Surprising Strength

Within the dazzling red light, the pitch-black Activation Device activated.

A pure-white blade condensed entirely from heat extended from the Activation Device, emitting a steady hum.

"Is that the Black Furnace Magic Sword?"

Including Yulis, many of the students watching the match could not help staring at the Pure Star Radiant Armament in Azer's hand.

But immediately afterward, they noticed the weapon Yakutdi had taken out, and all froze in place.

"A gun?"

"Doesn't Yakutdi Van Ken use a sword?"

"He actually changed weapons?"

That was right.

At this moment, Yakutdi had taken out his own weapon as well—a gun.

Its barrel was not particularly long, but its body was somewhat large. It resembled a submachine gun, though it had a stronger mechanical, technological feel than an ordinary one. At a glance, it was clearly a Huang-style Armament firearm.

Some were surprised to see Yakutdi pull out a gun, while others suddenly understood.

"He came pretty well prepared."

That was Yulis's assessment.

Even Azer, who had already activated the Black Furnace Magic Sword, thought the same.

"I see. You prepared this specifically for this duel?"

Azer narrowed his eyes.

According to the information he had looked up, Yakutdi had always used a sword-type Pure Star Radiant Armament and specialized in close combat rather than ranged attacks.

Yet in this duel, he had abandoned his usual sword-type Huang-style Armament in favor of a firearm-type Huang-style Armament. It was obvious that he had prepared it specifically to deal with Azer.

"The Four-Colored Magic Swords are indeed famous, but precisely because they're famous, their abilities aren't exactly secret."

"Especially the Black Furnace Magic Sword. As a Pure Star Radiant Armament managed by Seidoukan Academy, most people know what it can do."

"It can burn through anything. That ability is certainly troublesome. If I kept using a sword, I probably wouldn't even dare touch that magic sword."

Yakutdi seemed quite pleased by the astonished looks around him. With a curl of his lips, he spoke at an unhurried pace.

"But as long as I don't fight that magic sword at close range, I won't have to worry about my weapon being cut apart."

For that reason, Yakutdi had deliberately purchased this gun off campus.

"This is the latest G12 Model Light Shotgun. Its range is extremely long, and its rapid-fire performance is among the best of all firearm-type Huang-style Armaments available on the market."

As though he wanted to put psychological pressure on Azer, Yakutdi actually took the initiative to explain.

"With this, getting close to me won't be so easy, junior."

At that, Azer actually smiled faintly.

That half-smiling expression made Yakutdi somewhat displeased.

"Talk is pointless," Azer said. "Let's begin."

"Hmph." Yakutdi snorted coldly, unwilling to be outdone. "Then let's begin."

At once, both men stretched out their hands and pressed them against the school badges worn over their right chests.

The badges were engraved with a crimson lotus.

Red Lotus—the symbol of Seidoukan Academy.

Within this academy, and even throughout all of Asterisk, a student's school badge was an extremely important item.

It served as a student's identification. Whether it was the security system or attendance checks in class, authentication had to be carried out through it. At the same time, it was also a crucial indicator of victory or defeat in duels.

For every duel held within Asterisk, whether it was a private duel or a world-class competition like the Star Martial Festival, the final judgment of victory and defeat was based on the state of the school badges.

As long as one destroyed the opponent's school badge, one could win the duel.

Damage to the school badge was the standard by which victory and defeat were decided.

Therefore, every school badge in Asterisk had undergone hardening treatment and contained information-processing functions capable of judging duels.

In other words, the school badge was the fairest and most impartial referee in a duel.

Everything from declaring the winner to managing the course of the duel was handled by the badge's information-processing functions.

Thus, as Azer and Yakutdi's duel began, the school badges on their chests started glowing as though responding to the event, and emitted mechanical voices.

"Seidoukan Academy, Official Ranking Battle, Group Seven, Match Seven: Azer versus Yakutdi Van Ken."

"Duel—begin!"

As the badges made their announcement, windows bearing the names of both duelists suddenly appeared above the stage like illuminated signs. They spun as they sprang open to either side, then slammed fiercely together.

"Ding!"

The instant the loud signal rang out, Yakutdi kicked off the ground and rapidly retreated.

"Bang bang bang bang bang...!"

The next moment, Yakutdi opened fire.

The G12 Model Light Shotgun in his hand began gathering a vast amount of Omni-Response Element. Its green Omni-Response Ore reacted swiftly, condensing the Omni-Response Element into bullets of light that shot toward Azer one after another.

Because the bullets were formed from Omni-Response Element, the user neither needed to reload nor had to consider air resistance, wind direction, and other such factors. The Light Bullets formed a rain of fire, traveling at speeds that completely surpassed the speed of sound as they poured toward Azer.

Their power also seemed to exceed that of ordinary bullets.

That was the advantage of Huang-style Armaments.

Facing the roaring barrage, Azer realized that he could actually see the trajectories of the bullets clearly.

A hail of bullets that ordinary people could not even react to was something Azer could now withstand with his body—or evade with it.

Immediately, Azer concentrated his Star Power. Like a gust of wind, he darted to the side, letting the barrage strike the spot where he had been standing moments earlier.

He forcefully stomped the ground while keeping his body as low as possible. Azer burst forth with astonishing speed, charging and turning as though ignoring inertia itself. He dodged the bullets while racing toward Yakutdi.

"...!"

Yakutdi's expression changed slightly at the sight, and he immediately continued widening the distance.

The people in the audience also cried out in surprise.

"That speed... not bad!"

"I thought he was just a lucky guy who could only rely on a Pure Star Radiant Armament. Who knew he had physical abilities at this level?"

"He hid it well. That speed isn't something an unranked person should be capable of unleashing, is it?"

"With that speed alone, he's no inferior to those ranked around thirtieth to fortieth."

Amid everyone's exclamations, Azer raced at high speed while dragging the pure-white Black Furnace Magic Sword behind him, leaving a trail of steam formed from heat along his path.

"Bang bang bang bang bang...!"

Yakutdi did not dare let Azer get close. He could only keep pulling away while squeezing the trigger and firing, unleashing a great number of bullets to track Azer's movements.

As the distance between them closed, Azer could no longer easily dodge the incoming barrage.

But when the rain of bullets enveloped him, the hand holding his sword moved naturally.

"Clang!"

The Black Furnace Magic Sword flashed, knocking away the first bullet to arrive.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"...

The countless bullets pouring toward him were deflected one after another by the pure-white blade at astonishing speed and angles. Some were even cut in half, reverting to Omni-Response Element and vanishing on the spot.

Azer continued charging at astonishing speed. This time, he no longer dodged the bullets. Instead, the Black Furnace Magic Sword erupted into a lightning-fast sword dance, cutting away every incoming bullet.

Under such circumstances, Azer rapidly closed in on the retreating Yakutdi, making Yakutdi's pupils contract sharply.

"How is this possible...!?"

He seemed unable to believe that Azer possessed such strength.

"What sharp swordsmanship!"

It was not only Yakutdi. The expressions of many people present changed.

If Azer's physical abilities had merely surprised them before, making them sigh over how deeply he had hidden his strength, then what Azer displayed now truly shocked them.

The speed of those slashes and their precision were not something ordinary people could possess. Even among Page One's Twelve, quite a few lacked skill at this level!

"Hum!"

Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Azer swung the Black Furnace Magic Sword in his hand, and it hummed.

"Clang!"

The final bullet was casually cut away. Azer closed in on Yakutdi, reducing the last remaining distance between them to zero.

"Damn...!"

Yakutdi let out an irritated sound and hurriedly tried to evade.

But by then, Azer's Black Furnace Magic Sword had already come down.

"Sshk!"

With a sound like high heat melting through steel, the Black Furnace Magic Sword, descending at lightning speed, cut apart the gun in Yakutdi's hand.

Then, the pure-white magic sword tore through the air and slashed at Yakutdi's school badge.