Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 68: Release of the Beast

Chapter 68: Release of the Beast

Everything was planned from the moment I saw the letter from Jack-o-Lantern.

Having known the agony of losing something precious, I had no reservations about what I had to do.

Even borrowing the power of that woman I despise, dragging in people from other classes—it was all preparation to deceive Jack’s eyes.

By blatantly acting as if I were desperately struggling to stop the game, I lured Jack into making good on his threats.

However, I had already deduced that Jack was cautious by nature. He wouldn’t make a move until a definitive opportunity presented itself.

To create that opportunity, I set out to capture Jack-o-Lantern.

From the notebook Nee-san left behind, I knew that Jack-o-Lantern wasn’t the real Jack.

So, finding him was purely for gathering information.

Playing games with Jack-o-Lantern? No way. He was just bait.

They must have panicked when Kanaki—aka Jack-o-Lantern—fell into my hands, fearing I’d uncover details about Jack.

Would Jack’s subordinates let that slide? Absolutely not.

From there, over the three days I gave BC, I systematically crushed every ambusher they sent my way.

By intimidating those I took down, I forced them to spill, learning of Jack’s plan to go after Mogami and the others. Disguising myself as Blade—a guy my height—I infiltrated their ranks.

Huh? What about that footage on the screen, you ask?

It was just a recording.

BC threw in some dialogue here and there to make it seem like a live conversation.

That was enough to make them think I was oblivious to Jack’s scheme, stuck at the academy focused on cracking the game.

※

In the foggy night’s bamboo grove, I come face-to-face with one of the people I’ve been dying to meet.

Of course, I wasn’t certain this was the real Jack until just moments ago.

My suspicion kicked in around the time this fog appeared.

This fog is artificially generated, and given how Mogami’s movements are gradually slowing, it’s not just something to obscure vision.

“This fog is your Ability Tool, isn’t it?” I say.

“Oh? So you’re aware of Ability Tools. That makes sense—the blade in your right hand is an ice sword. Clearly an Ability Tool. But, curiously, our data has no record of such a weapon,” Jack replies.

“Ice Blade Byakka. It’s my cherished sword now.”

“An ice sword for the Ice Queen? Shallow, simplistic, utterly lacking in creativity.”

“The Jack in a deck of cards carries an axe, a club, or a shield—not some bizarre-shaped axe like that.”

“The times have changed, you know. Nowadays, an axe like this is far more practical than a hatchet.”

We exchange words, weapons at the ready, as I direct my killing intent toward Jack while keeping an eye on Mogami behind me.

“Mogami, can you move? Tell me honestly.”

“…My sense of balance is getting dull. My body’s going numb, and my fingertips aren’t moving like I want… Sorry, I don’t think I can…”

“Got it. Then don’t move from there. You’d just get in the way.”

“Huh…!? What are you planning? Are you seriously thinking of fighting Jack while protecting me!? That’s impossible—he’s got every advantage!!”

Mogami’s desperate eyes lock onto mine, so I place my left hand on her head.

“It’s okay. I’ll definitely protect you and take him down. I’m confident I have the strength for it. For now, just trust me.”

“Madoka…”

With a faint smile, I lift my hand from her head and slowly close the distance with Jack, who steps toward me in return.

As we enter each other’s weapon range, we swing our weapons at the same time.

CLANG! The sound of our blades colliding fiercely echoes through the grove.

I swing Byakka downward from above, but Jack deflects it with his axe, immediately countering with a slash. I spin sideways in place, blocking his axe with my blade. Instead of pressing into a blade-lock, he pulls back, vanishing into the fog.

Trying to buy time, huh? He must think that as this fog slows my movements, it’ll create openings for him.

So, his Ability Tool is perfect for hit-and-run tactics, is it?

Jack’s voice echoes from within the fog.

“Once you’re caught in my Ability Tool, ‘Mist Curtain,’ even the most elite assassin can be countered. You’re nothing but my plaything now!!”

I close my eyes, trying to sense his presence, but I can’t pinpoint where he is.

Guess I’ll have to wait for his attack and counter at the right moment.

Standing still, gripping Byakka with both hands, I wait for Jack’s next move.

Empty all emotions.

Sharpen every nerve.

Don’t let your guard down—this is a battlefield.

Just do what I’ve always done.

To survive, to save, I’ll stake my life.

Focusing my senses in every direction—up, down, left, right, front, back—the moment arrives.

Something dark and sinister approaches.

The instant it moves to swing its weapon, I switch Byakka to a reverse grip and slash upward from the ground, gouging the earth.

“Tsubaki-style swordsmanship, Swallow Return…!!”

The Swallow Return delivers a light jolt to the brain, stunning the target.

…That is, if it connects.

I swing Byakka upward, but there’s no one there. A sharp impact slashes me from behind.

“Guh…!!”

“Too bad, Ice Queen-san? Your skills seem a bit rusty, don’t they?” Jack taunts.

I stumble but hold my ground, turning to face him, gripping Byakka with one hand.

“What the hell was that…!?”

“A killing intent afterimage. I can manipulate it at will.”

An afterimage of killing intent!? That’s way too inhuman—though I’m hardly one to talk.

Jack juts out his chin, looking down at me with disdain.

“How disappointing. This is all you’ve got?”

I swing Byakka at him repeatedly, but every strike hits only afterimages. Each attack draws a counter, and my wounds deepen.

Right arm, left shoulder, left thigh, back, waist—the slashes keep piling up.

This is bad. My movements are getting sluggish.

If this keeps up… I can’t win. I can’t even corner him.

If my attacks don’t land, it’s over.

“Haa… haa…”

“Well then, shall we take you into custody? You and Mogami-san are valuable samples, after all. Heh, Mogami-san’s got quite the body—perhaps she could serve as a plaything for our king. Your precious girl, right in front of your eyes…”

Jack’s voice cuts off midway.

This feeling… it’s been a long time.

It’s not just anger—it’s fury, beyond words.

That emotion makes my freezing aura even colder.

I need more power.

An overwhelming force to shatter this situation.

I can’t afford to be choosy anymore.

I have to save Mogami.

I have to defeat Jack.

I refuse to lose anything else.

“Do you have the resolve to seize the power you desire?”

A voice resonates in my head, and I respond softly.

“Of course.”

I relax my entire body and tilt my head toward the sky.

“Eh? Did you say something~?” Jack mocks.

Ignoring his taunts, I reach for the eyepatch over my right eye.

If it means breaking through this hopeless situation, I don’t care how much it hurts. I don’t care if it breaks me.

There’s someone I want to protect.

A girl I realized is precious, someone I don’t want to lose.

That’s why… I…

“Now, take it off! Break the shackles within you!!”

“RRRAAAAAAHHHH!!”

Guided by that voice, the Ice Queen tears off the eyepatch as if snapping chains.

Slowly, I open my right eye.

A clear, sky-blue pupil contrasts sharply with the crimson of my left eye.

Before my wounds can heal, the blood freezes, spreading across my body.

Crimson ice envelops me, shaping into a beastly form, turning jet-black.

As I transform into an ice beast, I gaze at the moon in the sky and let out a primal howl.

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

The howl reverberates through the surroundings, forcing Mogami and Jack to cover their ears.

Seeing the beast, Mogami’s eyes widen in shock, and she names what stands before her.

“…Werewolf…”

It’s a humanoid wolf, clad in sharp, fur-like armor, with my right arm fused seamlessly with Byakka.

The werewolf, with its blue and crimson eyes, points its blade at Jack, then, in the next instant, appears behind him.

“What!? But—!!”

Jack can’t keep up with the sudden shift, but he quickly tries to refocus on the fight.

The beast swings Byakka—not at the Jack in front of it, but in another direction—blasting the real Jack away.

“Guhh!! …Was that a fluke!?” Jack’s startled voice rings out.

But I wasn’t paying attention to that.

Right now, Mogami Emi couldn’t believe that this ice werewolf was Madoka.

“AAAAHHH!! This is THE BEST!! It’s been ages since my blood’s been this fired up!!”

In this “Tsubaki Madoka,” there wasn’t a trace of the person he used to be.