Stronger than the akatsuki.

"What is going on here? I've never heard of Akatsuki, but—"

However—

"Silence."

What came back was not an answer, but cruel words as if shaking off a fly.

"I have already cut ties with the Kurogane. Don't speak so casually to me."

Ouma did not spare a glance to his blood-related brother or sister. His eyes were fixed on only one thing—staring only at Stella, who was standing next to Ikki in this place.

Receiving that gaze, Stella certainly felt it.

This man—isn't half-hearted, huh?

Just by receiving the glance, she was picking up a sensation of her skin tingling and numbing.

The seven people lined up in front of her eyes. Each and every one of them was a devil full of ambition. But above them all, the Sword Emperor of Wind, Ouma Kurogane, was outstanding among them. In terms of intimidation, the feeling radiating from his body was an order of magnitude higher.

There's no mistake. …This one is far and away stronger than the rest of them.

Stella was confident about that, and moreover—she stared back at him with strong emotions.