To prove their worth in the most obvious way possible.
"So you're here to destroy Hagun Academy?"
Eiji finally understood. "By destroying Hagun Academy, you can prove your own value and take our place in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival?"
His expression remained calm, without a trace of panic.
"Exactly! As expected of Hagun Academy's strongest!"
Reisen Hiraga immediately clapped, impressed by Eiji's quick thinking.
"Since when was he officially recognized as the strongest?"
Stella couldn't help but grumble in dissatisfaction.
"Do you really think such a reckless plan will work?"
Touka's voice was icy. "The organizing committee isn't foolish. Your reckless actions will only result in disqualification!"
"Teehee, that's not necessarily true! Raikiri, though you're strong, you really don't understand politics, do you?"
Reisen shook his head, looking at her with pity.
"We will participate in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival—because the organizing committee, no, the League that oversees it, has no choice but to acknowledge us!"
Just think about it.
Hagun Academy has stood for over seventy years. As one of the earliest Blazer schools in the country, its history is long and illustrious, producing countless renowned figures.
If such a prestigious institution were to be openly destroyed, it would be a direct slap to the League's face.
In that case, if the League were to simply disqualify Akatsuki Academy, it would be tantamount to tucking their tails and running away.
While that might nip Akatsuki Academy's plans in the bud, it would also damage the League's reputation, making the public believe they were no longer capable.
"If the League wants to maintain its image of strength, they must let us participate—and then defeat us head-on."
Reisen spoke with confidence.
The League could crush Akatsuki Academy as easily as stepping on an ant.
But if that very ant made them seem weak, the League would have no choice but to face it directly and defeat it in the most convincing way possible.
Such were the constraints of politics—maintaining reputation, even a hollow one, was paramount.
The group fell silent.
Admittedly, his reasoning was sound.
The League was vast, but within member nations, it only governed matters related to Blazers. It had no ties to political or economic groups, nor any political or economic influence.
In other words, the League had no means to sanction Akatsuki Academy through other channels.
The only option was to defeat them outright.
And if they wanted to crush Akatsuki Academy decisively, proving the League's enduring might, they had to let them compete in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival—and defeat them there.
"And with that, our friendly explanation comes to an end! Sorry to say, but we will defeat you all here—so just obediently become our stepping stones!"
As his words faded,
an overwhelming surge of killing intent erupted from the Akatsuki Academy members behind Reisen.
"Sorry, Eiji. This is our mission."
Amane Shinomiya gave Eiji an apologetic look, but his movements didn't slow—a slender silver sword already in his hand.
Eiji said nothing.
"Don't think we'll go down without a fight!"
"If you can, then try it!"
No one backed down.
The students of Hagun Academy manifested their personal Noble Arts weapons one after another, shouting defiantly against their opponents' violence. The tension in the air instantly reached boiling point.
"Then we won't hold back, hehe!"
Reisen Hiraga waved his hand.
The members of Hagun Academy behind him simultaneously kicked off the ground.
Both sides began moving at the same time!
"Attack!"
Reisen's loud shout served as both the war cry and another kind of signal!
In that instant, Arisuin Nagi sprang into action.
While his comrades charged toward the enemy, he silently stood at the very back, watching their retreating figures.
Several dark purple daggers appeared in his palm, arranged in an umbrella-like formation.
This was the moment he had come for.
Arisuin Nagi's Blazer ability was conceptual interference-type shadow manipulation.
His secret technique "Shadow Bind" utilized this power - piercing the opponent's shadow with his Noble Art to completely immobilize them.
Once a shadow was pierced, no matter how strong the person, they would lose all ability to resist!
An incredibly powerful technique for ambushes!
This was Arisuin's mission.
Infiltrate Hagun Academy, become Kurogane Shizuku's roommate, use her as an entry point to build relationships and gain trust with the school's strongest fighters like Eiji and Ikki.
Then at the moment battle began, deliver the decisive strike.
Becoming Shizuku's roommate seemed coincidental, but was actually inevitable - the result of behind-the-scenes manipulation.
This was Akatsuki Academy's insurance policy, their guarantee of absolute victory over Hagun Academy.
Now.
Every Hagun Academy comrade trusted him completely, exposing their backs without suspicion, their shadows becoming their collective vulnerability.
Not a single person doubted him.
"—Shadow Bind!"
Nagi threw his Noble Arts weapons.
The daggers named "Darkness Hermit" flew through the air, mercilessly piercing their targets' shadows.
—The members of Akatsuki Academy!
"Thunk!"
With a series of blade-meeting-flesh sounds.
The Akatsuki students collapsed one after another with looks of disbelief.
Their shadows instantly immobilized, leaving them defenseless as Hagun Academy's fighters cut them down.
Each strike was fatal.
A near-perfect ambush.
When they thought Nagi would attack Hagun Academy, when victory seemed assured, no one imagined he would betray them at the last moment to strike his own side.
Kurogane Ouma, Amane Shinomiya, Sara - all lay on the ground without exception, each face filled with resentment.
A complete victory.
This was inevitable.
Because the probability of this ambush succeeding was always one hundred percent!
"Great, the strategy worked! I was worried Alice might betray us again at the last moment!"
Stella sighed in relief.
Seeing the enemy neutralized, her tone became cheerful again.
"I wouldn't do something like that!"
Nagi gave a bitter smile.
Though defending himself, he knew his credibility was questionable.
This counted as success, he thought, also breathing an internal sigh of relief.
This way, he had successfully protected Shizuku's dream.
For Shizuku's sake, he had chosen to defect to Akatsuki Academy's side.
Eiji's intuition at the time had proven correct—Nagi had indeed been turned, unwittingly swayed by Shizuku.
"—How naive."
But the next moment.
Several silver rapiers pierced through the air, stabbing through Nagi's body from behind.
***
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