Black Clover: The Son of Fire Dragon Igneel

"Training and Unexpected Event"

The selection tournament ended; Hagun Academy decided on its representatives for the Seven Star Sword Festival.

Surprisingly, popular choices like Touka Toudou and Renren Tomaru weren't selected.

The representatives were Drake, Stella, Ikki Kurogane, Nagi Arisuin, and Kanata Toutokubara, the sole surviving Student Council member. The last member was a girl named Kikyo Hagure.

She and her twin sister, Botan Hagure, had good luck in the selection tournament, facing weak opponents until the final round.

Botan Hagure's luck ran out; she faced Drake and lost in three seconds.

After the tournament, Hagun Academy held the appointment ceremony. Touka Toudou handed the Hagun Academy flag to Ikki Kurogane before all the students.

The ceremony was a week later because Ikki Kurogane was already seriously ill from his fight with Touka Toudou and had used Ichi no Rasetsu.

Even with regeneration pods, it took a week for him to fully recover.

Akaza Mamoru disappeared.

After the match, he tried to attack the injured Ikki Kurogane; Kurono Shinguuji's ultimate technique sent him away; she probably wouldn't see him again.

The appointment ceremony ended in late July, during summer vacation.

But the selected representatives couldn't relax; the Seven Star Sword Festival was in mid-August.

Before large tournaments, contestants underwent intensive training.

Sometimes, instructors were official "KOK" Alliance magic knights; it was a good opportunity to improve.

Hagun Academy usually held training camps in Okutama. But due to the puppet incident, Kurono Shinguuji asked Gyomon Academy to join them this year.

Hagun Academy sent six contestants; Student Council members would be coordinators and sparring partners. Kurogane Shizuku, a water mage, would provide medical support.

The instructor was Nangou Torajiro. Everyone was surprised and delighted!

Nangou Torajiro could easily instruct the student knights, but Drake took Stella to the deeper mountains.

Ikki Kurogane and Touka Toudou's battle had impacted many, including Stella.

Stella understood that they were stronger than her; she had no chance of winning against them.

Ordinary training wouldn't help; to become stronger quickly, she needed to awaken her true power.

Drake and Stella began special training.

Stella hadn't awakened her power because she hadn't understood its nature.

Her power was too strong; to protect herself, she'd subconsciously sealed it.

Drake learned about Stella's past; when her power awakened, she was severely burned and deemed unfit to be a sword master.

She didn't give up; through rigorous training, she controlled her power, becoming the Crimson Princess.

But her true power was sealed. Even though she could handle it, the subconscious seal wasn't easy to break.

There was only one way—intense pressure, even a life-or-death crisis, to break the seal using survival instincts.

Fal, over ten meters tall, unleashed its fiery breath at Stella.

The ground crystallized from the heat—the power of Salamander, the fire elemental spirit.

Stella dodged Fal's breath, leaping towards Fal.

Fal's tail swept her away; she crashed into a mountain wall, shattering the small mountain.

Drake didn't intervene; he'd sent Fal.

Drake asked Stella why she wanted to become stronger.

Initially, she said she didn't want to disappoint her people. Later, she gave another answer.

She wanted to stand proudly beside her lover, not as someone to be protected, but as his strength, an indispensable presence.

Stella's resolve was unwavering; Drake couldn't refuse her wish. He wouldn't stop Fal until she did.

But would she give up easily? Drake didn't think so.

Ten days passed; Stella trained until exhaustion; Drake carried her back to the dorm daily.

The other contestants knew nothing about their training.

Kagami and reporters from other academies tried to gather information, but failed.

According to Kagami, the valley was like hell during their training.

After their training, they saw devastation, as if ravaged by a natural disaster.

Their training continued beyond the ten-day camp; Stella's power awakened, but she couldn't control it.

Her training would continue; they'd stay longer. Kurono Shinguuji supported this; it was just a barren mountain.

They planned to continue, but an unexpected event disrupted their plan.

On the day Ikki Kurogane and the others returned to Hagun Academy, Drake sensed someone's ki in the warehouse storing the lime for marking the training grounds, even though everyone had boarded the bus.

Forcibly breaking the lock, Drake found Kagami tied up.

After removing the gag, she said, "Drake, return to Hagun Academy; Alice has a problem! They're going to attack the academy!"

Drake's pupils constricted; he'd suspected Nagi Arisuin! She hadn't shown malice, but something went wrong.

"Details later! I'll go back! Stella, take care of Kagami."

Drake left the warehouse, flames forming wings as he soared into the sky.

"Alice, don't do anything foolish!" Drake said, flying through the clouds.

__________________

for more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.

For 10$- All advance chapters.