You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Amidst the interweaving golden arcs of lightning, Kurogane Shizuku's body was cleanly cleaved in two.
A collective gasp rose instantly from the entire arena.
The chest-level wound was terrifyingly severe, causing many spectators to cover their eyes.
But Kurogane Shizuku did not fall.
Her bisected body suddenly turned transparent and dissolved into a puddle of water that spread across the ground.
"A water avatar?"
Toudou Touka murmured softly, then turned to look behind her.
Kurogane Shizuku staggered fifty meters away, clutching her arm. Crimson blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers; her expression was clearly disheveled.
"But it looks like you didn't completely avoid it."
Cold sweat beaded on Kurogane Shizuku's forehead. She had almost been cut in half. Despite deploying a water avatar in time, her arm was injured.
More importantly...
She hadn't been able to figure out that footwork technique at all.
She remembered now.
Back when they were attacked in the shopping mall, Nangou Ryoji had used a sword technique. According to her older brother, it was a modified version of the God of War's signature footwork technique, Trackless Step.
She had also heard of Trackless Step at that time. It had the same effect as what she had just witnessed: hiding the user within the opponent's subconscious. Even if you saw it, you couldn't perceive the approach. This is why it resembles teleportation: an attack that exploits the brain's inertia.
"According to Big Brother, without special training, there's no way to deal with that kind of footwork..."
Kurogane Shizuku had never undergone such training, of course. However, she had thought about how to counter this kind of attack.
"Byakuya Barrier!"
Her expression turned fierce as she let out a low shout.
At her will, the frozen tundra on the ground vaporized, transforming from a solid to a gas. Thick white fog billowed out and swallowed the entire battle ring.
"If I can't see the enemy, then the enemy can't see me either!"
"It's over."
Ryoji closed his eyes.
"In my view, Shizuku's response should be the correct counter, right?"
Hearing this, Kurogane Ikki froze and shot Ryoji a surprised look.
Stella and Arisuin Nagi also turned to him in astonishment.
"Senior Sister is severely nearsighted." Ryoji said in a low voice. "But every time she enters a match, she takes off her glasses. Why do you think that is?"
Usually, someone with severe nearsightedness would try to protect their glasses as much as possible during combat to ensure clear vision. If she deliberately removed her glasses before the fight, there could only be one reason.
"She has a better way to 'observe'!" Kurogane Ikki suddenly understood.
That's right.
Although it looked cool, Senior Sister was practically blind without her glasses, so she never relied on her eyes in battle.
She concentrated her magic power into her eyes. Through this special ability, she could perceive her opponent's bioelectric currents and read their next move.
It was practically mind-reading.
This was the noble art known as "Flash Reason Eye", an ability that always allowed her to seize the initiative in battle and leave no intention of her opponent's hidden.
Kurogane Shizuku thought she had trapped Toudou Touka in the thick fog, but she had actually trapped herself.
"Raikiri..."
"BOOOOM!"
Within the dense fog, out of everyone's sight, the two girls clashed one final time.
As Ryoji had said, however, Toudou Touka saw through every single action of Kurogane Shizuku.
Finally, with a sharp cry, a terrifying lightning-infused slash tore apart the white fog barrier. A violent gale followed, sweeping across the entire arena.
"Victory and defeat have been decided! The winner is Toudou Touka!"
In the ring, only long, fluttering hair remained.
The chestnut-haired girl slid Narukami back into its scabbard and gently exhaled.
She bent down, lifted Kurogane Shizuku into her arms, and carried her to the stretcher prepared by the support staff.
She had already switched her Spiritual Item (Device) into its illusionary state before delivering the final slash, so Shizuku's body wasn't actually injured—only the intense psyshic shock had knocked her unconscious.
"As you said."
Up in the stands, Kurogane Ikki let out a long sigh.
His little sister had lost, after all.
Saying he wasn't disappointed would be a lie, but the opponent was simply too strong. Losing to Toudou Touka wasn't shameful. After all, there was a two-year age difference between them, so a difference in strength was inevitable.
Still, Shizuku would definitely be upset afterward.
"This is only the beginning." Ryoji's expression didn't change.
There wasn't the slightest hint of surprise on his face, as if he had expected this outcome.
"From here on out, more of us who remain undefeated will probably be cut down. One day, we'll inevitably face opponents we don't want to face. When that time comes, I hope none of you hold back."
Ryoji stood up.
He glanced at Kurogane Ikki, leaving behind words heavy with implication. Then, without waiting for a response, he left the stands and walked away.
"Is he saying that even if we're facing each other, we should still go all out?"
Stella crossed her arms, her fighting spirit surging. "He didn't need to say it. I was already planning on that!"
Even setting aside the idea of being opponents, she'd wanted to punch him for a long time!
"He's right." Kurogane Ikki nodded seriously.
However, for some reason, the glance Ryoji gave him before leaving felt meaningful.
It wasn't directed at anyone else, it was just one look at him.
...
"Touka, congratulations!" Under the golden glow of the evening sunset, laughter filled the Student Council gathering.
"Oh? Everyone's here?"
By the time Ryoji arrived, all the student council members had already gathered and were happily offering their congratulations to Touda Touka.
Defeating Kurogane Shizuku, another B-Rank Knight, was undoubtedly something worth celebrating.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that they just wanted an excuse to make some noise.
"Ah, Junior Brother-kun is here too!"
Seeing Ryoji, Tomaru Renren's eyes lit up, and she immediately lunged toward him.
But beside her, Totokubara Kanata's gaze sharpened. With quick reflexes, she grabbed Renren by the collar.
"Don't be rude." She scolded Renren, clearly displeased with her noisy enthusiasm.
"I just want to get close to Junior Brother-kun, that's all!"
"That's exactly what being rude is. How do you know if he wants that?"
Totokubara Kanata turned toward Ryoji with an elegant smile.
"I'm a very proper person. I only get close with people I like."
Ryoji said solemnly, wearing an expression of absolute righteousness.
"See? Junior Brother-kun is clearly a devoted man."
"Wuu..."
The wealthy Kanata looked satisfied as she turned to lecture Tomaru Renren.
"Senior Sister, congratulations!"
Ryoji smiled and stepped past the two of them, his gaze settling on Senior Sister.
"Mm. I'll gladly accept your congratulations, Junior Brother!"
Toudou Touka expressed her happiness straightforwardly.
"Junior Brother, are you not going to thank me?"
Misogi popped over, looking like a kindergarten kid and grinning as she struck up a conversation with Ryoji.
(End of Chapter)