The day after the battle with the Kuro Organization, the next day dawned.

　The next day, Leah and I walked to class, still tired.

"Wow, ...... sleepy, Allen, ......

　Leah put her hand over her mouth and said with a small sigh.

"Yeah, I guess so .......

　The last two days.
　I've been dealing with the Kuro Organization for the past two days and I haven't slept well.
　As you can see, after only a few hours of sleep, I was not in the best condition .......

　Later, when we arrived at the first year A class, we opened the door to the classroom.

I'm so glad you're here.

"Oh, thank God, ....... You're safe!

That was a real disaster. ....... Well, at any rate, I'm glad you're okay!

　I'm glad you're okay!

When I heard that I was kidnapped by the black organization, I thought my heart would stop .......

"Did they do anything weird to you?　Are you okay?

They're ....... If I ever see you again, I'm going to hurt you. ......

　Everyone who had been sincerely worried about Leah said with a look of relief on their faces.

I'm sorry for making you worry, everyone. But don't worry--nothing really happened.

　As soon as Leah told them that she was okay, the door behind her swung open and in walked Rose, looking even sleepier than usual.

"Oh, good morning, Rose.

Good morning, Rose. ...... You look even more bedraggled than usual.

............ Good morning.

　She walked in with her fine head of hair standing on end, and sat down in her seat.

　It seems that Rose's body is as exhausted as ours.

　As we were chatting about nothing, the bell rang.

　Then

Good morning, gentlemen!　It's a beautiful morning!

　Ms. Leia, energetic as always, opened the door of the classroom with a bang.

　I'm sure she hasn't slept much in the past two days, but .......

　Unlike us, she seemed to be in pretty good spirits.

"Well, morning homeroom, there's ...... nothing to report, I guess. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.　First period is Soul Dressing class!　First period is Soul Dressing class, so meet me in the Soul Dressing room right away!

　The teacher clapped his hands and we started to move to the soul-dressing place.

.

　We arrived at the soul-dressing place, and each of us took one of the spirit swords in our hands and began to talk to our own spirit cores.

(......). (It seems like it's been a while since I've been here. ......)

　It must not have been long since you last visited the world of the soul. .......

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

(Well, it's time to do it. ......)

　I gripped my spirit sword tightly in both hands and focused my consciousness deep into my soul.

　I let my consciousness sink inward, and when I slowly opened my eyes, there was a dead wilderness all around me.

　Dead trees.
　Dead soil.
　Dead air.

　Everything is dead, and this is his world.

　A huge boulder with a cracked surface looms before me.
　At the top of it, he was sitting on his knees.

Haha ....... You never learn, do you ....... Don't you understand that you can't win no matter how many times you try?　...... Aaah?

　He muttered in disgust.

I'll keep trying again and again. And it's not like we've decided ...... that we'll never win, right?

You're an idiot, aren't you?　There's no way a little guy like you can beat me, is there?　Eh?

　He didn't even try to hide his grumpiness, but he unleashed a tremendous killing intent that made my hair stand on end.

"You don't know that ...... until you try it!

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

"Well, that's okay. ....... I was in the mood for a little exercise today, so I'll go with you. ......!

　The moment he said this, he slowly stood up.

　The moment he stood up slowly, a jet-black darkness poured out of his body.

"What?

What are you surprised about? ....... This was my power to begin with. It's only because you grew up a little bit that I've been able to use some of my powers.

　He said and smiled evilly.

　But it wasn't his use of the darkness that surprised me.

(The density is too ...... different ......!



　俺と奴の闇は、比べるのが馬鹿馬鹿しくなるほどに違った(・・・).

　密度・量・迫力――その全てが桁外れだった.

　やはり昨晩こいつから奪った力は、ほんのわずかなものだったようだ.

「くっ……. 俺だって……っ！」

　俺は精神を集中し、昨晩と同じ強い心をもって――あの黒剣を求めた.

　しかし、

「あ、れ……？」

　黒剣は姿を現さず――ほんのわずかな『黒いモヤ』が、手のひらに浮かび上がるだけだった.

「はっ. まだまだヒヨッコのクソガキが……っ. いっちょこまえに、俺の黒剣を具象化するからだ！　『霊力』がすっからかんじゃねぇか……っ！」

「れ、霊力……？　なんだそれ？」

　初めて聞く言葉に首を傾げると、

「そんなもん……黒拳にでも聞きやがれぇ゛……っ！」

　奴は凄まじい速度でこちらへ飛び掛かってきた.

「くそ……っ」

　黒剣を出せなかった俺が、仕方なくいつもの剣を抜き放ったその瞬間.

「……おいおい、どこ見てんだ？」

　奴はもう俺の背後に立っていた.

（は、速い……っ！？）

　闇を身に纏ったこいつは、これまでと比較にならないほど速く.

「そら――しっかりと踏ん張りやがれぇ゛っ！」

「ぐっ！？」

　これまでと比較にならないほどの筋力を誇った.

（な、なんて身体能力だ……っ！？）

　奴の強烈な蹴りを何とか剣で防いだ俺は、まるでボールのように水平に飛び、

「が、は……っ」

　巨大な岩石で背中を強打した俺は、肺の中の空気を全て吐き出した.

　あまりの衝撃に意識がグラリと揺れ、右手から剣がこぼれ落ちた.

（ぼ、防御が……防御の意味を為さない……っ）

　圧倒的暴力を前にこれまで身に付けた防御術が、何の役にも立たなかった.

「そら、とどめだぁ゛……っ！」

「く、そ……っ. 負けて……たまるか……っ！」

　迫り来る拳に対して――咄嗟に両手を前へ突き出したその瞬間.

　円形の闇が前方に展開され、奴の右ストレートを完璧に(・・・)防ぎ切った.

　その信じられない光景に、

（こ、これは……っ！）

　俺は大きく目を見開いた.

　これまでたとえ剣で防ごうとも、その圧倒的な威力を殺し切ることはできず、防御が防御の意味を為さなかった.

　しかし、今回は全ての威力を完全に殺し切り――初めて完璧な(・・・)防御に成功した.

（なるほど……っ. 『闇』には、こういう使い方があるのか……っ！）

　初めて闇を操作した俺が、強くなるための確かな手掛かりを掴んだその瞬間.

「ちっ……. 調子に乗ってんじゃねぇぞ、クソガキがぁ゛……っ！」

　闇をまとった強烈な右ストレートが、俺の腹部へ突き刺さり、

「が、はぁ……っ」

　遥か後方へと吹き飛ばされた.

　体中の血液が四方八方へ跳ねまわり、強烈な痛みが走る中.

「は、はは……っ！」

　俺はとてつもない充足感に満たされていた.

（もっと、もっとだ……っ. 俺はもっと強くなれるぞ……っ！）

　この『闇』を自在に使いこなせれば、俺はさらに強くなれる……っ！

（そうなれば、アイツからもっとたくさんの力を引き出せるようになって――いずれはみんなと同じように、魂装を発現できるかもしれない……っ！）

　こうして『闇の操作』と『霊力』――二つの大きな成果を得た俺は、現実世界へと引き戻されたのだった.