Who Isn't a Herrscher

As the two were talking, the final prelude on the stage began.

The two on stage seemed to be saying something, but the only thing that could be recognized was that Stella would go all out this time.

Stella raised her Device high and pointed it at the sky. At that moment, flames appeared on the sword, and as her Magic Power was boosted, the flames turned into a beam of light, piercing and dissolving the ceiling of the giant dome.

"Inferno Flame, pierce the heavens..."

"This, this is too exaggerated!!!"

"Is this A-Rank!! Too monstrous!!!"

"Is she really our age?!!"

Toudo Touka looked at the Blade Dance Technique Stella unleashed and exclaimed, "As expected of an A-Rank knight who broke the enrollment records of all previous freshmen, her Magic Power is indeed astonishing, it's even comparable to yours."

Luo Mio nodded. In the original work, Stella possessed the world's strongest Magic Power from birth, making her a "Demon" disguised as a "human." Few in the world could match her Magic Power, which merely served to support her true abilities.

"However, I believe Ikki will still be the one to win in the end."

Luo Mio said confidently.

Toudo Touka glanced at Luo Mio with some surprise, not understanding how he could be so sure that Kurogane Ikki would win.

"I've seen the script, after all."

Luo Mio couldn't answer her directly, so he could only grumble to himself. Toudo Touka turned her gaze back to the stage.

"Burning Heaven, Scorching Earth, Dragon King Flame!!!"

The beam of flames also descended towards Ikki, but Ikki was not flustered at all. He raised his Yin Iron, pointed the tip of the sword at Stella, and declared his intention!!!

"I will break your strongest with my weakest (strongest)!!!"

"One Blade Asura!!!"

Ikki's entire body, including the Yin Iron in his hand, emitted a faint glow. Faint, silvery-blue flames danced slowly around his body.

Stella and even the audience outside the arena were stunned.

"Is that... Kurogane-kun's Magic Power Manifestation?" Toudo Touka looked at Ikki in surprise, took off her glasses, and a flash of lightning flickered in her pupils as she looked at Ikki.

Luo Mio smiled slightly and said, "The winner is decided..."

"That's all! The winner is Kurogane Ikki!"

Shinguji Kuroko, acting as the referee, announced the winner's name loudly. The students in the audience seats looked at the unexpected outcome in disbelief, quietly watching Kurogane Ikki, who had collapsed after the announcement, and Stella, who was unconscious beside him.

Shinguji Kuroko looked at the severely damaged Third Giant Dome training ground and its ceiling. Just as she was about to use her ability to repair it, a voice interrupted her.

"Excuse me, Chairperson, can I apply for a simulation battle now?"

As Luo Mio was about to leave the audience seats, Toudo Touka, who was beside him, suddenly stood up and said to Shinguji Kuroko on the stage.

This move shocked the second and third-year students who were about to leave the Third Training Ground.

"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that the Student Council President?"

"Why is she here, and why is she suddenly applying for a simulation battle?"

"Yeah, and if she's applying for a simulation battle, who is her opponent? It wouldn't be those two on stage, would it?"

"But, those two on stage are both unconscious."

The audience seats buzzed with discussion. Even a kimono-clad loli who had appeared behind Kuroko at some unknown time was watching the unfolding events with interest.

Shinguji Kuroko looked at Toudo Touka in the audience seats and Luo Mio beside her, a slight smile on her lips. She said, "Yes, you can. Who is your opponent?"

Toudo Touka pointed at Luo Mio beside her.

"Approved. Please prepare for five minutes."

Luo Mio, who had been watching Toudo Touka the entire time, opened his mouth slightly, his face filled with the expression of "you tricked me" as he looked at his older sister.

"Wait, wait, wait— sis, what are you doing!!!"

"Didn't I just say we should have a good exchange? Didn't I say that?" Toudo Touka glanced at him.

"You... this... I, you didn't say it was a combat exchange!!!"

The author's tears of sorrow

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

My input method completely messed up my mood, and only I could make such a mistake with symbols (〒▽〒,

Because of the input method and the arrows and parentheses, some of you might not have understood.

I guess this will be a small lesson for me.

At the same time, because I need to carefully examine many details of the original world, the updates will probably be a little slow, eheh.

Chapter Four: Battle!!!

Right after the simulation battle between Kurogane Ikki and Stella.

Toudo Touka and Luo Mio stood in the center of the arena.

"Now, the simulation battle is about to begin. Both contestants, Toudo Touka and Toudo Mio Hua, please deploy your Devices in 'Fantasy Form'!!!"

"Roar! 'Narukami'!"

Lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled. A sheathed katana appeared in Toudo Touka's hand.

"'Eternal Twilight Wolves', it's time for you to appear!"

As Luo Mio shouted, astonishing Magic Power slowly materialized around him. This Magic Power gradually transformed into two white wolves. The wolves howled towards the already penetrated ceiling, then turned into Magic Power and surged towards Luo Mio's forearms, forming a pair of gauntlets.

Shinguji Kuroko looked at the gentle Magic Power surrounding Luo Mio and was taken aback. "This kid's Magic Power..."

Luo Mio exhaled, then closed his eyes, activating the Tai Xu Sword Art to bring himself to his optimal state.

Toudo Touka watched Luo Mio, who had his eyes closed, and the corner of her lips curved into a beautiful arc. She then closed her eyes as well.

When she opened them again, her gaze and demeanor were no longer those of the usually gentle and unassuming Student Council President Toudo Touka. Instead, she had become the cold and sharp 'Raikiri', Toudo Touka, one of the top four of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival.

After an unknown number of minutes, Luo Mio opened his eyes. Seeing his older sister's sharp expression, he knew she had entered her zone.

"Let's begin."

"Then... LET'S GO AHEAD!!!"

The signal for battle sounded!

Toudo Touka was the first to charge at Luo Mio, slashing diagonally upwards towards him.

"'Ura-shiki: Entering Cloud Eagle'"

Luo Mio looked at the incoming slash from above. Instead of dodging, he threw a punch directly at it.

"CLANG————!!!"

The sound of the first collision between the blade and the gauntlet echoed across the arena.

After the initial probing strike, Toudo Touka took a step back.

"There's no need to go so hard right from the start, sis," Luo Mio said with a helpless smile, looking at Toudo Touka as she retreated.

"I can't help it. It's been a long time since I sparred with my brother after so many years, so of course, I want to see how much you've grown."

Toudo Touka chuckled.

"Then...!"

"'Ura-shiki: Falcon', third strike."

From a distance of several meters, Luo Mio instantly appeared before Toudo Touka. He sidestepped and raised his left arm, striking towards Toudo Touka with his elbow.

"...!"

Toudo Touka, worthy of being one of the top four of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, was momentarily surprised before quickly reacting. She raised 'Narukami' with both hands to block Luo Mio's attack...

"Ngh!!"

Just as Toudo Touka blocked Luo Mio's move and intended to quickly retreat, a heavy blow instantly disrupted her thoughts.

Taking the full force of the impact head-on, Toudo Touka was forced back several meters before she managed to stop her retreat.

Toudo Touka looked at Luo Mio in surprise and asked, "What was that just now?"

"'Ura-shiki: Falcon', third strike. It allows me to teleport to the enemy's front within a short distance."

Luo Mio explained while observing her next move.

"That power just now was infused with Magic Power, wasn't it?"

"Uh-huh." Of course, only Luo Mio knew that to unleash the heavy strike of the Falcon, one had to activate 'Thousand Stars'. Currently, he had merely attached Magic Power to his arm to temporarily enhance his strength for the effect.

"Not bad, not bad. I didn't expect you to grow so quickly in just two years. You're almost catching up to me."

Toudo Touka said.

"That's what you say, but weren't you holding back too, sis? Not to mention that slash earlier, you haven't even used any of your other Blade Dance Techniques, have you?"

"Heh heh~, it's only natural for an older sister to go easy on her younger brother~"

With that, Toudo Touka also began her move.

Her eyes fixed on Luo Mio, she quickly drew 'Narukami' towards him. A crescent-shaped golden lightning slash rapidly flew towards Luo Mio.

This was Toudo Touka's long-range ultimate technique.

Blade Dance Technique—'Raikiri'.

Seeing this, Luo Mio rapidly dodged using 'Shunpo'. However, Toudo Touka didn't stop and quickly unleashed another one, pursuing Luo Mio.

Luo Mio was forced into an advantageous position by Toudo Touka's 'Raikiri'.

"Whoosh—"

Toudo Touka, seeing Luo Mio cornered in the perfect spot she had calculated, suddenly appeared before him.

Just as Luo Mio had suddenly appeared before her, she now arrived in front of him as if teleporting.

"...! This is..."

Luo Mio's eyes narrowed.

Immediately, Toudo Touka rapidly swung a lightning-fast slash at Luo Mio.

"Clang—!!!"

Toudo Touka's swift strike was blocked by something unknown.

After quickly creating distance and retreating, Toudo Touka clearly saw what had blocked her attack.

Magic Power, with its dreamlike colors like twilight, swirled around Luo Mio like a nebula.

Blade Dance Technique—"Sun Chasing Shadow"!!!

"As soon as I said you were holding back, you got serious," Luo Mio said, looking at Toudo Touka as she retreated.

Hearing Luo Mio's words, Toudo Touka replied, "Isn't going all out the greatest respect for your opponent?"

"Is that so?" Luo Mio looked at Toudo Touka and grinned, "Since you've said that, I won't hold back either!"

"Thousand Stars!!!"

As Luo Mio roared, twilight-like Magic Power gradually appeared on him, like stars.

"This is..."

Toudo Touka's eyes sharpened.

"I'm coming!"

As soon as Luo Mio finished speaking, he appeared before Touka with a speed faster than the third strike of "Ura-shiki: Falcon" from earlier.

"!!!"

"Sizzle—!"