"Huh?"
Kurono's hand holding the cigarette, suddenly paused. She uttered a strange syllable and then narrowed her sharp eyes slightly.
"Are you underestimating me?"
In the office, the atmosphere thickened momentarily.
There was no trace of happiness or anger on Kurono's face, only her piercing black eyes fixed on Hoshiharu, emitting a slight pressure.
Touka was also momentarily shocked.
It wasn't that there were no students like that. Because they had just stepped into the world of Blazers and realized they were special, they immediately felt confident and underestimated the high-ranking Blazers who had long been famous. Perhaps they were just lucky, or overestimated themselves, daring to provoke whoever they faced.
If thought about rationally, this possibility was actually very small.
"No, I didn't mean that."
Hoshiharu shook his head, a faint smile on his face.
"After all, it's just a test, and there's no condition to win. As long as I can catch the director's attention, that's enough, right?"
Implication being, he had already acknowledged his defeat beforehand.
After all, he was just an ordinary E-Rank Knight, while the director in front of him was a world-renowned A-Rank Knight.
The King of Knights, abbreviated KOK.
This is a world-class Blazer combat competition organized by the League of Mage-Knight Nations, and Blazers from all participating countries can join.
Four years ago, Shingūji Kurono was already a top player in the King of Knights.
At that time, she ranked third in the world in the King of Knights.
Later, she chose to retire because of marriage, then disappeared from the public eye.
It was only this year that she was invited back as the head of Hagun Academy, but even after retiring, she was still considered the third strongest in the world.
"Junior Brother, do you really want to duel with the director?"
Touka looked shocked and seriously confirmed with Hoshiharu.
"Can your body really handle a duel of this intensity?"
Internationally, Blazers are generally treated as Knights, and many countries only train and educate Blazers as Knights, allowing them to embark on the path of a Knight. This is why Blazers are called the reason for Knights.
Ultimately, a Knight is a combat profession, and dueling is the best way to resolve all issues; any conflict can be settled through a duel.
Therefore, it's not uncommon for Blazers to challenge each other to duels.
Touka never thought about whether her Junior Brother would win or lose. The gap between them was indeed too great. After Hoshiharu proposed a duel, her first thought was concern for her Junior's Brother physical condition.
"You're worrying too much. Even if there's an emergency, isn't there the iPS Capsule?"
Hoshiharu looked at Touka beside him and saw the anxiety on her face, so he comforted her: "Besides, I'm sure the director won't use her full strength against an E-Rank Knight like me. She must know where to start."
When he said this, Kurono naturally felt that she couldn't bully the weak, even though she had no intention of doing so.
"What do you think, director? Do you accept my proposal for a duel?"
Seeing Touka with a confused expression but saying nothing, Hoshiharu turned and asked again.
"Interesting, isn't it? I just want to exercise."
Kurono quickly shut down computer and stood up from desk, a happy smile on her face as if she had successfully lured him in.
"You are the second student to challenge me to a duel, and the first to show your worth. I hope you don't disappoint me."
Had there been other students who did this?
Such a thought flashed through Hoshiharu's mind.
"Let's use the nearest third training ground. Touka, you will be the referee."
Kurono stretched and led the two of them out of the office.
❀❀❀
Hagun Academy had nearly twenty dome-shaped arenas scattered across the school, used by students for training or resolving disputes.
Inside the arena was a circular battle ring about 100 meters in diameter, with tiered seating surrounding the battle ring, bowl-shaped, capable of holding thousands of people.
When the three of them arrived, only a few people were training independently. Knowing the place would turn into a battlefield, they each retreated to the auditorium.
"Everyone in position!"
Touka stood outside the battle circle and began giving instructions to the two players.
"Both sides use Illusionary Form to summon their Devices!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Hoshiharu and Kurono walked into the battle circle simultaneously, standing about twenty meters apart with the center of the battle circle as the focal point.
The previously silent auditorium suddenly turned into a few whispers.
"Huh? Is the new director really on one side of the battle?"
"Who's on the other side? Why have I never heard of such a handsome guy?"
"80% sure he's a new student."
"Is a new student going to duel the director? How reckless is he? Or did he just return from abroad? How can he win!"
Even though there were only a few people, no one thought highly of Hoshiharu. Everyone sighed or shook their heads in ridicule.
Some even took out their cameras with interest and focused on the two on the field, intending to record the match.
On the field.
Even though they were tens of meters apart, Hoshiharu seemed to hear their conversations. His eyes swept over several present, then withdrew his gaze and focused on Kurono across from him.
This woman was about 27 or 28 years old, at the most mature age for a woman. Her figure, wrapped in a black suit, was quite impressive, her waist slender, and she didn't seem to have given birth at all.
At this moment, she had extinguished her cigarette butt, placed one hand on her hip, and stared calmly at Hoshiharu.
"Summon your Device."
She took the initiative to speak to Hoshiharu.
Although she said this, she showed no signs of summoning her Device. It seemed she intended to hold back.
Blazers usually have a variety of abilities, like a treasure chest, you never know how extraordinary the opponent's ability is until the box is opened.
However, most of these abilities require the use of the attached Device as a medium. Without summoning the Device, Noble Art essentially cannot be used.
Kurono not summoning her Device meant she had no intention of using her power.
The reason she made such a choice was not out of carelessness but because she had seen Hoshiharu's level, and such inferior abilities could not hurt her at all.
*BUZZ*
Ignoring the other party's disdain, Hoshiharu extended his hand.
At this moment, countless golden light points gathered from his body and condensed in his right hand.
As soon as the light points disappeared, a dazzling long blade appeared in his hand, and he grasped it firmly.