Ikki Kurogane

Ikki Kurogane (黒鉄一輝 Kurogane Ikki) is the main protagonist of Chivalry of the Failed Knight. Despite hailing from a clan of well-respected Mage-Knights, Ikki is considered a failure amongst the members of the Kurogane clan as an F-rank Apprentice Knight and is known as the "Worst One". In order to make a name for himself, Ikki continues to study in Hagun Academy as a repeater, hoping that he would eventually become powerful enough to win in the prestigious Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Appearance
Ikki is a young man of average height with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Ikki is usually seen wearing the standard Hagun Academy male uniform.

Personality
Ikki is a strong-willed and noble young man, with a caring personality, this is seen through out the series as selflessly helps others, this goes double for those struggling to become better on their own, as he understands what a hard road it was. Ikki can also be very cruel under certain circumstances.

Ikki is shown to be quite calm in even the most arduous of situation, as seen when he stayed calm the entire encounter with Kuraudo even brushing off the fact that he was hit with a bottle, trying to avoid the fight.

When it comes dealing women of his age and the whole academy in general Ikki is really clumsy because he has no prior experience with them outside of respect towards a superior or as a knight. This really shows when he confronts Stella on that subject.

History
Ikki is a member of the Kurogane Family, a family that has produced superior Blazers for generations, the most well known being Ryoma Kurogane. When his family found out that Ikki is a F-rank, they immediately discriminate against him, forcing Ikki not to do anything while treating him like none existing.

During a new year celebration, Ikki unable to withstand the environment, ran out of his house and got lost in the snow. Down to his final breaths, the almost dying Ikki cries out his frustration as Ryoma Kurogane appears in front of Ikki, telling Ikki to never give up and to become strong.

Ikki eventually left his house and live on his own attending the Hagun Academy a year before the story, thanks to the unbiased evaluation by his examiner, Yuuri Oreki. While there, Ikki faced opposition from his family, who forced the school to make Ikki fail and made him retake a year. He was also harassed by many students during that time, mainly Shizuya Kirihara who even challenged Ikki to a fight and attacked Ikki.

Failure vs. Prodigy
Upon returning to his room from his usual daily training, Ikki stumbles upon a half-naked girl who was changing which was made worse by Ikki's desperate and bad attempt to solve the situation. He was then summon to the Director's office where Ikki and Stella Vermillion, the girl who was in Ikki's room, bicker over the issue as Kurono Shinguuji, the director of Hagun Academy, reveals that they are roommates. Kurono further suggest the two to have a mock battle which escalated into a duel after Ikki's casual comment with Stella further adding a rule where the loser becomes the winner's slave for life.

The two then head to one of the schools practice ground for the duel. As the duel starts, Stella was seemingly the one with the advantage until Ikki's sudden counterattack. As Ikki was prepared to deliver the final blow, his attack stopped due to the difference in the amount of magic power between them. The duel then returned to Stella's favor who prepares to use her Noble Art to defeat Ikki. Ikki remembering his dreams of becoming a Mage Knight, activates his Noble Art, Ittou Shura, which temporarily removes his physical limitation. Upon using Ittou Shura, Ikki starts to move at a super speed and dodged all of Stella's attack before entering Stella's blind spot and successfully deals a decisive blow, becoming the victor to their duel.

After the duel concluded, Ikki was seen sleeping in his bed due to the burden of using Ittou Shura as a now curious Stella climbs on top of the sleeping Ikki only to be surprised when Ikki wakes up. Stella, who learnt of Ikki's situation from Kurono, decides to ask Ikki on his reasons to become a Mage Knight as Ikki remembers the frustration he faced from his family's refusal to believe in him as well as his encounter with Ryoma Kurogane which gave Ikki hope and the dream to do the same for others in his situation. Ikki then reminds Stella of the ruling of their duel, much to Stella's chagrin, who initially refused before conceding as Ikki orders Stella to be his friend and roommate.

New Term, Reunion and Rebellion
Few days after his duel with Stella, Ikki was once again seen continuing his daily training alongside Stella who started to join him as Ikki looks forward to the upcoming school term where he seeks to attain his dreams and to meet his younger sister for the first time in four years.

As the new term starts with Ikki once again attending the class under Yuuri Oreki, the same teacher who taught him last year and explained the new school rules set up by Kurono. The orientation ended abruptly when Oreki vomits blood due to her weak constitution as Ikki calms the class down and takes Oreki to the infirmary. After returning to the class having sent Oreki to the infirmary, Ikki was greeted by a group of female students who gained interest in Ikki after having his match with Stella post on the internet which ended up gaining displeasure from a group of male students who challenged Ikki to a fight. Refusing to fight, Ikki easily disables those students without his device much to everyone's shock except Stella. Having gained further respect from those in his class, Ikki's younger sister, Shizuku comes to Ikki's classroom, complimenting Ikki's strength before suddenly kissing him in front of everyone much to their surprise. While Shizuku prepares for a second kiss, an enrages and jealous Stella intervenes, claiming that she is Ikki's slave which earns the displeasure of Shizuku as both Stella and Shizuku ends up fighting each other, destroying the classroom in the process.

Several days after the incident, Ikki receives an invitation from Shizuku to go out for a movie with Stella forcefully injecting herself into the date. The next morning, while Ikki and Stella waits for Shizuku, they were surprised to see her in a goth clothings and were further surprised to see Shizuku's roommate Arisu. At the mall while waiting for their movie to start, the mall was suddenly attacked by the Liberation Army, Rebellion, with Ikki and Arisu successfully avoiding enemy's notice due to Arisu's ability. Getting the permission of using their Device, Ikki and Arisu prepares for the counterattack, heading to the place where the hostage were being held. Waiting for a chance to counterattack, Ikki and Nagi were forced to watch as Stella was being humiliated by Bishou until Shizuku finishes her preparation as an enraged Ikki jumps out and cuts off both of Bishou's hands while his friends handle the other members of Rebellion. The situation ended with Kirihara shooting down Bishou who was holding an old lady hostage. Kirihara proceeds to reveals that he is Ikki's first opponent for the selection battle before leaving.

Debut Battle and Vow
Two days after the Rebellion incident, Ikki first selection battle finally starts as he faces Kirihara. The battle initially goes badly for Ikki who crumbled under pressure due to his past experiences and was beat up to the point where he nearly gave up due to the surrounding crowds further pressuring Ikki until Stella shuts the crowd up and outwardly shows her support to Ikki. This allows Ikki to regain his confidence successfully overcoming Kirihara's Noble Art and defeats him. Ikki then collapse due to his injuries and burden of using Ittou Shura as he was sent to emergency aid.

Ikki later wakes up in a hospital room with Stella by his side and after some minor bickering between the two, Ikki confesses his feelings to Stella and the two vow to reach the finals of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival and have another match.

Disciple, Encounter and Betrayal
Ikki, a month after beating Kirihara, is next seen fighting against Renren Tomaru, who, just like him, has won all of her matches without a single scratch. Ikki is able to defeat her, with relative ease, keeping his streak in tact. Ikki is then seen with his friends, where he points out the stalker, and accidentally causes her to injure herself.

Ikki is then seen with Ayase Ayatsuji, the stalker, helping her train her swordsmanship, as she had lost her original mentor due to injury in a match. Their days of training come to a hold as Ikki learns, from a message sent by the school, that he will face Ayase as his tenth opponent. The day before the match, Ikki was invited by Ayase, to the roof tops, to which he came alone. He is then tricked by Ayase, who revealed that she only invited to make him use Ittou Shoura.

Impossible Victory, Decisive Battle, and New Beginnings
Ikki is next seen, fighting Ayase. He initially looks as if he is unable to get to Ayase, thanks to Ayase's noble art being around the entire arena, which she had done before the match started. Ikki is able to see through the traps set by her however, and is able to cut Ayase with the illusionary form of his Intetsu. Ayase then realizes that what she had done, and was doing was not right, and is unable to get back up, after Ikki's attack, allowing Ikki to take the win.

Ikki is then told by Ayase, her tragic back story, and goes to the formerly named Ayatsuji dojo, controlled by Kuraudo. Ikki goes in, after beating the guards outside, and challenges Kuruado to a duel. Kuraudo accepts, with the stipulation that they fight using their devices, and the first one to die looses. Ikki then fights Kuraudo, and is initially out matched in both strength and speed. Ikki however keeps fighting and is able to tire out Kuraudo by blocking most of his attacks costing Kuraudo most of his stamina. He then uses the final technique of the last samurai, and is able to beat Karaudo, regaining the dojo.

Ikki, two days after his match with Kuraudo, is next seen training with Stella, and after realizing they were alone they try to share an intimate moment with each other, only to have it interrupted by Nagi, who had came with some fairly shocking, and worrying news. He had revealed to the couple, that Shizuku's next opponent had been decided, Hagun Academy's own number one student, student council member Tohka Todo.

Lorelei vs Raikiri
Ikki is next seen along with Stella watching the match between Shizuku and Tohka. During the match Kurono and Nene come, and after seeing Tohka use the same move Nene had used to sneak up on Ikki during his preparation of the first preliminary match, Ikki is able to explain that Tohka was using the ability trackless step. Ikki then watches as his little sister is overpowered and beaten by Tohka.

Ikki is next seen with Stella in their room, when they notice a figure walk pass them. Ikki looks and accidentally trips the person, who turns out to be Tohka carrying a large stack of documents. He and Stella decide to help her take the documents over to the student council room where they are invited in for some tea.

Tohka, while in the student council room, is then reminded by Ikazuchi Saijou, about the request Kurono had made to her, which is revealed to be that she needed to find other students to help them on their job. Kanata, now coming into the student council room, then reveals that the student council members were asked to take care of a gaint causing problems in the Okumata mountains. Ikki and Stella agree to go.

Incident of Okutama
Ikki, Stella, and the student council reach Okutama mountain, and are eventually split off into pairs of two, to walk around the area. Ikki is split off with Stella, and the pairs walk comes to and end, as Stella becomes ill with a fever. Ikki takes her to a cabin near by, to treat her.

They are soon attacked by a giant rock doll, who attacks the cabin, although Ikki was able to get Stella out in time. Ikki and Stella then try to fight the monster, but are unsuccessful as the monster continued multiplying as well as its onslaught. They are however saved by the arrival of Utakata and Tohka, who are able to quickly take out the monsters.

The group then go to the bottom of the mountains, to a lodge, where the rest of the student council members were at. Ikki is then met with Akaza, a person from the Kurogane family, who tells him that his relationship with Stella has been publicized, and that he should come with him, to which Ikki agrees to.

Siege, Reunion and Trap
Ikki after following Akaza back to the Japan Mage Knight Branch was then forced to undergo harsh questionings for weeks, given insufficient amount of food and was poisoned. Ikki, during his captivity, was faced with his father, which ended with Ikki realizing that his father did not hate him, but just gave up on him. He later eventually succumbed, to the brutal treatment, and gave in to Akaza's original plan, on having him fight against Tohka for his final selection battle.

Ikki was then seen barely able to get to the ring in time and, while being encouraged by all the students, was able to defeat Tohka with one swing which transcends even his Ittou Shura. After that match with Tohka, Ikki was hospitalized for a week due to the weeks of brutal treatment and effect of his match with Tohka taking toll on him altogether. On the representative announcement day, Ikki was pronounced as the captain of the Hagun Academy team, after he and five other participants were named to be going to the sword art festival.

Abilities
Master Swordsmanship: Ikki is extremely skilled in swordsmanship due to his continuous training in that field to make up for his lack of magic powers.
 * Seven Secret Swords: The seven original sword techniques that Ikki created himself. Out of the seven, four of the secret sword (秘剣 hiken) techniques has been revealed.
 * Ten'i Muhou (天衣無縫; Flawless): The ultimate move of the Ayatsuji swordsmanship, the user counters the opponent's attack with minimal movement. Ikki used an imperfect version of this move on Kuraudo.

Hand-to-hand combat: Ikki is very adept in various styles of martial arts.

Insight: As a result of being neglected over the years, Ikki has mastered the skills to see through his opponent's technique simply through observing. Ikki can also read his opponent's next move simply through the opponent's muscle movement.
 * Perfect Vision (完全掌握(パーフェクトヴィジョン) Pāfekuto Vuijon, literally total control): During his fight against Kirihara, Ikki manage to improve his insight further to the point where he can read even his opponents' chain of thoughts and feelings.

Immense Reflexes: Due to his continuous training, Ikki possesses reflexes that are above that of a normal human. In fact, he can even use his reflexes to further enhance his insight.

Sword Steal (模倣剣技(ブレイドスティール)): One of Ikki's techniques, Ikki using his superb insight to observe and steal his opponent's techniques and further improve it through his own swordsmanship. According to Ikki, he can grasp most sword styles with only a minute of exchanges. Additionally, his sword stealing is not limited to the techniques his opponent can immediately use. Once he understands a sword style enough to grasp its deepest secrets, he can reproduce its most advanced techniques even if he never saw it before, as shown when he learns Kaito Ayatsuji's final technique by observing Ayase Ayatsuji's incomplete training.

Doubling Physical Powers: Ikki's ability as a Blazer. Ikki can double his physical strength and when use in tandem with Ittou Shura, his physical powers improves five to six times the normal rate.

Device
Intetsu (陰鉄 Intetsu, lit., "Shadow Iron"): Ikki's Device, it takes a form of a black Japanese long sword.
 * Ittou Shura (一刀修羅 Ittou Shura, lit., "Single-strike asura"): Ikki's noble art and strongest technique, it temporarily removes Ikki of all his physical limits, allowing him to gain tremendous power but can only maintain it for a minute.
 * Ittou Rasetsu (一刀羅刹 Ittou Rasetsu, lit., "Single-strike rakshasa"): An improved version of the Ittou Shura. It increases the abilities of the user by a hundredfold but the burden to the body is immense. Ikki first uses this against Tohka Todo, after having his body weakened by the harsh and foul treatment from the Ethic Committee, Ikki in desperation against Tohka, abandons all his senses and focused solely on a single strike, creating the move.

Trivia

 * Ikki does not like sweet foods.