Kays Translations

Chapter 361- Vs Bequa

“From here on, we will begin the first match of the 7th day of the main tournament! Participants, please enter the arena."

With that announcement, Bequa and I stepped onto the stage.

"Let's have fun," 

"Yeah." 

Bequa replied.

"Beastification, Lightning coat." 

Our conversation on the stage before the match was just those few words, and we immediately began our preparations. However, by the time Bequa stepped onto the stage, he had already activated Beastification and Ice-Snow Armor.

"The match begins!"

Once Bequa and I were ready, the announcement for the start of the match was made.

I dashed towards Bequa as soon as the match began.

"Ah!"

However, I abruptly stopped about two meters before reaching Bequa when my Crisis High-Speed Perception reacted.

"Darn it... Couldn't you have fallen for it?"

As Bekua approached me, I looked at the ground in front of me and understood why my perception had reacted.

"When did Ice-Snow Armor turn into Ice-Snow coat?"

"When you and the others went to the Deep Forest!"

The ground was frozen from the spot where I had taken one or two steps forward. It seemed that Bequa had evolved their Ice-Snow Armor into Ice-Snow coat without my knowledge.

"I saw Zeros and practiced imitating him!"

"Imitating? You're better at using it than I am!"

To conserve the ice and snow he used to coat himself, Bequa had only formed a thin layer of ice that would make me slip if I stepped on it. If I were asked if I could create a similarly thin layer of lightning, it would be nearly impossible.

"And the range is only a 2-meter radius around you!"

As Bequa moved, the ice beneath him moved as well. The ice constantly spread in a circular shape with a radius of 2 meters centered on Bequa. It seemed that it automatically expanded, rather than being formed before the match started.

"This is such a hassle..."

"Take it as a compliment!"

Using Psychokinesis, I created a platform slightly above the ground, allowing me to avoid touching the ice. So, I wouldn't slip on the ice. However, since I was using Psychokinesis for the platform, I didn't have the luxury to use it for anything else.

Furthermore, it was quite challenging to defend against Bequa's attacks on an unstable platform that would disappear quickly.

"Well, I can't be helped."

I briefly considered escaping into the air, but escaping to an unfamiliar airspace wouldn't solve anything. I grew an additional tail, increasing the number to seven.

"Haa!"

"Raa!"

By increasing the number of tails, the power of my Psychokinesis also became stronger. This allowed me to create more platforms with increased durability. Thanks to that, I was able to engage in a close-quarters fight with Bequa, although I was technically using a sword to strike.

After growing more tails, my attacks gradually began to land on Bequa. Besides the effectiveness of the sword, my attacks could significantly reduce the amount of ice-snow Bequa coated himself in. As the amount decreased, I noticed that Bequa also had gauntlets underneath the ice-snow.

"Well, whatever..."

Bequa muttered something quietly and distanced himself from me. I immediately chased after him to prevent them from resting.

"Hmm?"

While chasing after Bequa, I noticed something. The area covered by the ice had decreased significantly. Now, the ice was only within a radius of about one meter centered around Bequa. Furthermore, all the ice-snow that Bequa had encased himself in had disappeared.

"….!?"

There were various changes, but when I approached Bequa in that state, my Crisis High-Speed Perception reacted in a way that was incomparable to before. I hurriedly jumped back, and spikes grew out of the ice below, resembling a mountain of swords. The spikes extended and followed me, lightly piercing my shin.

"It's troublesome that my first-strike advantage doesn't work because of your reflexes."

"..."

Since I immediately moved backward, it only resulted in a graze, but if I had remained in that position, I might have been impaled all over my body.

"Zero-kun."

"Hmm? 』

As I pondered how to tackle that situation, Yug approached me. While observing Bequa's movements, I decided to listen to what Yug had to say.

"Zero-kun, can't you use Lightning coat on those sword spikes?"

"No... It's impossible."

Bequa must have practiced quite a bit to be able to do it. Even if I were to attempt it on the spot, it would be impossible. Even if by some chance I managed to do it, it would be nothing more than an inferior version of Bequa's ability.

"Even you, Zero-kun, can do something so difficult. Even that child can use it perfectly after such a short period of practice. 』

"Oh..."

Come to think of it, although a large number of spikes grew almost simultaneously, only one pierced me. If all of them had extended and pursued me, several should have pierced me.

"Furthermore, do you think he can control it in the same way even during intense close-quarters combat as we've seen before? 』

"...It's impossible."

Even manipulating multiple spikes would be difficult, so thinking about manipulating each and every one of them during close-quarters combat, even with my multitasking ability, would be impossible. Therefore, I can't believe Bequa can do it.

"Do you understand what you need to do? 』

"Yes, thank you."

What I need to do is to navigate through those sword spikes and engage Bequa in close-quarters combat, just like before. Once it turns into close-quarters combat, I won't lose to Bequa, who is no longer coated in ice-snow.

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