-1324- The strongest sword

On the battlefield, the two master swordsmen gazed at each other, savoring the joy that came from the depths of their hearts.

The joy of fighting a powerful opponent, an opponent they acknowledged.

After the brief exchange of blows, they thoroughly understood each other's strength and resilience.

Thus, as opponents, both kindled even stronger fighting spirits while simultaneously feeling a sense of respect for each other.

"No wonder you're hailed as the Uncrowned Sword King. Aside from facing my mentor, this is the first time I've been so overpowered in a swordsmanship match," Todo Touka said.

Todo Touka truly admired Ikki, and it could even be called respect.

As an F-rank knight with abysmally low stats in everything except physical ability, even with his ability to double his physical power, Ikki's capabilities still paled in comparison to the magical enhancements of a typical Blazer. Let alone someone like Todo Touka, a B-rank knight whose magical enhancements were several times greater than Ikki's.

Her physical strength was on par with his, and she had the added advantage of lightning abilities to stimulate her muscles, enhance her physical capabilities, and use electromagnetic forces to augment her strikes. In every aspect, she far surpassed Ikki.

Yet, Ikki, with his meager abilities, kept up with Todo Touka using his well-trained physical skills and incredible swordsmanship, engaging in a breathtakingly brilliant battle. How could Todo Touka not be impressed?

Frankly, achieving this was almost a miracle.

If it were the old Ikki, he would have had no chance against Todo Touka without using Ittou Shura. There would be no possibility of winning.

However, after the grueling training with Altera, Ikki had been reborn. Even when Todo Touka maximized her physical abilities, with her strikes faster than ever, Ikki could still keep up.

This was because Ikki possessed the ability of "Perfect Control," allowing him to fully understand Todo Touka's essence after their initial clash. He completely grasped her actions, fighting style, and combat values. No matter how high her physical capabilities or how fast her strikes, Ikki could see through and counter them all.

This was the fundamental reason why Ikki could understand and quickly counter Trackless Step after seeing it once.

With the addition of Altera's sword techniques, Ikki could stand toe-to-toe with the strongest student council president of Hagun Academy without using Ittou Shura.

Despite the significant disadvantages and weaknesses, Ikki relied on his superb swordsmanship and terrifying insight to fight on equal footing, leaving Todo Touka deeply impressed.

Of course, Ikki shared the same sentiment.

"President Todo, I must admit, despite already being impressed by your strength, only in actual combat did I realize just how formidable you are," Ikki admitted openly.

It was only through actual battle that Ikki realized how Todo Touka's achievements in reaching the semifinals of last year's Seven Stars Sword Art Festival were an understatement of her abilities.

Todo Touka definitely has the strength of a Seven Stars Sword King, if not even greater.

If not for facing the current Seven Stars Sword King, Moroboshi Yuudai, in the semifinals, and the fact that his abilities, techniques, and weapon perfectly countered hers, Touka would not have lost.

Moreover, if she had successfully executed her ultimate technique, Raikiri, her chances of winning would have been quite high.

Touka is this kind of opponent: not only has she developed her abilities to the utmost, but her swordsmanship is also exceptionally high. Her combat style, which merges swordsmanship and abilities, is almost perfect. Coupled with techniques like Heaven's Eye and Trackless Step, she can still fight evenly with the reborn Ikki.

This alone demonstrates Touka's strength.

While Ikki not using Ittou Shura is an important factor—otherwise, he might have already crushed Touka—there's no guarantee. Ittou Shura only lasts for a minute, and if Touka could discern its weakness, she might find a countermeasure. By stalling for time, she could potentially outlast Ikki.

So, nothing is absolute.

Even though Ikki is now vastly improved, Touka still poses a threat to him.

Not to mention...

"Touka-senpai hasn't used it yet, has she?" Ikki stared intently at Touka, speaking in a low voice.

"The fastest sword," he said.

Indeed.

Touka had not yet used her renowned heirloom sword—Raikiri, the sword known for its guaranteed victory in every clash.

Because...

"Kurogane-kun has been cautious of my Raikiri from the beginning, right?" Touka spoke up.

"Whenever I make a move to sheathe my sword, you immediately retreat, keeping out of my striking range."

That's correct.

The famous Raikiri is an iai technique.

As an iai technique, it requires the sword to be sheathed; otherwise, it can't be used.

Whenever Touka made a move to sheathe her sword, Ikki would immediately back away.

It couldn't be helped.

"Every time Touka-senpai attempts to sheathe her sword, a sense of crisis prickles my skin, making me instinctively retreat," Ikki admitted, somewhat helpless but incredibly pleased.

After all, it at least proved one thing.

Raikiri is that dangerous of a finishing move.

As Rozen said, facing a finisher like Raikiri, even if one is stronger than Touka, victory is not guaranteed.

If he could use Ittou Shura, Ikki might have a way to break through it head-on. But without using Ittou Shura, he had to stay vigilant.

However...

"Even though you're saying that, your eyes are bright, filled with a desire to experience Raikiri's power, right?" Touka smiled bitterly, but she slowly sheathed her sword.

"——!"

At that moment, a sense of crisis prickling his skin surged again.

Touka lowered her body along with her sheathed sword, assuming the stance for drawing.

"If you want to experience Raikiri that badly, then I'll show you," she said as lightning flickered all over her body.

Seeing this, Ikki trembled all over.

Not out of fear, but out of excitement.

Suppressing the urge to retreat instinctively, Ikki raised his sword and took a stance.

"Come!"

Ikki accepted the challenge head-on.

...

"It's starting!"

Misogi Utakata, Tomaru Renren, and Saijou Ikazuchi straightened up.

"It's starting!"

Stella Vermillion, who had been watching silently, also focused intently.

"It's starting!"

Kurogane Shizuku and Totokubara Kanata, who were in the middle of their own intense battle, paused.

"Is it starting...?" Rozen narrowed his eyes and smiled suddenly.

"Let me witness it with my own eyes."

Thus, the most powerful family heirloom sword was about to shine.