Fantasy Library, Ch 71-75

Chapter 71: Let's Give It Our All

“Welcome, everyone in attendance! This is the grand final of the Phoenix Festa!”

“After two weeks of grueling battles, the ultimate showdown of the Phoenix Festa is finally about to begin!”

“Now entering the stage are the two teams that have made it to the finals! What surprised us all is… both teams hail from Seidoukan Academy!”

“That’s right! This year’s Phoenix Festa finals have been completely dominated by Seidoukan Academy, a school that has struggled in recent years to achieve notable results!”

“And the finalists are—"

“Kaiser & Kirin Toudou and Ayato Amagiri & Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld!”

Inside the broadcast room, the two commentators spoke one after another in rapid succession, their voices overlapping as though they were performing a synchronized act. Their excitement merged with the thunderous cheers of the audience, resounding across the stage.

“Kaiser & Kirin Toudou were the first team to secure a spot in the finals. They are, respectively, Seidoukan Academy’s current and former Rank One. In terms of strength, they are undoubtedly among the strongest competitors. From the very first day of the Phoenix Festa, they have been regarded as the top contenders for the championship.”

“And indeed, they have proven their strength by advancing through the tournament with overwhelming victories. Even in the semifinals, when facing Le Wolfe Black Institute’s Rank Three, they secured a smooth and decisive win, further solidifying their status as championship favorites.”

“On the other hand, Ayato Amagiri & Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld have had a far more arduous journey, winning each match through hard-fought battles. Their victories have been anything but easy.”

“But just when it seemed like they were on the verge of defeat, these two always managed to turn the tables, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat time and time again. Underestimating them would be a grave mistake.”

“I see! So today’s match is a showdown between the dominant kings and the dark horses!”

“Both teams are from Seidoukan Academy, meaning they should be fairly familiar with each other’s strengths. In the end, who will claim victory? It’s truly difficult to predict.”

As the live commentators grew more heated in their discussion, Kaiser and Ayato, already standing face-to-face on the stage, gripped the Activators of their swords.

“The moment has finally arrived.”

Ayato was the first to speak.

He wore a confident smile—one that was different from his usual relaxed and carefree expression. This time, it was filled with determination and fighting spirit.

“Yeah.” Kaiser gazed at Ayato with a look of understanding and muttered, “I always had a feeling that if I kept winning in the Phoenix Festa, I would eventually face you as my opponent. But now that we’re actually standing on opposite sides like this, I can’t help but feel a little sentimental.”

Kaiser had always believed that as long as he continued his winning streak, his final opponent would inevitably be Ayato Amagiri.

After all, Ayato was the protagonist of the original story. He was the destined champion of the Phoenix Festa. As long as they hadn’t encountered each other earlier in the tournament, and no unexpected plot twists had occurred, their clash was bound to happen sooner or later.

Because of that, Kaiser had always regarded Ayato as the final opponent he needed to overcome—the greatest challenge of this Phoenix Festa.

“It seems like you’ve always held me in high regard, Kaiser.” Ayato, of course, could not comprehend Kaiser’s perspective. He looked slightly puzzled and said, “There are many competitors in this tournament with greater strength and abilities than me.”

Clearly, Ayato had noticed how seriously Kaiser regarded him, but he couldn’t understand why.

In terms of pure strength, Ayato didn’t consider himself superior to Kaiser. Not now, and certainly not before.

After all, Ayato had been held back by the restrictions of his seal. The amount of time he could fight at full strength had been severely limited.

Although he had somewhat overcome that problem now, Kaiser had already taken him seriously long before this. That left Ayato feeling both surprised and flattered.

Even if he were unrestricted, Ayato didn’t believe he was the strongest competitor in this year’s Phoenix Festa.

Given that, Kaiser’s level of attention toward him seemed almost excessive.

At least, from Ayato’s point of view, he was unworthy of being regarded as Kaiser’s greatest rival.

To this, Kaiser simply shook his head.

“Others might not understand your strength, but I do more than anyone,” Kaiser said meaningfully. “Like I said, I’ve been looking forward to this battle.”

“Now that we’re both standing on this stage as opponents…”

“Let’s give it our all.”

Hearing Kaiser’s words, Ayato cast aside his doubts.

“I understand.” Ayato once again smiled, his fighting spirit burning brighter than ever. “I’ve been looking forward to this too.”

With that, Kaiser and Ayato locked eyes for a moment.

Then, as if they had agreed beforehand, they simultaneously activated their Orga Luxes.

“Zing—”

“Zing—”

Brilliant lights erupted from their respective Urm-Manadyte cores, pulling vast amounts of Mana from the air.

Ayato raised his Activator, and a holographic grid spun into existence, rapidly assembling and restructuring itself before unfolding like a mechanical jaw, forming an azure sword.

Meanwhile, Kaiser’s activation was far more subtle. His Activator didn’t create any additional components; instead, it simply concentrated an immense amount of heat, forging a blade of deep violet and black flames that extended from the crimson Urm-Manadyte core.

“Vmm!”

“Vmm!”

Both legendary swords roared to life in unison, vibrating as if in anticipation—almost as if they couldn’t wait for the battle to begin.

“There it is! The legendary Four-Colored Magic Swords!”

“The Ser-Veresta that can burn through everything and Wole-Zain that can cut through space—two of the infamous Four-Colored Magic Swords appearing together on the Phoenix Festa stage! This is truly a historic moment!”

It was as if the commentators had been waiting for this moment all along. The instant Kaiser and Ayato activated their swords, they shouted with boundless enthusiasm.

Countless spectators watched this scene unfold—whether present in the arena or watching the live broadcast—fixating their full attention on this monumental duel.

A battle between Orga Luxes.

A showdown between magic swords.

Not only were these legendary weapons equals in name, but they had also originated from the same laboratory. This was a fateful clash in every sense.

Even the strongest warriors from the various academies and those with their own hidden agendas were watching with keen interest, awaiting the outcome of this battle.

Because of this, Kirin Toudou and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld had been relegated to the background.

Yet, neither of them minded.

“My apologies in advance, Julis-senpai,” Kirin said as she unsheathed Senbakiri.

“I won’t hold back, Kirin,” Julis responded with a fearless smile as she activated a rapier-type Lux.

Right on cue, the commentators’ voices boomed once more.

“The time has come! No matter the outcome, this will be the final match of this year’s Phoenix Festa!”

“The dominant kings versus the dark horse challengers—who will seize the ultimate victory and stand at the pinnacle of this stage?!”

At that moment, the Seidoukan Academy uniforms worn by all four competitors shimmered, and their school badges emitted a red glow.

“The 24th Phoenix Festa Grand Finals.”

A mechanical voice echoed from the badges, resounding throughout the entire stage.

“Match—START!”

The moment the starting signal rang across the arena, the four students from Seidoukan Academy simultaneously unleashed their Prana, filling the air with shimmering star-like motes of energy.

“Bloom—Scarlet Circular Flameblades!”

Julis was the first to act, converting her surging Prana into materialized flames, causing red lotus-like fire to erupt around her.

The flames whirled into vortexes, rapidly coalescing into circular disks. Within moments, a dozen scorching fire wheels spun furiously around her.

“Go!”

With a swing of her rapier-type Lux, Julis sent the blazing wheels flying forward, leaving trails of flame in their wake.

Kaiser and Kirin showed no hesitation as they charged straight into the attack.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!” …

Flashes of violet-black flames and silver-white slashes illuminated the battlefield as the incoming fire wheels were cut down one by one.

Kaiser and Kirin advanced like masterful swordsmen performing a deadly dance, slicing through the flames as they dashed toward Julis.

“You won’t get through!”

Ayato intercepted them, sword in hand.

The battle erupted instantly.

Chapter 72: Oblivious Protagonists

“Kirin!”

Seeing Ayato Amagiri charging forward with Wole-Zain in hand, Kaiser immediately called out.

“Yes!”

Kirin Toudou instinctively understood his intent. Without hesitation, she swiftly sidestepped in a curved arc, avoiding Ayato’s direct charge.

Kaiser took Kirin’s position, seamlessly switching places with her. As he shielded her behind him, he stepped forward to meet Ayato head-on.

“Vmm!”

Both legendary swords vibrated with excitement, resonating in anticipation. In the next instant, their wielders swung them with blinding speed, sending sparks flying as the blades clashed.

“Clang—!”

With the resounding clash of metal, the two Orga Luxes finally collided.

Flashes of light erupted as the vibrations of Mana surged, causing the two magic swords to grind fiercely against each other.

“He blocked it!”

“As expected of swords of equal standing! The supposedly unblockable attacks of both swords are now deadlocked!”

The commentators quickly provided analysis, their words fueling the crowd’s excitement as the spectators erupted into cheers.

Both the Ser-Veresta and Wole-Zain had built their reputations in this Phoenix Festa as weapons that were utterly unstoppable. Numerous weapons had shattered upon contact with them. Countless competitors had fought desperately to avoid engaging these swords in direct combat, opting instead for evasive and tactical maneuvers.

Even an Orga Lux as formidable as the Blood Scythe of Supreme Collapse had been partially cut into when clashing with the Ser-Veresta—and that was when the latter wasn’t even at full power.

If the Ser-Veresta clashed directly with the Blood Scythe of Supreme Collapse, the latter might have held out for two or three exchanges at most. But beyond that, it too would have been broken.

The Wole-Zain was just as fearsome. Its ability to sever space along designated coordinate axes was an overwhelming power. Even other Orga Luxes of the same tier could only last a few exchanges against it before succumbing.

And yet—here they were.

For the first time in the entire Phoenix Festa, these two legendary swords had met in direct confrontation.

And neither was able to overcome the other.

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!”

In the blink of an eye, before the audience could even process what they were witnessing, Kaiser and Ayato had already exchanged dozens of blows.

The Ser-Veresta in Kaiser’s hand slashed with streaks of violet-black light, its speed dazzling. Like a storm of flashing steel, his attacks came from all directions, striking at Ayato from different angles.

Ayato did not dare to be careless. He maneuvered Wole-Zain with minimal yet precise movements, intercepting every single strike. His defense was effortless yet precise, even knocking back some of Kaiser’s slashes, causing them to harmlessly disperse into the air.

Had it been any other Lux, even another Orga Lux, such repeated collisions with these two swords would have already caused visible damage. But when these two legendary weapons clashed, they remained unscathed.

“No doubt about it, the Ser-Veresta is ridiculously strong.”

Ayato swiftly retreated, dodging a frontal slash from Kaiser, widening the distance between them. As he did, he couldn’t help but voice his thoughts.

“The Wole-Zain isn’t bad either.” Kaiser, seeing that Ayato’s stance had no openings whatsoever, chose not to rush in recklessly. Instead, he pointed the Ser-Veresta toward his opponent and said, “But you—haven’t you gotten much stronger since the start of the Phoenix Festa?”

What Kaiser meant wasn’t Ayato’s physical strength increasing, nor was he referring to his Prana reserves growing.

He was talking about Ayato’s intuition and perception.

Had this been the Ayato from before the tournament, he wouldn’t have been unable to block Kaiser’s attacks, but he certainly wouldn’t have defended this effortlessly.

Kaiser had the distinct feeling that his attack patterns had been completely read. Ayato’s responses were precise and calculated, as if he knew exactly where the attacks were coming from. He intercepted every strike with the smallest necessary movements, neutralizing them with ease.

“Could this be the ‘Awakening of Perception’ from the Amagiri Shinmei Style?”

Kaiser muttered his suspicions aloud.

Ayato’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“You know about ‘Perception’?”

Ayato looked genuinely taken aback.

“I just happened to come across it.” Kaiser smirked and continued, “The Amagiri Shinmei Style is an ancient school of swordsmanship. In standard classification, its techniques are divided into basic, intermediate, and esoteric levels.”

“Basic and intermediate techniques aside, to use the esoteric techniques of the Amagiri Shinmei Style, there’s a fundamental requirement.”

“That is—to extend one’s perception to its utmost limit, reaching a state where one can detect even the faintest shifts in breath, the subtlest of movements, the most minute fluctuations in space, sound, air, and energy.”

“That is what they call the ‘Awakening of Perception’.”

Only by reaching this state could a swordsman of the Amagiri Shinmei Style execute their esoteric techniques.

Before the Phoenix Festa began, Ayato had already been exceptionally skilled—but he had not yet reached this level.

However, through his arduous battles in this tournament, Ayato had endured hardship after hardship, sharpening his instincts to an extreme degree.

And so, at some point, he broke through—achieving the Awakening of Perception and stepping into the esoteric realm of the Amagiri Shinmei Style.

“You’ve also resolved your issue with your seal, haven’t you?”

Kaiser listed off Ayato’s growth, almost as if recounting a list of achievements.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve completely resolved it.” Ayato chuckled and said, “But at least it’s no longer a major hindrance.”

Before the Phoenix Festa, Ayato’s method of unsealing himself had been crude and inefficient. His Prana would violently surge out upon release, causing massive energy loss. At most, he could fight at full power for five minutes.

Once that time limit passed, the seal would reactivate—and the excess loss of Prana would cripple him for an entire day.

In his very first match of the preliminary rounds, he was still at this stage. The chant he recited before battle was a necessary ritual to forcibly break the chains of his seal and unleash his full strength.

But after everything he had been through, Ayato had refined his control over his seal.

Now, he could extend the time he could fight at full power significantly.

Even if he fought at full power for over an hour, it wouldn’t be an issue.

He had even abandoned the chant—he no longer needed to recite an incantation to undo his seal. He could now release it instantly.

“As expected, you really are the protagonist. The moment you find an opportunity, your growth is absolutely ridiculous.”

Kaiser muttered with a tone of helpless resignation.

“…Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?”

Ayato gave him a strange look.

Sure, Ayato had improved significantly, but his progress had clear reasoning behind it.

He had trained in the Amagiri Shinmei Style for years. He had been on the verge of breaking through to the Awakening of Perception long ago, but his crude seal release method had generated too much interference. Once he resolved the issue with his seal, he naturally stepped into this new realm.

But Kaiser?

Ayato had heard the rumors.

Three months ago, Kaiser was an absolute nobody. He wasn’t even ranked in Seidoukan Academy.

Yet, in the span of just three months, he had somehow become the wielder of the Ser-Veresta.

He had grown so much that he now stood at the very pinnacle of Seidoukan Academy.

…Now that was protagonist-level growth.

The two young men, both locked in an intense battle, found themselves thinking the same thing—that the other was the real protagonist.

Completely oblivious to the fact that they were both correct.

“Can you two stop chatting and finish this fight already?”

A voice full of urgency suddenly rang from behind them.

“I could use some help over here, Ayato!”

Hearing Julis’ voice, Ayato immediately turned his head.

He saw Julis unleashing continuous barrages of Flame Wheels, desperately trying to halt Kirin’s relentless advance.

Yet, each and every one of them was being cut down by Kirin’s swift sword strikes. The distance between them was shrinking at an alarming rate.

“Julis!”

Ayato immediately rushed to her aid.

Kaiser, of course, was not about to let him go so easily.

Heat swirled around his body as he burst forward, accelerating at astonishing speed to chase after him.

But just as Kaiser was about to catch up—

A red magic circle suddenly appeared beneath his feet.

“Got you!”

Julis smirked.

“Bloom—Flameclaw of Honor!”

In the next instant, five towering pillars of flame erupted from the ground.

Chapter 73: At a Disadvantage? Take Down Kirin?

“Boom—!”

The massive pillars of flame erupted from the ground like a volcanic explosion, then swiftly curled inward like the claws of a fiery beast, attempting to crush Kaiser within their grasp.

Surrounded by the raging inferno, Kaiser finally grasped the situation.

“So, it wasn’t just me stalling for time… They were stalling, too?”

He had deliberately engaged Ayato Amagiri in conversation to create an opportunity for Kirin Toudou to close in on Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld.

At first, he had thought that Ayato had fallen for his trap.

But now, it seemed he was the one who had been deceived.

Ayato and Julis had clearly anticipated that Kaiser and Kirin would opt for a one-on-one engagement strategy. So instead, they played along—leading Kaiser to believe he was keeping Ayato occupied, when in reality, they had used that to lure him into a trap set by Julis.

Flameclaw of Honor.

Among the abilities Julis possessed, this was one of her trap-based techniques.

That meant that, once placed, it remained active without the need for direct control. The moment an enemy stepped into its range, the ability automatically activated—like a landmine.

In the semifinals, Irene Urzaiz had similarly used Gravisheath to create a defensive gravity field around Priscilla Urzaiz, aiming to protect her from attacks.

Now, Julis had done the opposite—her setup was not defensive, but purely offensive.

Thus, the five towering flame pillars curled inward, ready to engulf Kaiser.

“Not that easy!”

Kaiser held the Ser-Veresta parallel to the ground and, just as the flames closed in, spun in a rapid 360-degree arc, slashing outward in a full-circle strike.

“Schwing!”

A ring of violet-black sword light carved a perfect arc through the air, severing the closing flame pillars.

“Bloom—Longiflorum!”

Almost at the exact same moment, as if anticipating Kaiser’s escape, Julis swung her rapier-type Lux once more.

The surrounding flames coalesced, transforming into massive, spear-like projectiles that shot toward Kaiser like bullets.

These fire spears were much faster than her previous flame wheels.

Even with his reflexes, Kaiser was a fraction of a second too slow to swing his sword in time.

He barely managed to twist his body—dodging the first Blazing Spear by a hair’s breadth.

“Boom!”

The spear missed, landing on the stage and exploding into flames.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!” …

One after another, the flaming projectiles detonated wherever they struck.

As Kaiser continued weaving between them, the flames erupted in rapid succession, their intense heat licking at his heels.

If not for the heat aura emitted by the Ser-Veresta, which neutralized some of the incoming flames, Kaiser would have already been caught in the chain explosions.

Even so, he was forced to keep dodging.

Then—

“Bloom—Scorching Rose of Melting Sky!”

At some point, Kaiser had stepped onto another of Julis’ trap spells.

The moment his foot touched the ground, an enormous magic circle unfurled beneath him.

Like a camellia in full bloom, a gigantic firestorm burst forth from above, spiraling downward in a fiery vortex.

Its blast radius was immense.

Within an instant, the entire ten-meter section of the stage was swallowed in an explosive inferno.

The audience let out collective gasps.

The defensive barriers around the stage immediately flared up, containing the explosion to prevent its heat from reaching the spectators.

“Kaise-senpai!”

Kirin, who was already engaged with Ayato, managed to dodge an incoming strike and turned her head at the last second.

Seeing Kaiser consumed by the flames, she instinctively called out.

“Kirin, I wouldn’t let your guard down if I were you.”

Ayato grinned, his Wole-Zain gleaming in his hand.

With unrelenting speed, he launched into a fierce flurry of sword strikes, forcing Kirin to dodge frantically.

She knew better than to block his Wole-Zain directly with Senbakiri. Instead, she focused entirely on evasive footwork.

Meanwhile, the commentators in the broadcast room erupted in excitement.

“This is incredible! It looks like Kaiser and Kirin Toudou are struggling!”

“They’ve been pushed back! While their individual strength is undeniable, Ayato Amagiri and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld have an incredibly synergized battle strategy that perfectly suits a two-on-two fight. This is proving to be a serious challenge for Kaiser and Kirin, who both specialize in close combat!”

Ayato and Julis’ strategy was simple.

Since Kaiser was focused entirely on Ayato, and Kirin was determined to take out Julis first, they took full advantage of their positioning.

With this setup, Ayato was able to break away at key moments, ensuring that Kirin never got close enough to Julis.

Meanwhile, Julis kept up her ranged attacks—focusing all of her firepower on keeping Kaiser pinned down.

If things continued like this—

Ayato would soon find an opportunity to take down Kirin.

And once Kirin was eliminated, the two-on-one battle against Kaiser would decide everything.

“My apologies, Kaiser. Until Ayato finishes off Kirin, you’ll have to put up with me.”

Julis stood confidently amidst the lingering flames, issuing her challenge.

However—

“Finish off Kirin?”

From within the firestorm, Kaiser’s voice rang out.

“I think… you’re underestimating her.”

The moment those words left his lips—

The situation shifted drastically.

“Amagiri Shinmei Style—Four Bee Sting!”

Ayato rushed forward, executing an incredibly fast and unorthodox movement—his footwork twisted, sending his body into a wide, circular motion around Kirin.

With a swift wrist twist, he lunged with Wole-Zain, driving it forward like a wasp’s sting.

The attack was both fast and precise.

With his newly awakened perception, Ayato calculated the exact timing and angle for a perfect, unavoidable strike.

And yet—

Kirin saw through it.

“There!”

Almost as if she had been waiting for this exact moment, Kirin’s focused gaze gleamed with sharp insight.

She pivoted, spinning on her heel in a rapid motion.

With a perfectly timed counter-swing, she struck the flat of Ayato’s sword.

“Clang!”

A clear, bell-like impact rang across the stage.

Ayato’s blade was deflected.

Not blocked.

Not clashed.

Deflected.

The strike completely disrupted the trajectory of his attack.

The Wole-Zain was sent veering off-course.

Even though it could cut through space itself, its cutting edge had been bypassed entirely.

“……?!”

Ayato’s eyes widened in shock.

“Yaaah!”

The moment she deflected his attack, Kirin immediately followed up.

Her silver-white blade curved through the air in a cold, swift arc, slashing directly toward Ayato’s school badge.

At the last second, Ayato managed to dodge, twisting his body away.

But—

The edge of Senbakiri still cut through the fabric of his uniform.

Had he reacted a split-second later, the match would have ended right there.

“...That was an incredible strike, Kirin.”

Ayato leapt backward, instinctively widening the distance.

For the first time in this battle, his expression was one of awe.

“You really live up to your title as Seidoukan’s former Rank One.”

Kirin held her sword steady, calm and unwavering.

“My eyesight is excellent,” she said plainly. “Once I adapted to your speed, I could track your blade’s motion with ease.”

“Still… it’s a pity I couldn’t end the match right there.”

Kirin exhaled lightly, adjusting her stance.

Ayato, on the other hand, felt a faint shiver run through his body.

In that moment, he fully realized it.

The girl before him—

Was a true genius.

Her skill.

Her instincts.

Her talent.

This was the swordswoman who once reigned supreme in Seidoukan Academy.

Chapter 74: The True Power of the Magic Swords

“Ayato!”

Seeing Ayato Amagiri nearly lose his school badge to Kirin Toudou’s blade, Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld broke into a cold sweat.

“Schwing!”

Amidst the raging flames of the explosion, the Ser-Veresta emerged, slashing through the fiery shockwave in a single stroke, severing the entire blast in two.

Bathed in glimmering Prana, his defenses enhanced to withstand the flames, Kaiser strode out unscathed, flashing a confident smile at Julis, whose expression had subtly shifted.

“Kirin is strong,” Kaiser remarked casually. “If you forget that, you’re going to have a problem.”

Despite not being a Strega, an Orga Lux wielder, or even older than thirteen, Kirin’s presence was often overshadowed by Kaiser, who stood out in every possible way.

But that did not mean Kirin could be underestimated.

Even now, despite Ayato having overcome his seal and stepped into the Awakening of Perception, his victory over Kirin was far from certain.

Even Kirin herself had admitted she might be weaker than Ayato at this moment. But defeating her would still require immense effort on his part.

“In terms of pure swordsmanship, Kirin still surpasses Ayato.” Kaiser smirked. “If you think she’s the weak link in our team, then unless you give it your absolute all, you won’t even stand a chance.”

As he spoke, Kaiser gripped his sword with both hands and raised the Ser-Veresta high above his head.

A massive surge of Prana flowed into the sword, causing black, swirling patterns to appear along its blade.

“Speaking of which, Your Highness, your abilities are quite difficult to deal with. Long-range fire bombardment is one thing, but you’ve also been quietly setting traps across the battlefield. I wonder… just how many more of those have you hidden on this stage?”

While he spoke, the Ser-Veresta continued to darken as he channeled even more power into it.

“To avoid getting played any further, I think it’s time to clean up the battlefield.”

Julis’ heart skipped a beat.

She immediately realized what Kaiser was about to do.

“Bloom—”

Reacting instantly, she activated her ability, attempting to stop him before he could finish.

But—

She was too late.

Kaiser had already reversed his grip on the Ser-Veresta, clasped the hilt with both hands—

And drove it straight into the ground.

“Shhhk!”

The stage floor of Sirius Dome was pierced as if it were paper, just as it had been in the semifinals.

“Boom—!”

The immense heat concentrated within the Ser-Veresta was suddenly unleashed, erupting beneath the stage with devastating force.

In an instant—

The entire stage turned red-hot, glowing like molten metal. The temperature skyrocketed, forcing the defensive barriers to activate immediately, forming three consecutive layers to contain the heat within the battlefield.

Inside the sealed-off space, the stage had transformed into a blazing furnace, radiating intense, suffocating heat.

In that moment, the entire battlefield’s Mana flow was severed.

The flames that had previously surrounded Julis vanished into thin air.

And, naturally, all the trap-based abilities she had placed beforehand were also completely erased—not a single one remained.

“…This is bad.”

Julis let out a low, frustrated sigh.

She immediately began backpedaling, distancing herself from Kaiser as much as possible.

Her set-up abilities were gone, the Mana density in the area was depleted, and now—she couldn’t even activate her own Strega abilities.

Julis was now completely powerless.

“This completely counters ability users…”

For the first time, Julis truly grasped the sheer terror of the Ser-Veresta.

A Strega or Dante could only use their unique abilities because of their connection to Mana.

But if the Mana flow disappeared, they had nothing to draw upon—their powers became completely unusable.

Unless one wielded an Orga Lux like Ser-Veresta or Gravisheath, which had its own independent Mana supply, a Mana-depleted battlefield would render any Strega or Dante utterly helpless.

In other words—

The Ser-Veresta was a natural counter to every Strega and Dante in existence.

It wasn’t just Julis who realized this.

Everyone watching the battle—the academies, executives, and factions that relied on Strega and Dante power—were now deeply unsettled.

“Wait… is the Ser-Veresta really this terrifying?”

“No previous wielder of Ser-Veresta has ever managed to pull this off.”

“If Ser-Veresta could always do this, it would’ve been legendary by now!”

“This means… the previous wielders weren’t able to achieve this level of control. It’s not that they didn’t want to—it’s that they couldn’t.”

“The only one who has ever fully unlocked the Ser-Veresta’s potential—is him.”

The expressions of countless individuals darkened as they watched Kaiser, their wariness toward him increasing tenfold.

Unaware of the reaction he had stirred, Kaiser simply pulled his sword from the floor, reducing the Prana output and allowing its blade to return to its usual violet-black hue.

“That should take care of your annoying abilities for now.”

His golden eyes locked onto Julis, whose expression was shifting between frustration and disbelief.

“Let’s see how you stop me now.”

With a single burst of movement, Kaiser launched himself toward Julis like an arrow from a bow.

“Julis!”

Ayato’s voice erupted across the battlefield.

“OOOOOHHHHH—!!”

The normally calm and gentle Ayato roared, his Prana surging explosively around him.

A powerful shockwave burst forth, sending Kirin flying away from him.

The unleashed Prana storm rushed into his Wole-Zain, causing its Urm-Manadyte core to shine brighter than ever before.

Like a raging storm, Ayato charged forward, roaring as he swung his most powerful strike yet at Kaiser.

“Boom—!”

The impact shook the entire stage.

And then—

Something incredible happened.

The moment Ayato’s sword slashed forward—

Space itself was severed.

As if a sheet of glass had been shattered, a deep, jagged black rift split open in the air, tearing through the very fabric of reality.

The moment the rift appeared—

Kaiser.

Kirin.

Even Julis.

All of them froze.

Because—

That rift was growing.

Slowly but surely, it was expanding—splitting the battlefield apart.

“Kaise-senpai!”

Kirin, who had barely steadied herself after being knocked back, found herself trapped in a corner, unable to move past the rift.

“Ayato!”

Julis, now isolated on the opposite side, realized that all paths leading to her had been cut off.

Kaiser, who had been mid-charge, was forced to halt abruptly.

Right before him—

The expanding, pitch-black spatial rift had completely blocked his path.

“…So this is the true power of Wole-Zain?”

Kaiser’s gaze flickered toward Ayato.

The spectators fell into stunned silence.

Just like the Ser-Veresta, this level of power had never been recorded in history.

Ayato Amagiri had just unlocked Wole-Zain’s hidden potential.

And—

He wasn’t even aware of what he had done.

“Your opponent is me.”

Ayato’s gaze turned sharper than ever before.

Kaiser’s golden eyes wavered slightly—then curved into an exhilarated smile.

“Come, then.”

With no further words needed, Kaiser raised the Ser-Veresta.

Ayato, his Prana burning brighter than ever, dashed forward.

“Amagiri Shinmei Style—Night Dust Pattern!”

Ayato’s sword strike, filled with unprecedented force, came slashing toward Kaiser.

Kaiser, eyes blazing, met it head-on.

“Clang!!”

The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

The true battle had begun.

Chapter 75: The Ultimate Sword Dance

“Vmm—”

It was the sound of the magic swords vibrating—no, the very air itself was trembling.

As Kaiser and Ayato Amagiri let go of all distractions and focused solely on their battle, this resonating hum filled the battlefield.

Their Prana burst forth, scattering like stardust, forming radiant trails of energy that painted their silhouettes like mythical warriors of legend.

Within this dazzling display, the two swordsmen clashed.

“Boom!”

Kaiser surged forward, his entire body enveloped in scorching heat, disrupting the air currents around him as he charged. The Ser-Veresta pulsed with waves of fire, sword light flowing like a ribbon of violet-black energy, slashing fiercely.

“Amagiri Shinmei Style—Thousand Fanged Separation!”

Ayato mirrored the charge, dashing with breakneck speed while swinging Wole-Zain, unleashing a streak of azure radiance brimming with sharp, unrelenting force.

“Clang—!”

The violet-black arc met the azure flash, the collision producing a clear, resounding clash. A violent shockwave rippled outward, pushing both swordsmen back a single step.

But neither hesitated.

Their gazes locked for the briefest moment—then, as if acting in perfect sync, they raised their swords once more and struck again.

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!”

The clash of blades rang through the stadium. The Ser-Veresta and Wole-Zain moved with blistering speed, slashing, blocking, and countering each other in rapid succession.

The sheer ferocity of their battle caused sparks to explode like fireworks, while the force of their strikes distorted the air, producing waves of pressure that sent dust and debris scattering across the stage.

Their figures flickered across the battlefield, weaving in and out of range as they pursued each other relentlessly.

A storm of sword flashes and shockwaves engulfed the stage.

Their duel wasn’t merely a battle—it was a performance.

It was a sword dance of the highest caliber.

And then—

“OOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!”

The audience, having been stunned into silence, suddenly erupted into a deafening cheer.

“What an unbelievable display of swordsmanship!”

“The two Magic Swordsmen are finally going all out! Everyone, witness this spectacular duel unfold before your very eyes!”

The commentators shouted in excitement, but no one was listening.

Because at this moment—all eyes were locked onto the battlefield.

Even Kirin Toudou and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, trapped behind the spatial rift, were watching intently.

For Kaiser and Ayato, everything else had faded into the background.

There was only one thing left in their minds—

The overwhelming desire to fight.

Their gazes burned with fiery determination.

“Clang!”

For what must have been the hundredth time, the Ser-Veresta and Wole-Zain collided, their impact producing a massive recoil, forcing both swordsmen to break apart once again.

“Amagiri Shinmei Style—Tenfold Spiral!”

Ayato pivoted, gripping his sword with one hand as he spun in place, swinging a spiraling arc of azure light toward Kaiser.

The sudden change in angle was deceptively fast.

Kaiser initially thought Ayato was striking from the left, but in a mere instant, Ayato twisted his stance, and Wole-Zain came from the right instead.

With barely a moment to react, Kaiser unleashed a burst of heated wind, propelling himself sideways to dodge the blow.

“Amagiri Shinmei Style—Nine Fang Slash!”

But Ayato wasn’t finished.

Encased in brilliant Prana, he charged forward like a meteor, his sword flashing through the air as he unleashed nine consecutive slashes.

Four rapid horizontal strikes—followed by five piercing thrusts, striking at Kaiser’s limbs and torso with blinding speed.

This was the fastest series of strikes Ayato had ever executed.

It was also the most difficult intermediate technique of the Amagiri Shinmei Style—a technique bordering on the esoteric domain.

Kaiser felt it.

This sensation—

It was similar to Kirin’s Renzuru.

It was the feeling of being caught within an inescapable web of attacks.

But instead of attempting to escape—

Kaiser chose not to move.

“Haaah—”

Taking a deep breath, he exploded with Prana, pouring all of it into his sword.

The Ser-Veresta turned pitch-black.

“Boom!”

Heat surged outward.

Kaiser’s entire body was surrounded by scorching currents, the air around him distorting like rippling smoke.

And then—

“Vmm—”

The Ser-Veresta changed.

It grew larger—expanding into a massive greatsword, even bigger than its usual fully released state.

“Boom!”

With a single wide sweep, Kaiser’s blackened greatsword slashed outward, devouring all nine of Ayato’s attacks in one mighty arc.

“Boom!”

A tremendous shockwave erupted, forcefully repelling Wole-Zain.

“What—?”

Ayato’s expression flickered in shock.

His strongest consecutive strike had been completely overpowered.

But Kaiser wasn’t done.

With heat radiating from his entire body, he rushed forward—his speed reaching a terrifying extreme.

Ayato barely had time to react.

He steeled his resolve, gripping his sword tightly.

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!”

The battle only grew faster and fiercer.

Sword strikes lashed through the air with deafening speed, the collision of steel intensifying into a thunderous rhythm.

Rather than slowing down, their fight was accelerating—pushing toward an inevitable climax.

Each exchange created violent tremors, shaking the stage and tearing deep gashes into the floor.

It was a clash of titans.

It was the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Even the most experienced spectators could no longer keep up with the blinding speed of their battle.

In the midst of this unrelenting duel, both swordsmen were launched back once again.

“Ah… Amazing.”

On the other side of the battlefield, Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld was utterly mesmerized.

No—she could no longer follow the battle.

Her eyesight simply couldn’t keep up.

All she could see were flickering afterimages, black and blue streaks colliding in a dance of destruction.

“Is this… their true power?”

Unlike Julis, however, Kirin Toudou could see everything clearly.

As she had stated before—her eyesight was exceptional.

Not only could she track Kaiser and Ayato’s movements, but she could even see the Prana surging through their bodies.

Because of that, she understood—

They were evenly matched.

Their speed, their strength, their Prana, and their swordsmanship were all nearly identical.

Kaiser was faster, thanks to his heat-enhanced acceleration.

But Ayato’s Awakening of Perception allowed him to predict and counter Kaiser’s movements flawlessly.

Because of this, neither could gain the upper hand.

But—

Kirin knew.

That stalemate wouldn’t last.

Because Kaiser had one advantage that no one else could match.

“He has completely mastered the Ser-Veresta…”

And—

As if to prove her point—

“Clang!”

With a single devastating slash, Kaiser sent Ayato skidding backward.

And then—

“Crack—”

Ayato’s expression twisted.

Because in his hands—

The Wole-Zain had begun to fracture.

(End of Chapter)