With both combatants unleashing their full potential, the battle intensified, becoming much more dynamic.
Drake blocked In Iron's blade with Siegfried, his left arm, clad in Fafnir, striking downward with a hand-knife. Ikki didn't block but retreated.
He underestimated the attack's power; although the hand-knife missed, the ground shattered from the force. He had to retreat further to avoid the aftershock.
"An air cannon from a hand strike?!" Ikki marveled at Drake's strength and precision in focusing his power.
Drake crouched, his arms drawn back like a bird's wings.
"Suzaku Type: Tenku!"
Ikki had heard of Student Council President Touka Toudou's incredible speed using her lightning manipulation ability. He'd never seen such speed, but now he witnessed it in Drake's Suzaku form—a footwork technique for rapid, direct approach.
Drake was too fast; Ikki couldn't react before the attack. Drake's heavy fist struck; Ikki met it with his blade.
"Seven Secret Swords Third Sword: Madoka (Circle)!"
Drake's fist collided with the blade; a powerful force surged back. Drake understood; Ikki had transferred the force from Drake's fist through the blade to his muscles, then returned it using a circular motion—a complete deflection technique. The force Drake felt was from his own punch.
But…
Drake didn't resist; he twisted his body, and his right fist struck. Ikki was surprised; Drake also used a complete deflection technique.
Ikki instinctively knew he couldn't use Circle again; he retreated. Drake's fist hit the ground with a boom; Ikki stared at the impact.
It wasn't a normal impact; it resembled a drill hole.
Drake smiled. "Ikki-san, don't underestimate my country's four-thousand-year-old martial arts! This complete deflection technique is called Tai Chi; it's a refined martial art passed down for millennia. You're perceptive; if you'd received that blow, your muscles would've been torn."
Ikki felt the pressure—Drake's strength and the weight of a millennia-old civilization. He hadn't fully replicated Drake's martial arts; he couldn't replicate millennia of wisdom and accumulation.
Drake understood Ikki's attempts to understand his martial arts. With his imitations, he couldn't match Drake.
Ikki realized this; he was fighting instinctively, using imitation techniques. But he couldn't afford this against Drake.
He changed his grip; Drake sensed a sharper ki. Ikki, jogging towards Drake, suddenly became two.
"Seven Secret Swords: Fourth Sword: Shinkirou (Mirage Wolf)!"
Using footwork to create illusions—effective against others, but not Drake, who relied on ki. Ikki's real body's ki was too obvious.
Drake went straight for Ikki's real body, striking with a piercing hand strike.
Ikki, prepared for Mirage Wolf's failure, calmly dodged and struck. The angle was precise, targeting Drake's weakest point.
Drake bent his arm; his elbow deflected the blade. Fist techniques allowed any body part to be a shield or weapon.
Ikki, emotionless, swung In Iron from another angle. Drake met the blade.
Their exchange accelerated; few could follow. Even those who didn't understand martial arts sensed the intense pressure. The murmurs ceased; everyone focused on the battle.
Stella, initially angry at their answers, understood why Drake chose Ikki. Their martial arts surpassed hers; she'd misunderstood Drake and underestimated Ikki.
They were unaware of Stella's feelings; they were fully engaged.
" Seven Secret Swords: Sixth Sword: Dokuga no Tachi (Poisonous Moth Long Sword)!"
Drake blocked Ikki's strike, but his arm stung.
"This is…!"
Drake sensed a technique similar to Cicada's Cry—vibration-based attacks.
Ikki seized the opportunity, unleashing his strongest strike.
"First Secret Sword: Heavy Strike!"
Drake retreated for the first time, recovering from Poison Moth Blade. Ikki, instead of rejoicing, looked grim. "Drake-san, you said you'd fight with all your strength! If you'd used magic, that strike wouldn't have worked. Your ability is fire; why haven't you used it?"
Drake sensed Ikki's displeasure.
"I apologize; I was arrogant for using only martial arts. To compensate, I'll use my full strength!"
Drake realized his mistake; his actions were insulting to Ikki's resolve. He'd fight seriously.
He activated Dragon Blood Mode; flames enveloped him.
Ikki felt the scorching air; this Drake was a worthy opponent.
"Seven Secret Swords: Seventh Sword: Raikou, (Lightning)!"
This strike, as fast as Suzaku - Heavenly Drive, struck Drake. But the blade didn't hit; the flames blocked it. Drake unleashed a wave of flames, sending Ikki flying.
The intense heat turned the arena into a furnace; the audience gasped.
This was why Ikki was called the Failing Knight; low-magic users were powerless against high-magic users; even with full effort, they couldn't break their defenses.
Ikki knew this; he'd created a technique to overcome this disparity.
"Ittou Shura: One-Blade Shura!"
Ikki roared; his body glowed with magic power!
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