The sun had not yet risen when a figure sat up from the bed. After a brief wash, he changed into sportswear and went out.
On the road in the early morning, the figure wearing sportswear was jogging like this, following his usual training method, perfectly adjusting his breathing, and exercising every muscle on his body.
The man's name was Ikki Kurogane, and he was a second-year... no, a first-year student at Hagun Academy.
Last semester, for some reason, Ikki Kurogane had been targeted by the academy. The credits he obtained over the entire school year were simply not enough to support him reaching the second year of high school, so he naturally had to repeat the grade.
As for the ins and outs of this matter, Ikki Kurogane knew it clearly.
Ever since he became a Blazer, because his innate magic power value was too low, he had been directly abandoned by the Kurogane Family. Hagun Academy, even because of the Kurogane Family's pressure, kept obstructing all of Ikki Kurogane's affairs within the academy, not allowing him to graduate.
Just because Ikki Kurogane was the lowest-ranked F-Rank Knight, if outsiders knew that the prestigious Kurogane Family had produced a lowest-ranked Magic Knight, it would definitely affect the family's reputation.
Therefore, Ikki Kurogane absolutely could not graduate!
"Huff! Huff!"
Ikki's running speed became faster and faster, and even the sounds became hurried, completely lacking the composure of his usual runs; even the rhythm of his breathing was disrupted.
Because a few days ago, Hagun Academy changed its Director.
The newly arrived Director called him to the office alone and gave him full affirmation, and even a guarantee...
Shinguji Kurono: "As long as I am in this academy for one day, those scum will not be able to lay a hand on you!"
Such a promise was no different from a light in the dark night for Ikki Kurogane, who had been constantly oppressed, making him so excited he almost cried.
However, the Director had not finished speaking, and the next promise made Ikki Kurogane widen his eyes, looking at Shinguji Kurono in disbelief...
"The Seven Star Sword Dance Festival is about to be held, and the registration requirements for this year are different from the past."
"Kurogane, go and sign up to participate."
"If you can achieve a top-three result at the Seven Star Sword Dance Festival, even if you are just an F-Rank Knight, I will let you graduate. How about it?"
"I understand! Thank you very much for your help, Director Shingūji!"
Such a condition, Ikki Kurogane seemed to have no reason to refuse.
In the end, the Seven Star Sword Dance Festival was just a competition; in the past, because of his status as an F-Rank Knight, he didn't even have the qualifications to sign up.
But now, everything seemed to be moving in a good direction?
"So, I must become stronger..."
Despite his hurried breathing, Ikki's running speed did not slow down in the slightest; it even became faster than before.
Graduation!
For students at ordinary academies, this seemed to be a matter of course. As long as they were people who studied normally and took exams normally, most would be able to graduate from the academy.
However, in the original Hagun Academy, even these two words were an extravagant hope for Ikki Kurogane.
And now, having finally seen the opportunity to graduate, how could Ikki easily give up? Even knowing that this path would be very difficult, he had to keep going...
"As long as I keep working hard, I will definitely be able to defeat those talented people!"
This was what the man named Ikki Kurogane firmly believed. Therefore, ever since he came to this academy, even though he was targeted by everyone, he still persisted in training himself and never gave up.
"?! "
However, just as he was passing by a certain bamboo forest, Ikki suddenly felt puzzled.
"Here... when did a bamboo forest appear here?"
As someone who jogged around Hagun Academy every day, Ikki knew the academy's geography better than anyone. It could be said that within a few miles, there was no place he didn't know.
However, just yesterday morning, this was still a dense jungle, but today it had turned into a bamboo forest...
"Whose ability is this? How did they build a bamboo forest here overnight?"
Normal means certainly couldn't accomplish such a thing in one night, but don't forget, this world had the existence of Blazers!
With the help of people with supernatural abilities, it wasn't strange to accomplish such a thing in one night.
"But in the end, what is planted here has nothing to do with me..."
Ikki knew very well what his purpose was right now, and that was morning training!
The reason he got up at 5 a.m. to exercise was to ensure he could participate in future competitions in his best state, not to think about the layout of the academy's vegetation.
Therefore, regarding this suddenly appearing bamboo forest, Ikki was only surprised and did not show much interest.
The boy just took two extra looks, then turned around and continued along his usual morning training route, with no intention of stopping at all.
However, the moment the boy turned around, his expression changed.
The bamboo forest beside him swayed slightly, and a breeze blew the scent of bamboo to the boy's side, also letting the boy feel what was contained within that wind...
Sword Intent!
Is there someone practicing swordsmanship in the bamboo forest?
If it were just bamboo, Ikki Kurogane's interest would indeed not be great, but if it came to Sword Intent, then he was wide awake!
Although Ikki's magic power was not high, his physical strength and sword skills had undergone training unimaginable to ordinary people and were definitely far superior to ordinary people, but he had never had the opportunity to show them.
Moreover, Ikki Kurogane had a technique called "Imitation Sword Technique," which could see through the opponent's moves in a very short time, thereby mastering the entire set of sword techniques, and even discarding all the flaws in the opponent's sword techniques to create a stronger set of sword techniques!
Just by watching, he could possess such special power; Ikki Kurogane... seemed not as simple as imagined?
"What kind of person would be practicing sword at this time?"
Although that Sword Intent had become very faint due to the distance, Ikki still felt something from that Sword Intent, making this teenager, only in his teens, break out in a cold sweat.
Cold, bone-chilling!
As if falling into an abyss, as if he would stop breathing the next second!
It was clearly such a terrifying Sword Intent, but Ikki seemed to feel a faint gentleness from these Sword Intents... Because it was really too subtle, Ikki almost thought he had misfelt it.
However, after confirming it again and again, he still firmed up his idea.
"The person practicing sword there is probably a good person who is cold on the outside but gentle and delicate on the inside, right?"
Ikki actually had a very good impression of such people.
So the boy changed the direction of his morning training and began to run following the position where that Sword Intent appeared, wanting to see the person who released the Sword Intent.
However, what the boy never expected was that as he gradually penetrated deeper into the bamboo forest, the cold air became heavier and heavier... even his body, which was often exercised, almost thought that his blood was about to freeze.
Undoubtedly, the person hiding here was a powerhouse!
Just by the Sword Intent, Ikki knew that that person...
He was absolutely the strongest person he had ever seen in his life!
Without exception!
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