[Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan]

Grabbing Yagokoro by the shoulders, he somehow managed to calm her down from her almost predatory state, before proceeding to refute that rumor.

"I won't deny that I did indeed fight her—the rumor is correct, but only up till there. I did not win. I lost consciousness during the battle, and the next thing I knew I was lying was a hospital bed. In other words, I'm only alive because she held back on me."

He could not bear to think of what would happen if this misunderstanding got out.

"I-I see, so as I expected, it was false, huh…"

Yagokoro also seemed to accept quickly that the rumor was merely that.

"Yeah, that was probably it. Still, that you fought her and survived in itself is big news, ain't it? I know you gotta leave now, and I'm sorry, but could'ja tell me some details about the fight?"

Her face positively beamed at having unearthed this unexpected big scoop.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

"Wh-Why!? I'm not gonna mock you for losin', y'know?"

"No, I'm not refusing for that reason. Simply put, I don't remember."

"You don't… remember?"

"Yes… I remember being beaten really badly, and at some point I lost myself—the last moments were especially muddy."

This was the truth. All he remembered was his last-ditch Dokuga no Tachi being repelled with ease, and Intetsu shattering to pieces. Following this, he had no memory of how he had attempt to fend off Twin Wings. Thus he could not recall it—the moment when his sword had landed a hit on the world's strongest swordsman. Though he had heard of it from Kurono after she rescued them, it all felt too surreal, as though it had happened to someone else.

"So, well, you see, all I can tell you is that I lost."

"So that's how it is…"

Kurogane Ikki was not one to lie, this much Yagokoro knew even from their short acquaintance. Thus, she shrugged. It was disappointing, but she would not pursue the matter further.

"As I feared, though, this information alone won't make for a juicy enough scoop… say, do you mind if I fill in some… details?"

"I would."

"Come on, you'll lose magnificently!"

"No."

"Ooh. You're so stingy."

With this came her best glare, but Ikki refused to give any ground. If he left her to dramatize the story as she liked, who knew what would come of it. Before long, Yagokoro backed down first in the face of his firm stance.

"Well there's nothing for it, then. I'll just have t'give up on making this into an article."

"I'd be thankful if you did that."

"…But, to be honest, my estimation of you has gone up after hearing about this, Worst One. Now I'm really lookin' forward to see the match between you n' Moroboshi. Then, that's all, eh? Bye!"

Sending Ikki her support thusly, Yagokoro headed off by herself in the direction of the bus stop. Shizuku spoke up first after the seeing-off.

"Let's go back together, shall we? We do stay at the same hotel, after all."

Ikki, however, declining that suggestion.

"I'll pass. I'll walk back instead of taking the train."

"Why would you do that? It's still quite the distance, you know."

"It's, well, I guess two pieces really was too much for me. I'd like to do a bit of light exercise to help with the digestion."

And on top of that…

"I guess Moroboshi-san's fighting spirit has infected me too. I can't seem to sit still, so I guess I need to walk it off."

There was also that reason. In any case, Shizuku understood that while the hotel was a ten-minute train ride away, that distance was nothing her brother couldn't handle, and so she accepted it with only one mild reminder.

"So that's how it is. I understand—but tomorrow's match is an important one, so please be careful not to overtax yourself."

"I will keep myself in check, of course."

"Do you want me to come with you, Ikki?"

"…Nah, it's fine, Alice, you can just go with Shizuku."

"Ah, alright then, I understand."

"Then, I'll see you all tomorrow at the match."

Ikki waved, before heading off through the alleys in a different direction from Yagokoro.

"Onii-sama is really happy."

Shizuku could not help but notice this, and she said so in a pleased voice.

"Yes, it seems that he was really struck by the Seven Stars Sword King's fighting spirit. It was to be expected, I suppose, seeing as that fighting him in optimal condition was in fact his ulterior motive."

"Onii-sama was also unusually provocative in his reply."

"He probably couldn't contain his excitement. As an F-rank, he has been ridiculed, unacknowledged, and yet he continues to believe in his own potential. Having the chance to test himself against the Seven Stars Sword King alone would have been enough motivation for a battle maniac like him. And now he knows that his opponent, too, desires that battle. He must be so happy and proud he can barely sit still… that's actually really cute."

No doubt Ikki looked forward to meeting Moroboshi in battle tomorrow when both of them were at their best in both body and mind. To Shizuku and Arisuin, this was what they could see in Ikki's bright expression.

"But, this much won't be enough to win."

Kiriko spoke suddenly, causing them to gape slightly.

"Eh?"

"Won't be enough to win… do you mean Onii-sama?"

"Yes, that is what I mean."

"Wh-Why would you say that?"

Shizuku seemed chagrined that the White-Robed Knight would suddenly claim that her brother would lose.

"I would say that it's an issue of mentality."

Kiriko narrowed her eyes.

"I think that Kurogane-kun is a splendid knight. While being an F-rank, he aimed for and made it to the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival—so he certainly has both the drive and the strength. Even when facing the Seven Stars Sword King, he did not show any sign of fear, but rather challenged him head on—that he has ambition thus also plain to see… but I feel that he is taking it this lightly."

"Lightly… you say?"

Shizuku stared daggers at Kiriko, perceiving this as an insult to her brother. Arisuin moved to calm her down, even as he spoke what was on both their minds.

"You said Ikki is taking this too lightly. How different is Moroboshi from him then, if they share the same feelings on the matter?"

If they had different feelings on the matter, why would Moroboshi have said something like "I wish to fight you when you're at your best"?

But Kiriko simply shook her head lightly at his words.

"…That's not true. I think you've misunderstood the man called Yuudai Moroboshi quite severely. Beneath what I called his ulterior motives is something very different from Kurogane-kun's ambition. Halfhearted feelings that those would never have allowed him to overcome those injuries. That which supports him is something else altogether. It's something even more unique than the mere desire to fight those above you, or to chase after a beautiful victory. It is a most grievous sense of duty. If Kurogane-kun only holds on to such self-congratulatory ideas like wanting to fight a battle he can be proud of, or aiming for greater heights—he cannot defeat Moroboshi. I'm sure of it."

Ikki did not take the path back to the hotel after having parted from Shizuku and the others. Instead, he headed for a park away from the busy streets, away from the bustle of the night. None of that could be heard here, only the insects.

"Would you like to come out now? No one will hear us here even if we cause a disturbance."

The one he addressed was the source of that murderous intent that he had felt in front of Ichiban Boshi. That same gaze had continued to follow him since earlier. This was the real reason Ikki had chosen to return to the hotel alone—to speak to the owner of that gaze. Even with the Seven Stars Sword King among them, this person had unswervingly fixed an bloodlust upon Ikki alone, without anyone noticing. This alone spoke volumes of this pursuer's skill.

A moment later, his estimations were proven correct, as a figure emerged from the shadows and stood in front of him. Ikki gasped.

"To think that it would be you…"

The newcomer's Japanese-style clothing fluttered in the night wind. His sleek-lidded eyes flashed like naked blades. Yet, he and Ikki would have been spitting images of one another, if not for the cross-shaped scar that marred his face.

"…Ouma."

Indeed, this was none other than Ikki's brother by blood, and the sole A-Ranked Knight among Japan's student knights: Ouma Kurogane, the Sword Emperor of Wind.

Having shown himself, Ouma said not a word as he cast a piercing stare in Ikki's direction. It was hardly an amicable look, but rather one filled with killing intent, or perhaps enmity. Whichever it was, his mere gaze was enough to exert a prodigious pressure. The two of them were around the same height. Yet face-to-face, Ouma seemed to loom two, even three times his size—such was the substance of his mere presence.

Steeling himself, Ikki managed to not be swallowed up by the pressure his brother's gaze exuded.

"So, what might you need? Judging by that time in Hagun Academy, I don't suppose you're here for some brotherly bonding, are you?"

In dealing with Ouma, it was best to begin by asking for the agenda, for he was not someone to do anything — much less appear in front of him—without one.

Ouma spoke, breaking his silence.

"Of course, I came here to meet the likes of you only for one purpose. I have something that I must

say."

"Something you must say?"

Ouma nodded slightly, then with a voice that echoed not in his ears, but in his very guts…

"Withdraw from the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival at once, Ikki."

His tone and words brooked no disagreement. Ikki gaped at the sudden command. Why did he have to withdraw from the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?

"May I hear a reason?"

"Did you not understand what you were told? How carefree."

Ouma's brows furrowed, his annoyance at his brother's words plain.

"Your existence is a stumbling block to the Crimson Princess."

"…What?"

Having heard his brother's mind, it was Ikki's turn to frown.

"Since when have I been a stumbling block to Stella? I'd like it if you didn't reproach me without any basis."

"It's the truth. Thanks to your deceptions, you worm, the Crimson Princess has been foolishly wasting her time these few months competing at your level after being bested by you."

"Deception?"

"Techniques, tactics, all the means with which you attempt to catch the opponent off guard, those petty tricks with which you have bluffed and scraped your way to victory—that is your deception. Strength is not something that is found from such vulgarity, and she can never hope to become strong or anything like that by following the back of such a vulgar man. To tell the truth, she disappointed me

during our battle when we assaulted Hagun. Someone of the same caliber as I should not have only amounted to that."

All this feigning the appearance of strength and thus conning Stella—he laid at Ikki's feet. Having so decided, Ouma rounded on him.

"Therefore disappear, fool. The Crimson Princess is too good for someone like you."

"I see, so that's how it is."

Ikki gave a light sigh at Ouma's words. Having heard up till here, he could understand why his brother had claimed that he was blocking Stella's progress. Simply put, Ouma was judging him on the basis of his own value system.

To him, strength was not the technique one used to win, but the power one has. That the person with more power would win was a given—techniques capable of subverting this law were nothing but trickery.

:Really, what harsh words.'

It really was harsh. After all, Ouma's ideals were nothing but a complete rejection of his existence as an F-Rank knight aiming for the top. It was quite like Ouma as a purist of strength to speak this way, but Ikki was not about to by any means accept this ideal.

"I finally understand why you think that I have become an obstacle to Stella's progress, big brother. However, I have no reason to go along with your values. Even if is as you say, that your values are the truth, that I am a fake… Stella loves me, and she desires to have one more battle with me. To me,

that is all. Everything. Your words do not hold a candle to our promise, Ouma. They do not move me."

He rejected Ouma's request unceremoniously. His brother in response did not look too disappointed, and indeed seemed to have anticipated this refusal to submit.

"You're a fool. Do not misunderstand me. I am not asking—I am ordering you. If you won't listen, then I will simply use force to bring you to heel. That's all there is to it."

With a single slow motion—as though finding the task too tiresome—he materialized his own Device, the nodachi Ryuuzume, longer than the average Japanese sword by a shade. The air itself around them seemed to freeze over with tension, as frightful birds fled their trees overhead. They knew—they knew that the moment this sword was drawn, all within the park lay inside the palm of Ouma's hand.

Ikki, too, knew this. But even though he did he did not waver in the least. A smile unafraid crept upon his lips.

"Well, this is good—I don't hate that it's easier to understand this way."

As he said this, he materialized his own Device, Intetsu.

He was already resolved. From the time that Ouma had shown himself, he had known that there was no way their exchange could end peaceably. Those words had then sealed that fate. Ouma had said that the time Ikki and Stella had spent together up till now had been worthless. To Ikki, meeting her, the days they had spent together—these things were precious. He could not simply smile and let such

words pass. For the sake of Stella, who loved him, he would not rest till he made Ouma pay for saying them.

"Whether I am merely a stumbling stone for Stella or not—come ascertain it with your blade!"

"Don't you dare snarl at me in my own words, ragged mongrel!"

Thus did the extra-tournament battle between the Kurogane brothers erupt.

Within the city, the battle between the Sword Emperor of Wind and the Worst One began suddenly.

It was Ouma who made the first move. He lifted his hand, Ryuuzume glowing with pale, baleful fire in the darkness…

"Ha!"

…and swept horizontally at a rapidly closing Ikki. Ten meters separated the two. It was a distance no blade's reach could cross, or would cross. And yet…

"Tch!"

Ikki's body, already held close to the ground in his charge, now went lower still as he dived flush to the ground in a panic. Not a moment too soon—a frigid gale passed over him, scything through the rows of trees behind him in its wake.

A blade of steel might not cross that distance. But a blade of wind was a different matter. This was the Noble Art Shinkuuha, a popular offensive technique among wind users that tore through air, creating a small corridor of vacuum. Naturally, Ouma was capable of using it.

"Haa!"

Ouma struck out with Ryuuzume once again, sending another blade of vacuum hurtling toward Ikki. A slash capable of cutting through air. While it lacked the sheer offensive strength of a fire-user's ranged abilities like Stella Vermillion's own long-range technique Dragon Fang, its supersonic speeds and the difficulty of dodging an invisible strike made it a deadly ability in its own right.

But such a pedestrian technique would not be able to tame the Worst One. Ikki continued to advance without losing an iota of speed, juking his way through the gaps between the vacuum blades, dodging them all by a hair's breadth. From his movements it was obvious that he had seen through the

supposedly invisible Shinkuuha. But how? The trick lay in that which Ikki had fixed his gaze on. His eyes were not on the unseen blades, but the Ryuuzume Ouma wielded. Though it boasted supersonic speed, Shinkuuha could only go a straight line down the trajectory drawn by its user's Device.

Therefore, following it and evading it was simple if one observed Ryuuzume's angles of attack. It was much like dodging bullets, where one could easily evade them by reading the timing of the bolt's movements, and the position of the muzzle. For someone with Ikki's reflexes and motion perception, they simply could not hit.

"Hmph…"

Weaving past the corridor of vacuum slashes, Ikki was closing in. As though judging that bringing Ikki down was beyond mere Shinkuuha, Ouma too charged and swung at Ikki's neck—not with a sword of wind this time, but with a sword of steel.

"Kaaaa!!"

"Tch…!"

'He's fast!'

Despite wielding a bladed weapon whose weight equaled that of a spear, the sharpness and speed of Ouma's slash with his nodachi by far surpassed Ikki's.

This was not a difference in skill—indeed, both sides were about equal in that regard. The difference lay in Ouma's ability. Manipulating the wind, he had rendered air resistance null and void, giving his white blade the advantage in speed over Ikki's black one. Without Ittōu Shura, there was no counter to such speed. Having judged in that moment, Ikki took up a defensive stance…

*Swish*

…and then he felt a chill freeze the blood in his veins as that sound reached his ears.

"Ooooooh!"

Forsaking defense, he threw himself backward to avoid Ouma's strike. The blade struck the sandy soil of the park—and did not stop there, carving a seemingly bottomless chasm in the earth below, etching that fissure-like wound deeply into the ochre-colored ground. Ikki broke into a cold sweat at the sight. Stella too could shake the ground with her strikes, but Ouma's were a cut above her's. After all,

shaking was a phenomenon caused by the dispersion of energy—a sign of excessive waste and imperfection in the user's magic control. A true strike of concentrated energy created no such perturbations. Where it went, it silently yet thoroughly blew everything away. That was Ouma's strike,

which had cut through the earth like a knife through hot butter.

How much energy would have had he gathered, how much force and mass simulated in order to do something like that? How many hundreds of kilograms? How many thousands? He did not know, but one thing he did. His brother's strike, much like Stella's, was a brutal blow. And not one he could take head-on.

'But...'

This extraordinary offensive strength, it can only be created by that body.

"You've changed a lot since we last met all those years ago, Ouma. No, I should say you've changed too much. What's the secret behind that body?"

"Oh?"

Ouma cracked a predatory grin at Ikki's words.

"To think that you would notice my anomaly in our first crossing of blades. Though it is trickery, your wounding of Twin Wings is evidently not just for show… however, there is nothing you can do with that knowledge. This anomaly is pure strength alone, unlike your deceptions."

Indeed, that slash was a tough customer. He was by no means a stranger to attacks that he could not defend against. He had once fended a similarly earth-shattering blow from Stella by negating her demon-like physical strength with a soft defense. But that had only been possible because of Stella's inexperience. A blade wildly swung cuts not the falling leaf. That was the principle behind it; deflecting wild strength was but a simple matter.

Ouma's blade-work was different. Its path betrayed not the slightest hesitation or deviation—it would surely slice even a falling leaf clean in twain.

Like this, even using Ten'i Muhou would be fairly dangerous.

How would he deal with this demon's blade? Using Ittōu Shura would allow him to close the speed gap, but given the one-minute time limit it had it was still too soon to use it. He needed to force Ouma's to show more of his hand first.

In that case, what indeed would he have to do? As he drew on his past experience to come to a

solution—

"I see you're thinking of some pointless things."

Ouma's mocking call from a distance snapped his train of thought.

"I've said it before. There is nothing you can do."

Then, Ouma made his move. Was it Shinkuuha once again? No. He did not make to slash, but instead raised his blade on high, as though meaning to pierce the moon.

"Also, I don't intend to waste much time on someone of your level. Let's just put a time limit on this—all this scurrying about is depressing."

He then began his incantation.

"Bind and shut—Mukou Kekkai."

The pale emerald fire shrouding Ryuuzume burst forth in vibrant flame, and in an instant a savage gale swept across the battlefield. The sands rose and churned, blinding the eyes as the howling winds drew them into its twisting updraft. Ikki clawed at the ground with both hands, barely managing to keep himself from being thrown up into the air as well.

:Kuh! He's obstructing my vision…!'

The sandstorm and the twister as one had stripped him of both sight and mobility. He could not but acknowledge that this move was effective, but he quickly realized painfully that even that line of thinking was naive. A man who pursued strength as purely as Ouma did would never use a technique that was simply meant to reduce his opponent's fighting capability.

Mukou Kekkai had a more terrifying, more direct ability, and that was…

"This…!"

'I can't… breathe!'

…the forced removal of oxygen. The updraft Ouma had created was robbing the battlefield of it, drawing it up high into the sky, denying Ikki the luxury of time.

"You have ten minutes. About one if you fight; that's all you have left. I have no patience for you to be conserving that miserable strength of yours. Come at me with all you have."

Ikki, hearing Ouma's commanding tone, steeled himself. Indeed, he had no time to conserve his power, exactly as his brother had said. Moreover…

'This isn't an opponent I can hold back against.'

He did not know what had happened to his brother during the time when Ouma whereabouts had been unknown, but it was clear that he was many times stronger than Ikki had remembered him. This compounded with his preexisting power deficiency meant that Ouma was not an opponent against which he could hope to hide an ace. Recognizing this, Ikki aborted his attempt to see through Ouma's

strength, and ignited all the magic flowing through his body.

"Ittōu Shura."

A burst of azure fire wrapped around his body as his sword spirit burst forth, like a rushing wind yet sharp enough to cut flesh. The trees in the park again shook, their leaves falling like raindrops.

Having experienced many battles, Ikki's spirit had come to possess a very physical pressure.

Yet Ouma was not in the least shaken by that level of pressure. Rather than be in the least intimidated

by Ittōu Shura, he seemed to be annoyed—as one presented with something dull.

"A highly focused release of all one's power within a short period of time used in order to defeat with explosive force an opponent whose total reserves you cannot match… this is the height of deception. Just looking at it makes my skin crawl…. Come. Allow me to blow this stumbling stone away."

With almost leisurely movements, he settled into a battle stance. Stoic and unmoving, he evoked the image of a mighty mountain. Deep-rooted in the earth, an absolute presence. Ikki was almost overwhelmed by this feeling alone. But he had already played his trump card. He had a minute left, no more. Even a second's waste was fatal against this foe. Therefore…

"Haaaaaa!"

The knight in black initiated the decisive attack, his posture low to the ground like a shadow. In response, the Sword Emperor of Wind too made his move, his blade sweeping forth like a hurricane towards that shadow's head.

But when cloaked in Ittou Shura, Ikki was swifter than any wind!

'I can do this!'

He intended to end this in the first strike using the decisive difference in speed. Deflect Ouma's blow, avoid him, and strike at his body in a flash.

'Don't be afraid.'

His eyes fixed on the white blade bearing down on his head. Ouma could split the earth with this blow. If he allowed fear to cripple his deflection, he would be decapitated in a single strike.

'Focus!'

He sought maximum concentration to avoid this executioner's guillotine. The precision to deflect this

falling blade. He could do it. He had to be able to. With all that he had honed himself with so far, he could surely do it. So, without fear…

'Gooooo!'

Encouraging himself thus, Ikki summoned up his utmost focus and charged at the oncoming blade. In

that instant, all too suddenly…

'…Eh?'

…he stopped.

'What… is this!?'

Ikki's eyes widened in shock at the sudden anomaly in his body that occurred as he and Ouma were about to cross swords. This was the precise moment that he had concentrated all his energies unto. The moment when he should have parried Ouma's attack, and then gotten within his guard. Yet at this decisive moment—it was as though the connection between his mind and body was suddenly severed. He was conscious. Yet his body would not move.

'What… is happening!?'

He had no time to be surprised, however. He was the only one who had stopped. Ouma's blade was upon him in a flash.

'Shit!'

He barely managed to get his guard up before it made contact with his neck.

But he had taken Ouma's earth-splitting physical strength head-on.

"Gaaaah!"

Ikki was blown dozens of meters of away as though hit by a heavy truck, smashing against a stone wall.

"Gah-hak!"

A gout of bloody mist came forth from his mouth—the impact had reached his internal organs, wounding them. The bones in his arms were broken up to the elbows from taking that slash squarely. But, at this moment, both those things were irrelevant to Ikki.

'What was that, a moment ago…!'

At the moment of the decisive clash, he had frozen up mysteriously. Why had he stopped? Ever since he had taken up the sword, this had never happened before. But even as Ikki was driven to distraction by this mysterious occurrence within his body…

"Hmph."

Ouma spoke, his voice rankling with impatience.

"what are you so surprised about? Surely you do not think that you could continue as-is after having fought the world's strongest swordsman? Even if your body is fine, she left her mark on your spirit."

"…Eh!?"

"To think you couldn't even accept her gift, and yet dared to bark at me. You who know not your place…"

Even as Ouma reviled him thus, he gradually settled into an offensive stance. He lifted his hand, blade held parallel to the ground. In an instant, Ryuuzume burst forth in a nimbus of as-yet unmatched light as its blade was clad in wind. The result was one of extraordinary scale as the revolving winds

devoured the atmosphere around them, threatening to suck all the surrounding objects into its grasp. Layer upon layer of cutting gale coalesced, forming this single blade of air. A blade of a whirlwind, capable of slicing all in its path.

Yes, this was the Noble Art that had felled both the Crimson Princess and Raikiri.

"For a con-artist like you, Kusanagi is overkill. However, it would be just as distasteful were I to fail to slay you by not completing the task. Therefore, take this special favor gratefully—and die."

Having delivered his parting shot, Ouma swung, sending his greatest technique at the severely wounded Worst One.

'I can't take this technique on…!'

He had to avoid it, by any means necessary. He was concerned of course, by the meaning behind the 'gift' of Edelweiss' that Ouma had spoken of. Still, he chased it from his mind for now, ordering his body—still wracked with damage done by the impact—to flee the oncoming threat with all its might.

But he froze up again—just like before. His brain desperately appealed to his body to flee, but his flesh was frozen, unresponsive. Were his bodily functions disabled by the damage? That possibility arose first in his mind. But checking his wounds, he dismissed it—they was severe, yes, but not the point where he would be immobile.

Then, why? He couldn't understand. He couldn't understand. But at this rate he would take the blow squarely.

'Kuh!'

He had to think of something. But nothing came to his mind, the only part of his body that had not yet stopped, even as its gears churned at full speed. He was about to be swallowed whole by the titanic force of that wind blade…

...

A young man wielding a yellow spear interposed himself between the Worst One and the blade of compressed wind that threatened to slice him to smithereens just as it would anything else. Well-built and with eyes like a predator's, it was the Seven Stars Sword King, Yuudai Moroboshi.

"Tear 'em to shreds, Tora-Ou!"

With a cry that pierced the skies, he thrust the golden spear at the descending tornado. Golden light shot forth from the point of the spear, the radiance swiftly taking the shape of a tiger's head—jaws open and fangs bared. The golden tiger created of magic power seized the oncoming wind blade in its wide open maw, bit down—and Ouma's trump card, the Kusanagi that had so easily taken down the

Crimson Princess and the Raikiri—first rate student knights in their own right—was literally torn to pieces. Split asunder down the middle by the tiger, the blade of wind dispersed and ultimately dissipated into nothingness.

"You 'kay, Kurogane?"

Moroboshi asked as he stood between the brothers as Ikki's shield.

"Mo, Moroboshi-san, why are you h…?"

"You forgot somethin', so I came to give it back to ya."

So saying, he tossed an object towards Ikki's chest—his student datapad.

"The doc said you were headin' back on yer own. I was just takin' it easy, following the road back to the hotel… and then somehow just stumbled on some outrageous sibling argument."

Moroboshi then turned from Ikki to Ouma.

"Yo, long time no see, Ouma. Haven't seen your face around since the we were in elementary school."

"Moroboshi, the Star of Naniwa… or should I say, the Seven Stars Sword King?"

"Ha. I don't wanna be called no Seven Stars Sword King by you. You weren't even at that year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival."

Moroboshi spoke, referencing their old rivalry in elementary school.

"Winning that title don't mean a thing to me… well, let's leave that one aside for now."

As they exchanged words, Moroboshi scanned the surrounding area and frowned at the sorry state it was in. The deep crevasses carved into the ground. The trees felled by the whirlwind. The broken stone wall.

"Ain't this a little overboard for a sibling argument? Someone might've died if I din' step in!"

"That would be the Noble Art that can negate all other Noble Arts—Tiger Bite. You managed to shatter Kusanagi and even Mukou Kekkai."

"Aye, dat's how it is. In other words, your power over wind ain't got nothin' on me. Now that you know that, lemme ask you… you gonna continue this silly fight? You keep makin' a ruckus in my home turf, you'll be up against me."

Threatening Ouma in a voice sharp as a dagger, Moroboshi thrust his spear, infused with the power of the Noble Arts-negating Tiger Bite, at him.

"No. I no longer desire to continue."

Closing his eyes, he recalled Ryuuzume. Moroboshi's Tiger Bite had been able to destroy his trump card Kusanagi with ease. Did he find his odds against Moroboshi's assistance too unfavorable? No. To know when to back off was never his strong suit. His reason for continuing the battle was just

gone. What little interest he had possessed before left his cold eyes as he fixed them upon Ikki, who was still collapsed behind Moroboshi.

"If he cannot not accept the gift of Twin Wings, then there is no need for me to finish him off here—he will be defeated by you tomorrow. All the better. The Crimson Princess will surely wake up if she sees his pathetic form."

Throwing this last barb, he turned on his heel and melted into the darkness from which he had come. As he left, he muttered a last few words.

"Still, to have forgotten something, huh? …What a lucky man."

Moroboshi gave an exasperated sigh as he watched Ouma leave.

"Well, his appearance has changed quite a bit since elementary school, but ain't his cold attitude still the same?"

Once Ouma had completed disappeared, he then turned back to Ikki, who was now slumped against the stone wall.

"Well, what was that about? Heard y'all mention Stella-chan or somesuch. This some kind of lover's quarrel? You two brothers fighting over the same girl, like in the drama serials?"

Ikki smiled bitterly at Moroboshi's flippancy as he stood up haltingly.

"Please stop, I nearly died back there. Still, you really saved me. Thank you very much for that… and for the datapad as well."

"All good, all good. Don't sweat it… more importantly."

His eyes narrowed, and he continued in a more serious tone. He was only concerned about one thing.

"Well, what's the matter with you, Kurogane? I only looked from afar, but your movements were weird. Didn't look like it was due to your injuries either…"

He had seen Ikki when he had seemed to not flee from Kusanagi. Unfortunately, the answer to his question was something Ikki himself wanted to know, more so than anyone else.

"Honestly, I don't know what happened or how…"

It had come completely unannounced—he should have conditioned himself perfectly in preparation for the tournament. So he could nothing but shake his head.

"Is that so… but really, you looked exactly like a deer in the headlights of a really big speeding truck. Well, that can't be it, can it?"

After all, no knight who could appear at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival would be scared out of their wits by an opponent's technique, much less someone like Ikki, the 'Worst One' who had been brave enough to smile even when matched up against the Crimson Princess and her Katharterio Salamandra. That could not be so. Yet…

Moroboshi's casual words caused something to flash across Ikki's mind.

「Surely you do not think that you could continue as-is after having fought the world's strongest swordsman? Even if your body is fine, she left her mark on your spirit.」

These were the words that Ouma had said to him at the end of their battle. Now that he thought about it, it was indeed exactly as his brother had described it. He had fought against the world's greatest swordswoman, and lived. Been defeated by her, yet was whole. Could it have possibly been this convenient? He had come back from having one foot in the grave—but it seemed like not a thing had changed… was this line of thought perhaps a little too naive?

An ill premonition sent him into a cold sweat. This happened often in the world of fighting, with a good example being boxing. After having suffered a severe loss, some fighters would develop an extreme irrational fear of an opponent's punches and as a result freeze up in panic during the few

seconds where blows were exchanged. This trauma-induced mental condition was known as "Punch

Eye". Naturally, those afflicted by this condition could not continue fighting.

Some would call them broken. Could it be…that without knowing it, he had been broken? Indeed, he had checked out on the tests done after the battle with Edelweiss. He could still perform up to his usual standards in training. But none of these situations had put his life in any danger. Thus, he had not realized it till now, only to have it come out into the open when faced with the genuine killing intent that Ouma had exuded. It was a frightening thought, and unfortunately, it was not all baseless talk. Rather, it was just as Ouma had said—for him to have come out unscathed from a battle with the strongest swordswoman was unnatural. Should not it have been expected that some part of him, whether body or spirit, had been shattered during the fight?

Seeing the blood drain from Ikki's face, Moroboshi spoke up, concerned.

"What's up? You've got a scary face on… did you think of something?"

"…No… not particularly…"

He did not tell Moroboshi what his thoughts were. He could not possibly do so. He could not show his next opponent his weakness. And more importantly...

「I look forward to fighting you when you're at your best.」

…Moroboshi had looked forward to their battle so much. He would not tell him, even were his lips ripped open. Ikki forcibly quashed the uneasiness within him.

All the while, Moroboshi continued to eye him, until…

"That so? …Well, leaving that aside, let's get you to a doctor real quick, eh? Just sit down for a bit."

Dropping his pursuit of that point, he whipped out his own datapad and began dialing for an ambulance.

"Sorry about this…"

Was this really thanks, or was it an apology? Muttering these words whose true meaning even he knew not, Ikki placed his shattered hands over his chest. Ittōu Shura had long since been dispelled, and the fatigue had by now risen to claim his entire body. Thanks to that, his entire body had been numbed and therefore he did not feel the pain of his wounds.

:What's happened… to me? To my body…?'

And yet the fear that arose in his heart of having broken somewhere as a knight did not decrease in the slightest.

Later, after having received treatment and returned to his hotel room, Ikki continued his self-examination. Diving deep within his consciousness, he examined both his body and his soul, leaving no stone unturned. But he could not find any apparent trace of affliction. Rather, he could not but

conclude that he was in optimal condition. Was he really broken? If not, that freeze-up, what was it?

He did not know, and because he did not know, he could not even begin to overcome it. That boded ill. To challenge the Seven Stars Sword King while sitting on this ticking time bomb he did not even understand was reckless. This was not an opponent he could beat if his body were to refuse to move at critical junctures. He had to conquer it somehow.

But as though mocking the anxious worrying in his heart, it came.

Light. The morning. The day where it would all begin…

...

「It is said, Conflict is evil, for from it is born hatred;

Peace is good, for from it is born kindness;

Violence is a sin, for by it we harm our fellow man;

Conciliation is a virtue, for by we care for them;

If mankind were sensible, we would surely think this way.

But, despite this, humankind nonetheless yearns for strength!

To be stronger than all others! To be bolder than all others!

Overwhelming power, before which none can stand! Absolute power, with which you shall do as you

please!

Let them speak, who have never longed for this. Let them open their mouths, who have never desired

it.

All who were born into this world have dreamed—and gave some up when they lost their way.

Now, those who dream of staking their lives to challenge themselves and their peers have gathered

here, at this festival!

For Hokkaido—Rokuzon Academy.

For Tohoku—Kyomon Academy.

For North Kanto—Donrou Academy.

For South Kanto—Hagun Academy.

For Kinki—Bukyoku Academy.

For Chugoku-Shikoku—Rentei Academy.

For Kyushu-Okinawa—Bunkyoku Academy.

And last but not least—our debutant, Akatsuki Academy.

Thirty-two have been chosen from among the eight schools, each one a magnificent knight.

Even so, only one may claim the title of 'Seven Stars Sword King'—the name of Japan's number one

student knight!

Therefore, we shall decide the better man with sword in hand, for is that not the chivalric tradition?

…Our thirty-two young, noble champions.

The time is now! If only at this time, none shall reproach you!

Fight as you wish, as you will—fight with everything you have!

With this, I declare that the sixty-second Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival… has begun!」