A new barrier suddenly rose around the arena.
Unlike the simple barriers used during the earlier matches, this one had been personally erected by the Lieutenant of the Kidō Corps, who had appeared at some point without anyone noticing.
Judging from the density of the barrier alone, it was obvious that its defensive capability far surpassed the previous ones.
Standing inside the arena, neither Chigusa Rin nor Ise Nanao allowed themselves to be distracted.
Instead, both quietly adjusted their Spiritual Pressure, preparing themselves for the battle ahead.
A match against Nanao was naturally destined to become a battle of Kidō.
In Kidō combat, there were countless details that determined victory or defeat.
The stability of one’s spells, the timing of every cast, the conservation of Spiritual Pressure, and the arrangement of attacks all played vital roles.
Taking a slow breath, Nanao made the first move.
Without chanting an incantation, she fired a Hadō #4, Byakurai.
The silver bolt shot through the air like a lightning serpent, aiming directly at Chigusa’s left shoulder.
Its destructive power wasn’t particularly great, but if it connected, it would immediately create an opening in his defenses.
It was merely a probing attack.
Against such a fast Kidō, most of her previous opponents hadn’t even managed to react.
However, Chigusa didn’t move an inch.
He didn’t even bother using Hohō.
Instead, he simply raised the index finger of his right hand.
Another chantless Byakurai instantly shot forward.
The two lightning bolts collided with perfect precision.
Nanao’s spell shattered immediately.
Chigusa’s Byakurai continued forward for several more meters before gradually dissipating.
The exchange immediately revealed one thing.
Chigusa’s mastery of Kidō was indeed superior to hers.
Not overwhelmingly so…
But undeniably superior.
As someone who knew him better than almost anyone else, Nanao naturally understood why.
Chigusa Rin was deliberately conserving his Spiritual Pressure.
Unlike him, her current Spiritual Pressure had already reached Rank 6.
She stood only one step away from the Spiritual Pressure level normally possessed by a lieutenant.
That meant her reserves of Reiryoku far surpassed those of ordinary students.
Although her first attack had only been a test, neutralizing it so perfectly required not only exquisite timing but also sufficient Spiritual Pressure.
Chigusa’s situation was different.
Nanao had always known that his Spiritual Pressure lagged behind her own.
Even if his control over Kidō exceeded hers, achieving such perfect precision still required considerable Reiryoku.
From everything she knew…
He was capable of producing much more powerful Kidō.
The fact that he deliberately limited his output could only mean one thing.
He intended to conserve as much Spiritual Pressure as possible and avoid allowing the battle to drag on.
Feeling slightly guilty…
Nanao nevertheless made her decision.
She would deliberately force the fight into a battle of attrition.
Eventually…
His insufficient Spiritual Pressure would become his greatest weakness.
Her judgment wasn’t wrong.
Although Chigusa had steadily increased his Spiritual Pressure over the past several years through his cultivation ability, reaching Rank 8…
There was still an undeniable gap between them.
If the battle continued long enough…
His disadvantage would inevitably become apparent.
Making up her mind, Nanao quietly formed several hand seals behind her back.
It was a technique Hachigen Ushōda had personally taught her.
Using hand seals while casting chantless Kidō greatly reduced the loss of power caused by omitting the incantation.
Without attracting attention…
She secretly buried three chantless Shakkahō beneath the arena floor.
Chigusa appeared completely unaware.
Instead…
“Ye Lord!
Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man!
Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but torpidly the designs of burning wild!
Hadō Number Thirty-Three…
Sōkatsui!”
The lengthy incantation flowed effortlessly from his mouth.
Unlike chantless Kidō, fully recited spells not only retained their original power but even received a slight increase in destructive force.
Brilliant blue flames surged forward like a roaring waterfall.
Nanao immediately retreated with Hohō.
At the same moment…
One of the hidden Shakkahō buried beneath the ground suddenly detonated.
Boom!
The two Kidō collided in midair.
The resulting explosion shook the entire barrier surrounding the battlefield.
“The first one.”
Chigusa smiled faintly.
That quiet murmur immediately caused Nanao’s expression to become serious.
While retreating…
She continued casting.
“Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!
Look upon yourself with horror and claw out your own throat!
Bakudō Number Nine…
Geki!”
As a low-level Bakudō…
The increase granted by a full incantation was especially obvious.
Scarlet restraints shot outward.
However…
They weren’t aimed directly at Chigusa.
Instead…
They sealed every position where he could potentially use Hohō.
This instantly disrupted his movement rhythm and forced him to widen the distance between them once again.
If Yoruichi Shihōin herself had been standing there…
Such restrictions would have meant absolutely nothing.
Likewise…
For Soi Fon, who sat quietly among the spectators as an elite of the Onmitsukidō, escaping those restraints would have been effortless.
Unfortunately…
Chigusa’s Hohō remained at only an excellent student level.
Nanao’s carefully arranged Bakudō momentarily disrupted his movements.
At the same time…
Her free hand continuously fired chantless Byakurai, forcing Chigusa to move precisely along the route she had already designed.
“A clever strategy.”
Chigusa nodded in appreciation.
“Using Bakudō to limit your opponent’s movement before gradually forcing them into your prepared traps.”
“Nanao…”
“When did your fighting style become so cunning?”
He smiled.
“But…”
“Your traps were still a little too obvious.”
Without chanting…
He clasped both hands together.
Six miniature Bakudō #39, Enkōsen appeared simultaneously around him.
Every incoming Byakurai was perfectly intercepted.
His footsteps never slowed.
He calmly continued walking straight toward Nanao.
“Nanao…”
“Kidō battles have never been games where both sides politely take turns attacking.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
Just then…
He suddenly stopped walking.
That single movement caused Nanao’s pupils to contract.
That location…
Was exactly…
The place where she had buried her remaining Shakkahō.
The intricate Kidō arrays beneath the ground instantly lit up.
However…
The one activating them wasn’t Nanao.
It was Chigusa.
“Hadō Number Fifty-Eight…”
“Tenran.”
The explosion produced by the remaining Shakkahō was immediately caught inside a massive whirlwind.
The violent tornado absorbed every ounce of explosive force before roaring directly toward Nanao.
Faced with such an overwhelming attack…
She hurriedly erected several Enkōsen barriers one after another.
Only then did she barely block the burning tornado.
The students watching below had already become completely speechless.
Everyone studied Kidō every day…
But battles fought at such an astonishing level were almost impossible to witness.
After finally surviving the attack…
Nanao’s breathing had become noticeably heavier.
Her carefully arranged traps had not only been completely exposed…
They had even been turned against her.
Rather than discouraging her…
The setback only sharpened her determination.
The desire to win burning within her eyes grew even stronger.
She quickly abandoned her original strategy.
Her plan of gradually exhausting Chigusa with carefully arranged traps had completely failed.
Continuing that approach would only allow him to exploit her own preparations repeatedly.
Since her strategy had already been exposed…
Then she would simply unleash her strongest combination directly.
Both hands began moving simultaneously.
Her right hand silently prepared Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō.
At the same time…
Her lips rapidly recited another incantation.
“Scatter, bones of the beast!
Sharp tower, red crystal, steel wheels!
Move as the wind, cease as the sky!
The sound of the spears striking fills the empty castle!
Hadō Number Sixty-Three…
Raikōhō!”
This was the dual Kidō technique she had painstakingly developed over a long period of training.
Although she had not yet mastered it completely…
Simultaneously casting two different Kidō created countless tactical possibilities.
Among all her combinations…
This pairing of restraint and overwhelming destructive power was the one she trusted most.
Six pillars of golden light instantly descended from every direction.
Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō completely sealed every possible escape route.
Almost simultaneously…
The blinding beam of Raikōhō shot directly toward Chigusa.
Watching the dazzling beam close in…
Even the audience below unconsciously held their breath.
For an instant…
It seemed impossible to avoid.
Even Captain Kyōraku instinctively prepared to intervene and rescue the young man before the attack could strike.