"I see!"
Kazamatsuri Rinna's face lit up with sudden realization, her expression instantly turning excited. "Looks like I might have a chance to capture that angel back to our territory?!"
"I will definitely get him!"
Sara's eyes brightened as she whispered to herself.
"It'd be better if we can make a move soon. Otherwise, as the commander of this operation, I'd be in serious trouble."
The clown-masked man clapped his hands and laughed, "But I don't recommend that. If you want to die, just go confront the God of War himself. I'm sure he won't mind giving you a ride to the afterlife."
"After all, we're infamous terrorists!"
Both Rinna and Sara froze for a moment.
"Alright, let's get to business."
The clown man patted the two girls, and once they fell silent, he nodded in satisfaction.
"I didn't expect Hagun Academy to have such strong fighters. Even Ouma's younger brother was defeated by him. He might be the biggest obstacle to our operation!"
"So why choose Hagun Academy specifically?"
A cold voice came from a corner of the room.
The corner was nearly void of any presence, so anyone entering would likely overlook it immediately.
Yet there stood a petite girl with shark-like teeth grinning wide, a scarf wrapped around her neck. She stood perfectly still, giving off an icy, statue-like aura.
"If I'm not mistaken, isn't the World Clock and Yaksha Princess there? Sending just a few of us might be like beating a dog with a meat bun."
"That's the client's request. No changes allowed. But don't worry, Miss Tatara, the client said he will keep those two busy. Our real opponents are just ordinary teachers and students."
"Then I have no objections."
Tatara Yui closed her eyes and gathered her spirit like a hibernating snake.
"Hiraga Reisen, I'll say it again: I don't have a younger brother."
On the other side, a handsome man with long black hair stood with arms crossed, eyes coldly fixed on the clown man in the middle.
"Alright, alright."
The clown man named Hiraga Reisen shrugged in agreement.
"This guy named Eiji Nangou—who among you can handle him? I certainly can't. He's very sensitive to my Hell Spider Threads."
"Piece of cake!"
Rinna puffed up her steel-like chest, full of pride.
"Very easy."
Sara lifted her head, eyes resolute as she looked at him.
Last time, she underestimated his strength, but now knowing his true power, she was confident she could defeat him!
"I'm his natural counter."
Tatara Yui spoke coldly from the corner.
"His swordsmanship is decent, but nothing special."
Kurogane Ouma looked at the boy making a scene on the TV, his expression indifferent.
"But my opponent is already decided. Whoever faces him, just don't disturb me."
"What about you, Shinomiya Amane?"
The clown man looked toward the other sofa.
There sat a delicate figure indistinguishable in gender, slender like a girl, with an exquisitely beautiful face that blurred the lines of masculinity and femininity.
The figure stared unblinking at the TV, showing faint signs of obsession, lost in thought.
"Shinomiya?"
The clown man called again, and the figure came back to reality.
"Hm? Me? Ah, whatever."
After waving it off casually, the figure's gaze returned fully to the TV, never once shifting.
"Wow, another one's fallen."
The clown man rubbed his forehead, sighing in exhaustion.
"By the way, isn't there still that righteous demon god?"
Rinna glanced around the room.
Besides Charlotte, who had left, there were only six people in the room.
But actually, they came as a team of seven.
"You mean the 'Black Assasin'?"
The clown man snapped out of it.
"He's currently undercover at Hagun Academy…"
***
The selection tournament at Hagun Academy officially ended.
No, that wasn't quite right—it was the end of the first round of selections.
After this, there would be a revival round, followed by a final challenge round. Only then would the entire selection process conclude, deciding the final six candidates.
The second round of the revival matches began the very next day.
After discussion, the committee announced that only those players who had lost no more than three times in total during the first round of the selection tournament were eligible to participate in the second-round revival matches.
Only the top two players from the revival matches would qualify to challenge the six players already decided in the first round during the final challenge tournament.
If a player had lost more than three times, it was considered a waste of everyone's time. Everyone knew such players couldn't become one of the six finalists — even those players themselves understood this clearly, so no one objected.
The number of players who had lost three times or fewer was only a few dozen, spread across more than ten arenas. They competed in a knockout format, and after just three days, the results were finalized.
Following two more challenge matches, the final six players were determined.
"Ugh ugh ugh ugh!"
The wealthy Lady Katana lay in Eiji's arms, her slender legs kicking about wildly. Under the parasol, she bit her lip tightly, letting out stifled sobs, full of frustration and unwillingness.
"Alright, alright, it's not like you didn't make it through. I'll help you teach those juniors a lesson at the Seven-Star Sword Art Festival later!"
Eiji stroked the golden hair of the wealthy lady, comforting her continuously.
Indeed.
The wealthy lady lost only once—to Eiji—and remained undefeated afterward, naturally making it into the revival matches.
Unfortunately, she ultimately did not become one of the top two in the revival round.
She had fought her way through easily into the final four but was defeated in the semifinals by Kurogane Shizuku, falling just one step short of qualifying for the Seven-Star Sword Art Festival.
After that, the sibling duo Kurogane Ikki and Kurogane Shizuku, like tigers entering a wolf pack, challenged the only two lucky players who had reached the final six through sheer fortune in the first phase—and unsurprisingly, won all their matches.
Thus, the six finalists from Hagun Academy's ultimate tournament were Eiji, Toudou Touka, Stella, Arisuin Nagi, Kurogane Ikki, and Kurogane Shizuku.
The wealthy lady was nowhere to be seen.
She had been the academy's second strongest last year—how did she fail to even make the top six this year?
Logically speaking, among this year's top six, five were freshmen.
Only Toudou Touka, the academy's strongest senior, barely held onto the dignity of the old students.
But now even Touka's throne as academy strongest was on shaky ground. Rumors circulated around campus saying Eiji's strength might completely surpass hers.
After winning that duel, his strength received unanimous praise from all students.
Touka herself was actually quite happy. Seeing her junior brother grow strong was a joy beyond measure. In her eyes, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed her.
"Senior is here!"
Eiji's ears twitched as he heard familiar footsteps outside the door, causing him to be startled.
The wealthy lady hurriedly withdrew her hand, tidied her outfit, and composed her expression, showing an unruffled, calm demeanor.
***
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