"Over time, I learned to recognize them."
Tomaru activates his aura.
It ignites like never before.
Seeing this, Nicolas immediately puts distance between them, ready to adapt his strategy to Noa's.
Tomaru steps forward.
His entire body is covered in energy.
Around him, all the debris rises and shoots forward at incredible speed toward Noa, driven by overwhelming pressure, as if they had become independent entities.
Noa keeps running at full speed without looking back.
Behind him, the debris scrapes through everything in its path.
Tomaru, meanwhile, simply walks forward.
Calm.
Serious.
« Even if I was unconscious during the elimination phase… I was still able to feel it. »
In the distance, Nicolas is also running.
He notices something.
« This isn't normal… from the start, his gravitational attacks have only been targeting Noa… never affecting me. »
Noa keeps running.
Without slowing down.
But his expression has changed.
It has become cold again.
Calculating.
Nicolas immediately understands.
« He found something… »
Tomaru continues walking slowly.
He concentrates all his energy into the palm of his hand.
His innate technique has a name.
Stellar Pressure.
This technique does not manipulate global gravity.
It acts locally.
Within a radius of about 50 meters, anything that has come into contact with his aura can have its forces altered.
Tomaru can change their trajectory.
Their direction.
Their inertia.
And guide them toward a specific target.
Noa runs.
Focused.
Analyzing.
Understanding.
— Its activation depends… on prior contact with his aura.
A memory resurfaces.
Their first exchange.
The contact.
Above the debris, Nicolas destroys several projectiles with a condensed air blade.
— Don't hesitate to ask for help!
Noa gives him a brief glance.
— I was taught not to rely on others…
He accelerates.
Without another word.
Nicolas frowns.
— If he keeps going like this… we'll never win…
Then he realizes something.
"Wait… or is he just running like that?"
Noa continues.
He gains distance.
More.
More.
Until—
He exits the radius.
The residual aura of Tomaru disappears from his body.
« The effect only works within a 50-meter radius… so if I leave it… he can't reach me anymore. »
The sun begins to fully set.
But Noa keeps running.
Toward the mountains.
« He has to touch me again to affect me… without that, he can't directly do anything. »
Reaching higher ground, he climbs to a dominant point.
A full overview of the area.
A fragment of aura is still present on him.
He closes his eyes.
Then opens them again.
« Its mechanism is simpler than I thought… »
— Nicolas!
Nicolas stops and looks up.
— I've got a plan… but I need you to hold him for a few minutes.
Nicolas stays silent for a moment.
Then sighs lightly.
— Fine… but don't mess it up.
Noa slowly closes his eyes.
He empties his mind.
Then—
Energy begins to circulate through his entire body.
« Let's hope this doesn't go wrong… »
He concentrates that energy.
Directs it.
Toward his brain.
An abnormal amount.
Dangerous.
…
Nicolas turns around.
Facing Tomaru.
He picks up a white metal staff from the ground.
— This'll do.
Tomaru keeps walking.
Slowly.
Without pressure.
A sphere of energy floats above his hand.
Nicolas looks at him.
Calm.
Curious.
— Tell me… you're fixated on Noa, aren't you?
Tomaru stops.
His expression darkens slightly.
— What makes you say that?
Nicolas barely thinks before answering.
— First, you didn't even react to the fact that I beat one of your teammates. And from the start… you've only been focused on him.
Tomaru doesn't answer immediately.
Then—
— Nicolas… you know we can sense emotions through aura.
Nicolas still doesn't see the connection.
Tomaru continues.
— Usually, emotions change. They're unstable. But some auras… maintain a constant pressure.
A darkness.
A heaviness.
An image crosses his mind.
His mother.
The baby.
The energy in his hand disappears.
Nicolas slightly frowns.
— Over time… I learned to recognize those people.
He points behind Nicolas.
Toward Noa.
— They are people obsessed with revenge… willing to sacrifice everything to achieve their goal.
His gaze is cold.
Sharp.
— Noa is one of those people. I have no doubt about it.
Nicolas remains silent.
He recalls their exchange in the tunnels.
That gaze.
Filled with uncontrollable rage.
— You talked about teamwork… but he doesn't see things the same way you do. To him… you're just a tool.
Nicolas tightens his grip on the staff.
— Maybe.
His eyes glow with a deeper red light.
— But at least… it's a fair exchange. If he wins, I win too.
Tomaru watches him.
Then closes his eyes.
A sigh.
— I have nothing against you… your aura is different.
He opens his eyes again.
His energy explodes.
The ground trembles.
Sand and rocks tear from the earth and gather into a massive sphere above him.
— But I can't let someone like him become a Director.
His gaze turns ice-cold.
— So I hope you understand… my decision.
Next chapter: The Princess in the Golden Cage