Chapter 59: Fierce Wind Sword Emperor? Are you worthy of using wind?
Arthur stepped out of the roaring cafe, his gaze falling on Kurogane Ouma, who was slowly getting up by the roadside, completely unharmed. He chuckled playfully.
"I can't believe that didn't snap your neck. Your body's quite sturdy, isn't it?"
Kurogane Ouma raised his greatsword with a cold expression, responding in an unruffled tone.
"Because our training methods are different. This isn't a gap in strength or skill, but a chasm of willpower."
The other person spoke as if stating something self-evident, dismissing Arthur without a second thought.
Kurogane Ouma, who only sought to become stronger, used his Blazer ability, Heavenly Dragon Armor, to apply five hundred kilograms of air pressure to his body.
To withstand this pressure, his bones drastically increased in density, becoming as hard as iron.
To move fluidly under high pressure, his muscle fibers grew thick and powerful, one by one.
To ensure normal blood circulation, his internal organs increased in strength and resilience.
By now, Kurogane Ouma no longer felt any oppression; his body's strength was comparable to steel.
"However, I am very satisfied with the amount of Magic Conduction you displayed. You are indeed worthy of being my opponent."
Hearing this, Arthur burst into laughter.
"Talk about being full of yourself, you're really puffing up now, aren't you?"
"A cheap trick to force your body's functions to evolve through immense pressure, a path to self-destruction."
Kurogane Ouma frowned slightly. He hadn't expected his secret to be seen through so easily.
Arthur didn't bother with his thoughts and continued.
"Let's make a deal. If I win, you tell me why you attacked Hagun Academy."
Kurogane Ouma's face was calm as he held his greatsword to the side and replied.
"Alright, but you won't defeat me. This is..."
Clang!
The holy sword, crackling with arcs of electricity, fiercely knocked away the greatsword. Arthur clenched his left fist and swung it heavily into Kurogane Ouma's face, successfully silencing his incessant chatter.
Invisible Air.
Air currents converged, and wind pressure solidified. The holy sword, previously clearly visible in Arthur's hand, gradually disappeared.
He looked down at Kurogane Ouma, who was struggling to get up, with disdain, and provoked him.
"Honestly, I've seen plenty of people stronger than you in this world, but I've never seen anyone as good at showing off."
"A chasm of willpower? Worthy of being your opponent? I won't defeat you?"
"What exactly gives you this confidence? Strength? Because I certainly don't see it."
Perhaps due to his early fame, Kurogane Ouma hadn't been subjected to such genuine mockery in a long time, and his usually placid, cold face twitched slightly.
He charged again with a furious gust of wind, and vacuum blades that tore through the air shot out!
Arthur, having unleashed Invisible Air, neither dodged nor evaded. He swung his sword, deflecting all the vacuum blades, stomped on the ground, and charged forward violently!
His powerful, heavy slash was like a giant beast's whip, tearing through the whirlwind that enveloped Kurogane Ouma, and forcefully sending him flying!
Arthur looked at his opponent, who had fallen clumsily again, and taunted him.
"Get serious, prodigy. Aren't you Japan's only Rank A Knight? With this little ability, you dare to challenge an academy?"
Kurogane Ouma's brows furrowed. He deactivated the Heavenly Dragon Armor that had been binding him, raised his greatsword high, and Magic Conduction gushed out like a raging torrent!
Broken stones on the ground were pulled up by the Magic Conduction storm, and currents of strong wind materialized, continuously extending with Kurogane Ouma's movements!
Blazer Art: Moon-Slicing Heavenly Dragon Claw!
Centered on his raised greatsword, a fifty-meter diameter giant blade of wind swept through everything!
Broken stones, trees, doors, windows, and tiles were instantly pulverized. The giant blade, carrying immense force, struck down heavily, reaching Arthur's head in an instant!
"Playing with wind in front of me?"
Arthur gripped his holy sword with a subtle expression, swinging the now solid wind pressure upwards from below!
Wind King Hammer!
A towering tornado raged and roared, dragging a deep gully in its path, and cracks spread across the street!
The arrogant giant blade of wind was instantly swallowed. The tornado picked up Kurogane Ouma, who was exhausted from unleashing his ultimate move, and violently hurled him into the sky!
Once the dust settled, Arthur strolled over to Kurogane Ouma, who was in tattered clothes and covered in wounds, and reminded him.
"You lost. According to our agreement, tell me your objective."
"I haven't lost!"
Kurogane Ouma's eyes widened in fury. He struggled to get up, his greatsword slashing out dozens of vacuum blades, the sound of sonic booms echoing continuously!
Arthur easily dodged the vacuum blades, looked at his opponent, who was at his last gasp, and shook his head, complaining.
"I really don't know what you're holding onto. It's already obvious who won and who lost, isn't it?"
Kurogane Ouma, his consciousness growing increasingly blurry, shook his head. He raised his greatsword, and all his remaining Magic Conduction surged!
"This is a Blazer Art I'm reluctant to use, because it's not meant for battle."
"But facing you, whom I cannot reach even with all my strength, this move is just right!"
Blazer Art: Void Boundary!
As Kurogane Ouma unleashed his final attack, Arthur keenly sensed a drastic change in the surrounding air currents.
Magic Conduction drove the atmosphere to rapidly ascend, instantly draining the surrounding space and forming a silent vacuum domain.
Once deprived of the air essential for life, even a Blazer with an abnormal physique couldn't last long. It truly counted as a killing blow.
In a flash of lightning, the Thunder Dragon Fang had already severed Kurogane Ouma's right arm, and blood splattered high!
His inherent armaments fell from his grasp, but he himself collapsed to the ground even faster than the dropped greatsword.
Arthur shook off the residual electric arcs from his sword and looked down at Kurogane Ouma, who was completely incapacitated, praising softly.
"This move is quite interesting, but it wouldn't take me much time to defeat you. Next time, come challenge me after you've been reforged."
Kurogane Ouma's face alternated between green and white as he listened to this disdain and arrogance, so similar to his past self.
Arthur squatted down, his holy sword resting lightly on the other's neck, and asked with a playful smile.
"Come on, tell me everything you know, exactly as it is."
"Why are the other six academies attacking Hagun Academy?"
"Is this matter related to Nagi Arisuin, who is mixed in with Hagun Academy?"
"What role does the Rebel Army—or rather, the O洲 Branch—play in all of this?"
Kurogane Ouma's pupils suddenly contracted, and his gaze at Arthur was filled with surprise and doubt.
He hadn't uttered a single word, so how did he guess that there was a connection between the Rebel Army and the O洲 Branch?
Catching Kurogane Ouma's fleeting surprise, Arthur understood.
Nagi Arisuin, belonging to the Rebel Army, was ordered to infiltrate Hagun Academy, with the goal of becoming one of the representatives for the Seven Star Sword Art Festival.
Because of Arthur's drastic reforms at Hagun Academy and a slight awakening of conscience.
Nagi Arisuin, feeling the plan was hopeless, had thoughts of retreating, intending to leave the Rebel Army and flee for his life.
Unexpectedly, he was intercepted by Arthur the night he left the academy and has been imprisoned in a secret room in the Chairwoman's office ever since.
Combining Nagi Arisuin's confession with the sudden rise of representative students in the other six academies and their attack on Hagun Academy.
Arthur glanced at Kurogane Ouma, who was feigning composure, and scoffed.
"Are you really content to be used as pawns? Or—are you actually members of the Rebel Army as well?"
"The only Rank A Magic Knight in Japan joining the Rebel Army, that would be big news, a front-page headline."
Kurogane Ouma's expression remained unchanged, but he slowly began to explain, as per their agreement.
"I have no interest in their schemes. I came here only to fight a strong opponent."
Arthur's eyebrows raised slightly at this, but his expression became even more amused.
"I heard you haven't participated in any public matches since graduating from elementary school, and you declared that no opponent was worthy of your challenge?"
"Narcissistic and arrogant prodigy, there are plenty of masters in the KOK League. Why don't I see you challenging them?"