"I'll confirm the current situation."

  Reiko Ban, the commander of the Adept unit, said while pointing at the map displayed on the screen. Her voice was calm, yet it resonated deeply with the entire unit.

  As the commander of the Adept unit, Ban was deeply reflecting on the gravity of the situation. Being a user of the Malachite Adept Stone herself, Ban had made up her mind not only to lead the unit but also to stand at the forefront of the battle.

  "About two months ago, a 'terrorist' group composed of around 30 Adepts landed on the Chita Peninsula."

  Yes... 'Terrorists'.

  Ban fully understood the emptiness of that term. Their movements, the Adept Stones they wielded, and the precision of the tactics behind them... they couldn't simply be a "group" of any kind.

  Yet, for the sake of the government, they had no choice but to label them as "terrorists."

  Wars had already begun in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia, and conflicts were escalating across the Far East. While Japan was supporting Taiwan, it had yet to fully engage in the war, focusing only on self-defense.

  In this situation, openly naming countries like "China," "Russia," and "North Korea" would mean Japan fully entering the world war. The government was determined to avoid acknowledging this attack as "state-level operations."

  Ban continued to calmly point at the map displayed on the screen.

  "They took control of the international airport within just a few hours. Then, they destroyed the ports, major highways, and railways. They advanced into the city and neutralized the administrative systems, completely isolating the city."

  Everyone realized that there was no more room to reduce the area of Nagoya City that Ban was indicating.

  "Unfortunately, the evacuation of civilians is also incomplete."

  Ban took a breath and returned her gaze to the map.

  "There are still people trapped inside the city, trembling as they worry for their families."

  With those words, the air in the room grew heavier.

  "...And the enemy is exploiting this situation. No, this was their plan from the start."

  Ban pointed at a specific spot on the screen, her tone becoming slightly sharper.

  "They're using the entire city as a shield and restricting our actions."

  She sensed the tension in the unit and carefully continued her speech.

  "As a result, large-scale attacks by the Self-Defense Forces are impossible. Currently, the Adept units are clearing enemy Adepts from various routes, and the only option left is to defeat their leader—the Adept named 'Cinabar' from the Cinnabar Stone."

  Ban took a deep breath and glanced around at the faces of the unit members.

  "We have no other choice."

  She quickly scanned everyone in the room with her eyes, then firmly declared:

  "This—Nagoya—is the battlefield of our final decision!"

  Masato Senjoujiki gasped for breath and collapsed, sitting down. The unconscious boy lay in his arms.

  "We've been wiped out... It's just me and this kid left..."

  Senjoujiki's voice was hoarse. Even with the power of his Diamond Adept Stone, he couldn't reach the enemy leader, Cinabar.

  "Cinabar... He doesn't die. No matter how many times you kill him..."

  Senjoujiki's eyes were vacant, filled with frustration and despair at his own powerlessness.

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  Ren Nittazuka quietly listened to Senjoujiki's words, staring ahead. Nearby, Takumi Togo whispered weakly.

  "Sensei... I... I ran away... leaving my friends behind..."

  Takumi Togo, a genius Adept with the Tourmaline Stone, was still a young member of the unit. Ren placed a hand on Takumi's shoulder.

  "That's fine, Takumi. You made it back alive."

  Takumi closed his eyes and nodded slightly.

  "Senjoujiki... Thank you for bringing Takumi here."

  Senjoujiki lifted his bloodstained face and gazed at Ren.

  "Ren... I know it’s asking a lot, but..."

  Ren closed his eyes, waiting for the rest of the words.

  "Please take down Cinabar! You're the only one who can defeat him!"

  Tears welled up in Senjoujiki's eyes.

  "If you lose, then no one in Japan will be able to defeat Cinabar! Take revenge for your friends!"

  Ren exhaled deeply and nodded slowly.

  The sound of a communications officer’s voice broke the tension.

  "We've located Cinabar's—"

  Ren turned around.

  "Where?"

  "In Naka Ward, Honmaru... Nagoya Castle!"

  "That bastard... He's underestimated us..."

  Senjoujiki clenched his fist and growled low.

  "Take me there. I'll go as far as I can. Cinabar—I'll defeat him!"

  His words felt unnatural even to himself. He wasn’t the type to speak so bravely.

  It wasn’t just about taking revenge for Senjoujiki and Takumi's fallen comrades. Ren was drawn to Cinabar.

  Ah.

  When did this start, this battle between me and this man?

  I can no longer remember.

  Ah, here's a good one...

  Normally, this would be a fatal wound.

  But he's getting back up. Why?

  My poison should still be working.

  Isn’t he a Quartz Adept?

  No, could he be using Quartz as a base... and simultaneously using other stones of the same type...?

  Can that even be done?

  I can’t deny it. He's doing it right in front of me.

  --- I’ve died again.

  How many times? How many times has this man killed me?

  And how many times have I defeated him?

  He's a monster.

  Just like me.

  He seems to enjoy it.

  He's laughing.

  Am I... laughing too?

  I must be.

  Ah.

  Cinabar... Philosopher's Stone...

  If only... this moment could stop.

  Ren's final blow pierced Cinabar's chest.

  Cinabar staggered, kneeling. His body crumpled and sank quietly into the rubble.

  The Philosopher's Stone (Cinabar) couldn’t re-crystallize and shattered into fragments, drifting like flower petals.

  Ren also collapsed in the same spot.

  His Quartz was barely re-crystallizing, but its light was faint, clearly on the brink of shattering.

  By chance, the two of them lay side by side.

  They looked up at the same sky.

  Cinabar smiled weakly and forced words out.

  "...If you hadn’t rejected my offer to become my ally... we would have been kings of the new world!"

  Ren responded quietly.

  "I'm not... that kind of person, Cinabar."

  Cinabar chuckled softly and continued in a raspy voice.

  "Ha ha... Yeah, that's right... that's why we lost. Because of you... we lost."

  Ren closed his eyes slightly, listening to those words.

  "Cinabar..."

  "It's Al. My friends called me that... What about you?"

  "Ren..."

  Cinabar—no, Al—smiled.

  "Ren... Ren, huh... Hey... it was fun, wasn’t it?"

  "...Yeah, Al. It was fun."

  The majority of Nagoya city had been devastated by their battle.

  The collapsed skyscrapers and rising black smoke. The scattered rubble and the remnants of red light were like the scars of their fight.

  But for Ren and Al, it seemed like a trivial matter.

  They simply looked at each other’s faces.

  Ren murmured in a hoarse voice.

  "It’s lonely... Is this the end? Am I going to die?"

  "...The Philosopher's Stone (Cinabar)... is gone. It’s over."

  The light of Al’s life slowly began to fade.

  His gaze seemed to look far into the distance.

  "Ren... How will you... live... in a world without me..."

  Ren waited for the rest of Al's words, but they never came.

  The Philosopher's Stone (Cinabar) fragments lost their light and quietly fell towards Ren.

  Several hours later, in the war-torn battlefield, Ren was found by his comrades.

  The air was thick with the scent of smoke, and countless shards told of the ferocity of the battle.

  The sound of a helicopter approached, and his comrades rushed toward him.

  "Sensei!"

  The first to call out was Takumi Togo.

  He climbed over the rubble, crouched by Ren, and asked with concern.

  "Sensei! Cinabar...!"

  Ren quietly gazed into Takumi's eyes.

  He lifted his tired body slightly and nodded briefly.

  "Yeah... it’s over."

  His voice was hoarse, but it was clearly heard.

  Takumi’s expression softened in relief. The face of the boy he knew well.

  "...He was strong... stronger than anyone I’ve known... even stronger than me."

  The emotions behind his words may not have been understood by anyone.

  But the fact that the battle had come to an end was heavy in the air.

  This battle, later referred to as the Battle for Nagoya, would go down as the fiercest fight ever fought by the Adepts.

  Several months after the fierce conflict, the world moved towards a peace treaty, and the long war came to an end.

  Two years later.

  The now-grown Takumi Togo raised his voice cheerfully at the doorstep.

  "Sensei! I’ve come to visit!"

  Ren let out a breath, relaxing his shoulders at the sight of the young man’s smile.

  "You’re as energetic as ever, Takumi."

  Takumi sat next to Ren, peering at the small baby.

  "Is this your...?"

  Ren gently picked up the baby and nodded quietly.

  Takumi extended his finger, and when the baby gripped it, he smiled happily.

  "...I’m going to live in this new world with this child."

  Around Ren's neck hung a small pendant made from a fragment of Cinabar’s Philosopher’s Stone, now dull and silent, quietly swaying.

  And then... 15 years passed.

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