Ritsuka came to an abrupt halt. He looked up, his eyes fixed on the object hovering above his head.
"What is that…?" he murmured.
The golden Dharma Wheel floating above him had just finished rotating, releasing a heavy aura before becoming still once more.
"That… looks like a Dharma Wheel, doesn't it?" Koko asked through the communication, her voice uncertain.
"Ritsuka, is that one of your magical abilities?" Kagaya asked curiously.
"No, I've never had an ability like this," Ritsuka denied. He pressed a hand to his chest, which felt strange. "Sensei, did you secretly attach some kind of Mystic Code to my body?"
There was a brief silence before Zelretch's voice came through. The Wizard Marshal observed the phenomenon from the screen as the wheel slowly faded from view.
"I never placed any Mystic Code on you, Ritsuka. I only gave you that jeweled sword—nothing else," Zelretch replied firmly, though there was clear interest in his tone.
Ritsuka frowned. "Then… what exactly is this?"
"Ritsuka," L's voice cut in, serious in tone. "Did anything happen to your body after the wheel finished rotating just now?"
Ritsuka closed his eyes, trying to sense the flow of energy within his body. His eyes snapped open in shock.
"There's something… It feels like my Mana has fully recovered," Ritsuka reported.
"Recovered? What do you mean by that?" Zelretch asked, his voice rising slightly.
"Just as I said. My Mana replenished instantly. But not only that—my physical fatigue is completely gone too. My body feels refreshed, as if I hadn't been running at all."
"What in the world is happening to your body…?" Koko muttered in disbelief.
"I don't know either," Ritsuka said.
"…Could it be—" L murmured.
"Ritsuka," L suddenly ordered. "Use all your energy. Physical strength and Mana. Do something exhausting—right now."
"Alright."
Without further questions, Ritsuka took a stance. He channeled his magic circuits into his legs and began sprinting at full speed around the ruined area, recklessly burning through his energy.
"L, are you thinking the same thing I am?" Zelretch asked.
"What exactly are you two thinking?" Kagaya asked, confused.
"This is only a hypothesis," L said. "It seems that every time that Dharma Wheel rotates, Ritsuka's energy and Mana are restored to their original state. That's correct, isn't it, Zelretch?"
"Yes, I've come to the same conclusion," Zelretch replied.
"Is there an artifact in your world that can instantly restore stamina and Mana like that?" Koko asked.
"There are many methods to restore Mana, but I've never seen one with a mechanism like Ritsuka's," Zelretch admitted honestly. "This is the first time I've witnessed such a phenomenon."
"The Dharma Wheel, or Dharmachakra, is a major symbol in Buddhism, representing the Buddha's teachings and the path to enlightenment," Kagaya added, providing cultural context. "A wheel that turns endlessly, carrying truth—it symbolizes an unbroken cycle. Could this be related to religious concepts?"
"Possibly. Ritsuka has also experienced reincarnation, which is closely tied to Buddhism," Koko speculated. "Maybe he received some kind of 'blessing' from that?"
L did not respond. He simply continued watching the screen intently, focusing on Ritsuka.
After several minutes of running at full throttle, Ritsuka finally stopped. He bent over, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his body.
"Hah… hah… I've reached my limit," he muttered, resting his hands on his knees.
Suddenly, that heavy sound echoed again.
CLUNK.
The Dharma Wheel reappeared above Ritsuka's head, rotating once with a firm, decisive motion.
In an instant, Ritsuka's breathing stabilized. The sweat evaporated. His posture straightened.
"The hypothesis is confirmed. Just as L said, the wheel resets Ritsuka's physical condition and energy," Koko said in awe.
"No—not just that," L interrupted sharply. "Zelretch, you should have noticed it too, right?"
"What do you mean?" Kagaya asked.
"Yes…" Zelretch sounded like he was grinning. "Ritsuka, did you notice how much energy you expended during that run compared to before?"
Ritsuka looked at his hands, then clenched them tightly. He could feel it—a denser flow of power than before.
"I… I think I've become stronger than I was last time," Ritsuka murmured.
"What does that mean?" Koko pressed.
"It means that when the wheel rotates, it doesn't simply 'recharge' Ritsuka's energy," L explained. "It strengthens his body's resistance to fatigue. He becomes stronger and more efficient with every rotation."
"That's terrifying… But it's not just that, Sensei. It feels like my circuits—" Ritsuka's words were cut off by a shrill scream from behind the rubble ahead.
"LET GO OF ME, YOU BARBARIAN WOMAN!"
Ritsuka turned quickly. There, amid the apocalyptic ruins of Fuyuki, he saw an absurd scene.
Three women were there. One was sitting on top of another, violently yanking her white hair, while a third—a girl holding a massive shield—tried desperately to stop them.
"I won't let go until you take back what you said!" shouted the girl on top, pulling the white-haired woman's hair even harder. "How dare you insult my brother, you filthy woman!"
"S-Senpai! Please stop! Th-that's our Director!" the shield-bearing girl pleaded, unsure whose hands to restrain.
"Damn it! You're just a novice Magus—why are you this strong?!" the woman being pinned shouted, struggling to escape.
"I don't care who you are! If you dare insult my brother, I'll teach you a lesson! Even if you're an alien or a god, I won't show mercy!" the girl snapped back furiously.
Ritsuka let out a long sigh at the chaos, then walked closer.
"Yo, Rikka. Looks like you're doing just fine," Ritsuka greeted casually.
The girl on top—Rikka—froze. She released her grip on the white-haired woman's hair and stiffly turned toward the voice.
When her eyes met Ritsuka's figure, tears immediately welled up.
"B-Brother…?"
Without warning, Rikka sprang up and charged at Ritsuka at full speed.
THUD!
"Ugh!" Ritsuka was knocked flat onto the ground by the force of her tackle.
Rikka wrapped her arms tightly around Ritsuka's neck, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed loudly.
"Brother! You really came! Waaah! I saw you earlier, but I thought it was just an illusion—it was real! Waaah, I was so scared!" Rikka cried uncontrollably.
"Idiot, move your head away first. Your snot is getting all over my clothes," Ritsuka grumbled, pushing her forehead away with his palm.
With some effort, he managed to separate her face from his chest.
"You're so mean, Brother! Your sweetest little sister is hugging you out of pure longing!" Rikka protested through her sobs.
Ritsuka stood up and flicked her forehead.
Pletak!
"Ow!"
"Idiot. Stop acting so embarrassing. You're already sixteen—don't act like a little kid," Ritsuka scolded, though his tone wasn't truly angry.
Rikka rubbed her reddened forehead. "What's wrong with acting spoiled in front of my own brother?" she muttered. Then she hugged him again, this time gently, resting her head against his chest. "Brother… you really are my hero."
Hearing that, Ritsuka's expression softened. He let her cling to him, gently stroking the top of her head.
"Sorry for making you wait," Ritsuka whispered, meant only for Rikka to hear.
However, the reunion didn't last long. Ritsuka glanced toward the other two women. The white-haired woman was standing now, brushing dust off her expensive clothes, her face flushed red with anger. Meanwhile, the lilac-haired girl with the large shield looked at Ritsuka warily, yet with clear curiosity.
Ritsuka lightly patted Rikka's shoulder. "Rikka, let go for now. I need to talk to the two of them."
Rikka looked up and released him. But the moment Olga Marie approached, Rikka immediately hid behind Ritsuka's back, using him as a shield.
"Brother, that ugly woman insulted me—and you! She said we're useless civilians!" Rikka complained, pointing at Olga.
"S-Senpai… y-you shouldn't speak like that to the Director…" the shield-bearing girl said softly.
Olga Marie stepped forward arrogantly, though her hair was still slightly disheveled. She glared sharply at Ritsuka.
"So… you're the brother of this wild beast?" Olga sneered. Then, a second later, her expression shifted to shock and confusion. "W-wait… How are you even here?"
Hearing that, Rikka finally realized how strange the situation was. She released her grip on Ritsuka's sleeve and stepped back.
"Y-you're right… How did Brother get here?" Rikka asked, confused. "Y-you really are my brother, right?"
Ritsuka turned to Rikka and rolled his eyes. "I'm your brother, idiot."
He then shifted his gaze forward, looking straight at the two women. Ritsuka straightened his posture, adopting a calm yet authoritative expression unlike before.
"Nice to meet you, Director Olga Marie Animusphere, and Miss Mash Kyrielight," Ritsuka greeted them politely yet firmly.
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I am Rikka Fujimaru's older brother, and also the—" Ritsuka almost let 'Former Master' slip out, but quickly corrected himself. "—also Candidate Master No. 48. The last candidate who arrived late…"
He paused briefly for dramatic effect, then gave a thin grin.
"…and the direct disciple of the Wizard Marshal, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg."
Silence fell over the ruins of Fuyuki. Hot wind blew, carrying dust between the frozen figures.
"WHAT?!!"
The voices of Rikka, Olga, and Mash rang out simultaneously, shattering the stillness of the dead city.