Chapter 477: The Final Moment!
Human-Ghost · Eternal Future Slash was one of the secret techniques recorded within Dual-Life-Sword.
It was also a technique Luke had been unable to perform until his battle with Stella, when he finally touched the Desperado gate.
The technique was extraordinarily powerful, and its underlying principles were so complex that no ordinary mortal could use it.
Luke had only managed to reproduce it by relying on the faint traces of fate he could now perceive.
Even then, it remained far from the strength described in the original inheritance.
This was a sword technique that crossed fate, causality, and even space-time.
The reason two Lukes appeared at once was because, in that instant—The sword strike had already reached the future.
Or perhaps more accurately—It was a sword strike returning from the future.
Thus—Eternal Future.
Human-Ghost.
The human represented the living.
The ghost represented the dead.
It severed both life and death!
The technique was originally supposed to contain seven slashes, symbolizing the severing of the three souls and seven spirits.
But Luke could currently perform only five.
And that was not all.
Human-Ghost · Eternal Future Slash contained many other properties as well.
For example, Luke could already cross into the future.
He could also use its "eternal" nature to stretch out a single instant experienced by his opponent.
There were other aspects he still could not perform.
Forced initiative.
Preventing the opponent from counterattacking.
And most importantly—Ignoring all incoming damage during the attack.
With a sword technique that seemed to step outside the normal timeline, the opponent should theoretically be unable to even capture Luke's existence while he attacked.
But the enormous wound carved across Luke's chest proved one thing.
He had not yet mastered this secret technique.
Of course, even an incomplete Eternal Future Slash was more than enough to defeat Ikki.
That was why Ikki had been the one to fall.
And the wound across Luke's chest—Was the mark left behind by Ikki's final Ittou Rasetsu.
It was a massive injury.
But not a fatal one.
It was also the only wound Ikki managed to inflict on Luke throughout the entire match.
Compared with Stella's previous performance, that achievement seemed almost pitiful.
But one should not forget—Ikki had achieved it while directly confronting Eternal Future Slash.
From that perspective, he had actually done better than Stella, who had been completely overwhelmed by the technique.
The audience silently stared at the scene.
At Ikki lying on the ground.
And at the enormous wound across Luke's chest.
No one spoke.
Because everyone was waiting for the final moment.
That was right.
In everyone's eyes—The outcome had already been decided.
Even the referee had forgotten to begin the countdown.
If Luke raised his arm right now, the referee would probably instinctively declare him the winner.
But Luke did not.
After a while, the referee finally snapped back to reality.
No matter what, the ten-count was still part of the rules.
It would serve as the final conclusion to this Seven Star Sword Art Festival.
And so—The short countdown began.
But honestly, no one believed it mattered anymore.
Even if Ikki somehow stood up again—His Ittou Shura had already been completely exhausted.
Worse, he had even used an ultimate technique like Ittou Rasetsu.
There was no possibility he still possessed enough strength to compete with Luke.
The battle would not continue.
The match was already over.
Even Shizuku, who trusted Ikki more than anyone, believed that.
And strangely—No one felt sad.
If anything, they felt proud.
That was only natural.
After witnessing this match—After seeing that final breathtaking collision—After seeing the enormous wound across Luke's chest—No one could ever call Ikki weak again.
No one could deny his talent.
No one could dismiss him as some F-rank Failed Knight.
Without question—He was now a world-class powerhouse.
He had even earned the right to pass down the words Kurogane Ryouma had once given him to someone else.
No one would question it.
Because Ikki had already proven his strength.
A strong man's defeat needed no pity.
Not the audience.
Not his teachers.
Not his friends.
Not even the other competitors.
No one shouted, "Don't give up!"
No one yelled, "Keep going!"
Because they all knew—Ikki truly had given everything.
He had even developed his own potential all the way to its end.
So the venue remained silent.
Everyone listened to the final countdown with nothing but respect.
But amidst that silence—There was one person who was dissatisfied.
"Are you seriously planning to let it end like this?"
Luke had already spoken the moment the final exchange ended, while even the referee was still stunned.
He stared at Ikki lying on the ground.
But Ikki gave no response.
Luke continued as though he had not noticed that Ikki could no longer move.
"If this is where you stop…"
"Then you've seriously disappointed me."
That was right.
Unlike everyone else's recognition and respect—Luke looked at Ikki with nothing but dissatisfaction and disappointment.
It was nowhere near enough.
As a protagonist favored by fate—As a swordsman with extraordinary talent—As someone possessing the same kind of "abnormality" as Luke—Ikki's current performance was nowhere near enough!
Luke's expectations for Ikki had never been something as pathetic as barely managing to injure him only because Sword Sheath of Tranquility was unavailable.
Even so—Ikki still did not move.
Luke frowned slightly and sighed inwardly.
Truthfully, he had already suspected this might happen.
Luke had never seen how the original story developed this far.
But after witnessing Stella's growth, he had managed to infer part of its likely ending.
If Ikki was only capable of this much, then there was no way he could have taken the Seven Star Sword Art Festival championship from Stella.
'So he really is missing one final trigger.'
Luke did not believe Ikki, as a protagonist favored by fate, would permanently lose his ability to grow simply because he lacked the bond he originally shared with Stella.
What he truly lacked—Was an opportunity.
A trigger powerful enough to ignite his will.
Fortunately—Luke had prepared one.
He looked down at Ikki and deliberately let his tone become more casual.
"Looks like I'll be taking the Seven Star Sword Art Festival championship."
"Well, it can't be helped."
"You did your best, Ikki."
"But that means the agreement between you and Director Kurono can't be fulfilled anymore, right?"
"I heard she promised to force your graduation through despite pressure from the Kurogane family only if you won the Festival and became the Seven Stars Sword King."
"Tch."
"So now you haven't just disappointed me."
"You've disappointed Director Kurono too."
"Oh, right."
"Quite a lot of people helped you with your special training before the match, didn't they?"
"Stella too."
"She must've been incredibly frustrated after losing to me."
"I imagine all of them placed their hopes on you."
Luke paused.
Seeing that Ikki still showed almost no reaction, he clicked his tongue and continued.
"Your sister Shizuku is probably crying her eyes out right now."
"She trusted you that much…"
"Tch. Just how many people did you disappoint?"
"Listen to how silent everyone is."
"They're probably mourning your loss."
At that exact moment—Luke sharply noticed Ikki's finger twitch.
There was no time to celebrate.
He immediately threw out the final piece he had prepared in advance.
"Oh, right."
"Your father…"
"The head of the Kurogane family, Kurogane Itsuki, came to see me."
The instant those words left Luke's mouth—
Clink—!
The sound of chains snapping taut suddenly echoed.
…
…
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