Chapter 11: The Sulking Demon Sword
Under Kaiser's control, Ser-Veresta reverted to its activator state, the blade dissolving completely.
Feeling the weakness emanating from the sword, Kaiser sighed.
"You really went too far, Ser-Veresta."
He hadn't expected that merely complaining about his lack of Prana would prompt Ser-Veresta to sacrifice its own power for his sake.
This was… reckless.
Even though a personally bound Orga Lux like Ser-Veresta could merge into his body and regenerate from damage, the extent of the damage affected the recovery time.
A mere depletion of energy was one thing. But if someone else were to drain it completely, restoring it would become a difficult process.
Especially since the speed of recovery depended on Kaiser's own strength. The stronger he became, the more energy he possessed, the faster his weapon would heal. The weaker he was, the longer it would take.
At his current level, if Ser-Veresta suffered a severe depletion, it could take an indefinite amount of time to fully recover.
"Zing—"
At Kaiser's reprimand, the red Urm-Manadyte embedded in Ser-Veresta's activator pulsed weakly.
Kaiser immediately sensed the sword's will.
It… no, perhaps she—
She was displeased with his interference!
"You…"
Kaiser was momentarily at a loss for words.
Every Orga Lux had its own independent will.
And where there was a will, there was personality.
Some Orga Lux had rather agreeable temperaments. Others were outright malicious—more akin to dangerous entities than mere weapons.
Ser-Veresta fell into the better category.
She was unpredictable at times, occasionally stubborn, but she didn't interfere with humans excessively. Even if someone mildly offended her, unless she was truly provoked, she would usually ignore them.
Like during the compatibility test—when she detected that Kaiser's power was pitifully low, nowhere near the threshold required to wield her, with a compatibility rate below 10%.
And yet, she did nothing to reject him outright.
Unless someone tried to forcefully subdue her, disrespecting her will, Ser-Veresta typically remained indifferent.
Compared to some Orga Lux that actively tormented their wielders, her attitude was considered quite mild.
But at the same time—she was incredibly stubborn.
She didn't favor those who disrespected her, but once she acknowledged someone, she refused to be treated differently.
What she demanded wasn't reverence.
Not trust.
Not admiration.
She only wanted to be treated as a sword.
In her view, she was merely a weapon. A tool.
And the purpose of a weapon was to fight.
The purpose of a tool was to serve its master.
It was this perspective, this conviction, that led Ser-Veresta to immediately sacrifice herself the moment she sensed Kaiser's desire to grow stronger.
If it had been any other wielder, she wouldn't have gone so far.
They were just temporary owners—passing figures in her existence.
As a weapon, she could always be given to someone else.
But Kaiser was different.
Ser-Veresta knew she had permanently merged with this person.
She was no longer just a borrowed weapon.
She belonged solely to Kaiser.
From now on, she would only fight for him.
If Kaiser died, then—
As his bound weapon, she and all his other exclusive arms would be destroyed alongside him.
They would grow together.
Fight together.
Face every enemy together.
And ultimately—die together.
So why hesitate?
If sacrificing herself could be of use, then what was there to fear?
This was the will Kaiser felt from her.
But—
"If I want to become stronger, I can train. I can find other ways. There's no need for anyone to sacrifice themselves."
Kaiser had his own principles. His own beliefs.
"You're my first exclusive weapon. You're going to fight by my side for a long time—how could I let you disappear over something like this?"
Ser-Veresta was powerful. Her abilities were unique. She would be indispensable in battle.
Losing her just for a temporary increase in strength?
Ridiculous.
"From now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to do something like this again. Understood?"
Kaiser didn't want to force control over Ser-Veresta.
He wanted to fight alongside her.
That was why he spoke so seriously.
"—"
The red Urm-Manadyte dimmed completely.
She was… sulking.
Kaiser couldn't help but chuckle.
But he knew—she had listened. She wouldn't do it again.
Storing Ser-Veresta's activator away, Kaiser suddenly fell into thought.
"If I can't absorb Ser-Veresta's power… what about other sources?"
Yes.
Even if he wasn't willing to take her energy, there were other options.
"Ser-Veresta could manipulate the Mana within its Urm-Manadyte to influence my Genestella abilities. That means… other Urm-Manadytes should be able to do the same, right?"
"Even if I can't get my hands on another Orga Lux or Urm-Manadyte right now—there are still Lux weapons and Manadytes."
"And those… should work too, shouldn't they?"
Unlike Orga Lux, Lux weapons didn't require binding authority.
As long as he touched one, he could fully control it.
So theoretically—he could extract its stored Mana.
If he could extract the Mana from a Manadyte, then—
Wouldn't he be able to replicate the strengthening effect?
Even if he didn't know how to directly modify his Genestella abilities, Ser-Veresta could help guide the process.
Absorbing her energy was out of the question.
But using external Manadytes, with her assistance?
No problem.
"Let's test it."
Kaiser could barely sit still. He immediately pulled out one of the Lux weapons he had previously used.
"Ser-Veresta, work with me."
One hand gripped the Lux's activator.
The other held Ser-Veresta's activator.
Focusing his will, he reached into the Lux's Manadyte core, drawing out its stored energy.
"Zing!"
Ser-Veresta, still in a sulking mood, hesitated for a moment—then complied.
Her Urm-Manadyte glowed red, resonating with the extracted Mana, shaping it—
And guiding it directly into Kaiser's body.
Moments later—
The Lux's Manadyte shattered.
Kaiser grinned.
His physical abilities and Prana reserves had increased again.
The boost wasn't nearly as large as what Ser-Veresta had given him earlier.
But that was just from a single ordinary Manadyte.
Urm-Manadytes were rare.
But regular Manadytes?
They were everywhere.
"Looks like I need to find a way to get my hands on a lot of Manadytes."
But how?
A few wouldn't be a problem. But a large quantity—that would definitely attract attention.
Even if the academy permitted it, they would demand an explanation.
And Kaiser wasn't about to reveal his secret.
He pondered for a long moment.
Then—
"No choice…"
He would need help.
Seidoukan Academy, Student Council Office
"You need a large amount of Manadytes?"
Seated behind her desk, Claudia raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Yes."
Kaiser stood before her, his expression firm.
Claudia, unsurprisingly, looked intrigued.
Chapter 12: A Mountain of Manadytes
For someone like Claudia, obtaining a large number of Manadytes was hardly a challenge.
What intrigued her, however, was why Kaiser suddenly needed so many.
Logically speaking, he had just acquired Ser-Veresta—an immensely powerful Orga Lux.
He wasn't a researcher, had no reason to craft other Lux weapons, and certainly wasn't working on any technological experiments.
So why the sudden demand for such a vast supply of Manadytes?
"I hope you don't mind me asking—what exactly do you need them for?"
Claudia didn't reject him outright; she merely asked the question.
And to Kaiser, that meant there was room to negotiate.
Faced with her inquiry, he didn't bother to lie.
"It's for my training."
Strictly speaking, that wasn't false.
After all, he was genuinely using them to enhance his combat potential. Calling it "training" wasn't exactly a lie, was it?
"Training…?"
Claudia blinked curiously.
"That's right," Kaiser nodded. "If everything goes well, I should see rapid improvements over the next few weeks. That's why I came to you for help, President."
"I see."
Claudia accepted his explanation without pressing further.
She didn't ask how the Manadytes factored into his training.
Nor did she question why he needed so many.
After all, personal training methods were considered private information in Asterisk.
In a school where every student was a potential rival in battle, asking about someone's training regimen was hardly appropriate—if not outright taboo.
So Claudia didn't pry.
"If this is for your training, then I have no reason to refuse."
With that, she agreed without hesitation.
"Is this really alright?" Kaiser hesitated. "Even if they're just Manadytes, collecting them in bulk must still be quite expensive, right?"
Even the cheapest ore, when acquired in large quantities, could become costly.
Seidoukan Academy, backed by Galaxy, had no shortage of Manadytes.
But giving such a large sum to a single student?
That was no trivial expense.
And while Claudia could afford to make it happen—
That didn't change the fact that he was essentially asking her to spend money on his behalf.
If there were any other way, Kaiser would have preferred not to ask for her help in something like this.
Claudia, however, was unfazed.
"There's no need to worry," she replied. "The academy offers various benefits to outstanding students. If your ranking is high enough, you can even receive special privileges. Providing resources for promising talents is nothing unusual."
She clearly intended to request the Manadytes under this justification.
And in her mind—
There was no reason for the academy to reject it.
"It's only natural, isn't it?" Claudia suddenly asked. "You are planning to participate in the Festa, correct?"
"Of course."
Kaiser was momentarily surprised, but he saw no reason to hide it. He nodded.
"In that case, the academy has every reason to support you," Claudia said, unfazed. "I'm sure you're aware—Seidoukan Academy's performance in the Festa hasn't been ideal in recent years."
Kaiser nodded again.
He didn't remember every detail of the original story, but after browsing the internet for the past few days, he had picked up on plenty of things.
Seidoukan Academy had been struggling in the Festa for multiple seasons.
The Festa—Asterisk's world-famous combat spectacle—was a student battle tournament, held every three years and divided into three distinct events:
Phoenix Festa (Year 1, Summer): A two-person team competition.
Gryps Festa (Year 2, Autumn): A five-person team competition.
Lindwyrm Festa (Year 3, Winter): A solo competition.
Each Festa awarded points to its top-performing students.
At the end of the third year, the scores were tallied, determining the overall rankings of the six academies.
And for several seasons, Seidoukan Academy had ranked near the bottom.
"In the last season, our academy placed fifth overall," Claudia explained. "And since Queenvale Academy rarely prioritizes Festa rankings in its strategy, that effectively means… we placed last."
She spoke seriously—something rare for her.
"Because of this, Seidoukan Academy is focusing heavily on student development this year. If they find out that supplying you with Manadytes will significantly improve your growth, then the upper management will approve it without hesitation."
And right now—Kaiser was worth investing in.
As the wielder of Ser-Veresta—a weapon of immense power—he had already caught the attention of the academy's executives.
Especially considering his unprecedented compatibility score.
A never-before-seen phenomenon.
If Claudia put in the request, the academy wouldn't hesitate to back him.
"There's no need to feel guilty," Claudia assured him. "If you perform well in the Festa, that alone will be enough to repay the academy."
She tilted her head slightly, offering a gentle smile.
"And you don't need to feel like you're troubling me, either. I'm just submitting a simple request—it's hardly any effort at all."
Hearing that, Kaiser could only nod.
But in his mind—
He was already taking note of something.
"This, and my Orga Lux application… both were handled by her."
"She's helped me twice now."
Because of his past experiences, Kaiser had learned to be self-reliant.
For years, he had struggled on his own, pushing through hardship after hardship.
And because of that—
He resented those who tried to bring him down when he was at his lowest.
But he also deeply valued those who extended a helping hand.
Claudia might see these things as minor favors.
But to him—
These weren't things he could have easily accomplished alone.
So this favor—he would remember it.
At that moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Subtly, he shifted his gaze toward Claudia's waist.
A new plan was forming.
A Few Hours Later…
True to expectations, Seidoukan Academy had no shortage of Manadytes.
Kaiser had only spoken to Claudia about it in the morning—
By afternoon, they had already been delivered.
"This is one of the academy's underground storage facilities," Claudia had informed him via message.
"The Manadytes you requested have been transferred there."
Along with her message, she had attached a location marker.
The meaning was obvious.
Unable to suppress his excitement, Kaiser endured the wait until the final class of the day.
Then—
The moment the bell rang, he immediately left the classroom.
He wasted no time heading straight for the designated location.
And soon—
He arrived at the underground storage vault.
At the entrance, he placed his hand on the scanner.
The lock released.
Clearly, Claudia had taken care of everything in advance.
Feeling a hint of gratitude, Kaiser stepped inside—
And was instantly greeted by a mountain of glowing green ore.
A vast pile of Manadytes, stacked like a small hill.
"...Perfect."
Kaiser couldn't help but smile.
He couldn't help it.
Because these—
These were the keys to his rapid growth.
And so—
Without another word, he stepped forward, gripping Ser-Veresta's activator tightly.
With gleaming eyes, he strode toward the mountain of Manadytes—
And began.
Chapter 13: The Named Charts
In the dimly lit underground storage vault, green streams of light—pure Mana extracted from Manadytes—flowed around the room in a steady current.
Kaiser stood at the center, holding Ser-Veresta's activator.
His eyes remained shut as he bathed in the crimson glow emitted from the sword's Urm-Manadyte core, his presence taking on an almost otherworldly intensity.
The green Mana streams drifted around him, drawn in by the red radiance, slowly flowing into his body.
And as the energy entered his system—
He could feel it.
His strength rising.
His Prana reserves expanding.
Power surged through his body, radiating an aura far greater than what he had possessed before.
And surrounding him—
There were still countless Manadytes left.
This growth process could continue indefinitely.
As long as nothing went wrong…
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Kaiser frowned.
His eyes snapped open.
"Stop for now, Ser-Veresta."
At his command, the red glow from Ser-Veresta's Urm-Manadyte dimmed.
Instantly—
The green streams of Mana vanished, dispersing into the air like mist.
Kaiser raised his hand, flexing his fingers experimentally.
"The power increase is too fast… If I keep going like this, I'll lose control over my body and Prana."
That was the issue.
His rapid ascent in strength had begun to outpace his ability to manage it.
If he continued absorbing Mana recklessly, he wouldn't be able to properly control his body—or his Prana.
"I need to adjust first, then continue later."
Realizing this, Kaiser made the rational decision—
He stopped chasing power blindly.
"Zing!"
The activator of Ser-Veresta flared to life.
A pure white blade took form, extending from its hilt.
Just like before, Kaiser channeled Prana into the weapon—
And immediately—
Black energy markings rose from the pristine blade.
These dark patterns coiled around the sword, spiraling into the red Urm-Manadyte core.
The moment they merged—
The transformation completed.
The once-white blade turned into a deep, jet-black sword of raw destruction.
Feeling the energy coursing through the weapon, Kaiser smirked.
"Right now… I can fully sustain Ser-Veresta at maximum output for dozens of seconds."
Previously, he could only maintain this power for a few attacks.
Now—
He had extended that limit several times over.
A significant improvement.
"Still, dozens of seconds is too short. There's no need to keep it at full power the whole time."
Thinking this through, Kaiser gradually reduced the Prana output.
Instantly—
The pitch-black blade began to fade.
Its darkness lightened—shifting to a deep purple hue.
Only then did the change stop.
"This… is Ser-Veresta's normal output, isn't it?"
Kaiser muttered to himself, observing the blade's new appearance.
In the original story, when the protagonist first obtained Ser-Veresta, this was its standard state.
The difference?
The protagonist couldn't control the sword's size, meaning he was forced to wield it as a massive greatsword.
Kaiser, however, had absolute mastery over its form.
Even with the same power output, he wielded a sleek, manageable longsword instead of a hulking blade.
"Even at this level, Ser-Veresta's power isn't something just anyone can handle."
It was a weapon that could burn through anything.
At full power, there were practically no defenses that could withstand a single swing.
Even in this normal state—
Regular Lux weapons would shatter instantly upon contact.
Only other Orga Lux weapons could endure a direct hit.
"This should be enough."
Satisfied, Kaiser nodded.
"At this level, I can sustain Ser-Veresta for over an hour."
That was more than enough for real combat scenarios.
And if he truly needed to—he could push it to maximum output for a short burst of devastating power.
"With my current abilities… I should be strong enough to enter the Named Charts now, right?"
The Named Charts—Seidoukan Academy's Ranking System
In Asterisk, every academy had its own ranking system.
The details varied between schools, but all of them had a structured combat-based hierarchy.
At Seidoukan Academy, this ranking system was known as the Named Charts.
It consisted of 72 slots, occupied by the top 72 strongest students in the academy.
And at the very top—
The first 12 ranks were recorded on the first page of the Named Charts.
These students were known as the Page One.
How to Rank Up?
Simple.
Duel someone with a rank—win—and take their spot.
In other words, the only way to enter the Named Charts was through combat.
Previously—
Kaiser wasn't even close to the rankings.
There were hundreds of students in Seidoukan's High School Division alone.
Including the Middle and University Divisions, that number skyrocketed.
Back then, Kaiser was merely "mid-tier" among them.
Not even in the top 200, let alone the top 72.
But now—
If he only considered raw stats—
He was strong enough.
He could make it into the Named Charts.
And if he factored in Ser-Veresta's power—
Even Page One students weren't out of reach anymore.
Kaiser was tempted.
He wanted to test his current strength.
"Come to think of it… The next Official Ranking Battle is coming up, isn't it?"
Asterisk's duel system allowed students to freely challenge each other.
However—
Under normal circumstances, duels required both parties to agree.
This meant that students in the Named Charts—especially those with high ranks—rarely accepted challenges.
After all, if they lost, they would lose their rank.
And in Seidoukan Academy, having a rank meant having privileges.
The Page One students, in particular, enjoyed massive benefits—
Such as the ability to instantly request an Orga Lux.
Unlike normal students, who had to go through lengthy application reviews, Page One members had priority access to Seidoukan's most powerful weapons.
So naturally—
Ranked students were very protective of their positions.
However—
To prevent students from hoarding their rankings and avoiding battles indefinitely—
The academy enforced a mandatory monthly tournament.
The Official Ranking Battle.
This event forced lower-ranked students to defend their spots from challengers—
And they could not refuse.
This was what Kaiser had referred to.
"Hmm…"
He raised his hand, summoning a holographic display in midair.
With a few taps, he pulled up the Official Ranking Battle schedule.
"Three days from now, huh?"
And the registration period would open tomorrow.
"This is perfect."
Three days was plenty of time to adjust to his new strength.
He would be fully prepared before stepping into the arena.
"And as for my first target…"
Kaiser opened the Named Charts, scanning through the rankings.
The rules allowed him to challenge any student one rank tier above him.
Since he was currently unranked, he could only challenge students outside of Page One—
But that was fine.
"Let's go all out, then."
Kaiser's eyes locked onto the first name listed on the second page of the Named Charts.
Without hesitation—
He reached forward—
And tapped the challenge button.
Chapter 14: The Official Ranking Battle
Seidoukan Academy housed a massive multi-purpose arena—
A sprawling coliseum, built for high-stakes combat.
At its very center was the largest battle stage—a grand, expansive platform, surrounded by luxurious spectator seating, its construction an undeniable display of wealth and prestige.
Encircling the battlefield was a high-tech defensive barrier—
A dome of energy designed to withstand even the fiercest attacks.
Once activated, the barrier completely enclosed the stage, ensuring that even the most explosive battles posed zero risk to spectators.
The sheer scale and energy cost of maintaining such a system meant that only three battle stages in the entire arena were outfitted with this defense.
Most of the time, these stages remained off-limits.
But today—
The central arena was fully open.
A Gathering of Duelists and Spectators
Students, dressed in Seidoukan uniforms, streamed into the venue—
Their excitement palpable, their conversations lively.
One by one, they filled the stands, packing the entire spectator area to capacity.
Their sole reason for being here was obvious.
They had come to watch.
Today marked the second Official Ranking Battle of the year.
For many, this was a rare chance to witness the strongest fighters in Seidoukan—
Including the Page One, the academy's elite top twelve—in live combat.
Even beyond the academy, this event drew significant attention.
High-ranking academy officials, external VIPs, and even rival school representatives often attended.
And among them—
The most relentless were the media.
As a Duel City, Asterisk was home to countless journalists and content creators—
All eager to report on rising stars who might become future Festa champions.
With so much coverage, ranking battles across all six academies were always a packed spectacle.
Pre-Battle Discussions
Seated throughout the arena, students eagerly discussed the matchups.
"The second ranking battle of the year is finally here!"
"I wonder which duel will be the most exciting?"
"Isn't it obvious? The final match of the day!"
"The rank one battle?"
"Yeah! The current #1 ranked student is special. Even the other academies were shocked when she took the top spot last month."
"Her challenger is the #10 ranked fighter—Kasumi, the Phantom Witch, right?"
"A duel between the only two middle school students in the Page One… and both of them girls?"
"…Why does that sound even more exciting?"
"Hey, don't phrase it like that! You sound suspicious!"
Laughter and conversations like these echoed across the stands, filling the entire coliseum with a restless energy.
A Lone Rose Among the Crowd
In an exclusive VIP section, a young girl sat in solitude.
She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, likely a high school student.
Her sharp features, piercing blue-green eyes, and flawless pale skin gave her an aura of refined elegance.
But what stood out the most—
Was her waist-length rose-colored hair.
A vivid, natural shade—
The kind rarely seen before the Genestella era.
Now, however, such striking colors were commonplace, especially among Genestella.
Yet—
Even among them, this girl stood out.
She exuded a presence so intimidating, so cold, that no one dared to sit beside her.
That is—
Until—
"Oh my? I didn't expect to see you here, Julis."
A lighthearted voice broke the silence.
Instantly, the girl's icy aura shattered.
"…Claudia."
Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld—Seidoukan's fifth-ranked fighter—turned to face the newcomer.
Her expression soured.
As if she had just run into someone she would rather avoid.
And standing before her—
Was a golden-haired beauty, exuding a mature, seductive charm that rivaled Julis's own refined elegance.
Claudia Enfield.
Two Queens, One Conversation
"Surprised to see you here, Julis," Claudia greeted with a friendly familiarity. "I don't recall you receiving a challenge today."
"You didn't either," Julis shot back, narrowing her eyes. "I doubt the Commander of a Thousand Visions would get challenged so easily."
Then, with mild curiosity, she added—
"Or… are you finally planning to challenge for rank one?"
"Rank one…?"
Claudia didn't answer.
Instead, she suddenly smiled knowingly.
"Ohh… I see. You're here because of Kirin, aren't you?"
Julis clicked her tongue, visibly annoyed.
"…You're still as sharp as ever."
She crossed her arms, sighing.
"What choice do I have? She entered Seidoukan only a month ago, took down the former rank one in her very first ranking battle, and now she's at the top of the Named Charts."
"Everyone's wondering if she can hold onto her position this time."
"Or if she was just lucky last time," Claudia added, taking a seat beside Julis. "Especially those outside the academy—many still refuse to believe that a 13-year-old could take the top rank."
"Can you blame them?" Julis scoffed. "Even with footage of her duels circulating online, people still think it's impossible for a kid her age to be that strong."
"Hmm… does that include you?"
Julis's expression hardened.
Instead of answering, she redirected the question.
"And you? Don't tell me Seidoukan's ever-busy Student Council President actually came here just to watch the rank one battle."
"Hmm~"
Claudia tilted her head, offering a mysterious smile.
Her response?
Neither a confirmation nor a denial.
"Wait…"
Julis suddenly frowned.
"You're not here for Kirin's match?"
"Not exactly," Claudia admitted, her smile deepening.
Julis narrowed her eyes.
"If that's not your priority, then…"
Her curiosity was piqued.
"Who are you watching?"
Claudia chuckled, but said nothing.
"…Hmph."
Julis huffed and turned away.
But in her mind—
She had already made up her mind.
"I'll see for myself who's worth Claudia's attention."
Arena Announcements
Suddenly—
A mechanical voice rang throughout the coliseum.
"The Official Ranking Battle is about to begin. All spectators, please remain in your seats."
"Will the competitors for the first match please enter the stage."
From the opposing entrances, two figures stepped onto the battlefield.
And in response—
A deafening roar erupted from the audience.
The ranking battle had begun.
Meanwhile, in the Contestant Waiting Area…
Kaiser sat in a quiet corner, waiting.
Around him, other competitors prepared for their duels.
Yet, he remained still.
Silent.
Eyes closed.
Until—
"Will the competitors for the next match please enter the stage."
At that moment—
A soft glow flickered on the badge pinned to his chest.
Kaiser opened his eyes.
A sharp gleam flashed in them.
"…My turn?"
He muttered to himself.
There was no nervousness.
No fear.
Instead—
Excitement.
Kaiser wasn't just ready.
He was eager.
Chapter 15: The First Duel Opponent
At this moment, the arena's defensive barrier had been fully activated—
Leaving only two openings leading into the battle stage.
From the contestant waiting area, Kaiser stepped forward, walking down the designated passage.
By now, the ranking battles had been underway for quite some time.
Several duels had already taken place, and the audience was fully immersed in the intense atmosphere, their discussions lively and animated.
And as Kaiser and his opponent entered the stage—
The crowd erupted into cheers.
But if one paid close attention—
They would notice that this particular match was drawing even greater excitement than the previous ones.
The Audience's Reactions
"Arkadi Fankenn is entering the stage!"
"The strongest fighter below Page One!"
"Finally! A real heavyweight!"
The spectators were buzzing with anticipation.
Rank 13.
The highest rank beneath Page One.
The first name recorded on the second page of the Named Charts.
Only one step away from the absolute top twelve.
Among all the previous duels, no one from Page One had entered the battlefield yet.
And in this ranking battle, there were only two fights involving a Page One member—
A Rank 12 student being challenged by another ranked duelist.
A Rank 10 Page One member challenging Rank 1—a fight between Page One students.
Aside from these two, the most significant duel of the event was this one.
A challenge against Rank 13, the strongest below Page One.
So naturally—
The audience was thrilled.
However…
"Wait a minute… his opponent seems like a complete nobody?"
"Let me check… huh? He's not even ranked?"
"You're kidding. Some random unranked student is challenging Rank 13?!"
"Well, that's disappointing. This fight is already over."
Many spectators checked Kaiser's name in the academy's database—
Only to find nothing.
A complete unknown.
Someone outside the Named Charts.
A third-tier challenger going directly against the strongest second-tier fighter?
Ridiculous.
Hopeless.
Or at least—
That's what they thought.
Until—
"Wait, hold on!"
"This guy is an Orga Lux wielder!"
The Shock of Ser-Veresta
An Orga Lux wielder.
The moment those words were spoken—
The entire arena fell into a stunned silence.
And then—
Spectators rushed to check the new information.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"He's the eighth Orga Lux wielder in Seidoukan?!"
"Ser-Veresta?"
"I've heard of that weapon! Isn't it legendary?"
"Of course it's famous! It's one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords!"
"Wait… he's the wielder of a Four-Colored Magic Sword?!"
"Now that's a different story!"
Half in disbelief, half in excitement—
The entire audience's energy shifted.
An Orga Lux user wasn't just any duelist.
Prior to Kaiser, Seidoukan Academy had only seven known Orga Lux wielders—
Four of whom were Page One students.
In other words—
More than half of Seidoukan's Orga Lux wielders were among the top twelve.
Which meant—
Orga Lux wielders were never weak.
And now, someone had appeared with Ser-Veresta, a weapon with an infamous reputation.
A sword rumored to burn through anything.
A sword that could turn the battlefield into a furnace.
This changed everything.
Perhaps…
This was the rise of another Page One fighter.
The Competitors' Reactions
The shift in atmosphere didn't just affect the audience.
Among the ranked students in the stands, many gazes turned serious.
Even Julis, sitting in the VIP seats, narrowed her eyes.
Beside her—
Claudia remained calm—but her smile widened.
"Finally, it's his turn."
Julis turned sharply toward her.
"He's the one you were watching?"
Claudia didn't deny it.
"I personally handled his Orga Lux request," she admitted, still smiling.
"I'm very interested to see just how far he can take Ser-Veresta."
Hearing this, Julis turned her gaze back to the battlefield, her expression more serious than before.
Ser-Veresta.
Even she had heard the rumors about the Four-Colored Magic Swords.
These weapons were notoriously difficult to control.
Each had been born from the same laboratory—yet their temperaments were wildly unpredictable.
And among them—
Ser-Veresta was one of the most infamous.
A blade that could burn through all things.
A blade that, once planted into the ground, could turn the entire battlefield into a furnace.
Such a weapon—
In the hands of an unknown fighter.
This was worth watching.
And it seemed—
Many in the audience felt the same.
The cheering grew even louder.
The Duelists Enter the Stage
Finally—
Both Kaiser and Arkadi Fankenn arrived at the center of the stage, facing each other.
Kaiser took a moment to observe his opponent.
Arkadi Fankenn.
A second-year university student.
Twenty years old.
Current Rank 13 in Seidoukan Academy.
Two years ago, during his high school days, he had been a Page One fighter—Rank 11 at the time.
He had participated in the Phoenix Festa, alongside a then-Rank 8 duelist.
The two had reached the top sixteen before being eliminated.
Since then, he had dropped to Rank 13, falling just outside Page One.
Still—
His past status as a former Page One fighter meant he was no pushover.
"A fitting opponent for my first ranked duel."
Kaiser smirked.
Meanwhile—
Arkadi stood with cautious confidence.
As soon as he had received Kaiser's challenge, he had immediately investigated his opponent.
Unlike the audience, he had known from the start—
Kaiser was an Orga Lux wielder.
Even so—
"Challenging Rank 13 the moment you obtain an Orga Lux?"
Arkadi shook his head.
"You're too impatient, kid."
His voice carried a hint of mockery, but also genuine concern.
"Even among Orga Lux wielders, not everyone reaches Page One."
That was true.
Out of Seidoukan's seven known Orga Lux users, three had failed to enter Page One.
Owning an Orga Lux wasn't enough.
If the wielder couldn't fully utilize it, they would still be mediocre.
And in Arkadi's eyes—
Kaiser had only just obtained Ser-Veresta.
No matter how well he synchronized with it—
His strength shouldn't be developed enough to be a real threat.
He had fought plenty of Orga Lux users before.
This was nothing new.
So, despite a bit of caution—
He had no doubt that he could crush this new challenger.
Unfortunately—
He had no idea.
The person standing before him could not be measured by common sense.
"Are you worried about me, senpai?"
Kaiser smiled.
"If so… then let me experience the true power of a high-ranking duelist."
With that—
He raised his hand.
A black activator appeared in his grip.
"Zing!"
A brilliant crimson glow erupted from Ser-Veresta's Urm-Manadyte core—
Illuminating the entire stage.