chapter 65
Chapter 65
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As most predicted, the Gobzou and Iko duo advanced from the second semi-final match.
Axel & Crow put up a good fight, but in the end, Axel couldn’t commit fully to running away and that’s where it was game over.
Well, I think they did their best, you know?
Following that, after a lunch break, the third-place match was held, but Nabal & Hasan forfeited. It ended with Axel & Crow taking third place by default.
Well, Nabal & Hasan know they’ve angered me with the Lily incident, and they probably thought if they stuck around and ran into me again, they’d really be killed this time, so they made a quick retreat.
For me, it was a bit of a relief since I had mixed feelings about facing them again.
And now, it’s finally time for the final match, but…
Tatsu has stepped forward before the start and is talking with Gobzou.
I wonder what they’re talking about?
As I’m thinking this, he comes back.
“Alright, we’ve finished our discussion.”
“Was there something to discuss?”
“From here on, Gobzou and I are going to forfeit. So it’ll be Yama versus Iko.”
Huh~!? How did it end up like that!?
“I’d just be in the way anyway, right? So I tried negotiating on the off chance, and they accepted it easily. Well, Gobzou seemed a bit dissatisfied, but it looks like he had to agree because of Iko’s scary smile.”
Iko’s scary smile…
Yeah. That’s very easy to imagine.
“So I’m going to forfeit before it starts. I don’t want to get hurt by being killed.”
“That’s the same for me though?”
“Well, they specifically asked to fight Yama. Do your best~”
Ah, Gobzou has disappeared from the stage in particles of light.
Followed by Tatsu disappearing too.
Wow.
A one-on-one duel with Iko, huh.
I wonder how this will turn out?
“Yama-san.”
“Ah, yes?”
Oh, crap.
I responded normally when Iko called out to me.
Even though I’m supposed to be Lily, not Yama right now.
But Iko has this refined grandmotherly feel that makes it hard to lie, and I end up being honest.
Maybe that’s why. I responded normally.
Mistake, mistake.
“You know, from the first time I met you, I had a feeling it might turn out like this.”
“Is that so?”
The first time we met was probably when we were drinking tea at the Adventurers’ Guild.
At that time, my [Invisibility] was easily broken, and I realized she wasn’t an ordinary person! It’s been about a month since then, hasn’t it?
Feels nostalgic.
“I’ve been searching for a long time, you know? For an opponent I could go all out against. Or rather, someone who could defeat me.”
“You’re overestimating me.”
“I don’t think so. The way you moved when you defeated Rock Little Dragon showed a glimpse of your talent. And then the semi-final just now. It’s been a while since my heart raced like that.”
Iko is entranced, but is that lightning-like thing leaking out from her body?
And gradually, her body is becoming younger, her back straightening.
“Phew…”
When she takes a breath, Iko’s appearance has transformed into a bewitching beauty. Her white hair and kimono remain unchanged, but the ears on her head are now standing straight up, and at some point a large white tail has appeared behind her, swaying gently.
Somehow, the image of a fox comes to mind.
“So you were a fox beastman?”
“My, you figured it out well. [Kyuubi] is my race name.”
Kyuubi, I guess that comes from the nine-tailed fox?
But she doesn’t actually have nine tails.
In fact, she only has one.
I guess that’s just the race name in this LIA.
And speaking of race names.
I think it’s probably quite a high-ranking race, but… I wonder?
▶Copycat Animal has been activated.
Acquired [Must Be Lesser God Descent].
Eh, I can even acquire Iko’s rejuvenation technique!?
I hurriedly check the acquired skill.
======================
[Must Be Lesser God Descent]
A release of peak power that only those who have reached the realm of lesser gods can use… or an imitation of it.
All stats increase by 2.5 times and you become younger.
*Can only be used for one hour.
*Cooldown 24.0h
*Cannot be used if the body has not passed the prime combat age
======================
Eh!? A five times skill!?
Who on earth is Iko really!?
If it’s five times, even if the original stats were 100, they’d jump to 500…
If that happens, it would completely surpass my stats!
It’s not that I was underestimating Iko, but if I’m outclassed in skills and then in stats too, I have no chance of winning!
Moreover, this stat boost can only be used if you’ve passed your prime combat age (?), so I can’t use it at 0 years old! What’s the point of copying this skill!?
“If you have any preparations to make, Yama-san, now’s the time. Once the battle starts, shall we fight to the death in earnest?”
This is bad.
Iko is completely intent on killing me.
She’s probably going to aim for instant death with [Magic Penetration Pressure Palm] and such.
Spamming instant death, what kind of crappy game is this? But thanks to this being a death game, I don’t even feel like it’s that crappy anymore, which shows how desensitized I’ve become.
Still, I’m glad I called Tsuna for the EOD battle.
If I hadn’t, I’d probably be in despair right now.
“Well then, if you insist. [Half-Mad God Descent].”
“My, you have quite an interesting trump card.”
With this, my physical attack, physical defense, agility, and intuition are multiplied by 1.5.
My stats should have jumped to nearly 600, but…
Ugh, what is this…
My emotions are getting incredibly excited and high…!
Tsuna said he loses his sense of self, but even half of that is plenty tough!
There’s a part of me that wants to go wild in this high state, and another part that can calmly observe and control it, probably thanks to [Parallel Thinking]?
With this, I can still fight…!
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Iko-san. I’m ready now.”
“You’re not going to use a weapon?”
“If I had one, you’d probably use it against me. That’s what I’m most afraid of, so this is just right.”
I thought Gaga’s magic sword might return to normal after the match, but its ability remained fixed.
Besides, if such a ridiculously powerful item were to be used against me in a counterattack, I’d be obliterated.
That one’s sealed away until the time comes!
“Oh, that’s a shame. I was planning to use it.”
“I knew it.”
“Well, if you say you’re ready, that’s fine. Referee, please give the signal to start.”
Oh, she was waiting for us to be ready to start.
By the way, there’s no referee, but maybe NPCs can see something we can’t?
“Now, for the last battle, whether you laugh or cry! The Grand Martial Arts Festival final match begins!”
A buzzer sounds, signaling the start of the match.
At the same time, Iko starts walking towards me casually.
She could probably run if she wanted to, but she’s just walking normally.
In that case—
While suppressing my raging consciousness with [Parallel Thinking], I slowly walk towards Iko as well.
“I thought you’d rush in, but you’re walking?”
“I probably can’t win with techniques, so I thought it’d be better not to use tricks.”
“Do you think you can win without tricks?”
“Shall we find out?”
“Well, I’d like to see that.”
Iko and I stop at the same time.
The distance between us is barely 60 centimeters.
We’re completely within each other’s range.
We stop there without any signal and simultaneously throw punches at each other.
With a sound that shakes the air, our fists collide head-on in mid-air.
The stage beneath our feet cracks from the force, and our fists are knocked back.
By the way, my fist hurts!?
But more than my lamenting, it’s Iko who’s been knocked back further!
It seems I’m stronger in terms of physical attack!
And then we follow up with two, three more punches, increasing the rotation with both arms.
“Uryaaa!”
In reality, these palm strikes wouldn’t have much power, but this is a game! If they hit, damage occurs according to the attack power!
Iko was matching my punches, but by the third one, she couldn’t keep up and had to raise one arm to defend. The impact sent her flying back a bit.
But with this, I’m certain.
My agility and intuition stats are higher too!
“As expected, I can’t beat the young ones these days.”
“I think the current Iko-san looks plenty young though?”
“Thank you. Well then, shall I use a little trick?”
Saying that, Iko closes the distance.
I respond with a barrage of palm strikes, but… they don’t hit at all!
She skillfully deflects them using the backs of her hands and elbows!
The difference in intuition and agility isn’t as large as with Nabal and the others! It’s at a level where skill actually matters!
“Hup.”
“Wah!?”
Suddenly, she tried to grab my arm, so I jumped back with all my might!
She definitely would have used [Magic Penetration Pressure Palm] if she’d grabbed me, right?
“Oh, that was close.”
I knew it! She was definitely aiming for that!
Close combat with Iko is dangerous!
“Well, let’s end this warm-up and get serious, shall we?”
“Is anything goes?”
“Yes, come at me with everything you’ve got.”
Then, I’ll take you up on that offer—
“[Dark Avatar]!”
With my words, my shadow materializes and lunges at Iko!
I leave its control to the raging part of my [Parallel Thinking], while I continue to cast magic!
“[Water Snake]!”
Level 8 [Water Magic]. A huge water snake is born from my palm and pursues Iko as if it were alive.
I chase after the water snake, closing the distance with Iko in one go!
“If two arms aren’t enough, I’ll increase the number!”
“Novelty isn’t everything, you know?”
Iko grabs the upper and lower jaws of the water snake with her arms reinforced by [Magic Armor]!
But with both her hands occupied, it’s my chance— or so I thought, but the [Dark Avatar] attacking from behind got a hole punched in its gut by a back kick!
“Do you have eyes on your back or something!?”
“Years of experience let me sense presences.”
With a crackling sound, the water snake is torn in half horizontally.
What kind of power does it take to tear apart magic like that!?
As the water snake dissipates into mist in the air, I still charge at Iko, covered in water droplets.
“Coming straight at me? How naive.”
“As if I’d do that! [Mirage]!”
Level 7 [Light Magic]. In an instant, I bend light to multiply my image!
Apparently, this magic can also be used to make myself invisible by refracting light, but this time I’m using it for confusion!
My position is probably obvious to her due to my presence.
But even so, if it diverts Iko’s attention even a little, it’s worth it!
I swing at Iko along with multiple images of myself, but…
All the attacks, including the illusions, are deflected!?
“Oops, this is the real one…”
“[Ray]!”
Level 9 [Light Magic]. I unleash this instantaneous light beam that’s supposed to be impossible to dodge after casting, but almost simultaneously, I feel the impact of a kick!
“That was dangerous.”
“You deflected the beam’s trajectory by kicking me!? Ugh, my side hurts… Iko-san, you really are strong…!”
It seems like it was an emergency measure for Iko too, and I’m glad she didn’t use [Magic Penetration Pressure Palm]…
Can I really win against this opponent?
This isn’t the kind of enemy that should be prepared for an early-game event, right!?