Of all his possible reactions, Zyrik's was one of the least rational.

Moments after being jumped upon, Schwarz detonated, every ounce of his being being blasted outward in an omnidirectional wave of paradoxical black light. There was not even a soul left behind, its energy used to fuel the explosion ever further.

Predictably, the witch that had jumped onto him took the brunt of the blast. Had be been unarmored it would have been a certain kill, but as it was, the blast would simply move him into a near-critical conditions. He would survive, but his shonen protagonist-esque folly would condemn him to having to rest in the dispensary for days before he would be back at full health.

However, not all of the blast was absorbed by Zyrik, and some small amount of it propelled forward, almost all instances of it dissipating before it struck a bystander, however...

---

Birdman's talons dug ever deeper into its targets arm, clawing down to the bone with a feral sneer.

-Only for it to be blasted by another bout of Soul Menance, and moments later struck by the nearby explosive energy from Schwarz.

Such convenient timing can't possibly be logical. 

And so, letting out a mad caw, the Birdman's body decomposed into nothingness, the claws embeeded in Neku's arm disappearing as a floating soul took the Egg's place.

---

The threat had been dealt with...in one way or another.

Why then...

Why then, did the feeling of danger not vanish?

Why then, did all those nearby now hear the sound of clapping, emanating from the top of the school steps?

And why then, did the air now feel heavy with the oppressive energy known as magic?