“Hoh! You’re quite the hot-blooded guy! That fighting spirit must be from your old man!”

Colonel Star stood up and bellowed.

Despite knowing Jin was unbeatable, he was thrilled by the boy’s defiant spirit.

He saw his former student, Zeke, in that figure.

“You wanna challenge me? Not those seniors over there? You should know your place. You’re still just an apprentice, right?”

“I’m your brother-in-law, technically. I can’t hand my sister over without knowing your true strength.”

“My strength… Haha, I haven’t gone all out yet, that’s true. Think you can draw it out of me?”

“My big bro’s super strong. Way stronger than me.”

Reina jumped in to back up Kenya.

The crowd gasped in surprise. The trio of flashy playboys stared at Kenya in disbelief.

“Stronger than Reina? And he’s been a nobody this whole time? You gotta be kidding.”

Colonel Star had assumed Reina was the stronger one, so her words made him leap to his feet in shock.

Jin reacted too, his eyebrows twitching as he fixed his gaze on Kenya.

“Hmph… Better not just be family bias. Alright, let’s do this. Reina, sorry, but mind waiting a bit?”

And so the two faced off.

Jin looming over Kenya, Kenya looking up at him.

“If I win, no dates with Reina. I can’t leave her in the hands of a weakling.”

“Haha, me, weak? That’s a first. Seriously.”

Jin’s laugh suddenly dropped to a low growl.

Deep down, he was pissed.

“Wouldn’t have pegged you for it, but… you really think you can win? Against me? Do you even get what Holy Knight Captain means? The top war asset of the world’s strongest nation.”

“Hard to say. But yeah, I’d like to know my current standing and your real power.”

Jin scowled at those words.

Still, since he was Reina’s brother, treating him roughly might not sit well.

“Fine. You’ll see soon enough. Let’s go.”

The two squared off—Jin looking down, Kenya looking up.

They climbed into the simulators.

The screens lit up, and the countdown began.

“Heh, talking big against Jin, huh, Reina’s big bro? That guy’s the real deal—a total monster.”

“Hmph, Jin’s the strongest of this generation. He won’t even be a challenge. Bet he’ll apologize for that attitude soon.”

“O-oh no, Sword-kun, that’s reckless! I’ll apologize with you—”

“Let’s see how Zeke’s kid measures up. At least put up a fight! Gahaha!”

Everyone watched as numbers flashed on the screen.

The strongest student in this world versus the strongest student from that world.

Jin Halbert vs. Kenya Mikazuki—the battle was on.

“So, what’s his opening move… Huh? He’s not moving.”

“Neither of them is. Sizing each other up? After all that trash talk, I figured Jin would end it in one shot.”

Colonel Star and the flashy trio spectated.

But the fight began in utter silence.

Everyone knew Jin’s style—they expected him to slice the clueless Kenya down in one flash.

That’s what they envisioned, but once it started, nothing happened.

(Feels good… Sitting here calms my mind. Sharpens it. I can handle anything now.)

Kenya settled into the cockpit, gripping the controls.

It was his switch, his routine.

His ritual to reach peak focus.

And Jin…

“What… is this…? Why can’t I move? Why can’t I think of anything?”

The reason Jin was frozen was simple.

He didn’t know what to do.

Until now, he’d always instinctively seen the path to victory.

Against any foe, a vague vision of how to attack would form.

But not this time. Against this enemy, nothing appeared.

That instinct always guided him, crushed opponents effortlessly.

Yet now, it screamed warnings loud and clear.

Don’t engage—his heart was shrieking.

“Haven’t ridden KOG in ages since that day, but good thing those sensations stuck. Feels like I can counter anything now.”

Kenya, who had surpassed that deadly clash with 100 enemies.

That day, he’d awakened.

Forced open peak focus through sheer will.

Those sensations lingered within him still.

And now, boarding KOG again, another door appeared before him.

A door that should have been sealed tight—he opened it casually, like stepping out to the corner store.

Kenya could now freely unlock that power.

Its depths unknown, even to him—what lay beyond remained a mystery.

But one thing was certain: the world’s strongest shut-in had awakened here and climbed even higher.

“Why can’t I move? That space around his machine… No way, his range? All of that?”

What Jin saw was a circular domain centered on Kenya, shimmering like a mirage.

It was the realm forged by Kenya’s sword range.

Jin was strong—a genius, a monster worthy of the title.

That’s why he could perceive that invisible domain. Why he envisioned being bisected if he entered it.

The absolute territory Kenya had created during Takemikazuchi.

Later called the “White Domain”—an invincible space born of peak focus, Kenya’s effective range.

Not as vast as back then, but the gifted could still sense it.

Sense certain death if they stepped inside.

“Not coming at me, Jin-san?”

“Sh-shut up!”

Kenya taunted via open chat as Jin remained paralyzed.

Jin flinched, drenched in impossible sweat.

Just facing him drained him under the pressure.

Kenya, on the other hand, felt the opposite.

(Brain’s crystal clear, weirdly enough. That omnipotent feeling from back then is returning. Right now…)

“D-damn it!!”

Jin snapped, firing his gun instead of his sword at Kenya.

Close range favored blades—his instincts screamed it.

That shot from the Holy Knight Captain was flawless.

Straight trajectory, dead on Kenya’s forehead.

But the bullet…

(Now… I can even slice bullets.)

It ricocheted off the flat of Kenya’s massive swung blade.

He hadn’t tracked it visually—just predicted from the muzzle and timed perfectly.

Seemed simple, but it was an extreme feat worthy of “acrobatics.”

Against Takemikazuchi, he might’ve cleaved it clean.

“Wha—!?”

Jin froze in shock at the stunt, and Kenya didn’t miss the opening.

He closed in—into Jin’s bosom, Kenya’s invincible domain.

“D-don’t underestimate me!! I’m the Holy Knight Captain!!”

Jin switched to sword, his motion lightning-quick.

Drilled to react unconsciously.

That reflex was top-tier speed.

But Kenya was faster.

KOG’s physics—electronics here—optimized for ultimate velocity.

One flash, one slash.

Jin’s KOG’s head and torso separated, tumbling.

Victory decided in that instant.

“Impossible… No way. I lost? What the hell is this power…?”

Jin hung his head, muttering as he clenched the controls.

Unable to believe it.

The screen displayed the victory message.

This moment decided the true strongest student.