"Hahaha, that is so you, Kaede." He placed his hand on his slightly disheveled hair and slide it back. "But you should have ended it when you had the chance."

"Really? And miss that look you just made." She stood herself up with effort, her left hand still on her stomach.

"... I guess we'll see then."

The whip unfurled and quickly lashed wrapping around a tree, uprooting it and launching it at her.

She dashed out of the way. And the tree smashed into the ground kicking up dust. She didn't didn't slow as the stinger shot out of the smoke right behind her.

She rolled out of the way to avoid it, sticking into the ground. He didn't let up lashing the flame whip at her along with shooting flame lances at her.

She could only go on the defense, weaving through and deflecting them. She couldn't close in and would be pushed back anytime she tried to.

"I wouldn't let you come any close. I'll end it where I stand."

Scratches, cuts and tears on her person.

"I do have a few tricks myself, but I'd rather save them for later. This fight isn't worth using them." She smirked. "I'll fight with my own wits and strength." She changed direction running towards him.

"You're still looking down on me." Ozaki lowered his head and whispered to himself.

He clenched tightly on the whip's handle and lashed drawing a close 'S' in the air. The coil expanded towards Yasagawa, but she leaped through the moment it got close and tumble-rolled back to her feet pressing forward.

He grabbed the whip's thong with his other hand and pulled it back. The stinger changed direction heading straight for her, full force.

Seemingly caught of guard by the change of trajectory and speed. She managed to shift her body but the stinger grazed her side smashing into the ground exploding more dust than it did earlier.

Just when he though he could relax, seeing there was no movement in the dust cloud, drawing in closer, a familiar sword shot out straight for him.

It came in fast, like all effort placed into one shot, it was already before him.

Just then the alarms BLARED, a red translucent panel, instead of the numbers from before, appeared before him flashing with the word ALERT CODE 0-1 in bold letters.

...

On the other sides of the arena all came to a halt hearing the blaring sounds.

...

At the spectator stands the finale they were expecting to see was cut short when the sword shot out of the dust cloud with the blaring of the alarms all the screens turned red: ALERT ES 0-1.

"Seriously! What the hell!!"

"You have got to be kidding!"

"Why do we have an alert now!?"

"This shit's a conspiracy, the winner is obvious why are the still supporting those unnamed."

"How convenient! They almost had 'em!"

"..."

...

--In the arena.

Quickly reacting, with a swirl of his hand the whip rush wrapping around the blade, even so he could only move his head to the side to avoid it running through his neck.

At the same time since his focus was on the blade, be fore he realized Yasagawa was behind it, hand on hilt, holding the sword.

Yasagawa who was in tatters, blood trickling through the gaps of her fingers from the side of her stomach, the wound from the final strike of Ozaki's whip, holding the hilt of the sword which had just passed his neck.

"He he" She chuckled. "Lucky..."

"I could say the same for you." Even with the cold sweat going down his cheek and back he said. Behind Yasagawa the stinger was just a few inches away pointing down at her head.

But it was obvious... Her blade would have struck him before his could have. He couldn't blame it on the alarms, timely or untimely as it may have been, the panel before him. His carelessness was what led to this. If he wasn't paying attention the blade would have run through his neck.

"Looks like it's your win." The fire whip faded out.

Just then the robotic voice from before came,

"All personnel return to Squad-HQ for briefing."

Th environment around them, like sci-fi transitioning begun to disintegrate.

Yasagawa also lowered her sword.

Seeing her relax Ozaki turned away looking towards Nori.

"Let's go." He walked off.

Nori, after being let free by Inyx stood up and followed.

Soon the others met Yasagawa.

"Geez, you all sure do look a mess."

"You look terrible as well..." Shinosaki comment back.

"Well, what's going on Cap?" Asked Hoshi, even with bruise and tattered cloth still looked gentlemanly, a hand in his pocket.

[I really want to punch this guy. How can someone still look handsome and cool whiles looking ragged. Anyway...] Rinji thought to himself.

"I don't know, I doubt it has anything to do with us but we should go. Shimura-sensei should probably have some information for us, either way."

They nod back at her, except for Rinji who was clearly at a loss for what was going or to react.

"If you please Roka-kun." She said.

"Oh right..." He begun his chant, "... Heal!" a little later a milky glow enveloped them closing their wounds and healing the scratches.

...

Earlier

In the conference room.

The director at the helm of the table, the glowing projection of other heads in the seats all stared at the bunch of screens in the center of their seatings.

The evaluation wasn't just happening here, but everywhere in their respective countries.

"Such fine performance this time."

"Such fine recruits. Having such grasp over their abilities."

They watched as the battles played out.

"Indeed. It's rather surprising to see your unnamed putting up a good fight, eh Shiyouji?" one commented.

"... Well they do have a dedicated mentor." He glanced at the standing at the far end of the dimly light room illuminated by the glowing figures and screens. She stood there stoic and unmoved.

"And that boy, Nonako, was it? He took to his training very well, but it is saddening to receive such a report, is it not?"

"If he's shown such promise now, imagine how he would have been had he not come out failure in Forced awaken, had he awakened his ability."

"Truly tragic. Unfortunately this is as far as he goes."

"Such a waste, but to the rejects he'd go." Saying so he shifted his eyes towards Shimura, deck in pants and long sleeved shirt.

She sighed exasperatedly, "... I'm sure you're all really worried about losing one," her words sarcastic, yet her expression and tone barely registering. "but I'm sure you'll find a replacement soon, after all there are many like him every time."

"..." Their voices trailed of as their eyes continued on the screens.

Suddenly a knock came at the door and someone barged in.

"We have a problem!" The man in uniform reported.

At the same time everyone else in their seats looked away from the screens.

"What's going on?" The director inquired.

"Sir, out of nowhere we have multiple reading of magic coalitions all around the country. Reading of mass portals are opening in every prefecture." The man spoke anxiously.

"Those idiots from the Observation Department. What the hell are they doing? And Yone, why didn't she report before in the initial stage?"

"She felt nothing of any sort prior only when they were open... Sir...?"

"What?"

"It's not just our country..."

"... How could this be?" A distress came from the glowing figures.

"--it happening all across the world."

"What's going? Nothing on this scale has ever happen?"

"It's unprecedented. A full scale invasion."

...

"How could it have slipped Yone's senses." The direction said thoughtfully. "Shimura your thoughts"

"... why should I care?"

"It is your obligation." He squinted his eyes threateningly.

"... My guess probably a large scale concealment spell. Strong enough to avoid being detected."

He gave a nod and turned to the others and stood up.

"... Gentlemen it appears a crisis is about to befall us and each of you would be needed in your respective states. As off now the evaluation has been canceled. We are entering Emergency State 0-1!" He said looking to the man that reported.

With a nod the man ran back out.

"There are too many to handle with the lack of man power."

With every passing second the anxiety rose, but leaders they are, they were trying to conceal it.

"Deploy everyone that can fight, we will spare no effort. Have them go in pairs and hold them off and have those who deal with their target early go help those in need of it." One suggested.

"The outcome before is dire. We will lose a lot of force as of today. It is inevitable. Even so we must do what we have to. We must make sure none of this reach the public!"

With that the representatives stood up from their seat and walk off, the glowing projection disappeared.

The director sat back down.

"You're oddly calm... Even with the possibility of a large scale outbreak."

"Have I ever not? This wouldn't change that fact. In any case this is an outcome I saw happening, even if it was not to have been this soon... Now then you should return to your students they should be waiting for you" He gave her a businessman's smile.

Saying nothing she walked towards the door, opened it and walked out.