The sanctuary fell into complete silence as Kaizen stepped into its center.
Unlike Raizen's overwhelming aura...
Unlike Hiroshi's Endless Archive...
Unlike Yurota's Reality Weave...
Unlike Ayame's Mirror Dimension...
Kaizen released nothing.
No killing intent.
No pressure.
No energy.
Yet everyone unconsciously kept their eyes on him.
Raizen scratched the back of his head.
"...You're making this dramatic."
Kaizen smiled.
"My ability isn't dramatic."
"It's quiet."
"...Just like me."
Haruto folded his arms.
"Then explain it."
Kaizen nodded.
"I will."
He slowly raised his right hand.
Nothing happened.
Raizen frowned.
"...That's it?"
Kaizen chuckled.
"Look closer."
Everyone's eyes followed his hand.
Tiny blue lines suddenly appeared in the air.
At first there were only a few.
Then dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
The lines spread throughout the sanctuary, connecting every pillar, every wall, every person, and even the smallest pebble on the ground.
It resembled an endless network.
As though the world itself had become a giant equation.
Haruto narrowed his eyes.
"...Those aren't energy."
"They're possibilities."
Kaizen smiled.
"Exactly."
He gently touched one of the glowing lines.
It instantly split into hundreds of new paths.
Then thousands more.
Within seconds...
The sanctuary was filled with millions of glowing routes branching endlessly into one another.
Hiroshi quietly adjusted his glasses.
"...Infinite Calculation."
Kaizen nodded.
"My mind calculates every possible outcome."
"Every movement."
"Every decision."
"Every attack."
"Every mistake."
"I don't see the future."
"I calculate the most probable future."
Raizen crossed his arms.
"So if I punch you..."
"...you already know where it'll land?"
"Not exactly."
Kaizen calmly replied.
"I know..."
"...where you're most likely to punch."
"...where you're least likely to punch."
"...where you'll move afterward."
"...and what you'll probably do if that attack fails."
Yurota spoke.
"So you're constantly calculating."
"Every second."
Kaizen answered.
"My calculations never stop."
He looked toward Raizen.
"Go ahead."
"Attack me."
Raizen grinned.
"You finally said the magic words."
Without warning...
He vanished.
His fist shot toward Kaizen's face with enough force to shatter solid stone.
Kaizen didn't move.
Not even an inch.
The fist stopped...
Just beside his cheek.
Raizen blinked.
"...What?"
Kaizen calmly looked at him.
"You changed your mind."
Raizen stepped back.
"I did."
"You decided at the last moment that using your fist wasn't efficient."
"So you intended to draw your sword instead."
Raizen laughed.
"...You actually read me."
"I calculated you."
Haruto quietly observed.
"So you predicted his thought process."
"Precisely."
Kaizen smiled.
"The body follows the mind."
"If I understand the mind..."
"...the body becomes predictable."
Ayame looked impressed.
"No wonder you were always our strategist."
Kaizen walked slowly across the sanctuary.
The glowing lines moved with him.
"Battle is mathematics."
"People believe combat depends only on strength."
"They're wrong."
"Every fight..."
"...is made of choices."
He stopped walking.
"I simply calculate the best one."
Haruto spoke.
"What are your limitations?"
Kaizen's smile faded slightly.
"My calculations consume enormous mental energy."
"The stronger my opponent..."
"...the more possibilities appear."
"If the number becomes too great..."
"...my brain begins to overload."
Hiroshi nodded.
"So even you cannot calculate everything."
"No."
Kaizen answered honestly.
"There are variables."
"Luck."
"Emotion."
"Human instinct."
"...And those who surpass logic itself."
Raizen smirked.
"So someone completely unpredictable could beat you."
"They could."
Kaizen admitted.
"If their actions have no logical pattern..."
"...my calculations lose accuracy."
The sanctuary became quiet.
For a moment...
Everyone simply reflected on his words.
Then...
Kaizen slowly closed his eyes.
"...Interesting."
Haruto looked at him.
"What?"
Kaizen remained silent.
The glowing lines surrounding him suddenly changed direction.
Instead of spreading through the sanctuary...
They stretched toward a distant point far beyond Stonefang Highlands.
His eyes slowly opened.
"...There's someone."
Raizen raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Kaizen stared into the distance.
"I attempted to calculate every significant warrior currently alive."
"And?"
"...Six hundred twenty-three thousand, four hundred eighteen possible outcomes."
He paused.
"I successfully calculated every one of them."
Silence.
Then...
"There is..."
"...one exception."
Ayame's gentle smile disappeared.
"...Who?"
Kaizen answered without hesitation.
"...Lady Chõko."
The chamber instantly fell silent.
Even Raizen's grin vanished.
"I couldn't calculate her future."
"I couldn't calculate her choices."
"I couldn't even calculate the probability of victory against her."
Haruto slowly frowned.
"Impossible..."
Kaizen shook his head.
"No."
"...Unknown."
He looked toward the ceiling of the ancient sanctuary.
"For the first time..."
"...my calculations reached nothing."
Raizen slowly smiled again.
"...Good."
Everyone looked at him.
"If even you can't predict her..."
"Then this era..."
"...might actually be entertaining."
Far away...
Inside Reikosha Academy...
Lady Chõko happily stuffed another dumpling into her mouth.
She suddenly paused.
Her ears twitched slightly.
"...Hehe."
She smiled to herself.
"So..."
"...someone tried to understand me."
Without another word...
She reached for another plate of food.
As if nothing had happened.