"In an instant, ice-blue sword light poured down like a torrential rain!"

"Luka did not retreat; instead, he advanced. He twisted his waist and pivoted his hips, his right iron fist wrapped in a whistling gale as it struck out fiercely. Without dodging, he smashed it directly against the spine of the flying sword that was the first to reach his chest!"

"Clang—!"

"Blinding sparks erupted where the iron fist collided with the sword's edge! In the next second, the blade flew off at an angle as if it had lost control. Seeing this, Owlbert was also incredibly excited:"

"“Contestant Luka has knocked down Lord Yanqing's flying sword! This is a very good start!”"

——

A Certain Scientific Railgun.

"Oh? Luka is actually doing quite well..."

Shirai Kuroko's eyes widened momentarily, somewhat surprised by Luka's performance in the battle. Originally, she thought the fight between Yanqing and Luka would be completely one-sided, but she hadn't expected that not only would Luka show no signs of faltering, he would even manage to knock down Yanqing's flying sword.

In her view, as long as he could control Yanqing's flying swords, it would be equivalent to sealing off nearly half of Yanqing's combat power. If he could drag him into a close-quarters fight, then Luka might actually have a slight chance of winning.

Could there be... an opportunity?

"No, Yanqing probably hasn't started getting serious yet. At least... he hasn't used those moves he used against Hoolay." Misaka Mikoto shook her head. "He is also testing the limits of Luka's strength. If he had used that 'Cascading Celestial River' move from the start, Luka would likely not only lose but be severely injured."

"Onee-sama is so cruel, already imagining using moves meant for Abominations against Luka."

"Ahem... that's only natural, right? Young Yanqing said he would go all out. Since it's 'all out,' it should be understood that he will use all his techniques." Misaka Mikoto cleared her throat, her voice unconsciously rising a bit. "Besides, Luka is suffering from a lack of information. He should have learned more about Yanqing's methods from Stelle to make it easier to deal with him on the stage."

"Knowing wouldn't help much." Saten Ruiko rested her hands behind her head, leaning back on the sofa. "Yanqing is like a contestant with the ability to control flying swords and possesses extremely high personal combat prowess, while Luka is just an ordinary person relying on outdated technology from the Underworld. Before an absolute chasm in strength, no amount of trickery can bridge the gap."

——

"Before Owlbert's voice could fade, a new variable had already appeared on the stage."

"Taking advantage of the moment Luka knocked down a flying sword—when his old strength was spent and new strength had yet to arise—Yanqing lunged at Luka with his sword in hand! He actually abandoned the convenience of remote sword-kinesis, which he controlled as easily as his own limbs, to engage Luka in close-quarters combat. In an instant, he delivered thrusts, diagonal slashes, and horizontal sweeps, every move precise, forcing Luka into a state of frantic defense."

"“Contestant Luka seems unable to mount an effective counterattack! What should he do? Contestant Luka!”"

"Facing Yanqing's onslaught, Luka felt his scalp tingle. He had to focus intensely to dismantle Yanqing's close-range, unpredictable sword techniques, while also having to spare attention to the remaining flying swords that constantly circled him like venomous snakes waiting for an opening. He was quickly pushed into the corner of the stage."

"He kept swinging his fists, but as he swung, he realized that all the clamor around him had begun to fade."

"The electrical hum of the iron arm's overload, the distant cheers from the stands, the soreness from his muscles, even the drum-like heartbeat in his chest... all of it seemed to be separated by an invisible layer of glass, becoming blurred and distant."

"There was no fear, no calculation, no obsession with victory or defeat. His thoughts were as clear as a cloudless snowy plain, empty yet seemingly containing everything."

"In front of him, there was only that youth, also constantly swinging a sword at him with eyes as clear as his own."

"All thoughts, emotions, and ideas, like magma that had been surging deep within the earth's crust for millennia, finally found their singular exit—"

"Punch."

"Keep punching."

"Until—"

"The iron arm emitted an overloaded buzz, and a puff of blue smoke rose from it. Luka found he could no longer drive that heavy iron arm."

"Luka panted, 'Your sword is really tough. My iron arm has completely malfunctioned...'"

"Yanqing smiled knowingly. He stabbed his sword into the stage and raised his hands, assuming a boxing guard. 'In that case, I shall also set aside my sword. Let us decide the final winner with our fists.'"

——

Record of Ragnarok.

"Those two boys just now... they probably entered 'that' realm, didn't they?" Raiden Tameemon watched as Luka took off the heavy, giant steel gauntlet. He hadn't expected the boy to be wearing another 'iron arm' glove beneath it; fortunately, only the outer gauntlet was damaged.

"What realm?" Brunhilde asked curiously.

"Mushin," Raiden Tameemon said solemnly. "Their concentration is incredible. If it weren't for Luka's iron gauntlet breaking, they probably could have fought for another hundred rounds."

"But this Yanqing kid is being far too overconfident. He actually chose to discard his sword and fight Luka in close-quarters brawling. Isn't that just seeking death?" Lu Bu sneered, feeling that Yanqing was still too young. To voluntarily give up the advantage of a weapon on stage and choose to enter the field Luka specialized in—how much did he look down on Luka?

"It might not necessarily be overconfidence. Yanqing is a Cloud Knight guard. As a martial artist, do you really think he can't fight without his weapon?"

Okita Souji's gaze swept over. As a former swordsman of the Shinsengumi, while he practiced swordsmanship under his adoptive father Kondo Isami, he also had considerable research into martial arts and footwork. Excellent martial artists can often absorb different styles of martial arts to nourish themselves. He absolutely did not believe Yanqing would be powerless without his sword.

Especially a youth with such Talent.

——

"Luka was the first to launch an attack, but the agility of Yanqing's footwork was far beyond his expectations. Having discarded his longsword to face his enemy empty-handed, the youth was like a slippery fish in a stream. Luka's powerful straights and hooks were all easily dodged. Every strike seemed certain to land, yet at the very last inch, the opponent would always sidestep by a hair's breadth, and even land counterattacks on several of his vital points."

"Even in the boxing domain he excelled in, he was still being suppressed at every turn. Luka grew increasingly frantic until Yanqing finally seized another opening. With a'smack,' an upward palm strike landed precisely on his chin."

"“Ugh...”"

"A loud hum echoed in Luka's head, and he instantly saw stars as the world began to spin. Yanqing also quickly captured the moment for a decisive blow, but at the instant he lunged in to punch, Luka gritted his teeth and struck back fiercely with all his remaining strength!"

"A surge of scorching Fiery Energy erupted. Fortunately, Yanqing dodged in time, narrowly avoiding this desperate move."

"That was close!"