Lin Qing caught Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's head... more precisely, the head of Jigen's humanoid mech. Isshiki, as its pilot, was trapped inside.
"You think this is enough to deal with me?"
Isshiki suddenly spoke.
Lin Qing shook his head slightly.
"I'm not that naive."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's current state was like Lin Qing forcibly hitting the pause button during the cutscene when a BOSS entered its second phase.
But as long as the sealed Ripple crystal developed even the slightest crack, or Isshiki found a way to break free, he could complete his reincarnation in an instant.
Once he appeared in his true body, the speed and power of Sukunahikona and his portals would increase severalfold.
If they fought, it was hard to say who would have the upper hand.
But if Isshiki was dead set on leaving, Lin Qing truly had no way to keep him.
Both Lin Qing and Isshiki understood that.
Their battle was not over. It had merely shifted from the open into a more hidden contest of energy manipulation and technique.
It would depend on whether Lin Qing found a way to trap and kill Isshiki first.
Or whether Ōtsutsuki Isshiki found a way out first and launched retaliatory hunts against Lin Qing's close friends and family.
"You will lose, Lin Qing."
With the direct battle over, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's tone returned to its usual elegance and composure.
"You will lose completely."
"I admit that you possess combat power far beyond that of humans."
"But combat power is like a beast's muscles. With enough energy, along with the right techniques and a bit of luck, perhaps once every hundred years, perhaps once every thousand, there will always be geniuses capable of obtaining such power—"
"Like you."
"But knowledge is different."
Isshiki slowly wiped the smile from his face.