Azure Cry Magic Sword

"Azure Cry Magic Sword"

"Hah!"

As the charred-haired thug clamped his legs together in utter terror, Azer casually swung his blade across the school emblem on the thug's chest, leaving a blazing-hot crimson gash on it.

"It's over."

At the same time, the outcome had also been decided on Toudou Kirin's side.

While Azer intercepted the seaweed-haired thug, Toudou Kirin drew her sword and stopped the mohawked thug.

She did not use Rengeki—or rather, there was no need to. A few casual slashes from Toudou Kirin's blade left her opponent unable to cope, and the girl easily drove him into a corner.

Remembering Azer's instructions, Toudou Kirin struck the man across the face with the flat of her blade, leaving his mouth bloody and teeth scattered across the ground.

"Crack..."

Only then did Toudou Kirin's sword sweep across his school emblem, shattering it.

"Ding!"

A loud notification immediately echoed throughout the arena.

"The match is over."

"The winners are Azer and Toudou Kirin."

The mechanical announcement rang out clearly.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!"

The entire Sirius Dome erupted, thunderous cheers shaking the venue.

"They won! They won with ease!"

"Only ten seconds after the match began, contestants Azer and Toudou Kirin have secured victory!"

"They're too strong! Unbeatably strong! As expected of Seidoukan Academy's former and current Ranked First! That was an utterly overwhelming victory!"

"Looks like the rumors online weren't all false. With the strength of that pair, they're absolutely Championship Contenders!"

The live commentators cried out excitedly amid the cheers of the crowd. Rather than cooling off because the highly anticipated match had ended too quickly, the atmosphere only grew more feverish, alarming even pedestrians outside the Sirius Dome.

Yet those who had been watching the match closely—or rather, watching Azer—wore grave expressions.

Remembering how he had casually swung his sword and unleashed a massive Hot Wind, they could not help but marvel.

"To think he can wield the Black Furnace Magic Sword's power like that..."

"It's simply unheard of..."

"So the rumors were true. This guy's Suitability Rate with the Black Furnace Magic Sword is extraordinarily high."

"I've never seen anyone use a magic sword like that. He's definitely someone we can't afford to overlook."

"...We need to make preparations early."

All sorts of thoughts arose in their minds. Some were merely curious or had their fighting spirit stirred, but others harbored malice.

Azer's performance today was destined to enter the sights of all kinds of people, making them aware of just how exceptional—and threatening—he was.

Especially those participating in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival alongside Azer. Without a doubt, they would regard him as one of the greatest obstacles on their path to the championship.

What sort of events would that lead to?

Perhaps only fate knew.

Azer, however, did not think about any of that.

"We won, Senior!"

Seeing Toudou Kirin run up to him with joy written all over her face, Azer smiled faintly.

Right now, he only wanted to savor the joy of victory.

Even if this was only the beginning...

Sirius Dome, contestants' lounge.

Unlike Seidoukan Academy's Comprehensive Arena, the Sirius Dome was far larger. Thus, it was not only the top-ranked contestants; every contestant competing at this venue had a private lounge available for their use.

Azer and Toudou Kirin returned to their lounge and sat together chatting.

"Amagiri Senior and Lisfeelt Senior's match is today too, right?"

Toudou Kirin had completely relaxed. She no longer felt nervous or embarrassed about being alone in a room with Azer.

After all, they had spent more than a month alone together. At first, the girl had been nervous and shy, but she had now grown completely accustomed to it. In Azer's presence, she could even reveal an utterly relaxed smile.

"They're in Zone C, third match of the first round. It's a different zone, but their match happens to be after ours."

Azer opened the Tournament Schedule and selected Amagiri Ayato and Yulis's names.

A window unfolded, displaying a match that was just about to begin.

Azer was drawn to the image in the window almost immediately.

It could not be helped.

Amagiri Ayato had just stepped onto the stage and stood alone under Yulis's smiling gaze.

His usual loose smile still hung on his face, but his eyes were far brighter than usual.

In his hand, he held an Activation Device.

Like the Activation Device of the Black Furnace Magic Sword, it was an entirely black hilt.

The difference was that the Black Furnace Magic Sword's core was red, while this Activation Device's core was another color.

A color entirely unlike the green of Omni-Response Ore told everyone that it was an Omni-Response Crystal.

The Activation Device in Amagiri Ayato's hand was undoubtedly the Activation Device of a Pure Star Radiant Armament.

"Clang!"

As the core of the Activation Device emitted the distinctive radiance of an Omni-Response Crystal, digital panels appeared around the device in Amagiri Ayato's hand.

The digital panels continuously combined, swiftly forming a heavy guard. From it extended an energy blade formed from vast amounts of Omni-Response Element.

The blade was azure, like jade, and gave off an enchanting sheen.

"Hum!"

The Black Furnace Magic Sword at Azer's waist immediately trembled, reacting violently.

"So this is..."

Toudou Kirin, who had moved close to Azer and unconsciously leaned against him, widened her eyes slightly at the sight.

"The Azure Cry Magic Sword."

Azer spoke the sword's name.

The Azure Cry Magic Sword, one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords, had been born in the same era as the Black Furnace Magic Sword. It was likewise a Pure Star Radiant Armament as renowned as the Black Furnace Magic Sword.

In the original work, the other three Four-Colored Magic Swords all had wielders, whether openly or in secret. Only the Azure Cry Magic Sword remained waiting for a user and had never appeared.

In Asterisk's history, there had never been an era in which all four magic swords had wielders at once, including the later events of the original work.

Yet now, because Azer had obtained the Black Furnace Magic Sword, Amagiri Ayato had become the Azure Cry Magic Sword's wielder through a twist of fate, bringing this Pure Star Radiant Armament—which had never appeared in the original work—into the world.

"...With this, all four Four-Colored Magic Swords have truly appeared in the same era."

Azer murmured softly, feeling that fate was truly wondrous.

"Amagiri Senior is making his move!"

Toudou Kirin's voice pulled Azer from his thoughts, and he turned his gaze back to the window before him.

Then—

"With the hidden secret sword, break through the Star Prison and unleash our tiger's might!"

Before countless eyes and amid resounding cheers, Amagiri Ayato raised the Azure Cry Magic Sword high and shouted an imposing incantation.

In an instant, chains formed from Omni-Response Element appeared around his body and wrapped around him, their origins a series of purple magic circles.

"Boom!"

Amagiri Ayato's Star Power surged explosively, blasting away every magic circle and snapping every chain around his body.

At that moment, the Star Power rising from Amagiri Ayato's body was so immense that it made one's heart tremble.

Though Azer and Toudou Kirin could not feel Amagiri Ayato's Star Power through the broadcast, they both saw the astonishing sight of Star Dust scattering violently from his body as starlight gathered into a pillar of light that shot into the sky.

"Amagiri Senior's Star Power..."

Toudou Kirin glimpsed the whole leopard through a tube and instantly understood just how astounding his Star Power was. Her face filled with shock.

Azer was not surprised in the slightest.

Amagiri Ayato's Star Power had always been exceptional. Even across all of Asterisk, it would be difficult to find more than a few people who surpassed him in that regard.

Even Azer as he was now did not dare boast that his own Star Power could surpass Amagiri Ayato's.

Thus, he merely stared fixedly at the window, watching Amagiri Ayato's movements.

The movement lasted only an instant.

The moment he released his true power, Amagiri Ayato seized the opportunity while his opponents were stunned and rushed out like the wind.

The glow of Star Power formed a trailing streak of light behind him, flashing past in an instant.

The azure light of the magic sword also flashed abruptly, then vanished.

By the time every strange phenomenon had disappeared, Amagiri Ayato was already standing behind his two opponents, sword sheathed.

Behind him, two school emblems cracked open at once and fell to the ground...