bookcurios Chapter 728 - 728
Chapter 728 - 728
The massive stadium was filled with rows of plastic seats, roughly counting to at least ten thousand spots, yet not a single spectator was present. Dust covered the spectator stands, leaving the open-air stadium as desolate as ruins.In fact, most facilities in this bay city remained idle year-round, with abandonment being the norm here.
However, at this moment, several figures stood at the center of the stadium grounds.
Light and shadows crisscrossed before their eyes.
Slashing attacks easily tore through the atmosphere.
The dense clashing of steel made one momentarily feel as if they were in a blacksmith's shop, with the sounds of impact ringing incessantly.
"So fast!"
Kurogane Shizuku stood at the edge of the field, her eyes filled with astonishment.
Though she had complete confidence in her brother, she couldn't help but feel her heart racing at this moment.
"Yuudai's spear technique has received recognition from our teacher, who said his potential is limitless!"
Beside her, a playful girl with a ponytail who resembled a young boy blinked her eyes, speaking with shared pride.
"No wonder."
Kurogane Shizuku suddenly understood.
Momiji Asagi from Bukkyoku Academy was one of the God of War's disciples. Receiving her teacher's recognition meant receiving the God of War's approval.
"Especially Yuudai's thrusts - he practices thousands of spear thrusts daily, developing piercing attacks so fast they're invisible to the naked eye. Several thrusts connected together appear as just one movement, the technique so bizarre even I can't comprehend its principles."
Standing next to the ponytailed girl was a bespectacled youth brimming with scholarly demeanor, who let out a helpless sigh with a wry smile.
Byakuya Jougasaki from Bukkyoku Academy, last tournament's runner-up who always ranked below Yuudai Moroboshi, had naturally tried to decipher Yuudai Moroboshi's spear techniques but never succeeded.
Even with his absolute mastery skill, he couldn't see through Yuudai Moroboshi's spear techniques, demonstrating the true worth of the Seven Star Sword King.
"But my brother is the strongest!"
Kurogane Shizuku deeply understood that Yuudai Moroboshi was no ordinary opponent, yet she remained fully confident in Kurogane Ikki.
At this moment.
Several dozen meters away from the three, at the stadium's center, two figures continuously intertwined like shifting light and shadows.
One had black hair and refined features, while the other had a robust build, imposing like a crouching tiger. Each collision between katana and golden spear produced dazzling sparks.
These two were none other than Kurogane Ikki and Yuudai Moroboshi.
Like mortal enemies, they showed no mercy in their exchange, each strike aimed at vital points.
While they themselves appeared as boiling with fighting spirit, completely unconcerned warriors, the three spectators watched with pounding hearts.
Fortunately, there was a water mage skilled in healing present.
Or perhaps they fought so recklessly precisely because they knew this.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Just as the two on the field were engaged in heated battle, a voice called out in haste.
Everyone turned to see a beautiful figure entering from outside the stadium, her chestnut-colored super-long braid particularly eye-catching. Following closely behind her was a young man.
"Junior brother!"
The moment Momiji Asagi saw the newcomer, she happily waved.
"Sigh..."
Byakuya Jougasaki's face soured, looking at her with inexplicable resentment.
"Oh, Asagi Momiji, can't you see your senior sister when you spot your junior brother?"
Touka chuckled, casting a gaze sharp as a blade toward Momiji.
"Uh, haha, misunderstanding! Of course I can see you, senior sister. I was just about to greet you!"
Momiji stuck out her tongue, trying to brush it off.
The two of them were about the same age, but in terms of when they started training, Touka had begun much earlier.
"Junior sister, you should pay more attention to Jougasaki-kun. He doesn't look too happy."
"N-No, not really..."
"Is Byakuya unhappy?"
Prompted by Touka, Byakuya Jougasaki's face flushed red, while Momiji looked utterly clueless about the situation, making him sigh wearily.
"Heh."
Touka let out a light laugh.
"By the way, when did those two become enemies?"
Eiji, standing behind her, gestured with his chin toward the arena.
Kurogane Ikki and Yuudai Moroboshi were going at each other as if their lives depended on it, looking like sworn rivals.
"They're not enemies."
Kurogane Shizuku kept her eyes fixed on the arena, a watery glow shimmering in her hand, ready to rush in and rescue someone at any moment.
"Then what are they doing?"
Eiji pondered aloud.
"That's actually why I brought you here, junior brother."
Touka explained on their behalf.
"This afternoon, Ikki sent me a message asking if I could help him with special training."
"Oh?"
Eiji seemed to recall something.
"Tomorrow's match must be putting a lot of pressure on him."
Byakuya adjusted his glasses. Though his tone was speculative, it carried absolute certainty, as if he had everything figured out.
Considering his unique skill of complete comprehension, his deduction was likely the truth.
"He also sent a message to Yuudai, which is why we came."
He added another point.
I see.
The Seven Star Sword Art Festival had now passed the halfway mark, with each block having produced a single qualifier. Only four participants remained in the entire competition.
In tomorrow's semifinal, Kurogane Ikki would face Stella.
Although he had defeated Stella once before, now that Stella's strength had grown exponentially, Ikki's chances of winning were slim.
Not only did the audience think so, but even Eiji shared the sentiment. It seemed even the "expired loli" was more optimistic about Stella's chances, though that might also be because she was Stella's teacher.
Trapped in a situation where no one had any expectations of him, facing an overwhelming gap in strength, even someone as mentally resilient as Kurogane Ikki would feel immense pressure, as if a steamroller were closing in on him from behind.
"I went to find you this afternoon intending to tell you about it, but we got sidetracked by Sara's situation."
Touka explained to Eiji.
"But I never received any message?"
Eiji pulled out his student handbook.
No matter which app he checked, there was no message from Kurogane Ikki.
"Brother never sent you a message in the first place."
Shizuku pouted in displeasure, her delicate features showing a hint of helplessness, as if she strongly disapproved of her brother's actions.
"Eiji? What are you doing here?"
As they were talking.
The two on the arena had finished their spar.
Kurogane Ikki stepped down from the arena and froze momentarily upon spotting Eiji.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Why so distant? You didn't even call me for training."
Eiji asked with an air of nonchalance, putting on an accusatory expression.
We're all old friends here. Who are you trying to fool?
"Not distant at all. It's just that you have a match tomorrow too, don't you?"
Kurogane Ikki took the towel his sister handed him and wiped his face, immediately shaking his head upon hearing this.