◇Back in time a bit, in Okinawa

Kai, who was watching the scene on TV, immediately stood up, interrupting the treatment he was receiving from the old man.

Kai: “Doctor, please save him. He’s someone important to me. I don’t want him to die. So—”

Kai stood up and stepped on the old man’s shadow.

And then he closed his eyes. He was aware of how to use his new power, and his body seemed to be wrapped in electricity.

Crack!

Blackjack: “What are you…!? What are you planning to do, Kai-kun!?”

One of the new powers that Kai had acquired. 『Lightning』.

To dispel the darkness, he becomes light and moves.

The speed is…

Kai: “—Lightning”

Like a bolt of lightning.

◇ Tokyo

New Caster: “Can you see it? Right now, our country’s S-Rank are fighting against a high priest who calls himself the God-Destruction Cult. What will happen to Japan? What will happen to our country if they lose…?”

The live broadcast from the helicopter is being delivered all over Japan, and all over the world.

Voices blaming Kai have disappeared, and only voices wishing for their victory echo in Japan.

However, that moment, which seemed to mock such wishes, was also delivered over the airwaves.

The number one guild in Japan, Avalon. Its vice president, and in reality, the president, Tanaka Issei. He could be called the most famous clearer in Japan, excluding the S-Ranks.

The sight of Tanaka, pierced by the wicked blade of the God-Destruction Cult, and his life’s light about to go out, is being delivered all over Japan.

Reina: “Tanaka-san! Tanaka-san!!”

Archbishop Sophia: “Reina, it’s because you don’t listen. …Oh, you’re still breathing, impressive, Tanaka-san. That’s why I’ll put you out of your misery quickly.”

Reina: “No, no!! Stop, Mama!!”

Sophia’s right hand is directed towards the fallen Tanaka. He’s barely breathing, but she’s trying to extinguish the last of Tanaka’s life as he kneels. Reina couldn’t move, she couldn’t muster any strength.

All she could do was cry and beg for mercy.

Chairman Kagetora: “Damn it! Move, Rogue!!”

Archbishop Rogue: “I can’t do that. It’s because Tanaka, even though he’s a backstage A-Rank, interfered in this battle.”

Tendou: “Issei-san!! Damn it!! You guys, move!!”

Archbishop Freya: “Hahaha! Black Dragon!! He’s going to die here!!”

Neither Tendou nor Kagetora can make it in time. The situation worsens due to their previous mistake. If they lose Tanaka and Reina here, then the battlefield will be decided by Sophia’s participation.

And then her hand is pointed straight at Tanaka.

Tanaka: “Reina… you, hurry… Gohh!”

Reina: “Tanaka-san! Blood, there’s so much blood!! Stop, Mama! Stop!!”

Reina is covered in Tanaka’s blood. She’s in chaos, unable to think of anything. And Sophia’s hand is raised, about to be swung down.

Archbishop Sophia: “Well then, Tanaka-san. Please give my regards to my husband in the afterlife—!?”

That’s when it happened.

Crack!

A man who suddenly appeared stopped the descending hand with one hand. His body was wrapped in a light like lightning, and his eyes were shining golden.

Kai: “Stop…”

He catches Sophia’s wicked blade head-on.

Kai: “This person is important to me, I won’t let him die.”

The hand that stopped Sophia’s was the hand of a boy wrapped in lightning.

Suddenly appearing on the shadow created by Tanaka’s flame.

Reina: “Kai?… Why…”

Reina, who couldn’t see well through her tears, murmured as she looked at his back. A back she had seen before, but it seemed a size larger. But that back was definitely Kai’s.

Chairman Kagetora: “Kai-kun!?”

Tendou: “Kid!?”

Tendou and Kagetora shout in surprise at his voice.

Kai used the skill 『Lightning』 to teleport to Tanaka’s shadow. After finishing the promotion exam, in his fading consciousness, Kai had stepped on Tanaka’s shadow.

So that he could fly there as soon as he woke up.

And now, Kai, who had acquired the skill 『Lightning』, teleported to Tanaka’s shadow.

Kai: “Get away from Tanaka-san!!”

Archbishop Sophia: “Ugh!”

Kai kicks away the surprised Sophia who is unable to understand the situation, and picks up Tanaka. Then he steps on the shadow created by Reina once, and then utters a word.

Kai: “—Lightning”

◇ Okinawa

Blackjack: “Kai-kun!? Where on earth—woah!?”

Kai: “Doctor! Please save him! Please!”

Kai gently placed Tanaka on the bed as he was. The doctor, although surprised and unable to understand, understood only that the patient in front of him was critically injured and on the verge of death.

And that it was Tanaka.

Blackjack: “Wha, what!? …No, I understand, leave it to me. I don’t know how, but you went to Tokyo and came back, didn’t you?”

Kai: “Yes, please save Tanaka-san!”

Blackjack: “This is terrible… but his organs aren’t that damaged, if that’s the case… Alright! Leave it to me!”

Kai nodded at the old man’s eyes. The old man immediately started treatment.

Kai: “Please, I still have something I need to do.”

And then he utters again, towards Reina’s shadow.

Kai: “—Lightning”

◇ Tokyo

Everyone: “Huh?”

It was a momentary event. Reina, Kagetora, Tendou, no one could understand the phenomenon. Kai appeared, then disappeared with Tanaka, then reappeared.

Kai: “Chairman, Tendou-san! Tanaka-san is receiving treatment… he’ll definitely be okay!”

Chairman Kagetora: “Kai-kun… you… what…”

Archbishop Rogue: “Kagetora, what was that? What’s happening?”

Rogue, who had seen the moment, couldn’t understand what had happened. It was different from high-speed movement, it was as if he had disappeared from the spot, it was like teleportation.

Chairman Kagetora: “I don’t know either. ‘A man changes in three days.’ I thought Kai-kun would take a day, but he’s changed so much in just 2-3 hours.”

Archbishop Rogue: “I see, so that’s… He looked quite weak in the photos, but his face and eyes are like a seasoned warrior. So that’s the Kai Amachi that he was talking about…”

Chairman Kagetora: “Yeah, he’s reliable. He’s grown enough to entrust this country to him!!”

Kagetora and Rogue, who had lost their worries, go back into battle.

Tendou: “Kid… I see… you… We’re saved, now we can fight without any worries!!”

The same was true for Tendou. The strongest Black Dragon in Japan, who couldn’t concentrate because he was worried about Reina, can now show his true power with the appearance of the boy he can trust.

Kai: “Reina… it’s okay now.”

Kai stands between the two women with silver hair.

Reina: “Kai…”

Reina stares at his back.

Kai: “I can finally repay the favor from that day… Reina, you may not remember, but… there’s something I’ve always wanted to say.”

Kai turns around with a smile.

Kai: “Thank you for saving me, now it’s my turn to protect you.”

Reina, who is sobbing and covered in blood, calms down a little at the sight of Kai’s smile.

Reina: “Yeah…”

Reina nods.

Kai: “I don’t know who you are… but I’m going to take you down.”

(Silver hair… this person… doesn’t she look like Reina?…)

Kai knows Reina’s strength, but he didn’t think she would be this beaten up. Rather, he thought she was beautiful, even if she was an enemy, and he felt that she was somehow similar to Reina.

Archbishop Sophia: “You… Kai? Could you be Kai Amachi?”

Hearing Reina call Kai’s name, the woman looks at Kai in surprise.

Kai answered her question.

Kai: “That’s right, I’m Kai Amachi”

Archbishop Sophia: “I see… hehe. So that’s how it is… then—”

Immediately after, the woman, with a faint smile on her face, charges at Kai with all her might.

Archbishop Sophia: “—Die”

The speed was undoubtedly that of an S-Rank, Kai understood. The hand raised in front of Kai was the fastest among the enemies he had fought so far.

But.

Kai: “—Lightning”

“!?”

It was far from the speed of lightning.