Inscribed Sacrifice Book

In the dimly lit Underground Vault, vast amounts of Omni-Response Element formed a green stream of light that drifted endlessly about.

Holding the Black Furnace Magic Sword in its Activation Device state, Azer kept his eyes tightly shut as he bathed in the red glow released by the Omni-Response Crystal, looking particularly eerie.

The Omni-Response Element that formed the green stream of light slowly wandered around Azer's body amid the red light's pulses, gradually flowing into him.

Throughout the process, Azer could clearly feel his strength rising.

His physical abilities were improving, and the Star Power within him was steadily growing stronger, causing an intense aura he had never possessed before to radiate from him.

And around him, there was still an abundance of green Omni-Response Ore. It was foreseeable that this strengthening process would continue for quite some time.

Unless something unexpected happened...

"Hm?"

Azer suddenly frowned slightly and swiftly opened his eyes.

"Stop for now, Black Furnace."

He called off the Black Furnace Magic Sword, and it withdrew the radiance of the Omni-Response Crystal.

The green stream of light immediately vanished, allowing the Omni-Response Element to merge into the surrounding space like air.

Only then did Azer raise a hand and clench it loosely a few times.

"My strength is increasing too quickly. If this keeps going, I won't be able to control my body or Star Power."

That was exactly it.

The rapid increase in strength had caused Azer's control over both his Star Power and body to decline just as quickly. If he continued improving himself blindly, his body and Star Power might spiral out of control.

"I need to adapt properly before I can continue getting stronger."

Having realized this, Azer did not cling too much to the sensation of his rapidly growing strength and decisively gave up on continuing.

"Clang!"

The Black Furnace Magic Sword's Activation Device suddenly activated, forming a pure white blade.

Just as before, Azer poured Star Power into the Black Furnace Magic Sword. Black patterns floated up around the pure white blade and spiraled along it. Only after they sank into the red Omni-Response Crystal was the True Power of the Magic Sword unleashed, turning the pure white blade into the deepest black.

After sensing the consumption of his Star Power, a faint smile appeared on Azer's lips.

"With my current strength, even if I raise the Black Furnace Magic Sword's output to the maximum, I can maintain it for dozens of seconds."

Previously, if he raised the Black Furnace Magic Sword's output to its maximum, he could only sustain it for a few attacks.

Being able to maintain it for dozens of seconds now was already tremendous progress.

"Still, dozens of seconds is too short. There's no need to maintain such power all the time."

After thinking it over, Azer reduced the Star Power he was feeding into it and lowered the Black Furnace Magic Sword's output.

In an instant, the Black Furnace Magic Sword's pitch-black blade visibly faded, stopping only after it became a dark purplish-black.

"This is probably Black Furnace's power in its normal state, right?"

Looking at the Black Furnace Magic Sword's dark purplish-black blade, Azer muttered to himself.

After the Original Protagonist obtained the Black Furnace Magic Sword, it had possessed this same level of power and appearance. The only difference was that he could not control its size, so in the early stages, he could only wield the Black Furnace Magic Sword in the form of a greatsword, which severely limited its use.

Now, although Azer had adjusted the Black Furnace Magic Sword's output to the same level, he could fully control the magic sword. Thus, it remained the size of an ordinary sword rather than becoming a greatsword.

"Though it's only normal output, Black Furnace in this state still isn't something just anyone can block."

The Black Furnace Magic Sword was said to be capable of burning through all things. If it unleashed its true power, almost nothing would be able to withstand even a light slash from her.

Even at this normal output level, ordinary Huang-style Armaments would snap the moment they touched her. Only Pure Star Radiant Armaments of the same rank could block her slash.

"This is enough."

Azer nodded in satisfaction.

"With my current Star Power, I can probably use Black Furnace in this state continuously for over an hour."

That was a long time, more than enough to support Azer's normal use of the Black Furnace Magic Sword.

"With my current abilities, I should be able to enter the Inscribed Sacrifice Book, right?"

Azer thought so.

In Asterisk, every academy had a ranking system.

Though the detailed rules differed, every academy had a ranking list that clearly distinguished the students' strength.

Seidoukan Academy's ranking list was called the Inscribed Sacrifice Book. There were seventy-two slots on the list, and the seventy-two people listed were the academy's top seventy-two students. The top twelve, being recorded on the first page of the Inscribed Sacrifice Book, were also known as Page One's Twelve.

These rankings could only be earned through duels. As long as one defeated a ranked student, one could take that person's ranking and enter the Inscribed Sacrifice Book, or even become one of Page One's Twelve.

The original Azer's abilities at Seidoukan Academy had only been average. Forget ranking among the top seventy-two and entering the Inscribed Sacrifice Book, he had not even stood out among ordinary students.

After all, Seidoukan Academy's Senior High Department alone had several hundred students. Add in the Middle School Department and University Department, and there were even more students. Even with average abilities, Azer would have ranked beyond the top hundred, perhaps even among the two or three hundred range.

But now, judging solely by his physical abilities and the strength of his Star Power, Azer felt that he could already place among the top seventy-two and enter the Inscribed Sacrifice Book.

"If I add Black Furnace's power, then perhaps I could even challenge Page One's Twelve?"

At that thought, Azer grew eager to give it a try.

He wanted to test his current strength.

"Come to think of it, this month's Official Ranking Battle should be coming up soon, right?"

Azer recalled this matter.

In Asterisk, anyone could engage in a fair duel, even on campus.

Under normal circumstances, however, a duel was only valid if both sides agreed to it. If either party refused, the duel would not take place.

Because of this, students who had worked hard to enter the Inscribed Sacrifice Book and gain a ranking would generally not readily agree to duel others.

After all, if they lost, their ranking would be taken away.

At Seidoukan Academy, entering the Inscribed Sacrifice Book came with many privileges. Page One's Twelve in particular possessed considerable status and privileges. They could even apply to borrow Pure Star Radiant Armaments at any time, and such applications would be approved as quickly as possible, unlike ordinary students' applications, which faced strict review.

Therefore, the ranked students treasured their positions greatly and would not easily agree to duel others.

However, to prevent students from becoming complacent and avoiding battles just to protect their rankings after rising in rank, the academy organized a ranking battle every month.

In these monthly ranking battles, lower-ranked students could designate challenges against students ranked above them, and the challenged party could not refuse.

These ranking battles were the Official Ranking Battles Azer had mentioned.

"Let me see..."

Azer raised his hand and opened the spatial window projected from the phone in his pocket, browsing information on the Official Ranking Battle.

He quickly confirmed that this month's Official Ranking Battle would be held three days later.

Starting one day before the Official Ranking Battle, all students could register online and designate the person they wished to challenge.

"Isn't that convenient?"

Azer immediately smiled.

With three days, he could properly adapt to his current strength and should be able to make the Official Ranking Battle in time.

"Then... who should I challenge?"

Azer opened the Inscribed Sacrifice Book and browsed the names on it.

Challenges could not be designated without restriction.

According to the rules, students participating in the Official Ranking Battle were divided into three tiers.

The first tier consisted of Page One's Twelve.

The second tier consisted of students ranked in the Inscribed Sacrifice Book.

The third tier consisted of those outside the Inscribed Sacrifice Book.

During the Official Ranking Battle, students could challenge opponents at most one tier above themselves.

In other words, because Azer was currently unranked and belonged to the third tier, the highest he could challenge was a ranked student below Page One's Twelve.

In that case...

"Let's go all out, then!"

Azer turned his gaze toward the first name on the second page of the Inscribed Sacrifice Book.

Then, he reached out and tapped the challenge button...