Battle

Ryuen Kakeru fixed his gaze on Itozawa, a cruel grin on his face. He made no effort to slow down, charging straight at him as if he meant to plow right through him. His body was like a tank hurtling forward at full speed, unstoppable.

At that critical moment, Itozawa felt as though the world around him had slowed down.

His eyes caught every movement Ryuen Kakeru made, even the points where his energy flowed and the direction of his force. Everything became unusually clear, as if time had slowed in his perception.

Itozawa didn't try to take the attack head-on. He knew that would be like an egg smashing against a rock.

Instead, he twisted sharply at the waist and nimbly slipped around the momentum of Ryuen Kakeru's attack.

He stepped back with his right foot to steady himself, then punched toward the point where the muscles in Ryuen Kakeru's forearm crossed.

His fist shot forward like a bullet, striking its target with pinpoint accuracy. Ryuen Kakeru's forearm suddenly went numb, bringing his forward momentum to an abrupt halt. A sharp pain shot through his arm.

Ryuen Kakeru's expression changed dramatically, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He hadn't expected Itozawa to be able to stop him. His gaze sharpened, and at last he began to take the fight seriously.

His right fist whipped out with a sharp whoosh, aimed straight at Itozawa's face.

Itozawa ducked quickly to avoid the blow, raising his left arm to block the left hook Ryuen Kakeru followed with.

He leaned back slightly to evade Ryuen Kakeru's knee, then counterattacked at once, driving a straight punch toward Ryuen Kakeru's abdomen.

Ryuen Kakeru reacted just as quickly. His abdominal muscles tensed instantly, allowing him to take Itozawa's blow head-on, while his right elbow shot backward in an attempt to strike Itozawa's head.

Itozawa quickly stepped back to evade the elbow, but his right foot darted out like a striking snake, kicking swiftly and accurately toward Ryuen Kakeru's lower leg.

Ryuen Kakeru was forced to jump to avoid the kick, but he adjusted his position midair and launched a flying kick toward Itozawa's chest.

Itozawa crossed his arms and took the kick head-on, but the tremendous impact dragged his feet across the ground, carving two tracks into the floor.

Their attacks and defenses were lightning-fast. Every strike carried immense force, and every block was precise. The air by the pool grew hot from their battle, and each clash of fist and foot rang out with a dull thud.

Itozawa's breathing grew ragged, but his gaze remained firm. Right now, he was the only one who could hold Ryuen Kakeru off. Only when Kanzaki recovered could the three of them join forces and have a chance of beating him.

Itozawa's body constantly twisted and darted beneath Ryuen Kakeru's attacks. His movements were fluid and swift, and he evaded each strike by the narrowest margin.

His counterattacks weren't as savage as Ryuen Kakeru's, but they were precise, each one posing a threat.

The air grew hot from their fight. The two figures raced around the edge of the pool, leaving a series of blurred afterimages in their wake. The ripples of their battle spread across the pool's surface.

Itozawa knew he couldn't let Ryuen Kakeru interfere with Amako Kura and Kanzaki. He had to keep Ryuen Kakeru occupied here and buy his teammates time to recover.

Ryuen Kakeru's assault grew more and more ferocious, like waves crashing one after another.

A cold light gleamed in his eyes. He suddenly leaned forward and launched a powerful side kick at Itozawa's ribs. If it landed, it could cause serious injury.

Itozawa reacted quickly, turning his body slightly to deftly evade Ryuen Kakeru's side kick. As he dodged, he thrust out his right hand and grabbed Ryuen Kakeru's kicking leg, while his left leg swept toward Ryuen Kakeru's supporting leg.

When Ryuen Kakeru felt Itozawa grab his leg, he immediately realized that his attack had been turned against him.

His body instantly lost its balance, but his reaction was lightning-fast. He planted his other foot on the ground and steadied himself.

However, Itozawa's sweep was already coming. Ryuen Kakeru had no choice but to wrench his leg free and jump backward to avoid being swept off his feet.

Ryuen Kakeru retreated several steps, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Itozawa to counter so quickly. He took a deep breath, adjusted his rhythm, and began looking for a new opening.

Itozawa stayed on guard, knowing Ryuen Kakeru wouldn't give up so easily. He crouched slightly, ready to face Ryuen Kakeru's next wave of attacks.

The battle reached its boiling point, and Itozawa felt he was nearing his limit. Ryuen Kakeru's assault was like a tsunami, wave after wave, each strike more vicious than the last. Itozawa's ability let him predict Ryuen Kakeru's attacks, but his stamina and reaction speed were beginning to fall behind Ryuen Kakeru's pace.

During one exchange, Ryuen Kakeru drove a heavy punch straight at Itozawa's chin. If it landed, it would be enough to end the fight.

Itozawa barely managed to turn his head, but Ryuen Kakeru's fist grazed his cheek, sending a stab of pain through him. Stars flashed before Itozawa's eyes. He staggered, nearly falling over.

At that critical moment, Kanzaki appeared like a ghost. He quickly reached out, grabbed Itozawa by the sleeve, and yanked him backward.

With his other hand, he grabbed Amako Kura and had her grab Watanabe, pulling both of them away from the center of the fight as well.

Seeing this, Ryuen Kakeru immediately shifted his attack, preparing to pursue them. An unyielding light flashed in his eyes; he clearly had no intention of letting them go. Kanzaki remained calm, knowing he had to act to stop Ryuen Kakeru.

He gave Amako Kura a look, and she immediately understood. She suddenly struck Watanabe in the abdomen. Watanabe's ability, Body Prison, instantly dissolved, and the water inside him burst out like a flood breaking through a dam, rushing straight at Ryuen Kakeru.

Caught in the sudden torrent, Ryuen Kakeru was swept backward through the air. His body tumbled in the water, and he could barely breathe. The force of the water was immense, almost drowning him. His face turned deathly pale, and a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.

At that critical moment, Yasuda quickly stepped in. He waved both hands through the air, and the water immediately changed direction, redirected back into the pool. The force of the water slammed Ryuen Kakeru against the edge of the pool. His body hit the tiles heavily, then slid into the water, sending up a huge splash.

Yasuda's expression was stern, and his voice echoed through the pool room. "Enough, Ryuen Kakeru. This assessment has gone far beyond what we expected. What you've done is no longer just part of an assessment."

Ryuen Kakeru stood up in the water, a look of resentment on his face, but more than that, a desire for power.

Meanwhile, Kanzaki had already taken the opportunity to haul the three of them far away from the swimming pool. He didn't stop until they reached their classroom.

Back at his desk, Itozawa was panting heavily, relief on his face.

He knew that if Kanzaki hadn't pulled him away in time, Ryuen Kakeru would have left him behind. He might already have lost to Ryuen Kakeru.

He couldn't help feeling a lingering fear. Thankfully, Ryuen Kakeru didn't have a physical-type ability. Thankfully, he had trained hard for three years. Otherwise, Ryuen Kakeru might have beaten him into a cripple right there.