As the two talked, the final act on the field began.
No one knew what the two on the field were saying, but one thing was clear: Stella would be going all out this time.
Stella raised her Device high and pointed it at the sky. In that instant, flames emerged from the sword, gradually strengthened by her Magic Power until they became a pillar of light that pierced through and dissolved the giant egg's ceiling.
'Inferno Flame, pierce the Azure Sky...'
"Th-That's way too ridiculous!!!"
"So this is A-Rank?! That's insane!!!"
"Is she really the same age as us??!!"
Watching the Blade Dance Technique Stella had unleashed, Toudo Touka said in astonishment, "As expected of the A-Rank Knight who broke the entrance exam records for incoming students. Her Magic Power is truly incredible. It can even rival yours."
Luo Mio nodded. In the original story, Stella had possessed the strongest Magic Power in the world from the moment she was born. She could be called a demon wearing the skin of a "human." Looking across the entire world, there were very few whose Magic Power could match hers. Her Magic Power was merely something that supported her—
—true ability.
"Still, I believe Ikki will be the one to win in the end."
Luo Mio spoke with confidence.
Toudo Touka glanced at Luo Mio in slight surprise, unable to understand how he could be so certain that Kurogane Ikki would win.
"I've read the script, after all."
Naturally, Luo Mio could not answer her directly. He could only mutter to himself inwardly, while Toudo Touka turned her gaze back to the arena.
"Burning Heavens, Scorching Earth, Dragon King Flame!!!"
The pillar of fire descended toward Ikki, but he did not panic in the slightest. He raised Yin Iron, pointed its tip at Stella, and declared—
"With my weakest—my strongest—I will shatter your strongest!!!"
"Ittou Shura!!!"
Ikki's entire body, even Yin Iron in his hand, gave off a faint glow. Pale silver flames danced slowly around him.
Stella, and even the spectators outside the arena, froze in shock.
"That is... Kurogane's Magic Power Manifestation?" Toudo Touka stared at Ikki in astonishment and removed her glasses. A trace of lightning flickered in her pupils as she watched him.
Luo Mio merely smiled faintly. "The winner has been decided..."
"That's enough! The winner is Kurogane Ikki!"
Shinguji Kuroko, acting as referee, announced the winner's name in a loud voice. The students in the spectator stands stared in disbelief at the unexpected outcome before them, silently watching Kurogane Ikki collapse after his victory while Stella lay unconscious beside him.
Shinguji Kuroko looked at Training Ground Three and its heavily damaged ceiling. Just as she was about to use her ability to repair them, a voice interrupted her.
"Excuse me, Chairwoman, may I apply for a mock battle now?"
Just as Luo Mio was about to stand and leave the spectator stands, Toudo Touka suddenly rose beside him and spoke to Shinguji Kuroko on the field.
That action also stunned the second- and third-year students who had been preparing to leave Training Ground Three.
"Hey, hey, isn't that the Student Council President?"
"What's she doing here? And she suddenly applied for a mock battle?"
"Yeah, but if she's applying for one, who's her opponent? Don't tell me it's those two on the field?"
"But those two are unconscious."
The spectator stands erupted into discussion. Even a kimono-clad loli who had somehow appeared behind Kuroko was watching the scene before her with interest.
Shinguji Kuroko looked at Toudo Touka in the stands and Luo Mio beside her. The corners of her lips rose slightly as she said, "Fine. Who is your opponent?"
Toudo Touka pointed at Luo Mio beside her.
"Approved. You have five minutes to prepare."
Luo Mio, who had watched Toudo Touka the entire time, parted his lips slightly and looked at his sister with an expression that plainly said, You set me up.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait—Sis, what are you doing!!!"
"Didn't I say it earlier? We should have a proper exchange. Isn't that what I said?" Toudo Touka shot him a glance.
"You... this... I... You never said it would be an exchange through fighting!!!!!"
The author's tears of pain.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry."
My input method completely wrecked my mental state. I'm probably the only one capable of messing up punctuation like that. (〒▽〒)
Because of the input method and those arrow brackets, some of you probably couldn't understand it.
I guess this has taught me a small lesson.
Also, because I need to carefully look through many details from the original world, updates will probably be a little slow. Hehe.
Chapter Four: Battle!!!
After Kurogane Ikki and Stella's mock battle.
Toudo Touka and Luo Mio stood in the center of the field.
"Now, the mock battle will begin. Contestants Toudo Touka and Toudo Miohua, please deploy your Devices in their 'Fantasy Form'!!!"
"Roar, 'Narukami'!"
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. A sheathed Japanese sword had already appeared in Toudo Touka's hand.
"Eternal Twilight Wolves, it's time for your entrance!"
As Luo Mio shouted, astonishing Magic Power slowly emerged around him. That Magic Power gradually transformed into two white wolves. The wolves howled toward the already-pierced ceiling before turning into Magic Power and rushing toward Luo Mio's forearms, where they formed gauntlets.
Shinguji Kuroko stared blankly at the gentle Magic Power surrounding Luo Mio. "This brat's Magic Power..."
Luo Mio let out a breath, then closed his eyes and circulated the Tai Xu Sword Art, bringing himself into peak condition.
Toudo Touka watched Luo Mio close his eyes, a beautiful curve lifting at the corners of her lips. Then she closed her eyes as well.
When she opened them again, her gaze and temperament no longer belonged to the normally gentle and plain Student Council President, Toudo Touka. Instead, she became the cold and sharp "Raikiri" Toudo Touka, one of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival's final four.
After an unknown number of minutes, Luo Mio opened his eyes. Seeing the sharp expression on his sister's face, he knew she had entered her fighting state.
"Let's begin."
"Then... LET'S GO AHEAD!!!"
The signal for battle sounded!
Toudo Touka rushed toward Luo Mio first and slashed diagonally upward at him.
"Inner Style: Soaring Eagle."
Facing the slash coming from below, Luo Mio did not dodge. Instead, he threw a punch directly at the blade.
"Clang—!!!"
The sound of blade and gauntlet colliding for the first time echoed across the field.
After testing him with that first strike, Toudo Touka leaped a step backward.
"You didn't have to come at me that hard right from the start, Sis." Luo Mio watched Toudo Touka retreat and spoke with helpless amusement.
"It can't be helped. Since I'm sparring with my younger brother whom I haven't seen for years, of course I have to see how much you've grown."
Toudo Touka smiled.
"Then...!"
"Inner Style: Falcon, Third Strike!"
Though they were several meters apart, Luo Mio instantly appeared before Toudo Touka. Turning sideways, he raised his left arm and drove his elbow toward her.
"...!"
Toudo Touka truly deserved her place among the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival's final four. After a moment of surprise, she quickly reacted and raised Narukami with both hands to block Luo Mio's strike...
"Ugh!!"
Toudo Touka had just blocked Luo Mio's move and was about to retreat quickly when a heavy impact instantly disrupted her thoughts.
Hit head-on by the force, Toudo Touka was forced back several meters before she managed to stop herself.
Toudo Touka looked at Luo Mio in delighted surprise. "What was that just now?"
"The third strike of Inner Style: Falcon. It lets me teleport in front of an enemy over a short distance."
As Luo Mio explained, he watched Toudo Touka's next movement.
"That power from before was delivered by adding Magic Power to your strike, right?"
"Mm-hm." Only Luo Mio knew that Falcon's heavy blow could only truly be unleashed after activating Thousand Stars. For now, he had merely attached Magic Power to his arm, temporarily enhancing his strength for that effect.
"Not bad, not bad. I didn't expect you to have grown this much after only two years apart. You're almost catching up to your big sister."
Toudo Touka said.
"You say that, but weren't you holding back too, Sis? Not to mention that slash earlier, you haven't used any of your Blade Dance Techniques either."
"Hehe~, isn't it only natural for an older sister to let her younger brother have a little advantage~?"
As she spoke, Toudo Touka moved at the same time.
Her eyes fixed on Luo Mio as she swiftly drew Narukami. A crescent-shaped slash of golden lightning flew toward him.
This was Toudo Touka's long-range technique.
Blade Dance Technique—"Thunder Gull."
Seeing it, Luo Mio relied on Flash Step to dodge quickly. But Toudo Touka did not stop, rapidly unleashing more attacks to pursue him.
Luo Mio was gradually forced by Toudo Touka's Thunder Gull into a perfect position.
"Whoosh—"
After seeing Luo Mio arrive at the ideal spot she had planned for him, Toudo Touka suddenly appeared before him.
Just as Luo Mio had suddenly appeared before her earlier, she now arrived in front of him as though she had teleported.
"...! This is..."
Luo Mio's eyes narrowed.
Immediately afterward, Toudo Touka rapidly swung a lightning-wreathed slash at Luo Mio.
"Clang—!!!"
Toudo Touka's swift strike was blocked by something unknown.
After quickly pulling back to create distance, Toudo Touka finally saw what had stopped her blade.
Magic Power in a dreamlike color like twilight swirled around Luo Mio like a nebula.
Blade Dance Technique—"Sun Chasing Shadow"!!!
"You were just holding back a moment ago, and now you're getting serious." Luo Mio looked at Toudo Touka as she retreated.
After hearing Luo Mio's words, Toudo Touka said, "Going all out is the greatest respect for an opponent, isn't it?"
"Is that so?" Luo Mio grinned at Toudo Touka. "Since you put it that way, I won't hold back either!"
"Thousand Stars!!!"
With Luo Mio's low shout, brilliant twilight-colored Magic Power gradually appeared over his body like stars.
"This is..."
Toudo Touka's eyes narrowed.
"Here I come!"
The moment Luo Mio finished speaking, he arrived before Touka at a speed even faster than the third strike of Inner Style: Falcon.
"!!!"
"Sizzle—!"
Before you continue