Qiji didn't expect this either...
Panyan's Heart Essence was completely drained by Qiji, and the two-meter-tall man crashed to the ground like an iron tower with its foundation hollowed out.
—Sorry, buddy.
Qiji said something to himself, feeling a little embarrassed.
He was so focused on his own pleasure that he forgot to leave two drops for the Panyan, which was supposed to be his "backup energy source".
But it doesn't matter. Once he leads Panyan to victory and enters the third level, Panyan's spirit will be cleansed by the Sea of Spirit Matter and restore it to its full glory.
Sensing the increasingly terrifying aura emanating from Qiji, Charles couldn't believe it—
What's wrong with the guy in front of me?
Isn't this the Tide Grand Competition in the City of Kindling?
What happened to the fishpond game we were promised?!
Where did you get it from?!
This terrifying sense of oppression... even his younger brother couldn't compare!
Damn it! Go for it!
Charles took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "Let's attack together! Four against one, the advantage is ours!"
"Four against one?"
Qiji a step forward, and the hands on the watch face behind him started to turn again, jumping from Moonlight to Vector.
In an instant, crimson light burst forth from his fingertips.
[Piercing Rainbow]!
This time, Piercing Rainbow's performance was different from his all-out effort against Sibel.
This was partly due to the [One Night's Moonfall] buff, and partly because the people in front of them were far weaker than Sibel.
Therefore, Qiji's [Piercing Rainbow] only drew upon the power of a single fragment.
As Qiji had said before, he was a person who disliked waste.
In the next instant, Qiji flicked a single finger, and a crimson rainbow gracefully streaked across the sky.
The spirits of Dorothy, Dorian, and Rina were instantly reduced to transparent.
They vanished into a stream of light on the arena.
One strike, just one strike.
"Now it's one-on-one."
Qiji deliberately saved Charles for last.
He said he would help Suyo get revenge.
He said he would do what he said.
Seeing that three of his men had been lost in just a moment, Charles swallowed hard in horror.
He immediately disregarded the fact that continuous use of "Overload" would shorten the lifespan of his Concept Armament, or even render it unusable.
Charles immediately unfurled his Armament, embedded the Overload Core into his breastplate, and slammed his thumb across the core, causing it to spin.
In an instant, power surged back into my body!
With the added boost of Concept Armament, the Charles's glory is rekindled!
"I am the strongest!"
To boost his confidence, Charles roared.
With Vector Echo that has no cooldown and no cost, he can't possibly lose!
"How ugly."
However, Qiji's voice faintly reached his ear.
"To call yourself the strongest with this level of skill is to desecrate the word 'strongest'."
How can one become the strongest by relying on borrowed power?
Experience it for yourself!
What is the strongest?
Qiji used his finger as a sword and slashed out.
A crimson rainbow streaked across the sky.
Charles's pupils contracted, his expression turned grave, and he immediately turned his Heart Essence output power to maximum!
He activated the Echo!
[Vector Alteration!]
Qiji smiled at this.
How can you change Vector Vector?
Having mastered the Myth Fragment, his Vector surpasses that of the Charles!
A rainbow streaked across the sky.
Charles's Armament shattered with a crash, and the Overload Core fell to the ground.
[One Night's Moonfall] showcases Qiji's perfect control over "narrative".
Therefore, this [Piercing Rainbow] strike just happened to cripple Charles.
While rendering the latter powerless to resist, it also prevented his spirit from immediately disintegrating.
"Did you feel it? This is the strongest."
I felt it, I felt it...
Charles's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
The oppressive feeling that Qiji had given him in that instant even reminded him of his sister when she was in a rage.
He was genuinely terrified.
Even after the attack, the crimson light at Qiji's fingertips had not dissipated.
He looked at Charles and asked the latter a question with a hint of mischief:
What is the result of subtracting 91 from 10086?
"... Huh?" Charles was stunned, wondering why Qiji was asking him this at this moment.
Can't answer?
With a flick of Qiji finger, a crimson light flashed, and a gash was precisely cut open in the spirit body at Charles's ankle.
"Ah!!!"
For a moment, Charles's screams echoed throughout the arena.
Spirits are more sensitive to pain than the physical body.
Thanks to Qiji, Charles is now experiencing this firsthand.
This scene on the field once again stunned the entire audience!
Everyone stared in disbelief, feeling as if it were all a dream.
Am I... really not dreaming?
"It hurts! It hurts! It's not a dream! Hahaha, it's not a dream!"
"God Ji! Awesome!!!"
No one thought there was anything wrong with Qiji's behavior at that moment.
Because what Charles did to Suyo just now was even more outrageous than this!
He deserved it!
Moreover, it was the people of Kalentia who started the humiliation of the City of Kindling fighters in the arena!
This has almost become a staple of their program every year.
The people of City of Kindling have been holding back for too many years.
Seeing Qiji retaliate in kind now just feels so satisfying!
Even when Qiji posed a math problem, people would shout out the answer along with it.
He was even more proactive than Charles himself.
Besides, a small group of people, seeing that their place in the finals was practically secured, immediately went to inform those who had left disappointed earlier.
Those people thought the final was an internal battle for Kalentia and stormed off in anger.
But now, things are different!
The final is something to look forward to!
Perhaps, it will become a stage for Qiji to perform all by herself!
No, it's not just a possibility, it's a certainty!
City of Kindling will win this competition!
Qiji will protect everything in the City of Kindling for them!
In the Losers' Square.
Suyo stared blankly up at Charles, who had been so arrogant and domineering in front of her just moments before, now curled up in a ball in front of Qiji.
Looking at Qiji's excessively handsome face, Suyo suddenly couldn't bring herself to dislike him.
This guy... could it be because of me that he...?
Seeing this scene before her, Suyo momentarily had the "illusion" that Qiji was avenging her.
However, Suyo immediately shook his head to clear his mind.
—No, what are you thinking!
This guy's guiding principle has always been "the strong should ruthlessly humiliate the weak!"
Thinking of this, Suyo to myself, "How dangerous!"
She almost lost all sense of morality because of her looks!
She had almost forgotten that when Qiji first faced her, he had also subjected her to this kind of extreme humiliation!!!
It made her cry all day...
So, this guy wasn't venting his anger; he was simply enjoying himself!
This person... is really scary...
Brother, how could you become best friends with such a monster!
"Monster."
The little maid stared at the scene on the arena, murmuring in disbelief.
Compared to this guy...
The princess, who is called a "monster," really is just like a little white rabbit!
On the stage, Mr. Qiji's arithmetic lesson continued.
Charles is clearly a child who slipped through the net of nine-year compulsory education.