''Yes, Mr. Du Du, is it?　Here is your Group 16 badge and its map. Please note that if you cannot be at the venue within 15 minutes from now, you will be disqualified. So, good luck.

　When Yuto received his badge, he unfolded the map and walked to the west side of the Shitenji family's grounds.
　The map is quite simple. The sidewalks in the vast Japanese garden are clearly drawn and each venue is simply assigned to it.

''Uh, this way...''

　The venue for Yuto's Group 16 was located at the farthest point. Also, the back of the well-maintained garden that stretched out on either side of the road they were currently heading towards was the site of the other groups' battle.
　Yuto headed to his own venue while picturing many different images of the battle in his mind. On the way........Yuto jerked up one eyebrow and distributed his eyes around.

(It's already started.......Over the woods on that right. Over the pond to the left here........

　Even though it was a battle site, it hadn't been specially tended to. It seemed that it was simply a split site. Therefore, there are places that look like wooded areas and terrain like large ponds and small mountains.
　In the event of a battle, there will be those who will use each one depending on their abilities.
　But still...........
　This is because you can sense the strong air of murder from every direction.

So much for being welcomed by Shitenji........?)

　This too bleakness reminds Yuto of the battlefield in the demon world in the past.

(I don't know who will try to avenge Shitenji in this situation...)

!

　Yuuto suddenly turned his head to his left rear.

''This!　Wow!　Who's that?

　Yuto's face changed color and he couldn't help but let the words slip out.

''There's someone who's flaunting it out of control. It's not even suppressing the spiritual pressure.......it's as if he's showing off his existence. An indication that he won't run or hide...?

I want to see the rest of the group. I'd better hurry.

　Yuto arched his eyebrows and tightened his expression before arriving at his own venue group 16.
　Yuto turned away from the garden promenade and assessed the bamboo forest in front of him, and in the next moment, he disappeared.
　And in the direction that Yuto had just turned his head was the venue for Group 7.
　Ten minutes after Yuto entered his own battle venue, Group 7 [Walking Fortress] Victor Bakration quickly decided to win out.



　In the main residence of the Shitendera family, the status of each group's battle situation was projected.
　The overlords of the Omine and Shinzen families were also watching the game seriously and asking about the abilities of those participants.
　They were breathless with admiration for Victor Bakration, who had just come through to win.

''What an overwhelming way to fight.......to go head to head with all your opponents.

It's a fortress, isn't it?

　Victor Bakration, from Russia, left the hall proudly with a muscular body and a chiseled face. His blue-eyed, bearded face was full of confidence.

　Victor constantly exposed himself even while the participants were still fighting each other, and he tried to crush any ability he encountered without question. The participants who were slow to deal with this hesitant way of fighting quickly fell prey to Victor.
　The remaining abilities would be completely in control once Victor had three badges in his possession. Because, by the rules, whoever had the most badges in each group would advance to the next battle.
　And there are six people in Group 7. If someone holds the same number of badges and that is the maximum number of badges held, they are all disqualified. This means that there is absolutely no way to avoid fighting Victor anymore.
　The remaining participants who are aware of this will understand Victor's abilities at the same time. Then they set up on Victor all at once, as if they had been talking to each other before.
　One attacked from the sky, one from the ground, the other from the pond, each using their signature body techniques, special chain bondage techniques, and water armor as weapons.
　In response, Viktor's corner of the eye, the three attackers were blown away by the loss of their attacker's ability, and the three of them, with a shocked expression on their faces, fell to the ground with a rumble, slamming their bodies into the earth... and lost consciousness.
　Glaring at them and smiling, Victor had not moved a single step from the spot.



　With Victor's victory, the other groups were making their moves, and the superiority of each group was beginning to show.
　In Group 3, Julian Knight was chasing around his enemies, making sure to take them out one by one. For some reason, any covert skills of the opponents did not work against Julian Knight. Julian Knight just finds the enemy and defeats it with a smile on his face.
　These situations were being observed in the main residence of the Shitenji family in detail.

''Oh........There are some interesting people with this ability. I don't know his species, but he is able to accurately grasp the location of his opponent. Still, he's an impressive gesture........he looks young, his name is Julian Knight.......and he's only one year older than Mizuho-sama.

There's been some movement in other groups.



Well, the festival will continue tomorrow. There's no reason to prolong it. Any man of ability will think so.

　The heavyweights of the Shitennji family looked at the leading participants in each group as if they were assessing their wares.

''Group 5 is almost a winner as well. The winner of Group 5 is Douglas Gans, who belongs to the American branch of the agency. He's from the agency's American branch.

　When he said that, the Group 5 monitor came up on the big screen.

'Ooh, this one's fast too. What kind of battle were you fighting?'

'I'm not sure, but it looks like a mid-range attacker with a medium-range ability. I didn't see a single confrontation with another ability on the monitor.

　There's a whistling, jovial, graceful man leaving the hall with the attendees' badges in hand.

''They say he is America's next ace, but he's not a master. A man of high level ability doesn't even show his hand.

"Hmmm ... what other stocks to watch?　Speaking of which, weren't you the son of a b*tc* from Sanzenin?　What's going on?

''Yes, Master Sanzenin Mizushige was in Group 1, but...''

　At this moment, the spirit masters gathered in the main residence of the Shitendera family stiffened their faces.

''!''
'What!　This is ... a spirit.
You didn't think he would be this sensitive?

　Even Meira, who is here, looks up as if she is huffing and puffing. It was only because they were spirit users that they could understand the existence of spirit users other than themselves.
　Zhu Yin narrowed her eyes and Mizuho squeezed her lips shut.
　The situation of Group 1 was projected on the monitor, with Sanzenin Mizushige standing expressionlessly in the center of it. It was like an absolute champion who used the spirits with tremendous control to use the spirits.
　Surrounding Mizushige were the other participants who were rendered incapable of fighting, as if they had been dragged into Mizushige's world.
　Shitenji, Omine, and the spirit messengers in front of the gods stared at the monitor in amazement.

''Nah, how dare you........''

　The Mizushige in the monitor had no expression and looked as if nothing had happened, and even looked somewhat bored.
　And then........Mizushige meditated and disappeared from the monitor.

　In the midst of all this, Mizuho is concentrating on a single monitor.

(.........Yuto)

　That's the monitor that's chasing the Group 16 where Masato is supposed to be.
　Right now, the monitor that was showing Group 16 did not show Masato.
　You can see the battles of the other gifted people assigned to Group 16, but the important thing is that you can't see Yuto.

''Oh dear, Mizuho. Yuto-kun isn't here...''

　When Zhu Yin raised her voice from beside Mizuho, Mizuho's worried expression changed hurriedly and her eyes focused on it.

''Eh!　Mother.

　With a giggle, Zhu Yin smiled and put her hand to her chin.

''Humph ... it's inconspicuous. So that means.........Mizuho.

Jesus, Mom.

Yes, rejoice, Mizuho.

What?

'You're pretty seriously participating in this, Eugene, aren't you?　For you.

What?

　When Mizuho looked up and turned to face Zhu Yin, she saw her mother's face there, who was enjoying herself.

''Hm?　Ah!　It looks like Group 16 has been decided too!

!

　Mizuho was surprised when she heard the news and hurriedly moved her eyes to the monitor.
　There was a familiar boy there, scratching his head and breathing.

''Ko, it's you, Miss Du Du Yujin.

''Oh, that's a boy recommended by Akane-sama?　When did that happen?　Did you see that on the video?

No, not at all...

　The heavyweights of the Shitenji family also looked at each other, while checking out Yuto on the monitor.

''This boy?　You look unreliable but you have some ability in your own right.

'I'll do it for being so young. Otherwise, wouldn't Mizuho-sama approve of you?

But ... what ability does he have?

Come on, you know that too.

　The heavyweights of the Shitennji family were also thorough meritocrats. The results that happened were duly appreciated.
　Although Mizuho was relieved inwardly, she tried not to smile and kept her eyebrows tightly knitted.
　Because Mizuho felt that the participants were much more wicked than she thought they were. And none of the participants were looking at him or herself.
　Just.........
　The only boy joining in for himself.
　Just the thought of that scared Mizuho, as it seemed to bring out a defenseless smile that she couldn't even recognize.



　By the way, there was more than one person fighting for Mizuho.
　
　Huang Hero, a rookie and a hotshot who acquired rank A, struggled greatly against a senior ability who should be lower ranked in terms of actual battle experience, and finally broke through to Group 9 after a long, close battle.
　And Hero's younger sister, Akihana, after laughing at her brother who was struggling, was lent a room by a member of the Shitenji family to take a nap for her beauty.