Chapter 78

The battle between Shido, who manipulates 'Cold Air,' and Raam-Riot, the vice-captain of Phantom Academy who manipulates 'Poison,' was extremely intense.

"---<Ice Spear>!"

As Shido rained down ice spears like rain,

"Hah, too easy! ---<Coiling Serpent>!"

Raam easily deflected them with a purple shield made of poison.

"This time, it's my turn---<Serpent Wave>!"

As he swung his sword in retaliation, over a hundred snakes made of poison attacked Shido all at once.

"Such a weak move, huh? ---<Heavenly Ice Pillar>!"

A massive ice pillar rose from the stage, reaching for the sky, and swept away the advancing snakes.

(…Amazing!)

It was a fierce back-and-forth battle.

The situation was evenly matched.

However, as the battle progressed for a minute or two, the tide gradually became clear.

"What's the matter, Vice-Captain!?"

"Ugh... Freshman...!"

After his 'warm-up,' Shido's movements became increasingly sharp, while Raam's movements gradually slowed down.

Looking at his hands and feet, they had turned a light purple, showing signs of hypothermia.

(Much faster than before...)

It had only been about two minutes since they started fighting.

Probably, the cold air emitted by <Lone Ice Wolf> had been significantly intensified.

(I didn't expect... this much...)

Raam was not an inexperienced swordsman.

He had excellent sword skills, superior physical abilities, and powerful soul equipment that could be applied in various ways.

He was a first-rate swordsman worthy of the main event of the Sword King Festival.

However, Shido was a 'super-first-rate swordsman' who far surpassed him.

His innate physical abilities were overwhelming.

And his perfectly matched, incredibly powerful soul equipment—<Lone Ice Wolf>.

(Shido is incredibly strong, as expected...)

After that, the balance of the match tipped heavily in Shido's favor—finally, one of his ice spears pierced Raam's right leg.

"Ugh...!?"

He clutched his right leg and crouched down.

(With this, his mobility is greatly reduced... It's over...)

The outcome was clear to everyone, and Shido wore a sinister smile.

At that moment,

"Fool, you let your guard down! ---<Great Serpent Bite>!"

Suddenly jumping up, Raam launched a super-giant snake made of poison at Shido with incredible speed.

However,

"---Seal the eternal time <Ice Waterfall Wall>!"

A massive wall of thin ice layers blocked its path.

The perfect timing and ultra-close-range attack of the poison snake—failed in front of the cold ice wall.

"No way...!?"

The overwhelming difference in power left Raam speechless.

"Hey, hey... A surprise attack for the final blow is pretty embarrassing, isn't it?"

The moment Shido snapped his fingers, the ice waterfall wall turned into countless ice blocks and rained down on Raam with incredible force.

"Ugh...!"

His right leg pierced, his all-out attack easily deflected, and both physically and mentally battered, Raam was hit by a blizzard of ice blocks.

Finally, he collapsed, completely unable to fight.

"What, what, what is this!? An unexpected brawl! The result of the 'Vanguard' vs 'Vice-Captain' match is—Shido Euclydes of Ice King Academy wins!"

As the commentator said this to liven up the atmosphere,

"Great job, Ice King Academy!"

"Who would have thought the vanguard would beat the vice-captain...!"

"Maybe next year's Sword King Festival will be exciting, huh!?"

The audience was also excited by the unexpected 'good game.'

The battle was over—everyone thought so, but I felt a strong sense of urgency.

(No, it's not over yet...)

I knew that once Shido got going, he wouldn't stop at this level.

Sure enough, he approached the immobilized Raam, raising <Lone Ice Wolf>.

(This stance... <Ice Wolf's One Slash>...!)

A burst of cold air and explosive acceleration for a fatal thrust.

If Raam, who couldn't move a finger, took such a hit, he would literally be torn apart.

"What!? Shido, this is too far! It violates the tournament rules!"

The commentator warned in a hurry, but it was too late.

"---<Ice Wolf's One Slash>!"

A fierce cold wind blew, and a powerful thrust was released.

"Stop, Shido!"

The moment I shouted,

"---<Four-Door Gravity Array>!"

Transparent green boards, as tall as a person, pinned Shido from all sides.

"What...!?"

Trapped from all sides, he spat out a large tongue click in frustration.

(Who...?)

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw four senior holy knights.

They raised green swords, which seemed to be soul equipment, and ascended the stage.

(Senior holy knights... Good...)

They were probably deployed to handle such unexpected situations.

"Phew... That was close."

"I've heard the rumors... He's a mad dog, indeed."

"Shido Euclydes, that was a clear violation of the rules."

"---I'll have to take you to the Holy Knight Association."

The moment a senior holy knight with handcuffs approached Shido,

The green boards that pinned him froze and shattered.

"---Don't touch me with that disgusting thing!"

Shido's roar accompanied the shattering.

"What!?"

"A quadruple high-gravity restraint!?"

The senior holy knights, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, had <Lone Ice Wolf> pointed at them.

"Who are you...? If you interfere... I'll kill you."

"---"

Shido's glare made the senior holy knights flinch, and he turned his gaze to Raam, who was lying on the ground.

"Help... me..."

Raam, shivering and chattering his teeth, reached out to his Phantom Academy comrades.

However, they were frozen in place by Shido's terrifying killing intent.

"Hmph... Just die already..."

The moment Shido, without hesitation, swung his sword,

"---Stop it, Shido."

A woman's voice with a northern accent echoed, and his hand stopped.

"Miss...!?"

On the stage, the principal of Ice King Academy, Felis Dohraheim, had appeared.

"Hmph... You're still as reckless as ever... If you go any further, he'll really die, you know?"

"Miss... But this scum...!"

"Will you listen to me...?"

With a sad expression, Felis said,

"Damn... Fine."

Surprisingly, he lowered his weapon and dispelled <Lone Ice Wolf>.

Then,

"Secure...!"

The moment Shido's killing intent disappeared, over ten senior holy knights moved to apprehend him.

"Ouch... Treat me more respectfully..."

Shido was led away with his usual attitude, completely unafraid.

The entire venue fell silent, and the president muttered,

"To break the soul equipment of four senior holy knights... He's a terrifying kid..."

"Yeah, he's grown a lot since the summer camp! I'd like to fight him at full strength once!"

"No, I don't think Lirim can win, no matter what..."

"What!?"

As the seniors exchanged such comments, I had one worry.

"Is Shido going to be okay...?"

This was the second time he had caused trouble, following the Great Five Holy Festival.

(I heard he was suspended for a month last time...)

This time, he might receive a heavier punishment.

However,

"Of course, some punishment is inevitable... But he won't be expelled, for sure."

The president clearly stated.

"After all, behind Shido—no, behind Felis, is Rize Dohraheim... No one wants to mess with 'Fox Finance.' He'll probably get a short suspension, like last time..."

"That's a relief..."

Just as I was sighing in relief,

"Alright! Despite the unexpected brawl, let's draw lots for the third round!"

The commentator loudly restarted the main event of the Sword King Festival, drowning out the murmurs in the audience.

■

After that, the other five academies advanced smoothly, and the best 8 matches were about to begin.

The first match of the best 8 was—once again, Thousand Blades Academy.

"Phew..."

Finally, it was here.

Since the best 16, where Six Flowers Academy forfeited, this was our first match in the main event.

(I'll pour all the training I've accumulated into this...!)

As I clenched my fist tightly,

"Hehe, a bit nervous...!"

"Come on, where are you! Bring it on!"

"I'd prefer to avoid the other five academies..."

Even the usually calm president and the others were a bit restless.

"Alright, which academy will face Thousand Blades Academy in the best 8!?"

The commentator put his right hand into a large box marked 'Sword King Festival.'

From the best 8, the first and second place qualifiers were irrelevant—opponents were decided by complete random draw.

And then,

"This is... It's 'White Lily Girls' Academy'!"

We were finally facing one of the five academies, White Lily Girls' Academy.

(...Here it comes! A battle with one of the five academies since Ice King Academy...!)

As I burned with fighting spirit,

"It's over... This is tough..."

"No, it's a 'checkmate' no matter how you look at it..."

The presidents were dejected.

Even the always positive Lirim senior was smiling wryly.

"Is it that strong...!?"

When I asked, not knowing much about the five academies, the president nodded.

"It's not just strong... White Lily Girls' Academy has been the runner-up in the last five consecutive Sword King Festivals... It's a super-strong school."

"Yeah, and this year, the strongest first-year, called a 'prodigy'—Idra Luxmaria, has joined... Allen, good luck...!"

"No, I don't need to try hard... I just hope to survive without getting killed..."

Feris senior said, genuinely concerned for my safety.

(So strong...!)

As I was shocked,

"Alright, let's move on to the traditional player introductions!"

The commentator started the player introductions.

"The vanguard of Thousand Blades Academy is—Allen Rodel! He has no school or soul equipment, but his overwhelming physical abilities and refined sword skills are noteworthy! He won all his matches in the A group preliminaries without a single loss, making him a dark horse in this tournament!"

As I was introduced and ascended the stage,

"Allen! Good luck!"

"Don't get too nervous! We're with you!"

"You're the representative of the first-years, don't lose!"

The encouraging cheers from Reia, Rose, and Tessa in the audience pushed me forward.

"And the vanguard of White Lily Girls' Academy is, as you all know—'prodigy' Idra Luxmaria! There's no need to elaborate on this swordsman! Let's quietly witness the skills of the 'strongest first-year'—burn this into our eyes!"

The moment the magnificent female swordsman ascended the stage, a tremendous cheer erupted.

"Here she is! I came to see her!"

"Kyaa, Idra-sama! Look this way!"

Idra Luxmaria.

Her clear, deep blue eyes.

Her long, beautiful white hair in a half-up style.

Her perfectly chiseled features, as if sculpted.

Her skin, as white as snow.

Standing at about 165 cm, she was tall for a 15-year-old girl.

Dressed in the White Lily Girls' Academy uniform, with white and blue accents, she exuded a sense of 'dignity.'

(Still... she's incredibly popular...)

Men and women alike sent her deafening cheers and applause.

She ascended the stage without saying a word, staring intently at me.

Then,

"Are both sides ready? Then, the vanguard match—begin!"

The commentator's voice echoed throughout the venue.

At the same time, I drew my sword and took a ready stance.

('Prodigy' 'strongest first-year'—Idra Luxmaria...!)

She is no pushover...!

Thus, the battle between me and Idra began.