"What did you say...?"
Hugo’s voice was a low groan, his face draining of color as he processed Yui’s words.
He was momentarily paralyzed by the shock, but he snapped out of it an instant later. His voice trembled with a mixture of fear and urgency as he pressed her for details.
"What happened?! Why the hell would they take Fee?!"
"I don't know! They just burst into the classroom and dragged him out. I knew I had to find you right away, Hugo-san!"
"How long ago did Dogma’s group take him?"
"Just a minute or two ago. If you hurry, they might still be somewhere in the academy—!"
Hugo didn't wait for her to finish. He bolted out of the classroom, his boots pounding against the floor as he sprinted toward the Elementary Division.
He ran until his lungs burned, his mind racing to make sense of the situation even as his heart hammered against his ribs.
What is going on? Why take Fee? He isn’t a Reincarnator!
There was no way his brother could be a Reincarnator like Cyan and the others. Fee’s memories of their childhood were clear, and countless people—their father included—could vouch for his identity.
Besides, didn't the Flame of Judgment already prove that Fee belongs in this world? As Hugo ran, his thoughts consumed by his brother’s safety, Dogma’s voice suddenly blared through the academy's PA system.
"Attention, everyone at Luminous Academy. I have a most unfortunate report to share with you today. It appears the distortion of our world is not limited to the Reincarnators alone."
"Kh—!"
Hugo didn't slow down. He listened to Dogma’s voice—it sounded sorrowful, yet there was an unmistakable undercurrent of theatricality to it that made his skin crawl.
As if mocking him while he ran, Dogma continued her address.
"Due to the warp in the world caused by the Reincarnators, the fate of a certain student has been fundamentally broken. This individual is someone who, by all rights, should have already lost his life."
Hugo couldn't understand what she was talking about.
Rather, he refused to understand. No matter what nonsense she spewed, it didn't change the fact that they had his brother.
"To return the fate of our world to its proper course, we have no choice but to ask this student to surrender his life. It is a tragedy beyond words... but it must be done for the sake of the entire world."
"Don't screw with me! Who the hell do you think is going to fall for that?!"
Hugo’s scream was raw, an explosion of pure rage from the depths of his soul. He threw himself down the stairs, descending toward the source of the broadcast.
Just as he reached the hallway leading to the broadcasting room, Dogma delivered her final, irresponsible decree.
"The one who must be sacrificed for the world is... Fee Clay of the Elementary Division. Please, everyone, offer a prayer of gratitude for his courage and his coming sacrifice."
The broadcast cut off at almost the exact moment Hugo reached the door.
He burst inside to find Dogma and Hypno waiting for him. Between them stood Fee, his small frame trembling with terror.
"Fee!"
"B-Brother..."
Fee looked at him with eyes clouded by panic. He was clearly struggling to process what was happening.
If what Dogma said was true... his life was forfeit.
Seeing his younger brother in such a pitiful state—paralyzed by a sudden, inexplicable death sentence—Hugo grit his teeth and glared at Dogma.
"Give my brother back right now. Do it, or I’ll take him by force!"
"Hehe... Such touching brotherly love. However, I’m afraid I cannot simply hand him over."
Dogma’s voice was bright and airy, her previous sorrow revealed as a complete fabrication.
Hugo’s suspicions were confirmed: her claim that the world would perish without Fee’s sacrifice was a total lie. He moved to take a step toward them, but at that moment, Burn lunged from the shadows.
"Hyah-ha! Never let your guard down!"
"Gugh...!"
Hugo barely avoided the flame-clad flying kick by throwing himself into a roll.
He tried to regain his footing, but Burn was faster. The man tackled him, slamming into him with enough force to carry them both through the window. They shattered the glass and plummeted out of the school building, crashing into the dirt outside.
"Tsk! Get out of my way!"
"Guh!"
Hugo rolled across the ground, using the momentum to hurl Burn away from him.
Burn slammed into a nearby tree but stood up almost immediately. He wiped his mouth, a manic, battle-hungry grin stretching across his face.
"You really are the one who killed Abyss. This might actually be fun."
"You... Are you with him? Are you Abyss’s comrades?!"
"Something like that. But hey, why worry about a dead guy when you’ve got me to deal with?!"
As Burn shouted, his body was suddenly consumed by an inferno.
He emerged from the flames transformed, his body now that of a humanoid Magic Armor Beast made of living fire. He cracked his neck, the sound like dry wood snapping.
"Now, let’s play! Hugo Clay!"
"I don't have time for this. Step aside."
"Hyah-ha! You want to save your little brother? Then you’d better beat me first!"
"...Fine. I get it."
Realizing the man wouldn't be moved by words, Hugo whispered a low command. His Blaster armor materialized around him.
A dark aura of rage began to flicker around him like a physical weight. Hugo tilted his head up, his eyes locking onto the enemy in front of him. When he spoke, his voice was a low, menacing growl.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Because right now, nothing is going to stop me."