Chapter 193 The decisive moment! The strongest couple!
The aftermath of the commotion caused by Hiraga Reisen was still ongoing, and the organizing committee was scrambling to appease the audience.
During the brief break between the upper and lower bracket matches, Arthur made calls to Kurogane Gen and Kazematsuri Kousan.
He had already provided detailed locations, and the subsequent search and pursuit depended entirely on the initiative of those two parties.
And when the battles in the lower bracket concluded, Shinguuji Kurono grandly booked the most luxurious hotel near the venue.
"A toast to Hagun Academy's easily attainable championship!"
In the luxurious private room on the top floor of the hotel, Shinguuji Kurono had already shed her tailored suit jacket, wearing only a white shirt.
Her face flushed, she raised her glass high, her voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Saikyō Nene cackled beside her, waving her hand at the bewildered students.
"Well, Chairwoman Kuu~chan has been under a lot of pressure since she took office, so let her indulge a little."
As a veteran who had competed for three consecutive years, Toudou Touka could best understand Shinguuji Kurono's feelings at this moment, her eyes, hidden behind her glasses, filled with emotion.
"That's right, Arthur and Stella have both advanced from the upper and lower brackets respectively..."
"In other words, no matter who wins or loses between them, the final championship trophy will belong to our Hagun Academy."
Kishidani Kanata covered her mouth and chuckled, "To witness Hagun win the championship before graduation, this truly is the best graduation gift."
Shinguuji Kurono drained her glass in one go, her eyes, slightly tipsy, swept across the dining table.
Stella was burying her head in a pile of food, like a hamster storing winter provisions, desperately replenishing her energy.
Arthur , with Fou on his head, was chatting idly with Nagi Arisuin.
And Ikki was firmly entangled by his sister, Kurogane Shizuku, enjoying the "torture" that was both painful and joyful.
"Hmph..."
Shinguuji Kurono held a freshly lit cigarette between her fingers, its crimson glow flickering in the dim light.
She looked up, exhaled a puff of smoke, and her eyes sharpened.
"I say, you two brats, do you even look like you're about to have a duel?"
Saikyō Nene snapped open her iron fan, covering half her face, revealing only a pair of mischievous eyes.
"They're a couple in love, are they really going to fight to the death?"
Shinguuji Kurono fiercely stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, leaning back and sinking heavily into the soft sofa.
"An ordinary couple's fight wouldn't make the organizing committee urgently pull personnel from the A-rank league to reinforce the battle arena's barrier!"
Just in the previous match, the competitive Stella, imitating Arthur , also shattered the magic shield with a roar of the Tyrannosaurus.
These repeated "slaps to the face" finally made the organizing committee unable to sit still.
Clang!
Stella slammed her drink cup onto the table, interrupting everyone's chatter.
She looked up, flames raging in her crimson pupils, locking onto Arthur .
"In the upcoming match, I won't allow you to hold back!"
The air instantly fell silent, and everyone, by unspoken agreement, averted their gaze, yet secretly observed with the corner of their eyes.
Arthur met those burning eyes, which intertwined with excitement, apprehension, and exhilaration, but not a single trace of fear.
No one knew his terror better than Stella, but precisely because of this, this proud princess yearned even more.
She yearned to have an unreserved dance with her lover on the most dazzling stage.
Facing this fervent fighting spirit, any words of refusal would be a blasphemy.
Arthur 's lips curved into a slight smile: "Alright, I will stand at the pinnacle of the Seven Star Sword Art Festival with an overwhelming victory."
"Over, overwhelming!?"
The princess, who had just been so spirited, instantly froze, and without another word, buried her head in the pile of food, remaining silent.
Watching the couple declare war on each other, the Hagun Academy group shook their heads in unison, and in the end, only raised their glasses, offering their blessings.
...
The slightly long summer twilight sank below the horizon, and the deep night intertwined with it in a single line.
This was the Demon Hour!
Around the Harbor Dome, over a million tourists gathered, completely encircling the entire area.
However, such a terrifying crowd was now plunged into a deathly silence.
It was as if a million people were simultaneously holding their breath, awaiting the opening of a miracle.
At the end of this silence, the lights inside the dome suddenly extinguished.
In the endless darkness, the commentator's highly infectious, high-pitched voice, like a thunderclap, resounded through the sky!
"People say, strife is evil, and hatred is born from it!"
"People say, violence is a sin, for it harms the innocent!"
"But even so! There are still dreams that only power can reach! And there is a self that only a battle can defend!"
"Bet your soul! Offer your pride! This battle will be more dazzling than any gem in the world!"
The next second, a tsunami of applause and cheers erupted!
The long-accumulated roar of sound was like a volcanic eruption, soaring to the sky!
At the same time, two pillars of light, one crimson and one silvery-blue, distinctly tore through the darkness!
Two gates lifted with a roar, and mist permeated the air.
Arthur and Stella stepped into the center of the battle arena, following the pillars of light.
The moment they stood still, all lights and mist receded, leaving only the spotlights from the dome, bright as day.
Stella raised her right hand high, scarlet flames surged skyward, lifting her hair, and a pillar of dragon flame completely enveloped her!
"Come and serve my body, Hiryū Zai Ken!"
As the incantation, where her soul materialized, fell, brute magical power dispersed the Flame Pillar, revealing the golden-red blade shimmering with scorching radiance!
Stella held the sword with both hands, its tip pointed directly at her opponent, her fighting spirit awe-inspiring.
And facing her lover's declaration of war—
"Conquer the present world, Radiant Dragon Holy Sword!"
Arthur 's right hand made a grasping motion, and an unrivaled starlight burst forth from his palm, the Star Light of Salvation condensing into a sacred greatsword!
The earth wailed, and the spirits of wind and fire mourned, as if foreseeing the catastrophe that this planet was about to face!
Buzz—!
The sacred sword, enveloped in rich azure brilliance, let out an unwilling clang, reluctantly retracting its light, which was enough to pierce the sky, and was temporarily held in his hand!
Enduring the dual pressure of a giant dragon and a deity simultaneously, the seasoned head referee's face turned pale, cold sweat soaked his back, and he could only grit his teeth, announcing with a trembling voice!
"The 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival Final! Arthur versus Stella! Now—begin!"
The moment the signal sounded, Stella moved!
She raised Hiryū Zai Ken and unhesitatingly plunged it into her chest!
"Dragon Spirit!"
In an instant, a storm of light exploded around her, like a fiery weasel, sweeping in all directions!
The dazzling glare temporarily blinded all spectators, but only Arthur , in the mirage-like distorted light and shadow, clearly saw her transformation.
Completely merging with her Intrinsic Armament, only a brand-like scar remained on Stella's chest, while her magical power surged wildly in an unprecedented manner!
Firelight pulsed on her skin, and a pair of massive crimson lotus dragon wings tore through the air behind her, unfolding!
That inhuman, savage dragon's might almost shattered the space of the arena!
"A complete awakening of the dragon concept? This girl, she's really reckless..."
Arthur shook his head and sighed softly, but the next second, brilliant azure light also ignited in his eyes, and he declared loudly!
"Here I display the supreme valor of hunting lions and slaying dragons, to shatter heaven and earth!"
The incantation symbolizing colossal power fell, and a magnificent divine might that made all souls tremble instantly swept through the entire venue!
The wind roared! The thunder rumbled! The earth wailed!
Bearing the brunt of this terrifying pressure from heaven and earth, Stella knew she couldn't delay any longer!
The Dragon Girl shattered the battle arena with a kick, and her fist, shining with dragon flames, unleashed pure dragon power without reservation!
Arthur also raised his right fist, without any frills, erupting with a mighty force capable of splitting mountains and rivers!
The next moment, the two fists violently collided!
No sound?
After a moment of deathly silence, a shockwave exploded in a hemisphere centered on the two of them!
The battle arena beneath their feet shattered inch by inch, and spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly across the entire venue!
The secondarily reinforced magic shield disintegrated with a crash!
The storm of intertwined flames and azure light transformed into a monstrous beast, opening its maw as if to completely devour the entire Harbor Dome!
At the center of the storm, between the two still-colliding fists, the energy did not dissipate!
Crimson gold and azure silver intertwined, forming a heart-stopping star of destruction!
Arthur 's eyes flickered involuntarily, wanting to draw his sword and cleave the energy core!
Flames burned in Stella's eyes, and she unhesitatingly flapped her dragon wings, sending him soaring into the high heavens!
Amidst the thunderous roar that shook the sky, the princess conveyed her resolve!
"Be serious! Defeat me!"
"...Alright."