Championship Contender Team

Comprehensive Arena, waiting room.

After the duel ended, Azer was once again arranged to rest here.

Only, this time, Azer was no longer the only one present.

"You really did something incredible."

Leaning against the wall, Yulis looked at Azer sitting in a chair and spoke with a complicated expression, though it was unclear what she was feeling.

"Yeah, I'm still a little surprised myself."

Amagiri Ayato was still standing beside Yulis, speaking with a smile.

Besides the two of them, Claudia was also present. She seemed to be in a very good mood as she browsed several windows unfolded before her and spoke with a smile.

"Just as expected, word that Azer invited Toudou to form a pair and enter the Phoenix Star Martial Festival has already spread all over the internet."

As she spoke, Claudia waved a hand, and the windows smoothly shifted before Azer and the others, allowing them to see their contents.

The reports covered Azer's recent defeat of Toudou Kirin and his rise as Seidoukan Academy's new Ranked First. But an even bigger piece of news was undoubtedly that the two who had just finished their duel would form a team to participate in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival.

"It spread that quickly?"

Seeing this, Amagiri Ayato seemed somewhat surprised again.

"Of course it did." Yulis looked as though she had expected it. "Seidoukan Academy's former and current Ranked First are about to form a pair for the Phoenix Star Martial Festival. That's absolutely the hottest possible topic."

The Star Martial Festival itself was a world-class competitive event beloved across the globe. Any topic involving it naturally drew a certain level of attention.

And a school's Ranked First was itself one of the hottest topics that many people paid the closest attention to.

Now, Seidoukan Academy's former and current Ranked First were preparing to team up for the Phoenix Star Martial Festival. How could that possibly not set off an explosion of discussion and interest?

In fact, if the group had not left the stage immediately after the duel ended, Azer would likely have been surrounded by the academy's journalism clubs by now, unable even to get away.

"This pairing of yours will probably weigh heavily on the minds of every Phoenix Star Martial Festival participant, won't it?"

Claudia maintained her smiling expression throughout.

"Ranked First is originally the strongest person in an academy. Even at the Star Martial Festival, where the Six Academies gather their strongest, each academy's Ranked First is unquestionably a seeded contestant, a Championship Contender receiving the most attention and possessing the greatest chance of winning."

"In past Star Martial Festivals, whether it was the two-person Phoenix Star Martial Festival, the five-person Gryphon Star Martial Festival, or the individual King Dragon Star Martial Festival, whenever an academy's Ranked First appeared, their support ratings were always the highest."

"And now, our academy's former and current Ranked First have formed a pair for the Phoenix Star Martial Festival. It is easy enough to imagine just how great a sensation the two of you will cause, how much support and popularity you will receive, and how many people will fear you."

Claudia then turned toward Yulis and Amagiri Ayato, covering her mouth as she laughed as though fanning the flames.

"As actual Phoenix Star Martial Festival participants, what do you two think?"

At those words, Yulis shot Claudia a glare.

Yet Azer still keenly noticed a trace of deeply concealed gravity in Yulis's eyes.

Amagiri Ayato even admitted candidly, "Toudou is already very strong. Not only was she formerly Ranked First, she is also the head family of the Toudou Style. She has even mastered the Toudou Style's ultimate technique, Rengeki. To be honest, facing such a powerful opponent would weigh on my mind too."

It was not as though he believed he would certainly lose, but Amagiri Ayato had to admit that, in terms of swordsmanship alone, he was no match for Toudou Kirin.

Even if he could fight at full strength, his odds against Toudou Kirin were probably only around fifty percent.

And that was an extremely optimistic estimate.

After all, Amagiri Ayato understood his own condition very well. His power was highly unstable. If he could not win within a limited time, he would absolutely be no match for Toudou Kirin, even if he had obtained that Pure Star Radiant Armament.

And without that Pure Star Radiant Armament, in his current state, if he faced Toudou Kirin, he likely would not even have a thirty percent chance of victory.

Then...

"To think that such a person's partner is the new Ranked First who defeated her fair and square in a duel... That truly is the nightmare of everyone about to participate in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival."

Yulis admitted it somewhat unwillingly.

That alone showed just how huge the news of Azer and Toudou Kirin forming a pair to enter the Phoenix Star Martial Festival really was.

The journalism club could not possibly let such major news slip by. Once it was confirmed, even the betting houses would likely make substantial adjustments to their odds.

"With the two of you forming a team, the group most likely to win this Phoenix Star Martial Festival will fall to you." Claudia smiled, cutting straight to the point. "As Seidoukan Academy's Student Council President, I am sincerely delighted by this development. I hope you two can win the championship without issue."

"If that happens, Seidoukan's overall results this season should at least not look quite so miserable."

Hearing Claudia's words, Azer, who had already finished browsing the online news, closed the windows before him and smiled.

"Let's hope it really goes that smoothly."

Azer's extremely simple remark made Yulis mutter unhappily beside him.

"It won't go that smoothly. We won't lose so easily." Yulis turned to Amagiri Ayato and said irritably, "You say something too. You always look like you have no desires or ambitions. Anyone who didn't know better would think you didn't care whether you won the championship."

"Well..." Amagiri Ayato really did wear an indifferent expression. "I don't particularly care myself, but since I've already decided to help you win, I naturally can't surrender so easily."

As he said this, Amagiri Ayato pressed a hand against the sheath at his waist and turned to Azer.

"Besides, this guy seems pretty eager to fight you and the Black Furnace Magic Sword. If I fought halfheartedly, it would probably be very unhappy."

The moment his words fell, a vibration came from the sheath at Amagiri Ayato's waist.

"Bzz!"

At once, the sheath at Azer's waist began to vibrate as well. The pitch-black Activation Device within reacted especially fiercely, as though it had finally noticed something.

Under those circumstances, Omni-Response Element began gathering around Azer and Amagiri Ayato, making everyone's expressions change slightly.

However, before anyone could react, Azer spoke calmly.

"Calm down, Black Furnace."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pitch-black Activation Device in the sheath at Azer's waist immediately stopped vibrating.

This sight left even Amagiri Ayato, who was trying to hold down the sheath at his waist, stunned.

"It seems you and your magic sword get along quite well." Amagiri Ayato said, perhaps somewhat enviously, "Mine doesn't listen to me much at all."

Azer did not respond. Instead, he looked at the sheath at Amagiri Ayato's waist and thought silently, Judging from this, Amagiri Ayato really did obtain another magic sword, didn't he?

Because he had been focused on preparing for the Official Ranking Battle lately, Azer had not paid much attention to news about Amagiri Ayato. As a result, he had not seen the information about him obtaining a Pure Star Radiant Armament.

He could only say that the Original Protagonist truly lived up to the title. Even though it was not the Black Furnace Magic Sword, he had still passed the Suitability Rate test and become the wielder of another top-tier Pure Star Radiant Armament—one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords, just like the Black Furnace Magic Sword.

I just wonder which magic sword he obtained?

In truth, it was not difficult to guess.

According to Azer's knowledge of the original work, three of the Four-Colored Magic Swords, including the Black Furnace Magic Sword, already had wielders at this point.

If so, the magic sword Amagiri Ayato had obtained must be the remaining one.

It was the most mysterious magic sword among the Four-Colored Magic Swords, one that had never even appeared in the original work.

Thinking of Amagiri Ayato possessing that magic sword, Azer could not help but feel anticipation as well.

Between him and me now, who is stronger?

Azer was already looking forward to finding out.