-1322- The clash of swords

The fierce battles unfolding before Rozen were indeed of high caliber.

To say the least, the battle between Shizuku and Totokubara Kanata could only be described as spectacular.

Summoning her Device, Yoishigure, Shizuku remained calm as she gathered water vapor, launching dazzling attacks towards Totokubara Kanata.

Sometimes it was a water cannonball that could suffocate the opponent.

Sometimes it was a rain of ice pillars that could pierce through the opponent.

Sometimes it was a water barrier surging like waves, alternately attacking and defending with the agility of a living entity.

Sometimes it was a blizzard-like ice fog sweeping in all directions, freezing the air and creating a magnificent scene.

Shizuku masterfully controlled her abilities, fully utilizing her A-Rank mana control to unleash relentless attacks, continuously bombarding Totokubara Kanata with a dual assault of ice and water.

If it were anyone else facing such an attack, they would have already been defeated.

Until now, Shizuku had never displayed such prowess in the selection matches; she was going all out.

This was because her opponent was worthy of Shizuku's full strength.

Totokubara Kanata, ranked second in Hagun Academy, second only to the strongest student council president.

This young lady, who appeared elegant and frail, was actually one of the top combatants known as Scharlach Frau. Like Todo Touka, she had participated in the Union's special enlistment, accumulating extensive combat experience.

Therefore, faced with Shizuku's dazzling onslaught, Totokubara Kanata remained unperturbed, summoning her Device.

It was a thin, translucent rapier, as exquisite as a piece of glass art.

Totokubara Kanata held the sword horizontally before her chest, then placed her left palm against the tip and slowly pushed it in.

With this motion, the rapier did not pierce her hand but instead shattered into countless fragments like flying dust, blending into the air and flickering.

This was Totokubara Kanata's ability.

She could transform her Device into countless tiny blades invisible to the naked eye, merge them into the air, and freely control these scattered blades to launch invisible attacks.

These blades could even infiltrate an opponent's lungs with their breath and, under Kanata's control, burst out from within, or pierce the opponent's body unnoticed, making her attacks exceptionally bloody. This earned her the title of Scharlach Frau.

As a result, in the selection matches, most opponents forfeited out of fear of her terrifying ability. Only a handful dared to face her, and they were severely wounded, leading many to fear Totokubara Kanata greatly.

Now, Totokubara Kanata manipulated her invisible blade fragments, sometimes keeping them suspended in the air before her, rotating them intensely like a transparent drill, shredding all of Shizuku's attacks. At other times, she directed the blades to attack Shizuku mercilessly.

Shizuku seemed wary of Kanata's ability, so from the beginning, she set up defensive water and ice barriers around herself, fending off countless slashing blades.

As a result, Shizuku's water and ice barriers continuously clashed with the invisible blades, causing the water barrier to ripple as if bombarded and the ice barrier to be shaved into countless ice chips. Similarly, invisible blades rapidly rotated before Kanata, pulverizing incoming water cannonballs and ice pillars, scattering water and ice shards everywhere.

The two were fully engaged in this fierce battle, seemingly not easy to determine a victor.

This amazed Misogi Utakata, Tomaru Renren, and Saijou Ikazuchi in the audience.

"That freshman can actually fight Kanata to this extent."

"So strong, even though she's only the third seat among the freshmen."

"To fight Scharlach Frau to a standstill, she really is the descendant of that hero, Ryoma."

They commented.

But Rozen had already anticipated this outcome.

"Shizuku Kurogane and Totokubara Kanata's strengths are about equal. Even if there's a difference, it's not significant."

After all, Totokubara Kanata, like Todo Touka, had participated in the league's special enlistment, a combat-oriented individual. Her strength should be enough to reach the top four in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, if not higher. Even if Shizuku was talented, as a first-year student, reaching Kanata's level was already impressive.

After all, Shizuku wasn't a monster like Ikki or Stella, possessing neither the power of Mind's Eye nor hidden dragon power. Matching Kanata was already commendable.

Incidentally, Totokubara Kanata's background was also impressive. The Totokubara family was one of the most prestigious families in Japan, on par with the Kurogane family in terms of power, and surpassing them in wealth.

Therefore, Kanata's pedigree was comparable to Shizuku's; the blood of nobility was not inferior to the blood of heroes. With the added experience from special enlistment and sufficient combat experience, it was actually surprising that Shizuku could fight her to a standstill. This point was evident from the reactions of Misogi Utakata and the others.

However...

"If the duel over there can be called spectacular, then this duel over here can be called extraordinary."

Rozen turned his gaze to another direction.

Over there, an earth-shattering, intense clash was underway.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!"

The sound of swords clashing was incredibly fierce.

The collision of swords, occurring countless times per second, erupted in a shower of sparks.

Blade light flashed incessantly.

Sword shadows clashed like lightning.

Kurogane Ikki and Todo Touka were engaged in an unparalleled sword dance.

A closer look revealed Ikki's expression had become calm and ruthless. The black sword in his hand slashed out like a whip, slicing through the air.

In response, Todo Touka, equally calm and fierce, held a sheathed sword in her hand. During the flashes of lightning, she struck with the force of a thunderstorm.

On one side were countless black sword lights.

On the other side were countless dazzling bolts of lightning.

The two supreme swordsmen were engaged in a frantic exchange, a flurry of blades and lightning, with their swords clashing intensely, over and over.

Unnoticed, the ground between Ikki and Touka had been carved with countless sword marks, and the air was thoroughly disrupted, tumultuous.

In such a scenario...

"Ha!"

Touka slashed down, causing countless bolts of lightning to burst forth, converging and blasting towards Ikki.

"Seventh Secret Sword — Raikou!"

Ikki finally stopped using Attila's sword and instantly shifted his stance, slashing out with a strike as fast as lightning, similar to Touka's.

"Boom—!"

With a thunderous sound, Ikki's single sword slash cleaved through the lightning heading towards him.

Lightning bolts scattered in all directions, leaving small pits in the ground.

In that instant...

"Swish!"

Touka suddenly appeared in front of Ikki.

Like a flash of lightning.

Like instant movement.

Ikki failed to notice her approach.

"…!"

Immediately, Ikki's eyes widened in concentration.

As for Rozen, upon seeing this scene, he was stunned, shocked on the spot.

"That is…"