A Blazer's Magical Defense can significantly weaken physical impacts.
Whether it's sharp weapons like swords or heavy tools like axes and hammers, even a high-speed train crashes into them, as long as their Magical Defense is strong enough, they can emerge unscathed.
Judging by Princess Stella's level of Magic Power, even if she fell straight down from a cliff hundreds of meters high, she could easily land unharmed at the bottom, relying solely on her Magical Defense.
By extension, with enough Magical Power, even the friction from the air could be blocked, allowing one to move at supersonic speeds without injury. This was what Eiji envied the most.
"Flames of Purgatory, Pierce the Heavens—!"
In the arena, the princess finally got serious. She raised her golden greatsword high, and an ocean of magical power erupted from her body, transforming into unparalleled flames that coiled around the blade.
Boom—!
In an instant, a pillar of fire over a hundred meters long shot into the sky, punching a massive hole in the training field's ceiling and releasing scorching light and heat across the entire arena.
The light was like a blazing sun, stretching high into the sky, leaving all who saw it in awe.
Truly a once-in-a-decade genius, her total Magic Power lived up to its reputation as the world's strongest. The hundred-meter-long blade of light was right before their eyes, leaving everyone in the arena speechless.
It was something from an entirely different dimension, far beyond what current student knights could comprehend.
"—Katharterio Salamandra!"
The princess swung the massive blade of light, sweeping across the entire battlefield.
The light sword was like the embodiment of destruction. As it came crashing down, it nearly destroyed the entire training field, causing the students caught in its path to scream in terror.
"Hey, hey, using a move like this against a single person is just bullying! And think about how much trouble you're causing for the people who have to clean up after this!"
Kurono Shinguuji, watching the half-destroyed training field, sighed deeply, complaining nonstop.
"Whoa! This is amazing! Is this really a Student Knight? She could graduate right now and join the Professional League!"
The camera girl, seeing the field in ruins, didn't feel any sense of danger. Instead, she was thrilled, filming from every angle with her camera.
"As expected of the first A-Rank freshman in Hagun Academy's history! With this, there's absolutely no doubt about the outcome!"
Indeed.
Anyone watching this scene would think the outcome was already decided.
It wasn't a matter of underestimating Ikki Kurogane, but rather that his opponent had surpassed the realm of what a student knight could defeat. Even professional knights in the league would find themselves at a loss against such an opponent.
"He's about to turn the tables."
But the handsome boy beside her spoke with absolute certainty, as if the princess's defeat was already a foregone conclusion.
Of course, up to this point, nothing had changed. Any time traveler would dare to say the same.
"—Ittou Shura!"
Facing the immense pressure of the hundred-meter blade of light, Ikki Kurogane took a deep breath and unleashed his trump card with a solemn expression.
His eyes widened, and with a low, powerful shout, his entire body erupted with a deep blue flame-like light. His aura surged several times over.
"Magical light? How is that possible?"
Both Princess Stella in the arena and the camera girl beside Eiji exclaimed in unison.
The deep blue light emanating from Ikki Kurogane's body was the result of magical power overflowing from within—in other words, magic light.
But this was impossible. Magical light spilling out from the body meant that the Blazer had a significant surplus of Magic Power, a sign of immense total magical energy.
Because magical power was spilling out, it meant there was enough to waste freely.
But F-Rank Magic Power, to put it bluntly, couldn't even form magical light. At most, it might produce a spark when released, but it was impossible to create a full-body aura of magical light.
"And he's so fast!"
Stella swung her sword, instantly destroying half the battlefield.
But Ikki Kurogane, enveloped in light, moved as if teleporting, crossing the distance to her in an instant with speed that defied the naked eye.
He was indeed incredibly fast, so fast that even Eiji's dynamic vision couldn't keep up, leaving a series of afterimages in the arena.
"Ittou Shura—an incredible Noble Art!"
Eiji couldn't help but praise it.
"What's going on? What just happened?"
The camera girl was completely baffled. Neither her eyes nor her camera could keep up with the battle, leaving her utterly confused.
Eiji remained silent, not planning to explain.
Ittou Shura was Ikki Kurogane's ultimate technique, honed through years of effort and his greatest secret. While Eiji had already discerned the secret behind it, he had no intention of spreading it without Ikki's permission.
The hundred-meter blade of light couldn't hit Ikki Kurogane no matter how Stella swung it. She couldn't even catch a glimpse of his figure.
With a flash of his blade, the battle came to an abrupt end.
A single strike, infused with magical power, landed squarely on Stella, knocking her unconscious and sending her collapsing to the ground.
"The match is over. The winner is Ikki Kurogane!"
Kurono Shinguuji promptly announced the result.
Thud!
Immediately after, with a thud, Ikki Kurogane fell to his knees. The deep blue light around him dissipated, and his previously imposing demeanor vanished. His muscles trembled, his breathing became rapid like a bellows, and he nearly dropped his sword.
"He actually won..."
The camera girl let out a sigh, as if waking from a dream.
The match had been full of twists and turns, even more so than the one yesterday, and the result was another upset.
While not as shocking as the new Director's defeat yesterday, an F-Rank knight defeating an A-Rank knight was still a major headline, perfect for the second issue of the school newspaper.
Thinking of yesterday, the camera girl immediately remembered the handsome boy beside her and felt a surge of excitement. She quickly looked up.
"Huh? Where's my handsome boy? That big, handsome boy?"
***
In the arena.
Kurono Shinguuji directed two students to carry Ikki Kurogane and Stella to the infirmary. She then pulled out her handgun-shaped device and fired a shot at the training field's ceiling.
In an instant, the nearly destroyed training field reverted to its original state, as if time had been reversed, becoming as clean and intact as it was before the battle.
No, this was genuine time reversal, the ability of Kurono's Blazer device.
"It's like shortening your lifespan."
A somewhat familiar voice came from the side. Kurono turned and saw the handsome freshman who had once humiliated her.
"Oh? Can you see through the principle behind Ittou Shura?"
Kurono took out a cigarette, lit it, and asked calmly.
"More or less."
Eiji looked at Ikki Kurogane, lying on a stretcher in the distance, his face filled with exhaustion. A faint sense of rivalry flickered in Eiji's eyes.
Upon closer inspection, his expression was almost identical to Ikki Kurogane's from this morning—both burning with fighting spirit.
"Actively destroying his survival instincts, boosting his physical strength and Magic Power dozens of times over... It's pure recklessness. All I can say is, I hope he enjoys a peaceful retirement."
Eiji clasped his hands together in a gesture of prayer.
***
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