At Hagun Academy, as soon as morning classes ended, students and faculty from all grades rushed to the Fourth Simulated Arena.
News, spread from unknown sources in just one morning, had made the duel between Shirou and Stella Vermillion known throughout the entire school. Even before the morning classes concluded, many minds had already drifted to the impending match.
Stella Vermillion, the Crimson Princess, was an A-rank Blazer with the world's strongest magical power, said to be thirty times the average. In front of her, no one dared to boast about their own magical reserves, because in terms of total magical power, she was the strongest in the world.
As for her opponent, the C-rank Blazer Shirou, not many
favored him. Although the video of his martial arts duel with Ikki had recently spread across the internet, to many, the fight with Ikki was nothing more than a clash between amateurs, resulting in a draw decided by sheer stamina. In the eyes of Blazers who viewed magical power as their lifeline, this was nothing short of a joke.
Therefore, many believed Shirou was nothing special.
Today, Shirou's duel with Stella Vermillion was the perfect opportunity to reveal his true capabilities. Many with this thought eagerly held their student handbooks, ready to record the scene. Consequently, due to various factors, the intensity of this simulated battle at Hagun Academy was unprecedented.
This was also why numerous students and teachers were rushing to the arena.
"You really can't stay put, can you? Always stirring up such a commotion," Kurono Shinguuji, the director, grumbled. Shirou chuckled in response, "This wasn't my doing, Stella-senpai invited me."
"That's right, I invited Emiya-kun to fight. If you're going
to blame anyone, blame me, Director!"
"Hey, hey, hey, I never said I was blaming anyone. Don't put words in my mouth, alright?" Kurono Shinguuji said helplessly, looking at Stella, who had stepped forward, ready to take all responsibility. "I was just making a comment!" Glancing around the Fourth Training Arena, which was already full but still had people pouring in, Kurono Shinguuji stated seriously, "I'll be the referee for this battle, and the Noble Phantasms will be set to their Illusion Forms!"
"Yes, understood!"
Looking at the two, ready and poised for battle, Kurono Shinguuji smiled and said, "Then the stage is yours!"
"Emiya-kun, please go easy on me!"
"Vermillion-san, please go easy on me!"
After speaking, they turned and walked to opposite sides of the stage. Once in position, they looked at each other across the arena, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"Then, let the match begin!"
At Kurono Shinguuji's command, both simultaneously summoned their Noble Phantasms.
"Serve me, Scarlet Princess' Levatinn Sword!"
"Manifest your divine power, Muramasa!"
Gripping her sword, Stella, giving it her all, instantly ignited her magical power. Fierce flames quietly burned around her.
"What scorching flames!"
Even from a distance, Shirou could feel the intense heat from the three-thousand-degree temperature emanating from Stella. Feeling the air itself grow hot, Shirou smiled and said, "Facing a full-power Stella-senpai, it would be an insult to your fighting spirit if I didn't use my full strength."
"Of course! It's your full power I want to challenge!" Stella shouted, raising her sword.
"Is that so? Then come on!"
Looking at the sword in Stella's hand, Shirou's eyes began to analyze its structure. While he couldn't completely replicate the concept of a 'dragon' yet, the ability to control fire was certainly within his grasp. Then, a stream of fire flowed from Shirou's left hand, eventually forming a golden greatsword.
"That's!"
Stella's pupils trembled as she gazed at the new greatsword in Shirou's hand. "That's my Scarlet Princess'
Levatin Sword!"
"This wave? This wave is direct NTR!"
"I see it!"
"?"
Attracted by Shirou's words, a bewildered Stella looked at him with a questioning gaze. Slowly opening his closed eyes, Shirou said with lingering satisfaction, "Through this sword, I see your efforts and struggles.
That fighting spirit to defy fate, that determination to protect your country, it's truly astonishing!"
"Your figure, steadfast in your resolve, is incredibly dazzling. Even I would be captivated by such a sight!"
Hearing Shirou's praise, Stella's face flushed, but she
quickly regained her composure. From Shirou's words, she heard something alarming: "What do you mean, 'I see it'?"
But in the next moment, she understood everything.
Flames surged from Shirou's body, coiling around him, constantly swirling!
"That's my ability, and my Princess Dragon Robe!"
Hearing Stella's horrified voice, Shirou smiled and said,
"No, this is my Scarlet Princess' Levatin Sword, and my
ability!"
With flames enveloping his sword, Shirou instantly charged at Stella.
"Damn it, I'm the original!"
Roaring in anger, Stella swung her sword to meet him, but as their swords clashed, Stella immediately sensed something was wrong.
"His strength is superior to mine. How is this possible?!"
Stella, who reinforced her body with magical power, had never encountered an opponent who could match her in strength. After all, she could easily enhance her various physical abilities tenfold or more with magic.
Yet, despite this, she was being outmatched by Shirou in terms of strength and speed. Although the difference between them wasn't vast, losing in her strong suit truly frustrated her.
She didn't know that under the divine blessing, Shirou's physical attributes far surpassed those of Blazers in this world. Combined with his ability to reinforce himself with magical power, he naturally wouldn't lose to Stella in this regard. The most crucial factor here was Shirou's increased magical power.
During the previous entrance exam, Shirou's total magical power was only D-rank, but now it had reached B-rank. Such rapid growth in magical power was due to natural growth as a magus, as well as the recovery of magical power lost during his previous magic fusion.
Additionally, through the projection of Noble Phantasms and the assimilation of experiences, Shirou's magical control ability was constantly improving. Shirou was gradually reducing his weaknesses, steadily progressing on his path of comprehensive growth.
On the stage, after several straightforward exchanges, Stella immediately realized her disadvantage. Unlike Ikki, who compensated for a lack of power with skill, Stella didn't possess Ikki's abilities. Seeing this, Stella could only gather her magical power and ignite her flames to gain more advantage. But in the next moment, her pupils constricted, and she fell into an unprecedented state of shock.
The flames attached to Shirou's sword were more intense and more agile than her own. An ability seemingly stolen from her had surpassed her in the blink of an eye.
How could such an absurd thing happen in this world?! A bewildered Stella didn't know that this was the blessing of the God of Fire bestowed upon Shirou.
Although Shirou had tried his best to hide his abilities, passive abilities were truly beyond his control! At this moment, Stella's defeat was evident!