As time passed, a few days flew by in a blink. In the early morning, Shirou and Ikki Kurogane were jogging on the school grounds. Looking at Shirou's figure running ahead, Ikki Kurogane's thoughts began to wander.
As the only Class F Knight in the school, Director Kuraono Shinguji had once promised him that if he could win the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival and become the Seven Stars Sword King, he would be allowed to graduate. Graduating from Hagun Academy and becoming a true knight was Ikki Kurogane's dream.
But now, a super powerful enemy had appeared on his path to that dream. That was Shirou, right before him.
Facing him as an opponent, he had almost no chance of winning. The only aspect where they were evenly matched was swordsmanship. In all other aspects, he couldn't compare to Shirou in any way.
And they were also the same type of swordsmen, which made it even more frustrating. To defeat him, he needed to break through himself and achieve sublimation at the very moment of battle, and then ensure that this sublimation was enough to surpass Shirou.
Otherwise, any of his techniques would be read by him, and even if Shirou couldn't learn them quickly, he would be wary. But how could something like that possibly happen! Ikki Kurogane couldn't help but wear a bitter smile.
Ikki Kurogane didn't know that he would indeed experience on-the-spot breakthroughs in the future. And with it, defeat Student Council President Toka Todo. But as for that Itto Rasetsu that could appear at any moment, Shirou had deeply ingrained it in his mind and was always ready to deal with it.
"Time really flies, this week is almost over in a blink!"
Standing at their usual resting spot, Shirou and Ikki Kurogane chatted casually.
"Indeed, tomorrow is Saturday." Looking at Ikki Kurogane, who had no reaction, Shirou suddenly said, "Ikki, want to go out and have some fun this Saturday?"
"Eh? Why would you suddenly think of going out? I thought you were quite a homebody usually?" Seeing Ikki Kurogane's puzzled expression, Shirou said helplessly, "I got news from Kusakabe-kun. Apparently, more than ten classmates are planning to ask me out."
"Pfft!" The surprised Ikki Kurogane directly spat out the water in his mouth. After a few coughs, he hurriedly said, "Are you planning to use me as a shield? What about later? You can't go out every week, can you?"
"That's not necessarily true. This time I'm unprepared. I'll go back and pack in a couple of days. From now on, I'll go home and open my dessert shop on Saturdays and Sundays."
"With them around, I might even make a fortune!"
"You're such a scumbag!" Looking at Shirou, who not only deceived feelings but also wanted to cheat money, Ikki Kurogane couldn't help but complain.
"I told you I didn't deceive anyone's feelings; I rejected everyone who confessed to me!" Shirou roared in dissatisfaction at Ikki Kurogane's slander.
"So, are you free tomorrow?"
"Fine, I don't have anything else to do anyway."
"Then it's settled!" Seeing that the matter was settled, Shirou picked up his water bottle and started drinking again. Just then, a clear voice suddenly reached their ears.
"Brother, Emiya-kun, what a coincidence!" Following the sound, they saw none other than Shizuku Kurogane, and beside her were Stella Vermillion and Arisuin Nagi.
"What a coincidence, if it isn't Shizuku-chan!" Hearing Shirou's greeting, Shizuku Kurogane returned a bow and then introduced her companions to the two.
"This is the Crimson Princess, I'm sure you all know her, Stella Vermillion, my roommate. You can just call her Stella."
"And this one beside her is my and Stella's good friend, Arisuin Nagi. Although he looks like a boy, he's a girl inside. You can call her Alice!"
After hearing Shizuku Kurogane's introduction, Shirou stepped forward and said, "I am Shirou. Since you're Shizuku-chan's roommate and best friend, you can just call me Shirou."
"Me too, everyone can just call me Ikki!" After introducing themselves, the group of five gathered together to discuss various recent developments. With Ikki Kurogane and Shizuku Kurogane as the catalysts, their relationship was quite harmonious.
Just then, Stella, who had been speaking little earlier, suddenly said, "Emiya-kun, do you have time for a simulated battle with me?"
"You want to challenge me?" Looking at Stella, who had issued the challenge, Shirou asked with a smile.
"That's right!" There was a burning fire in Stella's eyes as she looked at Shirou. Her purpose in coming to Japan was to challenge various opponents and thus improve herself.
She had witnessed Shirou and Ikki Kurogane's battle.
Both of their swordsmanship was in a realm she had not yet reached. But Shirou's sword style was very similar to hers, a swordsmanship that relied on absolute power to overwhelm opponents head-on. It was just that Shirou had gone further down this path. So, she would challenge him and see a stronger scenery.
"Alright!" Looking at Stella, whose fighting spirit was soaring, Shirou said with a smile, "Let's set the time for after classes at noon. After all, it's getting late now."
"Yes, I understand. I'll be waiting for you at the Fourth Training Ground at noon."
"Then it's a deal!" Shirou was also looking forward to his duel with Stella. After all, Shirou knew very well that Stella's true ability was not her current natural interference-type flame manipulation. It was her concept interference-type Dragon. Stella was the manifestation of a mythical dragon.
She was a Desperado born with a normal human appearance. In the entire Chivalry of a Failed Knight world, if there was anyone with the most potential, it was definitely Stella. Born with the world's strongest magic power, in this world where magic power was equivalent to destiny, she was given the greatest destiny and potential. This allowed her to display
Desperado-level combat power even in her normal state. Although she hadn't awakened yet, Shirou was very interested in her challenge.
Looking at the excitedly departing Stella and the helpless Shizuku Kurogane and Arisuin Nagi, Ikki Kurogane asked confusedly, "I thought you would reject her challenge?
After all, you rejected all the other classmates' challenges before, didn't you?"
"That's because they were too weak; there was no need to fight them!" Looking at Ikki Kurogane, Shirou responded seriously, "I never refuse the challenges of strong opponents. For example, you, for example, Stella!"
"She shouldn't be your opponent, right?" Ikki Kurogane was very confident in Shirou's combat strength.
"Of course!" Shirou naturally didn't think he would lose.
"But she's worth cultivating. If trained well, she'll definitely be a formidable opponent in the future!"
"Cultivating opponents yourself if you don't have any?" Looking at Shirou, who had his hands behind his back, Ikki Kurogane murmured. "What an afterglow of a strong person!"
"Come on, let's go back to class. We haven't even had breakfast yet!" Seeing Shirou already turned and walking back to the dormitory, Ikki Kurogane quickly caught up.
"Speaking of which, it's your turn to cook today, Shirou!"
"That's right, today I'll show you what real delicious food is!"
"Then I'll look forward to it!"
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter