Chapter 31

"Shouldn't you put on some clothes…"

"Huh?"

"That… your clothes…"

Touka lowered her head in confusion, her face instantly flushing red.

Her clothes were already soaked with sweat. As the damp fabric became slightly transparent, Touka's alluring, ample bosom slowly revealed its perfect silhouette.

"Little Mio, H!!!"

Touka's embarrassed scream echoed through the training room.

In the morning, Luo Mio stood in front of the full-length mirror, looking at himself.

He patted his cheeks, opened his eyes, and put on a smile.

"Alright! Let's go, Ikki!"

Ikki, standing beside him, smiled as he looked at Luo Mio, who was ready both mentally and physically. "Let's go!"

The two left the room and then walked out of the hotel entrance. The moment they stepped out, a swarm of reporters and media rushed towards them.

"Reporter: What is your confidence level in the match between 'Thousand Stars White Night' Todo Reika and today's fellow A-Rank Knight 'Gale Sword Emperor' Kurogane Ouma?"

"Reporter: Regarding the match today between your close friend Todo Touka and your elder brother Kurogane Ouma, what are your thoughts, 'Uncrowned Sword King' Kurogane Ikki?"

"Reporter, Todo Touka contestant…"

"Reporter…"

Faced with the countless questions from the reporters, Luo Mio remained silent.

Then, he raised his eyes and quietly looked at the reporters surrounding him.

"!"

Every reporter who stepped forward to ask a question felt as if a cold wind had brushed against their backs. They slowly moved their feet, clearing a path.

After getting into the car arranged by Shinguji Kuroko for their transport, the two headed towards Competition Arena One!

Inside the car, Shinguji Kuroko looked at Luo Mio and said, "You seem ready."

Hearing Shinguji Kuroko's comment about his mental and physical readiness, he replied to her.

"Yeah, totally okay!" Luo Mio gave a thumbs-up.

Not long after, Luo Mio arrived at the entrance of Competition Arena One.

Also arriving at the arena entrance was Luo Mio's opponent for today, Kurogane Ouma.

"Ouma…"

"…Don't you dare lose to me easily."

"What you said, I'll return it word for word!"

The intense fighting spirit and battle intent that flared up in their eyes could be clearly felt by everyone around them.

"See you in the arena."

"…"

With that, they both entered their respective preparation rooms.

Chapter 29: A Fierce Battle Between Two A-Ranks!

"We've been waiting! Esteemed guests in the audience! Today's first match is about to begin!"

The announcer Iida's passionate voice boomed throughout the entire dome.

"Coach Muroto, do you know? Today's first heavyweight match!"

"Ah, of course, I know! A battle between two top geniuses among the Far East's A-Rank Knights!"

"That's right! Today's match features A-Rank Knight 'Gale Sword Emperor' Kurogane Ouma, who was already famous during the elementary school championship, and the Far East's other hidden A-Rank Knight 'Thousand Stars White Night' Todo Touka, who made a name for himself worldwide in the last match the day before yesterday! What kind of match will these two A-Rank Knights present?! Our match is about to begin!"

Having stayed up late last night training with Luo Mio, and then being embarrassed when Luo Mio saw her body, Touka, suffering from lack of sleep, slowly got out of bed and hurried towards the arena.

"Senior Touka!" Stella waved from the spectator seats upon seeing Touka.

"Sister Touka, are you okay?" Shizuku asked with concern upon seeing the somewhat sleepy Touka.

Touka waved her hand, indicating, "I'm fine, just a little sleep-deprived."

"Then, do you want me to poke you awake with my 'Tiger King'!" a voice called out from behind Touka.

Hearing this, Touka looked back with slightly tired eyes and said, "Morohoshi, you won't win any girls over by acting like that."

"Oh, really?"

Beside Morohoshi Yuta, Asagi Momiji chuckled, "He's just an idiot, after all."

"Indeed!" Jonoshiraki Byakuya seconded.

"You two!"

"Alright, alright..." Ikki played peacemaker, trying to calm everyone down.

Afterward, Shizuku asked Morohoshi Ouma, "Senior Morohoshi, what do you think of this match?"

Hearing Shizuku's question, Morohoshi Ouma's eyes flickered for a moment, then he fell silent before shaking his head.

"It's hard to say..."

After all, both sides were heavyweight A-Rank Knights, making it difficult to predict the match's outcome unilaterally.

"Now then! Please welcome the contestants for the first match of today's selection tournament!"

Following the announcement, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause!

"First, entering from the red gate, we have the 'Gale Sword Emperor,' Kurogane Ouma! For those familiar with him, you know he won the Elementary School Championship and is an A-Rank Knight, hailed as the new rising star after 'Yashahime'!"

As Ouma entered, a terrifying pressure emanated from him, like a sword unsheathed and ready to slay enemies.

The audience in the stands held their breath.

"Entering from the blue gate is the second A-Rank Knight from the Far East, besides the Gale Sword Emperor, 'Thousand Stars White Night,' Todo Touka! Today, what kind of fierce sparks will fly between these two A-Rank Knights!"

As Luo Mio walked into the arena and saw Ouma, who was exuding killing intent, he couldn't help but smile.

"Aside from our previous encounter, when was the last time we faced off like this? Was it at the Kurogane family banquet?"

Ouma stared directly at Luo Mio and said, "You, who didn't participate in the Elementary School Championship, disappointed me for quite a while."

"So this time, let's have a good fight!"

"It's our turn to appear! 'Eternal Twilight Wolves'!"

Two dark silver phantom wolves let out a skyward howl, then transformed into particles that swirled around Luo Mio's arms, becoming dark silver dual-colored gauntlets.

"Unleash your roar! 'Dragon Claw'!"

Ouma's right hand revealed his Device, slightly longer than a standard katana, categorized as a nodachi.

"Both contestants are ready!"

"Let's Go Ahead—!"

The signal for the match sounded!

"Let me see if your strength has improved!"

Ouma lowered his stance, tilted the Dragon Claw, and then charged at Luo Mio!

Luo Mio grinned as he watched Ouma charge, then also dashed towards him.

"Ooh! As soon as the match was announced, both contestants charged straight at each other!"

Ouma, wielding the Dragon Claw, swung it horizontally towards Luo Mio.

Luo Mio, in turn, moved his hand like a blade and slashed at Ouma.

Immediately, their Devices collided!

"Clang!"

An astonishing shockwave spread out from between them!

The tremendous impact from the collision of the two A-Rank Knights' Devices instantly reverberated throughout the entire dome stadium!

"Ugh!"

"My ears!"

"Amazing!"

The first exchange between sword and fist, followed by...

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sharp, inch-long punches of silver-gray fist shadows and the blade-like wind slashes of emerald green light clashed repeatedly, their booming sounds filling the air! The center where they stood, accompanied by their constant collisions, left cracks and craters on the battle stage!

At times, a wind blade that could easily slice through flesh grazed Luo Mio's side, and at others, fist energy capable of shattering bone whizzed past Ouma's ear!

"Clang!!!"

With a final, resounding clang that echoed through the dome, both fighters were repelled back to their starting positions.

Luo Mio clenched his fist, feeling a tingling numbness in all ten fingers. Similarly, Ouma shook his arm to alleviate the residual numbness.

"So intense! The sound of the clash between these two A-Rank Knights has already deafened my ears! Their duel is the most thrilling and anticipated battle since the opening!"

Stella, watching from the audience seats, remarked, "They're evenly matched."

"Mhm," Ikki nodded in agreement beside her.

Luo Mio flexed his arm and asked Ouma, "Continue?"

Ouma didn't reply, but his slightly lowered stance and the way he gripped the Dragon Claw conveyed his answer.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Several emerald-green crescent wind blades shot towards Luo Mio at sonic speed.

"Vacuum Blade!"

Ouma's ability was conceptual interference—wind, and the Vacuum Blade he unleashed at this moment was the most common skill among wind mages, the Wind Blade!

The advantages of this Blade Dance Technique lay in its excellent destructive power and speed! And Ouma's Vacuum Blade surpassed the Wind Blades of other wind mages.

Facing the rapidly approaching Wind Blades, Luo Mio calmly waved his hands.

Six crescent moons, like sharp claws, clashed with several emerald crescent Wind Blades!

"Moon Smasher's Fang: Crescent Moon!"

"Boom~ Boom..."

The sound of explosions echoed as the crescent moons collided with the Wind Blades, and dust scattered between the two of them.

Several emerald lights streaked through the smoke once more.

Luo Mio dodged with an extremely rapid movement.

Ouma raised his Dragon Claw and ferociously slashed down at Luo Mio's position!

Sword energy dispersed the smoke, cutting straight towards Luo Mio.

Luo Mio didn't bother dodging. He raised his left hand, and a Sun Chasing Shadow, like a twilight of stars, appeared on his left hand.

"Sun Chasing Shadow!"

He clenched his left hand, and the sword energy shattered like glass with a crack.

After the sword energy shattered, Luo Mio stomped hard and rapidly charged into Ouma's face.

He held his left fist at his waist, then thrust it out fiercely, aiming a straight punch at Ouma's head.

"Cloud Piercer Straight Punch!"