Ikki Kurogane vs Amane Shinomiya

Ikki Kurogane vs Amane Shinomiya is a fight between the Hagun Academy representative Ikki Kurogane and Akatsuki member Amane Shinomiya. It's one of the semi-final matches of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Prologue
Prior to the battle, Amane openly humiliated Shizuku, revealing her feelings for Ikki, to everybody. This greatly enraged Ikki, who was already wary of Amane.

Before the battle, Ikki was approached by Bakuga Tsukikage, the chairman of Akatsuki. Bakuga told Ikki about Amane's past, and his real name, Shion Amamiya. He does this so Ikki can provoke Amane, so that Amane doesn't simply withdraw from the match, because of his admiration of Ikki. Ikki accepts this information and also thinks about a way to counter Amane's ability Nameless Glory.

Battle
As the combatants enter the arena, Amane announces that he plans on withdrawing from the match, as Bakuga predicted. Ikki uses the information he gained from the Akatsuki chairman, to provoke Amane. This greatly infuriates Amane, who decides to fight Ikki.

Ikki and Amane then exchange blows with their Devices. Despite Amane's style being very amateur, his slices manage to come from directions, hardest for Ikki to block. Amane then starts throwing his swords at Ikki, using his Nameless Glory to wish for the swords to hit Ikki. Ikki though catches the swords with his outer clothes, which greatly shocks Amane. Ikki then charges for Amane, cutting him.

Shizuku, who is watching the match, questions how Ikki is able to avoid the errors in his style, caused by Nameless Glory. Kurono, who is also watching with her, tells her that Ikki is not immune to the errors caused by Nameless Glory, but simply corrects all of the errors, continuously moving forward.

The wounded Amane withdraws his Device, claiming that he has had enough. Amane then uses his ability to wish for Ikki to die. Nameless Glory then stops Ikki's heart. Despite this, Ikki attacks Amane again, cutting him once again.It's revealed Ikki used Edelweiss' technique, to immediately restart his heart.

Amane, who is bleeding a lot from his injuries, is declared by the referee to be unable to keep on fighting. Ikki is thus declared the winner of the match, while Amane loses. Amane though remembers his past, and how everyone always took advantage of him, because of his ability. This included even his own parents. Amane the rises back up, taking control of his ability.

As Amane rises, he summons numerous black hands, which cause everything they touch to die. Because the match has already ended, the Mage-Knights around the arena, attempt to stop Amane, but he attacks the audience, forcing them to protect and evacuate the audience. Nene then comes to the arena, deciding to stop Amane. Ikki though stops her, wanting to finish Amane himself. Ikki then activates Ittou Shura, and charges at Amane.

Amane empowers his swords with the death effect of the black hands, slashing at Ikki. Ikki is able to easily dodge Amane's amateur slashes, but Amane uses his luck, to trace his own movements, thrusting at Ikki. Before the thrust reaches Ikki, he is able to use his second secret sword technique, Rekkou to hit Amane, knocking him out. Despite managing to defeat Amane, Ikki falls unconscious, as he was slightly grazed by Amane's death effect.

Epilogue
Despite his severe condition, Ikki is healed by Kiriko Yakushi, as payback to Amane, who forced her to withdraw from the Festival. Amane also will receive a severe punishment, to atone for his actions. Nene confronts the hospitalized Amane, telling him that she will personally intervene if Amane uses his ability to mess with the upcoming finals.

Because of his loss, Amane is eliminated from the Festival, while Ikki advances to the finals, where he will finally face Stella Vermillion.