'Could C-Rank magical power really bring about such a massive enhancement to physical abilities?'
'Impossible.'
And his sword was actually caught by his bare hand!
"It seems you noticed from the very beginning," said Ikki Kurogane.
Having steadied himself after being slammed into the arena floor, his expression was somewhat resigned.
Noah silently confirmed his guess and casually tossed Intetsu back toward the boy before him.
Ikki Kurogane caught his Device in one smooth motion, readied his stance once more and showed absolutely no intention of surrendering so easily.
"My magic power is technically graded as C-Rank," Noah explained calmly. "While my raw output may not reach monstrous, city-destroying levels, as long as I concentrate my magic defensively in one specific place, its structural strength cannot be broken by mere F-Rank physical attacks."
The League's evaluation methods were, in fact, not flawed.
Aside from massive anomalies like Ikki Kurogane, the League's assessment results could accurately gauge the combat abilities of 99% of Blazers.
However, Noah knew his C-Rank magical stamina wasn't abundant enough to maintain such absolute, concentrated physical defenses indefinitely until he defeated his opponent.
Sanctioned duels between Mage-Knights did not permit the use of hidden weapons or similar mundane tools—after all, they were knights.
Moreover, for Blazers, such petty tricks held little significance against magic.
Even in simulated battles like this, only manifested Devices were permitted for use.
"Thanks to" such troublesome, rigid regulations, he was forced to damage the expensive arena every single time he fought.
"Smelt Iron."
After a brief incantation, Noah manipulated the iron sand beneath the cracked floor, forging a jet-black longsword with a highly compressed torrent of scorching flames.
Up in the stands, Stella suddenly heard Kurono Shinguuji click her tongue in annoyance.
The Chairwoman muttered softly, "Arena repair costs require budget funding too. That kid... Could it be he deliberately wrecked the arena floor earlier just so he could gather the materials to use that blacksmithing move?"
'Ah, haha... ha.'
'That... was entirely possible.'
Seeing the boy effortlessly draw a real sword out of thin air, Ikki Kurogane remarked.
"So you have drawn a sword?"
A Blazer's Noble Arts could achieve all sorts of miraculous feats, and conjuring a physical sword from magic was nothing extraordinary to a layman.
Up until now, Ikki Kurogane had absolutely no idea what Noah's Noble Arts truly were—and neither did the audience.
Thus, they couldn't possibly comprehend just how monstrous the level of molecular magical control required for Smelt Iron actually was.
In Ikki Kurogane's eyes, drawing a sword now simply meant that his opponent hadn't been fighting seriously with their full strength before.
Yet, far from feeling tense or discouraged, the Worst One grew even more excited.
"Unfortunately," Noah denied, gripping the black iron sword, "over the past two years, due to a certain princess's influence, I have been forced to use a sword more often. But I am not really a swordsman."
According to Orario's occupational definitions, the tactical approach he was now employing should formally be called a Magic Swordsman.
This was a relatively uncommon profession in the Dungeon.
On the surface, it could be somewhat difficult to distinguish from a Magic Warrior.
In reality, there was one simple way to differentiate the two: magic.
A Magic Warrior was a physical vanguard capable of using minor magic, serving as a frontline fighter.
Their primary means of offense remained physical attacks, and the power of their spells was relatively weak.
A Magic Swordsman, on the other hand, was a high-level mage capable of close combat—a highly versatile role that could serve as a frontliner, midliner, or rearguard, all while wielding devastating magical abilities.
"It is a bit confusing, but... if I can cross swords with someone as strong as you, I can't help feeling a bit happy," Ikki Kurogane said.
The gloom from his earlier takedown was completely swept away, his martial interest entirely piqued.
Yet, despite such heightened fighting spirit, Noah noticed that his opponent's stance had subtly shifted to a defensive one.
A flawless stance capable of swiftly responding to attacks from any frontal angle.
The footwork was similarly focused on retreating and seamlessly deflecting force.
Noah advanced slowly.
He had deliberately left an obvious opening in his guard, yet Ikki Kurogane showed no reaction.
Given his previous lightning-fast reaction speed, he shouldn't have missed such an opportunity.
'He's not attacking?'
In other words... this defensive posture was bait to lure him into striking first.
Noah walked up to Ikki Kurogane as casually as taking a stroll through the park.
Then, a lightning-fast thrust of his black sword come!
Ikki Kurogane smoothly raised his blade to parry, meeting each move with a calculated counter.
Yet every heavy slash transmitted through the black iron sword made his arms tremble violently.
Eyes, neck, heart, wrists—each of Noah's strikes aimed ruthlessly for a vital point.
Clang!
Clang!
The rapid clashing of blades stimulated everyone's senses in the arena.
Noah's sword swings grew faster and faster, while Ikki Kurogane desperately blocking every incoming attack.
This completely surprised the cowardly onlookers in the stands.
Although they had assumed the exchange student was skilled, they hadn't expected his swordsmanship to reach such an overwhelming level.
In reality, Ikki Kurogane was far from as composed as he appeared.
Most people didn't know that he possessed a unique cognitive ability called Blade Steal, allowing him to temporarily observe and learn others' sword techniques, and even enhance them to surpass the original user.
If this weren't the modern era of magical Blazers, he might have become renowned worldwide, perhaps even hailed as a Sword Saint.
Unfortunately, whether swordsmanship or martial arts, physical techniques were considered secondary skills for Blazers.
Yet now, to his mounting horror, he couldn't even learn Noah's sword techniques.
"How can this be...?" Ikki gritted his teeth.
This was the first time he had ever encountered such a bizarre situation.
Even as their blades clashed dozens of times a second, he couldn't see the "face" of the swordsman behind the strikes.
Every time he tried to analyze and steal Noah's sword techniques, his rhythm was violently disrupted by the completely different, entirely contradictory style that immediately followed.
It felt as though he wasn't fighting a single person, but rather an entire army of veteran swordsmen subjecting him to an intense, relentless, and wildly unpredictable assault!
Up in the stands, the Chairwoman exclaimed in genuine astonishment.
"Kurogane is being completely suppressed in pure swordsmanship..."
Seeing her surprise, Stella puffed out her chest proudly. "Of course he is. Noah's swordsmanship is incredibly strong. Even my own royal skills were forged step-by-step through his rigorous daily training."
Down in the arena, Noah forced Ikki back ten feet with a single heavy sword strike.
"Hah— No wonder you said you weren't a swordsman. Now I understand." Ikki Kurogane spoke suddenly, panting as he retreated several meters.
"My personal sword art is Blade Steal. It works by actively absorbing my opponent's momentum, attack patterns, and even their thought processes to fully grasp their personality and habits."
"But I can't sense you through your sword at all! That is because you are just like me! Am I right? These wildly different sword techniques—they are all things you have taken from others!"
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was even beyond that.
Such a vast, contradictory array of masterful sword techniques—if they weren't acquired through decades of dedicated training, what kind of terrifying cognitive talent would that require?
Even stealing has its human limits.
Mastering the techniques of a hundred different schools—Ikki had always thought such a claim was merely a myth.
He couldn't achieve it through his Blade Steal, let alone through normal learning.
But now, his conviction wavered.
The techniques of a hundred schools.
His opponent wielded them all as effortlessly as breathing.
Was the world truly this vast? That a young Blazer from a small country could possess such exaggerated, impossible strength?
Was this what it truly meant to be a genius?
It was truly impressive.
But there was no time for jealousy.
If there was any spare time in this duel, it was better spent putting effort into something useful!
If his most skilled swordsmanship proved ineffective against this monster, there was only one thing left for him to do!
"You actually noticed that? Impressive," Noah said, genuinely surprised as he acknowledged Ikki Kurogane's deduction.
Imitating sword techniques.
Through their rapid exchanges in battle, Noah had also gathered more information about Ikki Kurogane, and naturally, his Orario instincts discovered this cognitive ability of his opponent.
That was precisely why he had deliberately chosen to fight with a sword.
It seemed the conditions for triggering Blade Steal were not met—despite Noah using dozens of different Orario sword techniques in rapid succession, his opponent had not successfully stolen any of them.
"I originally intended to save this move for my duel against the Crimson Princess," Ikki Kurogane said solemnly, lowering his stance.
"But from now on, I am going all out!"
'Going all out huh.'
Ikki Kurogane held his breath and tightened his grip on Intetsu, as if physically flipping a switch deep in his mind.
In an instant, both Noah and the spectators outside the arena sensed the abrupt, terrifying change in Ikki Kurogane.
It made them suddenly realize that the boy standing there was no longer an ordinary person—he felt more like a ferocious, cornered beast.
But the students had no idea what exactly had happened to him.
Except for Noah.
"ITTOU SHURA!"
Ikki Kurogane roared and an immense, visible torrent of blue magical power erupted from his body.
The blinding glow of magical energy enveloped his entire body—a physical phenomenon that normally only occurs when magical power is overwhelmingly strong.
Noah believed he himself could not naturally achieve a visual aura like what Ikki Kurogane had just displayed.
His magical power had reached a density where it was visible to the naked eye, overflowing outward like a geyser.
To accomplish this naturally, one needed at least a B-Rank or higher level of raw magical capacity.
Magical power is crucial for Mage-Knights.
With C-Rank magical power, tactical arrangements won't be overly constrained.
At B-Rank, there is a qualitative leap in magical capacity, allowing knights to use their power generously and even indulge in some degree of extravagance.
Finally, at A-Rank, magical power can be described as vast, almost inexhaustible.
Thus, A-Rank knights are always capable of unleashing earth-shattering ultimate moves.
Such as flooding entire cities, summoning meteors, or shattering time and space.
Or like Stella Vermillion's Noble Art, Katharterio Salamandra—even if Noah completely drained his stamina, he could never naturally unleash such massive, localized firepower.
"He is supposed to be an F-Rank! How is this possible?!" Stella spoke urgently, turning to the Chairwoman beside her.
Down in the arena, Ikki Kurogane's glowing figure abruptly vanished from his original position.
Yes, vanished.
Suddenly disappearing without a single trace from everyone's sight, leaving no visual clues to follow.
Noah was equally shocked, his pupils contracting sharply.
'So fast!'
Even though he had anticipated it, such explosive speed had completely surpassed the physical limits of what the naked eye could perceive.
A ferocious, blue shadow violently pierced through Noah's perimeter detection.
Noah hurriedly raised his black sword to block, bracing his other gauntleted arm against the flat of the blade to absorb the impact.
In the blink of an eye, the thick iron sword in front of him was cleanly shattered into pieces by a single devastating strike and a shallow wound was slashed across Noah's shoulder.
For the very first time since the mock battle began, the one injured was actually Noah, who had been completely dominating the fight until now.
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