Ranked First, Here I Come

The Comprehensive Arena, the grandest stage.

By now, the audience had mostly taken their seats.

"Is this the third Official Ranking Battle of the year?"

"It's already been three months since the school year began. Next month, the most exciting event won't be our academy's Official Ranking Battles, but the Star Martial Festival, right?"

"Come to think of it, this season's Star Martial Festival is finally about to begin."

"The Phoenix Star Martial Festival is up first. I wonder who from our academy signed up for it."

"I heard the Magnificent Flame Witch, ranked fifth, signed up for the Phoenix Star Martial Festival."

"What? That Princess actually entered?"

"Who's her partner?"

"No idea. Apparently, it's some unknown nobody outside the rankings..."

"Let's watch the ranking battle first. This one has a major event."

"Yeah. I can't believe the Surging Star Magic Sword challenged the Gale Blade Lightning by name. He's got some nerve."

"Even the Dusk Deep Witch, who was ranked tenth last time, lost easily to the Gale Blade Lightning. Can someone ranked thirteenth, who isn't even one of Page One's Twelve, really beat the person ranked first?"

"Didn't they say the Surging Star Magic Sword's strength was no weaker than Page One's Twelve? Let's just wait and see!"

"Heh. Let's hope the Surging Star Magic Sword doesn't lose too badly..."

The spectators chatted animatedly, and the center of their discussion was undoubtedly the main event of this Official Ranking Battle: the duel between Azer and Toudou Kirin.

Like last time, there were only two duels involving members of Page One's Twelve in this Official Ranking Battle. Unlike last time, however, both were named challenges issued by ranked contestants against opponents at the level of Page One's Twelve.

Of the two, Azer's named challenge against Toudou Kirin was unquestionably the finale.

The other match was merely the fifteenth-ranked contestant challenging the twelfth-ranked contestant.

One was the thirteenth-ranked contestant, whom most believed possessed strength comparable to Page One's Twelve, challenging the person ranked first. The other was simply the fifteenth-ranked contestant challenging the twelfth-ranked contestant. No matter how one looked at it, Azer versus Toudou Kirin was the main event and grand finale.

Thus, their duel had been scheduled as the final match of the Official Ranking Battle. It would only begin after every other duel had concluded.

"Honestly, weren't those two a little too sudden?"

Yulis had come to watch this time as well. Seated in the VIP front-row section with her arms crossed, she looked to be in a foul mood.

"Yeah." Amagiri Ayato had come as well and was seated beside Yulis. With a wry smile, he said, "Even now, I can hardly believe that person would challenge Toudou by name."

Not long ago, the four of them had gone out together and enjoyed a pleasant meal, and the atmosphere between them had seemed quite good all along.

That was why Amagiri Ayato had been genuinely shocked. He had never expected Azer to suddenly challenge Toudou Kirin by name.

"There seems to be some other reason behind this." Claudia sat on Yulis's other side. Hearing Amagiri Ayato's words, she smiled. "But regardless, the duel between those two will definitely take place. All we can do is watch."

As she spoke, Claudia suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, I heard the two of you decided to form a team and enter the Phoenix Star Martial Festival together. Isn't that the truly unexpected development?"

At that, Amagiri Ayato smiled somewhat self-consciously. Yulis, on the other hand, looked a little unnatural.

"...A lot happened on our side too, and before we knew it, things just turned out this way."

With a faint blush on her lovely face, Yulis offered what may or may not have been an explanation.

Quite a few things had indeed happened to Amagiri Ayato and Yulis over the past two weeks.

In truth, the person who had ambushed Yulis before had completely set their sights on her. They had continued attacking her during this time, causing Yulis no small amount of trouble.

Amagiri Ayato had accidentally become involved in those incidents, and after a series of developments, he had helped Yulis drive off her attacker.

The two had thus resolved all their previous grievances and had even opened their hearts to each other.

So, they had decided to form a team and participate in the upcoming Phoenix Star Martial Festival together.

"That's a good thing." As the Student Council President, Claudia naturally knew what Amagiri Ayato and Yulis had gone through recently. Covering her smile with her lips, she said, "I was worried Yulis wouldn't be able to find a partner. This child has never been very popular at the academy."

"Who asked you to say that?" Yulis snorted. "More importantly, shouldn't we be focusing on those two's duel right now?"

"That's true." Amagiri Ayato scratched his cheek. "I honestly don't know who I should root for. It feels so complicated."

"Hehe." Claudia did not seem worried in the slightest and still wore a smiling expression. "Like I said, all we can do is watch."

"Let's watch from here and see how things turn out."

Hearing that, Yulis and Amagiri Ayato looked at each other and had no choice but to temporarily suppress their complicated feelings.

"Who do you think will win?"

Yulis began to focus on that question.

"I don't know." Claudia shook her head. "Logically speaking, Toudou has better odds of winning."

"Yeah." Amagiri Ayato nodded in agreement. "I've watched videos of Toudou's duels. Honestly, that girl's swordsmanship really shocked me. She's absurdly strong."

Amagiri Ayato himself used a sword. He was a genuine swordsman.

As for how strong he was, there was no need to elaborate further. All he lacked was a stage upon which he could display his strength.

Yet after watching footage of Toudou Kirin's duels, even he had felt inferior.

At the very least, when it came to swordsmanship, he admitted that he was no match for Toudou Kirin.

Considering that she was only thirteen years old, even someone as thick-nerved as Amagiri Ayato had felt a chill at the time.

However...

"I don't think Azer is the kind of person who can't see the gap between himself and his opponent. Since he challenged Toudou, that means he must believe he has at least a chance of winning, right?"

That was Amagiri Ayato's view.

"That person really does feel impossible to read." Yulis frowned. "But I simply can't imagine Kirin losing."

Claudia said nothing more. Instead, she reached out and touched the case at her waist.

"...You'll bring me a surprise, won't you?"

Seemingly thinking of something, Claudia revealed a delighted smile.

Under such circumstances, the Official Ranking Battle was announced to have begun.

As the Official Ranking Battle continued, those waiting in the contestant area took the stage one after another, gradually leaving the place emptier and emptier.

Just as he had last time, Azer leaned against a wall in the corner with his eyes closed, resting.

The contestants who were about to go onstage kept secretly glancing at him, unable to conceal the scrutiny or curiosity in their eyes.

Last time, Azer had merely been an unknown nobody here. No one had paid him any attention.

This time was different. He had already become one of the most watched stars of this Official Ranking Battle.

Unfortunately, Azer ignored them all. With his eyes closed, he contemplated matters in his heart.

He recalled the last time he had absorbed Omni-Response Ore some time ago.

At the time, with the assistance of the Black Furnace Magic Sword, he had absorbed all the Omni-Response Ore in the underground storage room in a single go.

Yes.

That mountain-like pile of Omni-Response Ore had now been completely absorbed by Azer.

However, the results could only be described as somewhat disappointing.

I clearly absorbed so much Omni-Response Ore, yet the increase in my power isn't nearly as obvious as before...

Azer pondered.

Is it because my current strength is no longer what it used to be, so it's harder to improve?

Or... has ordinary Omni-Response Ore stopped being enough for my needs, making it unable to have any noticeable effect anymore?

No matter which possibility it was, this development seemed to be telling Azer one thing.

His period of rapidly rising strength seemed to be nearing its end.

Still, this is enough.

Azer opened his eyes, which gleamed sharply.

Ranked First, here I come.

An immense surge of Star Power flashed across Azer's body and vanished in an instant, making even the air tremble.