Is it really impossible for him to do it?
There is nothing in this world that Qiji- chan cannot do!
"So, all the combat power that Qiji displayed before was actually from methods outside of Echo?"
Huomu thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed true.
Qiji's two most frequently used techniques in combat are physical combat and Instant Bloom, neither of which have much to do with Echo.
As for the Sword of Mirrors and such, they were probably just his Conceptual Creation.
However, Liuli, who knew Qiji the most, was puzzled. "Without an awakening Echo, how did Qiji unleash his Armament and enter the Sea of Consciousness?"
"That's right! Qiji is definitely wearing Armament!"
Reminded by Liuli, the others suddenly remembered—
The video that Teacher Kijika showed them that day showed Qiji's Armament, which was clearly gorgeous and powerful.
Furthermore, in the video, he even used Teacher Tsukimi's signature Echo, "One Night's Moonfall"!
For a moment, everyone was filled with question marks.
Belief and doubt, two diametrically opposed emotions, rapidly converged at the intersection of Qiji 'Sea of Consciousness and reality.
The core of the Qiji Echo Core began to roar.
The second ritual on it—
[The Falsehood Believed to Be True] begins to rotate.
He was a [fake] genius, yet he deceived everyone for nine years, making everyone believe him to be genuine.
The first step of this ritual, which is [the Falsehood Believed to Be True], is the literal part.
Qiji has completed it after nine years.
However, for this ritual to truly succeed, a second step is needed: reversing the ritual's order—
Let those who believe question, and let those who question believe!
At this moment, before the entire City of Kindling, Qiji admits his [falsehood].
Regardless of whether people believe or doubt this self-disclosure, some will inevitably change their original opinion of him.
That's enough!
The collective understanding cracked the moment he revealed it, and that crack was the beginning of a reversal!
Those who question it believe it, thus empowering the belief.
If those who believe question it, then the [false] part also becomes true.
Both sides work simultaneously; ritual two: officially ignite!
Meanwhile, [Ritual One] had already completed its first step even earlier.
[An Existence That Should Not Exist] —
As a transmigrator, Qiji Ji did not belong to this world.
He is an anomaly in this world, Miracle that should never have been born; his very existence is [An Existence That Should Not Exist].
He was born practicing the first step of [Ritual One].
So, now there's only the second step left—
An Existence That Should Not Exist, [existing in something that should not exist].
[Ritual One] and [Ritual Two] have been outlined; next up is [Ritual Three].
In rituals, "five" is a number that represents Miracle.
Humans perceive the world through their five senses. When the five senses are filled with the power of ritual, they can glimpse Miracle that ordinary people cannot see.
In conclusion, "five" is "the medium through which Miracle are witnessed".
Therefore, Qiji's ritual consists of five steps.
[Ritual One] and [Ritual Two] together account for four of them.
The remaining [Ritual Three] naturally became the simplest of the three rings.
Just one step —
[The Blind Spot in Everyone's Attention].
The phrase "[the Attention of everyone's attention]" was achieved the moment Qiji stepped onto the stage.
As for [blind spots] --
Qiji looked at Sibel, waiting for Sibel's strongest Echo to be completed.
He had a premonition, a very strong premonition—
Whether it's the second step of [Ritual Two] [Existing in What Shouldn't Exist], or the [Blind Spot] required by [Ritual Three], both will be provided to him by Sibel.
Originally, Qiji thought that person would be Suyo.
Therefore, he spared no effort in feeding the latter into the Sea of Consciousness, hoping that the Suyo would be strong enough to meet the needs of the ritual.
However, after seeing Sibel, Qiji understood.
Sibel was the one he had truly been waiting for!
Sibel's circuit is nearing completion.
The girl's long, lake-blue hair moved on its own, spreading out even without wind, and her skirt fluttered.
Her body gradually floated into the air, and the surrounding time began to distort—
Dust particles hovered in mid-air, the angle of the sunlight no longer shifted, and everything on the arena was sliced into countless independent, isolated Setsuna.
She hovers in the center of all Setsuna, like a clock hand surrounded by time.
"Cough cough." Qiji was still coughing up blood.
But this time, he didn't even bother to get a tissue.
Qiji's entire focus was concentrated on the increasingly violent tremor within his body.
After waiting a while longer, finally—
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Sibel opened her eyes, her voice becoming ethereal and distant. Countless overlapping timelines were reflected in the girl's pupils.
This is my strongest Echo—
[Time of Nonexistence].
To be honest, this is my first time using it.
But don't worry, it won't hurt.
Because it only takes a moment.
This is a blank space that never existed on any timeline; once a person falls into it, they will never be able to return to the present world.
If I used it on you in real life, you would definitely die.
But because we are currently at the boundary between the Sea of Consciousness and reality, and are in a spiritual state, it doesn't matter.
Sibel pointed one finger to the sky, and a huge vortex, or rather a ball of light, condensed at the tip of his finger.
The shape of the ball of light bore a striking resemblance to the "evacuation point" in the Sea of Consciousness.
"Alright, I'm going to release now."
If you can do it, try resisting as soon as possible.
Sibel flicked her hand, hurling the enormous ball of light toward Qiji.
"Let me remind you, it's not too late to admit defeat now."
Of course, Qiji was not going to admit defeat.
On the contrary, at this very moment, Qiji has already seized victory!
Faced with the enormous ball of light approaching, Qiji only did one thing.
That is to stand up, push the armrests backward with both arms, and push the wheelchair far to the edge of the ring.
He himself stood tall, facing the oncoming ball of light without flinching or dodging!
In order to complete the ritual, Qiji had to endure the Echo from Sibel, but his expensive wheelchair was not up to the task.
And then, in the next instant.
The ball of light suddenly shone brightly!
Qiji's figure was completely swallowed up.
As far as the eye could see, there was only a wheelchair, spinning like a top on the edge of the ring.
Only Sibel remained standing in the ring.
In this situation, no matter how you look at it, Qiji has already lost.
The live stream chat was the first to erupt in excitement:
"???"
"No, where is my Prisoner Ji? Where is that huge Prisoner Ji?"
"Should we insert a flashback segment here?"
"Alright, stop pretending, just bring out my nostalgic moments!"
"Finally, it's time for those Prisoner Ji memories! Let me see!"
However, the viewers in the live stream waited for a long time, but there was no flashback of memories on the screen.
Below the arena.
The four little ones looked at each other in bewilderment.
Did Qiji- kun lose? But why...?
If he didn't have a way to deal with Sibel's Echo, why would he actively ask Sibel to release her strongest Echo?
I didn't understand for Setsuna.
In her mind, whatever Qiji does must have a deeper meaning.
But at this moment, Setsuna racked her brains but still couldn't understand the meaning behind what Qiji had done.
Of all the people, it was definitely Huomu who understood Qiji the best.
Huomu pondered for a moment, and then, once again, he was the first to understand!
"I see, I see! As expected of Qiji! He's using the immortality of spirits to awaken his own Echo through Sibel's [Time of Nonexistence]!"
That explains everything!
That's not surprising!
As is well known, acquired Echo awakening is generally achieved through deep experiences, extreme emotions, or special rituals.
The stronger the Echo, the more demanding the conditions required for awakening!
Huomu now understands why Qiji has been slow to awaken his Echo: Qiji's Echo is extraordinary!
What Qiji- san needs is—
The most profound experience, the most extreme emotions, the most unique ritual!
And what experience could possibly be more profound than the experience of life and death?
What emotion could be more extreme than the thought of life and death?
What ritual could be more extraordinary than that of life and death?