[Opening - Magician Tower Main Hall Meeting]
Yomi Aoi sat silently in the head seat of the Magician Division's main tower meeting room. One by one, Hakuran, Midō Karuma, and Ōdō Saya took their seats. In one corner, Funke leaned against the wall, his body still wrapped in bandages.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting colorful rays across the table - illuminating a newly manifested playing card.
"Jack of Hearts".
It was the remnant of last night's confrontation with the Jack personality deep within the illusionary layers.
Yomi stared at the map, his voice calm, "Canglan has fallen. But our enemies were never just those we fought on the surface."
Midō Karuma frowned: "You mean... the school administration?"
Funke nodded.
"The vice-principal and the principal... strictly speaking, they are no longer human."
Everyone's expression changed.
"Seiyu Foundation × Illusion Purification Plan.
Funke spread out a map and pointed to the central underground core of Tōun Academy:
"They plan to activate a system called the Illusion Purification Protocol.
Based on personality classifications, anyone deemed an 'unstable type' - including all of you - will be isolated and eliminated."
Hakuran's face remained blank:
"In other words... as long as the magic system exists, we will be labeled as threats."
Ōdō Saya looked at Yomi with complex eyes:
"So this... is the 'prize' you saw through Jack, isn't it? But you... what are you going to do?"
Yomi didn't answer right away.
He put the Jack card back into his pocket and turned to Funke.
"I need to know the origin of all Persona cards - including King... and Joker."
Funke was silent for a few seconds before he spoke a name: "--Red Joker. The original unstable core of the Persona Card system."
"He was once the head of the first generation of the Mage Division, possessing the ability to connect this world to another - until he lost control and was sealed away by the three High Guardians at the bottom of the Mirror Realm."
Yomi murmured softly:
"So... I'm not the first to walk this path."
"Magician Division Tactical Resolution × Entering the Mirror Realm.
Hakuran immediately began to lay out the strategy:
Step One: Activate the Maze Domain Recursion Array to seal off the Magician Division's territory and prevent the Purification Protocol from being triggered prematurely; Step Two: Midō Karuma will lead a squad to assist Funke in breaking the seal of the Mirror Realm; Step Three: Yomi Aoi and Ōdō Saya will enter the Mirror Realm together to search for the Red Joker's soul and uncover the truth.
Ōdō Saya looked up sharply:
"I'm going too?"
Yomi looked directly at her:
"You were once the most accurate archer of the academy. And what we're facing... is the most dangerous Mirror Persona System. I need you at my side."
Saya's expression flickered - then she nodded.
"The Red Joker's Whisper
Late at night, Yomi Aoi sat alone on top of the Mage Tower, staring at the fog-covered edge of the Academy.
The Jack card flew out of his pocket and landed in his palm - and suddenly ignited in a crimson flame.
A shadowy figure slowly emerged from the fire:
"...You think you are the protagonist? You're wrong... I was the original magician. The true Joker. Welcome to my theater."
Yomi's eyes narrowed as the card turned to red flame and burned into his right eye: "Persona Resonance Increased - Jack Persona Sync Rate: 35%]
"Persona Cross Activation: Dream of the Red Joker Triggered] ]Dissolution of the Magician Division × The Mysterious Red Joker].