Chapter 468: The Final Begins!
The long summer twilight blended with the deep darkness of night.
At this mysterious hour between day and night, countless spectators gathered both inside and outside the Bay Dome.
Despite so many people being packed together, an almost unbelievable silence hung over the entire venue.
Not a single person spoke.
Everyone was quietly waiting for that moment to arrive.
Then, amidst the silence, the stage suddenly lit up.
A familiar voice followed.
It was commentator Iida.
"Everyone, have you heard this argument before?"
"Children who are still growing are exploited by adults and forced to take up weapons for deadly battles."
"Some say such things are simply foolish."
"True strength does not come from the body, but from the heart."
"Raising a generation of strong and kind young people—that is what adults should truly be doing."
"Recently, this topic has been discussed repeatedly both here in the Far East and throughout the League."
"I'm sure many of you have heard the rumors."
"And I imagine quite a few people here agree with that view."
Iida's words stirred the audience's thoughts and memories.
The sudden appearance of Akatsuki Academy had brought several long-ignored questions back into public attention.
Was the Seven Star Sword Art Festival truly necessary?
What about the League's KOK tournament?
Both had become subjects of considerable controversy.
And the issue extended far beyond Japan.
Under the League's influence and because of the KOK tournament, similar competitions existed in nearly every member nation.
These events, where young people competed and fought against one another, were important ways for smaller nations to cultivate young Blazers.
But just as Iida had said—From another perspective, it really did look like adults exploiting children and forcing them to do things far beyond what should be expected at their age.
The Seven Star Sword Art Festival was dangerous.
Throughout its long history, more than a few student knights had lost their lives during matches.
And after witnessing Luke and Stella's semifinal, the audience had gained an especially vivid understanding of what a true life-or-death battle looked like.
If victory came from risking death and overpowering an opponent through force—Could that truly be called strength?
Iida did not know.
Neither did the audience.
At least emotionally, strength of heart seemed as though it should matter more.
"But!"
Iida's voice suddenly surged with passion once again.
"There are dreams in this world that cannot be realized without wielding power!"
"There is pride that cannot be proven without fighting!"
"And that is precisely why thirty-two outstanding student knights gathered here!"
"They wagered their dreams and pride, bringing us twenty-five incredible matches!"
"And tonight!"
"After fighting their way through every challenge and finally standing upon this highest stage, two knights will meet in one final clash!"
"Everyone—thank you for waiting!"
"I hereby declare…"
"The final of the 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival officially begins!!!"
...
While Iida delivered his speech to stir the crowd, Luke arrived outside the competitors' waiting room.
He had been about to enter and wait for the match to begin as usual when he unexpectedly noticed someone standing beside the door.
"Touka-senpai?"
Luke raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Were you waiting here specifically for me?"
"I thought you'd be supporting Ikki more."
Touka ignored his teasing.
Instead, she took a deep breath and looked at Luke with complete seriousness.
"I truly wish I were the person standing across from you on that stage right now."
"Ever since I lost to you during the selection matches, I've wanted another chance to fight you."
"Unfortunately…"
"I'm still far too weak."
"So now, all I can do is sit in the stands and watch you fight Kurogane-kun."
"Honestly, it's incredibly frustrating."
Touka's expression dimmed slightly.
"But no matter how frustrated I am, I also understand that the current me still hasn't earned the right to challenge you a second time."
For a brief moment, disappointment remained on her face.
Then she quickly pulled herself together.
With a smile, Touka continued.
"I couldn't keep up with you this time."
"But I won't give up."
"One day, I'll challenge you again."
Without waiting for Luke's answer, Touka left him with one final sentence and turned away.
"Good luck in the match."
Luke watched her departing figure with some emotion.
At this point, Touka's current strength admittedly could no longer spark much interest in him.
But her unwavering determination still earned his admiration.
After witnessing his battle against Stella, there were probably very few people who could still declare without hesitation that they intended to challenge him someday.
Luke shook his head and did not call her back.
Listening to the announcement echoing through the speakers, he stepped into the waiting room.
...
"And now, let us welcome our first finalist!"
Thunderous cheers erupted into the sky.
The entire venue, both inside and outside, instantly exploded with excitement.
The silence from moments earlier vanished without a trace.
At the same time, blue lights illuminated one side of the arena and converged on the blue entrance gate.
A figure slowly emerged beneath them.
"Truthfully, I've run out of adjectives for this competitor."
Iida deliberately sounded troubled, immediately drawing the crowd in.
"Powerful? Invincible?"
"I imagine everyone who watched the previous match feels exactly the same way I do!"
"His strength is simply unparalleled!"
"As though it were the most natural thing in the world, he climbed all the way to the summit of the Seven Stars!"
"Please welcome Hagun Academy first-year student—"
"Falling Star Sword Emperor, Luke Ashburn!!!"
"""SWORD EMPEROR! SWORD EMPEROR! SWORD EMPEROR!"""
Amid the roaring cheers, Luke stepped onto the stage.
Countless blue points of starlight once again surrounded him.
Unlike during the semifinal, however, it was now nighttime.
Against the dark sky, the starlight effects looked especially dazzling.
Luke, however, could barely resist making a sarcastic comment.
The operating committee had barely managed to rebuild the arena and venue in time.
Yet somehow, they had still found the effort to reinstall all these special-effect devices.
'They're strangely dedicated when it comes to things like this…'
Luke glanced at the equipment positioned around the arena.
It certainly did not look cheap.
He and Stella had already destroyed one complete set.
Luke wondered whether the committee would stop breathing from heartbreak if another set was destroyed tonight.
While entertaining such pointless thoughts, Luke walked toward the center of the stage.
Then the other protagonist of tonight's final made his entrance.
The red gate opened.
Kurogane Ikki stepped out beneath countless beams of light.
However, the lights shining upon him were not red.
They were a faint white.
Even the path of special effects rising around his feet consisted of white mist, creating the appearance of clouds beneath him.
…
…
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