Chivalry of a Hollow Cryo Dragon Devil Knight

by Gaevontracey24

Ayato Kurozakuro Sparda will enter the world of Devils and learn more about himself as Rias Gremory's Pawn & Stella Vermillion Gremory Phenex's Queen , along with his mysterious family past which allows him to wield a legendary demonic sword... and he's the next Red Dragon Emperor. Harem with Stella,Rias and Mio being the main girls.

30. Chapter 30

'' - Talking

"" - Thought

Chapter 30

...

After the end of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival's second semifinal round, Ayato fainted in the waiting room.

By the time his cardiac arrest was discovered, the shock and anxiety had spread beyond his inner circle, to the tournament staff and spectators.

Many of them seemed to expect the worst outcome.

In reality, the tournament staff had to at least consider that possibility, so they revised the schedule for the next day.

Fortunately though, due to the power of Japan's greatest doctor, there was no need to worry. Ayato was saved from death.

However, Ayato had still not awoken by the time the final round was scheduled to begin. But was that really a big deal? As long as Ayato was alive, what was waiting a day?

Everyone's hearts were united in this.

Ayato Kurozakuro and Stella Vermillion. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this 62nd Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival had been the highest level ever.

The two knights who had fought their way to the summit, the finals.

The tournament should not end without seeing the conclusion for oneself.

An attack after the end of the match. Not to mention taking a stray hit after protecting the umpire.

With such an unfair end, there was no good excuse to end the festival there.

Therefore, they waited for Ayato to come to the stage of battle.

To this end, everyone offered a hand.

The staff ran about apologizing and moving forward an exhibition that had been planned for the last day, the media coordinated special coverage, and the 9 spectators accepted these changes without complaint.

All for one young man's sake, countless people gave their all.

And then… He came. The sun had already gone down completely.

His clothes were disheveled and he still had a bed head.

Even so, he was there in the ring, ready to face his fight, showing his strong will.

The hopes of the fighters, the desires of the staff, and the feelings of the audience were all the same. There were no longer any obstacles.

Thus, with many people's support and good will and the great spirit of the fighters, the final match was ready.

Dawn broke at last, coming from the eastern sky with a first light that seemed to burn white And the morning of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival's final day, which so many had been longing for.

"Wow, What a huge crowd. Everyone is so fired up even though it's still morning, huh."

It was 9 am. Tomaru Renren, from the Hagun Academy Student Council, had taken the bullet train to the station nearest Wangan Dome, where the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival was taking place. The moment she got off, she found herself both amazed and astonished by the massive congestion, and murmured this complaint. Everything, from the platform to the ticket gate to the road to the dome, was filled with an uncountable number of people.

10 Naturally, they all had one goal. The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival finals. "But with this many people, can they even get inside?"

"There's no way they can all fit inside. They've even installed monitors outside."

The one who answered Renren's question was the one who had come with her to Osaka, another member of the student council. It was a large man with a physique like a rugged boulder, Saijou Ikazuchi. Just like he had pointed out, most of the people were there to watch the fight from outside the venue. Even though normally a lot of people gathered, the semifinals simply couldn't compare to the finals. Considering that it was a confrontation between the A-Rank Knight Crimson Princess, boasting magic power that could be said to be the second greatest of Devil and Humankind , against the hybrid Blazer with the greatest evaluation of A-Rank, Cryo Gale Sword Emperor, who had advanced by continuously defeating one strong opponent after another starting with Seven Stars Sword King, it's even more so.

Moreover, with such an unprecedented turnout, many merchants had gathered to do business as well. Some sat with their backs to the hedge, guitar in hand, singing songs.

Other performers juggled or did magic tricks. And then there were the local stalls. Even though it was morning, the area around Wangan dome was already festive.

There was another person currently with Renren, the Student Council Vice President, Utakata Misogi, whose face was blue and trying to hold something back from his mouth.

"Somehow this large crowd is making me feel rather sick…"

"Are you okay? Vice Pres-?"

"I'm not okay. I'm hot. Frazzled. Tired. I can't take it."

"Then it would have been better to leave you at school."

"That's no joking matter. Wouldn't I look like an idiot if only I had stayed behind to work while everyone was playing? Let's just hurry and get to the hotel. If we stay in this kind of place, I think my brains will melt out through my ears." Utakata whined while pulling at the hems of Saijou's shirt.

Well, even if one's brain didn't melt, staying much longer would probably lead to heat stroke. It would be no laughing matter to have spent the two and a half hours to come from Tokyo only to watch the game from a hospital bed.

"Even if you say that, with a crowd like this, finding Kanata-senpai will be such a pain-"

"Nah, that's not true."

As he said that, Saijou pointed at a spot in the crowd.

"Everyone, over here~"

Amongst the crowd, dressed in mainly short sleeved shirts and shorts, with at most a thin cardigan, was the figure of Kanata Toutokubara, completely clad in a white dress that did not reveal even her fingertips, which could already be said to be a partially suspicious getup.

"That was a needless worry, huh."

"Kanata-senpai, aren't you hot?"

"I'll be fine if I just endure it~"

"Endure… Why endure through that…"

Perhaps there was some spiritual reason? It perplexed Renren.

Utakata tilted his head questioningly at his junior, then asked Kanata a question.

"Eh? Kanata, whatever happened to Touka?" Though they had without a doubt been traveling with her, the figure of Hagun Academy Student Council President, Touka Toudou, was nowhere to be found.

"Since it's Touka-chan, she probably slipped out for some urgent business that just came up this morning."

"Urgent business?"

"Fufu. Yes. Urgent business." Though Kanata would not explain the matter further, her bemused expression told them that it was not a serious matter. Since it seemed that forceful questioning wouldn't be necessary, Utakata closed the matter with a "hmm."

"Well, she did say that she would come back before the fight, and that we should all watch the finals together."

"I see."

"But, finals, huh… Once, we were wondering what would happen, but it would be good to have a meeting about it. Being surprise attacked after a match, moreover losing by default due to an injury taken while protecting someone else, Kurozakuro-kun is too Powerful."

"That issue is something for the management committee to consider for us. Such a special measure is an unprecedented exception.

…According to the information Toutokubara collected, to make this extension happen, Prime Minister Tsukikage pulled a lot of strings."

"The Prime Minister who put us through all that?"

"…Again, that's a separate matter."

"Nonetheless, there's no way they would have delayed the schedule just for one student. It just so happens that the rampage Stella went on that shortened the festival by a day may have been a blessing in disguise… It looks super unfortunate, but kouhai-kun is pretty lucky."

Renren nodded in agreement at this as well. Then she looked up at Saijou behind her and asked a question in her friendliest classmate's voice.

"Hey hey, who do you think will win? Saijou-"

At this, Saijou put his hand on his chin and contemplated for a moment.

"…Both are from our school and are developing their abilities quickly. However, just looking at how they fought during the semifinals, Vermillion has the edge in ability. I can't imagine how to handle that dragon's power with just sword techniques. My assessment is that Vermillion will triumph."

With that answer Renren came to an understanding. Stella's true power was what she pulled out in the semifinals, Noble Art Dragon Spirit. It was natural for Saijou to come to such a conclusion. However- Renren's thoughts differed.

Kurozakuro has the ability too. I can't imagine how to handle that dragon's power combined with sword techniques. My assessment is that Kurozakuro will triumph."

"…You think Kurozakuro will win?"

Renren nodded. "I understand because I've fought him directly. Though Stella-chan's power surpasses human understanding, Kurozakuro-kun's skill & Power can also be said to be superhuman, something in the realm of the abnormal.

Do you remember? What Kurozakuro-kun did when he defeated me at the Hagun selection battles?"

"If I'm not mistaken, he used his Mukuu Samui Kekkai to side step your supersonic charge 「 Black Bird '', then caught you by the nape of your neck and smashed you into the ring."

"That's right. Normally, doing that would get your arm torn off. Despite that, Kurozakuro-kun countered that power completely and instead diverted it into the ground. That skill is definitely a match for Stella-chan's violent power."

"…It's not that I can't understand your point of view, but your understanding of Vermillion is a little naive. She effortlessly stopped my Crescendo Axe's heaviest strike. Because of Dragon Spirit, that brute strength probably rose even more. That offensive power is beyond the domain of things that can be stopped with techniques. I was crushed by it, after all."

"Kurozakuro-kun has the speed to completely dodge that. I saw it myself, Kurozakuro's speed throwing Stella's figure off her feet!"

"That's an illusion. Fights are won by those who are strong."

"What a thoughtless thing to say! Speed is the key to modern wars!"

"In the end, it seems you just want the opponent you lost to to win."

"You're the one who wants that!"

"Hnnnng!"

"Mmmmm-!"

"Ah okay okay, let's stop it there you two." Within the heat that only gave rise to a haze, those two held an argument so heated, it gave off sparks. Unable to just watch, Utakata got between them and tore them apart.

"Have your sweltering conversation in a place with air conditioning. If we stand around here any longer, we'll end up with heat stroke."

"That's right. Then, everyone, let's go to the hotel. There's even food prepared, so let's continue there." It seemed Kanata agreed with Utakata. She immediately took the lead to guide them to the Toutokubara group's hotel and began walking.

"Eh? Food? Awesome~ There's food, Food~"

"…Apologies. I, of all people, got unusually fired up." "Nah, the lightning god image was quite scorching, so it didn't seem out of place."

"!?"

With a shocked expression, Saijou hardened like a statue and got left behind.

"Fuhaha~ Look, the people are like trash!"

"What the hell are you doing?" A long line of people stretched from the station to Wangan Dome. Watching from the hotel terrace, Nene Saikyou let out a strange, feigned voice, at which Kurono Shinguuji shot her an incredulous gaze.

"Now look here, when you look at a crowd of people from somewhere high, don't you just want to say that? Instinctively." "I do not.

" "Seriously? Kuu-chan, are you sure you're Japanese?

"Is this really something you'd involve nationality in?"

While grumbling in a sighing voice, Kurono pulled out cigarettes from her suit. She put one to her lips and lit it before tossing words at Saikyou.

"It seems you didn't agree to do commentary for the last day, even though it should be a profitable job."

"Well, yeah. It's the finals of my favorite pupils. Wouldn't I want to watch from the front row?"

"It was only for a week, I want to say, but… She did improve considerably."

"I was surprised too. I thought I'd just try more or less shoving her around. Who would have thought that such a beast would be sleeping.

"When I think about it, that huge appetite of hers that doesn't match her constitution must be the influence of the dragon's power as well."

As she said that, Kurono glanced at the top of the table fleetingly. There, stacked on the table, was a mountain composed of the ruins of what had once been a room service meal.

Farther in, on the bed, the red haired girl who had created the mess… Crimson Princess Stella Vermillion was sleeping with her body curled up like a baby.

"…Nene. About today's finals, what do you think?"

"I think it'll be a great fight. Since they're both knights who obtained great power in their own ways, neither should get done easily. Though it could also become an appropriately high level mudslinging contest."

"A mudslinging contest eh."

"You know, since they're lovers and all. It's kind of messy."

"If such a pleasant quarrel were to occur, the viewers might just feel relieved." After responding to Saikyou's banter with a dry laugh, Kurono puffed out a breath of smoke.

"I don't think that's likely to happen. Especially between these two." She muttered, though her tone betrayed a tinge of nervousness. At this, Saikyou also returned a small nod. "True. If something goes wrong, someone might die.

Just like in the match between you and me."

Though Saikyou was joking, Kurono could see that her eyes carried the same nervousness. What she was recalling was the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival of their own generation. What she clashed with back then were her own feelings.

─Back then, she believed she didn't mind dying. To beat that person, she would even throw away her life. It was to that extent…

The girl named Kurono Takizawa had pined. Saikyou was sure that Kurono thought something similar might happen. That, with the same feelings as they had held back then, these two might-

"Still… It seems the one in danger here in the end is still Kuro-bou."

"Does Yaksha Princess see Crimson Princess as better?"

"Yes, after all, I can't picture it. The image of this princess losing, that is." Saikyou momentarily looked over the sleeping Stella.

As she was deep asleep, all Stella did was make sleeping sounds. She was saving her strength.

Not even using the energy to open her eyes, she accumulated strength from head to toe.

All so that tonight, she could erupt at the finals. "…" While laying her on the bed, the two had visions of the dragon's giant body several times.

At that overwhelming pressure, Kurono couldn't help but gulp. And so she thought. Tonight, the one to face this monster will be a single knight.

(Nephew. What are you thinking now? How are you spending your time?)

Was he, like this girl, accumulating strength? Perhaps he was waiting eagerly for the finals, unable to sleep from the exhilaration? Or possibly…

"…Either way, in this match, even if we interrupt it, things could get deadly. We can't leave this to some half-hearted knight. If it comes down to it, you and I will stop it… Just like Nangou-sensei and Kurogane-sensei did back then."

"I know, I know." Saikyou agreed with Kurono's sentiment without showing distaste on her face.

From the start, in order to focus on the fight and not miss such an important timing, she had turned down the commentary.

She didn't have to be told such a thing. Saikyou regarded Kurono with a serious expression. Right now, even more important was-

"Hey, Kuu-chan."

"Hm? What?"

"This place is a non-smoking room, you know."

"…Next time, please warn me before I light up."

"I'll use my best discretion." With a mean grin on her face, Nene smirked at the blushing Kurono.

Stella had stored as much strength as she could in her body. Her opponent, Kurogane Ayato was in a training facility owned by the National League near the Wangan Dome.

For the duration of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, this training facility was free for use by contenders. Ayato was carrying out a mock battle in one of that facility's rings. Acting as his opponent was a tall, thin, and handsome person.

It was his friend, Black Sonia Nagi Arisuin.

"-Huu." With a fast attack that whistled through the air, Ayato charged at Arisuin.

In response, Arisuin shifted his weight backwards and took a retreating stance.

"Shadow Beast-!" Arisuin threw three copies of his dagger shaped device, Darkness Hermit, at the ground, and left them standing there.

In an instant, they melted into puddle-like shadows on the ring. From those shadows, a black spray splattered and two giant tigers and a bear flew out of them attacking Ayato.

However, Ikki was not even perturbed by these wild beasts, simply kicking off the floor and charging at the enemies that now stood in his way.

With one stroke he dealt with the shadow tiger snapping at his head, lightly sidestepping the bear trying to claw his head, and cut it at the torso as they passed.

Then, with his fastest secret technique, Hellmoon, he used the weakness in the second tiger's offensive stance to overtake its movements and bisect it.

The shadow beasts dispersed into a seemingly harmless black mist. However, it had never been Arisuin's intention to use Shadow Beast to stop Ayato's movement. It was just a distraction.

The black mist that had dispersed from the crumbled shadow beasts blocked Ayato's field of vision for a moment-so he could use his shadow jumping technique, 「Shadow Walk」, to jump to Ayato's shadow!

After his machinations went through smoothly, Arisuin moved from his own shadow to Ayato's. From Ayato's shadow, stretching out behind him thanks to the lights in the ring, he sprung out, thinking

(I've got you…!).

From this position, facing Ayato's back, he flourished Darkness Hermit to strike at Ayato's neck. However, in that instant-

"!"

Even sooner than Arisuin could strike at Ayato's neck, the jet black tip of Ayato's device, Ryuuzetsu, appeared from under Ayato's arm, stopping just at Arisuin's brow.

Without facing Arisuin, Ayato had completely read the plan to flank him, and counterattacked instead.

"!"

Arisuin promptly used the knife he'd been striking down with to guard. By doing so he narrowly avoided being skewered, in that one beat, his action was stopped. What Ayato Kurogane just took advantage of had been a fatal weakness.

"-Gah, ha!" The thud of a heavy strike reverberated throughout the ring. It was the sound of Ayato's kick striking the pit of Arisuin's stomach. The impact of the kick to the stomach sent Arisuin flying three meters, where he rolled out of the ring and started coughing painfully.

"Cough! Cough! H-harsh! To kick a maiden in the stomach is incredibly unchivalrous."

"Er, Sorry?"

"Why do you seem so unsure?"

"Because I am unsure"

Arisuin couldn't help but smile at Ikki's answer, even as he continued to cough. "Haha, well, jokes aside… Despite sleeping for an entire day, your body doesn't seem sleepy at all. Ikki. You've given me some peace of mind."

"It's all because you came with me for some warming up, Alice."

While expressing thanks, Ayato lowered Ryuuzetsu.

After all, Arisuin was lying on his side on the floor and not in any condition to fight. In the end, this mock battle had just been to warm up Ayato after he'd slept for a day. There was no need to deal a finishing blow. Thus, a petite girl rushed over with small steps to the two who had stopped fighting.

With neat, short, silver hair, the girl was Ayato Kurogane's younger sister, Shizuku Kurogane.

As soon as she arrived at Ayato's side, she gave her honest opinion while looking slightly astonished.

"Isn't that enough? Tonight is the final and you're still here holding a mock battle. You're being too unreasonable."

"Haha, sorry. But I've been sleeping the whole time, so I'm checking the condition of my body." "Well, I know how you feel, but if you don't restrain yourself, your condition will only worsen. Look at how much sweat you've worked up… Eh?"

Shizuku unexpectedly used a towel to wipe the sweat that had collected on Ayato's face, but her expression hardened.

That was because the sweat that he'd shed was as cold as a winter stream. "Onii-sama, this is…"

"…I've been exposed, huh." With a bitter smile, Ayato received the towel from Shizuku.

"This sweat isn't borne of exhaustion. It's from fear… Of fighting with Stella, that is." Ayato Grumbled while continuing to mop up cold sweat. Right, this wasn't sweat from exercise. Nervousness, anxiety, weakness…

It was something that came from an emotion that could only be described as chills. It was because he was scared. Scared of Crimson Princess Stella Vermillion.

But that was a matter of course. The ease she had shown in her first irregular match against Icy Scorn Mikoto Tsuruya and others had demonstrated a power up within Ayato's expectations, but the power she showed in the semifinals far exceeded his imagination.

"She is already different from the girl I fought before. Up until now, she had only been fighting with the dragon's breath. But now, she has realized what she really is. Moreover, she now possesses the ability to freely control the power of the dragon that burned her as a child. She is not just a flame user anymore.

Skill, power, tactics… She is the incarnation of the prideful, all-powerful monster with the strength to force any enemy to yield."

What's more, this time, Stella now had even more information on the man named Ayato Kurogane. When he had beat her in the past, he had used her lack of knowledge to launch a surprise attack. She would not let that happen again.A veteran of losing battles.

Stella knew about Ayato Kurogane's struggles better than anyone else. In this final, there was definitely no room for slack in Stella's heart.

With such a Stella as an opponent, in the ring where there was nowhere to run or hide, the only option was to conquer her head on.

"Because of that, I cannot waste even a minute, no, a second." Sharper by the minute and stronger by the second. He would sharpen himself & Cryo Dragon Magic up until the last moment before entering the ring.

"That is my best condition."

"Onii-sama…" Shizuku responded to her brother's unusually stiff expression with an uneasy voice. At that moment-

"Oi~ I did it!" A call in a familiar kansai dialect hit everyone present. Upon looking at the entrance to the room they were talking in-

"Ara, it's you guys."

"Moroboshi-san! And Toudou-san too! You came for us!" In front of the open fire door stood the one Ayato had defeated in the first round of the tournament, Seven Stars Sword King Yuudai Moroboshi, and the one he had eliminated in Hagun's selection tournament finals, Raikiri Touka Toudou.

Shizuku let her bewilderment at these unexpected visitors seep onto her face.

"Why are you guys here…?" Touka answered while happily grinning towards somewhere else.

"This morning we got mail from Ayato saying he wanted our help with training."

"From Onii-sama?"

"Exactly. Well, I was free anyway. Incidentally… At the hotel, I called over some of the other losers to come." As he said so, Moroboshi pointed at the fire door behind him with his thumb.

"Who's a loser? You've said a little too much, Boshi!"

"Well, in reality, that's exactly what we are."

"Gahaha. True, True. Even if you try to say it nicely now, there's nothing you can do. ``'

'We didn't even participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, so we didn't lose!"

"…Even though you guys got beat up by two people at the training camp?" Behind the two, faces that anyone would recognize streamed in. Moroboshi's fellow representatives from Bukyoku academy, Eye of Heaven Byakuya Jougasaki and Demon Flame Momiji Asagi.

Making the entrance seem small just by stepping his huge build through was Rokuzon Academy's Panzer Grizzly Renji Kaga.

And finally, two original representatives from Hagun who had withdrawn from the festival, Kikyou Hagure and Botan Hagure. Ayato's eyes opened wide in surprise at their entrance.

"Did all of you come for my sake? Hagure-senpai and everyone else too?"

"Hehe. Well we arrived early and had nothing to do."

"…During the training camp, you taught us, so we'd like to return the favor."

"Though we're not sure how useful the ones who were KO'd the quickest will be."

"Actually, we were also called upon by Sensei. It was because that procedure looked to have taken a lot of your strength, and it seems to be as bad as she thought. …But the people here are of the same calibre as those who entered the tournament. I think we'll be just right as practice opponents." Ayato shook his head at Moroboshi's words.

"Don't even mention things like being just right! Everyone, thank you so much!" "Good, good. All of us wanted to try going up against the rumored Cold One once as well."

"So, what do we do? Before we came here, we also had some mock battles. Should we take a break?"

No." Ayato refused Touka's consideration with a single word and once again took up Ryuuzetsu. Then, he faced everyone with eyes burning with a fighting spirit.

"Immediately though… Please!" His passion instantly spread to everyone.

""Yessir!"" As if responding to Ayato's spirit, everyone else's devices manifested

"Guhaa! Th- This is…! Poison? Assassination? My Twilight Crusaders…! Such an underhanded method…!"

"Ojou-sama is saying 'This is so bitter!'"

"If bitter is not acceptable, it would've been better not to request coffee." They were in a cafe slightly out of the way of the long line to the venue.

At the terrace seats, Sara Bloodlily shot an astonished look at Rinna Kazamatsuri, who had coffee dripping from the corners of her mouth. The one who wiped Rinna's mouth with a handkerchief was her attendant, Charlotte Cordé.

Together with the three girls at their table was one other person. He was an elderly man, dressed stylishly in a suit. It was Japan's Prime Minister, Chairman of the school the girls attended, Akatsuki Academy's Bakuga Tsukikage.

"Even so, Sara-kun's Color of Magic is truly convenient. Even with so many people around, nobody can see us. I've always wanted such a convenient power.

"Even without a special power, something similar can be done."

"Is that so?"

"Ayato did it."

"…That only makes it feel more impossible." Tsukikage's wrinkled face twisted into a bitter grin.

"Sorry, Prime Minister. Could you pass the sugar pot?"

"Yeah, here." Responding to Charlotte's request, he slid the sugar pot near his hand toward Rinna. Rinna blushed shyly at this.

"Ah, thank you, Oji-sama…" While expressing her thanks with a sincere tone, she drew the sugar pot towards using her small hands.

However, Rinna's movement stopped there. Without even putting sugar in her coffee, leaving her gaze on the sugar pot in her hands-

"…Sorry." In a single word, she remorsefully apologized to Tsukikage. "What are you apologizing for?"

"Every one of us ended up losing…"

"Ah, that."

Tsukikage understood Rinna's reason for apologizing. To begin with, Akatsuki Academy was a group of mercenaries gathered via the connections of Tsukikage through one of Rebellion's Numbers, his old friend Kouzou Kazamatsuri, in order to sever the connection between Japan and those who utilize the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, the League of Knights.

However, they had been completely eliminated by Hagun Academy's Cold One and Crimson Princess.

Remorseful over being unable to carry out the duty they had been entrusted with, Rinna had said that.

However, Tsukikage hadn't placed any blame upon Rinna.

He put his hand on her apologetically drooping head. "Don't worry about it. You all did well. I understand that perfectly."

"But…"

"Giving up easily does not benefit a politician. If Akatsuki fails, then I will think of a different direction to go in…

At that time, if I need you, will you lend me your power again?"

While stroking Rinna's head gently, he asked her that.

Rinna finally raised her head at this, and with a smile like blooming flowers nodded

"Yes!" -It was precisely 'that time.'

"…She's here." Sara mumbled curtly while focused on the line of people.

Everyone gathered at the table responded to her voice by following her gaze.

There, in the dense crowd without a single gap in it, without pushing her way through, calmly weaving through the crowd with steps as if walking across an empty field, was a girl.

While her long, pure white hair swayed, she stepped directly to the four people who should have been hidden by Color of Magic.

Nonetheless the four of them raised no suspicion toward that.

For her, it was only natural.

That she could see them even when they should've been invisible.

Someone who could pass through a crowd without any difficulty.

Additionally, while doing so, she didn't alert a single person she crossed paths with.

Today, the person they had come to wait for- "It's been a while, hasn't it. Sara. Rinna. Char. And also… Tsukikage-sensei too." The strongest swordsman in the world, Twin-Wings Edelweiss.

"Thank you for waiting. Here is your blend coffee."

"It's for her." "Thank you." While expressing her gratitude with a friendly smile, Edelweiss pulled the sugar pot to herself. Then she looked at Tsukikage.

"Thank you for today. For listening to my sudden selfish request."

She lowered her head slightly. The selfish reason she mentioned was the reason she was here today. Last night, Edelweiss contacted Tsukikage.

…Wanting to watch the final of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.

"Unexpected, that you would be interested in the battle of someone who is just a student, Ede." "Perhaps there's some relationship we don't know about."

"Fufu, if I remember correctly, when we carried out Operation Beowulf on Hagun Academy, the one who faced the Frozen Beast King was Brynhildr.

"Be, Beo?" Sara offered advice to Edelweiss, who tilted her head and was making a bewildered face.

"Don't think about it too much. It's just Rinna's usual sickness."

"Ojou-sama is saying 'When we made the attack on Hagun Academy, she fought Frozen Beast King.'"

"A, Ah. So that's what it was. Yes, it's exactly as she's saying."

Edelweiss confirmed as she scooped up a spoonful of sugar from the sugar pot. "I saw the semifinals on TV. It surprised me to see Ouma lose in such a one-sided fashion, but… even more than that, seeing Amane in such a helpless state was beyond my expectations.

Amane's childhood and the attachment he had to Ayato because of it. Edelweiss had known about that.

Because of that, Amane's existence was an obstacle blocking Ayato's destiny.

That's what she'd thought.

-However,

"He took no notice of him." He'd faced the defeat Amane had thrust at him head on and crushed it for all to see.

"…He's an amazing young man. Truly."

"That's why you want to watch the finals in person?"

Edelweiss nodded at Tsukikage's question while adding yet another spoonful of sugar to her coffee. "For Crimson Princess it is natural, but Cryo Gale Sword Emperor as well…

He is climbing onto our stage. I decided that when I saw he had the willpower to undergo Extreme training and obtain the physical & Magical prowess needed to defy fate that he showed at the semifinals.

Thus… even I cannot ignore that. Another exciting moment will happen soon. I might cross swords with him again.

"…"

"More importantly… Another party with the same thoughts as mine came here today in order to overcome the menace of the future, we are willing to be audacious."

"Eh?"

When he heard those disquieting words, Tsukikage lifted his gaze from her hands, which were busy scooping a third spoonful of sugar

. Edelweiss was looking at the crowd instead of Tsukikage. -Her eyes glinted sharply.

Following that dangerous gaze, Tsukikage also noticed. In the crowd, there was a man looking at them astutely through a visor.

"That's… America's…!"

"It's not just him. At this place… Agents from various factions have already gathered."

Edelweiss' words made Tsukikage recall a certain scene in his mind. A red and black memory that he'd seen.

Tokyo, engulfed in flames. The permeating stench of protein being scorched and human fat that stuck to the skin…

With fists shaking from fear and anger, Tsukikage informed Edelweiss. "Front row box seats have been prepared."

"Thank you very much." Edelweiss returned a slight bow and put her coffee, which she had just added a fourth spoon of sugar to, to her mouth.

"Yum."

"If you can't handle bitterness, then it would be better to not order stuff like coffee."

(Too, too strong…!)

Bukyoku Academy's third year and finalist at last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, Momiji Asagi, was struck with admiration at the physical & Magical prowess of the man she was crossing blades with.

As the disciple of God of War Torajirou Nangou, she had confidence in her blade.

However, that was exactly why she couldn't help but understand the magnitude of the difference between herself and the warrior in front of her, Frozen Beast King Ayato Kurogane.

"Hah!"

"…!"

Countless clashes later, a particularly loud strike rang out and Momiji was sent flying backwards.

Her vision went blurry.

There, at the edge of the ring, Momiji fell down and exhaled roughly before looking at the trio.

The Hagure sisters and Jougasaki, who had already carried out mock battles with Ayato.

Ayato had kicked the three around in front of Momiji. He hadn't even been scratched. If this went on, she too would- "Asagi! Show your determination!"

"Enmaku…!" Responding to Moroboshi's encouragement, Momiji deployed a wall of fire in front of her. Frustrating though it might be, she couldn't compete with swordsmanship.

She would just have to show her determination by fighting with magic. Thus she switched over. However-

"Seya!" Her determination was short-lived as Ayato cut through her wall with a single shout and a cryo wind slash.

From an overhead stance, Ayato had swung Ryuuzetsu down, and by sheer force & magic power, blasted away the approaching Enmaku.

And at the same time,

-Momiji's spirit as well.

(…) Having cleared Enmaku away, Ayato's eyes shone like an Ice blade.

Momiji's blood ran cold seeing this.

Head and chest, mind and body, would be cut apart.

Ayato wasn't foolish enough to waste that moment.

He closed to space between them now that there was no obstacle Fast.

Though she'd frozen for only an instant, Momiji lost her chance to respond.

Clash was now inevitable. No, rather, if there was an ability that could still allow her to evade, it would be the Trackless Step Master Nangou had taught her.

(Even if I were to try to enter his blind spot… he doesn't even have one!)

Standing against Ayatp, Momiji came to a realization. Ayato's discernment was just like her friend Moroboshi's Happou Nirami[2], in that it could perceive the entirety of the arena, not 39 overlooking a single movement from the enemy.

Her own Trackless Step would not be precise enough to outmaneuver the owner of those eyes. In that case… there was nothing to do but intercept him with her sword. Despite the knot in her stomach, Momiji clad her device, Hibachi, in flames.

One hit would be enough. If she just grazed him, Hibachi's flames would capture Ikki's whole body like a snake. (Just one stroke…!?)

However, she was only eager for an instant. She had lost sight of Ayato Kurogane.

"Crap." Momiji realized in an instant that it was due to Trackless Step.

"Aku-"

But by that point, it was already over. Ayato had passed by Momiji's side and cut her torso with his device clad in a Cryo Wind Tornado in an illusionary form.

That attack had, without a doubt, been a fatal wound, cutting through her stomach all the way to her spine, causing an appropriate amount of strength to drain out of Momiji as a magical red Blood Light, which dispersed into the air.

One moment later, Momiji's body collapsed onto the ground.

"Ha, ah, …!" Sudden fatigue hit her as she was gouged of strength appropriately for an illusionary fatal wound.

Despite also feeling a burning pain in her abdomen, Momiji somehow managed to raise her head.

Then- "Thank you!" Ayato bowed his head deeply and thanked Momiji. Just as he had done earlier with the other three.

"Aha, you're welcome… I don't feel like I was very useful though."

"That's not-"

"Armor Piercing Bullet-!"

"Hu-?" A deep voice like a cannon's roar suddenly interrupted their conversation.

While Ayato was facing Momiji, an attack came from directly behind him, aiming for the back of his head-

It was Panzer Grizzly Renji Kaga's iron palm strike.

It was a most unexpected, barbaric surprise attack for a mock battle. Momiji was petrified at this. However

Ayato's expression didn't even waver. Momiji saw it during that moment.

"-True at all."

After completing his statement towards Momiji, without even an ounce of confusion, Ayato took the hits with his diamond like body.

The palm strike from the man who boasted weight four times that of Ayato's, didn't even move him a bit.

-Impossible.

There was a trick to this impossible feat.

That trick was in Ayato's Body.

He Trained his body with Tenryuu Kori Gusoku in a Gravity Room for 2 years and he traveled around the world for 8 years.

After receiving the surprise attack, Ayato matched the movement of Kaga's attempt at retreating and pushed him back using the arm he'd received the hit with.

(…!)

In that instant where he shifted his weight back, more force had been added from the front. With his own weight being so heavy, Kaga was bent backwards greatlyIn that instant, Ryuuzetsu cut open his robe.

"Gu, Nuu!" Kaga's great body collapsed at the knees and he hit the floor. Towards that Kaga-

"Ah, you! What were you thinking, attacking so suddenly?!" Shizuku shouted angrily. After all, it was an unthinkable thing.

He had launched a surprise attack on a fighter who was set to fight that same day, even if it was in Illusionary form. Ayato himself was far calmer.

"It's fine, Shizuku."

"O, Onii-sama!?" Then, of all things-

"Kaga-san. Thank you very much." He thanked Kaga as he had Momiji and the others. For a moment, Kaga starred in puzzlement at this expression, then broke into a broad smile.

"Gah, hahahaha! On top of not having any weak points, you don't even have a single complaint about a surprise attack, eh. Even though you have a girly mug if you look at it right… Being combat ready at all times. It looks like you know that well."

Knights were not sportsmen.

Therefore, they had to maintain high concentration outside of matches as well.

Even when they are walking, sleeping, or eating, they must always keep their senses sharp.

They can't afford to be careless.

If one became used to slacking off, they would surely fail when it matters.

Sometimes, the flow of battle goes to the one who can transition quickly.

Going about it in small steps is out of the question.

This was all the more true against an opponent who'd easily overwhelmed Ouma, whom he had been so powerless against.

That was why Kaga decided to attack in the moment when Ikki was preoccupied with Momiji. However-

(I've been preaching to the choir, at most)

To this man, it was a pointless warning. At the same time Kaga realized that, he came to believe it.

"You'll win! You will!" Kaga thumped Ayato's chest with his fist as he insisted on this. Stella was certainly a formidable enemy.

Her attack power was nothing normal.

However, Ayato knew how to use and stop the force. His special skills & Attack Power shouldn't be outdone by her attack power.

Kaga believed this based on what he'd witnessed. Ayato Smiled at the encouragement.

"Then, I shall be your next opponent."

"…!" Ayato's expression stiffened as a wave of numbness ran through his neck. When he turned his head, he saw a girl climbing slowly into the ring with a katana in a black sheath in her hands, Raikiri Touka Toudou.

The opponent Ayato had defeated at the finals of Hagun's selection tournament. Though their battle had consisted of a single stroke, her strength was vivid in Ayato's memory.

She had been in the top 4 last year, falling behind Byakuya and Momiji, but the impression on Ayato's skin was betraying that fact. No doubt she was the best of the members that Moroboshi had assembled.

She was a difficult opponent to face with no abilities.

"What will you do? Including Arisuin-kun, you've fought 5 consecutive battles. Will you take a quick break?"

"No, don't worry about that." His fighting spirit was overflowing. Ayato wiped away the sweat from his hands and renewed his grip on Ryuuzetsu.

"Please don't hold back!"

He raised his sword to point at Touka.

In the instant Ayato raised his sword, Raikiri began to move.

From ten meters away, she unsheathed Narukami and fired a crescent slash formed of lightning towards Ayato.

The golden lightning charged at Ayato like a bird with wings spread open.

It was the same long ranged attack she had used against Lorelei, the Noble Art Raiou.

However, while it was a quick opening strike, it was made from a considerable distance.

Far from distressing Ayato at all, he immediately took an evasive maneuver.

Namely, he took a big sidestep to the right.

It was a style of moving that he'd learned from Twin-Wings using his Blade Steal. That was how he managed to evade so easily at high speed as soon as he raised his heel. Truthfully, it didn't pose a threat to him. However, the moment Ayato dodged the first attack, Touka launched a follow-up Raiou right at him. The technique he had just dodged so easily was launched again.

Of course, that one didn't reach Ayato either. With a leap in the opposite direction, Ayato evaded that as well. As expected, it didn't even graze him.

Even so, Touka fired a third Raiou. Was she just being stubborn? Of course not. Touka had a reason for her actions

(This is…!)

"As expected of Toudou. After watching his match with me, she has recognized his weak point."

Murmuring this with a spirit of admiration was Moroboshi, who was watching their battle from the sidelines.

"Onii-sama's weak point?"

"Well, more accurately, it's a flaw in that technique. It's a technique he's been using since his match with me, a technique he took from Twin-Wings using Blade Steal where he uses all of the muscles in his body simultaneously to accelerate rapidly to top speed. Most people cannot follow such acceleration with their eyes. That being said, constantly moving at full speed is…"

"Ah…"

Once said, Shizuku realized as well. Since earlier, Touka had been unleashing Raiou left and right in order to force Ayato to dodge in different directions constantly.

"I get it. When moving at full speed constantly, it's difficult to make sudden stops and turns. All that switching puts excessive strain on his lower body. Dodging will slowly become more difficult, and eventually he'll get caught.

Moroboshi's prediction was coming true in the ring.

While Ayato had avoided the first two by a good margin, that margin started shrinking, and the amount of near misses began to rise.

"Ayato should also understand Touka's intention, though. If he stays on the defensive, he'll just remain pinned down from long range."

Ayato started to change his movements, just as Moroboshi predicted.

He stopped his sideways evasion, faced the scattered Raiou strikes aimed at him, and started running.

Just as he was about to take a direct hit, he dropped to the ground like a crawling animal to get past the Raiou. "Wow…!"

"He's doing the unthinkable as usual. Passing through a gap like that!"

"It's possible because it's Onii-sama!" Once he slipped through that, he was in range to cross swords. It was close range. Having closed the range so much, Ayato could now launch attacks as well.

Both of them moved so quickly that only the trails left by their swords were visible.

Touka fought back well, but no longer had any opportunity to resheathe her blade.

And when Touka is unable to sheathe her blade, she cannot bring out the strongest close range noble art she boasts, Raikiri.

(This is good…!) Ayato thought this while carrying out an orthodox Raikiri countermeasure. Ayato understood the power of Raikiri from personal experience.

Only by using Ittou Rasetsu with Kori Kusanagi to put his all into one daring strike was he able to overcome Raikiri before.

Since he was preparing for a match with Stella, he would be unable to use such abilities. In order to beat Touka, he had to first ensure that she could not use Raikiri.

If it was used on him, he would lose right then and there

. Thus in that manner, he would pressure her with swordplay and suppress Raikiri.

(I've got this! My swing speed is faster…!)

Though Touka's attacks were sharp as well, they were a far cry from Ayato's, which mirrored those of Twin-Wings.

As long as it didn't come to a sword lock, he shouldn't have to worry about being shocked either.

(At this rate, I can overwhelm her!)

Ayato made up his mind. He shifted forward again and put his power into the sword.

Then, suddenly, he struck out like a flying swallow and forced Touka's Narukami to the side.

(Alright, she's off balance!)

After exchanging blows with Touka, he had finished measuring the speed of her swings. With her sword pushed to such a position, she would not be able to block his strike. Next, Ayato would-

(I've got her here! It's decided!) Believing so, Ayato struck forward again

Rather, he tried to.

(!?) Immediately after, a sharp numbness ran up his neck. It was sixth sense he'd honed by toeing the line between life and death so many times warning him.

At this warning, Ayato's body ignored his previous assumption and moved- Touka's sword had moved faster than Ayato's expectation and, just barely, had managed to return to defend.

(That's crazy…!)

Based on Touka's swing speed, the speed of that counter was impossible. Ayato gulped in astonishment. What on earth was that? Ayato thought about the unexpected counterattack.

However, Touka wasn't about to wait around for Ayato to think.

Narukami and Ryuuzetsu clashed once again.

From the contact point, Touka channeled an electrical attack into Ryuuzetsu.

"…Ah!" Zap! Sparks crackled between Narukami and Ryuuzetsu as electricity ran through Ayato.

Though his skin wasn't burned thanks to Illusionary form, receiving a shock made his muscles spasm intensely and cry out in pain.

In the end, his movements were stopped instantly.

Touka took aim at this opportunity-!

She raised Narukami overhead nimbly, and struck down at Ayato.

However, Ayato baited that attack out.

(She's flustered!)

Just as Touka began her strike, Ayato steeled his Diamond body. Using the full body control he had cultivated, he took control of his heart and forcibly restored function to his peripheral nervous system. Recovering from the shock in that instant, Ayato avoided the strike towards his head with the smallest possible sidestep.

Thinking that the shock had immobilized him, his opponent had gone for a finishing blow.

It was a move made after seeing through Touka's thoughts, outplaying her thoroughly.

That was Ayato's chance-or it should have been.

"Ku!?" Once again, Ayato's predictions were overturned by Touka's blade.

This time, having sidestepped Narukami, Ayato did not need to lock swords with Touka, which prevented her from using the same move again.

Their close range battle continued in this manner. Ayato would have to rethink his close range tactics from square one.

Despite being able to clearly surpass her swing speed, he could not land a decisive blow on Touka.

Moreover, Ayato was slowly starting to fall behind. The cause must be…

(This is switching around!)

Ikki saw it in her movements while being pressured. Touka's blade would strike out with the sharpness of the legendary sword technique Swallow Counter, then return with unnatural speed, leaving a trail like a flash of lightning.

Squeezed into the moments between blows, these strikes threw off Ayato's rhythm. This was the technique Touka Toudou had polished in order to win at this year's tournament.

By creating a special magnetic field around her, she could use electromagnetic attraction and repulsion to move her sword at speeds exceeding the limits of her body. It was her Noble Art, Inazuma, devised as a counter to Yuudai Moroboshi's superhuman technique, Houkiboshi.

The burden on the wrist made it impossible to use it haphazardly, but by occasionally mixing it in while trading blows, she could interrupt her opponent's rhythm.

Once their rhythm was interrupted, forcing them back was simple!

"Aha!"

"Ku!" Touka lunged at Ayato's chest.

In order to avoid the blow, Ayato threw himself backwards, ending up outside of engagement range. He escaped with his tail between his legs.

"Onii-sama…!" Ayato had been forced out of his comfortable range. Shizuku realized this and let her worry show, while on the side Moroboshi's expression hardened. It was only natural. Ayato knew well the close range superiority of Twin-Wings' sword, which he had learned. That being said, someone had pushed it back.

(This girl is… powerful. She can't be compared to herself from last year.)

Not intending to let Ayato get away, Touka stayed hot on his heels, keeping up the pursuit.

(Kurozakuro-kun. Your sword skills and Magic are certainly amazing. When I saw your match with Moroboshi-san on TV, I got goosebumps. Your techniques & power don't even seem human. However!)

That much was expected of the Blazers. It was incredible that Ayato had gotten this far on physical skill & magic Power alone.

However, that was a product of Ayato's circumstances, having been blessed in terms of Blazer power.

Touka and other Blazers hadn't needed such single minded focus on martial artistry in order to reach this point.

If they simply used their magic power along with their abilities, then surpassing an ordinary person was no big deal.

His skill & power alone would not be enough. With sword techniques that merely surpassed average people…

(Forget Stella-san, he can't even handle me…!)

"Gah…!?"

In response to Touka's fierce attack, Ayato stayed on the defensive. Beyond avoiding clashing, Ayato was forced to constantly retreat.

In the end, that turned out badly for him.

"Ah!?" Suddenly, while jumping away,Ayato's balance wavered. What had happened? The answer was under his feet. Shizuku and the other spectators looked on with dismay.

(That's what was left behind when he took Kaga-san's attack!)

(No way! His foot got caught in the cracked part of the ring! An attack is coming, Ayato!)

(…No, this is-)

"Haaaaaaaaaaa!" As Arisuin expected, Touka took the opportunity and attacked with all her spirit and might. Having caught his foot in the broken ring, Ayato's balance was off and he was not able to defend. However, with a dull 'Gagi!'

The two returned to having their swords locked. Of course, Touka followed that with a lightning blast.

"Bzzt!" With a soft bursting sound accompanied by sparks, Ayato's right arm and upper body snapped back from the shock. Touka saw a decisive opening.

(This is it!) Touka decided to unleash her trump card. Touka had already seen Ayato's resilience towards electrocution earlier.

A mere slash would simply be dodged.

However, even if he were to dodge Raikiri, her supersonic blade would hit Ayato with a blast through the air

. At close range, the damage from receiving that would be able to take down any single human. There was no reason to hesitate.

Believing this, Touka returned Narukami to its scabbard.

"Eh!?" To be more accurate, she tried to.

However, she was unable to. Why? Well, the reason was in Narukami's scabbard. Right at the opening of the scabbard and the tip of the sword, preventing the sword from returning to the scabbard, was a small chip from the broken ring!

(!)

At that moment, Touka realized that she had been trapped. Ayato's foot had not gotten caught on the broken part of the ring. In order to kick up a shard from the ring, he had stuck his foot in a crack.

Then, while he was bending back due to the electric shock, he launched the shard into the gap between Narukami and its scabbard

. This prevented the resheathing of the sword, leaving Touka defenseless.

"Ka, Ha-" In that instant, Ayato finished recovering from the shock and cut Touka by the throat.

After receiving such a fatal wound, Touka felt that she was about to lose consciousness and collapse.

However, with sheer force of will, she managed to stay on one knee and addressed the victorious Ayato.

"To think that Raikiri would be defeated in such a manner…"

"It's a surprise attack that will only ever work once, though."

Touka smiled bitterly. Using a shard from the ring to block her scabbard was definitely a surprise.

She wouldn't let it happen again.

However, reading her intent to use Raikiri and then using the damage to the ring was nothing short of creative.

Even during their fierce sword fight, he'd had the ability to nonchalantly lead her to a predetermined location.

Most impressively, he had completely deceived her ability to directly read intentions from biological signals in order to get his plan past her, taking decisive action without letting her realize anything.

Without a doubt, that was the power of Ayato's experience.

Ayato's strength definitely consisted of more than just swordplay

. He had widened her view. He was constantly thinking about the best way to win. (I've been thinking only about sword techniques this whole time.)

"Amazing. Even though I came to help you train, I ended up learning from you instead and I know that You like boobs."

"Learning from me? I'm only fighting this way because I can't afford to reveal my hand… Toudou-san. Thank you for having this match with me."

"Oh, don't men-"

"Alright, alright. It's very Japanese of you to be throwing thanks around, but face me, Ayato." Something hard prodded Ayato in the back with an audible thunk. It was Moroboshi's device, Tora-ou.

"That was an interesting path to victory you took, though I'm not surprised. After all, you turned the tables on me in a similar fashion, didn't you?" Ayato turned his attention from Touka to Moroboshi and nodded slightly.

"That I did. You and I have a similarly sneaky way of thinking."

"Haha. Of course. I'm a merchant from Naniwa."

Even while he laughed deeply at Ayato's jesting, Moroboshi flipped Tora-ou around, pointing its tip at Ayato.

"I will be the last. Since you have a match today, I will not use Tiger Bite, hehe. I'll tire you out in a good way. I'll take this opportunity to pay you back for the first round. Are you ready?"

Moroboshi wore a boorish grin on his face. However, even as he played with his expression and words, the fire in his eyes was honest. Even while feeling thankful for the warm feelings Ayato saw flickering in Moroboshi's eyes, he raised his sword.

"Let's do this."

It was time for a mock battle with Moroboshi. The beginning proved much calmer than his battle with Touka.

It was natural, as Ayato and Moroboshi were knights with similar styles at heart. He wouldn't engage in long range combat with magic the way Touka had.

Basically, until he entered spear range, he wouldn't attack.

(At least, that's what I'd like to think, but he seems like he might throw his spear.)

Even though Moroboshi hadn't entered spear range, Ayato could not let his guard down at all. While paying meticulous attention, Ayato circled around Moroboshi. All that time,

Moroboshi's gaze never left Ayato. Tora-ou, which had been lowered, tracked Ayato's heart with its tip.

(Facing him again, the pressure really is incredible.)

There was no point at which he could break into Moroboshi's range.

(I don't think I can use speed to disturb his zone like I did in the tournament's first round.)

Ayato reasoned this out. He was referring to how close his victory against Moroboshi in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival had been. That victory had been less through true power and more about a surprise attack.

Moroboshi hadn't known enough about Ayato, which let Ayato get a major cut in on him before his eyes had gotten used to Ayato's speed.

The bleeding from that cut had lowered his oxygen circulation.

With his eyesight weakened by that, Moroboshi had been unable to follow Ayato's sudden acceleration.

However, Moroboshi was different now.

He was in perfect condition, and moreover, he now knew about Ayato's use of Twin-Wings' style. Relying on speed to attack such an opponent was dangerous.

(However-)

Right, even so, in the end, it was the same as in his match with Touka.

Dangerous or not, Ikki did not have many options to choose from. He had his own fighting distance. Take the battle to the range of a sword, and cut them down. Besides that, he had no other way of fighting.

That said…

(He's scary.)

Moroboshi's pressure was certainly strong.

However, if he flinched from just this, he would never be able to approach Stella. If there was no hope of victory given by his opponent,

(I must go, without fear!)

Ikki steeled his heart and accelerated, running up to Moroboshi.

In response, Moroboshi took a deep breath.

"…!" As Ikki stepped into his spear's range, Moroboshi unleashed three lethal thrusts towards him in the blink of an eye.

It was Moroboshi's high speed strike, Sanrensei. Ikki took them on with lightning-like slashes, which left only afterimages in his vision. The downpour of steel was like that of falling stars. He pushed forward, trying to cut through, but…

(This is…!) Try as he might, he could not advance. Countless Sanrensei strikes rained down in a flurry.

The speed and density of the strikes were beyond comparison with those in the previous match. Even using Twin-Wings' technique, he could just barely repel the strikes.

"Are you surprised? Kurogane."

"…!"

"During the tournament, I was using Sanrensei as bait for Tiger Bite. You prepared to enter my range by depending on your speed. However, if I don't mix in Houkiboshi, don't use Tiger Bite, and focus on speed, even I am capable of this much. If you can get through, then show me!"

"Ku…" His voice was full of confidence. He was by no means overestimating his own ability. Slipping through Moroboshi's thrusts would be no easy matter.

(There are no gaps during which I could recover. This is not like Sanrensei so much as it is a meteor shower.)

The downpour of steel like a falling star had no gaps. Put simply, stepping into range would be impossible.

That being the case, Ayato used a technique. It was his technique where he moved left and right at a high pace using air & ice, generating afterimages of ice to deceive his foe. Fourth Secret Sword- Zahgyo Ningyo. It was the technique that had caused Moroboshi grief during the tournament. With this, Ayato would press Moroboshi to choose between-

"Don't underestimate me!"

"!?" Ayato's shallow plan was crushed in an instant. Ayato used Zahngyo Ningyo to send an afterimage right while he moved to the left, but in that instant, Tora-ou bent with deceptive agility, adjusting its trajectory to follow the real Ayato.

Ayato managed to turn the attack with a hair's breadth of space.

"Oraaa!"

"Ku, oof!" Moroboshi used all his strength to strike at Ryuuzetsu when Ayato blocked, sending Ayato's body flying to the edge of the ring. Moroboshi then smiled daringly at Ayato, who just managed to break the fall.

"If you try to create illusions, I'll have my spear in you in an instant. I already know the movements you use to set up that technique. Don't think you can get the same move past a first class fighter like me again. That's naive of you."

"…Eh? Didn't it work twice, Botan-chan?"

"Yeah, that's why he lost in the first round."

"So he's second-rate."

"Sh-shut up! Onlookers stay quiet!" Moroboshi objected to their disruption. Even then, he remained vigilant towards Ayato. It seemed obvious that he would; Ayato was grasping his sword strongly as if to say it wouldn't be over after just that.

(I still have a way to get out of spear range!)

Ayato rushed to Moroboshi for the second time.

"You're incorrigible! That said, even if you're caught, this is your only way, huh!" Moroboshi prepared to combat this approach from spear distance again.

He wasted no energy while Ayato was out of range, but the moment Ayato entered his zone, he swooped in like a raging fire.

Fundamentally, Moroboshi preferred this kind of patient spear technique. That's what Ayato decided to aim for. The first blow Moroboshi would put out as he approached.

(I'll hit his interception with Dokuga no Tachi!)

He raised his sword diagonally above his head.

His sixth secret sword- Dokuga no Tachi.

It sends shockwaves into the enemy through the Device, attacking them from the inside.

It was an attack that passed through weapons.

Unlike Zanhyo Ningyo, he hadn't shown this technique to Moroboshi. Therefore, the first attack should definitely get by-

"What might this be?"

"…?" Ayato was left astonished the instant his Dokuga no Tachi intercepted Tora-ou. Moroboshi had quickly withdrawn his spear. Then, aiming at Ayato , who was full of openings after being faked out, he struck out again. "As if I'd take such a poisoned strike!"

"Ku, Uoooooo!" Immediately after, that light of strength leaving someone, Blood Light, danced in the air. Moroboshi's strike had caught Ayato.

However, it had not been a serious wound. It had only slightly scratched his side. To pull that off, Ayato had used the hilt of Ryuuzetsu to strike the blade of Tora-ou and turn its trajectory. He then promptly escaped out of spear range.

"Skillful & Powerful as usual."

"What makes you say it was poisoned? You should not have seen this technique before."

"It's because you left your weight behind unnaturally. I just got a bad feeling from that."

"…I see." Ayato laughed bitterly at that. Even though he'd intended to make an opening, somehow there'd been another oversight. He suddenly understood then.

(Tactics that expect mistakes from the enemy won't work on this man.)

Perhaps it was due to the lack of tension during a mock battle, but Moroboshi's concentration had too few holes. He had been in a natural stance this whole time, leaving no openings to attack. In that case… There was only one thing left to do.

Having decided thus, Ayato brought Ryuuzetsu into Seigan no Kamae and focused on Moroboshi with both eyes.

"-" Moroboshi observed Ayato's gaze and stance.

"What's that? The nature of his pressure has changed." Moroboshi's veteran 6th sense immediately sensed something.

(His back foot is well planted. He can't dash effectively from that stance.) Just as Moroboshi had judged, Ayato's third approach was different from those until now; this time he approached slowly.

Without changing from Seigan no Kamae, Ayato shuffled forwards slowly, feet never leaving the ground.

"What's wrong? If you move at such a turtle-like pace, you'll be filled with holes the moment you get in range."

"-"

Ayato showed no response to Moroboshi's provocation. Ignoring him-that wasn't quite it.

(He's simply not listening. He can't even hear me.)

After looking at Ayato's eyes, he understood. He wouldn't respond to sound. With his eyes focused on Moroboshi, he would just slowly advance and close the gap.

(When focus exceeds normal limits, you become unable to hear anything around you, and also become unable to perceive color. I've experienced being in that zone before…)

Well, if it was the man before him, he could probably enter that state intentionally. The problem was, what was he thinking, using that focus? With such slow movements, what was he trying to start? Finally, Ayato's toes encroached upon Moroboshi's domain.

(Tch, I'm so confused! But what I have to do doesn't change!)

Moroboshi made his move. Focusing on speed, he unleashed a violent storm of steel. Ayato blocked it in the same way as before, with Ryuuzetsu flying in to deflect the spear. The sound of weapons clashing. The rain of sparks. It was exactly the same as earlier.

"!?"

Moroboshi felt it in the hand wielding Tora-ou first. There was an abnormal weight coming from this opponent. It felt like a massive tree rooted in the earth.

No matter how many times he struck, Ayato would not back off like he had earlier.

He didn't dodge horizontally either.

With his eyes fixed on Moroboshi, he advanced straight forwards, bit by bit.

Only forwards.

"…!"

Seeing his form, Moroboshi understood Ayato's idea.

(This guy, he didn't have a specific plan or anything…! He cut off nonessential senses, lowered strength spent on things other than movement as much as possible, and put all his focus into his sword…! I'll put my all into my blade and break through with all my strength!)

He wasn't an opponent you could get past with a half hearted plan and a cheap trick. Knowing that, he would meet the blade that Ayato honed with his all.

Ayato understood his own weakness, and made use of everything before his eyes and Magic for victory.

Contrary to that, when it mattered, he had the courage to trust in his own strength.

At a glance, these two seem contradictory.

The one who united them was Cold One Ayato Kurozakuro.

He is aware of his weakness: Magic Control.

Despite that, he believes that he can be stronger than anyone.

To achieve this, he does everything he can.

That everything resides in the black Nodachi & Generation powers he grasped in both hands.

Therefore, Ayato Kurozakuro would no longer back down. He would no longer run. If it was himself, it was possible.

Believing that, he advanced slowly, but surely, towards Yuudai Moroboshi.

This was no last stand. Nor was it a desperate attack.

Absolute Victory. He held such a conviction. His pressure was fierce.

"Guh!?" He overwhelmed Moroboshi soundly, driving him into a corner of the rectangular arena.

"Awesome, Onii-sama! To drive that Moroboshi-san against a wall head on!"

"Forwards, slowly, but surely. He did it through incredible pressure."

"Yeah. That said… Kurozakuro-kun's stance is also amazing."

"What are you talking about?"

"Against Moroboshi-san, without being shifted laterally or front-to-back, he maintained a straight trajectory. It makes it hard on the attacker. Anyway, he guarded with his blade well centered in Seigan no Kamae and made it difficult to attack, and his opponent did not change his stance at all, continuously aiming for a fatal strike at the same place, from the same angle. He inevitably ended up repeating the same motion. As a result-"

Right after that, a red light fluttered in the ring. It was Blood Light spilling from Ayato's limbs.

It was just a graze, though. And surely enough, Moroboshi also understood the 'result' that Touka pointed out.

(I've shown too much motion! He's optimizing his strength and approach to repel me!)

Precisely. If one ends up repeating the same attack, then you'll end up exposing it.

The power, angle, and speed necessary to deflect the enemy was all shown in detail.

And now Ayato has analyzed it and optimized it.

While avoiding any fatal wounds, Ayato used the minimum defence necessary, contracting his defensive movements as much as he could, making his attack and defense stronger than before, and stepping into Moroboshi's zone.

Forwards. Powerfully. Quickly.

"Moroboshi-san lost his patience after being backed into a corner. He's attacking unreasonably out of impatience!"

That was Touka's prediction.

"Come no closer!"

It came true in the next instant. Moroboshi sent a single flashing strike flying towards Ayato. Because of his impatience, he sent his elbow too far to return easily, making it a sloppy thrust. Without any spirit put into it, the strike lacked power and aim.

"!" Ayato didn't overlook that.

"Shit-"

By the time Moroboshi realized his misplay, it was too late. Ayato stepped forwards with the sloppy thrust, letting his own shoulder be pierced. Using his own body he trapped Tora-ou, denying Moroboshi any counterattack.

"Haaaaaa!" With Tora-ou stuck in his shoulder, he broke into Moroboshi's space and thrust his blade into his heart.

"Damn… Lost again!" Moroboshi cried as his heart was pierced, and with his strength drained he collapsed on the floor spread eagled.

"Dammit… I thought I'd be able to win this time, too."

"At the… real… match… this wouldn't do…"

Ayato's words, spoken while gasping for air, were not born of humility. In reality, the fight just now Moroboshi had, worrying about Ayato who had the Highest magic power, held back Tiger Bite.

He couldn't go all out on the contestant who was about to go into a big match. Even in that state, they had devoted as much power as they could.

Ayato knew this after crossing swords with him. So, with Moroboshi included, Ayato once again thanked all his friends who had gathered today.

"Moroboshi-san. Everyone else as well. I am truly thankful. I have gained valuable experience before my match with Stella."

"I don't need thanks. You can return this favor by returning as the champion."

"Isn't that a little unreasonable?"

"Are you not confident?" Moroboshi asked Ikki while sitting up, and after a brief silence, Ayato nodded slightly.

"Honestly, I think this fight is going to be the toughest thing I've done in my life. I can't say I'm confident… But I'll give it everything I have."

"That won't do, you big idiot." Moroboshi prodded Ayato in the head with Tora-ou's hilt. Then he spoke in a chiding tone.

"This is the stage you've always aimed for. You can't take it with such half hearted feelings. No matter how strong your opponent was, you must always enter the ring believing that you will win, 100%. Even if you don't have confidence, force it out.

You can think about losing after you lose. If you end up losing, that's all you'll be able to think about anyway."

"Moroboshi-san…"

"If you still don't feel confident, I'll stick with you until you do. So, do me a favor and don't say such a pitiful thing." Everyone gathered there today for Ayato silently agreed with Moroboshi's sentiment. They all had the same expectations as Moroboshi.

"If you'll go that far for me, I'll take you up on your offer. Will you accompany me a little longer?"

"Hehe, then, how about we go again after a rest?"

"Yeah, sure-" With a heavy scraping sound, the training area's fire exit opened.

"!" A cold, wintry wind blew in and brushed against everyone inside. They all noticed immediately. This was not cold air, but that crisp swordsmanship that made one get the chills. At least someone in there recognized that aura.

Could it be? Thinking that, they turned to the door.

"What is it? Every one of you looks dumbfounded."

With eyes as sharp as those of a bird of prey, glaring at all present, was a tall man with long hair. The Sword Emperor of Wind, Ouma Kurogane, stood there.

"O, Ouma!?"

"Why are you…!?"

Nobody was able to hide their surprise at the unexpected newcomer. Ouma saw this and tossed the sack he'd been carrying on his shoulder onto the floor. "I'm here for the same reason most of you are. I got a text asking for a training partner before the finals."

"Eh, er, is that so? Onii-sama." Shizuku looked back at Ayato in surprise, who nodded. What he said was true. Besides Moroboshi and Touka, he had also contacted Ouma.

Of course, he had only done it because there was no harm in trying. Ouma had never acted for Ayato's sake before, after all.

"I didn't think that you would actually come, so I can't help but be surprised."

"It's only because I'm free, since I had planned to fight in the finals. Also… I thought that I'd see your power myself."

"Let's Started then shall we Brother" Ayato Said

"My… power?" "After all, it's A-rank vs A-rank. Your defeat is all but decided by fate. I have no interest in such a spectacle. It's just… To have even survived with such a Huge power, until you were able to stand in front of that dragon… It is my duty as your older brother to beat the dullness out of you before you are killed."

Ouma made the first move as the start was announced. With his kimono sleeves fluttering, he moved to close the distance to Ayato directly. Ayato was, however. He moves to meet Ouma head on.

He knew what kind of superhuman physical endurance and strength Ouma's mad training had granted him. Therefore-

"That's…!"

Moroboshi, watching from the sides, noticed.

The instant Ayato entered the nodachi's range, he changed his step, adding sudden changes to his speed.

Moroboshi knew that technique well.

He wrung his muscles to the limit, squeezed, adding a force to the point of twisting the joints on his spine, to the point of twisting his body to face away from his opponent.

In that case, he would bet everything on the fastest single strike he had.

Preparing his sword from the limit of his swing was for that sake.

What he was about to release was the godspeed sword passed down in Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryu.

Naturally, every muscle in his entire body was used, it even used the rebound of the joints and bones in his body by returning his posture from its twisted position to the original one to accelerate, it was exactly a sword released with his entire body and spirit.

There was no preparation or counter after releasing that one strike.

It was just speed alone was principle. Cutting alone was justice.

That was truly──

"Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryuu・Jin no Kyoku. ──Amaterasu!"

Without bringing his lowered blade back up, he took a low, diagonal swing.

Using that force, Ouma rammed Ayato with his shoulder

. "Shoulder charge…! He even read through Shinkirou!" Ayato used Ryuuzetsu, which he was going to attack with, to block instead.

However, Ouma was heavier than he looked. The shock of a nearly five hundred kilogram man's ramming attack was easily lethal.

"…!"

With the low sound of two people colliding, Ayato's body was pushed back and he stumbled backwards with his balance destroyed. Ouma swooped down on Ayato like a raging fire.

Without giving Ayato any time to recover his stance, he fired off several slashes and stabs.

Fast.

It approached Moroboshi's Sanrensei in speed.

Without taking a breath, he fired off 10, 20, an endless barrage of attacks. Such astounding rotation-Shizuku recognized it

. "Kyokujitsu Isshin-ryuu, Retsu no kiwami Amatsukaze…!"

"What the heck is that?"

"It's a secret technique within the Kyokujitsu Isshin-ryu style passed through the generations in the Kurogane family. It's a continuous 108 strike combination."

From the first strike to the 108th, everything from the angle and power of each strike was tuned for efficiency.

By repeating them over and over countless times and carving them to his very core, he was able to abolish all thoughts and bring out the fastest speed that his flesh and blood body could handle.

It was meant to crush the opponent with an overwhelming number of strikes.

"There's no better technique than this to defeat someone whose stance has been broken…!"

"But if I'm not mistaken, didn't Ayato grow strong by stealing the techniques of others? In which case he should definitely know of a technique passed among the Kurogane, shouldn't he?"

"…I don't know. All of this talk is over my head.

But… even if he does, he can't do anything about this assault."

Just as Shizuku said, in the face of Ouma's overwhelming speed, Ayato could not even bring Ryuuzetsu to face the attacks. He had to do everything he could just to dodge Ouma's fierce onslaught. He definitely wouldn't be able to turn the attack in this situation. Bringing about such a situation was the point of Amatsukaze, after all.

With almost excessively optimized constant attacks, it held down the enemy, preventing them from taking any actions.

Now, Ikki was completely stuck in that situation. That's how it seemed, looking from outside. However-

(He's waiting for something…)

Even as Ayato was being overwhelmed by Ouma's strikes, Touka Toudou saw a glint of cleverness in Ayato's eyes.

He was being neither held down nor overwhelmed.

He was waiting for something.

That something was an opening in Amatsukaze.

No matter how much time had gone into developing such a technique, in the end, it was created by humans.

Creating something perfect was impossible. And if it was anything short of perfect, Ayato's penetrating insight wouldn't miss it.

It wasn't a first sighting either, especially since it was the Kurogane style, which he'd spent the most time watching.

"-"

Suddenly, a particularly sharp sound rang out, and the situation changed. After that sound, the one who was thrown off balance was Ouma.

Ayato had pulled out his seventh secret sword, Hellmoon. It was a technique with such speed that, before he had grasped what he'd stolen from Twin-Wings, he hadn't been able to discern its swing by sight.

Cold One's fastest strike had been further refined by Twin-Wings' swordsmanship, and in the instant between Sword Emperor of Wind's Amatsukaze's fifty-seven and fifty-eighth strike, Ayato cut in with a strike to Ryuuzume's side, ruining the combination.

After he disrupted the combination, Ayato launched a full body attack at Ouma, whose stance had been broken.

It was a slash with all his weight thrown behind it. Moroboshi noticed something in that motion. (The way he's using his weight is just like the time he fought me.)

It was his sixth secret sword-Dokuga no Tachi. Whether it strikes sword or armor, the opponent would be destroyed from within starting at the point of contact.

Using this technique, he could render Ouma's steel body meaningless.

Not knowing that, Ouma took Ayato's attack without blocking or dodging, accepting it with his tempered body. His body was attacked from within as if it were a bag of water.

The shock that entered Ouma had nowhere to escape, and so it ran over his muscles, bones, and organs-

"Tenryuu Gusoku"

"…!"

The shock should have hit him, but Ouma looked like he didn't even care.

Dokuga no Tachi had not failed.

The vibrations from his blade had definitely made it to Ouma.

However, Ouma had not been moved.

That was, in short, what made Ouma Kurogane a terror.

He had a force of will that transcended flesh.

He hadn't spared any effort, realizing his resolution with a steel-like sense of purpose.

Half-hearted attacks would not even be noticed.

Far from crying out in pain, without swaying even a little, he'd clad his body in the stormy armor Tenryuugusoku.

Then, Ouma reached past Ryuuzetsu, who had been touching his chest, and sent Ayato flying back.

Ayato's body tumbled in the air like he'd been hit by a car.

Aiming for his landing spot, Ouma swung Ryuuzume horizontally from where he was.

With the sharp sound of cutting through air, he released a vacuum blade.

It flew towards Ayato's landing spot, with just the right trajectory to strike Ayato's neck. However, Ayato ended up deciding not to evade.

"Fu." Ayato took the impact of the landing by sinking into his knees, lowering his body.

With the sharp sound of cutting through ice and air, Ayato released an ice vacuum blade.

Ouma had tried to use Tenryuu Armor to form a gap and engage in long range combat, but Ayato's speed completely destroyed that plan. He would be unable to respond to Ayato charging back into range again with such timing-supposedly. However…!

(It's no use!)

Touka and the other spectators all shivered. At the same time, Ayato noticed it too.

When he destroyed the vacuum blade with the ice vacuum blade, the distortion disappeared from his field of vision.

Ouma brandished Ryuuzume, twisting as far as to face his back towards Ayato.

Everyone knew what technique would be fired from that stance.

Kyokujitsu Isshin-ryuu, Jin no kiwami- Amaterasu.

It was a secret technique where he used his whole body's strength to twist his frame down to the bone, then slashed by releasing that wound up power.

Though it was but one stroke, unlike Ayato's Blade Steal, this, Sword Emperor of Wind's fastest strike, was more truly within the territory of Twin-Wings.

Moreover, Amaterasu was not long ranged, but a close ranged attack.

Ouma had understood.

After breaking through the vacuum blade with an ice vacuum blade, Ayato would immediately return to sword distance.

Having read his opponent, he amassed his power and waited.

This was the worst development for Ayato.

Saigeki was an assault technique.

He had put all of his power into the starting kick, as it was a technique that shot oneself like an arrow towards its target.

Therefore, once in the middle of Saigeki, it would not be possible to stop. Ayato could now only move forwards.

As Ouma's Amaterasu would win in reach and speed, Ryuuzume would behead Ayato before Ayato's blade reached him. HoweverAyato was never such a naive man as to be unable to improvise in a pinch.

"Wha…!?" In the next moment, the spectators all widened their eyes in surprise. In the instant Ouma fired Amaterasu, Ayato pointed Ryuuzetsu down and stabbed the tip into the ground.

As a result, Saigeki's assault pitched forward, launching Ayato over Ouma's head like a pole vaulter.

He then kicked off the ceiling hard enough to break it, and once again charged at Ouma with Saigeki.

Amaterasu was a technique in which one devotes their all into one move's speed. That meant it left one vulnerable until it ended, leaving Ouma unable to avoid this Saigeki.

…Direct hit.

At close range Saigeki pierced Ouma's wind armor, Tennryuugusoku, and Ayato's sword dug in right above his collarbone. That was by no means a random target. Ayato had seen through Ouma's muscle shape and density based on his movements, and attacked so as to slip through a gap. He realized that without doing so, his offensive power would not be enough to pierce Ouma's body.

His judgement was correct.

Even something like Touka using her Takemikazuchi was unable to cut Ouma.

The only one who could damage him with a simple slash would probably be someone as powerful as Stella.

However, the plan hadn't gone that well. Ryuuzetsu had not cut muscle.

It had seemed to pierce Ouma, but before it turned into a serious wound, Ouma had flexed his muscles. His swelling muscles caught the blade as if it had been tucked in immediately tried to extract his sword.

However, the cost of not bringing Ouma down was too great. Ouma grabbed Ayato by the lapels before Ayato even landed on the floor, then threw him onto the ring with his full power.

"!" Ikki's body made a large, deep depression in the hard stone ring.

82 He just barely managed to use an ukemi, distributing the impact into the ring, but his stance was left in a terrible state, with one knee propping him up on the ground. Ouma struck there, putting his full body weight into a downward swing. Ayato also brought up Ryuuzetsu to bear.

Unfortunately, his stance was too poor. With a position like that, there was no way he could take a blow with Ouma's weight.

"Onii-sama!"

Ouma crushed Ayato along with Ryuuzetsu with his weighted blow. But in the moment it seemed that would happen, something nobody could believe happened before their eyes.

Somehow, in the next moment, the one who was blown away was Ouma. Ouma immediately gathered power in his toes, but couldn't stop.

While scraping the surface of the ring, he moved backwards. Even when he thrust Ryuuzume's blade into the ground, he could not fully contain the force. Not until he finally reached the side of the ring.

Ayato had certainly been at a disadvantage. However, the one retreating had been Ouma. The spectators outside the ring were all baffled by this turn of events. "Wha, what was that just now?"

"I, I don't know…" Moroboshi and Touka knew they hadn't mistaken the statuses of the combatants. That only left them all the more confused.

The attack just now clearly far exceeded Ayato's strength. What had just happened before them?

Unable to understand even after pondering it, they could only stare intently at Ouma, who had been forced to the edge of the ring.

However, there was one person who understood what had just happened. It was none other than the one who had been pushed back, Ouma himself. He understood the trickery from the numbness in his arms, and glared irritatedly at Ayato.

"…Such trickery is just unlike you."

"But you fell back, brother."

"…"

"My swordsmanship does seek to become powerful. It seeks to win. Therefore, I will do everything I can possibly do to defeat my opponent with my own power alone.

Even if my opponent is more powerful than me, I will win. Even if that seems like trickery to you, brother, it is the answer that I, the Strongest one, came up with

. That is Ayato Kurozakuro's swordsmanship. I do not intend to apologize for it.

Ayato did not avert his gaze from Ouma's scornful glare.

He boldly threw out his chest, having nothing he felt ashamed about. Ayato's pose made Ouma think.

Even though he couldn't understand, didn't want to understand, that was one of Ayato's strengths, wasn't it. Then…

"Are you satisfied with your swordsmanship, having pushed me to the edge of the arena with stolen techniques goes with your power ?"

He had once again entered the ring, brandishing Ryuuzume. The blade was clad in wind. It was a dragon's claw, clad in a wild tornado. While his blade shaved parts off the ceiling and walls, Ouma called out to Ayato.

"Take your stance, Ayato. I will give you everything I have. Use everything you have, and show me you can overturn fate."

"…"

Hearing those words, Ayato showed surprise for a moment. He never thought this brother of his would accompany him so far. However, towards that fighting spirit which brought shivers to his skin,

"Yes!" Ayato thanked him sincerely and took up a stance with Ryuuzetsu again brandishing. The blade was clad in sub zero wind. It was a dragon's claw, clad in a sub zero wild tornado. At some point, his cold sweat had stopped.

"…"

When Stella opened her eyes, she found the room full of deep red light flowing in from the evening sun. She sat up in bed.

Her eyelids were light, and not so much as a yawn escaped her mouth. Her mind was clear, and it even seemed like her vision was broader.

She threw off her bathrobe and stood in front of a full body mirror.

It reflected a white body with beautiful curves and proportions.

Without any hesitation, she understood that her blood, cells, everything was full of energy.

It seemed the excessive amount of food she'd eaten before sleeping had been stored away without waste by her draconic body.

There was no mistake.

She was in peak condition like she'd never been before.

Stella felt confident in the heat her body emitted.

Tonight, she would learn things about herself that she didn't know.

Well now, everything is ready.

Time to go.

To the ultimate stage, where the strongest opponent would be waiting.

….

As Iida yelled, the entire crowd gathered to watch over the fight and cried out with him. And so it began. The final battle of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

He manifested the essence of his soul. It possessed a blade a little longer than that of a Japanese katana, belonging to the Nodachi type of sword. That was Ayato's Device, Ryuuzetsu.

"First is to see how much you have grown from back then. I will confirm it with my own sword."

"...If you can, that is." Ayato returned Stella's provocation with action. He sank his slanted stance and dashed out.

The proactive Ayato who was clearly diferent from the matches up till then raised a commotion in the venue. However, Stella was unshaken from that unexpected start...

"Serve me. Lævateinn." She manifested her own Device in response to the fastapproaching Ayato. However, what she made out of her magic power ── was not just the sword.

「Th-This is! Contender Stella! Spheres with burning heat appeared behind her! A-And what an incredible number!」

And then, Stella swung her Lævateinn like a conductor's baton.

"Burn to dust. ──Broken Arrow."

She ordered the super hot spheres exceeding a hundred behind her back. Answering that command, the fame spheres waiting in air behind Stella shot out with vigor, becoming arrows of light to assault the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind.

The carpet bombing of intense heat that would bury everything within the width of the ring approached. Stella's overwhelming magic power that nobody could catch up to, did not leave any gaps for Ayato to evade...

「D-Direct hiit! The flame sweeped the ring and raised black smoke!」

Furthermore, it did not stop with one hit.

More arrows of fame rained down onto the location where the flames had swallowed Ayato.

Explosive noise and configuration. Not a single person in the venue could see Ouma's figure anymore. It was not unreasonable. What Stella used was excessive violence to defeat a single person. However──

「However, it doesn't seem to be effective.」

──Even so, the opponent was the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind.

Right after Saikyou murmured so. Breaking through the fame and dust from Stella's simultaneous firing, Ayato's figure showed up.

There was not a speck of soot on his clothes. He did not mind the incoming bombing, and broke through from the center by using his power to control the wind to take it on. He did not decelerate at all, rather, he was approaching Stella while accelerating.

──I won't be stopped by such fireworks. The gaze behind his bangs swaying in the storm was telling her that. Towards that gaze of Ouma…

"Empress Dress."

Stella also responded with another move. Holding Lævateinn upright tightly in her hand, her whole body wrapped in flame, she stepped forward herself.

「Contender Stella has wrapped herself in a dress of flame! The heat is burning the atmosphere to the extent of twisting her surrounding scenery!」

Stella's flame, Dragon Breath, had a temperature of three thousand degrees Celsius. Not to mention a direct hit, just entering its range would cause the skin to be burned to crisp. However──

「However, Contender Ouma isn't stopping! He dashed into the zone of burning air!」

「That's because Ouma-chan's ability is 「Cryo Wind」 after all.

Since it's conductive heat, he just needs to make a ice vacuum heat insulating wall to prevent the heat from transmitting through.

Rather than that ── the audience-chan sitting at the front most row should brace themselves.」 「Brace themselves?」

At the instant the announcer felt confused about what that meant, it happened. Stella and Ayato, the Devices those two swung clashed...

──The noise produced from the clash, which exceeded the realm of sound and could only be described as shockwave, slammed the whole dome with a physical impact.

「「「UWAaAAAAAAAAAA～～～～～!」」」

The audience leaning next to the fence were blown back by the 「sound」 of the clash between the swords of those two and landed on their bottoms. Furthermore, it did not end with just one strike. Second time, third time──

Every time the flaming red sword and jade wind blade crossed each other, the fence would squeak, and the glass windows would vibrate.

「I-It stings! T-This is what you call the sound of swords clashing!? It's just like the explosive noise and shockwave from a collision between high speed jet planes!」

However, despite releasing so much energy, the two people at the epicenter did not retreat a single step, and continued to clash their swords.

And after crossing for about ten times── A loud explosive sound, as if ten streaks of lightning struck down, echoed, blowing both of them towards the edges of the ring at the same time.

Neither of them had landed a hit.

They were on even ground. At a frighteningly high level.

And that ── proved that Stella had filled the gap in the diference between herself and Ayato in a short period of time.

"As expected of Stella-chan." Having witnessed the first contact of those two, Kanata leaked out her admiration.

"With this, it doesn't seem that she will lose in strength like before."

"Yeah. Not to mention that Stella has not shown her seriousness yet. She is still going to increase her pace."

That's right. She should still be able to increase her pace. It was possible to imagine from the potential Stella had shown in the first round.

However, she still had something. ──First round, and yesterday night, he saw the phantom of a dragon in that split second. Stella had not shown the root, the source of that yet.

She was still holding back her power like He was still Doing.

However── "But Ayato-san also has not shown his seriousness yet."

Touka interrupted Ayato's words. Just like she said, Ouma was not serious as well. In that first contact, both of them were only ascertaining each other.

The enemy before their eyes, taking on their full power...an opponent that would not break from it. And that was something that Ayato, as the little brother, knew the best in that place.

He would choose an opponent that was worthy for his seriousness. And right then...that greeting and confirmation had been completed. ──It will start from there.

(From now on is the real...battle.)

"I see. As expected of your power. To be able to match my sword straight on." Ayato praised

Stella's ability as numbness remained in his own arm. Because he had not experienced a clashing of swords for a long time. However──

"However, it's only at the level of numbing my arm. This much won't be enough to take my life." Ayato's expression clearly showed that he had room to spare as he told her.

Stella pouted in displeasure.

"...You're still quite carefree, huh."

Well, she was once defeated by him. At the moment, Ayato was still above her. That probably couldn't be helped. That's why, Stella held up Lævateinn right before her... "I will draw out the bloodthirst from that composed face first." She injected more magic power into the Dragon Breath fame enveloping her blade.

"HAAaAAAAAAAaAAaaa!" With Stella's magic power, the fame enveloping the sword swelled. The crimson fame rampaged about without limit as its temperature and brightness increased. That appearance caused Touka Toudou to recall.

"That's...during the training camp...!" That's right. It was the long-distance shot Stella had shown Touka during their mock battle. It was the preparation for Dragon Fang. Though the motion was the same, the intense heat from the sword could not be compared. However, that was only natural. That's because it was a big technique that was going to fire seven shots of the Noble Art, Dragon Fang, which held destructive power that Touka Toudou's Raikiri could barely intercept, simultaneously!

"Devour and scatter! Satan Fang────!"

Immediately, seven shots, no, seven fame dragons with heads few out from Lævateinn. And their jaws, lined with fame teeth, assaulted Ayato from various angles to devour him. However, even as the scene of destruction was right before him, Ouma's expression did not change...

"Just this technique alone requires who knows how many normal Blazer's magic power to do it. Quite impressive...But, how will just the level of a few snakes scare me?" As he said so, he stabbed Ryuuzume into the ring...

"Fuujin Kori Kekkai."

He activated the Noble Art that protected the audience stand from Stella's Bahamut Howl during the first round battle.

ITornado stirred up in his surroundings, and that blade of Cryo wind tore up the incoming fame dragons into specks of dust.

The flame dragons that were sliced up until they became tiny incandescent drew a spiral as they were rolled into the wind that rose up to the sky, and disappeared.

And Ayato, who had easily overwhelmed Stella's full-powered long distance shots, did not change his expression as expected...

"Is that all you got? Crimson Princess." As he spoke to Stella before his eyes...──he noticed.

The instant Satan Fang covered his sight, Stella's figure disappeared from the ring. And, the moment he realized it, it was too late──

"It's something like this...! Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind!"

A red-haired girl appeared from the heat haze-like rippled space behind Ayato, and swung her sword at his neck.

Flame Veil.

It was Stella's Noble Art which bent the light rays with heat to make her opponent unable to see her own body. That's right. Ayato had misjudged the knight known as Stella. She was not a knight that could only rely on her magic power capacity and attack with quantity. Stealing his sight with that destructive power, making him think that Stella was attack specialized, but her style was an extremely competent all-rounder.

Her usage of magic was so varied that even Shizuku could not be a match except By Himself

Then Stella devised a tactic from that variety and brilliantly got behind Ouma…

"HAaAaa!" Slashed diagonally down at the defenseless Ouma. Right after that...

"N-Not good!" At the same time Touka's shout echoed, red drops sprayed onto the ring like a blooming red flower

「Contender Stella is injured! Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind has finally captured Crimson Princess with his sword! Blood is spraying out from the two arms of Contender Stella! The opening hit belongs to Contender Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind, Ayato Kurozakuro!」

A turning point occurred between the evenly matched ofense and defense between the two. Voices of grief came from the venue due to the obvious difference in power in that effective attack. However, the injured person herself did not press down on her wounds. Did she not care?

No. The shock, to the point of making her unconscious of her wounds, caused her to freeze up.

(What...is this...!?)

Stella's expression was of incomprehensiveness. It wasn't unreasonable. Ayato read the surprise attack from the back, and returned with a slash..

.──she would be convinced if that was the case. However...it was not so. Stella's diagonal slash definitely settled it. Lævateinn had certainly hit Ouma's shoulder.

Even so...──her blade could not advance any more than that. Touka bit her teeth as someone who had experienced the same phenomenon before. It turned out like that after all. As she thought. "

The danger of Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind is not just his offense...Even though there ismuch difference in magic power, he was able to receive my slash attack without any wound like just now. What exactly is that unexplainable defensive power..."

Touka questioned what exactly that was. In response to that...──Shizuku, who was next to her, spoke.

"That itself is not so unexplainable. It is out of the World, though." Touka's eyes opened her eyes wide at those words.

His power was...──not a 「Technique」 against which a strategy could be formed. And, just at that moment...──his prediction came true. The two people in the ring crossed swords again. After clashing a number of times, Ayato thrusted out like a released arrow. Stella turned her body as if dancing and evaded that... She hit a counter horizontally at his body with not just her own power, but also using her opponent's power for the second time. That horizontal line cleaning dug into Ayato's body...──and stopped at that.

"You're...kidding...!"

"Fuun."

"────!"Ayato dished out a kick at Stella's frank when she stopped her movement in shock.

Stella's body danced in the air as she was blown more than ten meters away.

"Cough...cough! Ugh...!" Stella winced as she kneeled in pain as if her internal organs were blended.

What spilled out from her mouth was blood.

Ayato's kick broke through Stella's sturdy magic defense that defended against the slash attack from The Unturning, Yui Tatara's Device in one hit, damaging her internal organs. The shockwave was like getting hit by a battering ram.

However── That was how it was, it was natural in that case, Stella was convinced.

The feeling of hitting a rock mountain after the two strikes, and the damage to her fank.

From all that information...Stella noticed Ayato's 「Abnormality」.

"I can't believe it...What's with your body it's just like Ouma's...!"

The shaking in her voice was probably not just from her wounded side. In response to that, Ayato──

"Fuu...As expected, you noticed after two strikes." Ouma let out a sparse smile and answered Stella's doubt.

"You want to ask what this is, right? This is...──my resolve."

"It's a story from five years ago. In my last year as an elementary student, I, who had dominated the U-12 World Tournament organized by the League of Mage-Knight Nations, was on the contrary feeling gloomy about the result." He noticed after dominating the world. By striking with just the back of his sword, the path would not open for him. Even when he went to the world tournament, there was something that still could not exceed the realm of 「Training」. "This kind of childish tournament could not let me test my limit. I was unable to overcome it. ──I was in agony. To stay in an environment like a lukewarm bath during my growth period...it was unacceptable to stay there for at least three more years when it was the period during which I could grow as much as I wanted."

To be even stronger, to reach even higher. To Ayato, who continued to seek it more than anyone, that stagnation was unbearable. He had always been challenging his body's limits and wishing for power to unleash.

"That's why I...few out of Japan, the League, to seek it."

The real battles that he seeked existed in the world. Sometimes in the streets of slums. Sometimes in an underground colosseum. Sometimes on the battlefield with bullets flying everywhere.

Ayato Kurozakuro had obtained the places he wished for, and was engrossed in studying. He remembered how fulfilling that period of time was.

Amongst the battles with his life on the stake, he dreamily remembered how his body was being forged day by day. If he stayed like that, if he continued on that path, he could become the world's strongest knight.

He did not hold a speck of doubt. However...

"That thought did not continue for long. I had an encounter. On my path of warrior's training, at the end of this world, with a real demon living there."

"Sacred Gear Canceller...?"

"Rizevim Livan Lucifer...That name, the princess of a country should probably know about it."

"────!"

The nickname spoken by Ouma. The venue showed incomprehension, but Stella's crimson pupils widened in shock. Just like what Ouma said, as the royalty of a member nation in the League, Stella knew that name. Of course she would know. That was...the arch nemesis of the Underworld. It was the name that people living in the underworld called their Leader by, just like a Super Devil's nickname.

"Don't tell me, you fought...!?" Ouma nodded.

"I was pulverized...Even though I exerted every ounce of my strength, I could not even resist a single moment."

It was only natural. That opponent was an incarnation of violence that continued to reign at the summit of the underworld since more than half a century ago. There was a gap between them so huge that he could not understand just how large that diference was. Ayato, who knew his powerless self, could only beg for his life shamelessly. However, Rizevim Livan Lucifer was not a man who would listen to such words. His strength could not reach, his pleas could not reach, only violence continued to rain down on him.

"Just remembering it...causes my entire body to tremble in fear. I have never felt the despair known as death so near to me...No, if Twin-Wings had not come to my rescue, I probably would've been killed for real. And then, after coming into contact with the territory at the summit of the world where the demonic being lived, and my own powerless self, I was able to understand...Even if I just train as how I had been training, even if I advanced down the path I had been advancing on, my pace would not let me reach the summit."

His lifespan would be too short for him to reach there with his current pace. As such.

"In that case...there was no meaning in training anymore. Normal training was useless. What I needed was...an evolution to obtain wings that let me fly towards the summit instead of walking on the path!"

In an instant, Ayato grasped the upper part of his Sweater...

"Tenryu Kori Armor ── Release." And took it off.

Immediately after that, an Incredibly invisible Powerful shockwave hit Stella and then the venue itself.

It had blown Stella off to the edge of the ring, bent the fence surrounding the venue, and shattered all the windows facing the ring.

A choir of screams resounded. Stella drew her breath at that scene.

Just then, Ayato had definitely said 'release'.

In other words, that amount of air was not generated right in that moment──

"Don't tell me, you, with that absurdly large amount of ice-cold air...have you been suppressing yourself with that until now!?" Ayato wordlessly affirmed her.

That's right. The huge explosion of ice-cold air that knocked Stella just then, everything was a high-pressure shackle that had been binding Ayato until a moment ago.

He used his Noble Art, Tenryu Kori Armor, which repelled enemy attacks by wearing it, against himself, and burdened his body constantly with an out-of-norm load. "For what reason, are you doing that..."

"Of course, for the sake of 「Evolution」."

Evolution was a fundamental ability that living things possessed in order to adapt to the environment.

For example, something similar to webbing might appear from a human who had been constantly swimming since he was young.

Ayato administered himself to a harsh environment that pushed his body to the limit, forcefully triggering his body's ability.

It was for the sake of obtaining a physical body that could withstand any attack, and a power that could beat any enemy down.

However, even if living things were equipped with the ability to evolve, it was normal for it to take a long time. Naturally, he couldn't do it easily. A hybrid body under that level of pressure would not remain unscathed. The pressure suppressed him from all directions, he couldn't even lift a finger.

His flesh was squashed, his bones were smashed. His organs could not function properly due to external pressure.

Of course, he could not fight in that condition, and continued to lose. He was beaten, slashed, pierced, burned by enemies that he could effortlessly win against in the past──...

However...even so, he did not cease his recklessness. Because he knew that he had to do it in order to reach the territory of that demonic being. He continued to force his battered body without mercy. If he was pressed to death by his own power, he could only go that far. "And then...when countless wounds were carved onto my entire body, this recklessness paid of."

His body gradually, in order to adapt to the environment he set on himself, began to evolve. His bone structure increased its hardness to be like an iron core in order not to lose against the pressure suppressing him, his organs pulsated strongly in order to let blood circulate his entire body.

Each and every muscle fibre of his body became stronger and more tenacious in order to let him move smoothly under high pressure...eventually, when his body could not feel the 「Pressure」 anymore ── Ayato's body literally transformed into 「Diamond」.

"You may not see it from the compacted external appearance, but just like the feedback from your hand, my weight, with muscle and bone density twenties of times higher than a normal person, is way heavier than Panzer Grizzly. A lukewarm slash will never injure me." And then──

"And so right now, I have released those shackles. Do you know what this means?"

"～～～～～～～...!" Stella hurriedly held up her sword from those words, but...

"Too slow."

"Kuh──" The stone plate ring crumbled under Ayato's kick of, and he shortened the distance between the two in just one step. Next, he swung his ice-cold wind-wrapped sword six times before any interference.

Three phases of slash, accompanied by the groan of atmosphere, assaulted towards her. Any one of those could turn Stella into a speck of dust in the same instant. Fast. Compared to the speed of Twin-Wings's sword technique that himself imitated, that was more──

"HAaA!" It was hard to handle even for Stella, who possessed excellent athletic ability and battle sense, but she understood that it would be dangerous to stay within sword range like that.

Hence, at the same time Stella received Ayato's slash attacks, she leaped back.

Using the force from receiving the opponent's sword, she escaped from coming into contact with him. It was a method that he himself used to take distance during the mock battle they had in the past.

However... "ZeAAAAa!" Ayato immediately reacted to it. He sent a furry of ice vacuum blades towards Stella who escaped the contact range.

Slashes of ice vacuum flew with a speed that surpassed rifle bullets.

It was impossible to visually catch sight of those. However, it was a battle between two Blazers. Stella read the presence of magic power like that of a blazing sun wrapped around the vacuum ice blades, and struck them down one by one. However...

"──Ka...fu!?" Immediately after striking down the last ice vacuum blade. Stella's abdomen tore open horizontally, blood sprayed out. Why? Stella was confused as there wasn't any presence of magic power. However, it was only natural. Just then was ── an effect without using magic power.

"I can't believe it. To be able to send a slash wave with just arm strength...!"

Touka murmured with a trembled voice while watching the match in the audience stand. That's right. What slashed open Stella's abdomen was not a Noble Art. It was a physical wind pressure raised by Ayato swinging his Ryuuzetsu. Of course, it was much less powerful compared to a ice vacuum blade.

Due to the magic power wrapped around Blazers which added strong resistance towards physical impact, the damage on Stella's abdomen was only skin-deep without reaching the internal organs, but ── it was sufficient to stop her from escaping.

Stella, who stopped her movement for a moment, and slashed diagonally down with his right arm. Evade ── it was already too late for such an action. As the impact from those flying slashes was greater than what she had predicted, her body's axis was misaligned and not in a condition for evasion. Hence, Stella guarded Ayato's diagonal slash in her unstable posture. However…

"Not good! The technique coming from this pose is...!"

Ayato, who had slashed diagonally down with just his right arm, still had his left arm. What would be executed from that pose was known as the sword of national defense. It was a sword technique that the Kurogane household had passed down since the samurai era,

「Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryuu」 extreme steel...!

"──Hono Ikazuchi."

Aiming at Stella's eye level as she defended against his sword, no, accurately speaking, at the eye level of Ryuuzetsu that she defended against, Ayato's clenched left fist struck. That steel fist struck Ryuuzetsu like a thunderclap, further adding power to the sword. Stella, who had received the sword in an unstable posture, could not defend against that...

Stella's body was blown away with an intensity like a missle.

And she crashed into the wall below the audience stand just like that.

She did not stop even after crushing── Despite the reinforced concrete blasting open, she was thrown until outside of the venue.

「W-Whaaat!?」

「Lies. From the hall, blown all the way there!? It's not manga, you know!?」

「C-Can't believe it. Would it be alright, this...」

The people who could not fit inside the dome that were listening to the broadcast made an uproar at Stella's figure blasting through the dome wall to the outside.

It was the same inside the dome. The overly impactful scene raised an earth-shattering cheer.

「Extreeeeme! Not just a ring out, but a dome out! I have over ten years of experience as an announcer for the A-League, but I had only seen such a fashy out of field once! To think that I would be seeing it a second time in a match between students! This is a battle between A-Rank Knights! There's no other description than out-of-norm! ── The count is beginning now! Contender Stella, will she be able to return within the count!?」

The announcer's voice could be heard intermittently. The cheers from the audience reached the peak. Stella heard it from afar while lying down face-up, looking at the sky.

(He got me...)

The stimulation in that impact which exceeded the limit a human body could handle had paralyzed the sense of feeling in her entire body. Since she was born, she had never received an impact as strong as that.

(What a monstrous bastard...that guy.)

Certainly, living things possess the ability to adapt to environments. The history of life was the history of evolution.

Like how a creature that originally lived in the sea grew four limbs because it hoped to live on land. Like how the process of coping with the change in living environment by walking on two feet caused the bone structure to change.

By making his own environment severe, he obtained power that could not be obtained in a normal environment.

Since life possessed the mechanism called evolution, it was not that much of a bizarre consideration

. ──However, that was originally supposed to be achieved after decades or centuries of time. Ouma had completed that in just one generation, just a few years.

Even though he could probably stop his recklessness if he wanted to, since the method of adding burden was his own ability, he cut off that common sense and temptation, ignored any half-hearted strength, only wishing for the top, the strongest.

With just his will alone, he changed the design of anatomy that was drawn by god.

The word stoic already could not describe that aberrant willpower towards his goal.

(Strong...truly.)

She could only admit. She could feel respect for that way of living which rejected any compromises. There was no falsehood in that. Not even a tiny bit.

(──Aah, nevertheless...)

「Eh?」

「N-No way...Stella-chan, is smiling?」

That's right, nevertheless, it was a strange story, but...

(As if, I don't feel like losing...!)

「──Five! Six!」

Ayato, who was in the ring, did not even listen to the counting that echoed in the venue. Anyone could understand that it was meaningless. The opponent was an A-Rank Knight like himself and Ayato.

The same chosen one who was born to carry a large fate in this world. Just that much ── would not be the end for that woman.

"You said it yesterday. You will beat me up at my full strength. I have responded to that request of yours now. This is part of my full strength. If you want to crush it then show me. ──Crimson Princess."

As he said that, Ayato lifted his gaze upwards. To the sky he could see as he looked up. Over there, she was standing.

「T-There――――! Contender Stella! She is looking down at the ring from the top of the night light before we knew it! EEven though she was hot outside so grandly, apart from some tatters on her clothes, there are no severe injuries!」

「Well, even if she smashed through the dome, she wouldn't suffer much damage from a physical impact without magic power as long as she didn't get hit by Ryuuzetsu. Especially for Stella-chan who boasts the second greatest magic power capacity in the world.」

「And right now, she has returned to the ring at the count of eight!」

The audience leaked voices of exclamation in amazement towards Stella as she returned from outside like it was natural. After the main referee made the call to resume the match, Ayato readied his Ryuuzetsu again. However, Stella did not take a stance…

"Ayato. Before we resume the match, I want to ask one thing." Towards the enemy before her eyes...she talked in the most friendly voice she had made so far.

"What?" Ayato asked back without releasing his stance. What she wanted to hear from him was just one thing.

"You...for what reason are you aiming for the summit?"

That extremely tenacious willpower towards his goal. What was the foundation that supported it? She wanted to know. After Ouma looked down for just an instant, stayed quiet for a moment, then he answered

. "...It's not much of a story. When I was a child, I was happy to have won the match held by my household for the first time. And then I thought. I wanted to become stronger than anyone in this world. That is...something I would probably feel good about. If I have to put it in words, it's just that." Ayato said that such a trivial matter was not worth to talk about purposely. However...

She stopped defending completely, instead spreading her arms wide before Ayato. Completely defenseless. It was as if she was saying,

"Go on, stab me."

It was so unexpected that Ayato completely stopped. Seeing this, Stella began to laugh harder.

"What's wrong, Ayato? Why won't you attack me? Just look at how many openings I've given you."

Her smile was so bewitching that it seemed more suited to inviting him into her bedroom than inviting him to attack her. But he did not move.

"…Openings? I don't know what I'd call them…"

Ever since she had stopped and spread her arms, he had seen it. If he took one more step forward, the jaws of the dragon would snap shut on him. Seeing his caution, Stella let out a regretful sigh.

"Too bad. This was my secret plan, but at the rate things are going you'll never do what I was hoping for… so I guess there's nothing else I can do."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the world twisted

. "…!"

Stella's body was suddenly producing so much heat that sparks and embers flew from her hair. The heat warped the air around her.

At the same time, the world thundered.

DOKUN… DOKUN…

It was an unbelievable sound, a massive heartbeat that made the ground shiver. And in time with the beat, Stella began to flash with light from deep within as a brilliantly bright sword cut opened in her chest.

"■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■…!"

Her mouth was spread wide to reveal great fangs as she howled to the sky. Her voice was no longer that of a girl, but instead had become a mighty roar like the crash of the ocean. There was no doubting it now. "

Th-This is…! This light! That wound! There can be no doubt!

This is the Dragon's Spirit that defeated the Sword Emperor of Wind! Stella has brought out her trump card!"

"How?! Stella-san didn't do the thing she did against Onii-sama!?"

And yet, she had activated Dragon's Spirit. The unbelievable truth of it had Shizuku at an utter loss. Behind her, Jougasaki Byakuya nodded his head as if finally understanding.

"It seems the Crimson Princess has exceeded all of our expectations in her preparation for this match."

"Shiro. What do you mean?"

"From the start she didn't have to stab her sword into her chest at all. The reason she did so in her match against the Sword Emperor of Wind was all in preparation for this match. That is a huge and obvious motion to perform in order to activate Dragon's Spirit, which means nobody would expect it to have been just for show. She made it up just to make sure that the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind would be forced to attack relentlessly to prevent her using it. Then all she had to do was wait for her moment to strike."

Surely the first time she did it, in the fight against the 'Yaksha Princess', she had used her blade thrust to force the temperature of her blood up, allowing her to draw out the power of the dragon. But once she knew what was required, she had control of her body and her power. She didn't need to stab her blade into her chest, just raise her blood temperature and activate it. Stabbing herself during the fight with Ouma was purely for show.

Since that point in the semifinal Stella had been preparing this trap for Ayato.

It was just as Jougasaki had said, she made it appear that the stabbing motion was required to activate 'Dragon Spirit' so that the moment he tried to use 'Ittou Rasetsu or Cryo Dragon Spirit' she would be able to counter with an attack that not even he could predict.

But… Ikki's intuition had seen through it.

"…I thought it was just a bit too easy."

"So it wasn't just luck that got you this far. I should have expected it."

He couldn't help but admire Stella, even though her plan had been to deliver a 'Dragon Spirit' powered blow with the utmost precision and likely with lethal timing.

But having seen through her plan while on the brink of falling into it, it was clear that her plan would not be her path to victory.

"Thinking about it now, waiting for you to make a mistake was probably not the best idea." There were no more plans.

In fighting a knight of Ayato's level it was clear that quality trumped quantity.

That was why she had put all of her effort into this one strategy.

But now her plan had come to nothing. Then what to do?

The only path remaining was lined with thorns – it would have to be a direct assault.

It was against a man so skilled with the sword and The Cryo Power that he was called the 'Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind '.

Even with 'Dragon Spirit' this would be a risky fight. Ayato's fighting experience has exceeded her own knowledge and thinking.

She couldn't even imagine all of the ways in which he might counter her attacks.

It was dangerous.

It became a very dangerous fight.

That's why if it was possible, she wanted to decide victory using the trap just now, but now that it had come to this there was no other option.

"…!" Stella swiped 'Laevateinn' through the empty air.

The power behind her blade was so great the air itself was blasted towards Ayato, forcing him several meters away.

A lazy slash of her blade had caused an explosive blast of air to strike him

. Despite having her plan to victory ruined, Stella spoke with joy showing in her expression.

"I won't be waiting for you to slip up any longer. It doesn't matter how well you know me. I'm going to beat you into submission until I've won the Seven Stars!"

"This time it's Stella that is closing the gap with the 'Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind and Lightning '!"

Her own skill. Her own power. She was trusting in herself as she rushed towards Ayato. Meanwhile, Ayato…

(Calm down. Her using 'Dragon Spirit' without the motion was unexpected, but I had anticipated it being used.)

That's right, Ayato is a veteran that had gone through an amount of unfavorable battles.

He didn't stand on the ring with the assumption that 'Dragon Spirit' would be suppressed.

Of course, he had already worked through simulations of it being used.

The current situation was within his expectations.

Therefore his mind and body immediately adapted to the sudden change of the situation.

He had seen 'Dragon Spirit' used in the fight against Ouma.

He had guessed the approximate amount of her body's strength increasing.

And while she may be more powerful because of her 'Dragon Spirit', Stella's identity has not changed.

Which means her actions would not change.

(Her first attack will be a thrust straight for my head, just like before!)

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" But in the moment that he set himself to accept her thrust into his 'Madoka' counter, a vision of him losing his head flashed through his mind.

"…!"

Trusting in his intuition, Ayato shifted his neck to the right. In a moment, the wind pressure that was like a bullet passing through struck his eardrum.

(She created a vacuum next to my head with her sword…! What a thrust…!) She was faster and more powerful than he had expected. The air itself fled before her blade. The degree to which 'Dragon Spirit' increased her capabilities far exceeded Ayato's expectations.

If he had received it with 'Madoka', his head would have been blown off if the timing didn't match.

The possibility was insane.

(But I expected that to happen…!)

After all it was information acquired during Ouma's fight by viewing from a distant spectator seat. From the beginning it was not that reliable. That's why Ayato was able to escape by avoiding it in a moment.

Then he immediately bowed his body, avoiding thrust coming at him and took a backstep to retreat to a distance. Over there Ayato took a stance with his sword. What was needed now was information, so he decided to stop rushing to victory, protecting himself without being fixated on 'Madoka' while gathering data on Stella.

"Kurogane has stopped! But Stella isn't letting him go! She's dancing and leaping after him with her blade! Sparks are literally flying from her as she strikes! The ground beneath them is cracking from the pressure! But her opponent is the 'Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind and Lightning'! He can endure even this! He's holding on!"

It was Stella's molten iron left fist that had punctured his abdomen. The downward attack with her right hand just now was a decoy. The real one was a blow to his body with her fist. It was the combination she had used in the first fight against 'The Unturning' Tatara Yui.

Her molten fist had punched into his gut at such high speed that it ripped through his muscles and shattered his ribs into dust.

On top of that the heat burned and charred his intestines.

Her power far exceeded that of any normal human and the damage she caused with that one blow was evidence of that fact.

With one punch –

"Geh… ah…"

– she took Kurogane Ayato's consciousness. Vomiting up boiled blood, Ayato's hardened body hung limp.

He didn't fall, but the light was gone from his eyes.

His awareness was gone.

It was a completely hopeless situation.

(You're mine!)

Stella moved to deliver the finishing blow.

In order to bring her victory in the Seven Stars, in order for her to surpass the one she had chased for so long, this attack with her entire body would…!

The blade slipped through muscle and bone with ease.

The fresh blood that spurted into the air and splattered onto the white stone was a deeper crimson than the magma.

The blood boiled as though it was on the verge of igniting.

"Eh…?" It couldn't have been anyone else. It was the 'Crimson Princess' Stella Vermillion, dragon blood.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!"

"H-He countered! Just when you thought the match was over! Kurogane Ayato, who looked to be down for the count, has just counter-attacked! He's sliced across Stella from bottom to top! What a reversal!"

"It- It was 'Madoka'! He took the force of her attack and turned it back on her! I… I can't believe it! How could he manage it!"

"Tenryuu Kori Armor────!"

Against Stella coming for another attack, Ayato wrapped himself in an armor of ice-cold wind, intercepting the attack with his full power.

Stella was currently barehanded.

If she closed in, she would have an upper hand in maneuverability.

That's why he had to keep her at sword range.

Ayato showered Stella with countless slashes after deciding so.

However──

"Slow!"

"...!?" The slash attacks coming from Ouma like falling rain, that were definitely not lukewarm, were affected by Stella's two fists.

She caught the fank of Ryuuzetsu accurately, not leaving a single scratch on her fist. And everytime she defected Ryuuzetsu, Ayato's hand felt a terrible impact.

It was an impact so forceful that if he slackened his strength a little bit, Ryuuzetsu would be blown far away from him.

Ayato held the handle with all his strength, while preventing Ryuuzetsu from being defected away, his forehead was drenched in sweat.

(This is...a dragon's raw power huh...!)

The overwhelming raw power possessed by the monster living in the mythological world.

He channeled the force of her blows into his body and into the ground.

He wasn't making even a single offensive move.

His defense was canceling out Stella's attack.

He couldn't allow even the slightest gap in his defenses.

After a while of this, he finally had a grasp on her power.

(I'll have to pretend to mess up!)

He waited for Stella to slash at him, then feigned a stumble as he caught the blow with his blade.

He had to draw out a full-power swing.

Of course, Stella would see through his act, and she would likely realize that he was trying to make her attack him with her full force, but…

(Knowing her, she'll do it anyways!)

And just as Ayato expected, she swung at him with the weight of her entire body behind her sword.

(I can counter this…!)

He had already determined what she was capable of and she was attacking just as he had predicted.

The speed and angle were perfect.

He can turn her own blade against her.

And with this much power behind her swing, it would surely be enough to create an opening – which he'd use for 'Ittou Rasetsu' or 'Cryo Dragon Spirit.

Match over.

"!"

He tossed aside his plans as he flung himself out of the path of her blade.

'Laevateinn' slashed through empty air and struck the ground of the ring.

The ground split

. "H, how extreme! The moment Stella's large sword hit the ring it opened a crack in the ground all the way up into the seats! What a power it was!"

The entire crowd was staring at the crevasse that had opened in the dome.

Ayato too was staring, shocked by the horror plain on his face as he gulped a breath.

He calculated the force she must have used to cause such damage and it far exceeded what he'd anticipated.

It was originally supporting the function of arm strength in Stella's body, but that was at best unconsciously.

It was like water droplets dripping out from a closed faucet.

However, Stella had realized her own power, and obtained the technique to fully open said faucet.

As such, it was natural that the power output would be different.

Currently, Stella's physical ability is several tens of times greater than before.

And then, with the destructive speed and attack power it gave her, she repelled all of Ayato's slashes, while digging closer towards him.

After defecting about three more strikes, she would probably close in within fist range. However...

"Fuu────!" Ayato also did not easily allow her to accomplish that.

There, he displayed the technique of the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind.

He abandoned the number of strikes, and swung Ryuuzume widely.

He wrung his muscles to the limit, squeezed, adding a force to the point of twisting the joints on his spine, to the point of twisting his body to face away from his opponent.

Of course, Stella would further close in during that gap, he understood it.

She would probably defect away any amount of those slashes with no weight behind anyway.

In that case, he would bet everything on the fastest single strike he had.

Preparing his sword from the limit of his swing was for that sake.

What he was about to release was the godspeed sword passed down in Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryu.

Naturally, every muscle in his entire body was used, it even used the rebound of the joints and bones in his body by returning his posture from its twisted position to the original one to accelerate, it was exactly a sword released with his entire body and spirit.

There was no preparation or counter after releasing that one strike. It was just speed alone.

Cutting alone was justice. That was truly── "Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryuu・Jin no Kyoku. ──Amaterasu!"

"...!"

The Black blade swung from the position after his body twisted to the limit and fell onto Stella without a sound. Despite just one strike, different from His own Blade Steal, Ouma's Amaterasu, which had truly reached Twin-Wings's territory, exceeded the limit of reaction even for Stella with dragon's power dwelling inside her, Ryuuzume cut Stella's body diagonally.

Blood sprayed into the air. He felt the feedback of Ryuuzume cutting flesh and bones squarely. It did not reach the organs, but it was probably a sufficient strike to dull her movements. It was supposed to be so──

"There!"

"Gu...u!" Let alone retreating, Stella stepped forward despite receiving Amaterasu, her long leg lashed out like a whip and kicked Ayato's right shin.

Certainly, although Ayato's Amaterasu did cause a fatal wound, it should have dealt sufficient damage to rob Stella of her mobility.

Ayato immediately noticed the answer.

(This is...!) That large cut wound on Stella.

There was a single drop of blood from there. No, on the contrary, the wound was being Still there at an unbelievable speed in front of his eyes.

That was the strength of vitality possessed by the creature known as dragon.

──Since ancient times, it was common sense to decapitate a dragon to subjugate it.

To a creature such as a dragon, a wound that was not fatal could not be considered a wound. Stella had just recreated the vitality of a dragon that could be said to be immortal with a human body through inheritance. ──An indecisive wound could not be considered a wound anymore.

"Tch!" The versatility of that ability was even wider than his imagination. Ouma judged that he had to observe the situation and let go of his left hand from Ryuuzume and gather the air on his palm. What he created was an explosive bullet of wind made from air. He threw it and intended to take distance by blowing Stella's body away. That was the most appropriate action Ouma judged in that instant. ──However... "Out of the way!" Even that most appropriate action was useless against the ferocious dragon. The released explosive bullet of wind was scattered by Stella's back hand punch. Ayato's expression froze at that outcome.

(Like steel crushing rock, the hardness of her magic power crushed my magic...!)

And with that move, Stella had caught Ouma within fist range. Ouma immediately pulled back his empty-handed left arm to guard...

"Ugh────!"

That punch crushed the bone of the guarding arm like a matter of course, and the impact pierced into his organs. Ouma's body wobbled back greatly and his knees bent. He could not stop it. He could not stop Stella's fierce attack.

Not his trained muscles, not his sharpened speed, not technique, not magic── Everything that he had accumulated was meaningless. He would be trampled on. By pure violence that could knock down everything.

And that helplessness caused Ayati to get a flashback on the memory of his first loss and frustration. He, who was covered in blood miserably, and that pair of pupils glaring at him while sitting on a chair like it was a throne. Nothing went through no matter what he did.

Despite being challenged again and again, he could not even touch the seated Sacred Gear Con, he could not even protect his own body, and was just single-sidedly beaten up. His body suffered burning pain. His heart felt helpless. As he linked everything to the fear that shook him at that time in the past, his whole body started to tremble.

"Ku...O...OoOoOoo──!"

Even so, Ayato struggled to raise his trauma-carved body and counterattacked. He aimed to stab at Stella's heart as she chased after him for further attacks after he collapsed backward. However, with his crushed right leg and battered body he could not aim accurately as he wanted...

The stab was ── blocked. Stella purposely pushed out her left hand at the incoming Ryuuzume, letting it pierce through her palm as she advanced, and grabbed hold of the sword guard of Ryuuzume after it pierced through to the base.

"I caught you, Ayato."

(Shi────) It was too late by the time he thought so. Stella punched her superheated right fist into Ayato's upper body that was full of openings. "HAAaAaa────────!"

She also did not end it with one strike. She had the intention of determining the outcome and rained down consecutive punches. With Ryuuzetsu caught, Ayato could not escape backwards with the impact from the hits. If he were to let go of Ryuuzetsu once, Stella would probably not even give him the time to reconstruct his Device.

「Contender Ayato...down! He is lying down in a '大' position and looking at the sky without moving! No he can't move!」 「

H-How intense...」

「This...already determined the match, right?」

「This is...the Blazer possessing the world's second strongest magic power huh...!」

A big reversal from the event out of the ring.

The strength of Stella, who had displayed her true power, caused a big commotion in the venue. However, even that commotion did not reach Ayato who had fallen on the ring.

It was no wonder. His right leg fractured from the shin, left wrist dislocated, his rib cage did not have a single bone uninjured.

The jawbone that received an uppercut was smashed from the root of his teeth, that crack reached even his skull. And the heat from those shattered bones were burning his flesh from inside. The injuries were so severe that it wouldn't be strange if he had lost consciousness. There was no way he could hear the surrounding voices.

Ayato simply looked at the sky with his clouded pupils, and once again recalled within his spaced-out consciousness. Similar to the day of frustration five years ago. How vast the world was. How tiny he was. ──Certainly, Ayato had an out-of-World talent like that of Gold.

However...his talent was like Diamond sand.

There were people who possessed similar Diamond talent but that of a Diamond ingot. There was a world where only such kind of chosen existences could stand in.

The summit was that kind of place.

...Shouldn't it be about the time for him to recognize his lack of ability? If he recognized his lack of ability, he would probably receive the honor worthy of him. Reality had always been persuading him.

(But...even so...)

"──...U...oo."

「C-Contender Ayato fipped his body around and is trying to raise his body with his arms! He is trying to stand up! Contender Stella is also showing a shocked expression!」

"OOOooOooOoooaAaAAAAA──────!"

「H-He stood up! Contender Ayato, while letting out a roar as if spitting out his blood, he raised his battered body and stood up! U-Unbelievable! Even though his hands and legs were smashed...!」

「..Ayato-chan has not given up yet!」

It was because of those days that he could stand up again. It was because of those days that he could fight again. Then he just had to move on. Just as his heart desired so.

"It's showdown. ──Crimson Flaming Princess."

Ayato injected all his remaining magic power into Ryuuzetsu, wrapping it in a ice-cold tornado. The tornado increased in density as it swallowed the surrounding air, becoming a sword of ice-cold storm from thousands of ice-cold wind blades in due time. The claw of the heavenly dragon that would tear everything upon contact. It was the trump card of the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind, Ayato Kurozakuro, who had defeated Stella before. Ayato raised it towards the sky, and pleaded at

Stella with his eyes.

──Draw your blade.

There was no more conversation between their intersecting gazes. No, there was no need to. As things had come to that far, they understood that they only had to cross swords. And then, the flame and Cryo wind knights released their killing techniques...

"Kori ・ Kusanagiiii!"

"Katharterio・Salamandraaaa!"

Both of them swung down with all of their strength. The sword of storm and sword of heat crossed. That was similar to the fight before, a storm of heat and ice-cold wind bursted out in the moment of contact... However ── it was evenly matched currently.

"You better always be your coolest self for me, YOU DUMMYYYY!" It's because you want to be the coolest you could be…!

"OOOOOOOOOOO AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

In an instant, as his right leg made one step forward, the chains snapped apart, –Light filled the world of darkness. It happened when the countdown had reached nine. Every spectator in the dome had their sight fixed on the pile of rubble at the batter's eye seats. A sharp blade seemed to slice the rubble into pieces as it exploded upward.

"WHA—-"

Then, a flash of light from among the charred black rubble shot towards the large island where Stella stood and stabbed into the surface.

But of course it wasn't an arrow. The one bathed in blue light that looked like flame was none other than Kurogane Ayato with a Cryo Wind Tornado Clad Blade.

The match that everyone thought was decided, had been overturned.

In this situation, the dome was filled with surprise and shock.

"WHAT IS THIS?!

I… I can't believe it! From that state, at the count of nine Kurogane came back into the ring! A

-And this is…! Magic is overflowing from his whole body!

Magic that is clearly more powerful than before! He should have used up all of his magic from using 'Kori Kusanagi'! Just what could this possibly mean?!"

Iida was looking to Kaieda for some explanation.

However, like the other audience and Iida, he could only become stunned towards the unbelievable reality unfolding before them.

"I… I don't know…! I've never seen this situation before!"

But, it was a reasonable reaction. It was not possible for magic to just increase.

Magic is a power that changes the world beyond reason. It is the power of fate itself guided by the wielder's own will. Which is why the amount given to each person was determined upon birth.

The fate of each person was decided long before they came into the world.

That is humanity's common belief regarding magic.

It is common sense for a knight.

And yet…

"But, this is…! Other than the increase in magic, I can't explain it!"

The reality unfolding before their eyes right now was in clear violation of that belief. Inexplicable, confusion, bewilderment.

Anyone in that place was showing the same reactions as Kaieda. Even that Edelweiss had stood from her seat staring in shock.

It was natural. His magic's maximum limit was increasing.

The phenomenon that was said to be impossible, Kuroakuro Ayato trampling over fate by turning his feelings into power, and the theory that had been said to be common sense all had been flipped over on its basis.

But the one most troubled by what was happening was of course – the Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion.

"H… How…?!"

It was just as Kaieda had said – Katharterio Salamandra had not been charged properly. It was not impossible that Ayato would get back up. But the one minute of 'Ittou Shura' had already ended.

Ayato should have used up every ounce of his power in his body already.

Since the human body has a system that could consume itself to produce energy, it was possible to muster up physical strength.

But how was it possible to the extent of recovering his magic? As Stella is puzzled over this…

"Stella." Ayato began to move. His blade swayed as he lifted it. "I won't lose." He seemed to be smiling while saying it.

"…!"

From those words, Stella felt a shiver run through her body into her bones.

Was it fear? No. It was a delight.

–Ah, that's right.

This man is always like this.

He would not lose no matter how absurd it is, He would not yield no matter how impossible it is.

He would never give up on himself, continue to move forward, always ripping common sense into shreds.

In that case it is just him kicking away common sense once again.

If it's him he would succeed in something of this degree.

He would kick away common sense, overcome even fate, and then stand in front of me as the strongest opponent.

It is natural. After all, he is, Kurogane Ayato is– The man I love…!

As I thought there was nothing wrong in front of me.

Right now I will make sure of it from my heart.

If it's with him I can do it.

No matter how high, no matter where, we will go together.

"…"

But that is why… I don't want to lose. No–, I definitely won't lose. Because I want to be worthy to stand alongside this amazing man!

"■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■…!"

The moment the referee gave the signal for the match to renew, a dragon's roar drowned it out. At the same time, a change had occurred in Stella's body which was visible to the eyes.

The shine produced from her flickering and beating body grew more intense.

The outline of the existence named Stella began to blur into the light itself.

The shine and waves of heat released from it was not the same amount as before.

Her shine filled the surrounding area like midday to the extent of the stadium lighting having no purpose now, and the sea of magma boiled even more.

But more than the changing heat and light, the people in the venue felt it– The feeling of being drawn to Stella.

It was not their imagination.

Any small scrap of trash or rubble was being pulled towards Stella who had become light.

A gravity-user like Saikyo Nene quickly understood what was happening.

It was magnetism.

(She's created a huge concentration of heat energy that she's throwing the magnetic fields out of order, generating a gravitational force…!)

The moment any of the debris and rubbish that were being pulled came near Stella, light was flashing like lightning, leaving none of the trash behind.

The powerful heat made all objects touching it go through liquid and gas phases, turning them into plasma.

At this point it was like a star.

It was a crimson star shooting out light and creating magnetism on its own.

(What a woman…)

Towards Stella's power, Kurono was also speechless.

That's right.

Ayato had certainly overcome his limit.

Overcoming limit, triumphing over common sense,

…it was the moment she felt that the match would come to an end.

Yet Stella had sent such light expectations flying.

In order to surpass Ayato who had overcome his limit, she had to evolve herself further.

She realized it.

This girl was born outside of common sense.

In fact, she was a 'demon'.

(This is… Stella Vermillion…!)

Facing the 'Frozen Beast King', who had overcome his own limits, the 'Crimson Princess' readied all of her strength as she raised her blade.

She put her body into a stance like her opponent, raising her sword of light next to her face.

Her arms were tucked in close against her body, the tip of her blade aiming directly at her opponent's life, in a stance that did not hide that the next attack would be a thrust.

During that stance, "Ayato. The next one will probably be our last duel. So I'll swear it now."

Stella was staring straight at Ayato

. "Even if your life ends from this, I will continue to love you and only you for the rest of my life.

Her most beloved feelings in her would never waver.

Ayato smiled at those words.

"–In that case, I really can't lose now."

Of course. What man would leave his most beloved girl in such unhappiness?

He could not let her be widowed. Then what should he do? The answer had been decided.

"With my strength, I will destroy your strongest!"

And so the final match of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival that had continued long, the last fight had begun.

The 'Frozen Beast King' and the 'Crimson Princess'.

The final crossing of their blades.

The one that started to charge, –it was Stella.

She had already abandoned a long-ranged battle using 'Katharterio Salamandra'.

The reason was simple.

If 'Ittou Rasetsu' & Kori Kusanagi is activated, he would be inside her swing and strike her down before 'Katharterio Salamandra' could even land the strike.

Even if she tried to distance herself from him, the result would be the same.

With the speed of Ayato using 'Ittou Rasetsu' and 'Kori Kusanagi', he could charge across the sea of magma before the bottoms of his shoes would burn down.

There is no victory in backing away.

Then forward it is.

Having decided it in her mind, Stella increased the heat on her body with almost no limit, creating an armor of light.

The heat would cause anything attempting to strike her to simply cease to exist the moment it touched. Ayato's blade could no longer reach her.

The moment the blade of 'Ryuuzetsu' touched Stella's radiance, its existence would vanish.

Her defense was impenetrable.

All that remained to be done was to impale him with the tip of her blade.

Then,– It would be a victory. "…!"

She formed her resolve and charged.

She became a red shooting star like her name.

(Amazing…)

It was the thought that went through Ayato's mind as he stared at her approaching brilliance with his eyes wide open.

They were certainly different.

Even after overcoming his limits once or twice, he could not possibly shake her off.

There was no end to her talent. And right now Stella was fully devoted to her talent.

(She's planning to use the heat that was throwing the magnetic field out in order to blow away 'Ryuuzetsu' once it touches.)

With the power that only she could produce, Stella covered her entire body with it.

Something like 'Ryuuzetsu' wouldn't be a problem to her if it came in contact with that light.

So what could he do?

–He had decided.

He would just have to get his blade in fast enough before it could be destroyed.

There was nothing else.

After all, his body had already used up all of its energy once.

By breaking down some of the proteins inside his own body to gain energy, it would only be enough for one swing.

But Ayato determined that it was enough

. Just one thing left.

To strike.

His entire life had brought him to just this.

There was nothing he could do now but trust in that one thing.

That's why Ayato would show in front of everyone what the man named Kurogane Ayato was capable of.

(Well… let's do it then.)

In an instant, Ayato activated 'Ittou Rasetsu' using the magical energy he summoned with his burning feelings and gathered Kori Kusanagi with The Blade.

His body's strength was amplified a hundred times and his entire soul was invested into this next one strike.

His body was aware of how to release that one strike.

How his own body should move, how he should swing his sword, how to reach the fastest and the Strongest.

Thus, his body naturally settled into a stance without thinking.

His body was at an angle as he twisted his back and hips around.

The blade was held with his right hand clad in Sub Zero Wind. He moved it across to his left side behind and his left hand grabbed onto the base of his blade.

Though he did not have a scabbard,– It was the stance of an Iai sword-drawing with Cryo Magic.

One glance at that stance,– Stella understood Ayato's intention.

Ayato would strike her down with his fastest attack before her heat could destroy his blade.

His stance, though without a scabbard, revealed it as Iai sword-draw.

His left hand held the blade part of the sword.

His right hand on the handle pushing while his left hand on the blade pulling.

By pressing down on the arc-shaped blade as if there was a sheath, a powerful force would be produced from the conflicting force vectors along with the Cryo Wind Magic.

The speed produced from releasing that force in that moment would be of a different level from when holding the sword normally.

The Cryo Wind sword slash of the 'Frozen Beast King' was already difficult to see even when he held his sword normally.

The speed achieved from the Iai sword-draw would be something Stella could not even imagine.

Which means it was possible that his blade would strike down Stella before it got destroyed.

But,– Stella had already decided that was not an issue.

Even if his sword should breach through the shield of light, even if Ayato had chosen more than just a sword slash, it wouldn't be a threat.

It was obvious.

No matter how fast he swung his sword, there was still a difference in their reaches.

Regardless of his method, she would be the one to strike first. In that case…,

(I'm going to win…!)

Being convinced of it, Stella stepped boldly forward and swung her blade of light towards Ikki. It was time to end this. But in that instant Stella's focus reached its limit.

The view of the surroundings began to disappear from her mind and what reflected in her eyes was only a white world and certainly a figure of Ayato striking her with his Sub zero wind clad sword swing.

In that world of Blue white with only Ayato's figure in it…

…?

Stella remembered something was off.

Something,– There was absolutely something strange. It was as if she had woken up in the morning to find the sky was pink. It was a horrible discomfort that can be said to be ridiculous.

But what? What was strange? Where was the source of this discomfort?

When she focused her mind further tens of times in that moment stretching towards infinity, Stella finally realized it.

The source of her discomfort.

It was Ayato who swung down his sword – the shadow under his feet.

The shadow did not move.

Ayato had swung his Sub Zero Wind Clad sword and yet his shadow remained still.

No.

It did move but it was as if it was trying to pursue his movements badly.

Stella had guessed what that meant.

His shadow could not keep up with his movements.

Was that even possible?

It couldn't be.

It shouldn't be possible for that to happen.

But after this, this impossible occurrence became known to many people.

Many people had witnessed the scene.

Lived by the sword, trusted in it, and broke through all limits–

A godly attack that even his shadow could not keep up.

This was the ultimate form of 'sword cutting' with the power of Sub zero wind completed by one person.

A height that one day countless individuals would seek to achieve.

Based on the significance of both the occurrence and respect it earned, that attack was named to many people.

The Final Secret Sword – KoriKazekage (Ice WindShadow).

Kah… Ha…!"

It was only a moment after their shadows crossed. The one that spilled blood was Stella.

"Th-The 'Crimson Princess' body is spilling blood! It was a moment of crimson and blue lights clashing! The one who won from it was the 'Cryo Gale Sowrd Emperor', Kurozakuro Ayato!"

"I… I absolutely don't know what happened…"

"Kyaaaa! Ayato-kun, you're amazing!"

"No way! He really turned the match around from that?!"

It was immediately after everyone had given up on him when 'Ittou Shura' was defeated.

The betrayal of expectations of everyone in this place had the entire crowd boiling with energy.

But most of them could not understand what had actually taken place during the clash.

A member of the student council, Saijou Ikazuchi, who was watching the battle with Touka was no different.

"H, hey, Tomaru, what just happened?" But Renren also shook her head on this.

"No, even if you ask me… it was too fast for me to see it."

Even to the eyes of two strong people from Hagun, the fight between the 'Crimson Princess' and the 'Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind' had reached a different level. Tohka answered those two.

"It was a sword-drawing art." She had just barely been able to see what took place within that moment of clashing.

"You mean like your 'Raikiri', Touka?" Touka rebutted Utakata's query.

"No, while my 'Raikiri' is also a sword-drawing art, the method of movement is different. 'Raikiri' works by depending on electromagnetic force to draw the blade from the sheath at high speed, but what Kurogane just did is the opposite. By gripping the sword tightly with both hands he was able to build up power into the blade so that when he released the strike it could move at much greater speeds than normal. To put it simply, it's the same as snapping your fingers."

"Oh, I get it." Utakata understood from the explanation. No matter how fast you tried to move your fingers on their own, they wouldn't produce any sound in the air. But by building power against the resistance of your thumb you can create the sharp sound in the ice & air. Ayato had just used that same idea on slashing.

"But President, even though he could swing his blade faster, Stella San's sword should have hit him first if there's still a difference in reach between their devices. How did he manage to bridge the gap between their reaches?"

"Kana-chan. You would know the answer if you look at the grip on 'Ryuuzetsu'.

" As told, Kanata looked at Ayato who was in the ring. Then she realized it. The black sword he held in his hand. The grip was unusually short, which part of the handle up to where his right ring finger held was missing.

"Could it be… it melted?!"

"That's right. Before Stella's sword could reach him, Kurozakuro-kun drew 'Ryuuzetsu'. But with the difference in the reach, he would have received a blow from her first.

So Kurogane-kun swung the handle of his sword instead of the blade, and the butt of 'Ryuuzetsu's' handle struck Laevateinn' on the side.

"So he altered the trajectory of the thrust…!"

"He pulled off such a strategy during that moment where our eyes couldn't even follow…what an amazing man?!"

"He really is an outrageous person…"

In the blink of an eye, he was able to combine attack and defense into a single concept and skill during that instant. His sword skill, the way he used it was on a different level.

(You really made me learn something new)…Then, beside the amazed Touka,

"But, can't Stella just recover from such injury?" As a reasonable question came out of Utakata's mouth after watching the match so far, there was a movement in the ring.

"Geho…! Goho…!" Stella coughed up blood and at the same time her body was shaky. "The blood coming out from Stella's abdomen won't stop! Her wound isn't healing! Though she is refusing to collapse and keeping up by using her sword as support, as you can see the damage is deep! The healing from the dragon's life force is not working!"

Looking closely, Stella's spilled blood was not burning. That's right, Stella's 'Dragon Spirit' at this point had faded away. What was the reason for that? Kurono, who was in the audience seat, had guessed it.

"I see… so Kurozakuro wasn't the only one at his limit in that fight."

"What do you mean, Kuu-chan?"

"It means 'Dragon Spirit' has a major weakness. It's obvious if you think about it. Just saying things like 'a dragon's physical strength' or 'a dragon's life force' is a bit too convenient as an explanation.

Her power is the embodiment of a dragon. Vermillion was aware of it as well and so last night, –she had that much meal." Saikyo understood those words as well from those words.

"Oh I see, so the weak point is the calorie consumption."

That was exactly the case.

Every time that Stella uses her abilities like 'dragon's physical strength' or 'dragon's life force', magical energy and calories at the same time are being consumed.

Right now she was using her 'dragon's life-force' to forcibly heal her nearly fatal wound. At the time her 'dragon metabolism' had already consumed large amounts of calories.

Stella was completely out of fuel now.

As remaining conscious was already difficult at this point let alone healing her wounds,– A moment later there was a large sound and the 'Laevateinn' she leaned on cracked and shattered.

"Aaaahhh! The 'Laevateinn' she used to support herself had shattered!"

Stella's body who had lost its support was about to collapse on the ring. Or it should have.

"…!"

Stella would not accept it.

(My legs… can't give out…),

Stella told herself as her body tried to maintain its support.

Her energy or core was exhausted, her device had shattered, but as long as she had even a scrap of consciousness remaining,

(Keep… my head… up…)

No matter what others thought of her, or how pitiful she was, or how badly they laughed at her for not giving up…

(Don't… lose sight… of the goal…)

That was…the least she should do as the challenger.

As Stella stumbled she faced Ayato and thrust her fist towards him.

Ayato, who was watching her quietly, did not dodge her fist that was approaching his chest slowly.

He knew that she didn't have the strength to defeat him.

Also, he knew the importance of what was clenched in her fist.

So Ayato took it with his chest. He accepted it.

"I will… definitely… not lose… next time…!"

While her face became strained from frustration, the words she said had some pride in them.

A moment later when her willpower had been exhausted, Stella's body collapsed.

But her body didn't hit the hard surface of the ring.

It was because Ayato took one step forward and embraced Stella's body.

Then, he said it. Strongly, while hugging Stella's body with all of his strength.

"No… I will win again for sure."

Soon after the referee crossed his arms.

The buzzer to signal the end of the match sounded, –the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival had ended.

"THE MATCH IS OVERRRR…! Just as Stella finally lost her strength, the referee called out the name of the winner! It was filled with reversals! It was a fight to the death with them giving their all! The one left standing at the end of this deadly match is… Hagun Academy 1st year! A-ranked! KUROGANE Ayato—!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!"

At the result below them, the hands of anyone in the audience made thundering applause with as much strength as possible.

Those who had cheered for Ikki, those who had cheered for Stella, with no difference between them were congratulating the victor.

Among them, the figures of those who lost to Ayato and whose dreams had been destroyed were also present.

"A… Amazing! He really did it! He really defeated that A-rank monster!"

"It was so brilliant… I… I can't even describe it." Moroboshi was delighted while jumping up like a kid.

Even the calm Jougasaki's white skin was flushed with excitement all the way to his ears. Beside them, Ayato's friend Arisuin was wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.

Arisuin knew how many sacrifices he made to reach the top of this place.

He even knew about the screams he couldn't hear himself, the impossible things he went through repeatedly.

That is why he was glad of his victory like it was his own. But as expected she was probably the one who would be even far more overjoyed, Arisuin then turned his sight at her. "You must be so happy, Shizuku."

But,

"…!"

Shizuku did not even reply to Arisuin, and with her expression changed she leapt over the fence and towards the magma sea. Instantly, the body of Ayato who was embracing Stella was shaking violently, toppling towards the ground from his back.

"Toudou Heigen!"

"W-What?! The sea of magma has… frozen…!"

"Isn't that the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind and the Sword Emperor of Wind's little sister's…?"

"It's Lorelei!"

The audience was shocked at the sudden intrusion. But Shizuku ignored all of them, dashed across the frozen field towards the pair, and yelled with her expression changed.

"Hurry and get a stretcher! Please get Onii-sama and Stella-san to the infirmary!" At those words, men dashed out from each gate carrying stretchers.

They then loaded the two ragged knights into the stretchers.

Had they completely lost consciousness? Both didn't even twitch.

"Did they both pass out?"

"…They gave it their all."

"Yeah. …They were amazing. They were so strong…"

"Right now, thunderous applause with no sign of stopping is pouring down on the two who are leaving the ring! Both the winner and loser are unable to stand on their own!

That's how far these two knights competed with each other with everything they had!

Anyone in attendance today will probably never forget the jewel-like shine of these two!

Even if the era has changed, even if showing their pride with their power ends up being called foolish, even if the tradition of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival becomes buried deep in history, we will…definitely never forget it…!

True strength definitely exists in them!"

Thunderous applause was pouring down on the two unconscious knights that were being carried off.

The former opponents they faced, Akatsuki Academy's Sara and Kazamatsuri, were also present in the middle of it.

"Ayato… congratulations…"

"Ku ku ku! I knew that my Demon Eye of Twilight could not be wrong!

That man is suitable to be my butler when I have conquered the world eventually…!

He backs down from nothing…! Right, Charlotte!"

"Grrrrrrr!" Charlotte growled while her face was still expressionless.

Behind her, in the middle of all the applause ringing to the ears, Edelweiss was watching Ayato being carried out of the ring.

"…He is truly an amazing boy. He always manages to surpass my expectations." She made a voice filled with admiration.

"Who would have thought…he could have achieved 'Brute Soul (Awakening)' at such a young age."

It wasn't clear if that was a good thing or not.

Existing within fate meant that you were a prisoner of that fate and at the same time being protected by fate.

There was always some measure of happiness to be found there.

It was an area where anyone seeking a peaceful life would not step outside of.

Consequently, she knew knights who had reached that point and stepped back on their own will.

But, –Ayato did not stop.

He had stepped towards it.

He ignored God's warning.

Outside of fate, towards the 'domain of demonic beings'.

(With that one step the 'Cryo Gale Sword Emperor' became an existence outside of this world's karma.)

Rather than following fate, he would become an existence that writes the future of this world. In other words–

"Those two may just have the power needed to avoid that 'future of despair' that you saw – Your devotion was not in vain."

Edelweiss said as she smiled at Tsukikage. Tsukikage slightly smiled wryly at those words.

"…You think so? Ede"

"Yes. Of course I do. And so do the 'Desperados (Majin)' other than myself."

As she replied, Edelweiss' eyes swept over the venue.

Right now in the crowd, those who possess great powers to lead have gathered from around the world.

Others like Edelweiss wouldn't be spoken of publicly even by one person, but they were imposing.

Those who had surpassed being human, and would fight against each other one day to decide the future of the world.

Then,

"Every single one of them should be certain of it. A new possible future has just been born." Tsukikage closed his eyes at Edelweiss' words.

He remembered…

the sight he saw when he visited the Kurogane and Kurozakuro households back when he had been running for the House of Representatives.

The figure of a boy who while sweating kept swinging his sword with cryo wind and Lightning in solitary despite not being asked to be anyone's opponent and was ignored by everyone , and did not waste away or give up.

"…It is reassuring then."

It was because it would probably be a world full of hope and kindness far more than the one he had 'seen' before.

…

After the final match, Ayato and Stella who had collapsed were carried to regeneration tanks in the infirmary. They were given treatment there.

"…"

When Ayato finally regained consciousness, it was around midnight.

"This is…" He opened his eyes to reveal a ceiling of patterned tiles.

Ayato immediately realized it was the infirmary where he had slept the night before.

He also noticed the presence of the silver-haired girl sitting beside his bed.

"Good evening, Onii-sama."

"Shizuku… Ah, I see… that time I passed out in the ring…"

"How do you feel? Is there any place that hurts?"

During that, Ayato turned his mind towards his body.

Certainly, a heavy feeling of fatigue still remained.

But…at the same time there was also a sense of fulfillment.

"That's right… I won against Stella…"

That terrifyingly powerful knight. As he was convinced it was not a dream, Ayato clenched his fist.

"By the way, where is Stella?" She's here."

The voice came from the opposite side of where Shizuku was sitting.

When Ayato turned his head, there were figures of Arisuin sitting on a folding chair and Stella lying in a bed like him.

"It looks like even someone like Stella would be sleeping soundly at this time."

"Stella…"

Ayato looked closely at Stella who was lying down.

Her breathing when asleep was normal and her complexion was good.

It seemed she had suffered no lasting damage.

"Thank goodness."

"Says the guy that cut her down."

"D-Don't phrase it in an unpleasant way…"

"Ufufu, I'm sorry." As he apologized, Arisuin stood up from his chair. Then, he started to speak to Shizuku.

"Well then, Ayato has woken up so should we return to the hotel now? It's already quite late." Shizuku nodded in reply.

She was also thinking of leaving after waiting for Ayato to wake up after all.

"Yes. …Onii-sama. A change of clothes has been placed next to the bed.

Tomorrow morning, I'll come wake you up before the award ceremony, so today please rest your body at ease."

"Will do."

"And…" Shizuku held Ayato's bony hand between both of her small hands and smiled broadly,

"Congratulations. Onii-sama. Up until now, Onii-sama today was the coolest." She congratulated him on his victory.

"Yeah… Thanks."

"The celebration is still for tomorrow, let's do it after we get back to Tokyo. I'll introduce you to a good place."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

"Just leave it to me. Later."

"Today, please just rest your body at ease." After saying that, the two left the infirmary.

In the infirmary there was a faint moonlight shining inside. Only Ayato and Stella remained.

The only sound during the silent night was the ticking of a clock and Stella's soft breathing when asleep.

Ayato's eyes were naturally drawn to Stella who was sleeping on the bed next to his.

"…A…yato…"

"…!"

Suddenly, Stella was calling out Ayato's name.

Was she awake? Thinking that, Ayato left his bed and came close to her but Stella who was lying on the bed was still apparently in comfortable sleep while breathing softly.

She was just talking in her sleep. Ayato, who was a bit disappointed, sat down on the folding chair Arisuin was on before.

Just what kind of dream she was seeing?

While thinking that, he could never understand even when he was staring at her sleeping face.

But…

"…"

There was a feeling in his chest that kept coming and going. The fulfillment of this day.

The expression of the girl he competed with desperately together while he was overcoming the peak of his limits.

Her burning eyes.

Her ferocious smile.

Her presence was nothing but magnificent, Ayato remembered it.

Thump, thump. When he remembered any of it, his heart was beating fast. It was because this girl was here that he was able to become this strong. Because this girl had faced him and fought against him so seriously.

"Stella…"

Whenever he remembered her, he became drowned in his love for her that was overflowing from within him.

As that emotion stirred him up, Ayato slightly rose from his chair.

He was leaning over Stella on her bed.

Then, he gently touched her cheek.

That was something he should not have done.

"Ah… A…yato… funyuu~"

Even in her sleep she could tell that it was Ayato's hand. She smiled in her sleep and nuzzled against his hand like a cat rubbing her smell on him.

"~~~~~~~~~~~!" At Stella's action, Ayato felt something rattling around in his brain.

–––What a cute living thing.

His heart was pounding so loudly already and his blood was boiling.

His body temperature was rising and his throat was dry.

Then, his eyes were naturally drawn to Stella's moist…wet and shining lips that was in front of him and bathed in moonlight.

He wanted to hug her tight immediately.

He wanted to kiss her.

…He couldn't wait for her to wake up.

Wanting to kiss the person you love was natural.

After all, Stella had allowed it every time they did.

With such a convenient excuse and after KO-ing the feelings of guilt of stealing the lips of a sleeping girl, Ayato was drawn into Stella's lips like a bug attracted by a flower…

"Itadakimasu…"

"Huh? A meal?"

Her eyes popped open wide and their gazes met.

It was at such a short distance that they could feel each other's breaths and were very close coming into contact.

"…?!"

Ayato's face was right in front of her the moment she woke up. The situation was enough to cause Stella's brain to boil––

"M-Morning, Stella."

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"GUH!" Her knee struck his solar plexus in a flash.

"I… I'm sorry! Ayato! I… I really hit you hard… are you okay?!"

Stella asked while patting Ayato's back as he was prostrating on the floor trembling from the pain.

Ayato then replied,"Y-Yeah… fine… I'm really fine…",

but his face was dripping with a cold sweat as if not looking fine. Seeing Ayato's expression like that, Stella began to feel guilty with her eyebrows drooped.

"Auh… I'm really sorry, okay? B-But it's because Ayatowas in such a position…"

"Yeah, just now was about 200% my fault. So don't worry about it." After Ayato reminded her like that, Stella finally stopped apologizing. And then she realized she was in a room she didn't recognize at all.

"Come to think of it… where is this?"

"The Bay Dome's infirmary. It seems we were carried here after the match."

"Oh, it's because it's my first time being sent to the infirmary during this tournament that I didn't recognize it." She muttered, then made a deep sigh.

"…That's right. I lost, huh." Ayato could feel the discomfort in Stella's words. Just as he had felt the fulfillment of winning against Stella after waking up, there seemed to be feeling of regret recurring in her chest. After thinking about it, he had a feeling that there was no way he should be here.

"Uh, um… should I step outside for a bit?"

"Hm? Why?"

"Well… as expected we just finished the match today, so I thought being here might be unpleasant."

"Not at all." Stella replied to Ayato's suggestion without hesitating nonetheless.

"Ayato, could it be that you thought I would cry? I wouldn't do something so wasteful."

"Wasteful?"

"That's right. Sure… there is a feeling of regret burning inside me, but I'm not going to do something wasteful by crying it out. It's because this feeling of regret is a power that will make me stronger. I have to store it, burn it as fuel, then build it up so that I can come back and beat you next year."

As Stella declared it, she smiled while her white teeth could be seen.

It was a powerful smile. It seemed that she was serious.

Her feelings had already changed towards revenge for next year.

That optimism of hers made him think again – what a strong girl she really is.

"…As expected of Stella."

"Also, it's not just regret by the way."

"Eh?"

"My prediction, it's because it wasn't wrong so I knew for sure."

Her prediction was that she felt that if it was with Ayato she could go anywhere no matter how high.

Considering the gap in their talents, the expectations were a little heavy for Ayato.

However, Ayato responded to her expectations in such simple form.

That they would go anywhere together.

For the man she loved the most to be the strongest man was the greatest happiness possible.

That was why as she reached down to him on the floor for a handshake,

"Ayato. From now on always, always be my number one, okay?" she said while showing signs of embarrassment.

That was, –––not good. Extremely, not good. From those words, Ayato's heart, which had settled down once from the trouble just now, had fired up. To the point of no return already.

"…!"

"Eh?! Kya!"

In the next moment, Ayato ignored Stella's outreached hand and gripped her shoulder, and like that he pushed Stella's body down onto the bed behind her.

"…"

"A… Ayato…?" Stella who was taken aback by what was happening, looked up with a surprised face at Ayato who was hanging on top of her. Ayato was reflected in Stella's eyes… his face was brighter red than her eyes.

–––Embarrassment.

As he was thinking of what he should say, it looked like his face was about to catch fire.

But… even so, it seemed that this feeling bubbling up in his chest could not be concealed again. So Ayato forced his stiff throat to move and said the words out.

"Um… S-Stella. That time when we went to Okutama with the student council, what I said in the mountain cabin… do you remember? About … doing lewd things with you, is something I can't do without having even met your parents."

"Y-Yeah… I remember. …It made me really happy."

Really happy. He groaned softly at those words. It was really something unthinkable that he had said. No, at that time it was exactly what he truly felt, and he felt confident in it… but now… it was already impossible. So,

"After trying to look cool like that before, it really is difficult to say though…" Ikki said to Stella in an apologetic tone.

"That… please forget that I ever said that!"

"–––Huh?"

She didn't understand immediately the meaning of those words. But, from the way that Ayato was holding her down and from his face flushing bright red even to his ears, the words just now had connected with her brain's response and eventually, ––she understood what he was trying to say.

In an instant, Ayato's 'fever' had spread to Stella as well. Her cheeks were hot, spreading even to her ears, and her voice became half an octave higher.

"That, t-th-that, C-C-C-COULD IT BE~~~~!?" "W-Well… that's… what it means…"

"~~~~~~~~~! J-Just… Just wait! Wait! W-What are you saying all of a sudden, Ayato?! Are you serious!? I mean are you for real!? The extremely strong Ayato who didn't lose to temptation even after seeing my immodest appearance, where did he go!?"

"He died."

"Died!?"

It was a very harsh way of phrasing it, but Ayato couldn't say it in any other way. After all, right now he was not sure anymore how he should show some restraint in front of his charming lover, since he couldn't understand his feelings completely at the time. So––

"Today, when I fought against Stella, when I reached my limit, I thought about it. If I were to stop here, you would go on ahead alone. Then… you would find and compete with someone stronger than me. But… when I imagined it, I really didn't want that. My head was going crazy with hate for whoever that 'someone' was. I don't want anyone else to have any part of you. I want all of you to be myself only. It was that one feeling that drove me forward. That feeling… lit a fire in my empty heart. And then, that fire even now is still not gone…!" Ayato wouldn't stop.

The next words out of his mouth, even though he understood they would decisively progress their relationship, he had to say those few words. He didn't care about appearing cool. Almost pestering, pleading.

Directly from his heart, ––he said it.

"Right now, I want to make love to you, Stella…!"

"…"

At those words her scarlet eyes, which Ayato reflected on, were largely shaking.

The emotions in them were shock, bewilderment, turmoil, and––

"Is that a no…?"

"Stupid Ayato…"

Overflowing delight.

As Stella smiled a little, she reached up her hand against his cheek, and pinched him gently.

"…Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for those words?"

That's right. She had waited the whole time.

She was truly happy when he said that they could not do such things without greeting her parents first and that he wanted to treasure their relationship.

But, that happiness did not change the feelings of what a woman would want their most beloved man to seek from her. If Ayato wanted to, at any time––she had always thought of it.

So, "So… right now… I'm really happy…!"

Warm tears overflowed from her scarlet eyes. That sparkle, which acknowledged her whole self, had become like courage for Ikki and pushed his back forward.

"Stella…!"

"Ah, but wait!" She pushed back the impatient Ayato forcefully.

"Stella?" Ayato was confused since he'd not expected her to ask him to wait at this time, during this flow. Stella looked at Ayato with inquisitive eyes and asked.

"Ayato, although you said those things, have you carefully prepared 'that'?"

"'That'…?" In response, while muttering

"I… I'm saying…", Stella let out the words with difficulty.

"I-it's true that I had waited for you to say something like that after all, right? But, we're still students, we haven't gone to properly meet each of our parents,…and I plan to fight against you again next year, so… uhm… it would be troubling if I get pregnant, wouldn't it?"

"…ah."

Even someone as dense as Ayato would realize it after being told that much.

And of course he had not come prepared.

Realizing this, he became embarrassed by his carelessness.

"S-Sorry! To think that I… just got so caught up in it…!"

"…That's what I thought. Ayato, you love making rather sudden moves, huh."

"Uuuuu…"

As he was strongly stared at by Stella with criticizing eyes, Ayato groaned in an apologetic manner.

It was natural for Stella to be angry.

As a man, this was something he should have paid attention to.

Yet he had completely forgotten about something so important and let his desires go wild.

If there was a hole nearby he'd like to crawl into it.

Even if there was none, he would like to dig a hole and then crawl into it.

It looked like he would cry at his pathetic self.

At any rate, as long as he wasn't prepared he could not force it.

"W-Wait!" Stella grabbed Ayato's arm.

"L-leaving a girl alone after causing her to feel like this is a loss of points, you know, a huge loss of points!

(I-It's normal, huh. Princesses are really amazing.)

"C… could it be that you think I'm a disgraceful woman…?"

"I don't think of such things." Ayato immediately denied back at Stella who had an uneasy look.

He would not think of such rude things.

In fact, he had learned from Stella's concern what he had missed, and so he was grateful.

"Thank you. I'll properly be more careful from now on."

"You should. …because it was really embarrassing to buy those."

As he promised and nodded, Ayato unzipped his cock from his robe showing to Stella..

"…We're really… going to do it… right now…?" "Y… Yeah…" Now that preparation was complete, their hearts once again were filled with embarrassment. He couldn't look straight at Stella's face. Stella was also the same, even though she was checking at Ikki by sneaking quick glances with her moist eyes, they both would look away immediately if their gazes met. They continued like that for three minutes in silence. (What are we doing…) They couldn't just keep avoiding each other. Not after all the courage they had already worked up.

(At a time like this, the man needs to pull himself together…!)

And so Ayato took a deep breath and faced Stella on the bed.

"Stella!"

"Y-Yes!"

"I'm not much… but I'll be in your care!"

"L-Likewise, please take care of me."

And so as they were feeling many things that seemed pointless, their first night together had begun.

Stella's upper body was laid on the curled sheets of the pure white bed as if being cared for, with the blue moonlight faintly illuminating her.

While wearing the simple white one piece dress which must have been put on her when she was admitted into the infirmary, that faint light casted shadows from every curve of her body. That alone was enough to set someone's mind ablaze.

It was weird.

He should have already seen her in a more immodest appearance but now looking at her like this, he couldn't stop it.

He wanted to run his fingertips, palms, lips over every inch of her.

Just thinking about it made him nervous and his heart unable to stop racing out of control. It was understandable.

Ever since he had come to like this girl, he had longed for this day to come.

"This is embarrassing…"

It was probably the same for Stella.

Regardless of whether or not her bust was too large for her stature, her chest was heaving up and down from being nervous, but her eyes were looking up at Ayato with a glint of anticipation.

She felt anxious and excited from not knowing what would happen to her.

The light in her eyes reflected the combination of those two emotions.

And so Ayato responded to that.

He hid his hesitation and embarrassment, leaned over Stella and extended his hand to her clothes.

"W-Wait…" Just as Ayato's fingers were almost at the top button, her small voice stopped him.

"H-hey… right now, I'm… not wearing a bra…, so it's embarrassing so suddenly…, from the bottom…please …

"S-Sorry…"

He automatically apologized in response to Stella's request. Though it wasn't really the time for him to apologize. Nothing made much sense to him anymore.

But if Stella didn't like it, then from the top was no good.

Starting at the top or the bottom, it was all the same.

In that case, it was probably better to make it easier for Stella.

After deciding it, Ayato reached out his hand to the button around Stella's knee, and started unbuttoning one by one.

It was like unwrapping a precious present without damaging it.

With each button undone, Stella's body was revealed from the bottom.

Her round knees.

Her very white voluptuous plump thighs.

Her crotch hidden by her inner thighs pressed together, and protected by simple hospital underwear.

Then, above her pure white stomach there was something jiggling and contracting when she respired.

(Lemon Ayato x Stella)

That's why now – Stella and Ayato are on the bed.

And then, "Haah… Nn, Ayat…o… chuu, mm… Ayato, haaaaah " Stella is presently entranced as she faced Basara and they entangled their tongues together lewdly.

Her sighs are mixed with her sweet voice, and this is as he's groping her breasts from over her clothes.

"…!" His eyes were fixated on the flattened round white flesh.

…Just how soft are they? His boiled desire and curiosity tempted his fingertips.

"!"

When the tip of his middle finger touched the skin of her breast, Stella's body shivered.

She clenched her eyes closed and clamped her lips tightly together as if to stop from crying out.

But she did not resist.

So he took it as a good thing.

He slightly put more strength to the pulp of his finger.

Then, his finger sunk into the soft flesh without resistance.

The sensation of the opposite sex that his body never felt before caused a shiver ran up his spine.

Next, Ayato's index finger accompanied his middle finger on her breast.

He ran his fingers against the line of the bottom of her flattened breast and they slipped into the gap.

"Hyu!"

The underside of her breast was touched.

The sensation she felt for the first time made Stella's ruby eyes open with bewilderment.

But she did not make any objection.

So Ayato did not stop.

He gently slid his fingers in further.

Her skin was utterly smooth.

Her breast that his fingers were on was so soft as if melting and had a considerable weight.

They were warm.

His fingers felt like they would melt.

"~~~~~~! Aah…!"

Stella's body showed a small reaction from having her breast stroked from underneath.

An adorable voice leaked out of her moist lips.

He wanted to hear more of them.

So he turned his finger under her breast and curled it to gently lift it up.

In an instant,

"…k, kuu!"

Stella's entire body heaved, and at the same time the final button of her dress popped off.

Then, her breasts that were pushed down bounced off like jelly and her dress opened wide from the impact.

But not everything was revealed.

The dress that was split to both sides had stopped at the peaks of her breasts.

Yes, it got stuck.

Barely though.

Therefore, although he could not see the peaks, the surrounding parts which were half of her white breasts had been exposed, and their color became more different closer to the peaks.

–––It's okay to bite.

Then at the same time, Ayato slid and crawled his fingers from Stella's knee into between her thighs.

However, he never touched her crotch.

He was uncertain of whether or not he should touch it, but he was stimulated into tracing along the lines between her thighs.

His fingers moved slowly starting from near the knees and towards the crotch, back and forth repeatedly.

And when his fingers finally reached near the edge of her underwear, Ayato could feel from his fingertips that her thighs were starting to twitch.

Looking into her eyes he could see that the fear had already begun to melt into passion which made even her vision become unclear.

Her body was hot from the inner and outer stimulations, and flushed cherry blossom pink. Sweats along with a sweet scent indicating Stella was strongly aroused were released.

It was proof that her heart and body were ready.

"Are you okay now?"

"…Yeah…"

"If you're scared then just tell me. I will do this as many times until your feelings have calmed."

"…I'm… okay."

It seemed she had no strength. Stella made a smile that looked like she was melting. Her gaze was soft from dizziness, but even so it held Ayato in place and would not let him go. Her braveness was so lovely that Ayato gently kissed Stella three more times.

––Then, when their lips separated, he placed a hand on her shoulder, And took her clothes off.

Under the moonlight, her naked body, flushed in faintly cherry blossom pink, was revealed. The delicate line of her neck.

Her slender, feminine arms.

And, the part of her that seemed the most contrasting – her breasts that largely jiggled but remained attached to her body, and the cherry blossom pink nipples that became exposed and slightly jiggled from the stimulation of her clothes being removed.

At such beauty, Ayato forgot to breathe.

"You're so beautiful…"

His mind was so overwhelmed that only such common words could come out.

Even right now he wanted to hold on to her.

Half of his body, inside his pants, had already become painfully excited.

But even so, Ayato had to restrain himself.

Even if he forgot to breathe, he would not forget to care for Stella.

He held his ground, and proceeded to make final confirmation.

He scooped up some of the saliva on her collar bone that had dripped down from her mouth with his finger and smeared it on her right nipple.

He rubbed it with the pulp of his finger.

Then,

"Aahh…nnn…" For the first time, a clear flirtatious voice came out of Stella's mouth.

When he moved his fingers away, he could see that the shape of her nipple was clearly different from the one on her left breast.

Her left breast had no hand on it, and her right breast was swollen and wet with saliva.

That sensational difference hit Ayato's reasoning hard.

––It was agonizing. His breathing was out of order.

His forehead hurt.

Honestly, it was too painful to endure any longer.

––But, was it okay now? Was it really okay to go further now?

He had experience with Kanata after all.

He had an idea because he had experience before.

Though Stella said that it was okay, he wondered if would hurt her if he began now.

As Ayato was worrying about it,

––Stella reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Then, she spoke as she smiled.

"Thank you… for being so gentle with me. It really is okay now."

Thus, he didn't have to endure anymore.

"Ayato, you can do what you want to me, all of them…"

"…!"

Those words were the trigger. He didn't hesitate anymore. He wouldn't turn back.

Under the moonlight, two shadows melted together, overlapping with passion.

How much was his, and how much was hers?

They embraced each other strongly and deeply that it was not clear anymore.

Their voices no longer carried any meaning and their lips were desperately seeking their beloved partner.

In the midst of it, Ayato Kurogane… vowed to himself. I won't let this girl be unhappy.

He would never let her regret choosing the man named Ayato Kurogane Kuchiki Sparda.

He strongly vowed on his own soul.

Ayato pushed in his member, which is large enough to hurt, within Stella.

When placing it there, Ayato's member faced an elastic resistance. That is something Ayato clearly knows.

The proof of Mio's purity, which has guarded Basara from piercing through up till now.

That's where their relationship had just about stopped till now.

What they had taken care of till now, Ayato Kurogane Kuchiki Sparda and Stella Vermillion Gremory Phenex will break.

"Let's go—"

"…Yeah. Come, Ayato."

"…Aaaaah!"

Ayato began to thrust suddenly. It was a movement too intense for Stella who was just a virgin.

However, "Haah, nnn… fnnnn Ayato… aah… aaaah"

The first time was painful and nothing more than that was a lie.

Stella had already become a being that takes in all of Ayato…

That's why, the feeling of heat that pieced inside her, Stella only felt happiness at being a woman.

Up till now, Stella had her weak point attacked by Ayato multiple times and climaxed, in that she had been subjugated.

However, if Stella's breasts are her weak point, what Ayato's member was rubbing against now is all women's weakness. And then was truly a woman.

So, "No, aahn Fuuh, nnah haah, aah… Aaaaaaaaaah ''

Stella moved her hips lewdly as his member thrusted into her, drowning dreamily in the pleasure from Ayato.

How sensitive were their membranes, finally touching, their hips moving together again for a lewd round, and without long as Ayato thrusted into Stella, where they met made lewd sucking sounds – and it changed to a lewd wet sound.

And then,

With that, Mio's puffed up breasts tensed up… With Ayato's thrusts, her large breasts moved in circles, swinging lewdly. Ayato took grasp of Stella's breasts,

"No Aahn… Fuuh, naahh hahn, ffuh… Fuaaa ''

As the shape of her breasts changed as they're being fondled roughly – at that, Ayato's lower parts buckled up many times.

At that intense pleasure,

…Eh?… Stella felt how Ayato's member grows more erect and hotter in her.

That's the sign Basara's limit is near.

That's why Stella, whose carnality was heightened, wrapped her legs around Ayato's waist, and the part where they met completely clung to each other with zero distance.

That is the true will of a woman vowing to the young man in front of her.

They don't know any other way to accept all of him to truly become his Basara promptly answered that feeling towards him.

Both wishing to cling on to each other, moving to an angle naturally…

Stella's legs riding up to Ayato's shoulder, him covering her to reach the limit of their depths.

"Stella… You, you're mine!" With him thrusting in intensely, he shouted his words of conviction, to that,

"…Yeah, I'm Ayato's… Ayato's… Haaaaah " Stella once more, had her body shake with intense pleasure as she nodded furiously, affirming Basara's words dreamily. And then – that moment had come.

"Stella… ah!" As Ayato called her, him at her deepest…

The entrance of Stella's womb was thrusted into by Ayato's member – at the same time, with a throb she understood his climax she was cremated by Ayato.

That was a feeling so sweet it scared her.

…Amazing, it's throbbing…

She understood how good Ayato's member felt as it trembled inside her.

With that, from the depth of Stella's body, from where she would bear children, she felt that where they met leaked out semen in the opposite direction.

"Ah… Aah… Haah, nn… aaah… nn "

Moans filled with ecstasy spilled out, as if covering that up, Ayato kissed her gently,

"Mm, chuu… Nn Mmm… Ahmm… Chuu… licks… Haah "

Wanting Basara for herself, Stella tangled her tongue with his.

And then.

After they exchanged saliva in a long kiss – slowly, Basara's member drew out of Stella slowly.

At that, to her who still melted in the reverberation of her intense climax,

(in the Morning)

The sounds of birds chirping from somewhere could be heard. As if being invited by them, Ikki woke up from his slumber. The morning light shone on his opened eyes. The sky on that day was displayed on the window, and it was perfectly clear that it would make anyone feel good. It was a wonderful morning.

…And yet his extreme body felt completely heavy.

He felt like he was sunken into the bed so firmly that it seemed impossible to move.

At the same time his consciousness was the same, in which his eyes received the morning sun but he was far from having completely woken up.

That was not good, and so in order to lead his mind and body to awakening, Ayato took a single breath.

Then… a sweet, floral scent tickled his nostrils

. Ayato knew that smell.

He turned his head to the side, and as if it was natural she was there.

Stella's appearance was that her white body was covered in sheets up to her shoulders, and she showed a gentle smile.

When their eyes met, Stella's scarlet eyes became squinted from shyness.

"Good morning, dear."

"…!"

"Ehehe, I had wanted to try saying that once."

That one word made his heart jump and his face flush.

The expression of special love that Stella spoke of.

The moment he heard that, any sleepiness was blown away and Ayato remembered it.

Everything that happened here last night.

(I-I see, of course my body would feel heavy…).

He understood everything now, and looked over at the plastic debris.

(I can't believe we actually used them all…!)

He wondered what had happened to their fear and nervousness from before.

It all happened after the first one was over – Stella was strangely turned on.

Once she was in a mount position, it went out of control.

Well, one way or the other he also felt ecstatic so it seemed Stella wasn't the only one turned on.

…Even so, there should have been a limit.

He never thought of cursing his self-control that had kept going since the school opening ceremony.

Since it was this excessive, he wouldn't be able to move normally the next day.

(We'll need to be more careful next time…)

It was a mistake for him not to consider Stella's trained body.

As Ayato was cautioning himself, he asked Stella, who seemed to have sustained actual damage more than himself.

"Is your body okay?"

"It still hurts quite a bit. It might be hard to walk without feeling the pain. Ayato, you're surprisingly a brute. Doing those things to a girl for her first time.

"But I shouldn't be the only one to be blamed for that, right? I'm sure of it"

"W-Well… that's true."

She probably thought she overdid it too.

She averted her eyes that looked embarrassed.

"Couldn't you heal it with your dragon regeneration?"

"I could, but… I want to stay like this for a while."

Her reply made him tilt his head. If she could heal it, then she really should.

Ayato would feel guilty about always feeling pain, but––

"After all, this is proof of being loved by Ayato ."

"~~~~~!"

Being told such things with such a face filled with happiness made him speechless.

Even though they made love to each other so much last night, she was so lovely that it hurt him.

––What a cruel woman.

He had to control himself.

He shouldn't get drowned in it.

Even as he decided this, he knew that he needed to do the same thing she strongly did to him.

By any means, he needed to express this love or else he wouldn't feel good.

He wouldn't feel good if he didn't let her know how much he loved her.

With that in his mind,Ayato's hand naturally reached Stella's cheek.

Stella didn't resist.

She could feel Ayato's feelings being transmitted to her from the heat on the palm of his hand, closed her eyes, and moved her lips slightly forward.

As if being drawn in by those lips, Ayato moved his face closer and his lips…,

It was when their lips were about to meet.

"Onii-sama. Stella-san. Are you awake already?"

During the knock, Shizuku's voice from outside the door was heard.

"HYU!?"

In that very sudden situation, they both let out a weird scream.

And unfortunately it was heard by Shizuku and Arisuin outside.

"It seems that you are awake."

(A-Ayato! Hurry and go to the other bed!)

(Ah, Stella's robe is…)

(There's no time to put it on! hide it! I'm hiding the blood on the bed after all!)

(Okay, I get it…!)

Ayato grabbed the fallen robe from under the bed, jumped into the other bed, and hid it under the sheets.

In that same moment the door to the infirmary opened, and Shizuku and Arisuin entered.

"Good morning, Onii-sama, Stella-san."

"Did you two sleep well? …Oh?" Arisuin stopped as soon as he came into the room though.

"Hmmm. Ahhh. I see…"

His mouth made a somewhat meaningful smile.

At his expression that looked like he had guessed everything, Stella began to sweat rapidly.

"W-W-W-W-What are you grinning for, Alice?!"

"Hmmm? No reason. I was just thinking you two had so much fun last night."

"W-W-W-W-W-We didn't do anything!" Shizuku managed to slip in the words

"What do you mean?" during Stella's objection.

"Even though it seemed you two had fun fighting each other."

"Oh, …y-you meant that."

"That?"

"N-Nothing!"

"…?"

(Stella… your behavior is too suspicious.) It was not good at this rate.

Thinking that, Ayato addressed Shizuku to draw her attention away from Stella. "Shizuku, thank you for going to the trouble of coming to wake us." "No, there is no need to thank me for something this much.

…Actually I would like Onii-sama who did his best to rest at ease more, but considering the time of the award ceremony I thought it was probably better to have breakfast soon."

"Y-Yeah. Well then, I need to be ready by getting dressed, so could you wait outside?" He somehow managed to maintain his expression even though he felt pain and guilt while his little sister was concerned for his entire body.

Ayato suggested Shizuku to leave and she did not have any problem with it. "I understand. I will wait outside then. Let's go, Alice." She said that as she turned back. ––With this, now they could… "By the way, Stella-san. It's been bugging me for a while, but what with a lot of bloo that on your bed?

"EH!? No way! I should have Cleaned up all of them––––ah!"

Stella peeked under her bed and there was nothing. But the careless words that came out of her mouth had provided enough detail for confirmation.

"Stella…"

"Uh-oh~" While the males gave despairing sighs, the girls' faces grew pale. One was going pale from panic, while the other went into a rage that made her pale.

"I see. I see… As I expected, it was that, huh. I thought something was weird about you two …"

Shizuku made a smile that only reached her mouth but her eyes glowed with green demonic fire, even as the temperature in the room all around her fell below freezing temperature.

With cracking sounds, frost spread across the glass windows of the room, despite it being

midsummer.

"Sh-Shizuku… Uh-uhm… this is…well–". During it, Stella tried to somehow reason with her though,

"Oh, no no. It's fine if you don't finish, really. Basically it's that, right?

Last night, after having faced Onii-sama in an earnest contest, when Stella-san seriously thought about how she intended to express her intent to reward him, the two of you must have been 'Dragon Fang-in the Kori Kusanagi of the Night'–"

"H, hey?! I think we can find a better time to tell you about this properly…"

"Any last request?"

"No-"

"I see. So last requests are not needed." From the start, there was nothing they could say to persuade Shizuku once she was on fire. In the next moment, the green magic light coming out of Shizuku blew away all the windows.

"Well then, right now, DIEEEEEEEE!" "KYAAAAA!"

"Wai–, Shizuku, Calm dow–"

"SHAAAA– – – – –"

"Yikes, sorry it was nothing!"

"AYATO– –! Why did you move back there– – – –!

"It's, not, my problem"

"MUSHAAAA– – – – – – – – –"

And so a bloody blizzard devastated the infirmary. At long last the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival came to an end.

"From among the 32 people selected from the eight schools of Japan, only one has made it to the top. All of those matches ended with yesterday's final match. The 26 matches were carried out intensely. They were magnificent and I remember every detail of them."

The head of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival's steering committee Kaieda Yuuzou made a speech at the venue where the excitement from yesterday had not yet cooled down. Everyone's eyes were not at Kaieda, but were at the curve-shaped podium in front of him. To be precise, at the place where the competitors would go up to

. They were eagerly waiting for the appearance of the ones who would be crowned as the victors, the leading actors of this tournament.

Shinomiya Amane who was one of the two who were at third place had committed a bad foul play by continuing to attack even after the match ended, and Kurogane Ouma who automatically won third place had left yesterday for Osaka.

They were not at this place,but the remaining two,Sparda Kuchiki Kurogane Ayato and Stella Vermillion, were in the waiting room.

"G-Good grief, haa, haa! Stupid Shizuku, she went too serious! Anyone else other than me would have died, really…!"

"A-Are you okay, Stella?"

Ayato stroked the back of Stella who was slumping in her folding chair and gasping for breath.

Stella had kept being chased around by Shizuku until just now.

"Honestly, I managed to get away from her just now but I'm really scared of later."

"Next time I'll explain to her too." But at these words, Stella adjusted her breathing after taking a deep breath and,

"No, it's fine", she refuted back.

"Why?"

"Making Shizuku understand is my responsibility."

"That's not true, this is our-" But at Ayato's words, Stella shook her head sideways.

"Sorry. I know that. I know, but I want to do this alone."

Stella had made up her mind long ago.

It was natural. Because she was the girl who loved Ayato that much, she was taking him away.

This was something she had to finish on her own.

"If it's not like that, I won't be able to face Shizuku with pride. I can't let you help this time."

Ayato showed his understanding of Stella's words. It was very much like a girl's responsibility. Ikki just couldn't help but loving this part of her. And so, Ikki encouraged Stella who was like this.

"…Okay. Good luck." "Why are you saying it doesn't involve you?"

"Eh?" Ayato obviously felt confused at her reply because a moment ago she said she would do it alone. But Stella had a good reason for saying that it involved him too.

"Don't you remember? You were told after the match with Touka-san, right? What my father said."

"…ah".

After being told that, Ayato remembered too now.

The scandal that had erupted around Stella and the ethics committee's rampage.

At the end of that incident, the King of Vermillion, Stella's father, had sent a message to him through Stella,

"After the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival is over, come and meet me at the Vermillion Empire."

"R-right, that happened…" It certainly involved him. It would be right to say it was a do-or-die situation for him.

"Speaking of which, I already booked a flight for a week from now."

"Eeeeeh?!"

"It was already decided from the start, right?"

"W-Well yeah, but… my…my heart isn't ready! Can't we at least postpone it for a week?"

"If the country's army can hold out another week, then it's fine." Did that mean that a war would break out if we don't go within a week?!

"Don't tell me, I may be the second princess, but you're not going to run away after you deflowered a nation's princess, are you~?"

"Uu…"

"My father is just as scary as Shizuku, you know~. Good luck, d~e~a~r ."

There was no getting out of this completely. There was no other way but to accept this.

"I… I'll do my best…" Ayato nodded as he felt cold sweat breaking out all across his body,

"And now we will carry out the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival's awards ceremony. Everyone here, please give a round of applause to the winners!"

Just as their talk had reached a resting-place, Kaieda was calling them out.

During this Stella rose from her chair as if leaping out of it and turned to face Ayato,

"Well then, let's go, Ayato", she said and reached out a hand to him.

The winner and the runner-up would be awarded separately.

So, at least she wanted to be welcomed together when entering.

"…Okay." Understanding Stella's feelings, he took her hand.

Then, they made their entry from the same gate while holding hands. Instantly ––

"WAAAAAAAAA!" After they had just waited, a round of applause and cheers rained on the two.

"Ayato-kun! Congratulations!"

"Ahh! Look! They're holding hands!"

"Woohoo! You two look great together!"

"Your highness Stella! You will get your revenge next year for sure– – – –!"

"You two were really amazing– – – –!"

As they were being welcomed, the two were walking down the aisle towards the stage while holding hands.

Eventually, the two stood on the stage with Kaleida, and the voices of the tens of thousands of people soon became smaller and quiet, creating formal silence in the end.

After waiting in silence, Kaieda announced the name of this tournament's runner-up.

"Hagun Academy, first year, Stella Vermillion."

"Yes''. Stella, whose name was called, let go of Ayato's hand and walked towards Kaieda.

"In the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival, you left behind brilliant achievements and reached second place. For that, I hereby award you this. …Congratulations."

"…" Stella took the certificate Kaieda presented in both of her hands and bowed. She then turned back and bowed to the audience.

The audience returned the favor with huge applause without any words.

During the applause, Stella faced the winners' podium and stood on the second highest place.

–––While very dignified, it was done masterfully. As expected, she was used to being on stage.

Then as silence descended upon the ceremony once again,

"Hagun Academy, first year, Ayato Kurozakuro "

It was finally Ayato's turn.

"Yes!"

During the silence, he replied with a clear good voice and walked forward.

Though he was not used to being on stage like Stella, he had good posture.

His appearance was dignified and very powerful, which was good and didn't lose to Stella's.

Once Ayato stood before him, Kaieda awarded him.

"In the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Festival, you stood on the top after winning through fierce battles. For such accomplishments, I hereby award you this certificate and the title of 'Seven Star Sword King'. …Congratulations."

Along with the certificate was the title of the strongest student knight in this country.

…It was what Ayato had always continuously aimed for.

In a moment, various thoughts were recurring in Ayato's mind.

Meeting Kurogane Ryouma.

The days of training since then. The memories of Traveling around the world with his Tenryuu Kori Armor and the taste of blood from being almost killed many times.

Being continuously held back for a year at Hagun Academy.

Then, his chance meeting with his most beloved girls and New Family

– Right now, a resolution to those days had been formed.

The path of carnage he walked through was never wrong.

"Thank you."

With many thoughts filling him, he accepted the certificate. But there was no applause. Everyone in attendance knew after all that the winner still had something left to do.

"Little Nephew." Shinguuji Kurono, the chairman of Hagun Academy & his Aunt, was waiting beside Kaieda and she handed something over to Ayato in order for him to fulfill his duty.

It was what Todou Touka entrusted him with as the representative leader of his school – Hagun Academy's school flag.

What should he do with Kurono's alma mater's flag?

Ayato of course understood even without being told.

It was what he had promised.

He entrusted his certificate to Kurono and received the school flag in exchange.

He then stood next to Stella, on the top of the winners' podium…

the summit of the Seven Stars, and raised the flag high towards the sky. —–Immediately after,

"—!"

"…!" It was as if the applause was pouring down on him like a waterfall and the cheers splashing over his whole body.

"Kurozakuro-kun, you're the best– –!"

"All hail the new Seven Stars Sword King!"

"Next year, I will be cheering you again– – – –!

"You looked cool! Ayato-kun!" It wasn't just from the audience seats. The cheers were also coming from outside the venue.

They were also blessings that came from tens of thousands of people he didn't even know. And of course, they weren't just from people he didn't know.

Those who Ayato knew also gave their blessings to him who was standing on the top.

"You're looking good now–!"

"Hmph." Haruka waved her hand, and Shizuku applauded mildly beside him with her cheeks puffed out like a hamster that had too much to eat.

"Kurozakuro-kun, congratulations!"

"…Hmph."

Kurashiki Kuraudo who diligently came to this place and standing with his arms crossed as if bored, and also Ayatsuji Ayase who wanted to attend the awards ceremony for the person she was indebted to by forcing herself as someone associated with Kuraudo.

"Thank you! Kurozakuro-kun!"

"As expected of the man who defeated me, Runner's High!"

The student council members who had done their best to protect everyone during the Akatsuki attack.

And– "Yo, Kurozakuro! I won't lose next year so be prepared–!"

"Are you planning to fail a year, Yuu…?"

"Ah… you're right. I won't be here next year. What should I do…"

"Even if you were here what were you planning to do?" T

he rivals he competed with for the top, on the stage of this Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Accepting their blessings, Ayato had made a decision.

––Become stronger.

So that he would not be ashamed of the blessings and the 'Seven Stars Sword King' title he received.

More than now, always from now on.

Then––

With these celebrations, the final program of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival came to an end. Kaieda then began to speak towards everyone present.

"Well then…I now announce the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Art Festival to be o-". However, it happened during that time.

"""HOLD IT RIGHT THE REEEEEEE!"""

In an instant, dozens of voices belonging to the same girl, overlapping each other, had echoed throughout the venue, and dozens of people's forms jumped over the fence and rushed towards the ring.

Everyone in the venue was shocked at the sight.

It was because it was so sudden, but more than that it was because the dozens of intruders were girls that had the same face.

"W-What?!"

"The same person, that many!?"

Of course, the adults immediately responded to this situation. In order to calm the situation down, they were trying to catch them. But just as the girls were captured by the adults, they disappeared like smoke one by one. It was a Noble Art that created clones of herself.

The girls split herself up and broke through the adults' line of defense. She slipped into the front of the podium where Ayato and Stella were standing.

The two became dumbfounded at the face of the intruder.

But that was expected. After all, the one who intruded was,

"You…!"

"Kusakabe-san?!" She was their classmate and friend. Kusakabe Kagami of the Hagun Academy's Newspaper Club.

Just what is her intention? They were going to ask, but before they could Kagami had already brought out a camera in her hand.

"Stella-chan! Get beside Senpai! It's no good if you stay in that place!"

"…!" Stella and Ayato understood what those words meant in no time.

"Stella!"

"Okay…!"

As Kagami aimed the camera lens towards them, Stella's face that was dignified until now had turned into a smiling face like a blooming flower.

She jumped onto the top of the podium where Ayato was standing.

Ayato caught Stella without staggering and supported her body.

Ayato Kurozakuro's chivalry would continue from now on.

He would walk beside his irreplaceable and most beloved rival.

At the appearance of the two standing as equals, everyone in the venue gained an understanding as if the final piece of a puzzle got into place, thinking

'Ah, I see'.

It was the conclusion of the battle.

Even if the outcome was difficult to shake and remained as a record, these two should be together like this. From now on, always.

––Forever. "Okay! Cheese!"