Chapter 8: Triumph or Defeat?

"Did the new student actually... achieve this?"

"Amazing, to defeat the Director!"

"Can this outcome really be considered a defeat?"

"To have faced the former world's third-ranked and reach this point is already an incredible feat."

Conversations murmured through the auditorium, as a few individuals discussed the shocking turn of events. Gone were the expressions of pity and sympathy; in their place was admiration for the young combatant on the field.

Indeed, the Director's full strength had yet to be demonstrated. From the very start, she had held back, and even with this handicap, not a single person in the audience dared to claim they could secure victory against her. The challenge of facing Shinguuji Kurono itself was daunting, and overcoming her dominance, even with a near-death state, had sent shockwaves through the arena.

"His fierceness stemmed from the brink of death!" A cameraman, holding his device and recording the scene, glared at a few dissenting voices with a disapproving glance. "If you were in his shoes, would you fight with the will to win even at death's door?"

The others were momentarily speechless.

During that climactic strike, the young combatant displayed not only extraordinary ability but also remarkable courage and unyielding determination. Despite being a Blazer and a Student Knight, most of these teenagers were still in the process of developing their worldviews. Liberating their devices under the Material Form was potentially dangerous, with consequences that might be impossible to reverse.

Hence, the League of Mage-Knight Nations stipulated that Blazers under the age of 15 could only summon their devices under the Illusionary Form. This regulation ensured that even if injured, the battle would be confined to draining stamina rather than inflicting life-threatening harm. As such, while his body bore the marks of battle, Jiangli's life was never in jeopardy.

In contrast, most Student Knights had rarely experienced genuine combat, let alone come close to death. In comparison, Jiangli's victory, even under dire circumstances, had surpassed the realm of ordinary Student Knights.

In this world, individuals were deemed "grown" at the age of 15, becoming eligible for marriage and parenthood.

"Well, that's a great shot!" The cameraman beamed with satisfaction, fully aware of the exceptional content he had captured. "When I start our school magazine, this will be the featured article in the first issue!"

Back on the field.

"Junior Brother!" Toudou Touka's alarmed cry echoed as she dashed toward the arena, anxiety evident in her eyes.

In an instant, Shinguuji Kurono was left speechless, powerless to intervene. By the time she regained her bearings, her Junior Brother was already lying in a pool of his own blood.

"Please...," Shinguuji Kurono gasped, summoning her device.

In her right hand, she held a jet-black pistol; in her left, a pristine white pistol. The design of the two devices was almost identical, with only their color distinguishing them.

Aiming the dual pistols, she pointed one at Jiangli and the other at herself.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The consecutive gunshots reverberated through the air. In that instant, Jiangli's body seemed to freeze, his breath suspended, and his blood motionless, as though time itself had halted.

Meanwhile, Shinguuji Kurono's complexion transformed from pale exhaustion to a healthier shade. The relief that washed over her was palpable.

"Touka, fetch your Junior Brother a healing capsule," Shinguuji Kurono directed from the ground, having now risen. The silver katana embedded in her chest began to disintegrate into golden particles due to Jiangli's unconsciousness.

Rubbing her chest, feeling the lingering pain, Shinguuji Kurono couldn't help but smile wryly.

It was painful.

She added, "And when he wakes up, please convey a message for me."

...

"Wu..."

Jiangli groaned, his heavy eyelids fluttering open.

Before him lay a pristine white room, its ceiling painted a pure, unblemished white. The scent of antiseptic and medicine permeated the air, filling his nostrils and mouth.

"A familiar hospital ceiling...?" Recognition struck him, and Jiangli momentarily mistook his surroundings, thinking he was back in a hospital bed after more than ten years.

Gradually, his mind cleared, recalling his last moments of battle against the Director.

He remembered unleashing his Noble Art—Lightning Flint—in the final moments of the duel, a move that his frail body could barely withstand.

"Did I finally win?" Jiangli mused, his thoughts directed towards the foot of his bed.

Lightning Flint was a powerful technique, but one that strained his physical limits. His ability, Absolute Speed, was predicated on being "faster than the opponent." When the opponent was faster, he'd exert himself to surpass their reaction speed, dominating them with his own absolute speed.

In essence, this ability manipulated causality, enabling him to reverse cause and effect and forcefully make "himself faster than the opponent." It transformed the impossible into reality. However, using such power came at a great cost to his body.

His frail physique, subjected to the Divine Speed beyond the speed of sound, resulted in dire consequences. It could lead to breath stagnation, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, chapped skin, ruptured blood vessels, internal bleeding, muscle fiber necrosis, fractured bones, and an overall state of near death.

Such was the essence of the Noble Art Lightning Flint—an unparalleled sword technique that Jiangli himself struggled to control.

"Junior Brother, are you awake?"

The sound of the door opening reached his ears, and a figure entered his field of view.

Turning his head, Jiangli saw the chestnut-haired girl who had watched over him during the battle. She approached, holding a silver tray laden with food.

The scent of the meal tantalized his senses, prompting his stomach to emit a low growl.

"Is it already evening?" He realized he hadn't eaten all day.

The sun had sunk low in the sky, casting an orange-yellow hue that bathed the room in warm light.

"How is your recovery progressing?" Toudou Touka inquired with concern, placing the tray on the nightstand and taking a seat by his bedside. Her worried gaze swept over his body.

"Seems like you've made a full recovery; the healing capsule really works wonders!" Jiangli tested his wrist and lower back, finding them free from discomfort.

This was unexpected. Jiangli had clearly used Lightning Flint and fallen

into near-death due to its immense backlash.

"Then, did I really win?" A hint of melancholy tinted Jiangli's words.

Indeed, he had achieved victory, but at the cost of pushing his body to its absolute limits. The victory was undoubtedly his, but the price he paid was substantial.

"That move's ferocity arose from the brink of death," Toudou Touka affirmed, her eyes reflecting admiration for his determination.

"A victory achieved even when teetering on the edge of death," Jiangli muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I suppose it's in line with the saying—'Desperate times call for desperate measures.'"

For Jiangli, the dazzling triumph over his powerful opponent was now mingled with a sense of bittersweet accomplishment.