raudo use some kind of trickery? But Ikki denied that.

"No, there's no deceit nor trick."

"Haha, seems like you've noticed... Say it, I'll match the answer."

Kuraudo, who had a large grin, asked to reveal the true identity of his power that Ikki had managed to see through.

"It's something Kurashiki-kun got directly from his roots: reflexive sensitivity."

"Reflexive.. sensitivity..."

"Ikki, that.. isn't that the same normal reflex gear all humans have?"

"That's half right, half wrong. If put into words then it would be that, but the efficiency, and speed are all too great. I'm talking about the time it takes for a human to complete the sensory process, as in 'sense', 'comprehend,' and 'respond'. For the most part, it's point three seconds for us. They say a professional sprinter has a time of point fifteen seconds. And no matter how much you train, this number can't cross the bounder of point one seconds. That is common sense. However.. for Kurashiki-san who just dodged that counter, it seems like the time for him is point zero five seconds or lower."

""―!?""

Stella and Ayase became speechless at that fact. Well, it was obvious to be surprised. The reaction time for Ikki and Stella was about 0.13 seconds. Kuraudo's senses had long crossed the human boundary. In other words, the time it took for Ikki and Stella to perform one action, Kuraudo could do about two or three actions in that same amount of time.

"And with that common sense defying reaction speed, he can dodge our attacks that might seem absolutely impossible to dodge with perfect timing, or he can change the direction of an attack just before it clashes with ours and make it come from a completely different angle. The reason why his sword seemed to vanish halfway was because of that."

"Haha.. hahaha.. HAHAHA! BINGO!"

Kuraudo widened his eyes while laughing madly.

Yes, his sword wasn't an art. It was pure violence. And with that violence, the Sword Eater tramples all down.

Because reaction speed was the base of all sports and actions. No matter how much one trains, or how much one polishes his stance; it doesn't matter how much experience one has, it all becomes meaningless before it. No matter how much of an absurd surprise attack is thrown at him, he can deal with it after seeing it. No matter how someone charges at him recklessly, he can change his guard after seeing that. It allowed something irrational like seeing the opponent's choice of rock, paper, or scissors before making his own: that was the true value of the Sword Eater.

Techniques and experience, schemes and tactics, a nightmare that renders all of these useless. Superhuman reflexes, and reaction ability born from that, adding the two and thus creating?Marginal Counter.

"You're the first one to see through my Marginal Counter on the first meeting! I'll commend you, Worst One! As I thought, you're the best. But so what!? Even if you know how it works, can you do anything about it?"

"..."

Hearing that, Ikki's expression clouded.

Yes. His Perfect Vision was meaningless before a rock, paper, scissor game where the opponent could see his move beforehand. And Ittou Shura only fortified his physical abilities and not the transmission speed of his brain. In other words, it was exactly as Kuraudo said. Ikki had no method of tearing through Marginal Counter.

"Haha. You can't, can you. My Marginal Counter isn't an 'art'. It's a special trait. I didn't cheat and stuff... And just this ain't the limit of my Marginal Counter!"

Saying that as if howling, he attacked. And what came towards Ikki was an attack as if it was aiming for two areas at the same time!

"Hebigami[2]!"

As if biting it, the swing by his right hand attacked both the left and right side as if biting in. A phantom like that, unrealistic as it may be came in with ridiculous vigor and speed which was impossible to defend against, attacking both sides at the same time.

Even if he managed to defend against one of the attacks, the other would just rip him apart. Then he had only one thing to do. Ikki used all his strength to leap backwards and tried to evade it. Being a twofold attack didn't matter if he just escaped it's range.

"There's no way I'd let you do the same thing twice riiiiight!?"

Orochimaru's blade extended and immediately chased after Ikki. There was no longer any meaning in distance. The saw blades came in from both left and right and intersected on Ikki's body.

―But right at that moment, Ikki took action. With a clang, the sound of two blades clashing reverberated and sparks containing mana flew out. With?Intetsu?which Ikki had in his right hand, he repelled the?Orochimaru?coming from the right. But that was.. a mistake! Ikki's reflexes weren't fast enough to be able to block the second attack coming from the left! The saw blade coming from the left struck his body!

The saw blade ripped off the flesh from his body which flew in the air, and blood spilled on the floor dyeing it red.. that was supposed to happen.

"What?"

But that didn't happen. What spilled wasn't blood but sparks. Why? The answer was in Ikki's hand which defended against Hebigami.

"You―!"

After noticing it, Kuraudo raised a howl. Ikki wasn't gripping the hilt of <Intetsu>, but the base of the blade and thus intentionally reduced his reach.

"That's right, kodachi[3]?techniques..! As expected of Ikki!"

"Kurogane-kun can use a kodachi?"

"He can even teach Shizuku who has a kodachi-shaped device, so of course he can use it!"

Ikki hated teaching wrong things to others, knowing that nature of his, Stella was convinced. And her guess was correct. Ikki wasn't only well versed in swordsmanship, he was also proficient in archery, grappling, unarmed, and many others. Even if it could only raise his strength on a minuscule level, he desperately practiced it and used all the time his body would allow to pursue those methods. Because he was well aware of the fact that he was weaker than anyone. And he was now bringing out everything he had learned back then.

The fact that was able to discern the position of the Hunter after being struck by his arrow was also a result of that. That was true for his display of defense and offense in this match too. Because of the shorter reach, the kodachi had less offense, but since it could be rotated faster, the blocking ability rose. Ikki, utilizing that defense, deflected Kuraudo's godspeed attack.

"It means that you're not the only one who can change his reach."

Ikki, after defending against Hebigami with?Intetsu?immediately stepped in and started the counter.

"Haha."

Kuraudo laughed after seeing Ikki challenge him, despite that fact that Ikki had already witnessed his overwhelming attack speed. Even though this was just one exchange, for a mage-knight who relied heavily on mana, this was once in a lifetime decision. Kuraudo commended Ikki for that. But―

But you can't win. Not with just this.

It was skilled of him to suddenly switch to a kodachi technique. But in the end, the reach is still short.

―So he'll teach that guy. As one of the best eight of the whole country. As someone who resides at the summit of the Seven Star.

Strength isn't just gorgeous sword techniques that enchants people. Strength isn't some burning feeling you have when you fight for a friend,

It's something simpler; it's something far more dreadful. There's just one fixed answer to that.

―It's just simple overwhelming violence.

"HAHHAAAA―!"

"Wha-!"

For a moment, Ikki including those who were watching, Stella and Ayase were at a loss for words. The snake-like attack that was released at Ikki after he stepped in to counter attack―it had four heads! An impossible four-fold attack!

He can still go faster―!

A complete surprise attack. But Ikki didn't lose his cool and blocked the attack, coming to sever his head and to attack his left flank, with kodachi technique.

However it wasn't enough. Kuraudo released four attacks at Ikki instantly. Ikki could only block two. The remaining two slashed at Ikki's chest with a cross.

"Argggggh!"

"Ikki!"

"Kurogane-kun!"

"..I-I'm fine, I can still fight."

A large amount of blood was spilling. The wound probably reached the sternum. But Ikki still poured power into his knees and refused to give up. He continued to gaze at the opponent before him.

"Oh! You avoided a fatal wound by using the momentum of the first and second hits to move backwards. Crafty ain't ya..? But that all ends now!"

Kuraudo extended his?Orochimaru, that was now dyed in fresh blood, like a whip.

"What can you do from that distance? I'll turn ya into mincemeat!"

He attacked from a distance where only he could take the offensive, and slashed at the wounded Ikki.

At first when Ikki blocked?Orochimaru, Ayase thought that he could definitely win this. When he deflected Hebigami with kodachi technique, she thought 'He can do this!' But each time, Sword Eater just rose even higher. He jumped over every one of their expectations and hypotheses. Like a nightmare.

The current Ikki could go head to head and win against every last one of the current festival candidates at Hagun. He was the Crownless Sword King who even defeated the Crimson Princess without sustaining a single wound. Even that Ikki―

He can't do a thing.. even in close range.

Perfect Vision lost to Marginal Counter. With Ittou Shura, Marginal Vision left all the actions useless after the initial dash when using that, so there's no meaning in using it. Rather, it could be fatal if he used it carelessly.

Ittou Shura was something Ikki used by utilizing all his resolution and determination. If he tried it while at his wit's end, he would end up burning all his power. He couldn't stop half way, nor could he do minuscule regulations like holding back and extending the time limit a bit. And if an opponent who could make two to three actions in the time he could make one go fully defensive, defeating that opponent in just one minute would be nigh impossible.

He's completely.. out of options...

All he could do was keep defending against?Orochimaru?and Hebigami while standing on top of the puddle made of his own blood and bear that deep gash. A completely one-sided battle.

Ayase gulped while biting down her lips and seeing the figure of Kuraudo continuing his barrage on Ikki.

..Strong! This man, he can't be defeated!

So this was the national level! In the best eight of the last festival, this was the real strength of Sword Eater.

Are there such monsters at the summit of the Seven Stars..!?

She couldn't see victory. No way out was visible. He trampled down all tactics and techniques sent at him while mocking.

Before that, Ikki kept getting hurt as time dragged on. He kept defending against?Orochimaru?and Hebigami time and time again with his acute observation and kodachi techniques which were dulling as time went on, and the number of strikes he couldn't dodge or defend against increased. And each time that happened, the saw blade chipped away the meat on his arms or thighs.

At this rate―!

An ominous déjà vu. The sight of Ikki refusing to stay down even after being injured to such an extent overlapped with the sight of Kaito two years ago.

"―!"

Ayase could no longer bear it.

"Vermillion-san! Please stop this match! At this rate, Kurogane-kun will break!"

"If I stop it now then you won't get this dojo back you know."

"I don't care! Kurogane-kun is more important!"

"That's true. ..But still, no."

Ayase was shocked at the words from Stella, who was watching her lover be chipped apart little by little while having her arms crossed under her breasts like it was nothing.

"Why!? Aren't you his girlfriend!? Then how can you say that!? Or is there some kind of way to turn this situation around!?"

"―No way. If it was me I could've restricted him with my flames, but Ikki doesn't have that option. He doesn't have a method to attack from that distance. And on top of that, his only way of attacking, his defense and offense in close range as a swordsman, he can't do that from that distance... The situation is quite hopeless I guess. Honestly, I didn't think that skull guy would be so strong."

The replying Stella was serenity itself. But looking closely, her fingernails were piercing into the white skin of her crossed arms. A drop of blood smudged on her uniform. She's enduring it, the urge to dash out right this instant.

"The label of best eight in the country isn't a joke, I have to admit after seeing this. That man is strong. At this rate Ikki is going to lose."

"I don't get it..even though you understand all that why aren't you stopping him!?"

"There's no way I can do that."

"Why!?"

"Because Ikki.. he looks like he's having so much fun."

"Eh?"

Ayase looked at Ikki, thinking, what the hell was Stella saying? And she was hit by shock.

He's.. laughing?

Ikki had a smile on his face. And it wasn't the usual kind and innocent smile. As if a beast baring his fangs.

"Come to think of it, he was smiling like that when facing my Katharterio Salamandra."

"W-Why? Even though he might be killed? T-There's so much blood.. why?"

"Isn't that because it's so fun?"

She couldn't understand. She wasn't yet.. at that level. But, Stella understood. And probably, her father did too.

"..Hey Sempai. After hearing your story, there was one thing me and Ikki just couldn't figure out. We just weren't satisfied."

"Weren't.. satisfied?"

"Did the Last Samurai really sink into regret?"

"..H-Huh? What are you saying? That, isn't that obvious!"

Ayase suddenly became excited at Stella's unexpected words.

"If only, if only that guy didn't appear, then we would still be living peacefully! My father wouldn't have fallen into a coma! Our dojo wouldn't have been stolen away! The pupils wouldn't have to be hurt either! That guy, he destroyed our peaceful daily life! That, of course Father had regrets!"

"But that's nothing but Sempai's subjectivity right?"

"Wha―!"

"Just try thinking about it a little. A man who once wanted the crown in the world of swords, he was even called the Last Samurai because of that absurdly high ambition.. a person like that, would he truly be happy in a life where he couldn't even use his sword, and would decay as an instructor? Is it really a daily life he would want to continue forever? ―If it was me, then I definitely wouldn't be able to bear it."

"―!"

"Certainly, the nuisance of the fight is undeniable. And the methods that skull guy took to challenge your father wasn't commendable at all. But, there was a person who would go that far just to challenge your father... As a swordsman, isn't this something to really be glad about?"

No way... There's no way that's possible. After all, Father was always smiling. He would take care of the pupils with kind eyes, and pass off his sword to the next generation―

「This is my battle! Don't interfere!」

"―!!!"

At that exact moment, something inside of Ayase, something that has been loose for a long time fell into place perfectly with a click. And then, she understood everything.

During that fight, the reason why Kaito looked so dreadful, and why he sounded so much like a wild demon that even Ayase had never seen or heard him like that, when Ayase tried to stop the duel. Why he intended to continue the duel with that obvious outcome.

She hadn't realized it till now; she hadn't realized Kaito's true feelings.

For so long, she had thought that Kaito accepted a duel he didn't want to forcefully, and was defeated full of regret.

But, that's wrong! Absolutely, wrong!

Certainly, he had intended to fight for the pupils that were injured. He wanted to fight to protect the place his daughter lived in.

However, that wasn't everything!

The fuel that drove Kaito back then, it had been a feeling far simpler than decorum or morals, it had been far more pure.

He wanted to fight.

He wanted to fight the opponent before him.

He wanted to defeat the amazing guy before him.

It was just the simple natural instincts of a wild beast to fight. Because that fight was, for Kaito-san who was ridden with illness, a moment he had always yearned for. He desired it even if his soul should burn away, a single moment of passion.

..Aaah.. so that's it.

―Sorry.

That word, it wasn't something he said to us.

If it's now, she could understand. Those words were not aimed at Ayase or the pupils; he said those words to Kuraudo. No matter what the reason, there was a boy willing to challenge a illness-ridden fossil of the past like him. But he failed to show him everything of the Ayatsuji single-blade style. So he was asking Kuraudo to forgive the weak him.

..Really, that old fool.

To actually speak the words that might as well be his last words to his enemy. She always thought of him as a more intellectual type of person. But what? He turned out to be an astonishing egoist! Almost like a boy who just hates to lose.

But.. still.

..Then was my father.. happy in the end?

At that moment, a loud and conspicuous clang rang out through the hall.

The loudest clashing sound till then suddenly rang out, and the hall fell into silence.

"Haa, haa! Haa!"

In that silence, Ikki was panting roughly. The blood loss from the countless wounds he sustained greatly drained his energy. But―Ikki wasn't the only one who was panting.

"Ugh! Haa, haa, haa."

Even though Kuraudo hadn't received a wound yet, he was also breathing heavily. The battle seemed to be completely one sided, but why was he almost exactly as tired as Ikki?

The answer, Stella immediately figured it out.

"That's it! So that's the weak point of Marginal Counter..!"

"Eh? What are you talking about Vermillion-san?"

"Just carefully look at the face of the skull guy, you'll understand."

Being told that, Ayase looked at Kuraudo's face. He was sweating a lot, and from his chin, drops of sweat were pouring down as if overflowing.

"..I see! It's his stamina!"

"Yes. It's quite simple now that I think about it. That overwhelming common sense-defying Marginal Counter of his boasts higher action counts, but in return the stamina consumption is really harsh. Ikki immediately realized that and played for time while sustaining the minimum amount of injury he could, in order to bring down his stamina!"

As if confirming that, Kuraudo suddenly gnashed violently.

Damn mimic..! This was supposed to be going with my pace, but before I knew it I got caught in that bastard's game of endurance!

Even though he was half dead and could barely hold his sword, he immediately saw through the weakness of Kuraudo's Marginal Counter and drew him into his own pace. As a result, Kuraudo's energy was almost completely exhausted.

Yes, it's exactly as Stella said. Ikki wasn't the type of guy to just quietly sit around while he was being attacked. In his arsenal, there were many methods to wear out his opponents.

Almost like witchcraft.. what an annoying bastard.

Kuraudo got the chills when he tried to think of how many layers of planning this simple attacking and blocking match had.

On the other hand, Ayase was full of admiration for Ikki.

"As expected of Kurogane-kun! He can even do that from a place where his swords don't reach the opponent! If it's this, then he might be able to win..!"

But when Ayase was swinging her fists in happiness with the possibility of a turnaround, Stella showed a severe expression.

"..Maybe, maybe not."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"This game of endurance was his last card. He didn't have any other options as he couldn't change the distance at all. That's all. And Ikki is also out of stamina. He is way past his limit. In a protracted battle, the possibility of him losing is higher."

It was just something he did as a last resort in that hopelessly disadvantageous situation. So it wasn't something that had much merits for this side. The only thing that could be said was―

"Well, no matter who loses and who wins.. the next blow will probably be the last."

That was the only truth.

"..This bastard.. there has to be a limit to stubbornness..!"

"Haa, haa.. unfortunately, I really hate to lose... And.. it's been a while since I've been thrown around this much... It's so fun.. it would be a shame to just end it."

"Haa.. haa.. haa.. fun, is it? Hahahahaha! You too huh, you're pretty much screwed up in the head, too!"

"..That, I could say the same about you..!"

"..Yeah, but it's time to end that too."

Kuraudo corrected his breathing, and straightened his back. And he brandished?Orochimaru.

"The next will bring you down."

He declared that to the warrior covered in blood, standing before him. With the next strike—he'd kill.

And accepting that death challenge, Ikki happily raised the ends of his lips.

"―Yeah, that's right. I was thinking that too."

He aimed the black blade before his eyes, pointing the tip directly at Kuraudo's chest. The two knights exchanged the pledge of bringing a certain death to each other, and then―

"Lastly, can I ask something?"

"What?"

Before ending the match, Ikki asked something he had to hear from Kuraudo no matter what.

"The great sword master that we both long for.. was he smiling just like how we are right now?"

At that question, Kuraudo's eyes suddenly turned wide.

"..Haha, don't ask something so obvious."

He replied as if spitting it out.

"There's no damn way that someone who is called the Last Samurai wouldn't enjoy an exciting death match as fun as this one."

"..Is that so."

He wanted to know that. And he wanted the answer to be that as well. That's why, Ikki said it.

"Thank you."

He dashed out while baring his fangs.

While spilling blood from the many cuts across his body, Ikki jumped out with a short posture.

His red-dyed body was half dead, half alive. But the speed of that dash right now was the highest since the start of the battle, almost like a gale.

What a ridiculous bastard!

Kuraudo didn't feel rueful when commending that Ikki. Then, he should also throw away all hesitation. He decided to pour all his soul into the next attack, and shrank?Orochimaru?to the size of a one-handed sword.

Shrinking the reach, but prioritizing the speed. A full speed attack containing his all. Utilizing the full of Marginal Counter, an ultimate technique that only Sword Eater could unleash!

"Yamata no Orochi[4]―!"

A full power attack. And at the same time he swung the sword; eight heads appeared as the attack! Dimly glowing in a bone-colored radiance, the eight headed serpent assaulted the dark haired knight while baring it's fangs.

Ikki, who couldn't stop the four-fold attack, couldn't possibly stop this. He would be murdered without a doubt.

But, even though that was a fact. But still!

The Worst One didn't stop. Without a shred of hesitation, he dashed towards the coming eight-headed serpent. With the blade positioned parallel to his eyesight, and with the tip pointed directly at Kuraudo's chest, he jumped forward without any intention of defending.

Was it self-abandonment? Was it a random frenzied attack?

Wrong!

..No! This is―

From the blade positioned parallel with his eyesight. And from the depths of the pair of eyes that released a blinding radiance. Kuraudo felt a chill as if his whole body was being cut apart.

He knew this. In the past, there was a moment where he felt the same sensation. That was, during the match with Ayatsuji Kaito. During the very last moment. At that time, the almost dead Kaito was trying to do something. Just like the current Ikki, he had his sword positioned like that, and he jumped forward abandoning all defense.

Kuraudo had always pondered what that was until today, that feeling. But he certainly felt it right at that moment, that sensation.

Danger.

From a man who was half dead, a man who could collapse any moment, he felt an unreasonable fear that well up from his very depth. And right now, it was the same—and exactly because so!

Interesting!!!

Kuraudo didn't stop his sword. Even at this very moment, he could evade with his Marginal Counter. But still, he didn't! He faced it head on!

Of course I will..!!!

Kuraudo always longed to see this. He wanted to see the continuation of that duel, even though he thought it was no longer possible. Maybe, just maybe Kaito might recuperate. Maybe Ayase would also master the sword completely and come to challenge him.

With that marginal wish in mind, he had always waited at this place. That was why he wouldn't stop. There was no reason for him to stop.

"It was worth the wait! These two long years―!!!"

Immediately after, their two figures intersected, and fresh blood flew in the air.

The splash of blood that rose so high that it reached the ceiling―was Kuraudo's. There was a massive slantwise gash on his huge built body, starting from the right shoulder till the end of the lower left abdominal area.

And as for Ikki, he sustained no wounds.

Why? Yamata no Orochi was something that didn't allow defending nor evading. In truth, Ikki took on the eight serpent fangs with his body. But why was he unharmed?

The reason, Ayase understood it immediately.

..N-No doubt.. that's...

In the past, Ayase had witnessed this technique just once. When Ayase decided to enter Hagun Academy, it was the secret technique of the Ayatsuji single-blade style her father had shown her.

At that time, when Ayase attacked her father with?Hizume, she certainly did hit his body. But, she wasn't able to cut him. The response, it was as if he was cutting the sakura petals dancing through the air. Her father said this―

―A counter-attack will be delayed if one uses the blade for deflection in order to perform an interception.

Because whenever one shifts the enemy's sword to evade, then one's own sword will also shift from the place he wants to attack a proportional distance. Then what should be done in order to perform a perfect counter?

Kaito's gave an answer to that question. All one had to do is take the opponents attack with one's body and ward it off without shifting the opponent's sword along with the place one wants to attack.

A peerless stance to evade the enemies attack by taking the most minimum possible movement, dispelling everything of the material world while feeling every physical existence around.

"Ayatsuji single-blade style final secret, Ten'i Muhou[5]!"

But why was Kurogane-kun able to use it? Even Kaito only used this top secret technique in front of her once, so why―

"―Ah."

Then she remembered something Ikki had said at that family restaurant.

"It's all because of Ayatsuji-san's hard work. Even alone, I think you would have noticed it, you would've reached that secret when the time's right."

Ikki never says anything he isn't sure of. Ayase who had directly received his training knows of his sincerity the best.

"No way, did he already know it then..!"

"Blade Steal."

"Eh?"

"Ikki's sword style. He's able to steal even the deepest secrets of a sword style after observing it. This happened in my case too."

Yes, at that time, Ikki had already seen through the Ayatsuji style. The destination where Ayase's sloppy sword, a sword that was training desperately to chase after her father's back, would reach.

Confirming that, Stella showed a delighted look. Because she knew that this was Ikki's true dreadfulness. He wasn't satisfied, even though he had so much power. Stocking on power and techniques even if it would help him only a little, and using it, in order to reach a new height. That unstoppable ambition is what makes the Worst One the Crownless Sword King. That was the true essence of Kurogane Ikki, the Crimson Princess's lover.

"..God, that's a man worth chasing after, really."

Stella muttered that in an amazingly low tone. But at that moment,

"―AAAAAH!"

Something that no one there could believe happened. Kuraudo, while bearing that obviously fatal wound howled like a mad beast and sustained his stance, refusing to let his body fall. The huge amount of blood flowing from his wound formed a blood puddle beneath his feet. But even so, Kuraudo didn't let his knees bend, and he didn't -->>

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