Under Haruki's cold threat, Akaza completely lost his composure. He tried to scramble for a shield, desperately invoking the authority of the Magic Knight League.

  In this world, the League was an monolithic organization. They controlled nearly every Bzer on the pnet and held the legal power to discipline or detain them at will. Since every Bzer was essentially a walking weapon of mass destruction, society required such a force to maintain order.

  Haruki had a realistic understanding of his own power; he knew he couldn't take on the entire global League by force—not yet. But as he had told Akaza, he wasn't there to py games. He was there to demand the w be followed.

  "Haruki is right. Without evidence, we cannot accept these charges!"

  Two figures emerged from the school gates, walking toward the group. It was Chairperson Kurono Shinguji and Nene Saikyo.

  As high-ranking members within the League's hierarchy themselves, they were among the few individuals in Japan with the status to actually push back against the local branch's overreach.

  Seeing them, Akaza's arrogance withered instantly. He sank to his knees like a pathetic insect, his face pale as he stammered, "This... this was an order from Head Itsuki himself! I'm just the messenger!"

  "Itsuki Kurogane..." Kurono narrowed her eyes.

  Itsuki was not only the head of the Kurogane cn but also the Director of the Japan branch of the Magic Knight League. He held the highest level of authority over Japanese Bzers. If he was determined to crush his own son, it was nearly impossible for outsiders to intervene legally.

  Haruki, however, didn't look impressed. "Does being a Director grant the right to kidnap students without cause?"

  "..."

  The crowd fell silent. Haruki's blunt logic was hard to argue with. Akaza, feeling the crushing weight of Haruki's killing intent and the Chairperson's scrutiny, scrambled to his phone. He dialed a number and frantically expined the situation to the cn head.

  A long silence followed. Finally, the cold, stern voice of Itsuki Kurogane echoed through the speaker: "Regarding Ikki... perhaps my judgment was hasty. Akaza, return at once."

  With that single concession, the tension broke. Everyone exhaled in relief—especially Ikki. He looked at Haruki with profound gratitude, moved by the fact that a near-stranger had stood up to the man who haunted his nightmares.

  Haruki looked at Ikki, his gaze indifferent. "Don't get too comfortable, Ikki. Your next opponent is me. If I beat you, you're still not going to the Seven Star Festival."

  "I know," Ikki said, a genuine smile returning to his face. "If I lose to you in a fair fight, I won't have any regrets. Even if I never become a knight, I'll be satisfied knowing I gave everything against a warrior like you."

  "Good." Haruki nodded.

  After Akaza's retreat, and likely due to the pressure from Chairperson Shinguji, the Kurogane family stopped their overt interference.

  In the following days, the hype for the match between Haruki and Ikki reached a fever pitch. Fueled by media coverage and school gossip, the duel became a national topic of interest.

  Both Haruki and Ikki spent every waking moment training. Neither underestimated the other; they were both pushing their bodies and spirits to the absolute peak for this final encounter.

  The day of the match arrived with the speed of a falling bde.

  Early that morning, the massive central stadium was already packed. Students, alumni, and even government officials had swarmed the campus, eager to witness the fight that would decide the strongest student at Hagun Academy.

  "Whoa, look at the crowd!"

  "It's expected. The transfer student vs. the Worst One—it's the match of the year!"

  "Wait, are those news helicopters? Is the government broadcasting this live?"

  "Even the Knight League is watching. Both Haruki and Ikki have taken down A-Rank opponents. Whoever wins this will be an overnight superstar."

  The audience was electric, but they were oblivious to the shadow war that had secured this moment.

  In truth, the Kurogane family had tried to pull strings behind the scenes to cancel the match. But Chairperson Kurono and Nene Saikyo had held the line, refusing to let the family's reach touch the academy's internal affairs.

  There was one other factor, however. One that no one knew about.

  On the night Akaza had left, Haruki had realized the Kurogane cn wouldn't stop easily. He had followed Akaza's car back to the family estate. Using his Wave Perception, he had bypassed every security sensor and guard, ghosting into Itsuki Kurogane's private office. He had left a single, bnk slip of paper on the man's desk.

  He hadn't written a word. He didn't need to. The fact that an assassin could enter the heart of the Kurogane fortress and reach the Director's desk undetected was a louder threat than any letter.

  Itsuki had understood the message perfectly. To protect the family, he had to allow the match to proceed fairly. Combined with Kurono's political pressure, the Kurogane influence was successfully neutralized.

  The atmosphere in the arena was stifling. Thousands of spectators leaned forward as the lights dimmed and the announcer's voice roared through the stadium.

  "Honored guests, thank you for your patience! Today, we witness the final match of the Seven Star representative selection!"

  "First, entering from the blue gate—the man known as the Worst One, Ikki Kurogane!"

  "His record in this tournament is a staggering nineteen wins and zero losses! He has dismantled every opponent with a level of technical mastery that defies his Rank. He is the only F-Rank Bzer in history to strike down high-tier knights with such consistency!"

  "His journey is a scream of defiance against a world that judges strength by a letter on an ID card! Every step he takes proves that effort can reach the summit! Today, he dances his final dance for a spot on the national stage! Let us welcome... the King of the Unranked!"

  Ikki walked into the light. The roar of the crowd was thunderous. After his victory over Stel, Ikki had become an icon for the common students—the "bottom-tier" Bzers who made up the majority of the world. They saw their own struggles reflected in his bde.

  "Ikki looks incredibly focused," Stel noted from the VIP box. "Even from here, I can feel the sharpness of his aura."

  She looked at Shizuku, who was sitting beside her. The silver-haired girl was quiet, but her knuckles were white from gripping her skirt.

  "Which one are you rooting for, Shizuku?" Stel asked with a mischievous glint. "Your brother, or your roommate?"

  Shizuku remained silent for a long time. Finally, she spoke with a crity that surprised even herself. "It doesn't matter who I want to win. The outcome will be decided by their bdes, not our wishes."

  "Tch. Boring answer," Stel pouted.

  "But... if you must have an answer," Shizuku added softly, "I'm rooting for Haruki."

  "Why?" Stel blinked. She had expected her to pick Ikki without hesitation.

  Shizuku looked down at the arena. She thought of Haruki's intervention at the mall, his silent protection, and the way he had personally threatened the Kurogane cn to ensure Ikki's safety. To Shizuku, Haruki was a light that had saved both her and her brother from the family's darkness.

  She admired Ikki, but she revered Haruki. She knew Haruki walked a path that was essentially solitary, and she wanted to be the one person who stayed by his side, even if only as a spectator to his back.

  The announcer's voice broke her thoughts.

  "And now, entering from the red gate—the transfer student, Haruki Aizawa!"

  "Like his opponent, he holds a perfect 19-0 record! He is the man who did the impossible: he shattered the legend of the 'Lightning Cutter' and defeated our Student Council President!"

  "Throughout this tournament, he has rarely used anything beyond pure swordsmanship. He is a ghost on the battlefield, a master of a style no one can name! Is he a genius? A monster? Today, we find out!"

  Haruki stepped onto the ptform. His pace was steady, his expression bored. He looked less like a combatant and more like someone taking a casual stroll. He stopped five meters from Ikki.

  The two stood in silence. Neither had drawn a weapon, yet the air between them began to crackle. A physical pressure—a Kenatsu (Sword Pressure)—radiated from the center of the ring, making the spectators in the front rows recoil instinctively.

  Ordinary students didn't understand what they were seeing. But the masters in the crowd—Kurono, Nene, and Tohka—knew. This was the csh of two distinct "Paths."

  Haruki had refused to fight Ikki for a long time because he knew they were both "Extreme" swordsmen. When two people who have built their entire lives on a single conviction meet, the loser doesn't just lose a match. Their "Sword Heart" breaks.

  This was a duel that would either forge a legend or destroy a man.

  ***********************************************

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