The training hall of Elite-2 felt slightly different that day.
Not because the mana was heavier.
Not because the circuits on the floor were brighter.
But because there was a new presence.
The fifteen students of Elite-2 were already lined up, some sitting on the benches, some standing, some half-asleep. Hiko stood near Goru and Daizen, still thinking about Magic Coating from yesterday.
He could still feel it.
That strange sensation under his skin.
Like something was waiting to be shaped.
Yogan's mech stood at the center as usual, red core pulsing steadily.
"Before today's session begins," Yogan said, "there is one matter to address."
The doors of the training hall slowly slid open.
Footsteps echoed.
Everyone turned.
A boy walked in casually, hands in his pockets, wearing the same Elite uniform as them, but slightly modified. His jacket was open, sleeves rolled up, and his eyes looked half-lidded, like he was bored of everything already.
Hiko froze.
"…That's—"
Goru's eyes widened.
"Holo Uto?"
Daizen blinked.
"The guy from Class 1-A?"
Holo Uto walked in like he owned the place.
No tension.
No pressure.
Just calm.
Yogan spoke.
"Holo Uto did not join yesterday due to absence."
Holo raised one hand lazily.
"Medical stuff. Long story."
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"…Why is he here?"
Yogan's core pulsed.
"Holo Uto has been reassigned."
A pause.
"To Elite-2."
The room exploded.
"What?!"
"You're kidding!"
"Isn't he the strongest in 1-A?!"
"Why move him here?!"
Daizen turned to Hiko.
"…Bro, our class is getting ridiculous."
Hiko stared at Holo.
Holo looked back.
Their eyes met.
For a split second, Hiko felt it again.
That same feeling he felt with Kaiser.
Not killing intent.
Not hostility.
But pressure.
Real pressure.
Holo smiled faintly.
"So you're Hiko."
Hiko blinked.
"…You know me?"
"Yeah," Holo said casually. "You're the cursed flame guy. And you're Goru, right?"
Goru stiffened.
"…How do you know?"
Holo tapped his temple.
"Holograms are good for information too."
Kaiser, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened slightly.
"…So you're the one."
Holo looked at him.
"You must be the coin guy."
Kaiser smirked.
"Luck Magic. Kaiser Touya."
Holo nodded.
"Hologram Magic. Holo Uto."
The air between them felt strange.
Not aggressive.
But competitive.
Yogan raised one arm.
"Since Holo Uto is new to this class, he will demonstrate his magic."
Daizen's eyes lit up.
"Oh hell yeah."
Holo sighed.
"Do I really have to?"
"Yes."
Holo scratched his head.
"…Fine."
He stepped forward into the center of the hall.
The circuits on the floor activated.
Mana pressure increased slightly.
Hiko focused.
He couldn't feel any massive energy from Holo.
No overwhelming aura.
No violent presence.
It was almost… empty.
Holo looked around.
"Any requests?"
Jin spoke.
"Show us why you're on par with Kaiser."
Holo smiled.
"Alright."
He raised one hand.
Nothing happened.
Then—
The world duplicated.
Suddenly, there were five Holos.
All standing in different positions.
Perfect copies.
Same mana.
Same presence.
Same everything.
Daizen's jaw dropped.
"…Clones?"
"No," Yogan said. "Holograms."
Goru frowned.
"…They feel real."
Hiko stared.
Even his senses couldn't tell which one was real.
One Holo snapped his fingers.
The training hall changed.
The walls dissolved.
The floor disappeared.
Suddenly, they were standing in a massive cityscape.
Skyscrapers.
Neon lights.
Flying vehicles.
A futuristic world.
Selene gasped.
"…What the hell?!"
Holo's voice echoed from everywhere.
"This is a full-environment hologram."
Daizen looked down.
He stomped the ground.
It felt solid.
"…This is fake?!"
One of the Holos walked up to Daizen and punched him in the stomach.
Daizen flew back.
"Gah—!"
He crashed into a wall.
A real wall.
Daizen coughed.
"…That hurt?!"
Holo's voice came from behind him.
"Hologram Magic doesn't just create illusions."
Holo appeared beside him.
"It creates simulated reality using mana constructs."
Hiko's eyes widened.
"…So it's like… controlled reality?"
"Exactly."
Another Holo appeared in front of Kaiser.
"Your Luck Magic increases probability."
"But mine overwrites perception."
Kaiser flipped his coin.
It landed on heads.
Golden light flared around him.
He vanished.
Appeared behind Holo.
Threw a punch.
It passed through.
Hit nothing.
Holo's voice came from behind Kaiser.
"You just hit a projection."
Kaiser turned.
Holo was standing on his shoulder.
Kaiser smiled.
"…Interesting."
Holo snapped his fingers again.
The city vanished.
They were back in the training hall.
All the holograms disappeared.
Only one Holo remained.
The real one.
Hiko felt his heart beating faster.
"…You can create entire worlds."
Holo shrugged.
"Limited by mana and focus. But yeah."
Jin clenched his fists.
"…So how do we fight someone like that?"
Holo looked at him.
"You don't."
Silence.
Then Holo smiled slightly.
"…Unless you're on my level."
Kaiser laughed softly.
"Finally. Someone fun."
Yogan spoke.
"Holo Uto's combat ranking is equivalent to Kaiser Touya."
Daizen muttered.
"…So we have two Rank 0-level monsters in one class."
Goru sighed.
"…This is unfair."
Holo looked at Hiko again.
"…You lost to Kaiser, right?"
Hiko nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Holo's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Good."
Hiko blinked.
"…Good?"
"Means you know how it feels to lose."
Holo turned and walked toward the bench.
"That's when people actually start growing."
Hiko watched him sit down casually, like nothing special just happened.
Inside his mind, the devil spoke again.
Not amused.
Not mocking.
Two anomalies.
One bends chance.
One bends reality.
And you…
Hiko clenched his fist.
"…I burn both."
For the first time since losing to Kaiser…
Hiko felt excited again.
Not because he felt strong.
But because he finally felt surrounded by people he had to surpass.