Anime, Girlfriend Shokuhou Misaki.

That figure suddenly vanished without a trace.

"--Eh?"

What's going on? Why? She wondered--but didn't have time to search for answers.

--Clang!

Asagi Momiji felt a hard sensation on the back of her head.

She quickly turned around to see Haramura Makoto standing before her, the black muzzle of a gun pointed at her--

"Bang, bang, bang--"

Three thunderous sounds echoed.

Spiritual bullets don't harm the physical body, directly piercing Asagi Momiji's skull. Asagi Momiji didn't resist at all and fell to the ground.

"Kn-Knocked down!"

"Woooooahhhhhh--"

The match began with a fatal blow, and the audience watching the match was in an uproar.

"J-Just a moment, just a moment, Asagi Momiji didn't even react before the victory was decided."

"This is the power of causality interference that controls time. Although Haramura Makoto hasn't particularly demonstrated it before, we are finally getting a glimpse of this mysterious power."

The characteristic of time power is that it is particularly powerful and versatile.

When Shinguuji Kurono was first born, she was even praised as Japan's next hope.

Now, after ten years, this power is once again realized by Haramura Makoto on the stage of the Seven Star Sword Art Festival.

Indeed, compared to that kind of hearty battle.

This kind of instant kill may bring more shock to everyone.

Especially since Haramura Makoto's opponent is not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry, but the third place in the last Seven Star Sword Art Festival, the disciple of the Fighting God, and Haramura Makoto's fellow disciple.

To think such a strong existence was solved with a single instant kill.

"Oh, oh, now I'd like to announce a message to everyone. According to the camera's judgment, this match took 0.8 seconds, breaking the record of 1 second for ending a match in the tournament."

The big screen repeatedly played the content of that moment.

However, even with a high-definition, high-speed camera, the slow-motion playback showed Haramura Makoto's afterimage moving directly behind Asagi Momiji, holding the gun against the back of Asagi Momiji's head, pulling the trigger, and ending it.

"Is this the strongest Blader of the younger generation?"

"As expected, there is a big gap between him and others."

"No, the Crimson Princess and the Gale Sword Emperor are not bad either, their performances are equally powerful."

"The Crimson Princess is indeed about the same, but the Gale Sword Emperor has already been defeated and can no longer be counted."

Haramura Makoto has already left the arena, but the audience is still hotly discussing.

They are discussing enthusiastically, discussing who will win the laurel of this tournament.

They are all looking forward to the duel between Haramura Makoto and the Crimson Princess.

……

"Junior brother, you are really not giving me any face."

After the match ended, Haramura Makoto, who had finished the interview, did not return to the rest area but came to the VIP viewing seat reserved by Tokiwadai Kanata.

But as soon as he sat down, Toudou Touka's complaints rang out.

"I'm just anxious, I'm afraid I'll miss this match."

"I'll go see Senior Sister Asagi after the match is over."

Haramura Makoto immediately and decisively admitted his mistake.

He also knew that he was wrong. No matter what, she was his fellow disciple, and such an instant kill was really embarrassing for Asagi Momiji.

But who told him to be anxious?

This is also helpless, an irresistible force.

"Okay, I'll go with you then."

Toudou Touka nodded, which was considered acceptable. She could also understand Haramura Makoto's anxiety.

After all, weren't they the same? They came here without even watching Haramura Makoto's match.

"Has Ikki gone to prepare?"

"He's already adjusting his condition."

Stella nodded, signaling Haramura Makoto to sit down.

After sitting down, Haramura Makoto scanned the surroundings. There weren't many spectators for this match.

The occupancy rate was probably only about 70 percent.

Compared to the 100% occupancy rate of every match Haramura Makoto participated in, it was far worse.

But this is considered normal.

Indeed, Kurogane Ikki has now entered the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, but his F-rank Knight status has not changed.

Everyone thinks that's about it for him.

Every step forward is a rare stroke of luck, but when he meets Kurogane Ouma, no one really thinks Kurogane Ikki can win.

After all, the battle between Kurogane Ouma and Haramura Makoto is still circulating on the internet.

Although Kurogane Ouma lost to Haramura Makoto, it was only a narrow defeat. There wasn't much difference between Haramura Makoto and Kurogane Ouma's strength.

So who would have confidence in Kurogane Ikki!

……

"Brother, long time no see."

Accompanied by the host's not-so-enthusiastic excitement, Kurogane Ikki and Kurogane Ouma walked towards the battlefield at the same time.

"Brother!"

Even with Kurogane Ikki's address, Kurogane Ouma's cold eyes were still calm and without any waves.

"I said I have already left the Kurogane family and have nothing to do with the Kurogane family."

"There's no need to call me 'brother' since ten years ago."

Kurogane Ikki gently shook his head, his pupils equally without any waves.

"It has nothing to do with whether you have left home or not."

"I have also left home, but I will still acknowledge my sister, mother, father, and relatives."

"This has nothing to do with the family, it's just blood relatives."

This is a completely opposite argument from Kurogane Ouma.

"That's right!"

Faced with his younger brother's rebuttal, Kurogane Ouma was not annoyed, but instead revealed a meaningful expression.

"It's because you keep caring about this kind of boring thing that even if your strength has improved, it's still at an unsightly level."

"If you can completely abandon this kind of boring emotion, you should become stronger than you are now."

Love? Affection? Friendship?

These worldly emotions have no meaning to Kurogane Ouma. They are nothing more than stumbling blocks on his path to becoming the strongest.

He only strives for the strongest, and he will abandon everything that hinders him from becoming stronger.

"No, brother."

"My sword becomes sharper because I have people to protect."

Amidst this not-so-intense dispute--broadcaster Iida pulled the trigger to start the match.

"The two contestants are in position at the starting line. The match, now officially begins."

"Let's go!"

Both sides simultaneously received the signal to start the match, and Kurogane Ouma was the first to make a move.

"I see, it seems I was rarely talkative."

Kurogane Ouma muttered, as if talking to himself. He lowered his body and stretched his right hand forward.

Then, he concentrated his magic power on his right hand--

"Roar aloud, 『Dragon Claw』!"

The crystallization of the soul directly manifested.

It was a knife that was several points longer than a Japanese sword, and the classification was roughly in the 『Nodachi』 sword type.

"Come on, use your strongest move."

"I'm not interested in fighting you in this state, you're too weak."

"I understand."

Kurogane Ikki clasped his palms together, and a blue light rippled.

Subsequently, a katana as black as meteorite iron, plain and unremarkable, appeared in his hand.

"——『Ittou Shura』!"

Azure flames bloomed on Kurogane Ikki's body.

At the start of the game, Kurogane Ikki, as Kurogane Ouma said, burst out with all his strength.

"Boom!"

In the roar, the air around Kurogane Ikki shattered, causing the azure flames to turn into a storm, sweeping from his body.

No one knows better than Kurogane Ikki himself how weak his normal state is.

He also knows how strong his brother is.

So, starting by giving it his all is his best response.

"For those who support me."

"Brother, I will defeat you in the next minute."

The moment Kurogane Ikki made this declaration, he immediately began to attack.

"Bang--"

In a ground-shattering sound, Kurogane Ikki shattered the ground with amazing power, bursting out in a roar.

His figure disappeared the moment he burst out.

But……

"Clang--"

Under the crisp sound of swords, a slash, like lightning, cut through the atmosphere, cut through space, like an arc of light, flashed by.

"Seventh Secret Sword——『Lightning Flash』!"

Fast!

This sword was even several times stronger than the one Kurogane Ikki used before.

"Clang--"

Under the loud clashing sound, with the sparks, the invisible slash like lightning was neatly bounced off by the nodachi wrapped in a hurricane.

"Not good!"

Kurogane Ikki's expression suddenly changed.

But now is not the time for him to be shocked.

"Clang--"

The soft sound of swords rang out again.