Kurogane Ikki and the others from Hagun Academy stood together, looking at the people in the banquet hall with unfriendly expressions.
If they were ordinary opponents, Kurogane Ikki's personality wouldn't be so hostile. The key issue was that those people were the terrorists who had attacked Hagun Academy before - the people from Akatsuki Academy.
This cocktail party was actually organized by the tournament operations committee. Although the Seven Star Sword Art Festival was a competition between the seven academies, the participants were all rising stars among the Blazers, and each of them could become a pillar of strength for the Magic Knights. So, it was right to connect with each other before the competition.
It could be said that if Rebellion attacked this venue, it would be enough to cut off the future of Japan's Blazers.
However, everyone present was an excellent Blazer, even stronger than most active Magic Knights. It was quite difficult to wipe them all out.
But this year's situation was different. There was Akatsuki Academy among the participants.
As an academy led by Cabinet Minister Tsukikage Bakuya, Akatsuki Academy had formally obtained the competition qualification, so they could also participate in the cocktail party.
However, Kurogane Ikki had thought that these terrorists wouldn't have the nerve to participate in the cocktail party. He didn't expect to actually see them.
Moreover, Tatara Yui of Akatsuki Academy had put a piece of blade coated with deadly poison in the food that Kurogane Shizuku was planning to take. Fortunately, Kurogane Ikki was sharp enough to knock down that roast chicken, otherwise danger could have occurred.
And because of this, the good-tempered Kurogane Ikki was so angry.
Just as the two groups were confronting each other, the door of the banquet hall opened. A man and a woman walked in together.
Seeing the two people who came in, the two groups revealed different expressions.
Joyful smiles appeared on the faces of the Hagun Academy members. As for Akatsuki Academy, the atmosphere became heavy.
Of course, the expressions of the Akatsuki Academy members were also different. Some were fearful, some were indifferent, and some revealed fighting intent.
Stella held Drake's arm, and the two walked to Kurogane Ikki.
"It's been a long time. Did you miss me?"
Kurogane Ikki smiled, punching Drake's shoulder, saying, "It's good that you're back!"
Drake turned his head, his smile disappearing, saying coldly, "I thought the atmosphere was a bit off. It turns out that you guys are here too!"
Drake only revealed a little hostility, and the Akatsuki Academy members were already facing a great enemy, even manifesting their Devices.
Before, because of Tatara Yui's actions, the situation had become tense, but the other Akatsuki Academy members didn't intend to participate.
But when Drake appeared, everyone in Akatsuki Academy became nervous. After all, the person before them had defeated all of them not long ago.
Especially Tatara Yui, who was closest to Drake, had lost his previous arrogance, and the hand holding the chainsaw-shaped Device began to tremble.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if a war would break out at any time.
"This is a cocktail party, not a place for fighting. If you want to fight, please go to the arena in two days. I'm also looking forward to competing with everyone."
That voice was very calm, but it was full of oppression. And as the voice came, three people walked over.
The leader was a tall young man. He wasn't wearing a tuxedo, but instead wearing a special uniform of Bubuki Academy with a slight ancient style, and a short cloak was draped over it.
He had a headband tied around his forehead, which, combined with his thick body, gave him a very masculine feeling.
The young man was one of the biggest favorites of this Seven Star Sword Art Festival, the previous Seven Star Sword King, the "Star of Naniwa," Moroboshi Yuudai.
It could be said that he was the person at the top of the Japanese student knights. No wonder he had such momentum.
The two people behind him were the ones who had stood on the Seven Star Sword Art Festival podium with Moroboshi Yuudai last year.
This was the prestige of Bubuki Academy, the strongest Japanese school that had long dominated the Seven Star Sword Art Festival.
The one wearing glasses, with his hair and clothes neatly arranged, was last year's runner-up, Shironosaki Byakuya.
And the girl with a bandage on her face on the other side was the third-place finisher, Asagi Momiji.
As soon as the three appeared, the entire banquet hall became solemn because of their powerful presence.
Drake didn't intend to fight here in the first place, so he withdrew his hostility.
The other Akatsuki Academy members also relaxed, gradually withdrawing their Devices.
Only Tatara Yui, who had taken the initiative to provoke, only felt that he was being laughed at by everyone like a clown.
And not withdrawing his Device, he also attracted everyone's attention.
Moroboshi Yuudai said, "The Seven Star Sword Art Festival is just around the corner. I can understand that you're excited, but shouldn't you calm down?"
If Moroboshi Yuudai's accusation was still polite, then Shironosaki Byakuya was directly mocking him.
"Really, taking out your Device directly in this kind of place makes people have to doubt your character.
But the Device will show the owner's character. You're really as vulgar as your Device."
Tatara Yui laughed angrily, saying, "This refined young man, character is of no help in battle. Do you want me to let you experience it personally?"
Saying this, Tatara Yui directly started the engine of the chainsaw Device, aiming the blade at the Bubuki Academy trio. To be precise, he was aiming at Moroboshi Yuudai, who was in the lead.
But before he could really get close, his footsteps stopped.
Moroboshi Yuudai said with a smile, "It seems that you still have some strength. If you accidentally step into my attack range, I can't guarantee that I won't stab you with this thing."
Moroboshi Yuudai was holding a golden spear in his hand at some point. The spear tassel behind the spear tip was like the fur of a tiger.
Facing Moroboshi Yuudai's Device - Tiger King, Tatara Yui knew that he didn't have a chance to attack at all.
Drake revealed an admiring expression. Although he didn't take action, Drake had already seen Moroboshi Yuudai's powerful spear technique.
Whether it was the spear thrust that few people present could see clearly, or the stance that was flawless just standing there, it showed the weight of this Seven Star Sword King.
Especially in the dominance of the cross-range, he was unmatched among Blazers of the same level. No wonder he could suppress Toudo Touka's sword technique - Raikiri.
This was also the reason why Tatara Yui didn't dare to step into that range.
Beside Drake, Kurogane Ikki said, "Drake, did you see it clearly?"
Drake nodded, saying admiringly, "Very powerful. I really don't know how to create that refined spirit. In any case, he's a good opponent, isn't he?"
According to the schedule, Kurogane Ikki and Moroboshi Yuudai were in the same division. If there were no accidents, the two would soon meet in the arena.
Kurogane Ikki nodded, saying, "I can't wait!"
Drake smiled, not saying anything. Kurogane Ikki was like this, pursuing victory but also enjoying the battle with strong opponents.
Not to mention him, even Drake really wanted to fight Moroboshi Yuudai. Of course, Drake would limit part of his strength, otherwise the battle would have no fun at all.
"Ahahaha! Everyone is very energetic!"
A thick voice came over. Drake saw a burly man over two meters tall walking over.
He had a face full of beard, and his appearance was rough. Even the tuxedo couldn't hide his bear-like physique.
"But no matter what, you can't waste food. We farmers work hard to raise chickens so that you can enjoy delicious chicken. It would be a waste of our hard work if you don't taste it properly."
Although the burly man called himself a farmer and looked very mature, he was actually only one grade above Kurogane Ikki.
One of the top eight of last year's Seven Star Sword Art Festival, the third-year student of Rokuson Academy, "Steel Mad Bear" Kaga Koiji.
Kaga Koiji walked over, picked up the bone-in chicken mixed with poisoned blades that Kurogane Ikki had knocked to the ground, and directly stuffed it into his mouth.
Kurogane Ikki didn't have time to remind him.
According to Tatara Yui, there were several alkaloids added to it, and licking it would be enough to poison an elephant to death.
But such a deadly poison, along with the blades, bones, and chicken, was chewed up and swallowed by Kaga Koiji.
"Coming from Akatsuki Academy, this poison can kill an elephant, but it can't kill me!"
Kaga Koiji was still full of energy, and nothing had happened after eating the poison.
"Is this guy really human?"
This was what everyone present was thinking, but Tatara Yui said it directly in surprise.
Drake couldn't help but sigh on the side. Although there were various limitations to the ability system in this world, it had to be said that it was really excellent in some aspects.
For example, the powerful physique that Kaga Koiji was showing at this time.
Drake admitted that if he didn't use magic power, he wouldn't be able to reach Kaga Koiji's level of resistance to toxins based on his physique alone.
Drake had also heard that in this world, there were Blazers who could perfectly piece together broken human bodies, even if a person exploded, they could be saved.
When he first heard it, Drake felt it was outrageous, but after seeing more of it, it wasn't strange anymore. After all, abilities were powers involving laws, and their mysteries were extraordinary.
Tatara Yui hadn't recovered from the surprise caused by Kaga Koiji's inhuman physique when he immediately encountered a new situation.
A woman in a white coat hugged him from behind.
"Okay, I'm doing an examination. Please be good and don't move around!"
The woman in white said, and her hands really kept moving on Tatara Yui's body.
The members of Akatsuki Academy were all mercenaries from the dark world, and Tatara Yui had always been active in the dark world as an assassin.
And for assassins, how to hide themselves and approach the target without being discovered was a compulsory course. At the same time, being wary of everyone who approached had become an instinct.
But that woman in white not only approached him, but even hugged his body directly.
This gave him even more surprise than Kaga Koiji using poison as a condiment.
Drake recognized the woman in white. Her name was Yakushi Kiriko, and she was a third-year student at Renjou Academy.
But her more well-known identity was that she was a national-level Magic Knight, and also the number one doctor in Japan.
The surgery that Drake had heard about before, piecing together broken human bodies, was done by her.
Her ability, like Kurogane Shizuku's, was an element manipulation type, but she was a water mage far above the latter.
When she approached Tatara Yui just now, even Drake only vaguely had a feeling. It was because she had transformed her body into water vapor that she approached the other party silently.
And seeing Tatara Yui obediently reaching out to take the medicine that Yakushi Kiriko gave her, and looking at her surprised face, it was obvious that she didn't want to reach out herself.
Drake said softly, "Is it directly controlling the opponent's body by manipulating the blood? As expected of Japan's number one doctor. This level must be terrifying even when used in battle!"
Kurogane Ikki also nodded, saying that it would be a headache to encounter such an opponent in the arena.
But fortunately, although Yakushi Kiriko had been selected into the participating team for three consecutive years, she hadn't appeared in the first two years, and this year shouldn't be an exception.
Tatara Yui was completely manipulated by Yakushi Kiriko, but he didn't have the mood to regain face.
With so many Blazers who were qualified to compete for the Seven Star Sword King, how could he be enemies with so many people alone? So he could only leave dejectedly.
After Tatara Yui left, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.
Moroboshi Yuudai retracted his spear Device, but his momentum didn't diminish.
He looked at Drake, saying, "You're Drake, right? I heard that you withdrew from the competition. It's a pity. I wanted to fight a strong person who can fight evenly with that ."
Drake understood that Moroboshi Yuudai wasn't provoking him. He simply wanted to challenge the strong.
So Drake replied, "If you still have that idea after the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, we can find time to spar."
Moroboshi Yuudai revealed a smile, saying, "Really? That's great!"
Kaga Koiji shouted loudly on the side, "I can't pretend I didn't hear that. Please let me see your strength too!"
Yakushi Kiriko said on the side, "I'm different from those two. As a doctor, I don't like fighting."
Just then, another group of people walked over, making the harmonious atmosphere turn cold.
Drake looked at Kurogane Ouma, saying, "What, do you want to join too? But you should also know that my attitude towards you and them is different. I might just kill you this time."
Drake was originally mocking Kurogane Ouma, but he didn't expect Kurogane Ouma to say, "That's what I want. I'll have no regrets even if I die while challenging you!"
Drake looked at Kurogane Ouma's serious expression, and couldn't help but be speechless. Because he could feel that Kurogane Ouma was completely serious.
For a man with this kind of determination, Drake would continue to treat him as an enemy, but he wouldn't underestimate him.
But for the other person, Drake didn't have the same feeling.
"If you look at me with that kind of look again, I don't mind killing you here."
Drake turned his head, revealing a disgusted expression, because the person next to him was looking at him with a fascinated and frenzied look.
It was the clown with the mask, the most mysterious Hiraga Reisen of Akatsuki Academy.
And his entanglement with Drake had started a long time ago.
At the beginning, it was when Drake and Stella were assisting the student council in investigating the Okutama Mountains. He had attacked the two with a rock golem.
Then, when Akatsuki Academy attacked Hagun Academy, he had also only sent out a golem, and then it was destroyed by Drake neatly.
"Another golem? Rats are rats, they can never see the light of day!"
Although this golem was very realistic, and even conveyed the operator's emotions, Drake still didn't sense the breath of life.
So even now, Drake didn't know the operator's true identity and appearance.
However, Drake's words, which were equivalent to insults, made Hiraga Reisen's emotions even stronger. Drake couldn't help but suspect that he had some serious illness.
He really wanted to tell him that the last person who was like this in front of Drake was called Yuto Ijika, and he had just died not long ago.
Hiraga Reisen said, "You really came back! Do you want to see me? Don't worry, we'll meet soon!"
Drake said with a sneer, "Really? Then I'm really looking forward to... how to burn the real you to ashes."
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