, guys! Rikuto himself entered the building, causing a sense of surprise and shock.
"What? He should be dead, but here he is, deceased, with a bullet in his head," Yukio thought in surprise, unable to believe his eyes.
Takumi's surprise thought flashed across his mind. "What's happening?"
— Okay, children from the committee. You must be very curious about how it is that I am here alive. So, Kotaro hacked our headquarters yesterday before I made the call. We knew your plan all along. My clone did an excellent job impersonating me. Rikuto said as he took a step forward. — Come on Taito. Kill them.
— With pleasure! Magic: Aeration: A terrifying whirlwind! Taito began to move his arms, and his luminous blue palms created streams of air. The vortex swirled ominously around the members of the committee, unwinding around all the members of the committee.
The strong impact of the tornado-like vortex shook each of them, grabbing and twirling around them. Their bodies swirled in the power of the raging event, depriving them of the opportunity to resist and understand what was happening.
— Yukio! What should we do? Kazuto shouted loudly, getting entangled in the vortex and trying to keep his balance.
Haruki! Try to suppress the aura of this magician's magic!" Yukio shouted, trying to convey his magical strategy to Haruki.
"Magic: Aura Suppression!" Haruki persistently tried to accept both his own ideas and Yukio's as well. "It's not working! It's too powerful!"
"Everything's going wrong! Damn it," Yukio realized sadly that this might be the end for them."Something must be done," Takumi thought, realizing the whole situation was draining. Suddenly, he recalled his unique ability. All his strength and determination awakened within him.
"I have an idea!" Takumi shouted in a voice that everyone could hear.
Kazuto looked at him with hope and anticipation. They were all waiting for his words.
"Then do it!" Kazuto replied, supporting his decision.
Takumi felt like he had a great responsibility. He prepared himself, looking at his friends for unconditional support. Focus was helped by his friends' support, and he began activating his magic. Magic: Cellogenesis: Skyscraper, he began to transform his body into a giant skyscraper.Rikuto, standing by the side, realized that Takumi had something unusual planned. It made an unusually high-pitched noise, vaguely reminding him of an alarm bell. Takumi transformed his body into a skyscraper that couldn't be destroyed by a normal vortex.
"I can't," Taito said to himself, realizing his failure with despair.
The sudden turn of events caught Taito off guard. He realized that he wasn't coping and soon would have to drown in an eternal descent. Rikuto stood still, realizing that he couldn't control the situation anymore. He ran to his car, hoping to escape.
All the members of the committee who were inside Takumi's skyscraper felt a sense of relief. They knew that they were safe.
"Can this kid really do that?" Kazuto said, admiringly, as he whispered to himself.Takumi turned back into human form and fell unconscious from the exhaustion of using his magic. They were satisfied with the rescue but also worried about their friend.
— Wow, I'm alive! Haruki was surprised and grateful.
"Did you think we were going to die?" Yukio asked with genuine surprise.
Haruki looked at Takumi, who was unconscious, and felt excitement.
Yukio said with deep respect, "He saved us. His magic is so strong, he doesn't know what he is capable of. We are lucky to have him."
Haruka asked, "Yes, let's go on! Let's continue!" Ready to fulfill his role as a magician.
*Headquarters of the Investigation Committee*
- So, the second stage of the Bloody Carnival had failed. According to Haruka, they had the last trump card. Yukio studied the current situation carefully.- Yes, most likely, their third and final move will be very powerful if they have almost killed us by now. The third round will be much more dangerous than all the previous ones, "Haruki calmly reasoned.
"So, we need to be prepared," Ryoma said, confirming the seriousness of the situation and the need for deeper preparation.
"I don't even know what they could do bigger than their second move," Yukio could not figure out what will happen next.
*The Blood Carnival Council*
Rikuto was sitting at the table with a sinister smile on his face. With his hands on the table, he reflected on his victory, imagining how each member of the council fell at his feet and become a dead body, which he would keep in his office. These thoughts brought him satisfaction and a sense of complete power.
- "We almost destroyed them," Rikuto whispered to himself, satisfied with the outcome.Kohei, standing nearby, smiled at the prospect of the upcoming action.
"Yes, I agree," he replied, affirming their intention and readiness to execute the plan.
"Of course," said Rikuto, his voice tinged with anger and determination. "Cooperating with such an organization would help us eliminate every member of the committee."
Rikuto picked up the phone and began dialing, selecting words that would persuade the person on the other end.
"Hello," he said in a clear, confident voice. "We haven't spoken in a while. I'd like to place an order for four experienced investigators."
Setting the phone back down on the desk, Rikuto grinned, sensing the approach of their final move. He was certain that the proposal would be accepted, as no one had canceled the collaboration agreement."Well?" Taito asked, watching Rikuto with curiosity.
Rikuto looked up and met Taito's gaze with confidence.
— Of course, they accepted. After all, our cooperation was clearly stipulated in the contract. Ha ha. His laugh sounded cold, reflecting his total confidence in the plan's success.
Kohei stood up from his seat and headed towards the door, making final preparations for the carnival finals.
— We need to get prepared. He said, his voice filled with determination and readiness for action.
"Meeting adjourned," Sora announced, closing the blood carnival meeting.
*Head of the Special Patrol Office*
The chief of the special patrol arrived at his office with crucial information about the bomb planted at Yukisaku airport.
Hiroki! There's information that a bomb has been planted at Yukisaku airport, the chief said, trying to grab Hiroki's attention.
Busy arranging papers on his desk, Hiroki did not react to this information.
— So what, give this case to the police. That's not our job. Hiroki replied, disregarding the seriousness of the situation.The major tried to explain to Hiroki that they had information about a terrorist group using magic.
"But we have information about a terrorist group that uses magic. The major tried to get Hiroki's attention.
Hiroki looked up from his papers and remembered that all members of the group have already been convicted and are in a prison, with the exception of one.
— Comrade, they have already been convicted and are in prison, except for one. Hiroki thought about Sakura Nakamura's freedom. — But I'm not sure she planted the bomb at the airport.
The major realized that Hiroki wasn't convinced by their arguments, so he nodded and left the room.
Hiroki sat at his desk, thinking. "Where could she be? What if she really was involved in that bomb? But again, I still don't know where she could've gone," Hiroki said, feeling a mix of anxiety and worry.On the waterfront, Haruki and Takumi walked slowly, watching the waves and enjoying the sunrise.
"Tell me, Haruki," said Takumi, feeling a bit anxious, "will we be killed when the Bloody Carnival reaches its third turn?"
Haruki paused for a moment and then looked at Takumi seriously.
"To be honest, Takumi," he said, "I don't really care. Rikuto just seems jealous of me and that's why he wants us all to fail. He doesn't even need to control the city. He just wants me to admit that I can't win."
Takumi listened to Haruki's words and tried to understand what Rikuto might be trying to achieve.
"How is that?" he asked in surprise. "Why would he want me to lose?"
Haruki took a deep breath and said with quiet determination, "He wants me to give up. He wants me to accept that he's the better player."From the very beginning, when Haruki appeared on the committee, Rikuto recognized him as his most significant enemy in life. Haruki recalled the moment of his meeting with Rikuto and attempted to comprehend his motivations.
"But why did he not kill you when you were abducted?" If he is your main enemy?" Takumi could not comprehend the logic of their conflict.
Haruki paused for a moment, attempting to formulate complex ideas.
— He does not wish to kill me, and he does not wish to eliminate us. He wishes me to concede defeat... Haruki placed his hands in his pocket, the final remarks sounded heartfelt and full of determination.