Chapter 184 The Unyielding Prodigy! Whetstone?
Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere suddenly froze.
All the representative students who had seen that schedule table had expressions of surprise and bewilderment in their eyes.
"This… how is this possible?"
"The upper bracket! The Radiant Dragon Holy Sword of Hagun Academy, and those monsters from the Rebel Army… they're all crammed together!"
"This isn't a knockout round anymore, this is…"
"Cough cough! Moroboshi, don't talk nonsense!"
According to their past understanding, the Seven Star Sword Art Festival Committee would first select seeded players, and then proceed with rounds of elimination.
However, due to the unexpected intrusion of the Rebel Army, some representative students chose to withdraw after careful consideration, and the final confirmed number of participants was only thirty-two.
This disparity in personnel led to a significant change in the competition system, and the schedule table was delayed.
Firstly, seed weighting was removed, and all participants were treated equally.
Then, the competition would be divided into upper and lower brackets, with the two strongest contenders vying for the championship.
Finally… and this was the most deliberate part.
The elites belonging to the Rebel Army were all pushed into the meat grinder of the upper bracket by an invisible hand!
They would either face each other or clash with the Radiant Dragon Holy Sword.
The people from Hagun Academy were also unaware of the schedule beforehand, and at this moment, they all looked towards Arthur , who was walking back, their voices filled with urgency.
"Arthur , when did you…"
"This is too reckless! We could have helped!"
"If we had known this would happen, we would have definitely stopped you!"
"Calm down."
Arthur spread his hands, pressing them down virtually, his face showing no ripple of emotion.
"My purpose for participating in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival is completely different from yours. For me, they have other uses."
This ambiguous explanation clearly failed to convince everyone. Not only that, but representative students from other academies also gathered around.
The person leading them was none other than Yuudai Moroboshi, a third-year student from Bukyoku Academy, the champion of the previous Seven Star Sword Art Festival.
"Yo, everyone from Hagun, do you mind having a chat with us?"
Toudou Touka and Kanata Guitokuin, who had participated in the previous competition, nodded kindly, introducing the representative students from each academy to Arthur and the other newcomers.
Taking advantage of this gap, Yuudai Moroboshi, whose gaze was full of warrior's spirit, casually approached Arthur , lowering his voice, his eyes strange.
"How did you do it?"
Arthur shook his head calmly: "Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying, senior."
Yuudai Moroboshi grinned: "Your attitude is really cold. I probably won't get along with your type."
Then, he saw Stella approaching and very tactfully went to talk with Toudou Touka and Kanata Guitokuin, leaving space for the two of them.
Arthur smiled: "You're not here to persuade me too, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
Stella shook her head. She knew better than anyone how unfathomable her lover's power was.
"I'm just curious, why are you so interested in those people from the Rebel Army?"
Arthur looked around at the people chatting happily, then leaned down and whispered into Stella's ear, his warm breath tickling her neck.
"Who said earlier that you wouldn't ask about these things?"
Stella's skin tingled from the warm breath, and she instantly recalled her experience in the library a few days ago. She pushed him away, her cheeks flushed, and said coquettishly.
"You're cheating! I never agreed that anything could be an excuse! Does the Rebel Army also help with your 'research'?"
Arthur , pushed away, wore a faint smile and nodded slightly.
"I'm serious, they are indeed useful right now."
After all, compared to the representative students still studying in the ivory tower, the Rebel Army are all elites who have fought their way out of blood and fire.
He held a slight expectation for what kind of colors the souls of these people would reflect.
…
After the noisy pre-eve banquet, Arthur found an excuse and did not return to the Hagun-affiliated hotel with Stella and the others.
He was still wearing his pure white suit, strolling into a small park far from the competition venue, listening to the chirping of insects on the summer night.
"Alright, before I completely lose my patience, get out."
Before he finished speaking, the chirping of insects throughout the park abruptly stopped.
Kurogane Ouma, dressed in a loose kimono, silently descended with the night wind, his Intrinsic Armament, the Dragon Claw, firmly in his grasp!
Arthur , who was directly facing the fierce wind and sword energy, looked completely at ease. He pulled out his mobile terminal, checked the time, and spoke calmly.
"Considering your father helped me sort out the competition roster, I'm giving you a chance for revenge. Hurry up and make your move."
Kurogane Ouma, who had been silent since seeing Arthur , tried to grip his Armament tightly, but the great tachi named Dragon Claw was trembling uncontrollably.
No!
That wasn't the Dragon Claw trembling.
It was he himself, trembling from the depths of his heart in fear.
Fearing this man before him.
The other party's posture was casual, yet he exuded a terrifying aura that suggested he could instantly kill him at any moment.
"I… I can't do it now." Kurogane Ouma smiled bitterly, "I'll answer your question from last time."
"The question from last time?"
A hint of recollection flashed in Arthur 's eyes, and in an instant, he understood what question the other party was referring to.
"What, have you finally figured it out? Are you willing to play professional matches in the KOK League?"
Kurogane Ouma shook his head indifferently: "What I pursue has never been a battle that is not beneficial to me, but rather––"
"An absolute crushing defeat that cannot be achieved even with all my strength."
Upon hearing this, Arthur 's expression couldn't help but become strange.
Kurogane Ouma continued as if he hadn't heard.
"I originally thought that only Stella, the possessor of the world's highest magic power, could do such a thing to a Rank A Knight like me."
"But I was defeated by your hands first, and even…"
Kurogane Ouma gripped his right arm tightly; his previously severed elbow was trembling violently, completely uncontrollable!
"Only by overcoming this high wall that is you! Can I stop this hand from trembling! Only then will I be worthy to challenge 'that person'!"
Hearing this, Arthur finally grasped the hidden meaning in the other party's words.
For Kurogane Ouma, who held himself in high regard, whether it was himself or Stella, they were merely whetstones on his path forward.
The deepest shadow of fear in his heart belonged to someone else.
It was just a pity that his eye for choosing whetstones was truly not very good.
Arthur scoffed: "Indeed, I shouldn't have had any expectations for someone like you."
Kurogane Ouma, still immersed in his own world, suddenly looked up, and a strong indignation overflowed from his usually indifferent eyes.
"What do you know! How could someone like you, who can stand at the pinnacle of the world simply by virtue of your magic power, ever understand that feeling of utter collapse from being completely crushed!"
"Who knows."
Arthur slowly stepped forward, looking at Kurogane Ouma with even more disappointment than when they first met.
"No matter how grandly you speak, it doesn't change the cowardly reality that you fear someone and even plan to overcome your mental block by defeating an imaginary enemy."
He took out durandal from his storage bag, not even bothering to imbue it with elements, and pointed it at the gloomy-faced opponent from a distance.
"Pick up your sword, Prodigy. This is your last chance."
In an instant, a biting hurricane ripped through the ground and tore through the atmosphere, striking from directly in front of Arthur !
It appeared surging and powerful, but in reality, it was form without intent.
Amidst the sky full of vacuum blades, a silent sword light that completely suppressed the five senses suddenly appeared, and in just an instant, it sliced through Kurogane Ouma's chest!
"No magic, no flashy moves. This is the strongest swordsman's strike in this world. How does that shadow in your heart compare to this?"
Zzzzt—!
Accompanied by Arthur 's understated words, a blood arrow shot into the sky, filling Kurogane Ouma's vision with crimson!
He casually put away durandal, dialed his mobile terminal, and left his final pity for the prodigy lying in a pool of blood.
"I hope the others in the Rebel Army aren't as boring as you, Prodigy."
The call connected, and a calm, steady voice came through.
"Thank you for your mercy."
Arthur 's tone was flat: "It's nothing. I hope you prepare the texts as soon as possible."
"Naturally."