The moment Yogan said "Begin", the entire Elite-2 sector shifted.
Gravity twisted.
Wind howled.
The tundra cracked.
The volcanic zone surged.
Three battle platforms rose from the arena floor, separating into different climate zones.
Hiko stepped onto the central platform.
Across from him stood Jin Karasu.
Jin's body flickered, half transparent, like he wasn't fully in this world.
Jin looked at Hiko for a few seconds.
Then he spoke.
"…Yogan."
Yogan's mech turned slightly.
"Yes."
Jin exhaled.
"I don't want to fight him."
The entire arena paused.
Daizen blinked. "Huh?"
Goru turned. "What?"
Jin continued, calmly.
"I want to fight my friend instead."
Everyone followed Jin's gaze.
Straight to Kaiser Touya.
Kaiser's golden eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh?"
Yogan was silent for two seconds.
Then:
"You are refusing your assigned opponent."
Jin nodded.
"I already know how this ends if I fight Hiko. I lose."
Hiko frowned.
"…You don't even want to try?"
Jin turned back to him.
"It's not that."
He looked serious now.
"It's because… you're not the real wall in this class."
Then he pointed at Kaiser.
"Him."
The word hit.
Even Kaiser stopped smiling.
Yogan analyzed Jin for a moment.
Then:
"…Very well."
He turned his mech toward Hiko.
"Hiko Shinoegami."
Hiko stiffened.
"You will fight Kaiser Touya."
The entire Elite-2 sector reacted.
Raze's eyes widened.
Selene smiled faintly.
Vant crossed his arms.
Nyx whispered, "Oh no…"
Daizen shouted.
"WAIT, WHAT?! He's Rank 0!"
Goru clenched his fists.
"…This is too early."
Kaiser slowly walked forward.
A golden coin appeared between his fingers.
He smiled.
"So… I get the main character first?"
Hiko felt it.
That feeling again.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
Something worse.
Uncertainty.
Inside his mind—
The devil didn't laugh.
It just watched.
The platform shifted.
The climate around them became neutral.
No terrain advantage.
Just space.
Two figures.
One with cursed flame.
One with probability itself.
Yogan's voice echoed.
"Match begins."
Kaiser flipped his coin.
Heads.
The air around him subtly warped.
Then again.
Heads.
Again.
Heads.
Three in a row.
Hiko already felt it.
Kaiser's presence was climbing.
Not explosively.
Not violently.
But inevitably.
Like a number that never stops increasing.
Kaiser tilted his head.
"…You can feel it, right?"
Hiko raised his fists.
"…Yeah."
Kaiser smiled.
"That's my luck stacking."
Then he said one word:
"Pull."
The slot machine manifested behind him.
Golden lights spinning.
Symbols flashing.
1x.
Kaiser's aura flared.
"Small warm-up."
Again.
"Pull."
2x.
The pressure doubled.
The platform cracked under Kaiser's feet.
Again.
"Pull."
3x.
10x.
Golden energy erupted like a sun.
The entire Elite-2 sector shook.
Daizen stepped back instinctively.
"…That's insane."
Goru whispered.
"He hasn't even attacked yet."
Hiko felt his heartbeat slow.
Not from calm.
From instinct.
His body was telling him something.
This opponent is wrong.
Kaiser looked at him.
Still smiling.
"Alright."
He cracked his neck.
"Let's see if cursed flame can counter luck."
Kaiser vanished.
Not teleported.
Not moved fast.
He simply wasn't where he was anymore.
Hiko barely blocked in time.
A golden fist slammed into his guard.
BOOM.
Hiko was launched backward across the platform.
He skidded, boots burning against the floor.
He stopped himself with a burst of cursed flame.
"…So fast."
Kaiser appeared in front of him again.
"You blocked that?"
He sounded genuinely impressed.
Hiko rushed forward.
Cursed flame coated his arm.
He punched.
The flame twisted reality around his fist.
Kaiser didn't dodge.
He let it hit.
The impact should've shattered his ribs.
Instead—
The cursed flame dispersed.
Like it slipped off him.
Hiko's eyes widened.
"…It didn't work?"
Kaiser blinked.
"Oh."
Then smiled wider.
"Guess my luck rolled 'resistance'."
He kicked.
Hiko barely crossed his arms.
The kick sent him flying again.
This time he slammed into the edge barrier.
The entire class went silent.
Daizen clenched his teeth.
"…He's getting dominated."
Goru whispered.
"This isn't even close."
Hiko stood up slowly.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
Inside his mind—
The devil leaned forward.
Interesting…
Hiko felt it.
That whisper.
Not words.
A presence.
A suggestion.
Not power.
Not rage.
Just a thought.
You cannot counter probability.
Hiko inhaled.
"…Shut up."
He charged again.
Cursed flame surged around his body.
This time he didn't aim to hit Kaiser.
He aimed at the space around him.
The flame expanded.
Trying to force a counter.
Trying to override.
The air distorted.
Kaiser actually stepped back.
"Oh?"
For the first time, his smile faded a little.
"That's annoying."
He flipped his coin again.
Heads.
Again.
Heads.
Again.
Heads.
His aura became blinding.
Then:
"Pull."
Slot machine spun.
Symbols flashed.
2x.
5x.
Another massive jump.
The pressure became unbearable.
Even Yogan's mech activated defensive shielding.
Hiko felt it.
His cursed flame was being… drowned.
Not suppressed.
Outpaced.
Kaiser walked forward.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
"You're strong, Hiko."
He said it genuinely.
"But my magic isn't about power."
He raised his hand.
"It's about outcomes."
He snapped his fingers.
A golden ripple spread.
Hiko tried to counter.
The cursed flame flared.
But—
His body froze.
Not physically.
Probability itself betrayed him.
His footing slipped.
His balance failed.
His timing was off.
For the first time in his life—
Hiko missed.
Kaiser's punch landed clean.
Directly to the chest.
BOOM.
The sound echoed like a cannon.
Hiko was sent flying.
This time he didn't stop himself.
He crashed into the far barrier.
The shield shattered.
He collapsed onto the arena floor.
Motionless.
Silence.
Daizen's eyes were wide.
"…Hiko?"
Goru stepped forward.
"Hiko!"
Yogan's sensors locked onto him.
Vital signs unstable.
But alive.
Kaiser stood there, breathing lightly.
He looked at his own hand.
Then at Hiko.
His smile was gone.
"…Damn."
He walked closer.
Not arrogant.
Not mocking.
Just honest.
"You're terrifying."
Hiko tried to move.
His body didn't respond.
Inside his mind—
The devil didn't laugh.
It simply said:
Now you understand.
There are walls you cannot burn.
Kaiser turned to Yogan.
"I win."
Yogan nodded.
"Confirmed."
Then Yogan looked at Hiko.
And said something that hit harder than the punch.
"Hiko Shinoegami… you have just encountered your first absolute mismatch."
Daizen clenched his fists.
"So… he just loses?"
Yogan answered calmly.
"Yes."
Then he looked at Kaiser.
"And Kaiser Touya… you have just proven why Rank 0 exists."
Kaiser stared at Hiko one last time.
Then quietly said:
"…Get stronger."
Not as a threat.
Not as a rival.
But as a fact.
Because for the first time since entering Tengen High—
Hiko had learned something terrifying.
Not everyone can be countered.
And some abilities…
Don't fight you.
They simply decide how you lose.