"Is Stella going to lose?" Shizuku, sitting in the stands, wondered aloud, watching Stella being constantly suppressed on stage.
Ikki calmly shook his head. "While Stella's defeat is inevitable, it won't be now. She hasn't used her strongest ability yet!"
"What strongest ability?" Faced with his sister's question, Ikki said faintly, "You don't think the world's strongest magical power is just this, do you?"
Shizuku suddenly realized. Yes, Stella was widely praised as having the world's strongest magical power. Her magical power definitely wouldn't be limited to this. And in the next moment, the anomaly on stage proved to Shizuku and other spectators who thought Stella was about to lose that her 'strongest' wasn't just talk.
To everyone's horrified gazes, flames ignited the entire Fourth Training Arena. Not just the stage, but even the audience stands were engulfed by Stella's flames. This fire seemed to want to ignite the entire world, wildly spreading outwards from Stella.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, this much magical power is truly exaggerated!"
Looking at the scene resembling a volcanic eruption, Shirou slightly lowered his stance, his eyes flashing with joy. Yes, only this kind of battle was interesting; one-sided suppression was merely abuse.
"Now, the real battle begins!"
"Ah!"
With an angry roar, the levatin Sword, entwined with a massive amount of fiery magical power, was gripped by Stella and swung through the air at Shirou.
Feeling the terrifying slash, Shirou, with maximum power, leaped from the ground directly to the ceiling. Although Shirou dodged this attack, it directly cut open one side of the Fourth Training Arena's wall. Students affected by the residual flames instantly lost their stamina and collapsed.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, are students these days really this
over the top?" Kurono Shinguuji, the director, murmured, chewing on a cigarette and rubbing her forehead as she looked at the surroundings. Fortunately, this was a simulated battle, using the illusion mode. Otherwise, this one attack alone would have caused heavy casualties.
"It seems this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative selection battle will be very interesting!"
Nene Saikyo, standing beside Kurono Shinguuji, also chuckled, covering her face with a fan.
Just as everyone was marveling at Stella's astonishing
attack, Shirou, stepping on the ceiling, descended from above to strike at Stella. Stella, already slightly weaker in terms of strength, blocked Shirou's attack with her sword. However, a large pit had already been carved out beneath her feet. And this was just the beginning.
After landing, Shirou relentlessly attacked Stella. He wielded two different weapons with perfect precision, constantly assaulting Stella, giving her no time to gather her magical power.
"It seems your magical control still isn't up to par!" Shirou, a pot calling the kettle black, taunted Stella while subtly adjusting his body to dodge Stella's last counterattack. Completely cornered, she could no longer mount any significant counterattacks and was continuously suppressed by Shirou.
For Stella, at this point, merely defending was exhausting. She had no opportunity to counterattack.
"Stella's going to lose!" Ikki suddenly asserted, watching the situation on the field.
Taking this as an opportunity, Shirou's greatsword of flame, imbued with a considerable amount of magical power, delivered the final blow to Stella.
And just like that, Stella lost, uneventfully. There was no
dramatic climax. This was the difference between the two of them.
________________________________________
Aftermath and Future Plans
Defeating Stella, an A-rank Blazer, as a C-rank Blazer, Shirou's name once again spread throughout Hagun Academy. At the same time, news of his ability to project other people's Noble Phantasms and abilities also spread throughout the academy. All student Blazers aiming for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative selection battle regarded him as a major threat.
After all, in this community of student Blazers where magical power was their lifeline and strength relied entirely on their abilities, Shirou's ability was arguably the strongest. No matter how powerful your ability was, in the next moment, it could become his. He was practically the ultimate "NTR" specialist, specifically designed to poach the abilities of other student Blazers.
"So, what are your thoughts after fighting our A-rank Blazer?"
"Thoughts, huh? She's still too green right now." Recalling Stella's strength, which didn't quite match her fighting spirit, Shirou smiled and then said no more.
Seeing Shirou on the bottom bunk fall silent, Ikki, lying on his bed, also became quiet. Just as the dorm room fell into silence, Ikki's student handbook suddenly chimed. Looking at the handbook in his hand, Ikki suddenly said,
"How about adding one more person to our outing tomorrow?"
"What, is your sister inviting you? I don't mind, but you'll have to ask her if she's willing!" Shirou's invitation to Ikki was just a shield anyway. There were no strict requirements for the number of people attending.
"Alright then, I'll ask Shizuku!" Listening to the sound of keys being pressed, Shirou suddenly recalled scenes from the original story.
"Are they all going to come?" Recalling the red-haired girl and the girl who looked like a boy but claimed to be a girl on the inside, Shirou suddenly had a bad feeling.
A moment later, Ikki's voice came again. "Shizuku said Stella and Alice will be going too."
"Ah, I already guessed." Recalling how he had thoroughly pummeled Stella with both strikes and taunts earlier in the day, he now felt it was a bit inappropriate. But who could blame him for getting a little carried away at the time?
Thinking about seeing them again tomorrow, Shirou felt particularly awkward.
"Forget it, let's just go to sleep." Looking at the dark night outside, Shirou closed his eyes and drifted off to rest.
________________________________________
The Next Day
Shirou and Ikki waited for a long time at the agreed-upon location before Shizuku and the other two finally arrived, fashionably late.
"Sorry, big brother, we're late."
"It's fine, you told us beforehand anyway. We just arrived a bit early." Hearing Ikki's words, Shizuku smiled and hugged his arm, saying, "You're so thoughtful, big brother!"
"It's nothing!" Ikki scratched the back of his head, flattered by his sister's praise. He no longer resisted Shizuku's recent closeness as much as he had initially.
Chatting and laughing, the group of five set off for the large shopping mall near Hagun Academy. Shizuku, holding Ikki's arm, and Ikki walked at the front. Arisu Nagi walked beside them. As for Shirou and Stella, they lagged behind.
Looking at Stella, who was dressed up for the day, Shirou, with his hands in his pockets, asked with a smile,
"Did Alice do your makeup too?"
"Mm."
Stella's face flushed slightly as she glanced at Shirou, who had spoken to her. She recalled Shirou's compliments from yesterday.
"Did you not sleep well yesterday? You have dark circles under your eyes!" Under Shirou's extreme perception, Stella's makeup had no effect whatsoever in concealing anything.
Shirou, now understanding the reason for their lateness, apologized, "Was I a bit too harsh with my words yesterday? I can apologize if you're bothered by it."
"No! I'm not bothered!" Stella stopped and looked seriously at Shirou. "I wholeheartedly accept yesterday's battle. The reason I had trouble sleeping was just that I didn't realize how weak I was. Since fully mastering my abilities, I've never been defeated so thoroughly!"
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter