The arena had descended into pandemonium; the match was no longer of any concern.

  Intruders who had blended into the spectator seats drew swords and unleashed magic all at once, attacking the crowd indiscriminately. People were fleeing, screaming, losing their minds in terror, or raging over the death of a loved one. Blood spray painted the stands, and the death cries of the fallen echoed from every direction.

  "Ah, ah..."

  I was paralyzed, staring blankly in shock at a tragedy so gruesome I wanted to cover my eyes.

  Among the attackers, there was one man whose caliber was clearly on a different level. He had orange hair, a hulking frame, and an aura that glared dangerously around his entire body. He triggered massive magical explosions one after another, crushing fleeing people as easily as if they were ants.

  There was no hesitation in his actions. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying it. He was like a demon. Cruel. This is too cruel...! Faced with such an unreasonable and gruesome slaughter, my fear and shock were gradually being overtaken by a rising anger.

  "—ey! Hey, Yu!"

  Argus's voice pulled my mind back to reality.

  "Pull yourself together! We're being targeted too!"

  "Ah, right..."

  Seeing me return to my senses, he looked relieved for a moment before scanning the area, grinding his teeth in seething rage.

  "I don't know who they are, but this is atrocities...!"

  "It’s true! Why would they do this...!?"

  "Exactly. And their methods are cowardly. They probably waited for this moment, when we were exhausted from the match, to take out the strong fighters!"

  "Dammit! What the hell is that!"

  I trembled with fury. Staring into my eyes, Argus spoke firmly.

  "Yu. I'm going to go beat the hell out of as many of them as I can to keep the casualties down."

  "I'll help too. I can't just watch this!"

  However, he wouldn't allow me to come with him.

  "No. You've taken too much damage. Escape outside, quickly. I'll handle them alone."

  "What are you saying? It's too dangerous alone. I'm coming too!"

  I pleaded desperately, but he stubbornly refused to nod.

  "No. You're unsteady on your feet. You'll only be a burden."

  "But!"

  Argus had used a considerable amount of Magic Power too, and he wasn't undamaged either. The thought of leaving him alone to face this—what if something happened?—made me incredibly worried. Besides, I could still fight. I was fit enough to continue the match just moments ago. He had to know that I was a capable combatant. So why?

  "It'll be fine. You know how strong I am, don't you?"

  "Well, of course, but..."

  "Right? Besides, the Magic Corps reinforcements will be here soon. Just leave this to me."

  Saying that, he turned his back to me. I couldn't accept it. I reached out to grab his shoulder to stop him. But the moment I saw his broad, dependable back, I felt like I suddenly understood his feelings.

  My outstretched hand stopped in mid-air.

  They say a man speaks with his back, and his silent figure spoke his true intentions more eloquently than any words. It was a simple answer: if he were the man and the person in front of him were a woman, this is what he would do. But because I had become so accustomed to being a girl, I hadn't realized it immediately.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Argus was being considerate, trying to act cool for my sake. He understood my anger, but he didn't want to let me, a woman (in his eyes), do something dangerous. He was saying he would carry the burden of my feelings as well.

  To reject his grit here would be to smear mud on his pride. I should trust in his strength. That’s what I decided.

  "Okay. But please, be careful."

  "Yeah."

  He replied with a quiet voice without looking back. Then, casting a full-power [Falspeed] on himself, he charged in a straight line toward the thickest concentration of enemies.

  I should escape quickly too. Just as I thought that and tried to move—I froze. In the confusion of the sudden attack, I realized that the most important thing had completely slipped my mind.

  "That's right! Alice!? Where is Alice!?"

  Panicked, I looked toward where she had been sitting.

  The area... had already turned into a site covered in rubble and blood.

  No way. Did Alice... right there...?

  A terrifying thought sent shivers down my spine, but I immediately shook it out of my head. No. It's not decided yet. If it's her, she must be safe. Anyway, I have to find her quickly! I desperately scanned the spectator seats, searching for her figure.

  There was a reason for my panic. Right now, Alice couldn't use magic at all. If an enemy attacked her, she had no way to defend herself.

  "Yuuuuuu! Where are yooooou!?"

  At that moment, I felt like I heard her faint voice from behind. I turned around and saw Alice in the distance, calling out for me. Thank god... she's safe. I sighed in relief. It seemed she had come down into the arena, worried about me.

  But my relief was short-lived. I was horrified. I saw someone about to attack Alice from behind. And Alice hadn't even noticed yet!

  "ALICE—————————!"

  I screamed with every ounce of my voice.

  "Ah, Yu—! Thank goodness! You're safe!"

  She noticed me and called out in a carefree voice, to which I shouted back desperately.

  "Behind you—! Run——————!"

  Told so, Alice turned around in a panic. She finally realized she was being targeted.

  The enemy was already closing in right behind her. With a desperate expression, Alice started running toward me. The enemy, chasing her, was preparing to cast attack magic. It looked like Dark Magic. Moreover, it was an activation style I had never seen before.

  I felt a surge of panic. Dammit! I don't know what that magic is. I don't know how to cancel it! Furthermore, judging by the surging Magic Power, I could tell it was extremely powerful.

  Stop... stop it...

  Alice has no resistance to magic right now. If she takes a hit like that... Driven by the worst premonition, I whipped my staggering body into action and activated [Falspeed] at full power. Then, I sprinted toward Alice at top speed.

  I have to! I have to save her! Alice is in danger!

  But reality was cruel. There wasn't enough time. The distance to her was impossibly far. The enemy's magic was on the verge of activation. In moments, it would mercilessly strike her. And she would be...

  I didn't care if my limbs tore apart. I didn't care if my heart burst. I ran with everything I had.

  Still, it was too far. I couldn't reach.

  No! I'm not fast enough! Alice... At this rate, Alice is going to be killed!

  Just as despair threatened to tear me apart, a single ray of hope flashed in my mind. That's it.

  If I transform.

  If I turn into a man right now and apply Qi Reinforcement at full power, I might make it.

  But. If I do that here, who knows who will see my true identity—

  No—

  I instantly cut away such petty thoughts of self-preservation. Who cares! That is trivial compared to Alice's life! If I don't use this transformation ability now, when will I use it? When will I use this power I built with Inea-sensei!?

  I won't let Alice be killed. I will absolutely save her!

  [Transform]!

  For an instant, a sensation like electricity ran through my entire body. Simultaneously, my clothes reconfigured, and my eye level rose slightly.

  [Physical Enhancement]!

  I immediately reinforced my physical abilities to the limit, accelerating far beyond what I could achieve as a woman.

  The enemy's magic activated. Like a black hole, it sucked in everything around it as it closed in on the fleeing Alice. Make it in time!

  With the fastest speed I could muster, I reached Alice a split second before the magic could swallow her. Seeing my changed form, she had a look of utter shock on her face. Ignoring it, I immediately scooped her up in my arms.

  I kicked off the ground, leaping sideways. Immediately after, the enemy's magic gouged out the spot where Alice and I had been, taking the surrounding sand with it.

  Landing, I confirmed the safety of the girl in my arms and felt relief from the bottom of my heart.

  "Thank god... I made it!"

  "Yu... You are..."

  Alice's eyes were wide with shock. She looked like she didn't understand what was happening. To her, I finally spoke the truth.

  "Sorry for keeping it a secret until now. Actually, I am also the same Yu."

  However, it seemed a single sentence wasn't enough to explain. She tilted her head. Well, that makes sense...

  "Eh... What does that... mean?"

  "I want to explain, but there's no time right now. I'll tell you properly later. For now, please wait here."

  Saying only that, I gently lowered her to the ground. Alice showed a sign of thinking for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.

  "Okay. But you have to explain everything later!"

  "Of course."

  Then, for some reason, Alice blushed just a little.

  "A-also, thank you. You saved me."

  "Yeah."

  Now then. I turned around and generated a [Qi Sword] in my left hand. It was white, radiating the brilliance of life force. Naturally, the blade was pointed at the bastard who dared to threaten the life of my precious friend.

  "Hey, you. Don't think you'll get away with laying a hand on Alice."