Absolute Duo (アブソリュート・デュオ)

It's no use. I gotta Blaze!

Julie.

Your fang's not gonna stop this!

Oh, so that's what they mean by "pretty young thing."

Ah!

Hi! I guess you're new here, too.

Do you maybe want to walk together?

So this is Koryo Academy High School.

I know, can you believe it?

The elite institution founded by the Dorn Agency

that's all expenses paid.

This place is a dream come true!

Out of all the kids from my middle school, I'm the only one

who got accepted here.

Truth be told, I'm a little nervous.

I guess that makes two of us then.

So, um,

the martial techniques that we'll study here.

How rough do you think the training will be?

Well...

- -

Oh.

I haven't even introduced myself yet.

I'm Imari Nagakura.

It's a pleasure to meet a fellow new student!

Hello, my name's Tor Kokonoe.

The pleasure's all mine, Miss Nagakura.

Please, call me Imari.

Attention,

the opening ceremony will begin in ten minutes.

Shall we?

Yeah. Let's go.

New students, please assemble

in the study hall.

I want to personally welcome

all you new students to Koryo Academy.

I'm Sakuya Tskumo,

the headmistress of this institution.

Congratulations on making it here.

To start things off, we'll begin by performing

our traditional Screening Rite.

First, please take note of the person sitting beside you,

because he or she will be your partner.

It looks like you and me are teaming up, Imari.

Yeah, I guess so

but I wonder for what?

When I give the signal,

you're all to rise and begin battling your partner.

Only the winners will be permitted entrance.

The losers' Lukifers will be removed.

And they'll be asked to leave the premises.

But I got an acceptance letter to this school!

Me, too! Isn't that enough to get us in?

A battle? Is she serious?

Oh, I should add

that if your battle isn't over in ten minutes,

both you and your partner will fail.

Headmistress!

Yes, you there.

Isn't it a bit extreme to kick us out just because

we lost a battle?

If you can't pass this special entrance examination,

then you don't belong here.

This test's purpose,

and that of Koryo Academy, is to teach you how to survive

based on one simple rule.

You must defeat others to stay alive.

Yeah, but this is only our first day!

You'll all be plunging headfirst into battle soon enough

so what better time to start than right now?

You must have known you'd be engaging

in battles when you first expressed interest

in attending the Academy.

Excuse me, but can we switch partners?

No, and understand this.

The person beside you now is your first enemy.

It's okay, Tor.

I appreciate what you're trying to do.

But still, I can hold my own.

Now do battle!

You are heaven-chosen children, the Elcidae!

You've already been given all the power you require.

Go forth, and use this soul-power, your Blaze,

prove you're worthy to enter our hallowed halls!

Blaze on.

Ah!

Bring it!

-- --

There's something I have to do, in fact,

it's the reason why I came here.

Imari.

And so, I can't lose to you today!

Blaze on!

-- --

Tor, unleash your Blaze.

All right. I gave you a chance!

Ahhhh!

So that's the power of her Lukifer.

My next strike won't miss!

Hyaaaaah!

Aaaaah!

C'mon, that's enough.

Are you telling me you're giving up?

You can't be serious!

But you barely even fought me!

Huh?

A shield?

Is that your Blaze, Tor?

That's right.

But, a Blaze, your soul power...

it's always supposed to manifest in the form

of a weapon, isn't it?

I guess that means I'm an Irregular.

All right.

I do appreciate you protecting me just then.

However,

as I told you, I have my reasons for being here.

I'm sure that you have your own as well.

If you don't,

then fall!

She only died because she was too weak.

I'm real sorry, Imari.

But I've got to be admitted here!

Oh, yeah, well, so do I!

Ah!

Again, I'm sorry.

Mmmm!

Yah!

Time's up, people.

As I mentioned, only the victors will be permitted entry.

Need help?

I will now leave you with these parting words.

You victors,

congratulations.

May you all someday reach Absolute Duo.

All that fancy fighting and no one got hurt.

I've gotta admit, I'm a little surprised.

Well, you know, since Blazes are weapons produced by your soul,

I suppose souls are the only things they can hurt,

so that would leave the body untouched.

So is that why you were holding back in there?

I didn't use the full power of my Blaze

because I was afraid that I might hurt you, Imari.

That was very sweet of you.

However, you can't do that anymore.

It doesn't matter what your power is, or how

strong or weak your opponent may be.

If you lose once, then that's it.

That's the kind of world that's out there waiting for us.

And once you lose, there are no do-overs.

Congrats on making it in, Tor.

Take care now. Buh-bye.

What's it been, two years?

Huh?

You know, Tor, I never thought we'd meet again here

of all places.

Tora? It is you!

Hmm. So you made it through the

Screening Rite, too, huh?

I guess that makes you and me both

two more guinea pigs for Sakuya Tsukumo, doesn't it?

Wow, that's a real negative way of looking at things.

C'mon, think about it, man.

We got our Blaze powers from those Lukifer things

she gave us.

There's gotta be an ulterior motive for giving us those,

don't you think?

If you ask me, this whole school is nothing but a big

research lab for Sakuya, and we're just lab rats

in her experiment.

Oh, hey, look, there's the first-year classroom, Tora.

We should probably get a move on.

Hmm. Hey, what's the big hurry, "lab rat"?

You think you're ready for this?

Yeah, I sure am!

She's so cute!

Whoa, it's her.

Do you know that girl?

Well, I've seen her before but...

You're Tor.

Uh...

Hey, do I know her?

How am I supposed to answer that question?

Dude, she's looking at you.

Yeah, I can see that, but I don't know why.

Why don't you ask her?

Yeah, all right, I think I can do that.

Hey, so I uh--

Um, I...

So, tell me--

Ugh.

Wow. She's good.

Hello, hello!