— In front of the tent before the plaza of the [Dead City of Flowers]
Far off in the deepest reaches of the [Dead City of Flowers], a wall of black mist hung thick in the air. The practical test had been abruptly called off, and the students were evacuated to the Tower. Furthermore, all personnel affiliated with the vice headmaster faction were barred from the area, leaving only Inea's subordinates from the headmaster faction, Ralph Excel and a few other hunters from the Hunter Guild, and Princess Rose's entourage gathered before the plaza.
At that moment, they were watching the events unfolding inside that black darkness through an image conjured by Asta, the monocled woman who claimed to be a subordinate of Kai Heinemann.
"T-They're... on a whole different level!"
Sweat pouring down her face, Chloe, the head of the Investigation Department, gave voice to the very thought running through everyone's mind.
The projection revealed a force utterly decimating a horde of undead. Calling it a battle felt absurd; the one-sided slaughter made it painfully clear that their strength existed on an entirely different scale.
"Asta, were Kai's subordinates always this powerful?"
Princess Rose asked with an uncharacteristically flat, stunned tone.
"A bit late to be asking that, is it not? They are, after all, the finest fighting force that the [Gods' Ordeal] had to offer. What is more, their power has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to our Master's divine might. Such lowly evil gods—mere vermin—are not even worthy playmates."
Asta answered listlessly. Though she had seemed wary of the [Dead City of Flowers] at first, she had swiftly slipped back into her usual unmotivated demeanor.
"The Gods' Ordeal... Does that have something to do with how Kai obtained his strength?"
"That is far beyond the realm into which mere mayflies like humans should pry. Ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes."
Tossing out the dismissive comparison, she pressed her lips into a tight line, likely realizing she had already said too much.
Just then, a projectile tore straight through the distant wall of black mist, hurtling toward them at breakneck speed. It crashed down right beside the tent, making the earth violently shudder. As the billowing blast wind cleared, they turned toward the impact zone to find a massive crater. At its center lay the mangled, crushed head of a decayed dragon.
In the blink of an eye, a pitch-black, faceless entity bearing a crimson ring-shaped weapon on its back was standing beside the dragon's remains.
"Forgive the intrusion."
The faceless figure gave Asta a slight bow. It approached the decayed dragon's head at the center of the crater, and the severed head gently lifted into the air. An instant later, it dissolved into a ribbon of dark light and flew back inside the wall of black mist.
"Man... They've even mobilized the top brass of the Girimehkala Faction. Whoever's on the other end is totally screwed."
As Zack muttered his blunt assessment, Asta nodded in agreement.
"This incident has finally dragged that vile faction out from the shadows and onto center stage. I suppose that means this whole scenario is reaching its climax."
She spoke with profound weight behind her words.
"May I ask one thing? Is Kai stronger than them?"
Princess Rose's question gave Asta pause, her shapely eyes blinking in surprise for a moment.
"Now that truly is a foolish question."
A mischievous smirk played on Asta's lips, and that was all she said in reply.