Ikki random general sword art festival

Kagami's guess was indeed correct. Right in front of the four of them, there and then, Ikki was having a one-versus-two mock battle against the third-year twin sisters Kikyou Hagure and Botan Hagure, who he had invited.

「You're miiiiine!」

Kikyou Hagure, who had materialized a spear-shaped Device, used an instant-acceleration Noble Art and attacked with a supersonic charge. But Ikki, with absurd speed against the thrusting spear, showed no panic at that state of affairs.

「Hup.」

―Stamping on the approaching spearhead, he sent it stabbing into the ground.

「Whoooaaaaah!?」

Kikyou whose spear had been jammed into the ground flipped upward as if pole-vaulting, her own momentum sending her into the air.

And when she flew over Ikki…

「Eh?」

She crashed into her sister Botan, who had been aiming at Ikki's back with a handgun Device and was about to pull the trigger.

「Eek!」

「Noooo!」

And the two were sent rolling across the sandy surface of the ground. Worried, Ikki called and chased after them.

「Are you two alright?」

「Ow ow ow… yeah. I'm fine. How about you, Botan-chan?」

「Uuu… I think I skinned my knee.」

「Shizuku.」

「Yes, leave it to me, Onii-sama.」

At Ikki's voice, Shizuku who was waiting at the side patched up Botan's skinned knee with healing magic. And at the same time, Ikki spoke to the Hagure sisters.

「Kikyou-senpai, you use speed, but there's not much advantage in doing so when you're wielding a spear against me, who has less reach. Doing so relinquished your own reach advantage. I think you should consider offensive tactics a little more. Also, entering your own ally Botan-senpai's line of fire is―」

He pointed out the problems in the fight just now, saying what Arisuin, who watched the situation from a distance, was thinking.
- Volume 4, Chapter 1
[Ikki casually winning a 2v1 against supersonic opponents, outright stating that there "not much advantage" to a spear user having superior speed against him]
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"What's wrong?"

"…That person just now."

Ikki, looking straight at the back of a man dressed in work clothes who had passed them, answered like this.

"Wasn't something strange about the way he was walking?"

"Maybe he was hurt?"

"No―"

Ikki thought that at first too, but….

It's probably not the case.

Inhaling a shallow breath, he raised his concentration. Staring at the departing backside, he took in the man's physique, height, and width. He compared the muscles attached to that frame to his preconceived notions on how bodies were put together. Yes, the man was walking strangely. The steps were not going left and right in a regular way. But there was no feeling of injury or other hindrance. He could see that the various joints were driving the man forward normally.

But it was so lifeless. The man was walking as if his body was out of order.

I can see there's something wrinkled at its side. The right pocket?

A hand was thrust into the right pocket at the waist. In the wrinkles gathered in the work clothes, there wasn't just the hand. The right hand was clutching something, stored away in the pocket. It was somewhat long and wide. For example―a survival knife, or something like that.

…From his clothes, he might be an electrician.

It was common for an electrician to carry a knife in order to peel the tough outer covering of electrical cables. The knives that electricians used were very large, but his own knowledge of such things was meager, and maybe this was just an individual's preference. But just as he thought this, Ikki noticed it clearly for an instant.

From the brim of the cap the man was wearing on his head, something inside of it glimmered. It was the bloodshot eyes of a wild beast focused on its prey. They were very much the eyes of someone full of hate.

It might be the bloodshot look of someone who was just lacking sleep. In addition, the thing in the pocket might also have been an ordinary work tool. Both of those possibilities were perhaps more likely than Ikki's worst-case guess. But―there was no way he could put the worst case out of his mind. His premonition wouldn't lessen.

"…Okay."

"Ah, Ikki, where are you going!?"

"Wait for me a bit."

Ikki pulled away his right arm that Stella was holding, and he rushed over to the man who was dressed in work clothes.

He could start with talking, and find a way to check what was in that pocket. If he was just making a rude misunderstanding, that would be good. He'd just need to apologize. If his apology wasn't accepted, well, he could accept getting into a little trouble. Since that was the case, if he could allay the worst-case thoughts that had stolen his attention….

Thinking that, Ikki called out―and at that moment, the man in the work clothes suddenly stopped walking.

The place he stopped was the shopping district's tenth street. It was in the middle of very busy foot-traffic. Why did he stop in such a place with nothing to look at? The answer was―

"The hell!? What're you doing stopping in the middle of street, old man!?"

The moment some middle-school aged kids bumped into the man, it became obvious.

"Heeee―"

Leaking a weird whistling shriek, the man moved. He started to pull whatever was in his pocket out with his right hand quickly. In that unending moment, Ikki beheld time flowing past with his focused concentration and enhanced motion perception.

He had correctly identified the thing glittering through the tiny gap he had peeked through into the man's pocket. It was a blade's edge glaring and sparkling savagely, a thick survival knife. In the middle of the intersection, there was only one reason to pull out such a tool.

The worst possibility that Ikki had suspected had come true. And as he felt his prediction hitting the mark, Ikki moved.

- Volume 4, Chapter 1
[Sherlock Holmes' some guy]
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"Nangou-sensei. Thank you very much for going to the trouble of traveling like this."

At the training grounds of Kyomon Academy, in the unenergetic facility after the students of both academies had gone back, the sword instructor who had been summoned in a hurry, Torajirou Nangou was being sent off by car, and the institution's administrator was giving his thanks to the elderly man.

"I didn't think none of the swordsmanship coaches would turn out to be worthy."

"Hohoho. It's fine, it's fine. I was hoping to have a bout with that boy at least once. It was a good opportunity. …And all things considered, that boy was considerable, wasn't he?"

"Is that so?"

At Nangou's reply, the administrator tilted his head in puzzlement.

"I was also watching the bout between you two closely, but there was only an exchange of glares at range, and you didn't cross blades even once, so I thought Ikki-kun had just been held at bay…."

"Ho ho. Well, it can't be helped that a layman would see it that way."

Certainly, at the training camp, Nangou had three total bouts with Ikki, but neither of them had moved from the beginning of their matches, and they only passed the time until the end of the training. So it was unavoidable for the administrator who had watched them to come to that conclusion.

But Nangou was saying that the truth was different.

Three matches. Sixty minutes. From the start, the Worst One had matched every single approach from the smallest behavior, whether that was gaze or sword spirit.

For a swordsman of Nangou's class, the reach of his sword was the same as a field of certain death. If even a single step was taken carelessly, in that instant, Nangou's sword would've taken the enemy's consciousness. Therefore Ikki discarded any thoughtless approaches, making no move to enter his opponent's range, and stood at the starting line, trying all kinds of ways of testing that reach, challenging Nangou's sword barrier.

But his opponent was Torajirou Nangou, the God of War. He who fought at the highest league, and the only Japanese person who conquered China's famous War God League. Ikki could not step into his range, and eventually backed down without ever having moved from the starting line. But—

But even so, Nangou had a high opinion of Ikki. The reason was—

I didn't believe it, but I couldn't take my eyes off of him either.

Indeed. Ikki certainly could not move from the start of the match. But Nangou was in the same position. The Worst One, in the total of sixty minutes they fought, had not given the God of War a single vulnerability to take. No matter how many times Nangou tried to intimidate or feint with sword spirit, Ikki's heart was not even a bit perturbed, and instead Nangou who was trying to attack could not provoke him into leaving an opening.

From next to them, it seemed like a match without movement. But for Nangou, passing this dark and dense sixty minutes was like waiting through many entire lifetimes.

If we both used abilities, there would be a different conclusion, but….

Nangou's wrinkled face moved in apparent happiness.

"If only in swordsmanship, he's better than Ryouma, huh? What an ominous youngster."

- Volume 4, Chapter 3
[Ikki spars with the God of War three times, they just stand there unmoving for 20 minutes each time but it's a poggers battle of feints and stuff and Ikki perfectly perceives Nangou's field the entire time]
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Everyone leaked a similar breath of relief, and let the tension out from their shoulders. It was probably because each and every one of them had felt the response against his or her own blade.

Except for one person.


Except for Ikki, who was looking with a stiff expression down on his older brother, Ouma Kurogane, who he had cut down himself.


Impossible.

Ikki, at the reality stretched out before his eyes, remembered a chill that made him nauseous.

What is this?

No matter how he looked, this was really his older brother Ouma. In behavior, in aura, in spirit, voice, and face, surely this was the real thing. The response of Intetsu also told him that he had defeated the opponent without a doubt.

But because of that, no matter how real it was―it was absolutely impossible.


That his older brother, the Sword Emperor of Wind Ouma Kurogane, was stretched out at his feet so unsightly!


―At that moment, what caused him to realize it was the recollection coming back to his mind. Many days ago, the memory of that shopping district in the mountains―that fragment―

「Wah! Wait, wait! You can't do that!」

On that day, that young boy had, faster than Ikki's trained body, grabbed onto the man who had started attacking people in the street. And the boy had said it was a Blazer ability. Under that state of affairs, taking the boy's physical fitness into account, he must have started to act before the attacker moved. If not―Ikki should've been faster.

That ability could've been one of two types.

One was penetrating sight. If he saw that the man was carrying a blade, it was possible to start moving before the man began his action.

But one factor precluded this possibility. Kagami had said the boy's reason for being selected as a Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative was because he was a Blazer of the causation-intereference system with a rare skill. Penetrating sight was neither a rare skill nor part of the causation-interference system.

In that case, there was only one possibility remaining.


Future prediction―


Realizing that possibility, Ikki felt the revelation. In that instant, a shudder spread through his throat and gut.

"Watch out, Alice! This is a trap!"

He turned in Arisuin's direction, the shudder erupting with his voice.

But―it was slightly too late.

"Eh―?"

Faster than Arisuin could act on Ikki's words, countless swords flew into Arisuin's body from behind.

"Ha…?"

"Ali…ce?"

With a thud, Alice fell to the ground with ten silver swords piercing him. Everyone's breath was taken away by the abrupt situation.


"Not quite, huh? You might've made it if you were just a little bit quicker."


That boundlessly cheerful voice was heard.

"But figuring out my ability just from seeing it once! That's Ikki-kun for you!"

The voice came from behind Arisuin. Standing there smilingly innocently with countless silver blades in both hands, it was Amane Shinomiya.
- Volume 4, Chapter 3
[Figures out that Amane has future vision really quickly]
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The bike had been advancing in accordance with Shizuku's navigation for some time.　Exiting the urban areas with many people, and even exiting the mountain road.　In a deserted place, Hagun Academy's main school was located.　In that deserted, desolate place, the bike entered, and it was in that moment.

A sudden feeling of oppression. To a heaviness as if one's gut was being crushed, Ikki brought the bike to a sudden stop, its tires sliding.

"O-Oniisama!? Wh-What's wrong!?"

At the sudden stop, Shizuku cried out in surprise. She didn't understand. As a fighter, Shizuku was inexperienced.

But Ikki comprehended it. That right now, he—had stepped foot into the domain of someone wicked. Therefore to Shizuku's question, he had no room to answer. Ikki just suppressed the dread that was freezing his body, and he calmed his breath. With his right hand, he summoned Intetsu, and looked up at the sky.

On the rooftop of Akatsuki Academy's main building. At that remarkably high place, there was something shining white.

Was it the moon? No. It was white, but the thing shining weakly had the shape of a person.

-Volume 4, Chapter 4
[Senses Edelweiss' aura before he sees her, same way he sensed that Kanata had killed people before but from a further distance - instantly determined that she was poggers strong]
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At Ikki's question, the woman responded with a nod of affirmation, and showed Ikki a somewhat puzzled expression.

"But I don't understand. Even though you know my identity, why have you drawn your sword? You are not a swordsman who doesn't know the difference between yourself and the enemy if you should cross blades, I think. But despite that, to remain unafraid to this degree."

"…Even though I wanted to bluff so you didn't see through that."

Having his own fear pointed out, Ikki let out a dry laugh that spoke to his inner thoughts.

Honestly speaking, Ikki also understood.

Ahh, it's just like said. …Just now, I was foolhardy.

He knew that. Because he was an excellent swordsman, he could grasp how great the difference in strength was between them. He couldn't win here. And more than that, it was true, the one before his eyes was genuinely—the world's strongest. It couldn't be compared to something like the summit of the Seven Stars. Likely, this was an enemy Ikki should face after following his path as a swordsman for years, even decades, of constant tireless training…. No doubt, in the battlefield right here, he could not qualify as an opponent in the same dimension as he was now.

This meeting was too premature. It would not even be a contest to begin with.
- Volume 4, Chapter 4
[Can immediately judge when he's outclassed without needing to see the opponent move]
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"…Heh heh. Don't make that scary face, Kurogane lassie. I said that, my bad. I'm on leave today anyway, so what say we just enjoy this party, eh?"

So saying, Tatara took some food from the table and offered it to Shizuku. Her attitude seemed friendly enough, but a contempt she could not quite conceal hung at the edge of her tongue―an apology that could only make one feel disgusted. But to so easily bite at bait proffered would grate on her all the more, and so she decided that she would let this slide.

"Thanks―"

But even as she decided this―the food was sent whirling through the air, before falling with a crash onto the marble floor.

Why―?

Her brother, who had been standing beside her, had knocked the offered plate from Tatara's hands.

"O-Oniisama?"

Shizuku's eyes grew wide with shock at her brother's actions. Indeed, the eyes of the whole room had turned to them at this sudden development. Her brother looked like a different person from the one who had spoken to Sara and Kazamatsuri, his eyes glinting coldly as he glared wordlessly at Tatara. What could have happened? Her doubtful gaze moved to the fallen platter.

"This… this is…!"

She understood the reasons for her brother's actions. The plate Tatara had offered her had contained chicken thigh on-the-bone, but within the meat one could see the gleaming of many shaving razors, likely having burst through the flesh from the impact of the fall. These could not have been part of the cooking process, but could only have been concealed within by someone of malicious intent. That person could be none other than the terrorist standing before her. Her brother noticed this, and had thus struck the plate down.

"That's quite the exciting topping, wouldn't you say, Tatara-san?"

"Heh, so wasteful! That was a special brew of various alkaloids. There was enough in there to kill an elephant with a single taste, you know."

Tatara chuckled, her shoulders shaking in fearless mirth despite Ikki's withering stare.

"I even did my best to conceal it. Unlike your sister, your senses are pretty damn good!"

"It wasn't that praiseworthy. You're practically oozing malice."

Ikki did not say this out of humility. Whereas his sister had not realized it, he had known from the beginning that Yui Tatara was different from the three they had met previously. They were merely eccentrics, from whom no malice could be felt. But from Tatara, he could feel nothing except malice. While she was picking up food to pass to Shizuku, she had deliberately positioned herself in order to obscure their vision. There was no way she would have done nothing in that time. Firmly believing this, Ikki had knocked the plate to the floor. As it turned out, his hypothesis was right on target.

- Volume 5, Chapter 1
[Ikki sensed malice from someone and correctly deduced from it that they poisoned food]
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"Well, if that's the case, I'm perfectly fine with having used my luck in that manner…—hmm?"

Cutting himself off, Ikki alone in their group stopped dead in his tracks. Amid the milling crowds, he had felt his spine tingle. As though someone was looking at him. Glaring at him. He turned. The feeling passed, the gaze broken, and dissipated with nary a whisper into the evening bustle.

"Onii-sama? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

So saying, he quickened his footsteps, catching up with the other three. He had certainly sensed something, but it would be futile to pursue, and even more pointless to worry about 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…."

- Volume 5, Chapter 2
[Senseing someone glaring at him within a crowd and throughout a night despite nobody else noticing (including Moroboshi)]
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To the side, Ikki recalled something that Kagami had told him shortly before they left for Osaka.

“Senpai. You called me before to say that you were concerned about the ex-Kyomon student, Amane Shinomiya, correct? So I looked up his intra-school selection results...he had six wins by forfeit in six matches. There’s something really weird about that.”

In that instant, all the pieces came together for him.

“Huh. So that’s it. That’s what this is about...I understand now.”

“Onii-sama?”

“In other words...that’s your real ability.”

“Ikki-kun? My true ability...what do you mean? I thought you knew that my ability was foresight? I knew that Kiriko-san would have to retire, but besides that, I didn’t-”

Ikki shook his head.

“No, that’s not possible. It would be one thing if she misdiagnosed one or two patients, but for her to do that for all of them is simply impossible. And there is no way that you could foresee something that could not possibly happen.”

“Well, this...ahaha, such cruel words, Ikki-kun,” Amane said with a troubled expression. “Don’t they say, “even a wise man stumbles? And I’ve even performed quite a few predictions in front of you too...”

He did speak the truth. He had foretold the future against a criminal at their first meeting, and had seen through Alice’s betrayal. It was now as it was then: Amane was displaying his knowledge of the future.

“No, you don’t actually foretell the future. The order of things is reversed here.”

“...”

At these words, the smile that Amane usually had plastered on his face dissipated, a shadow falling over it.

“Wait, Ikki.” Alice cut in. “What do you mean by ‘reversed’?”

“I should have realized this when he defeated Vice President Utakata. The Vice Pres’ ability, Fifty-Fifty, manipulates probability such that he can twist a result that had already been decided. Since the manipulation is limited to what he can achieve with his own abilities, it lacks offensive power, but he should have been nigh invincible as long as he focused on defense. But he lost. He lost to Amane. Someone who lacks any martial ability at all, possessing only Future Sight. Do you think this is possible?”

“That’s…”

“Impossible. Utterly impossible. If we assume it were possible, then the only way is to use a probability manipulation technique strong enough to force certainty onto Fifty-Fifty. For example...an ability that can change probability according to your wishes.”

“...!”

“Like this, all can be explained. In other words, Amane’s ‘future sight’ is not in fact a foretelling of the future. The truth behind the criminal, Alice’s betrayal, and now the collapse of Yakushi-san’s patients...these are all ‘futures’ that he simply created. Am I wrong, Amane?”

Having said his piece, Ikki leveled his gaze at Amane, who had not said a word since earlier, merely looking at Ikki in silence.

“...Haa.”

He sighed, shoulders drooping, and then flashed a resigned smile.

“As expected of Ikki-kun, I guess. You covered everything that I could say. I was going to reveal it to you together with the my penance, but you’re too good. My poor subterfuge was nothing before the demonic mirror of the Crownless Sword King.”

- Volume 6, Chapter '6'
[Ikki determining that Amane has the ability to manipulate fate after seeing him use it in front of him]
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If he were to call out to her now, it would merely be a happy reunion.

But if he were to surprise her, he would be able to see her shocked expression, even an angry one too.

Her angry face was cute - so this was the more beneficial course of action. How clever of him.

Thus he silenced his footsteps, approached her.

“Wh-”

He made to tap her on the shoulder, intending to make a frightening sound-

“Don’t slink up behind me-!”

“Woaaaah!!”

-which turned into a cry of shock.

Before he could touch her, she swivelled around, leg extended in a roundhouse kick.

Even without looking, the high kick was aimed right at his head.

From the way it split the air, it was not born of any ordinary amount of strength.

Only by his preternatural reflexes was Ikki able to bend backwards and avoid the blow.

“Damn, that habit from training reared its head...are you alright? ...Eh, Ikki?!”

Stella’s eyes widened as she realized that he had been the one behind her.

“Ha, Hahaha...good evening, Stella.”

His expression was stiff as he greeted her.

Didn’t expect to nearly lose my life over a little prank.

Indeed, no evil deed ever went unpunished.


Later, in Ikki’s room, he and Stella were sitting side-by-side on the bed.

As he related his real intentions to her, she had flashed a happy smile.

“So you were just trying to scare me...Haha. You’re surprisingly childish, Ikki.”

Her unexpected counterattack had Ikki regretful and in a cold sweat, but so smitten with her was he that her motherly smile left him feeling, in fact, rather victorious.

“I put quite a bit behind that kick. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine...it didn’t hit me, after all.”

“I’m glad it was just you behind me, though. If it were anyone else, they might have died.”

“Haha…”

Recalling the sharp crack of the wind as it scythed across the top of his head, his smile was rather forced.

“But those were some amazing reflexes there. I had totally silenced my footsteps and snuffed out my aura too.”

It was practically a reflex reaction, and moreover it was precise, going for a vital spot despite not seeing the other party.

That was something Stella had lacked before.

“Was that something you got from training with Saikyou-sensei?”

Stella nodded.

“Well, I’ve gotten pretty touchy about it since she would always appear in my blind spots as and when- Ah.”

“What is it?”

“Someone downstairs dropped a ten-yen coin.”

What’s this...that's amazing, but...I can’t think of it as such. Odd.

- Volume 6, Chapter 6
[Ikki can sneak up on Stella with her only noticing when he's within touching distance. Stella's senses are good enough to pick up on someone dropping a coin a floor below them]
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(......If I had proceeded as usual in the match, Eye of Heaven would’ve caught me in a minimum of twenty-three steps.)

Before the match, Byakuya, with his observation power nicknamed Eye of Heaven, had imagined how their battle would play out. Ikki, with his observing eyes like an evil-revealing magic mirror, had arrived at the exact same conclusion.

Including the fact that Byakuya had not considered the possibility of a surprise attack with Ittou Rasetsu at the match opening, everything.

In that case, he had to make use of that.

In order to secure the victory.

- Volume 7, Chapter 1
[Ikki predicted at least 23 moves ahead with his move reading. He had never seen Byakuya fight in person, and only knew that Byakuya's research would let him predict just as well as Ikki could, so fuck knows how he managed to get 23 moves out of that]
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After visiting Shizuku Kurogane and Nagi Arisuin who were still unconscious, Ikki Kurogane went to the park next to the hotel for training.



The content was very ordinary.



It was just cutting apart a block that stood on the ground.



Ikki arranged his breathing and swung his weapon.



A sharp slash sound that severed the atmosphere of the night.



Each time, the block was cut apart like a test for Iaido[1].



When the block that was around his height had been shortened to about the height of his waist, Ikki stopped.



“Fuu......haa.”



At the same time, sweat flowed down from Ikki’s forehead like waterfall.



That was how much concentration he poured into those numerous slashes.



However, that was only natural.



The weapon Ikki was holding in his hands was......not his Device.



It was just...a piece of paper.



It was a piece of copier paper that was sold everywhere.



That’s right, he straightened the soft paper and sharply swung it like a blade without bending its edge, and cut the wooden material that was much harder than the paper.



Not to mention, his training would not end with just that.



After Ikki wiped away his sweat and fixed his breathing, the next thing that stood on the ground was not a block, but a metal pipe, and he repeated the same action.



With paper, he cut metal.



The world was forced to acknowledge that beyond-the-common-sense scene with his body technique reaching the superhuman realm.



However, it was still too difficult for Ikki, who could manipulate his body to that extent...



“Ah.”



In the next instant, by a little, really just by a little bit, the night breeze got stronger. In the middle of cutting the metal pipe, a small tearing sound came from the paper.



The paper blade reacted to the caress of the night breeze and went crooked.



Ikki sighed at that failure and combed up his sweat-drenched hair.



“No good. I was too concentrated on my body control. I need to notice the changes in the external factors as well.”

- Volume 8
[Cutting wood and metal pipes with a piece of paper]
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As he cut off his explanation, Ikki picked up a piece of copier paper from the bundle next to his feet, pinched it between his fingers and threw it like a shuriken.


The thrown copier paper flew through the air horizontally, dug into the metal pipe that stood on the ground for a few centimeters, before bending from its softness.


Azure flame-like anger seethed quietly in his pupils, Ikki threw the new piece of copier paper in his hand.


It pierced deeper into the metal pipe than before.
- Vol 8
[Thrown paper embedding into metal]
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Then she looked up at Saijou behind her and asked a question in her friendliest classmate voice.

“Hey hey, who do you think will win? Saijou-”

At this, Saijou put his hand on his chin and contemplated for a moment.

“…Both are from our school and are developing their abilities quickly. However, just looking at how they fought during the semifinals, Vermillion has the edge in ability. I can’t imagine how to handle that dragon’s power with just sword techniques. My assessment is that Vermillion will triumph.”

With that answer Renren came to an understanding.

Stella’s true power was what she pulled out in the semifinals, Noble Art Dragon Spirit.

It was natural for Saijou to come to such a conclusion.

However- Renren’s thoughts differed.

“It’s true that Stella-chan’s true power, the embodiment of a dragon, was amazing. I do think it’s already beyond what one person has the power to handle; it’s just that abnormal a power… But, it’s by repeatedly overturning such unreasonable odds that Kurogane-kun came to be standing in the finals ring tonight.”

“…You think Kurogane will win?”

Renren nodded.

“I understand because I’ve fought him directly. Though Stella-chan’s power surpasses human understanding, Kurogane-kun’s skill can also be said to be superhuman, something in the realm of the abnormal. Do you remember? What Kurogane-kun did when he defeated me at the Hagun selection battles?”

“If I’m not mistaken, he sidestepped your supersonic charge 「Black Bird」, then caught you by the nape of your neck and smashed you into the ring.”

“That’s right. Normally, doing that would get your arm torn off. Despite that, Kurogane-kun countered that power completely and instead diverted it into the ground. That skill is definitely a match for Stella-chan’s violent power.”

[Even just prior to the battle against Stella, people who know Ikki specifically only talk about him in reference to his skill, not his physicals, and clarification of when he judo threw Renren that the force Renren had at the time should've ripped his arms off]
- vol 9
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Arisuin threw three copies of his dagger shaped device, Darkness Hermit, at the ground, and left them standing there.

In an instant, they melted into puddle-like shadows on the ring.

From those shadows, a black spray splattered and two giant tigers and a bear flew out of them attacking Ikki.

However, Ikki was not even perturbed by these wild beasts, simply kicking off the floor and charging at the enemies that now stood in his way.

With one stroke he dealt with the shadow tiger snapping at his head, lightly sidestepped the bear trying to claw his head, and cut it at the torso as they passed. Then, with his fastest secret technique, Raikou, he used the weakness in the second tiger’s offensive stance to overtake its movements and bisect it.

The shadow beasts dispersed into a seemingly harmless black mist.

[Ikki rolling shadow animals]
- vol 9
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The shadow beasts dispersed into a seemingly harmless black mist.

However, it had never been Arisuin’s intention to use Shadow Beast to stop Ikki’s movement.

It was just a distraction.

The black mist that had dispersed from the crumbled shadow beasts blocked Ikki’s field of vision for a moment-so he could to use his shadow jumping technique, 「Shadow Walk」, to jump to Ikki’s shadow!

After his machinations went through smoothly, Arisuin moved from his own shadow to Ikki’s.

From Ikki’s shadow, stretching out behind him thanks to the lights in the ring, he sprung out, thinking (I’ve got you…!).

From this position, facing Ikki’s back, he flourished Darkness Hermit to strike at Ikki’s neck.

However, in that instant-

“!!!”

Even sooner than Arisuin could strike at Ikki’s neck, the jet black tip of Ikki’s device, Intetsu, appeared from under Ikki’s arm, stopping just at Arisuin’s brow.

Without facing Arisuin, Ikki had completely read the plan to flank him, and counterattacked instead.

“!!!”

Arisuin promptly used the knife he’d been striking down with to guard.

By doing so he narrowly avoided being skewered, in that one beat, his action was stopped.

What Ikki Kurogane just took advantage of had been a fatal weakness.

“-Gah, ha!”

The thud of a heavy strike reverberated throughout the ring.

It was the sound of Ikki’s kick striking the pit of Arisuin’s stomach.

The impact of the kick to the stomach sent Arisuin flying three meters, where he rolled out of the ring and started coughing painfully.

“Cough! Cough! H-harsh! To kick a maiden in the stomach is incredibly unchivalrous.”

[Ikki predicting a teleport and countering with ease and then performing his best strength feat in the series so far OMEGALUL]
- vol 9
----------------------------------------------------------------


“Exactly. Well, I was free anyway. Incidentally… At the hotel, I called over some of the other losers to come.”

As he said so, Moroboshi pointed at the fire door behind him with his thumb.

“Who’s a loser? You’ve said a little too much, Boshi!”

“Well, in reality, that’s exactly what we are.”

“Gahaha. True, True. Even if you try to say it nicely now, there’s nothing you can do”

“We didn’t even participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, so we didn’t lose!”

“…Even though you guys got beat up by two people at the training camp?”

Behind the two, faces that anyone would recognize streamed in.

Moroboshi’s fellow representatives from Bukyoku academy, Eye of Heaven Byakuya Jougasaki and Demon Flame Momiji Asagi.

Making the entrance seem small just by stepping his huge build through was Rokuzon Academy’s Panzer Grizzly Renji Kaga.

And finally, two original representatives from Hagun who had withdrawn from the festival, Kikyou Hagure and Botan Hagure.

Ikki’s eyes opened wide in surprise at their entrance.

“Did, did all of you came for my sake? Hagure-senpai and everyone else too?”

“Hehe. Well we arrived early and had nothing to do.”

“…During the training camp, you taught us, so we’d like to return the favor.”

“Though we’re not sure how useful the ones who were KO’d the quickest will be.”

“Actually, we were also called upon by Sensei. It was because that procedure looked to have taken a lot of your strength, and it seems to be as bad as she thought. …But the people here are of the same calibre as those who entered the tournament. I think we’ll be just right as practice opponents.”

Ikki shook his head at Moroboshi’s words.

“Don’t even mention things like being just right! Everyone, thank you so much!”

“Good, good. All of us wanted to try going up against the rumored Worst One once as well.”

“So, what do we do? Before we came here, we also had some mock battles. Should we take a break?”

“No.”

Ikki refused Touka’s consideration with a single word and once again took up Intetsu.

Then, he faced everyone with eyes burning with fighting spirit.

“Immediately though… Please!”

His passion instantly spread to everyone.

““Yessir!!!””

As if responding to Ikki’s spirit, everyone else’s devices manifested.

[Ikki fighting everyone he's seen before simultaneously?]
- vol 9
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Together with the three girls at their table was one other person.

He was an elderly man, dressed stylishly in a suit.

It was Japan’s Prime Minister, Chairman of the school the girls attended, Akatsuki Academy’s Bakuga Tsukikage.

“Even so, Sara-kun’s Color of Magic is truly convenient. Even with so many people around, nobody can see us. I’ve always wanted such a convenient power.

“Even without a special power, something similar can be done.”

“Is that so?”

“Ikki did it.”

“…That only makes it feel more impossible.”

Tsukikage’s wrinkled face twisted into a bitter grin.

[Sara directly compared her power to Ikki's trackless step (scale from the Sara fight against Ikki and the scene at the mall earlier in that volume)]
- vol 9
----------------------------------------------------


“Asagi! Show your determination!”

“Enmaku…!”

Responding to Moroboshi’s encouragement, Momiji deployed a wall of fire in front of her.

Frustrating though it might be, she couldn’t compete with swordsmanship.

She would just have to show her determination by fighting with magic.

Thus she switched over. However-

“Seya!!!”

Her determination was short lived as Ikki cut through her wall with a single shout and a slash.
[Cutting fire in half]
- vol 9
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Clash was now inevitable. No, rather, if there was an ability that could still allow her to evade, it would be the Trackless Step Master Nangou had taught her.

(Even if I were to try to enter his blind spot… he doesn’t even have one!)

Standing against Ikki, Momiji came to a realization.

Ikki’s discernment was just like her friend Moroboshi’s Happou Nirami[2], in that it could perceive the entirety of the arena, not overlooking a single movement from the enemy. Her own Trackless Step would not be precise enough to outmaneuver the owner of those eyes.

In that case… there was nothing to do but intercept him with her sword.

[Ikki's copied Happou Nirami (show him being impressed by it as an implication that he didn't already have access to it?) and is impossible to use close range stealth on]
-------------------------------------------------------------


In that case… there was nothing to do but intercept him with her sword.

Despite the knot in her stomach, Momiji clad her device, Hibachi, in flame.

One hit would be enough.

If she just grazed him, Hibachi’s flames would capture Ikki’s whole body like a snake.

(Just one stroke…!?)

However, she was only eager for an instant.

She had lost sight of Ikki Kurogane.

“Crap.”

Momiji realized in an instant that it was due to Trackless Step.

“Aku-”

But by that point, it was already over.

Ikki had passed by Momiji’s side and cut her torso with his device in illusionary form.

That attack had, without a doubt, been a fatal wound, cutting through her stomach all the way to her spine, causing an appropriate amount of strength to drain out of Momiji as a magical red light- Blood Light, which dispersed into the air.

One moment later, Momiji’s body collapsed onto the ground.

[Ikki using trackless step in combat to one shot Momiji]
- vol 9
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Ikki bowed his head deeply and thanked Momiji.

Just as he had done earlier with the other three.

“Aha, you’re welcome… I don’t feel like I was very useful though.”

“That’s not-”

“Armor Piercing Bullet-!!!”

“Hu-???”

A deep voice like a cannon’s roar suddenly interrupted their conversation.

While Ikki was facing Momiji, an attack came from directly behind him, aiming for the back of his head- It was Panzer Grizzly Renji Kaga’s iron palm strike.

It was a most unexpected, barbaric surprise attack for a mock battle.

Momiji was petrified at this. However-

Ikki’s expression didn’t even waver.

Momiji saw it during that moment.

“-True at all.”

After completing his statement towards Momiji, without even an ounce of confusion, Ikki moved half his body, almost casually, and stopped Kaga’s palm strike with his own palms.

His body was nearly twice Ikki’s size.

The palm strike from the man who boasted weight four times that of Ikki’s, didn’t even move him a bit.

-Impossible.

There was a trick to this impossible feat.

That trick was in Ikki’s feet.

As he received the blow, the ground below Ikki’s feet sank noticeably, cracking and being crushed.

Witnessing that, Kaga understood in an instant.

-He had redistributed the force.

By moving his whole body and perfectly shifting his center of gravity, Ikki had received the blow and released it into the ground through his legs without having it reverberate in his body at all.

Just like a lightning rod.

After receiving the surprise attack, Ikki matched the movement of Kaga’s attempt at retreating and pushed him back using the arm he’d received the hit with.

(…!)

In that instant where he shifted his weight back, more force had been added from the front.

With his own weight being so heavy, Kaga was bent backwards greatly-

In that instant, Intetsu cut open his robe.

“Gu, Nuu!”

Kaga’s great body collapsed at the knees and he hit the floor.

Towards that Kaga-

“Ah, you! What were you thinking, attacking so suddenly?!”

Shizuku shouted angrily.

After all, it was an unthinkable thing.

He had launched a surprise attack on a fighter who was set to fight that same day, even if it was in Illusionary form.

Ikki himself was far calmer.

“It’s fine, Shizuku.”

“O, Onii-sama!?”

Then, of all things-

“Kaga-san. Thank you very much.”

He thanked Kaga as he had Momiji and the others.

For a moment, Kaga stared in puzzlement at this expression, then broke into a broad smile.

“Gah, hahahaha! On top of not having any weak points, you don’t even have a single complaint about a surprise attack, eh. Even though you have a girly mug if you look at it right… Being combat ready at all times. It looks like you know that well.”

Knights were not sportsmen.

Therefore, they had to maintain high concentration outside of matches as well.

Even when they are walking, sleeping, or eating, they must always keep their senses sharp.

They can’t afford to be careless.

If one became used to slacking off, they would surely fail when it matters.

Sometimes, the flow of battle goes to the one who can transition quickly.

Going about it in small steps is out of the question.

This was all the more true against an opponent who’d easily overwhelmed Ouma, whom he had been so powerless against.

That was why Kaga decided to attack in the moment when Ikki was preoccupied with Momiji.

However-

(I’ve been preaching to the choir, at most)

To this man, it was a pointless warning.

At the same time Kaga realized that, he came to believe it.

“You’ll win! You will!”

Kaga thumped Ikki’s chest with his fist as he insisted on this.

Stella was certainly a formidable enemy. Her attack power was nothing normal.

However, Ikki knew how to use and stop force.

His special skills shouldn’t be outdone by her attack power.

[Ikki seemingly immune to counter attacks and always on guard. Cancels out the force of Panzer Grizzly's palms by redistributing the weight into the ground... somehow. Scale it with the feat he had against Ouma]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
vol 9 - fights 6 consecutive battles (including against Touka), maybe 7 if Moroboshi joins in at the end, with no issues
-----------------------------------------------------------------


In the instant Ikki raised his sword, Raikiri began to move. From ten meters away, she unsheathed Narukami and fired a crescent slash formed of lightning towards Ikki.

The golden lightning charged at Ikki like a bird with wings spread open.

It was the same long ranged attack she had used against Lorelei, the Noble Art Raiou.

However, while it was a quick opening strike, it was made from a considerable distance.

Far from distressing Ikki at all, he immediately took an evasive maneuver.

Namely, he took a big sidestep to the right.

It was a style of moving that he’d learned from Twin-Wings using his Blade Steal. That was how he managed to evade so easily at high speed as soon as he raised his heel.

Truthfully, it didn’t pose a threat to him.

However, the moment Ikki dodged the first attack, Touka launched a follow-up Raiou right at him.

The technique he had just dodged so easily was launched again.

Of course, that one didn’t reach Ikki either.

With a leap in the opposite direction, Ikki evaded that as well.

As expected, it didn’t even graze him.

[Dodging lightning ez]
- vol 9
------------------------------------------------------------------


Next, Ikki would-

(I’ve got her here! It’s decided!)

Believing so, Ikki struck forward again-

Rather, he tried to.

(!?!?)

Immediately after, a sharp numbness ran up his neck.

It was sixth sense he’d honed by toeing the line between life and death so many times warning him.

At this warning, Ikki’s body ignored his previous assumption and moved- Touka’s sword had moved faster than Ikki’s expectation and, just barely, had managed to return to defend.

(That’s crazy…!)

Based on Touka’s swing speed, the speed of that counter was impossible.

Ikki gulped in astonishment.

What on earth was that?

[precog]
- vol 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Narukami and Intetsu clashed once again.

From the contact point, Touka channeled an electrical attack into Ikki.

“…Ah!”

Zap! Sparks crackled between Narukami and Intetsu as electricity ran through Ikki.

Though his skin wasn’t burned thanks to Illusionary form, receiving a shock made his muscles spasm intensely and cry out in pain.

In the end, his movements were stopped instantly.

Touka took aim at this opportunity-!

She raised Narukami overhead nimbly, and struck down at Ikki.

However, Ikki had baited that attack out.

(She’s flustered!)

Just as Touka began her strike, Ikki steeled his writhing body.

Using the full body control he had cultivated, he took control of his heart and forcibly restored function to his peripheral nervous system.

Recovering from the shock in that instant, Ikki avoided the strike towards his head with the smallest possible sidestep.

Thinking that the shock had immobilized him, his opponent had gone for a finishing blow.

It was a move made after seeing through Touka’s thoughts, outplaying her thoroughly.

[Uses his body control to instantly restart his heart and muscles after being shocked by lightning]
---------------------------------------------------------------------


Despite being able to clearly surpass her swing speed, he could not land a decisive blow on Touka.

Moreover, Ikki was slowly starting to fall behind.

The cause must be…

(This switching around!)

Ikki saw it in her movements while being pressured.

Touka’s blade would strike out with the sharpness of the legendary sword technique Swallow Counter, then return with unnatural speed, leaving a trail like a flash of lightning.

Squeezed into the moments between blows, these strikes threw off Ikki’s rhythm.

This was the technique Touka Toudou had polished in order to win at this year’s tournament. By creating a special magnetic field around her, she could use electromagnetic attraction and repulsion to move her sword at speeds exceeding the limits of her body. It was her Noble Art, Inazuma, devised as a counter to Yuudai Moroboshi’s superhuman technique, Houkiboshi.

The burden on the wrist made it impossible to use it haphazardly, but by occasionally mixing it in while trading blows, she could interrupt her opponent’s rhythm. Once their rhythm was interrupted, forcing them back was simple!

“Aha!”

“Ku!”

Touka lunged at Ikki’s chest.

In order to avoid the blow, Ikki threw himself backwards, ending up outside of engagement range.

He escaped with his tail between his legs.

“Onii-sama…!”

Ikki had been forced out of his comfortable range.

Shizuku realized this and let her worry show, while on the side Moroboshi’s expression hardened.

It was only natural. Ikki knew well the close range superiority of Twin-Wings’ sword, which he had learned. That being said, someone had pushed it back.

(This girl is… powerful. She can’t be compared to herself from last year.)

Not intending to let Ikki get away, Touka stayed hot on his heels, keeping up the pursuit.

(Kurogane-kun. Your sword sword skills are certainly amazing. When I saw your match with Moroboshi-san on TV, I got goosebumps. Your techniques don’t even seem human. However!)

That much was expected of Blazers.

It was incredible that Ikki had gotten this far on physical skill alone.

However, that was a product of Ikki’s circumstances, having not been blessed in terms of Blazer power.

Touka and other Blazers hadn’t needed such single minded focus on martial artistry in order to reach this point.

If they simply used their magic power along with their abilities, then surpassing an ordinary person was no big deal.

[Ikki fighting against Toulka (in a defensive battle) when she's swinging empowered by electromagnetic force]
- vol 9
---------------------------------------------------------


Of course, Touka followed that with a lightning blast.

“Bzzt!”

With a soft bursting sound accompanied by sparks, Ikki’s right arm and upper body snapped back from the shock. Touka saw a decisive opening.

(This is it!)

Touka decided to unleash her trump card.

Touka had already seen Ikki’s resilience towards electrocution earlier.

A mere slash would simply be dodged. However, even if he were to dodge Raikiri, her supersonic blade would hit Ikki with a blast through the air.

At close range, the damage from receiving that would be able to take down any single human.

There was no reason to hesitate.

Believing this, Touka returned Narukami to its scabbard.

“Eh!?!?”

To be more accurate, she tried to.

However, she was unable to.

Why? Well, the reason was in Narukami’s scabbard.

Right at the opening of the scabbard and the tip of the sword, preventing the sword from returning to the scabbard, was a small chip from the broken ring!

(!!!)

In that moment, Touka realized that she had been trapped.

Ikki’s foot had not gotten caught on the broken part of the ring.

In order to kick up a shard from the ring, he had stuck his foot in a crack. Then, while he was bending back due to the electric shock, he launched the shard into the gap between Narukami and its scabbard.

This prevented the resheathing of the sword, leaving Touka defenseless.

“Ka, Ha-”

In that instant, Ikki finished recovering from the shock and cut Touka at the throat.

[out-tactics Touka with big brain]
- vol 9
-----------------------------------------------------
After receiving such a fatal wound, Touka felt that she was about to lose her consciousness and collapse.

However, with sheer force of will, she managed to stay on one knee and addressed the victorious Ikki.

“To think that Raikiri would be defeated in such a manner…”

“It’s a surprise attack that will only ever work once, though.”

Touka smiled bitterly.

Using a shard from the ring to block her scabbard was definitely a surprise. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

However, reading her intent to use Raikiri and then using the damage to the ring was nothing short of creative.

Even during their fierce sword fight, he’d had the ability to nonchalantly lead her to a predetermined location.

Most impressively, he had completely deceived her ability to directly read intentions from biological signals in order to get his plan past her, taking decisive action without letting her realize anything.

Without a doubt, that was the power of Ikki’s experience.

Ikki’s strength definitely consisted of more than just swordplay.

He had widened her view. He was constantly thinking about the best way to win.

(I’ve been thinking only about sword techniques this whole time.)

“Amazing. Even though I came to help you train, I ended up learning from you instead.”

[Ikki's above tactic was somehow able to trick Touka despite her being able to read every electrical signal in the body. Guess he's immune to thought reading?]
- vol 9
--------------------------------------------------------


Moroboshi prepared to combat this approach from spear distance again.

He wasted no energy while Ikki was out of range, but the moment Ikki entered his zone, he swooped in like a raging fire.

Fundamentally, Moroboshi preferred this kind of patient spear technique.

That’s what Ikki decided to aim for.

The first blow Moroboshi would put out as he approached.

(I’ll hit his interception with Dokuga no Tachi!)

He raised his sword diagonally above his head. His sixth secret sword- Dokuga no Tachi.

It sends shockwaves into the enemy through the Device, attacking them from the inside.

It was an attack that passed through weapons.

Unlike Shinkirou, he hadn’t shown this technique to Moroboshi.

Therefore, the first attack should definitely get by-
[Dokuga no Tachi is used against weapons, Ikki uses it here against a spear]
- vol 9
---------------------------------------------------------


Having decided thus, Ikki brought Intetsu into Seigan no Kamae and focused on Moroboshi with both eyes.

“---”

Moroboshi observed Ikki’s gaze and stance.

“What’s that? The nature of his pressure has changed.”

Moroboshi’s veteran 6th sense immediately sensed something.

(His back foot is well planted. He can’t dash effectively from that stance.)

Just as Moroboshi had judged, Ikki’s third approach was different from those until now; this time he approached slowly.

Without changing from Seigan no Kamae[3], Ikki shuffled forwards slowly, feet never leaving the ground.

“What’s wrong? If you move at such a turtle-like pace, you’ll be filled with holes the moment you get in range.”

“---”

Ikki showed no response to Moroboshi’s provocation.

Ignoring him-that wasn’t quite it.

(He’s simply not listening. He can’t even hear me.)

After looking at Ikki’s eyes, he understood.

He wouldn’t respond to sound.

With his eyes focused on Moroboshi, he would just slowly advance and close the gap.

(When focus exceeds normal limits, you become unable to hear anything around you, and also become unable to perceive color. I’ve experienced being in that zone before…)

Well, if it was the man before him, he could probably enter that state intentionally.

The problem was, what was he thinking, using that focus?

With such slow movements, what was he trying to start?

Finally, Ikki’s toes encroached upon Moroboshi’s domain.

(Tch, I’m so confused! But what I have to do doesn’t change!)

Moroboshi made his move.

Focusing on speed, he unleashed a violent storm of steel.

Ikki blocked it in the same way as before, with Intetsu flying in to deflect the spear.

The sound of weapons clashing. The rain of sparks. It was exactly the same as earlier.

“!?!?”

Moroboshi felt it in the hand wielding Tora-ou first.

There was an abnormal weight coming from this opponent.

It felt like a massive tree rooted in the earth.

No matter how many times he struck, Ikki would not back off like he had earlier.

He didn’t dodge horizontally either.

With his eyes fixed on Moroboshi, he advanced straight forwards, bit by bit. Only forwards.

“…!”

Seeing his form, Moroboshi understood Ikki’s idea.

(This guy, he didn’t have a specific plan or anything…! He cut off nonessential senses, lowered strength spent on things other than movement as much as possible, and put all his focus into his sword…! I’ll put my all into my blade and break through with all my strength!)

He wasn’t an opponent you could get past with a half hearted plan and a cheap trick.

Knowing that, he would meet the blade that Ikki honed with his all.

Ikki understood his own weakness, and made use of everything before his eyes for victory.

Contrary to that, when it mattered, he had the courage to trust in his own strength.

At a glance, these two seem contradictory.

The one who united them was Worst One Ikki Kurogane.

He is aware of his weakness.

Despite that, he believes that he can be stronger than anyone.

To achieve this, he does everything he can.

That everything resides in the black blade he grasped in both hands.

Therefore, Ikki Kurogane would no longer back down. He would no longer run.

If it was himself, it was possible.

Believing that, he advanced slowly, but surely, towards Yuudai Moroboshi.

This was no last stand. Nor was it a desperate attack.

Absolute Victory. He held such a conviction.

His pressure was fierce.

“Guh!?”

He overwhelmed Moroboshi soundly, driving him into a corner of the rectangular arena.

“Awesome, Onii-sama! To drive that Moroboshi-san against a wall head on!”

“Forwards, slowly, but surely. He did it through incredible pressure.”

“Yeah. That said… Kurogane-kun’s stance is also amazing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Against Moroboshi-san, without being shifted laterally or front-to-back, he maintained a straight trajectory. It makes it hard on the attacker. Anyway, he guarded with his blade well centered in Seigan no Kamae and made it difficult to attack, and his opponent did not change his stance at all, continuously aiming for a fatal strike at the same place, from the same angle. He inevitably ended up repeating the same motion. As a result-”

Right after that, red light fluttered in the ring.

It was Blood Light spilling from Ikki’s limbs.

It was just a graze, though.

And surely enough, Moroboshi also understood the ‘result’ that Touka pointed out.

(I’ve shown too much motion! He’s optimizing his strength and approach to repel me!)

Precisely. If one ends up repeating the same attack, then you’ll end up exposing it.

The power, angle, and speed necessary to deflect the enemy was all shown in detail.

And now Ikki had analyzed it and optimized.

While avoiding any fatal wounds, Ikki used the minimum defence necessary, contracting his defensive movements as much as he could, making his attack and defense stronger than before, and stepping into Moroboshi’s zone.

Forwards. Powerfully. Quickly.

“Moroboshi-san lost his patience after being backed into a corner. He’s attacking unreasonably out of impatience!”

That was Touka’s prediction.

“Come no closer!”

It came true in the next instant.

Moroboshi sent a single flashing strike flying towards Ikki.

Because of his impatience, he sent his elbow too far to return easily, making it a sloppy thrust.

Without any spirit put into it, the strike lacked power and aim.

“!!!”

Ikki didn’t overlook that.

“Shit-”

By the time Moroboshi realized his misplay, it was too late.

Ikki stepped forwards with the sloppy thrust, letting his own shoulder be pierced.

Using his own body he trapped Tora-ou, denying Moroboshi any counterattack.

“Haaaaaa!!!”

With Tora-ou stuck in his shoulder, he broke into Moroboshi’s space and thrust his blade into his heart.

[Ikki has more pressure than Moroboshi and is able to use his turtle walk thing to perfectly deflect all of Moroboshi's attacks, back him into a corner, and force a mistake]
- vol 9
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