bookcurios Chapter 736 - 736
Chapter 736 - 736
"In the end, it has come to this!"From the highest level of the southern spectator stands, an old man leaning on a cane let out a complex sigh.
"A Blazer's magical power symbolizes fate. Its total amount is innate and absolutely unchangeable. Therefore, every Blazer bears a fate with its own limits!"
"Once this limit is reached, no matter how hard one tries, they cannot grow stronger by even a shred, for this is a shackle imposed by fate! Fate does not permit this person to surpass its control!"
Within the battle arena, no matter how hard Kurogane Ikki struggled, his mind remained sluggish, his body as if rusted.
It seemed he had completely exhausted his personal potential. His techniques could no longer be refined even slightly, and his entire being felt as if sinking into a quagmire.
He could grow no stronger.
Under Stella's pressure, he had originally been advancing by leaps and bounds, progressing as smoothly as a fish in water.
But at this moment, he seemed to have touched an unknown, terrifying shackle.
"Rumble—!"
In a daze.
A massive stone gate appeared before his eyes. The gate bore no carvings or decorations, possessing only an unknown antiquity and a heaviness akin to the stars themselves.
It felt as though, to open that gate, one would have to oppose the very stars!
But no matter how difficult, he could not remain stagnant here!
Resolved, he immediately stepped forward.
"Clatter, clatter, clatter!"
Chains surged from all directions, binding his limbs and rendering him completely immobile.
Fate was preventing him from advancing.
"Move!"
Kurogane Ikki roared.
"Move, damn it!"
But the chains remained utterly still.
He couldn't even reach that ancient, unadorned gate.
"How can this be…"
Kurogane Ikki gradually despaired.
He didn't know what was happening.
He only knew that if he didn't open this gate, he would be forever stuck here.
But that massive gate was incredibly sturdy, and the chains entangling his limbs left him unable to move, unable to even swing his sword!
As his heart sank into despair, the enormous stone gate gradually receded from his sight.
"To break through that stone gate, two conditions must be met!"
Edelweiss's gaze was also fixed on Kurogane Ikki.
He was her master's great-grandson, so she naturally held concern for him.
"The first is to exhaust one's own potential, reach the limit, attain a state where no further progress is possible. The second, and most crucial and difficult point that blocks countless individuals—is to possess an unshakable will, one that strives to step into a higher realm even if it means contending against fate itself!Many achieve the first point; precisely because they reach it, they encounter that incredibly solid bottleneck.
The most critical is the second point.
Firm will!
A will that dares to struggle against fate!
A will that seeks to conquer even fate itself, a will that asks, "If not me, then who?!"
Without such a powerful will, it is impossible to break the stone gate's blockade!
One must possess such a will to possibly shatter fate's restraints, leap beyond fate's confines, and exist outside cause and effect.
Such an existence is called "Xianren" (Immortal) in China, "Superhuman" in America, and across all Alliance member nations, it is known as—"Demon"!
It was this extremely harsh condition that barred countless Blazers from the inner side of fate, stopping them short of becoming a demon.
"Kurogane boy only learned the basics of the Twin Wings Style and has already reached his limit, which shows his potential is far inferior to that little brat."
Nangou Torajirou sighed.
"But precisely because his potential is lower, it's easier for him to reach his limit, easier to touch the existence of a demon!"
The higher one's potential, the stronger they can become within the allowances of fate!
Take Eiji, for example - he could master the complete Twin Wings Style because fate judged that with his potential, he was naturally capable of reaching this realm.
And the standard for judging this potential is generally magic power.
The more magic power one has, the more potential they possess, and fate treats them more leniently.
The less magic power one has, the less potential they possess, and fate treats them more strictly.
Considering this, Stella is truly fate's favorite, no different from its own daughter.
As long as she wants to become stronger, she can continuously surpass herself - her potential far exceeds that of over seven billion people worldwide, even surpassing Twin-Wings herself!
Kurogane Ikki is the complete opposite - he is the least favored by fate, a genuine waste looked down upon.
"Ikki is certain to lose now!"
Eiji's eyes seemed to radiate divine light.
That gaze concentrated with immense spirit alone made Touka feel a stinging pain throughout her body just from watching.
"Unless he can surpass himself and break through to a higher realm!"
He murmured to himself, saying things Touka couldn't understand.
Yet his eyes shone with intense anticipation, that passionate emotion astonishing Touka greatly.
Come!
Show me!
How will you break through that barrier?
"Certain to lose...?"
As the true participant in this battle, Kurogane Ikki felt this sensation particularly strongly now.
After his evolution stopped, he fell into an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position, while Stella's attacks grew increasingly powerful, making it extremely difficult for him to even defend himself.
Only ten seconds remained for his Ittou Shura.
Once those ten seconds passed and the dozens-fold enhancement disappeared, he would likely be defeated in an instant.
"Defeat?"
Kurogane Ikki's eyes suddenly widened.
"No, how can I allow such a thing to happen?"
The past six months had been far more fulfilling than his previous sixteen years combined.
During those sixteen years, he was truly unloved by both parents, wanting to learn swordsmanship but having nowhere to go, forced to wander across the country, learning techniques from opponents by challenging dojos. Thanks to this, he was hospitalized countless times - fractures, muscle damage, organ injuries, these pains happened more times than he could count!
Finally this year, he got an opportunity - as long as he became champion, he could debut. He gained friends, could practice swordsmanship without reservation, and made close friends who helped him many times!
Most importantly, he had Stella.
Countless mutual encouragements, countless promises to stand together at the peak of Blazer Knights, to share that joy together... innumerable promises that stirred his heart!
"How can I stop here!"
Kurogane Ikki roared.
Intense anger, determination, and resentment made his face appear ferocious.
How could he betray his close friends' expectations?
How could he betray his past self who endured so much hardship?
More importantly, how could he betray his promise with Stella?
"Crack!"
The unbreakable chains shattered into pieces in that instant!
"Hellfang of the Crimson Dragon!"
A massive flaming dragon head surged forward, sending Kurogane Ikki flying backward.
"That kid!"
But at the same time.
Nangou Torajirou's hand gripping his cane trembled violently, his wrinkled face filled with shock.
Even Edelweiss couldn't help but express her astonishment.
"What has changed?"
Meanwhile, Eiji, seated in the audience stands, seemed to have grasped something.