Previously, busy dealing with Shinomiya Amane's situation, White Night had forgotten about this—Stella arrived at the arena, defeated four opponents alone, and made a high-profile declaration of her return.
Because of that, some contestants in Zone B forfeited, and Stella's number of matches was abruptly reduced.
Pulling the key details from his cluttered memories, White Night could not help glancing sideways at Stella.
"White Night, why are you looking at me?"
"Your senses have gotten quite a bit sharper."
White Night merely smiled calmly. He looked at Gagami. "It's troublesome to explain. Gagami, leave this part to the professional."
"Understood!"
Gagami had a lively disposition. Pushing up her round-framed glasses, she began explaining to everyone:
"Because the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival is a festival for students, commercial activities cannot be conducted openly. But the battles between Blade Dancers, venue rental fees, repairs for damaged facilities..."
"No matter what, it costs a great deal of money. Normally, the organizers would... (omitted)"
"But this year is different."
—As a hugely popular contender, Stella had drawn massive investments from the organizers and sponsors. But now that her matches had been cut, the returns would be lower!
"Exactly, which is why the schedule was shortened."
White Night snapped his fingers and summed it all up. "As long as the schedule is shortened, the originally planned finals day becomes free, and an exhibition match can be added separately."
"Stella, you understand, right? This so-called exhibition match was prepared specifically for you."
"..."
Silence fell.
It was precisely because she understood that Stella could not say anything. Two matches a day would be far too disadvantageous for Ikki—his ultimate had a cooldown.
"I'll leave things here to you."
At that moment, White Night patted Ikki on the shoulder, bent down slightly, and lowered his voice.
Immediately afterward, Bronya also excused herself from the group and followed him out of the venue.
"Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai, I heard you really managed to win over that Winged Sword?"
On the way back, a petite figure pounced on him, openly hanging from White Night's body without the slightest hesitation.
"Ning Yin, long time no see."
White Night did not even need to turn around. He patted the pair of small hands around his neck and teased her like an old friend. "Also, this time, you're the only one left who's single..."
Crack—
A burst of gravity pressed down, shattering the road beneath White Night's feet. Ning Yin seemed to radiate black miasma, while a pair of black demonic horns flickered in and out of sight upon her forehead. "Xiao~ Bai~ Did you just say something?"
"Cough, cough. Speaking of which, where is the Chairman?" White Night gave two dry coughs, then redirected the topic to Hei Nai.
"You mean Xiao Hei..."
Ning Yin unconsciously raised her head and looked toward the arena.
"...All right, I think I roughly understand."
There had been quite a few major incidents in today's matches, even if some had been restrained. As a Time Element user, Hei Nai's task must have been exhausting~
"The Chairman really has it hard."
White Night sighed, then rolled his shoulders. "You should get down now, Ning Yin. It wouldn't be good if someone saw us."
"Isn't it just some gossip? I'm already used to it. What, could it be that Xiao Bai is scared?"
"What do you think?"
White Night tilted his head slightly, only to suddenly realize they were far too close. He could practically feel her breath. So he quietly turned back again. "Although Xiao Ai has quite a good temper, still..."
Clang—
At that, White Night drew out his words, then formed a hand blade with his right palm and swung it. With a sharp gust of wind, he said, "Winged Sword warning. You understand."
Emmm...
For a moment, Ning Yin stiffened.
She said nothing and silently climbed down from White Night's shoulder. "I have to admit, Xiao Bai, you really are bold."
"Hehe, you've just been misled by the so-called rumors. Xiao Ai is actually a very adorable girl. As for being bold..."
White Night paused, then smilingly shifted his gaze to Ning Yin. "This is nothing yet~"
Clang—!
Ning Yin drew her Spirit Armor, Crimson Phoenix, and collided with White Night's Myriad Phenomena, scattering crimson sparks as the two remained locked in a stalemate. "Looks like Xiao Bai hasn't regressed either..."
"Let's talk about this again once Xiao Bai manages to beat me."
Putting force into her slender arm, Ning Yin abruptly knocked White Night away. "Speaking of which..."
"You don't even avoid Xiao Niya when discussing this sort of thing, emmm... Xiao Bai, you two aren't having an affair, are you?" Ning Yin glanced at Bronya, uncertainty in her voice.
"That depends on how you see it, Ning Yin~"
White Night did not answer directly, instead leaving Ning Yin room for her imagination.
"Well then, Teacher Ning Yin, we'll be leaving first." Bronya also greeted Ning Yin before departing together with White Night.
After that, the Sword Martial Festival continued in full swing. Bronya and Stella soon emerged from Zones A and B.
As for Zone C, Ikki also successfully defeated Sara and Shinomiya Amane.
Sara's "Fantastic Caricature" had once drawn the image of the Winged Sword, suppressing Ikki so thoroughly that he could not even rise. Yet in the end, Ikki still surpassed himself and won that match.
Then came Amane.
The moment the match began, he exposed himself, explaining the true nature of his Blade Dancer ability and bestowing a "blessing" upon Ikki. That had been Amane's plan from the start.
However... perhaps because White Night had given him a lesson and also offered him genuine affirmation, he did not go too far this time. In the end, they still fought a match.
Unsurprisingly, Shinomiya Amane lost. Moreover, he seemed to understand what White Night had said back then:
—Perhaps someone truly can grant you salvation, but that person is destined not to be me.
The one who could grant him salvation... was Kurogane Ikki. Giving Ikki a deep look, Shinomiya Amane fell.
At this point, only the final Group D match remained—Kurogane Ouya VS White Night!
"First to enter is contestant White Night, the 'White Lightning' of the 'Twin Fangs of Lightning,' alongside contestant Bronya!!!"
"In every match so far, contestant White Night has claimed victory in a single stroke with overwhelming lightning!"
"Even after multiple matches, everything about contestant White Night still seems shrouded in mist."
"But with contestant Bronya setting the precedent, it is clear that contestant White Night cannot be ordinary. So, will he reveal his true strength in this match?!"
Amid thunderous cheers, an actual clap of thunder suddenly resounded, and a streak of blazing white lightning descended upon the arena.
White Night wore a clean, capable outfit... a white T-shirt, fitted black trousers, and a black outer robe. He looked thoroughly energized.
"And next, contestant Kurogane Ouya!!!"
"Having crushed his way through every opponent, contestant Kurogane Ouya undoubtedly possesses absolute strength!"
"But this time, facing the unfathomable contestant White Night, can contestant Kurogane Ouya continue his winning streak?!"
Dressed in a black kimono, its long hem swaying with every step, Kurogane Ouya slowly approached.
(I read the original work, and there is plenty to write about regarding Kurogane Ouya's introduction, but I decided against it. That stuff would only pad the word count, so I'll skip it.)
You Did It, Ouya
As the signal marking the start of the match sounded, Ouya made the first move. With howling winds accompanying him, an Ōdachi appeared in his hand. "Enough small talk. Let's begin."
"What intense killing intent..." Even so, White Night remained utterly calm.
A Tang Saber fell into his palm, and White Night casually spun a Sword Flower. "Want to compare?"
Boom—!!!
Intangible killing intent ran rampant, even overwhelming Ouya's side. It was even greater than during Bronya's match! Not only the spectators, but even the commentators silently shut their mouths.
This match no longer needed any commentary.
"Hahaha, so that's how it is..."
Ouya's entire body trembled with excitement. Faced with such immense killing intent, Ouya finally found the desire to converse. "It seems this match will be more interesting than I imagined."
"That's right. Neither of us is interested in the championship anyway, are we? Why not settle things here?"
"Just what I wanted!"
"..."
After that brief exchange, Ouya and White Night fell silent. Violent Magic Power surged, while storm winds and lightning intertwined.
The arena was already struggling to withstand even their clash of auras, cracking apart.
Clang—
The Ōdachi, Dragon Claw, tore through the atmosphere, forming an invisible vacuum blade that shot toward White Night at tremendous speed.
Immediately afterward, a towering storm that nearly blew the roof off the venue was gathered by Ouya and compressed onto the blade.
Of course, he knew perfectly well that though the vacuum blade was sharp, it posed no real threat to White Night.
That had merely been a greeting. His true opening move was this—Moon Severing Sky Dragon Claw!
The air trembled, the earth shook, and a hurricane sword that devoured all things appeared, slashing viciously down at White Night.
"A beam clash? Very well, I'll indulge you."
On the other side, White Night split the incoming vacuum blade apart with one swing. He had done it completely casually; it did not even count as a warm-up.
Facing the descending sword of wind, White Night responded as well—blazing white lightning flickered and gathered upon Myriad Phenomena's blade. "What should I call this move?"
"Forget it, whatever~"
He thought about it briefly, but gave up because it was too troublesome. White Night swung his blade upward, and blazing white lightning formed a beam cannon that met it head-on. "Myriad Phenomena, drive it back for me!"
Boom—!!!
A heaven-shaking roar erupted. Storm and lightning intertwined, grinding against one another and creating a blast wave that swept toward the stands.
"That was a little excessive."
From her seat, Bronya spoke flatly and stretched out a hand toward the arena... With Heavy Rabbit's assistance, an invisible magnetic field spread out and suppressed the battle's aftermath.
And that was only the aftermath!
Under White Night and Ouya's deliberate guidance, an immensely terrifying beam of Magic Power shot into the sky, scattering even the clouds overhead.
Sure enough...
At the instant of collision, Ouya already knew... Moon Severing Sky Dragon Claw could not hurt his opponent. Therefore, in the very next moment, he swiftly pursued White Night.
Clang—!
A Tang Saber blocked his path.
Clearly, with White Night's extensive combat experience, he naturally stopped Ouya's downward slash. "Not bad. Your timing was spot-on."
White Night slightly twisted his blade. Sparks sprayed as he slid along Ouya's Ōdachi, grinding his way forward with a slash.
Clang—
With a soft ring, the blade missed.
Ouya leaned backward, avoiding the strike. What followed was his counterattack... Holding his blade in his right hand, Ouya freed his left, clenched it into a fist, and heavily struck the spine of Dragon Claw.
—Asahi Ittō Style: Ultimate Hardness: Fire Lightning!
It was not simply brute force, but a special technique for exerting power. Dragon Claw carried the force of a raging gale as it viciously slashed down at White Night.
Before you continue