Multiverse: Library

Comprehensive Arena, Rest Area.

"Hah…"

As the duel concluded, Kaiser was escorted to the designated resting area. He exhaled slowly, letting his tense body relax.

"So this is what battle feels like?"

Only now did he have the presence of mind to truly process his first real combat experience. His pulse still raced, adrenaline coursing through his veins in a thrilling high.

"I felt this way even before the match… Could it be that deep down, I'm actually a battle junkie?"

Kaiser found himself questioning his own nature.

But he couldn't deny it—this sensation was exhilarating. Especially the feeling of victory. It was intoxicating.

"I owe you one, Ser-Veresta."

Kaiser grasped the hilt of the Ser-Veresta's activator, speaking with a grin.

"That went well. This proves that our combat method is completely viable."

Releasing the heat from Ser-Veresta to generate hot wind—using it to propel himself, increasing both his movement and slashing speed.

As Claudia had pointed out, this was an unprecedented way to wield the magic sword.

The Four-Colored Magic Swords were notoriously difficult to master. Most wielders considered themselves lucky just to use them properly. Developing an entirely new combat technique to further exploit their abilities? That was practically unheard of.

But Kaiser could do it.

He could exert absolute control over Ser-Veresta, wielding it as an extension of himself. Only with such synergy could this technique be possible.

This was a method Kaiser had devised specifically to compensate for his current shortcomings.

Even after absorbing a considerable amount of Manadyte, his overall strength had grown significantly—enough to secure a spot on the Named Charts. But compared to the Page One, he still had a ways to go.

Without Ser-Veresta, even with his innate mastery over weapons—an instinctual understanding of how to wield them in battle—Kaiser would only be on par with Arkadi's level at best.

In other words, he still wasn't a threat to the Page One.

There was no helping it. In terms of raw physical ability and Prana reserves, Kaiser was still somewhere in the middle of the Named Charts, around rank 30-50. Even if his weapon proficiency was exceptional, without the necessary base stats, he couldn't challenge Seidoukan's very best.

Even possessing Ser-Veresta, if he couldn't land a hit, it wouldn't matter. That was why Arkadi had confidently stated that he wouldn't let Kaiser close the distance.

Arkadi specialized in close-range combat. His physical abilities and Prana reserves surpassed Kaiser's. If he focused entirely on evasion, Kaiser might not have been able to land a single blow.

But if Arkadi could think of this weakness—then naturally, so could Kaiser.

That was why he had developed the heat-assisted acceleration technique—to eliminate that flaw.

And the results proved it.

With this method, he had nearly instantly taken down a Rank 13 opponent. He had forced even higher-ranked students to acknowledge his threat level.

"But using this technique comes at a cost."

Kaiser sighed, shaking his head.

Releasing Ser-Veresta's heat was simple. The sword itself could do it—it had already demonstrated this back in the underground testing chamber.

But controlling that heat—compressing it into focused gusts of wind, directing them to propel himself—was a different story.

Kaiser had managed it only because of his deep connection with Ser-Veresta. The sword had responded to him completely. But that level of manipulation put a severe strain on his Prana reserves.

Under normal conditions, Kaiser could wield Ser-Veresta at average output for over an hour.

But using heat propulsion to enhance his combat speed?

At best, he could sustain it for twenty minutes before burning through all his energy.

"Well… at least this is only temporary."

Thinking about the stockpile of Manadyte in the underground vault, Kaiser felt reassured.

He had already found a fast-track method for power growth. As long as he kept his strength under control, his physical abilities and Prana reserves would skyrocket.

"The first match of this season's Festa—the Phoenix Festa—starts in about two months."

Kaiser thought to himself.

"Even if I don't absorb the entire vault's worth of Manadyte, my strength will be completely different by then."

Based on his calculations, after absorbing a batch of Manadyte, he would need roughly a week to properly adapt to the surge in power before absorbing more.

Meaning—he could absorb four batches per month.

"One month should be enough for me to reach a level where I can defeat a standard Page One without relying on Ser-Veresta."

Kaiser quietly analyzed.

"By the time the Phoenix Festa begins, I'll be even stronger. I should be able to rank among Seidoukan's very best."

And with Ser-Veresta under his full control—

Kaiser was confident he could win the entire tournament.

"But… the Phoenix Festa is a duo tournament."

That thought made him pause.

"Who should I partner with?"

—

Suddenly—

"WOOOOOOH!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the arena, jolting Kaiser from his thoughts.

"What's happening?"

Slightly startled, he glanced at his display and accessed Seidoukan Academy's Official Ranking Battle Live Broadcast.

There, a highly anticipated duel was about to begin.

The two competitors had already entered the stage.

And they were both girls.

More importantly—

They were young.

Perhaps even too young.

Both had remarkable appearances, but one girl in particular stood out.

She wore Seidoukan's Middle School Division uniform—a clear sign of her age.

Her features were delicate and charming, her large eyes shimmering with an innocent light. She radiated a gentle, fragile aura.

Yet—

Strapped to her waist was a real katana.

Her silver hair cascaded down her back, tied into twin tails. Despite her petite frame, her figure was… surprisingly well-developed.

"…This… This is a literal anime body type."

Kaiser could barely believe his eyes.

A thirteen-year-old with this kind of physique?

Ridiculous.

"Wait, what? She's THIRTEEN?!"

Yes.

This girl was Toudou Kirin.

A first-year middle school student.

Only thirteen years old.

Yes. Thirteen.

Her body said otherwise, but the records were clear.

But the real shocking thing wasn't her appearance.

It was her ranking.

Because—

She was Seidoukan Academy's Rank #1.

She had only been at the academy for two months.

Yet, upon entering, she had defeated Rank #11 in a duel, securing a spot in the Page One.

Then, one month ago, during her first Official Ranking Battle, she had challenged Rank #1.

And won.

Since then—she had reigned as Seidoukan's strongest student.

And today—

She wasn't the challenger.

She was the defender.

The one challenging her was Rank #10—another Page One student who was also from the Middle School Division.

These two were the only middle schoolers in the Page One.

Everyone else was from high school or university.

So when the two youngest Page One duelists stepped onto the stage—

The audience erupted.

Even Kaiser, from inside the rest area, could feel the sheer excitement.

And yet—

Before the duel had even lasted one minute—

It was over.

On-screen, under the spectators' stunned gasps, a silver-haired girl unleashed an unbelievable sword technique—

Instantly cornering her opponent.

With one slash—she severed their school badge.

Victory.

Watching this, Kaiser's eyes gleamed.

"Keen-Edged Tempest, huh…?"

He fell into deep thought once more.