Let's do this again. (╯°□°）╯︵┻━┻
Sorry for the late update. My brain stopped thinking of some ideas for this chapter right after I done the previous chapter, and it took me very long time to gather all the resources for this chapter, some more I really hate the internet… really limited. Rage mode on. This chapter will still going to have some changes some times.
I do not own Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy Dissidia, Mahou Sensei Negima, and Kara no Kyoukai.
[Dark Yojimbo… if what Jecht said it's one of the Chaos's most favorite summonses… There should be more of these things… fighting one of these really tougher than my expectation. Fighting Jecht and Dark Yojimbo two at once with my 30% of my capabilities isn't enough, and another belt should do the tricks. In the end of the match I have succeeded eliminating the Dark Yojimbo, and I have won my match against Jecht, and received his message, which is a device that acts as a video recorder, I will listen to this message after I have settled everything in this Festival, this is what Golbez advised me to do so. And also… he said Negi and others… could help in my causes. If what Golbez said was necessary, I will definitely train them.]
…
Chapter 25: Festival Arc – The Tournament part 5
~FFXMSN~
…
Right now it's the match between Negi and Takane, as the match begins, Takane instantly use her trump card in the earlier level, which Negi and others didn't anticipate this. "Wow… that nee-san sure gets serious…" Kotarou commented.
"…Now that is just too fast to unleash…" Vincent commented as he sees the puppet. "I wonder can Negi able to handle this without relying any of his skills?"
"…Don't worry about that boya, I'm sure he can handle." Eva replied as she slowly moves beside to Vincent step by step sneakily.
"It's not that I worry about, just worrying something outrageous will happen." Vincent said with his guessing that he felt.
…
"Too fancy!?" Negi exclaimed as he jumped seeing Takane's puppet that came out of nowhere attached behind Takane.
"WOAH! Another incredible thing popped out like the previous match!" Kazumi shouted as she jumped too.
Right after their surprises seeing Takane's puppet there, Takane initiate the attack first as the puppet launches a barrage of black whips toward to her opponent Negi. Negi saw the incoming attacks and he quickly jump back to dodge those attacks, as Takane sees Negi avoided the attacks without seeing his front, she use the Instant Movement to appears behind Negi, Negi felt something appeared behind him, and he quickly jumped away before Takane's puppet thrust attack landed a hit onto the floor there.
Right now Negi is under the disadvantages as the puppet continues to sending many attacks at once toward to Negi. '…Incredible, Takane-san! I-I'll have to get serious too! Is it possible to not use magic here!?' Negi thought as he struggling to deflect back all the black whips attacks.
"Huhuhuhuhu! I'm absolutely no match for Takahata-sensei or Vincent-sensei, although my puppet here isn't like the thing from previous one! But this current strength of mine is still strong enough to punish someone immature like you!" Takane said loudly as she continues to attack as she referring to that Dark Yojimbo.
…
'Negi, don't get taunted by Takane, right now both of you are on Chao's palm… don't use any magical attacks that increase the attention again… …I think Takane's puppet there has already increased a lot of attention… she will be in shock if she knows about this.' Vincent thought while watching the match. '…I just hope she don't go commit suicide after knowing the truth.' Vincent then glance his eyes to the tower there. '…I wonder how both of them are doing now? Still staying in those prisons?'
…
Three of them are watching the match which Negi versus Takane in that dark room, seeing Takane used a lot of skills that could get a lot of attentions, and Chao seems satisfied seeing that. "…So Chao-kun, I want to ask another thing. What will you gain by exposing the existence of mages to the entire world?" Takahata asked uncertain with curiosity. "What will you gain by doing that? I don't see that you will gain any from that."
Chao looked at Takahata before she leaves the room through the automatic door. "Huhu… That's a secret~ I have got what I needed here." Chao ignored his question as she responded to them as she got the video that she wanted. "We'll send your delicious meals later, and sorry for the inconvenience." Chao said as she leaved the place.
"…" Takahata remained quiet seeing Chao exited the place. '…Just what relationship between Chao-kun and Vincent-kun had… I'm pretty sure Vincent-kun doesn't know anything about this… Her background is really mystery…' Takahata thought as his eyes glancing at the door where Chao exited.
"W-what do we do, Takahata-sensei?" Little Setsuna asked as Chao is not there.
"Hm… We can't just leave her." Takahata replied.
"But… these mechanical restraints, it can't be easily…" Little Setsuna said as she was tried to move from those restraints before.
"Don't worry, I may not look like it, but I'm more experienced with things like these than you guys." Takahata said as he smirked that he already has a way to escape from those restraints, knowing Takahata can instantly blow up the entire place with his magic cannons.
…
Back to Negi as he struggling to defeat his opponent Takane without using any of his magic skills, right now he is currently dodging all Takane's puppet attacks, and he returns back with his Ki projectile attacks to the puppet there, however it didn't budge that puppet a bit. Negi felt an incoming attack as he quickly dodge aside from the incoming thrust attack from the puppet to try to enter into close combat range area.
"This is incredible! An exchange of attacks between the child duellist and the mystery giant doll!? This is also like the previous intense match! With some kind of monsters and stuffs! All this excitement makes me forget to mention about this in previous match! 'Isn't this like a CG'!?" Kazumi shouted as the crowd is getting louder spectating something amazing like the previous match.
As Negi unsuccessful landing any effective attacks onto Takane and her puppet there, he jumped away from them and use an Instant Movement as his right hand is charging Ki to boost his power. He drawn close to Takane and readied his right elbow, delivering Takane his right elbow attack. "Gai Mon Chou Chuu! [Outer Gate Elbow Thrust]!" Negi successfully landed a right elbow blow onto Takane, but he felt something off his plan, he look closely, seeing the puppet behind her used its dark cloth that absorbed the impact from Negi's attack, right before he noticed incoming attacks from the puppet there, sending many black whips onto him, and he quickly dodge the attacks.
'…Ku… It was completely stopped!?' Negi thought as he dodging the attacks and didn't expect of puppet was that strong enough to resist Negi's attacks.
…
"…" Shiki was watching at the match fully focus. '…I'm pretty sure that kid will win the match, if he didn't screw things up.'
"The CG lately is getting improving." Haruna commented.
"…" Yue paused for a moment seeing her clueless friend, "I-Indeed it is." Yue could only reply that.
…
'…Takane is a magic puppeteer… I wonder how many puppets can she controls…' Vincent thought watching the match, seeing Negi struggling to dodge attacks. '…There are many magic and skills, and some beings that I have never seen before… not that what my world has, such as that puppet and Takane as the puppeteer… The artifact that grants the user's new ability… Takahata's Ki and Magic the magic cannon… Setsuna and her beings… demons… Eva's as the strongest vampire here with her thunder, ice, and darkness magic… dragon under the Library Island… some more Chao from future… a time machine…' Vincent thought as he recalling all the stuffs he sees with his eyes closed.
He opened his eyes seeing Negi is readied one of his attacks as he readying his right fist to give a straight punch onto Takane. "Fuu Ka Hou Ken! [Wind Brilliance Crushing Fist]" Negi landed a strong straight punch, but Takane was already blocked the attack with puppet's cloth.
'…Struggling to land attacks onto Takane while she's being guarded by her puppet is useless, Negi. You need to think of a way to caught her unprepared.' Vincent thought as he seeing Negi dodged the attack, while the crowd is cheering loudly of excitement, seeing Negi is repeating to enter into her defense range to deliver a blow, but Negi is unable to enter due to her fast reacts and her attacks. Then, Vincent can see Negi's eyes, showing that he found a way. 'It seems like you have found a way to approach her through her defense. But… why am I got a feeling Takane is going to need my cape again…' Vincent thought.
He then sees Negi kneel down after dodging all of those black whips with his confident eyes, staring at Takane and her puppet there. Vincent then looked at Takane's situation, seeing her face showing curiosity and uneasy as she facing a tough opponent, next is that Negi stood up from his spot as his feet are gathering magic to increase his speed, a speed burst out from that spot, launching Negi toward to his opponent Takane in a split second, Takane caught her off guard seeing Negi appeared in front of her within her defensive barrier there.
"…" Vincent remained speechless seeing Negi used his magic spheres again as Negi placed his right palm onto her stomach there, together with his magic spheres empowering the attack, the energy blasting through her magically, knocking her down. '…And you still want to use that in the end without having a thought of magic awareness…' Vincent thought as he sighing. '…Well, it's being exposed almost to the extend level… I have to do something to this exposure magic existence…'
"Alright!" Kotarou shouted.
"Nice! Giving up physical attacks and firing Sagita Magica at point blank range!" Chamo shouted as he impressed.
"Not a bad tactic." Chachazero commented.
"I-Is it over!?" Kazumi shouted, then, they noticed the puppet there started to disappear, like the previous match the Dark Yojimbo disappeared after being eliminated. "Ooh!? The giant doll is disappearing! Just exactly what kind of trick is this!? Such a mysterious skill!"
Not only that, Vincent noticed that Takane's clothes that also coming out smokes. Vincent noticed her clothes are started to disappearing as well. '…I see, so that's why I got a feeling that she needs my cape again…' Vincent thought as he immediately close his eyes and sighed, few seconds they hear loud shouts from the crowd, he knew Takane is stripped naked after the match, but the crowd isn't cooling down after seeing naked Takane, he had to do something for his student and also the crowd, and now he's started to get irritated as his anger raised a bit. He then stood up, causing Eva confused as she seeing Vincent stood up and clap his hands with one time, however, that wasn't an ordinary clap, he clap his hands with his strength to create a very loud clap that's like thunderclap and creating a sound shockwave, causing everyone frightened by that clap and deafening the whole place, shutting down all the sounds and voices.
Eva, Colonel and others forced to shut their ears from that close range thunderclap from his hands, even the spectators had to do the same thing. "V-Vincent…-nii-san…?" Kotarou asked as he also startled by that slowly open his ears looked at Vincent.
Vincent looked at the spectators around him, looking at Vincent with their shocked faces after being frightened by that loud thunderclap-like clap. "That's enough people." Vincent started to talk to all of them, "Do not keep on staring at one of my students there with dirty thoughts, she doesn't like it." Vincent told them politely with his normal tone, but he giving out his merciless eyes as his expression changed into darken, showing that he isn't in good mood now as he's about to rage, staring onto all of them with his merciless eyes that could stares into their souls, combining with his killing intent aura, causing them to shivered as they instantly quiet down and shutting their mouths as well. However, Takane wasn't actually one of his students, but Vincent had to lie about this. "As a teacher of hers, I will not tolerate of this."
This applies to Eva and others as they got scared by his deadly expression, '…A-Again with that expression…' Eva thought as her heart beating fast with her blush face.
'…Now that's scary…' Colonel thought as he sweated a bit from that glare.
'…Oh dear… Vincent-nii-san isn't happy…' Chamo thought as he sweating now.
Vincent then looked around the whole place, seeing everything has quieted down. "Thank you very much for your cooperation." Vincent thanked them with an unhappy smile and his usual merciless eyes, and this makes them sweats even more.
"…Vincent, just calm down a bit…!" Eva whispered to Vincent, but her words couldn't reach Vincent that his face showing no changes yet.
'…Is he unhappy that I force him to continue…?' Colonel thought as he uncertain. '…Well, of course not… there's no way that he's that short-tempered person…' Then he sees Vincent took his red cape that was on the seat there, and he threw it toward to Takane. The red cape unfolds itself and landed onto Takane and covered her up, Takane covered herself up as she grip it tightly, she sees Vincent gesturing his head to his left side, pointing at the stair and also the building there, telling her to quickly to go back into the building cover herself up in new clothes. Takane quickly stood up and ran toward to the building there passing through them.
"…Kazumi, you may continue." Vincent told Kazumi as he looked up at the stage.
"Y-Yes!" Kazumi stuttered as she responded. "T-The contestant Negi wins the match!" Kazumi shouted the winner as the time flows again and everything started its process, cheering is continued as they are quickly forgetting about just now.
Vincent then goes back to his seat, noticing his killing intent aura is cooled down as they are seeing him sitting on his seat with his crossed legs and arms as well with his eyes are closed, sitting there quietly, as if it's like a sleeping dragon, and they won't dare try to wake the dragon up from its slumber. And now they won't dare to do anything to mess his students such as laugh or stares with pervert eyes or even shout demanding them to strip naked, those are examples.
"Wow, Vincent-kun. You sure pull that stunt." Colonel commented about Vincent releasing some killing intent onto them as he tries to lower Vincent's anger down.
"Jeez, Vincent, you don't have to get angry just by that." Eva added in.
"I just give them a warning, that's all." Vincent replied without looking at him. "I'm sorry Eva, I just cannot allow this happen with their lustful desires, especially if they are eyeing on my students here." Vincent continued as he opened his eyes with menacing expression.
Eva and Colonel got slightly shivered from that expression. "…Just calm down, Vincent-kun. They didn't mean any harms, this is just a natural for the boys when it comes to fan services." Colonel explained to Vincent about what happened to the spectators' desires.
"…Hmph… Men with their lustful desires…" Eva commented.
"…" Vincent remained speechless looking at Colonel. "…I just don't understand at all…" Vincent replied as he sighing, "…What do you mean by 'fan service', using students for this obscene thing? I won't allow this… This needs to be purged. And same goes to Negi, whenever his foes are a female, it will always have this kind of result in the end… He never learns…" Vincent's anger continues to rising, this causing both Eva and Colonel shivered again, and this applies to others as well. Then, they hear Asuna is yelling at Negi about something.
"What are you thinking? Stripping people's clothes off again in front of everyone!?" Asuna yelled as she scolding the child teacher Negi, she felt Vincent's anger rise again, she then needs to move first.
"Hawa! No-no, that wasn't my faul…!" Negi tried to explain but he's unable to complete his explanation.
"No excuse! After all, what kind of English Gentleman gets serious with a woman as his opponent!?" Asuna continued.
"Jeez… Nee-chan… no need to get so exaggerated… Negi here just do what he needs to do, that's nothing wrong actually." Kotarou commented.
"B-but, Takane-san was strong…" Negi tried again, and again failed.
"Wha…!? Shut up Kotarou!" Asuna shouted at Kotarou, "That doesn't matter! What would you do if Takane-san got hurt!?" Asuna continued yelling. "Can't you just learn what Vincent did before when he goes against Tatsumiya-san!? And also you can just learn from Kotarou that he goes easy on his first opponent!"
"Hauu… I tried my best not to hurt her though…" Negi continued trying to explain, and Kotarou just sighed shrugging his shoulder.
Then Eva interjected their conversation, "This is my lecture, don't butt in, Kagurazaka Asuna." Eva told them as she walks and stopped behind them. "As long as individuals stand on the field of battle with a will to fight, they are not women, nor children, nor men. They are only equal fighters. There is no reason for them to hold back." Eva told as they listened to her words.
"…" Vincent remained speechless as he hears what Eva said. '…No reason to holding back huh… Indeed that we cannot hold back… depending on enemies… whether the enemies look like kid or elderly…' Vincent thought as he glanced at them. '…Maybe that just how Eva does… or maybe I was too naïve… even though I have killed more monsters than humans in my world from the past…' Vincent continued. '…And some more… we cannot continue to expose ourselves by using any skills that could bring a large amount of attention… I have already brought a lot… but why I feel that not much of a people got this attention…? As if likes not many people know about my match…' Vincent thought continue as he concerns about the magic exposure.
"However, Vincent is an exception from that, he understands his own capabilities, so there's a good reason he has to hold back, no matter what." Eva added in to correct some misunderstanding, and then she looked at Asuna. "You're not an exception either, Kagurazaka Asuna." Eva told as she looked at Asuna. "If you plan to continue sticking your neck into this world, you better try not to holding back." Eva continued.
Asuna sweat-dropped as she hears what Eva told her, she didn't believes. "Geez… Eva-chan is saying something like that." Asuna said as she looked at Setsuna.
"…But, what she said is correct." Setsuna responded to that statement.
"Ah, even Setsuna-san too…" Asuna didn't expect her answer. "Anyway, you have to be gentle toward girls! Please learn a bit from Kotarou-kun or Vincent here!" Asuna order Negi. "Your onee-chan told you too, didn't she?"
"Y-Yes!" Negi salutes as he hears.
Eva got irritated by hearing what Asuna told to Negi, "Hey, the idiot over there, didn't you hear what I said? Don't lay down weird ideas in other people's apprentices." Eva said to Asuna.
Setsuna walks to Eva to tell her something. "That's right, Evangeline-san, next up is the match between me and you, but… I…" Setsuna tries to tell her that she's going to forfeit the match.
"Hmm? Is it?" Eva noticed, stopping Setsuna's words further. "Hmph, Setsuna, I'll let you have the win, I'm fine with forfeiting." Eva told to her opponent.
"Eh?" Setsuna didn't expect this.
"My purpose here just to see boy's progress only, during his fights with Takamichi, I've seen enough of that, and I am satisfied just by that." Eva commented on Negi's progress, she is satisfied.
This raised their attentions, including Colonel for that they have never see Eva act like that, adding Vincent inside as he hears that. "Ehh!? Really?" Negi felt happy hearing his master's comment.
This caused Asuna and Setsuna confused seeing Eva acting like that. "Eva-chan's been acting a little weird since a while ago, did she eat something bad?" Asuna whispered to Setsuna.
"I was about to say that I was going to forfeit too…" Setsuna whispered to Asuna.
"Hey, I can hear you idiots." Eva got irritated again as she can hears their whispering.
"Vincent-nii-san? What do you think about my match?" Negi asked as he approaches to Vincent.
Vincent looked at Negi, "…Honestly, not bad." Vincent commented.
"Really?" Negi got shot up for a moment.
"But… you have failed." Vincent continued, and this suddenly caused Negi shocked, not just him but others as well.
"Eh? Why?" Negi asked as he surprised hearing that.
"Just in what this boy failed, Vincent?" Eva asked as she confused.
"Negi, remember what your objective before you facing Takane." Vincent told them to recall back. But they don't have to, because Vincent can sense Mei is coming toward to them with a laptop on her hand.
"N-Negi-sensei!" Mei shouts as she coming towards to them. "T-This is bad!"
They all looked at her panicking rushing toward to them. "Sakura-san! What's wrong? Um… Is Takane-san…?" Negi asked.
"S-she's in withdrawal in the waiting room, but she should be fine…" Mei replied before she shows him the laptop screen, showing many bulletins and some videos showing his match against Takane, it has become a popular topic, seeing hundreds of people writing comments about the match between Negi and Takane, especially at the part of Takane's puppet, and Negi's unrivaled attack at the last there, showing Negi with many magic spheres, and they could see many words of (魔法) [magic] has been used there in the comment section.
"EEHHH!?" Negi shocked as he stunned seeing the situation right now is getting heated.
"That's the answer Negi, you have failed." Vincent told. But his words couldn't reach them as Negi and Mei are panicking right now. "…" Vincent remained speechless watching at them.
"S-s-s-s-sorry, Sakura-san! It's my fault!" Negi yelled as he panicked. "W-w-w-w-w-what can we do!?" Negi shouted panicking.
"Full speed to Ermine Street!" Mei shouted as well.
"Geez… what's so bad about getting exposed? You can get out there and go nuts casting spells." Chachazero commented carefree.
Chamo feel bad as he sees them panicking around, "Seriously aniki, being an ermine really isn't that bad, you know?" Chamo tries to calm them down, but nothing good for it. But then, they noticed there are some pages having a different topic.
"Eh?" Mei noticed, then she looks into the page to read the content, revealing about Vincent and his angelic face, not about magic and other related stuff. After that, she got an idea as she quickly went to Vincent. "V-V-Vincent-sensei!" Mei calls.
Vincent looked at her, "Seeing you have found a solution to prevent this, Mei." Vincent said.
"Y-Yes! Can you please continue your match afterward?" Mei requests, and this caused others confused.
Vincent had a thought for a moment to think of her purpose for asking him to continue his match, and later he figured it out. "…I see, so you want the others to see on my face and upload it to the internet in order to attract more attention than the magic existence?" Vincent concluded as he understood Mei's request.
Mei surprised hearing Vincent understood instantly and amazed by his intelligence, "Yes, Vincent-sensei!" Mei nodded.
"Hm…" Vincent looked at Negi's panicking around as Asuna seeing Negi with confused look, "If that can helps reduce the amount of this attention, alright." Vincent accepted it. "I will continue for the match as you wanted, Mei." Vincent said with a smile, causing her to blush before Vincent patting on her head. "Good job."
"T-Thank you…" Mei responded without looking at his face to try to hide her blushing face from his view.
"So, does that mean you're willingly to continue your match later on?" Colonel asked as he suddenly communicates with Vincent through telepathy.
"No choice, the whole magic existence has been exposed so much, and I have to follow what Mei's idea has there."
"I see, so does that means that you're not going all out?"
"Of course I'm not going let loose of myself, I will only go for physical attacks, no magical attacks. Knowing that the current you is a fake body there, so there's no point for me to go all out. Sorry that I may have disappointing you with my answer here, I don't really care what you or others are thinking of this, even if the performance of mine goes down hills. I just do what I need to do."
"Hm…"
"And also, you can go all out as if I care that much, even with that artifact of yours."
"Huh?" Colonel didn't expect of that answer.
"I'm pretty sure you cannot hold back your capabilities. Eva told me the reason you want to have a fight me, your artifact can memorize any persons as long you have seen or experience the capabilities right? Although I'm still not fully understand the function of your artifact, but I'm certain of that point."
"Correct."
"Well, that's your chance. If you want it badly, I help. Besides, I want to test my current strength… But, I will still forfeit in the end, allowing you to meet Negi at the final match."
"I see. Then I have to thank you by that." The communication cuts off when they see both Eva and Setsuna are walking to the stage for their match.
"Thank you for waiting! To continue, we have the final match of the second round, contestant Sakurazaki versus contestant McDowell! This match will determine the strongest 4 in this school!" Kazumi announced to the spectators as they are seeing Setsuna and Eva walking toward to the stage.
Then, Vincent can hear Eva is talking to Setsuna as both of them are on the walkway there. "…By the way, seems like you've gotten along pretty well with Kagurazaka Asuna, Konoe Konoka and others as well since that school trip, eh Setsuna?" Eva asked to certain.
Setsuna looked at Eva with a confused face, "Eh… yeah." Setsuna replied.
"Huhu… I changed my mind." Eva stated as she changed her mind from forfeiting herself, and that caused Setsuna even more confused and uncertain of Eva.
"Eh?" Setsuna responded.
"Fight me now seriously, Setsuna." Eva tell Setsuna to fight seriously without holding back, "I'm starting to feel like toying with you for a bit…" Eva continued, and this caused Vincent raised his eyebrow.
'…What are you plotting there, Eva?' Vincent thought. '…It seems like you want to teach Setsuna a lesson… and…' Vincent can felt that she's a bit irritated by Setsuna for a reason. '…I can feel there's a faint of jealousy… and… irritating…'
"It would seem like Evangeline want to toy Setsuna-kun there." Colonel stated.
"In what?" Vincent asked.
"I do not know of that of hers." Colonel replied as he uncertain of that. Then, they see Eva slipped and slammed her face onto the floor there for not paying attention to her feet while they are on the stair. "Fu fu fu…" Colonel laughed sadistically.
"…" Vincent remained speechless as he ignores. '…Could it be that…' Vincent thought as he slowly understands the meaning of what Eva said as she wants to toy Setsuna a bit. He then hears Eva stated something as she got up from the falling, something about a book author named Anna Karenina. '[Happy families are all alike, but unhappy families are all unhappy in their own different ways]… Are you trying to tell Setsuna the meaning of this as she's a hybrid of demon and human, and also her family and her clan as well? You want her to learn that herself that she cannot coexist with humans? Don't try to drag people with you, Eva.'
Then, he hears Negi is having a conversation with Chamo and Chachazero, talking about Eva's current condition. "Now I remember, master is at her weakest state right now, but hasn't she recovered back to her full moon strength because of the World Tree's powers?" Negi asked.
"That's only on the last day of the Festival. Well, right now it's at a level where I can walk in totter steps, her body strength is just like that of a middle school student, and spells are all but usable." Chamo replied. "Then, though we can't call her a 10-year-old girl, she's still an ordinary person." Chamo continued further explanation, the others hear it. Mei then popped out a question.
"Um…" Mei approaches to Chamo. "Is that person the criminal named Dark Evangel?" Mei asked to certain.
"Y-Yes." Negi replied scratching his head.
"The actual person? Not her daughter or something?" Mei asked again to certain.
"Yes, she's my master." Negi replied again, and surprised Mei.
"Eh!?" Mei surprised, and then she recalls back the information about Evangeline she knows. "I heard about the wanted person with 600 million yen on her head, so I thought she'd be that scarier…" Mei stated. "…But, I didn't expect her to be this cute." The last statement makes them sweat-dropped.
"Is she cute?" Chamo surprised.
"But… how does master plan to fight in that kind of condition?" Negi asked as he curious and worried.
'…Don't keep on asking about fighting, Negi…' Vincent thought as he glancing at them.
"Well, just watch her for now. Seems like master's about to get serious, even without magical powers, living for hundreds of year ain't just for show, you know?" Chachazero replied.
'…It's true… even though she's in her weakest state, her strength is still far beyond than others… however her current endurance is really weak… one strong physical blow could drop her knees down.' Vincent thought as he can guess who the winner is, depends on their situation. '…But despite in her weak state… she is still one of the strongest in this place.'
…
"The final match of round 2, contestant McDowell versus contestant Sakurazaki, the winner of this match will fill in the last seat of the strongest 4 in this school!" Kazumi shouted as both contestants are stood in their position. Setsuna felt uneasy after hearing what Eva told her.
'…Evangeline-san…' Setsuna thought as she looked at Eva in front of her, she remembers those words that Eva said to her. 'Happy? Me? What is she talking about…?' Setsuna thought unease.
"Round two, match fourth! FIGHT!" Kazumi announced to starts the match now, and Setsuna can see Eva smirked.
"Now then! Come, Sakurazaki Setsuna!" Eva taunted at her opponent.
Setsuna doesn't feel like want to continue further her match as she has no reason to fight on in this tournament. "P-Please wait, Evangeline-san! There's no reason for me to fight with you!" Setsuna said as she tries to convince.
"It's a match, isn't it? Can't tacticians challenge others to a normal strength contest?" Eva said with a smirk. "You're a Shinmeiryuu swordsman too, no?" And now, both of them started to talk as they are keep their distance while walking circling each other.
"E-even if this is a contest of strength, right now your body strength should be lower than average, if I get serious, you might be injured…" Setsuna said as she keeping her distance from her opponent to try not to drop her guard and not letting her opponent having upper hand.
"Sorry to worry you. But I wonder how true that is?" Eva responded as she also keeping her distance. "Certainly, that might be true if the 'you' in the past had gotten serious."
"The two are keeping their distance and observing each other…" Kazumi shouted to all spectators, and Vincent can hear their conversation that Setsuna is concern landing any hit that might cause a fatal to Eva, and he can see Eva's face showing that she doesn't even scare or care about it.
"But if it's the cowardly you right now, it's possible for me to easily play you to death, even at my weakest condition." Eva continued her conversation, and that makes Setsuna raised her guard as she gripping her Deck Brush tightly to prepare to counter any attacks, both of them stopped their movements. "Oh? Not coming?" Eva said right before she takes the initiative first. "Guess I'll take the initiative then." Eva said as she began to attack as she raised her left index finger toward at Setsuna, causing Setsuna's right hand suddenly raised on its own self, Setsuna didn't anticipate this as she struggling to move her hand against the unknown force.
Kazumi noticed something wrong, "Ah… this is…?" Kazumi wondered. Then, Eva flicked her hand and Setsuna has been blown away by an unknown force, crashed onto the floor further away from her. "Aahh!? Contestant Sakurazaki has been blown away without being touched!? Is this a telekinesis!?" Kazumi shouted as she surprised.
Setsuna quickly recovers back from the surprise initiate attack by Evangeline, '…Ku… is this magic? No… she can't use magic…?' Setsuna thought as she uncertain from that unknown attack right before she's being forcefully bended backward as both of her hands being seized behind her, restrained her on the floor there immobilized down her movement.
…
"What was that just now?" Commentator Chachamaru asked uncertain of that technique that contestant Evangeline using now.
"I-I don't know, Air Grapple!?" Explainer Goutokuji replied as he also uncertain of that.
'…I see strings… so that's her skill as the Doll Master…' Vincent thought as he sees the skill Eva performing there using strings that came out of nowhere, and he has to control his anger emotion from that, seeing his student there has been pinned down and being tortured as well. 'I need to maintain my anger here… she wouldn't harm Setsuna purposely.' Vincent thought.
…
"If this wasn't a match, we'd be finished here. Things probably wouldn't have gone so easily with the 'you' before, right?" Eva stated as the string restraining is getting tighter, giving more pain to Setsuna. The others are worried seeing Setsuna is under torturing. "The 'you' before came from a sullen position since birth, you were like an unsheathed sword that would cut whoever touches you." Eva then mentioning about Setsuna's past staring down at helpless Setsuna there, "And look at you now, what's with this?" Eva stated as she increases the tightness of the strings again, making Setsuna suffering.
"Contestant Sakurazaki is being suppressed by an unbelievable power! This is!?" Kazumi shouted as she helplessly seeing Setsuna is being pinned down there.
"Reconciling with your most beloved ojou-sama at the school field trip, and pretending to be a good friend with Kagurazaka Asuna?" Eva continues with her lectures, Negi and others couldn't hear what they are saying, except Vincent, Colonel, and Asuna as they can hear clearly of what Eva saying there. "What's with that 'bathing in happiness and becoming soft look'?" Eva added in and adding more raging fuel in Asuna.
…
"Now Evangeline is just being a bit mean, torturing one of your students there just for her own joy." Colonel stated.
"…No, that's not it." Vincent responded. "It seems like she wants to share some of her painful experiences of her past to Setsuna there." Vincent replied as he understands why Eva is acting like that.
…
"Doesn't that make you the same as those annoying, airheaded brats in the class?" Eva mentioned this to Setsuna, making Setsuna recalls back all the fun time she had in the past with others.
"…A… Am I not allowed… to become happy…?" Setsuna asked.
Eva looked at her, "I'm not saying you can't…" Eva replied, she then paused for a moment before continue. "But, it's boring. The way you're having now, it's boring, and besides, can you really able to protect ojou-sama with that current state of yours?" Eva continued, Setsuna widen her eyes as she hears this statement, "And also… can you bear the pains Vincent had with that current pitiful level of yours?" Eva continued another one, Vincent was a bit surprised to hear this statement as he wondered, but this statement makes Setsuna snapped before she charged up her Ki on both of her hands to break free from the strings restraining.
"Stop saying that!" Setsuna warns as she grabbed her Deck Brush and attempts to attack, Eva draw out her fan and blocked the attack with ease, despite she's in her weakest state.
"Hm, that's it." Eva blocked the attack as she keeps taunting Setsuna. "But…" Eva then counter Setsuna by placing her left palm onto Setsuna's right elbow, with her fan as well grabbing her right elbow with her left knee landed and her fan and forcefully slam Setsuna onto the floor there. "You're way too naïve." This caused the others worried.
"Iron Fan! Is that Reverse Elbow Twist!?" The explainer Goutokuji surprised seeing an old technique has been performed.
Setsuna quickly got up with a surprised face, and then she recovered back her Deck Brush and dashed towards to Eva. But, she's being blown away by Eva's unknown strength and force, blew away Setsuna to side. This brought more attention to spectators. Setsuna quickly recovers back in the midair, '…These aren't strings, but mere physical attacks!?' Setsuna thought as she recovering back, but then her right leg has been entangled by Eva's puppet string, Setsuna didn't foresee this and the string pull her, tripping her on the floor there. '…This is ridiculous! She doesn't even use any Magical Power or Ki!' Setsuna thought as she quickly recovers back again on her foot, but she didn't see Eva appeared in front of her with her left palm going to slam on her face, she couldn't react at that time and took the palm attack directly, slamming Setsuna onto the floor.
"Another twist! Contestant Sakurazaki with the Deck Brush is getting tossed around by the doll-like contestant McDowell!" Kazumi shouted through the mic, and the spectators are amazed by that technique.
Then, Setsuna sensed many strings again attached on her hands, her legs and her neck. '…No doubt about it… Her speed and strength aren't like Vincent-kun's capabilities, but like an ordinary person… A Shinmeiryuu swordsman beaten by a mere human by mere physical attacks… This… this is just humiliating…' Setsuna thought with a surprised face right before she's being pulled and held in the midair.
…
"That's Aiki-Iron Fan technique! It's Aiki-Juujutsu!" Explainer Goutokuji stated the name of that technique performed by Eva.
"By Aiki, you mean using the enemy's strength and tossing them." Commentator Chachamaru commented as she heard.
"Yes! No matter how powerful an attack is, it is rendered useless if it gets diverted off!" Explainer Goutokuji replied. "But, for such a young girl like that to be so skilled in it… I'm truly shocked!"
"I see." Commentator Chachamaru responded by that.
"Damn… that old hag really strong… despite that she's in her weakest state." Kotarou commented. "Some more that technique she performs there are flawless…"
Vincent somehow finds that technique is interesting, '…A technique that counters the enemy's attacks by using their strength? This could be helpful for me to fight against my enemies…' Vincent thought as he sees Eva's Aiki Iron Fan technique.
…
Eva hears what Explainer Goutokuji said there, "I've learned this technique from a tiny old man from about a hundred years ago when I visited Japan." Eva stated as she starts flipping the fan to herself, the others couldn't hear what she said except Vincent, Colonel, Asuna as they can hear what Eva said there, including Setsuna that she lying there just beside her. "Since then, I've mastered it as a way to kill time for a whole century, and it's been surprisingly useful ever since I lost my magical powers, it let me keep a tab on everything." Eva continued as she closed her flipping fan and laugh, staring at helpless Setsuna as she's being held in the midair by the strings, restraining both her hands and legs.
'…What kind of weakest condition is this… this person really is at a whole different level like Vincent-kun…!' Setsuna thought stares at Eva with her awareness face.
"Still, this body's only enough to take on small fry. Why didn't you use your Ougis?" Eva asked even though she knows why. "If you use Ki infused skills, I guess even I'll have a tough time. "No, you should be able to defeat me even without using your Ougis." Eva said with a bit disappointing tone, and then she increases the tightness of the strings again, suffering Setsuna once more. "Too naïve… you're no different from those middle school brats over there, just looking at you now and it irritates me." Eva stated again, and this makes Setsuna more confused. "Setsuna, did you really think… that you could become happy?" Eva asked with unhappy tone, Setsuna flinched by that. "Just like me, that you are an outsider… Oh wait, that's not it, you're half breed, aren't you…?" Eva stated, and she chuckled. "…Huhu, those wings of yours on your back, weren't they white?" This caused Setsuna shocked as she sees through Setsuna somehow. "What's with the black hair? Did you dye it? What about those eyes? Color contacts?" Eva continues with her chatting that makes her even more shock.
…
'…That's enough, Eva. You don't have to go that far, you know.' Vincent thought as his expression changed. The moment he's going to stand up and say, Asuna take a step first as she heard everything and snapped.
"HEY! YOU IDIOT EVA-CHAN!" Asuna shouted extremely loud, causing both Setsuna and Eva surprised by that sudden, everyone looked at her. "Just try to talk more like that and I'll get in there to beat you down! I was an idiot for thinking that you might be a nice person! Now you're nothing more than an evil witch with bad mouth!" Asuna continued scolding as she angered pointing her finger toward to Eva.
The others stared at her with surprised face. "…" Vincent remained silent.
"What's with [happy people are boring], are you stupid!?" Asuna continued shouting right before Negi went to hold her back as she struggling to break free. "What was that talk about only recognizing Se-chan who's like an incarnation of happiness then!? Fight with me, you idiot Eva!"
'…Nice said there, Asuna.' Vincent thought with a faint smile.
…
"She heard? Dear me, the outfield is getting annoying." Eva commented as she feels uneasy with the outside there, then she got some way to communicates without getting bother by others. "Setsuna, look at my eyes." Eva told Setsuna to look at her eyes.
Setsuna confused, "Eh…" Setsuna wasn't sure how to respond.
"Enough, just look, Setsuna." Eva then gazed at Setsuna's eyes, and both of them froze sudden with their eyes widen without blinking for once.
Everything becomes quiet, as the others are wondered what's happened to both contestants there, "This is…? The two contestants have stopped there with their eyes wide open… What exactly happened there?" Kazumi said through mic as she wonders, and not just her but others as well.
…
"…Erm… what's going on?" Kotarou asked as he sees both of them are not moving an inch.
"…?" Vincent noticed something odd happened on there. "What happened? It's like Eva brought their consciousness into a different world." Vincent asked for lacking understanding about Eva has used an unknown ability there onto Setsuna, seeing both of them are gazing each other with their eyes widely open.
"Hm… I think that one…" Colonel stated as he probably knows something.
"They've gotta be fighting in phantasmagoria, aniki!" Chamo recognized that pattern. Asuna confused about that but Negi understood that, "Let's go look, using the dream watcher magic on the pactio card!"
"Y-Yeah, Chamo-kun." Negi responded as he took out Setsuna's pactio card and place it on his forehead and starts chanting, Vincent can see Negi is preparing a spell as four of them planning to go check.
'…Plan to see into their dreams?' Vincent thought as he heard. 'If what Chamo stated that they are in phantasmagoria… And I think Eva will definitely pick her resort… since that place has infinite magical powers flew around the space, and that would mean Eva will no longer in weakened state and can go all out as long she's in that world.' Vincent thought. '…So Eva wants Setsuna to become strong and see her resolve…' And now Negi, Asuna, Chamo, and Chachazero have entered into the dream to check on what happens in there. Vincent knows the time between the resort and the outside are different, inside the resort there the time flew faster than outside.
And then, few seconds later an explosion suddenly happened onto both of them, this surprised everyone by that sudden explosion, they can see Setsuna flew out of the smoke and readied her Deck Brush there.
'…Hm?' Vincent noticed something as he sees Eva standing there staring at incoming Setsuna without doing any movement at all, and Setsuna struck at Eva with her Deck Brush physically.
"Ah…! A reversal!? It's over! A clean hit!" Kazumi shouted as she sees contestant Setsuna landed a hit onto Eva and Eva lied on the ground there after receiving the attack. Vincent stood up from his seat as he's walking toward to the stage there, Negi and Asuna take the lead first, and Setsuna looked back and quickly went beside Eva to check her injuries.
"A-Are you alright!? Evangeline-san!" Setsuna asked as she quickly rushes to Eva.
"Ah…" Eva got up as she pushed herself up, "It's my defeat… you did well breaking through my illusion." Eva announced that she surrendered.
"Aahhh! Contestant McDowell has given up! The two stared silently at each other for over 30 seconds, but in a twist, everything was over in one hit!" Kazumi shouted announcing the winner.
They arrived beside Eva there, "You'd alright there, Eva?" Vincent asked as he kneeled down there.
"…I'm alright here." Eva replied.
"No." Vincent said, "You got 6 broken ribs from that hit just now, Eva. Don't try to hide it." Vincent stated as he saw through, and then Eva started to felt the pain from the blow.
"Ow ow ow…!" Eva felt the pain.
"S-Seriously!?" Asuna surprised.
"Oh!? It would seem like contestant McDowell have some broken bones, is she alright!?" Kazumi shouted as she hears Eva got some broken bones.
"Enough chit-chatting here, let's go to the infirmary, then you can your talks there." Vincent said as he went and carried Eva in bridal style.
Kazumi seeing them are heading toward to the infirmary as Vincent carrying injured Eva, "And that's the end of the round two! The best 4 of the strongest of this school has been determined!" Kazumi shouted to everyone as the four holographic screens projected at the sky there revealing four contestants left for the semi-final, which are Negi Springfield will be versus Sakurazaki Setsuna on the bracket A, and for the bracket B will be Colonel Sanders versus Vincent Valentine, all the spectators are getting excited for the upcoming semi-final.
…
Infirmary
Inside the infirmary, where Eva was on the bed there with her clothes took away and bandaged her wound there. "Master, are your injuries alright?" Negi asked as he concerned.
"I'll be fine by tomorrow, because the World Tree's magic powers are flowing through the school. Just leave me alone here." Eva replied right before the pain occurred again. "Gu! Ow ow ow…!"
"Don't speak too much, Eva." Vincent said.
"Master!" Negi surprised.
"Hmph, you reap what you sow." Asuna told to Eva as she satisfied seeing Eva in that condition.
"Hmph…" Eva is still able to smirk despite with injuries.
"Evangeline-san, I want to thank you something." Setsuna started.
"Eh? About what?" Eva asked as she confused.
"T-the choice just now… the answer to it wasn't to defeat you through force, but rather to break the illusion itself by showing my own determination, wasn't it?" Setsuna asked.
"…Hm?" Eva was still confused, and then she realizes what she trying to say. "Ah…. Uh… yeah, well…" Eva is trying to explain.
"It's true that I have been immersed in an unexpectedly happy situation recently, and may have become too relaxed." Setsuna confessed, "And I was able to have you warn me about that in this form…"
"No… uh…" Eva was still trying to say.
"As expected from Negi-sensei's master, for you to even bother doing something like this just for someone like me, I want to thank you for what you have did to me, Evangeline-san." Setsuna thanked at Eva.
Eva sees Setsuna has misunderstood there. "Hey Setsuna, I don't know what kind of positive misunderstanding you are making there, but… I only felt like bullying you around recently, that's all." Eva said. "Same with the choice, I was anticipating you to give up one side, so don't get any wrong ideas."
"Oh… So you're teaching Setsuna a lesson just now?" Vincent asked.
"Yeah, just to teach her not to be naïve and not to relax." Eva replied.
"I see. Then Eva, they know already about Setsuna's past." Vincent told to Eva.
"Oh? Really?" Eva wasn't expected this.
"We know all about Setsuna-san's past, so we know the kind of thoughts that Setsuna-san might have, and of course, the meaning of her white wings too." Asuna added in.
Eva remained speechless, "…Oh." Eva responded as she heard.
"Ah yes, right after the school field trip, to me and Asuna-san, Vincent-nii, Konoka-san, and Chamo-kun. She told everyone about herself." Negi added in to help explain.
"Hmph." Eva smirked after a pause. "Good for you, Setsuna. Being together with you people really makes me feel my age, huhu…" Eva said.
"Hm, must be a very deep conversation you two had there." Vincent said as he smirked. "Choosing between the happiness and the sword, everyone has the right to choose one or both, depending on a person's characteristics." This surprises them as they heard Vincent used two keywords that they used in the dream, and they really want to know how Vincent able to guess those two words correctly, and some more the choices, he guessed correct again. "Now, Eva. Shall your wound need to be cure?" Vincent asked.
"Hm… pretty please~" Eva replied as she wants.
"But I can't just simply touch on your chest, you know what I mean." Vincent mentioned something about the sexual harassment assault which makes Eva blushed and the girls as well, except Negi of course for not knowing anything about all of this. "Then how about this Eva, I give this Healing Materia to you, you handle it." Vincent said as he took out a Healing Materia and gave it to Eva. "I'm no longer needed it, take it as a gift. Now equip it on your Aurora Armlet there."
Eva received the Healing Materia from Vincent, and she looked at it seeing inside the Materia is glowing with some power within it. "Hm…" Eva remained quiet as she equipped it onto her Aurora Armlet that Vincent gave it to her before. "How do I use it?" Eva asked at the Materia Expert.
"Remember the keywords for that Materia: Cure, Cura, Curaga, and Regen." Vincent replied as he stated out the keywords to use the healing magic. "Place your hand onto your wounded area, and say the keyword Cura, I recommend that."
"But…" Eva was trying to say that she's unable to use any magic within this sealed place that limits her magic capabilities.
"Not to worry about that, Eva. Even though you are in weakened state, you will still able to use the magic from Materia." Vincent explained.
"Hm…" Eva then gently places her hand onto her wounded chest, and say. "Cura" A green light surrounded her hand and she can felt that her wound is healed that she can feel that her broken ribs have been restored. "Wow… Now this is something I like." Eva commented as she amazed.
"Yeah, Vincent-nii-san, you haven't told us where you get that Materia from?" Chamo asked as he remembers the question few months ago during the field trip.
"Chamo, I apologize that now isn't the time for me to tell you that." Vincent replied as he looked at Chamo, then he turned back to Eva. "Eva, remember this. Using the healing spells will cost some portion of your energy, the higher level of the healing spell, the higher the cost, so use it wisely. And remain like that, Eva, for avoiding any suspicious." Vincent told her to remain as wounded person. "You may keep the Healing Materia with you." And Eva gladly accepted the Materia with her, happily staring at her armlet there equipped with Healing Materia.
"Evangeline-san, may I ask something?" Setsuna asked something.
"Hm?" Eva responded as she looked back in front of her. "What is it?"
"Back there you said something 'I can sympathize with the feeling of having to carry the burden of unhappiness from the moment you were born', so does this means you also carried the burden of unhappiness." Setsuna asked recalling back what Eva said to her, and Setsuna hit on bull's eye.
"Hm?" Eva surprised.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Asuna asked as she confused, knowing nothing at the first half.
"Well, I was just thinking that maybe Evangeline-san is combining my experiences with her own past, and giving me advice in that form…" Setsuna replied as she explains.
"Oh, is that so, Eva-chan?" Asuna asked.
Eva remained quiet, "How stupid. This conversation is over, hurry up and get out, you brats." Eva told them as she doesn't want to tell them.
Asuna then butt in, "That won't do at all, because I still haven't forgiven you for what you said to Setsuna-san back there. I won't be able to accept it if I don't hear about this." Asuna scolds Eva.
"Eh? Master's past?" Negi heard that as he interested to find out.
"…" Eva remained speechless. "…Then don't forgive me, I'm an evil mage, and that's good enough for you?" Eva said without looking at them.
"That's no good, Eva-chan! Come on and tell us, it's sly to run from a talk!" Asuna begged as she eagerly to hear about Eva's past.
"Master! I want to hear too!" Negi said as he eagerly want to know.
"I better go first." Vincent said as he walks toward to the exit, "I have to prepare for my next match." Vincent told them right before he exited out the infirmary, leaving them as they are eagerly wants to listen about Eva's past.
"Negi-kun is in there, right?" Albireo/Colonel suddenly communicates with Vincent via telepathy.
"He's in there with others, you can see him later at outside, and we still have some time before our match."
"Good, because I got something I want to tell him." The communication cuts off. Everyone is preparing to do their activities as Vincent is went to prepare himself for his next match, he can sense that Albireo/Colonel went to check on Negi to tell him something, Asuna and Setsuna are accompanying with Eva, he can even sense Mana is currently facing three nuns somewhere on the roofs, some of his students from the Haunted House there are climbing over the roof and enter the shrine illegally without the tickets.
"Vincent, how's your holding up?" Cosmos communicates with Vincent via telepathy.
"I'm alright for now, thanks for your concerns Lady Cosmos."
"Glad to hear that, Vincent."
"I have to do a favor from an acquaintance of mine here, I won't overdo it."
"Just be careful, Vincent. We do not know when the enemies will strike again."
"I got it, Lady Cosmos." The communication cuts off.
Then, Vincent remains quiet as he recalls back what Golbez told to him, '…So… Negi and others can help in my causes, then… I will see Colonel's strength with my own eyes… and also, I will test some of my abilities…' Vincent thought before he walks off.
…
~FFXMSN~
Few minutes later
The crowds are chattered with the atmosphere filled of excitement as the semi-final will going to start in few more minutes. The first fight will be the bracket B, which is the Mahora school assistant teacher Vincent Valentine versus the man under the hood Colonel Sanders. Later for the second match will be the bracket A which is the child teacher Negi Springfield versus the Deck Brush maid Sakurazaki Setsuna.
'…Now is the semi-final…' Shiki thought. 'Vincent doesn't show any care about continuing his match… on his next match he will show no interest at all…' Shiki then sighed.
"It seems like everyone is ready and waiting for the next match to start." Yue said as she sipping her drink while looking around her surroundings, the number of people is increasing. "So, what do you all think the match between Vincent-sensei and Colonel Sanders?"
"Shiki-san, who do you think will win?" Konoka asked at Shiki first that she standing beside her, Konoka knows Vincent definitely will lose.
"Huh? Erm…" Shiki wasn't expected this question as she wasn't know how to answer. "I wasn't sure about that… both of them are strong fighters… So I don't know which…" Shiki replied as she already knows Vincent will lose on this match because he doesn't feel wanted to continue on behaves on Colonel's request. "What about you, Konoka?"
"You sounds you're uncertain, Shiki-san." Yue said.
"You'd all seen how he's fight, right? That he fought against that contestant Jecht just now." Shiki told them and they nodded for understand.
"Correct, but in his next match it should have piece of cake for Vincent-sensei, right?" Haruna stated and asked.
"I think so, Haruna." Yue replied.
"Y-yeah, me too." Nodoka replied as well.
'…Indeed it's a piece of cake for Vincent… but he will lose the match on purpose… and also with his wounds there haven't heal up yet…' Shiki thought as she hears her friends' conversations.
…
"I just hope Vincent-kun don't overdo it." Chizuru commented as she sighed in worried.
"Don't worry, Chizu-nee, I'm sure he won't overdo it, although I've missed his match just now…" Natsumi said. "And also… About Kotarou's losses… how's he?"
"You can see he's still cheerful there." Chizuru replied as she points her finger toward to the contestants' seats, Natsumi can see Kotarou there is having some chit-chatting to Kaede there about Vincent's upcoming match there cheerfully.
"Oh…" Natsumi sighed in relief. "For that I thought Kotarou-kun will cry for an hour…" Natsumi said it as she hit on correct spot, Kotarou indeed cried in his lost.
"Yeah, he did cried there, but Vincent-kun said something that makes him back to his usual." Chizuru answered that, and Natsumi surprised.
"Eh?" Natsumi surprised.
"Kota-chan there is very respect on Vincent-kun there, and I hope Kota-chan can follow Vincent-kun there as his model there." Chizuru commented.
…
While the others are having their break, even the commentators and referees are also taking too. Chisame has been typing any comments with the speed of one hundred words per minute, everything about the magic stuffs that has been talking about in the internet in order to dull down the discussion of the magic that she wants to help them. '…Wha…? What is the meaning of this? Just when I thought the net situation had calmed down… the intensity is still remained in various places…! Damn, such ridiculous topics… there must be some people hired by dozens to manipulate this thing! No, that's wrong… there's no such thing as hiring people to doing this… this is too much for some part-timers, the casualness of this writing is amazing! Whoever wrote all of these must be really something…!' Chisame thought in both curious and surprises. Then, she noticed there are some topics related to Vincent and his angelic face, Chisame can see that topic managed to dull down the magic topic, and Chisame can see the most of the comments are wrote by female. '…Oh… seems like there are some topics about Vincent-sensei that are managed to weaken the magic topics… But… it's still not enough! Tsk… there's nothing I can do much with a notebook pc like this…! Even if I let that brat and Vincent-sensei knows about this… it still won't work!' Chisame thought in furious.
…
"The rumor spread depth and intrusion rate on the net has recovered. However there are some topics that are related to Vincent-sensei." Hakase told as she checks the situation of the internet.
"Hm… It couldn't be help-ne. But still those topics won't be able to keep up-ne, so there's no worry about." Chao told. "Alright, maintain the current condition until there are interferences from the mage side-ne."
"That means there are two problems remains, one is…" Hakase stated as she looked at the image shown in the screen there showing the picture of Colonel. "Is this person… isn't it?"
"Hm, when I was down below just now, I tried to get some truth out of Takahata-sensei by showing this image." Chao stated, "You know how Takahata-sensei reacts?"
"Eh?" Hakase responded.
"He's shocked." Chao answered. "That proves he's an ally of the Thousand Master ne." Chao concluded.
Hakase surprised. "Thousand… you mean Negi-sensei's father's…!?" Hakase exclaimed as she quickly looked into the info of Colonel. "…Albireo Elma, this must be him! Hm… there's not much details about him even in the mage databases… this is bad! If a person that is same as Evangeline-san's level comes into play, it might pose an obstacle to the plan!" Hakase stated as she worried.
"Hm… we can't loosen up the surveillance on him either, but although he's one of the dangerous factors. However, my hunch is, the goal of this man has nothing to do with our plan." Chao concluded. "We're probably all right-ne."
"Hm…! Seems like he's made contact with Negi-sensei!" Hakase said as she looked at the hidden camera showing Colonel is going to have a chat with Negi. After a while they see Colonel disappeared in front of them. "If what you said he won't interferes our plan, then to the second problem." Hakase stated as she shows the screen with an image of Vincent as he walking toward to somewhere within the building there. "The main problem is Vincent-sensei… I'm not sure that is he's an obstacle for our plan… but his level is above than Evangeline-san and that man just now…" Hakase stated. "He's the second dangerous factor for our plan."
"…" Chao remained silent staring at the screen there.
Then one moment when Vincent walks toward to the changing room to get new clothes after his previous one being torn apart after having a tough fight, now he's half naked with many bandages, he stopped at the changing room door there then he suddenly glanced at them through the hidden camera, this caused both of them surprised.
"W-w-w-w-what!?" Hakase jumped.
Vincent smiled toward at the hidden camera there before he entered into the changing room right before the screen turned black.
"T-t-that makes me jump!" Hakase said as her heart is nervously beating fast. "He-he-he's way above both of them…!"
"…" Chao remained silent as her hands sweats a bit. "He's really is awesome-ne…" Chao commented, just a glance from him makes them nervous.
…
Meanwhile on the other girls from the Haunted House there as they are arrived and standing on the roofs there and now they are waiting for the next match. "…Erm… So…" Misa started as she looked up at the floating holographic screens there displaying the current semi-final tablet match, bracket A is Negi Springfield versus Sakurazaki Setsuna, and bracket B is Vincent Valentine versus Colonel Sanders. "So Vincent-sensei is going to fight on the next match?"
"They start with bracket B, so yes." Madoka replied as she looked into the laptop. "Vincent-sensei will be fighting on next match." Madoka sighed. "Too bad we have totally missed his previous match…" Madoka commented as she disappointed.
"Some more I've heard from what other people said about Vincent-sensei's previous match, they said that fight is the most awesome match ever." Misa stated. "That mentioned us that we all saw many explosions in the sky there." Misa mentioned.
"Some more there's a meteor as well…" Akira added in.
"Yeah… now that was some awesome CG they did there." Yuna commented.
The Narutaki twin listened to their conversation, "We've missed that match…" The twin said in unison as they sighed.
"Some more there's no available video for that match…" Madoka mentioned as she sighed too. "I'm pretty sure someone put that video in privately."
Misa looked back at her laptop there, "…On the bracket A, which is Negi-sensei is going to fight against Sakurazaki-san." Misa stated as she looked at the bracket A. Makie's ears twitched as she hears about Negi.
"Aw come on you all, look on the bright side. At least we've made it to see the remaining three matches." Makie mentioned to them as she tries to cheer them up. "And we can still see Negi-kun's match, right?"
"Negi-sensei…" Ayaka said dreamily as she hears the name.
Ako went to see on the chart there, "So… Vincent-sensei is going to fight against that… Colonel Sanders?" Ako asked, and she got sweat-dropped seeing that contestant picked a ridiculous name from a certain person.
"Yeah… and what a ridiculous name…" Madoka replied deadpanned as she sees the name.
"I hope Vincent-sensei wins the match…" Ako said as she looked up at the holographic screens and the others looked at Vincent's solemn face. "Vincent-sensei's seriousness…"
"Yeah…" Akira agreed.
…
"So Vincent will fight against that good for nothing pervert…" Eva commented as she's with Asuna and Setsuna as they are walking toward to the contestants' seats, waiting for the match, she wore a T-shirt that doesn't suit her size there. "Now this is a match that we need to see."
"…Another match that excites you, Eva-chan?" Asuna asked as she sees Eva's face filled with excited.
"Of course it excites me after we've seen Vincent's previous match, I want to see more of his abilities to learn some moves, though we already know that he will lose on purpose in some certain point." Eva replied as she was awed by most of his offensive skills during Vincent fight against Jecht.
"Yeah, now you mentioned it, I want to learn about that move too… Something that he released it out a blue glowing beam thing…" Asuna mentioned as she interested the Blade Beam skill. "But it kinda looks dangerous…"
"You can, Asuna-san, like Vincent-kun taught me the Fervent Blow skill few days ago." Setsuna told them.
"Seriously?" Asuna surprised.
"Yeah." Setsuna replied. "Well of course I'm didn't planned to use this skill in tournament." Setsuna mentioned about safety. Moment later they arrived at the contestants' seats, seeing Ku Fei was with Negi there. They could see Negi's face has some trace of surprised and shocked.
"What's wrong Negi? You look all flustered." Asuna asked.
"No-nothing… never mind… I can't… describe it very well…" Negi replied as he feels uneasy with his shocked expression there.
"W-wait a second… Are you okay?" Asuna asked as she concerned.
"No… it's nothing." Negi replied before he looked at Setsuna, his next opponent for his next match. "Setsuna-san, it seems like I'll have to make it to the finals no matter what." Negi told, and makes Setsuna confused a bit. Then right before Setsuna want to ask what happen, Kazumi shouts through the mic.
"Thank you all for waiting! The semi-final match, contestant Colonel versus contestant Vincent, is now beginning! Everyone please quickly return to your seats!" Kazumi shouted.
"Oh, it's started." Asuna stated.
…
'…Oh, now Vincent-kun's match has started… It's okay if I miss it, I can just simply borrow the video from Chao…' Mana thought as she's currently facing against the nun leader Shakti.
"So… that teacher of yours is going to have a fight there, ain't you worrying that you might miss it?" Sister Shakti said to her enemy to try to drop her guard, she now realized that the enemy that standing in front of her is her apprentice Misora's classmate, she knows her apprentice's teacher is Vincent the moment both of them hears Kazumi's announcement.
"…" Mana remained quiet. "I cannot let this drift in my thoughts for that I have objectives need to accomplish." Mana replied as she remains calm.
"…" Sister Shakti remained silent as she hears her replies, "I have never see Vincent-sensei's face for once… so may I go and have a look on his face just for once?" Sister Shakti said.
"…Sorry, I cannot allow you to pass through here, except the others that passed through just now." Mana replied as she referring to Ayaka and others that they running on the roofs there toward to the tournament ground. "Besides… I cannot allow you to go see my teacher's face there, for I might fear that you will lose yourself there."
"…Oh… so you mean that he's quite handsome there… this makes me interest more." Sister Shakti commented as she lowered her cloth that covered her mouth there with a smirked face, Mana sees her and Mana didn't expect of her reply.
"Correct, but still I won't allow you to pass." Mana said.
…
"Now then, this tournament has been played out with white-hot-matches surpassing the common senses! We are finally heading into the semi-finals!" Kazumi announced. "And now, we're about to start the first match of the semi-final! In this corner is the mysterious hood man who easily defeated the two contestants with his unknown abilities! The contestant Colonel Sanders!" Kazumi introduced Colonel as the crowd is cheering from the spectators' seats.
"I'm here." Colonel stated as he appeared in front of her, this caused her a jump.
"Woah!" Kazumi surprised. "And on this corner, the one that shocked and excites all of us during his previous heart-racing and toughest match against the contestant Jecht with his godlike abilities, the contestant Vincent Valentine!" Kazumi introduced Vincent as the crowds are cheering loudly from the spectators' seats, and again a scream of banshees from all of the girls, causing most people had to shut their ears from their terrifying shriek the moment they heard his name.
"A-Again with those screams…" Kotarou commented as he slowly opened his ears.
Their eyes are eyeing onto the pathway between the spectators' seats there, seeing a man in black suit coming toward to the stage, Vincent with his usual solemn expression while he wearing his black gloves, wearing a Turks suit. Vincent arrived on the stage and going to his position there, standing across to Colonel.
"Wow… Vincent-nii-san sure looks cool in that outfit…" Kotarou commented on his Turks outfit.
"Yeah, I wonder will that dress look good to us…" Asuna responded as she wonders the suit.
…
"Colonel, let's have a good match, shall we?" Vincent talked first.
"Alright Vincent-kun, we cannot disappoint the spectators too." Colonel responded.
"I have said I won't let loose of myself before this, right?" Vincent mentioned something.
"Aha, you said that before." Colonel responded.
"I changed my mind. I think I will let loose a bit, just to test out some abilities that I've learned." Vincent stated.
"Oh?" Colonel was surprised a bit.
…
"…" Negi remained silent as he trembling a bit.
Ku Fei noticed, "Are you alright, Negi-bouzu?" Ku Fei asked, but Negi didn't reply due to him having a thought.
'…That voice… that voice was certainly… Dad's voice… just exactly who is that Colonel person…?' Negi thought curiously.
…
Vincent glanced at Negi as he sensed Negi was trembling a bit, "You told Negi?" Vincent asked.
"Correct, just to motivate him a bit." Colonel replied.
"With his father's voice, right?" Vincent hit on bull's eyes.
"Correct~" Colonel replied.
…
"…" Eva was standing there with a blushed face drooling there as she seeing Vincent in his Turks attire there together with his solemn expression.
"What's the matter, Eva-chan?" Asuna asked. "…Don't tell me that you've fall into Vincent, right?"
"…Correct, he's my most favorite food…" Eva replied as she confessed with honesty crossing her arms, "So, you'd got problem with that, you two?" Eva asked with an annoyed face facing at Asuna and Setsuna.
"Now Kotarou, you better watch carefully again like his previous match." Kaede told to Kotarou that stood beside him. "Even though he said he will lose in his match, we still need to see."
"Yeah, Kaede-nee-chan." Kotarou replied.
…
"I hope he don't overdo again like on his previous match there." Chisame commented as she waiting to see their fight.
"…You're concerned about Vincent-sensei, Chisame-san?" Chachamaru asked.
This caused Chisame a surprised and blushed before she counter attack back with same question, "I-I'm not worried about him, and are you worried about him or something?" Chisame countered back. "…Maybe a bit…" Chisame muttered the last part.
"…" Chachamaru remained silent, "Yes… I am worried… ever since he's bleed a lot back there…" Chachamaru confessed with concerned tone, this sadden the atmosphere a bit.
Chisame didn't expect this from her classmate android, "W-well, he's still in one piece, right?" Chisame unconsciously tries to cheer Chachamaru up.
"Correct, and thanks, Chisame-san, for trying to cheer me up, even though we'll be rivals." Chachamaru thanked.
"Ah ha ha…" Chisame could only laugh sweat-dropped as she doesn't know how to reply.
...
"Now, the first match of the semi-final…" Kazumi announced, making both fighters ready their stances, the atmosphere turned into quiet as they are waiting for the fight that are about to start in few more seconds, same goes to other contestants also as they want to see their abilities.
"Kazumi, go where the contestants are, it will be dangerous." Vincent told Kazumi, she nodded as she quickly ran to the contestants before she turns around facing back at the stage there. '…If what Golbez said was right… first I need to check on Colonel's strength…' Vincent thought.
Kazumi gathers her breath before shouts, "FIGHT!" Kazumi announced as the fight starts.
…
…
End of the Chapter 25