Ikki looked at Toudo Touka with a resolute gaze.
He would come at her head-on...
Toudo Touka had seen through it as well. Terrifying golden lightning erupted around her. As long as I evade this strike, victory will be mine. But...
I can't do that!
The lightning shone ever brighter. Toudo Touka lowered her body slightly and assumed an iaido stance—she was going to meet him head-on!
—Raikiri!
I can only swing my sword once more. Then... I'll pour every ounce of my will into this strike!
The heavens and earth seemed to lose all color. Ikki pushed his senses to their limit; in his perception, everything slowed to a crawl as he charged toward Toudo Touka.
This was his respect for Toudo, who stood upon this arena—and also his challenge to her! Ikki's eyes turned scarlet, as though flames burned within them.
Whether this duel had been deliberately arranged no longer mattered here!
Little by little, his skin, tendons... began to tear apart, blood bursting from Ikki's veins. I only want to stake everything I have to defeat this noble knight!
—Seventh Secret Sword: Lightning!
Then, Ikki's speed increased even further. This time... blood began flowing from all seven orifices. He looked utterly horrific, yet he had pushed himself to the absolute limit!
Cross beyond that limit in this instant!
"..."
It was as if all sound had vanished. The entire audience fell silent before that strike which surpassed all limits.
"Crack, crack~"
At that moment, the sound of a blade shattering was especially clear. Toudo Touka's Narukami broke apart, and she collapsed as all strength left her...
In contrast, Ikki was covered in blood, with a deep sword wound still carved across his chest... but he was undeniably still standing! He was the one who remained standing in the end!
"The match is over!"
At last, the Announcer's impassioned voice rang out, followed immediately by thunderous cheers that shook the arena.
The winner, Kurogane Ikki!
Hei Nai had appeared on the field at once. Her Time Element dual pistols maintained Ikki's condition as they waited for the medical staff to come onstage.
In the stands, Stella, Shizuku, and the others also rushed onto the field impatiently, but they did not dare act recklessly for fear of causing Ikki further injury.
"So this is 'One-Hit Rakshasa'? What an amazing move~ Learned something, learned something. It's just a little too life-draining."
White Night leaned against the railing and did not rush in to interfere. After all, Bronya had already gone over.
"H-how is that possible?!"
Not far away, Akaza even dropped his cane. "D-did Toudo Touka go easy on him?"
"Tsk tsk, have you already started running from reality?" White Night flashed over to Akaza's side in a few quick movements.
He casually sat down in a seat, his tone faintly mocking. "Looks like you lost your bet, ugly~"
"I told you long ago that you were begging for a beating. But since you're practically done for anyway, I won't lay a hand on you this time."
"Hey, I'll leave the Kingdom of Vermillion to you. Such a huge matter has been exposed, so someone has to take the blame. Though with that little body of yours, you might not be able to carry it~"
The Final Spots Are Decided
On the competition grounds, under Bronya's guidance, Shizuku was administering emergency treatment to Ikki's injuries. There was no helping it—Bronya was not a Water Mage, after all.
Though she could not compare to Yakushi Kiriko, the methods she displayed could still be called miraculous.
"God of Combat, it appears I've won this time."
On the other side, after dealing with Akaza, White Night turned back to collect his prize from Nangong Torajiro.
"Hehe, so what does the young man wish to obtain from me?"
"If you do not mind, White Night would like to ask for some guidance." White Night clasped his hands and bowed to Nangong Torajiro.
"Hm???"
Those words made Ning Yin rather unhappy. "Hey, hey, hey, Xiao Bai, did I do something wrong? Why are you running off to train with that stinky old man?!"
"Alright, alright, I definitely have my reasons." As he spoke, White Night took the opportunity to rub Ning Yin's head.
Then, he leaped down from the stands. Ning Yin's indignant voice came from behind him:
"Ah!!! You hateful Xiao Bai!"
But it did not matter. At worst, he would die one more time. For him, that was already a profit.
"What a shame, I didn't record it..."
Even as he fell, White Night still had time to sigh. As for now? Heh~ He was about to do something big!
"Are you ready?"
Hei Nai gave White Night an indifferent glance. Naturally, an event of this magnitude had received her approval.
White Night nodded lightly at her, then shifted his gaze to Bronya. "Bronya!"
"Mm."
With perfect understanding, Bronya tossed him a microphone, which White Night caught in his hand. First, he cleared his throat. "Ahem, ahem, testing the sound now."
"Hello, hello, can everyone hear me?"
"White Night, what are you planning to do again?" Ikki's injuries had more or less been temporarily stabilized, so there was no urgent need to carry him away.
This time, however, White Night ignored him and continued his speech.
"Let me ask everyone present: don't you feel unwilling to accept this?"
"Some of you clearly have the strength to enter the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival, perhaps even achieve a top ranking."
"Yet merely because of luck, because of the matchmaking system, you missed that opportunity. Are you truly willing to accept that?"
Could it be...
After a brief murmur of discussion both on and off the stage, some people had already guessed it.
"That's right!"
White Night's impassioned voice overwhelmed all others. "Here, I announce the Loser's Comeback Match! The capable rise, the weak fall, and the strongest six will be determined entirely by strength."
"So, everyone, are you satisfied with this proposal? Give it everything you have. Even if you lose, you should accept it wholeheartedly."
"Let me make this clear first: the Chairwoman has already agreed." White Night handed the microphone to Chairwoman Kurogane.
At the same time, the audience erupted:
"I think that makes sense."
"That's right, the strongest are the ones everyone can accept!"
"That really is the truth."
"..."
Hei Nai took the microphone and looked at the students' reactions. It seemed there was no longer any need to say more. "Then, we'll set the date for three days from now."
"Those who consider themselves strong enough may begin preparing now. The Loser's Comeback Match is your final opportunity."
As for what happened afterward, there was not much to say. Akaza undoubtedly had terrible luck.
Was a princess of a nation someone he could afford to provoke? As expected, he was handed over to the Kingdom of Vermillion. What happened after that... had nothing to do with White Night and the others.
As for the comeback match...
"Say, were we too low-key before? Why has someone been coming to challenge us every other day lately?"
After finishing a match, White Night had not sweated much, but he still took a quick shower. Dressed in casual home clothes, he sat leisurely on the sofa.
"Perhaps there hasn't been a benchmark."
Inside the bathroom, a pale little hand turned off the shower. Bronya's silver-white hair, soaked through, rested over her shoulders, while her alluring figure was hidden within the steaming mist.
Bronya lightly brushed aside her long hair, exposing her fair neck. "After all, those previous opponents were basically unknown. Losing was simply losing."
"Tsk, so that's how it is..."
White Night relaxed and leaned back into the sofa, almost sinking entirely into it. "That's why Ikki and Stella haven't had any trouble. Everyone recognizes them as strong."
"Not only that..."
In the bathroom, Bronya tested the water temperature before lowering her flawless feet into the bath. Only ripples stirred faintly across the surface. "Toudo Touka is the same."
"After all, that was 'Raikiri.'"
Little by little, her entire body sank into the water until it reached her collarbones. Bronya looked down as two full breasts floated faintly upon the water's surface.
Bronya did not care about that. After all these years, she had more or less gotten used to it. But she could not tell whether it was merely an illusion.
Emmm...
Her delicate hands gently supported them beneath the water. A few traces of distress seemed to enter her calm tone. "It seems like... they got bigger again?"
"Bronya?"
"Does White Night need something?"
"Ah, it's nothing. You suddenly stopped talking, so I just wanted to call out to you a few times."
( ? ? ? )
"...White Night."
"Alright, alright, don't be angry, don't be angry."
White Night hurriedly begged forgiveness, though his face showed no remorse whatsoever. "By the way, Bronya, who do you think will make it through in the end?"
"Look, we occupy two spots. Ikki and Stella each take one, and Touka takes another."
White Night counted on his fingers, the smile on his face growing increasingly brazen. "That makes five. So the final spot..."
"Arisugawa Nagi?"
"That's right."
White Night nodded, already looking forward to it. "We all know that guy is an undercover agent, so he's definitely going to take one of the qualifying spots. But if he wants to accomplish his goal..."
—Kurogane Shizuku!
"Shizuku wants to compete alongside Ikki, so she'll definitely challenge him in the comeback match. Emmm... probably?"
But after thinking it over, White Night was no longer quite so certain. Still, it did not matter much. "Even if Shizuku truly gives up challenging him because of friendship..."
"Arisugawa won't have it easy either."
Bronya smoothly picked up where he left off. "After all, he's an undercover agent to begin with. His conscience will condemn him."
"He's the 'Shadow Killer,' you know~"
"He's still human. As long as someone is human, they have a heart. In the original course of events, didn't he defect to this side?"
"...Probably?"
White Night did not argue. After all, he only found the matter amusing. It held no special meaning for him.
The final comeback match unfolded exactly as the two had expected: Shizuku still gave up.
Though it was only for an instant, White Night still noticed it... a momentary, indescribable expression appeared on Arisugawa's face.
"It seems that the cold-blooded 'Shadow Killer' has ultimately developed human emotions of his own."
Seeking Guidance
After the selection matches, the Loser's Comeback Match, and the many incidents mixed in between, the final six student representatives were finally chosen.
Before you continue