A dazzling crimson light burst forth as the pitch-black activator roared to life.
From its core, a pure white blade, forged from sheer heat, extended outward, emitting a resonant hum.
"Is that… the Ser-Veresta?"
Among the gathered students, including Julis, many couldn't help but stare at the Orga Lux in Kaiser's grip.
Yet, before they could fully process their awe, their attention was swiftly drawn to Arkadi's choice of weapon.
"A gun?"
"Wait, isn't Arkadi Fankenn a swordsman?"
"He changed his weapon?"
Indeed.
At that moment, Arkadi had also drawn his weapon—except this time, it was a gun.
It had a compact barrel but a slightly oversized body, resembling a submachine gun. However, unlike standard firearms, this one had an unmistakable mechanical and futuristic aesthetic, clearly marking it as a Lux.
Some students expressed their surprise, while others came to a realization.
"He really came well-prepared."
Julis offered this comment.
Even Kaiser, who had just activated Ser-Veresta, had to acknowledge it.
"So you specifically prepared for this duel, huh?"
Kaiser narrowed his eyes.
Based on the information he had gathered, Arkadi had always used a sword-type Orga Lux and specialized in close-quarters combat—not ranged attacks.
Yet, for this match, he had abandoned his usual weapon and opted for a firearm-based Lux. It was an unmistakable countermeasure.
"The Four-Colored Magic Swords are indeed famous, but because they're well-known, their abilities aren't exactly a secret."
"Especially Ser-Veresta. As one of Seidoukan's managed Orga Lux, most people are aware of its abilities."
"A sword that can burn through anything—that's undeniably troublesome. If I were still using a blade, I wouldn't even dare to clash with it."
A smirk played on Arkadi's lips as he spoke, evidently pleased with the astonishment on the faces around him.
"But as long as I avoid close combat, I won't have to worry about my weapon being cut in half."
For this reason, Arkadi had gone out of his way to acquire this gun from outside the academy.
"This is the latest model—the G12 Scatter Photon Gun. Its range is immense, and its rapid-fire capability is among the best you can find on the market for firearm-type Lux."
Arkadi seemed intent on pressing the psychological advantage, going as far as to introduce his weapon.
"With this, getting close to me won't be so easy, junior."
However, instead of being intimidated, Kaiser simply smiled.
That faint, almost amused expression made Arkadi scowl.
"Enough talk," Kaiser said flatly. "Let's begin."
"Hmph." Arkadi let out a cold snort. "Fine. Let's get started."
Both of them simultaneously reached toward the school badges pinned to their chests.
Each badge bore the emblem of a crimson lotus.
The Red Lotus—Seidoukan Academy's symbol.
At Seidoukan, and across all of Asterisk, these school badges were invaluable.
They served as student IDs, used for security access, attendance tracking, and most importantly—duel adjudication.
In Asterisk, every duel—be it a private skirmish or a world-stage tournament like the Festa—was decided by the status of these badges.
Destroy your opponent's badge, and you win.
The badge's destruction determined the outcome of the match.
Because of this, all student badges were reinforced and embedded with advanced information-processing systems capable of officiating duels.
Simply put—the badge was the fairest and most impartial judge in a match.
It handled everything, from announcing the match to monitoring its progress.
Thus, as the duel between Kaiser and Arkadi officially commenced, their badges responded.
A mechanical voice echoed through the arena.
"Seidoukan Academy Official Ranking Battle—Group Seven, Match Seven. Kaiser versus Arkadi Fankenn."
"Duel—Start!"
Above the stage, a floating interface displayed the names of both duelists. The names spun like flashing signs before splitting apart, then violently colliding with a dramatic impact.
"DING!"
At the exact moment the duel was declared—
Arkadi kicked off the ground, rapidly retreating.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The moment he gained some distance, Arkadi opened fire.
His G12 Scatter Photon Gun quickly accumulated Mana, and its embedded green Manadyte responded instantly, converting the energy into luminous projectiles that rained toward Kaiser.
Since these bullets were made from pure Mana, Arkadi didn't need to reload or account for wind resistance. The barrage was relentless, the shots breaking past the speed of sound as they screamed toward Kaiser.
And judging by their impact force, they were far more destructive than ordinary bullets.
This was the advantage of Lux weapons.
Yet, in the face of the incoming storm of bullets—
Kaiser realized something surprising.
He could see them.
Despite the sheer speed of the projectiles, he could clearly perceive their trajectories.
A normal person wouldn't even have the time to react before being riddled with holes.
But for Kaiser—
He could dodge.
Harnessing his Prana, Kaiser's figure became a blur, surging sideways as the energy bullets crashed into where he had just stood.
With powerful strides, he lowered his stance, feet pounding the ground as he leaned into the motion.
His acceleration was astonishing.
Ignoring inertia, he twisted and darted with impossible agility, evading the hailstorm of bullets while charging straight for Arkadi.
"…!"
Arkadi's expression stiffened.
He immediately increased the distance.
Meanwhile, in the audience, voices rose in shock.
"That speed…!"
"I thought he was just some lucky kid who got his hands on an Orga Lux, but he actually has insane physical abilities!?"
"He was hiding this much? Someone outside the rankings shouldn't be capable of this kind of movement!"
"Just with that speed alone, he's already on par with rank 30 to 40."
As the crowd erupted in astonishment, Kaiser continued his advance, his movements leaving behind ripples of heat as Ser-Veresta trailed through the air.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Arkadi refused to let him close the gap, continuously firing while backpedaling.
However, as the distance between them shrank, it became harder for Kaiser to dodge entirely.
Yet, just as the barrage was about to strike him—
His sword hand moved.
"CLANG!"
Ser-Veresta flashed, intercepting the first projectile.
"CLANG!" "CLANG!" "CLANG!" "CLANG!"
Each successive bullet was either deflected or sliced apart, instantly dissipating back into pure Mana.
Kaiser no longer dodged.
Instead, he pressed forward, using Ser-Veresta's searing blade to cut down the incoming shots.
His speed did not slow.
"…!"
Arkadi's pupils shrank in disbelief.
"This is impossible…!"
His shock was shared by the crowd.
"What insane swordsmanship!"
"If his earlier speed was impressive, this is on a completely different level!"
"That level of precision… even among the Page One, few can achieve that!"
"ZING!"
As the final bullet was effortlessly cut away, Kaiser lunged forward.
He closed the remaining distance.
"Tch…!"
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Arkadi tried to evade.
But—
Ser-Veresta had already begun its downward arc.
"SHIIIING!"
With a sound akin to molten steel being split apart, the blazing sword cleaved through Arkadi's firearm.
Then, with a single swift stroke—
It slashed toward the school badge on his chest.
A streak of blinding white cut through the air.
The result was inevitable.