Who Isn't a Herrscher

"Alright, there's still some time before Ikki's match, let's go check on his condition."

"Then... okay."

In the afternoon, Arisugawa sat in the spectator seats, while Stella and Shizuku beside him had already excitedly stood up.

Watching Ikki fall into a desperate situation facing Kirimura Seiya's hidden ultimate technique, then breaking free from that desperation, and finally defeating Kirimura Seiya with absolute strength, he collapsed, bathed in blood, after his victory was announced.

"Just as you said, Miohua... 'Perfect Vision'."

What truly made Ikki powerful wasn't his exceptional swordsmanship, nor the One Blade Asura that drained his Magic Power and stamina, but rather his terrifying observation and insight, like a demon-revealing mirror, that could see through the essence of things at a glance!

Walking down the corridor towards the medical room provided by the hotel.

Luo Mio and Arisugawa followed behind Shizuku, conversing.

"I didn't expect it to turn out just like you said, Miohua," Arisugawa exclaimed.

Luo Mio shrugged and said, "If Ikki wanted to master 'Perfect Mastery,' he had to face Kirimura Seiya, because Seiya was Ikki's best whetstone."

Shizuku blinked, her emerald pupils fixed on Luo Mio as she asked, "By the way, Miohua, how did you know that to defeat a Hunter, you needed 'Blade Steel'?"

Luo Mio glanced at her.

"It's simple. All of Ikki's skills, including One Blade Asura, are close-combat skills. We just need to eliminate them one by one."

How could I possibly tell them that I know most of the plot from the original world?

"Then why did you think of 'Blade Steel'?"

"The core of 'Blade Steel' lies in excavating, exploring, and understanding others' sword techniques in actual combat. What if we applied 'Blade Steel' to the concept of a person?"

"Observing others' subtle movements, habits, the range of their attacks, and the power of their techniques in actual combat, then gaining insight, and from that, inferring their actions, emotions, and psychology, and then imitating and understanding them. In that case, Kirimura Seiya wouldn't be facing Ikki, but an alternative version of himself (a Hunter)."

"Besides, it wasn't me who truly helped Ikki in this match, but Stella, wasn't it? If it weren't for Stella's heartfelt words, Ikki's mind and body wouldn't have been in optimal condition."

Upon hearing this, Arisugawa recalled Ikki's slightly gloomy expression outside the preparation room earlier that day and said, "Indeed."

Hearing this, Shizuku sighed, a little unconvinced.

They reached the entrance of the medical room, and while talking, opened the door.

"Ikki..."

"Ah..."

The three of them fell into complete silence upon seeing the scene before them.

Moonlight shone through the transparent glass mirror onto two figures, as if swearing under the moonlight, the two sealed their vows with a kiss, reflected on each other's lips...

Luo Mio watched the two, lost in their kiss, then glanced at Shizuku, whose face was as dark as water, and Arisugawa, who was smiling as if watching a show.

"Clang..."

Luo Mio knocked on the door.

"!"

The two instantly reacted, separated immediately, and then looked towards the door.

Stella's cheeks were flushed with shyness. On her delicate and beautiful face, her slightly damp eyes, still holding surprise, were tinged with embarrassment.

"You... you... when did..." she stammered out in a faint, trembling voice.

"Ah... about half a minute ago," Arisugawa said, his gaze wandering.

"Shizuku..." Ikki couldn't quite look at his own sister and said softly...

"Hehehe..." Shizuku smiled with vacant eyes at the two.

"Elder Brother, Shizuku knows! This fat dinosaur must have forced you to do this! Now Shizuku will set Elder Brother free!"

"Wait! Shizuku..."

"Shizuku! Calm down!"

In the noisy medical room, the sounds of everyone's boisterous play gradually faded out.

"So, you and Stella are dating now, is that right?" Luo Mio asked Ikki, sitting on the sofa in the medical room, looking at Stella beside him, who was lowering her head, her hands fidgeting on her lap.

Ikki nodded shyly at Luo Mio's question.

"Mm."

Upon hearing this, Luo Mio whispered teasingly to Stella, "You're quite quick, Stella!"

Hearing this, Stella's lowered head flushed even redder, her shy eyes almost dripping with moisture.

A vein twitched on Shizuku's forehead.

Seeing this, Arisugawa tried to comfort her.

"You guys?..."

Touka, who had just opened the door, walked in, looking at everyone with confusion.

"What's wrong, Sis?" Luo Mio asked Touka, "You came in in such a hurry."

Touka looked at Luo Mio with a solemn expression and said, "Miohua, your opponent for tomorrow's match has been announced!"

"Huh?"

Then, Touka took out the match schedule from the Student Handbook and showed it to Luo Mio.

Luo Mio glanced at it, and his eyes narrowed.

"Hagun Academy First Year · Toudo Miohua VS Akatsuki Academy Third Year · Kurogane Ouma!"

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Impending Battle

In the evening, Luo Mio left the medical room with Touka.

In the training room, Luo Mio summoned the "Eternal Twilight Wolves" and assumed the starting stance of the Sun Chasing Shadow, facing Touka, who held Narukami.

"Swish!"

A golden crescent lightning bolt flew towards Luo Mio like a Thunder Gull.

After Luo Mio dodged with a flash, Touka rushed in front of him and swung horizontally at him.

Seeing this, Luo Mio lifted his left foot and kicked down fiercely at the floor.

"Style: Moonlit Heron"

"Thump!"

The floor beneath Luo Mio's foot was violently shattered, and the debris, blasted by the immense force, blocked Touka's blade!

Then, he clenched his right fist and punched directly at Touka's head.

"Style: Entering Cloud Eagle" Straight Punch Version

"Bang!"

Flashes of lightning flickered in Touka's eyes. He then used the body of his sword to deflect the flying debris towards the area of Luo Mio's punch. Afterward, he gripped the joint of Narukami with his right hand, letting golden lightning flow out. After quickly readjusting the position of his sword-holding hand, he slashed at Luo Mio again.

"Clang!"

Twilight-colored Magic Power blocked Touka's strike at his waist.

Facing such a lightning-fast attack, Luo Mio had no choice but to use Sun Chasing Shadow to defend against Touka's surprise assault.

Close combat!

Then, with the third strike of a falcon, Luo Mio quickly struck at Touka.

Touka seemed to have anticipated this. When his attack failed, he retracted his sword and held it in front of him, blocking Luo Mio's falcon strike.

The distance between them widened again.

Luo Mio looked at Touka and sighed with a headache.

"The Lightning Eye skill is truly unfair!"

Touka chuckled upon hearing this, "What can I do? I was born with it."

Luo Mio looked at Touka's radiant smile.

You have your Lightning Eye, and I have my Mana Vision!

A golden pattern slowly spread across Luo Mio's pupils.

"Mana Vision"

If "Lightning Eye" was about seeing others' nerve signals to perceive their movements, then "Mana Vision" was about seeing through the essence and flow of Magic Power in the world. It could even detect the Magic Power circulating within living beings.

Just like now, in Luo Mio's vision, Touka's Magic Power was gathering in his legs.

Using "Gale Thunder" to enhance his leg strength to increase speed and close the distance?!

Sensing Touka's intentions, Luo Mio acted first.

Seizing the initiative!

He quickly appeared before Touka, sweeping towards him with a falcon strike in the form of a hand blade.

Golden lightning, like a spiderweb, blocked Luo Mio's hand blade falcon strike.

Seeing his hand blade blocked, Luo Mio felt a chill run down his spine!

He rapidly moved away from Touka's presence.

As expected! My sister calculated the exact spot to block just now. It was within the intersection!

Looking at Touka's posture, Narukami was already sheathed. If he hadn't retreated in time, his sister's "Raikiri" would have already struck him.

Phew~

Luo Mio exhaled, a smile cracking his lips.

"Again!"

As time wore on, it gradually entered the early hours of the morning.

Luo Mio lay on the ground, gasping for air.

He had shed his usual student uniform for training attire, and his braided hair was now tied into a high ponytail. Sweat trickled down his neck, tracing a path between his peaks along Touka's beautiful collarbones.

Touka wiped the sweat from her face with a handkerchief, then produced two cups of water and sat down beside Luo Mio.

"Here, you worked hard."

"Thanks." Luo Mio got up and took the cup of water from Touka's hand.

"How is it?"

Luo Mio clenched his fist, confirming that the sluggishness in his body had disappeared, and nodded.

"Yeah, it's fine now."

Worry flickered in Touka's beautiful chestnut-gold eyes as she looked at Luo Mio and asked, "Are you okay for tomorrow's match? Miohua."

Sensing the concern in Touka's tone and gaze, Luo Mio smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, sis."

"Really?" Touka managed to relax slightly upon seeing Luo Mio's smile.

Luo Mio took a sip of water, his eyes scanning the training ground. "Actually, when I heard my opponent was Ouma, I was shocked, but at the same time, I felt an excitement welling up from deep within."

"So, for tomorrow, no... for today's fight against Ouma, I feel more thrilled than ever!"

Kurogane Ouma, known to the world as the "Gale Sword Emperor"! The eldest son of the Kurogane family, and the Elder Brother of Ikki and Shizuku! He was also an A-Rank Knight, just like Luo Mio and Stella.

Touka looked at Luo Mio, whose eyes were sparkling, and said gently, "Well, after all, you and Kurogane Ouma are both A-Rank Knights."

"However, I believe that Miohua will be the one to win in the end!"

Touka's gentle, heartwarming smile was reflected in Luo Mio's eyes.

"Sis."

"Hm? What is it?"