Anime, Girlfriend Shokuhou Misaki.

He knew about Ikki Kurogane after all.

He knew this guy couldn't possibly have a master of his own, and no one would teach him swordsmanship.

He may not even have a worthy opponent in all these years.

In other words, his current level of expertise is entirely the result of his hard work and meditation practice behind closed doors.

All of this demonstrates that Kurogane Ikki's swordsmanship far surpasses that of ordinary people.

If swordsmanship were a category in the knight ranking system of this world, Ikki Kurogane would probably be at least A-rank, and more likely above that.

"Cheng, you've made rapid progress too."

While Makoto Haramura was expressing his surprise, he was also expressing his surprise at Makoto Haramura.

He once again swung his sword to block Haramura Makoto's slash.

Kurogane Ikki sighed deeply.

He hadn't had much contact with other swordsmen; the only ones he'd seen were videos of swordsmen online, and the times he'd risked his life to challenge those sword dojos in order to hone his skills.

Therefore, he was not clear about the growth rate of a normal swordsman.

However, he felt that Makoto Haramura was growing very fast.

In that short period of time, Haramura Makoto absorbed the knowledge and swordsmanship he was taught like a sponge.

Let me put it this way.

If we were to use his age as a metaphor for how fast his swordsmanship improved.

At the very beginning, Haramura Makoto was at most at the level he was when he first touched a sword at the age of five. Now, Haramura Makoto has at least reached the level of swordsmanship he had when he was nine years old.

"Makoto, you are a born swordsman."

"Your flexible wrists and supple joints allow you to unleash your body's maximum power in any instant, in any posture."

He completely saw through Makoto Haramura and Ikki Kurogane, directly pointing out the reason why Makoto Haramura was able to improve so much.

"Although I don't have any specific moves, there is one I'd like you to see."

“I think you are very suitable for this kind of swordsmanship.”

Kurogane Ikki stated this, then jumped back a step.

"it is good!"

Without asking who Kurogane Ikki was, Haramura Makoto also took a step back, his gaze fixed intently on Kurogane Ikki's wrist.

At this moment, Kurogane Ikki also took a deep breath.

He stepped forward with his left foot, followed by his back foot, with his knees slightly bent, adopting a stance similar to a horse stance. He also placed the Yin Iron behind his waist and abdomen.

"—"

The feeling in the air suddenly changed, becoming like an impending storm, and Makoto Haramura felt a pang of unease.

"Alright!"

The words had barely left his lips.

"choke--"

A clear, ringing sound of a blade echoed throughout the space.

"—"

Makoto Haramura's pupils suddenly contracted.

His pupils changed instantly, emitting a faint red, eerie light.

At that moment, it seemed as if the world around him had slowed down a little, and Makoto Haramura was finally able to see clearly.

A flash of light from a blade had already reached him.

There was absolutely no time to dodge. Even if he accelerated his physical functions now, transmitting signals and using magic, it would be enough for the blade to slice through his throat.

"boom--"

Magic surged directly from his body, forcefully blocking the blade.

And now, the blade is less than a millimeter away from his neck.

"Feel sorry."

"It's nothing, but it's enough to show that your nerve reflexes are exceptional."

"Although I'm not very good at drawing my sword, it's not easy to react to an attack like this."

Kurogane Ikki looked at Haramura Makoto, his eyes glowing red.

To become an excellent swordsman, one must set aside mental fortitude and willpower for the moment.

Speaking only of physical health...

The most important things are the control over one's own body joints and the speed of nerve reflexes.

Generally speaking, these two things can be compensated for through training.

He's like that; he's been deliberately training in these two skills since he was a child.

But some people are born with both of these enviable talents.

Makoto Haramura is that kind of person.

"So it was a draw sword slash?"

Makoto Haramura was also slightly surprised.

"What, Makoto, you've studied the draw sword technique before?"

After dispersing the Yin Iron in his hand, Kurogane Ikki walked up to Haramura Makoto and asked curiously.

"Never mind, I'll just show you directly."

Makoto Haramura didn't say much, but simply gestured for Ikki Kurogane to move aside, and then pointed to a large tree in front of him.

As starlight coalesced, the Void Rift appeared directly on his drooping right hand.

"Bang bang bang bang-"

Flashes of light suddenly appeared around Makoto Haramura, followed by a sudden burst of gunfire.

Immediately afterwards, four small to medium-sized circular craters appeared on the tree that Haramura Makoto had pointed to.

"A gun with no visible firing point, I see. It's a gun technique that transforms a sword draw into a gun technique."

"No wonder you seem so familiar with me, Cheng Jun."

"No wonder the wrist dexterity is so high."

Everything requires practice before talent can be realized; otherwise, talent is just talent.

Having used grappling hooks for many years, and having honed his marksmanship, Makoto Haramura had long since developed a very strong physique.

"But that's fine too."

"If you want to learn the draw sword slash, it will be much easier."

On a bench not far away, Kurogane Shizuku and Stella were sitting.

That's right, these two irreconcilable enemies are sitting here now, looking at Makoto Haramura and Kazuki Kurogane not far away.

"Brother seems very happy."

Meanwhile, Kurogane Shizuku looked on with envy, her little mouth pouting high.

“This should be the time for Cheng and me to practice.”

"If only I could be the one in his place, then I could kiss and cuddle with my brother."

"..."

Two gazes that would never have met overlapped at this moment.

"So, Miss Stella, you have feelings for Haramura-kun..."

"No, don't say it..."

"Iron Jewel Shizuku asked suspiciously, and Stella cried out in shame and indignation."

But for some reason, Stella felt that the hostility in Kurogane Shizuku's eyes had suddenly lessened considerably.

Then, Kurogane Shizuku spoke.

"In that case, Your Highness Stella, let's cooperate."

……

Late at night, Stella, lying on the top bunk, couldn't fall asleep and was quietly thinking.

Actually, calling it late at night would be more accurate to say early morning, since it was already 5 a.m. the next morning, and in another hour it would be the time she and Haramura Makoto had agreed to do their morning exercise every day.

There is only one reason why she couldn't sleep all night.

That was what Kurogane Shizuku had said to her during the day, on that night.

"Your Highness Stella, let's cooperate."

In her daze, the annoying face of Kurogane Shizuku began to appear in her mind.

"Cooperation? What cooperation?"

The sudden, unannounced remark left Stella completely bewildered.

"Cooperation in offense and defense."

A hint of solemnity flashed in Kurogane Shizuku's emerald green eyes.

"What... does this mean...?"

Stella still didn't fully understand what Kurogane Shizuku meant.

However, Kurogane Shizuku was not annoyed at all; she simply raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

"First, I want you to admit something. Even if you disagree, you can't shout it out loud, or your brothers might notice."

It's probably because the two of them were always arguing and couldn't get along.

The sudden seriousness of Shizuku Kurogane caught Stella off guard, causing her to nod subconsciously.

"You have feelings for Makoto Haramura, don't you?"

Blood seemed to rush to her brain as if flowing backwards instantly. Shame squeezed her heart frantically, and words of rebuttal were about to burst from her lips.

But the promise she made with Shizuku Kurotetsu just now caused her body temperature, which had risen instantly, to drop slightly.

Stella maintained this state for quite some time, then nodded in a soft, almost inaudible hum, like the flapping of a mosquito's wings.

"Ok!"

"That makes things much easier."

Shizuku Kurotetsu clapped her hands, her smile like that of a little devil, as if she had completely taken control of Stella.

“Your Highness Stella, I have to tell you something. Your current situation is quite precarious.”

Not only was it bad, she was feeling extremely unhappy.

The feeling of having the initiative in the conversation completely controlled made her feel inferior to Shizuku Kurogane, but out of curiosity, she still cast a questioning glance and asked aloud.

Why am I in such a bad situation?

"Of course, it's about the competitors."

Kurogane Shizuku shook her slender legs, which were covered by black silk.

"Your Highness Stella, you must know just how rare it is to be a Bladebreaker who is rated as an A-rank knight during your student days."

"Throughout history, there has only been one time when the 'World Clock' and 'Yashahime' appeared at the same time, ten years ago."

A knight's level can be increased by completing tasks, such as improving their magic control, enhancing their combat skills, and developing more ways to use their sword-wielding abilities.

Generally speaking, C-rank knights have the potential to be upgraded to A-rank knights.

B-rank knights have a higher chance of being upgraded to A-rank knights. In fact, many A-rank knights in the alliance today are actually upgraded later.

"And now another A-rank knight has appeared, and he is an A-rank knight with no master and no background."