> Sight…gifted by blood, awakened by tragedy. This sight…

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With irides turned red just as before, marked with the same tomoe number, Adashu looked at Bo, carrying his reflection in his eyes, beautiful in all their glory.

The latter instantly realized the implications, hurriedly skipping back in the hope that his opponent had not fully activated them, or used them only as a mere fear tactic.

However, nothing happened. For a moment or two, the dyad kept wary watch of each other whilst greatly distanced.

And at the same time, the two were watched keenky by the audience in their own anxious wait for the next big act.

Probacon, in the seating area, shifted his body and face whilst observing with both anticipating and confusing feelings.

What's going on? How long are they gonna keep staring like that?

“Not catchin' on, huh?,” asked Drizzled, who from his facial expressions, had noted what was in the Djin's mind.

"Sorta. I don't get this standoff. What's the play here?,” responded Probacon, a little riled up.

"Well, it's easy. It's not that kinda battle."

Probacon turned his head towards Drizzled, with a face twisted in puzzlement.

"In me and the prince's case, it was a battle of overall ability and mindset, with him coming out top. In Couch and Shwey's, it was a battle of aggression, which its end accounts for. But this one…is a purely cerebral one. And whoever mentally slips up first, is the big loser."

Probacon's expression changed, lighting up in insight anew. Insight on the kind of duel it was. Information that caught his eye even more.

But on the platform, both persons continued their distanced stares, ever still cautious of the upcoming stretch.

Bo was the more wary of the two, noticeable in his eyes and gestures, deep in thought but still present on the battlefield.

Suddenly, Adashu swiftly weaved some signs, jolting his adversary right back into the battle.

~Water Art: Razor Current!~ He spat out a spearing spurt of velocious water from his mouth.

Bo noticed and avoided it, moving away from it whilst speculating. Did he really do nothing with those eyes of his? Meaning–.

But before he could fully mentate his thoughts, he seemingly “awakened”, only to see himself in the same place as before, right before Adashu had attacked.

Then Adashu performed the technique again, and just as before, Bo swiftly eluded the flowing waters.

Was that…some sort of premonition? No…, He thought, recuperating as before, and beginning to soar towards Adashu once again.

This time, I–.

Then he suddenly awakened yet again, as if in a constant loop of the performed actions.

Adashu then performed his attack yet again, and Bo avoided it yet again, slowly grasping the circumstances.

This is no premonition! Unsurprising, analyzed Bo, his face plastered with confusion.

So…this must be–.

"That is correct,” worded Adashu.

And the from nowhere he delivered a solid blow to Bo's abdomen, causing the latter's cheeks to swell in reaction.

The follow-through was greater, enhanced by psychic force, sending Bo flying a tremendous displacement away, and crashing into a slab of earth of alpine magnitude.

He began to rise, groaning and holding with a forearm his aching abdomen.

Then Adashu spoke. "You realized that was an Illusory Technique. A rarity I personally do not experience.”

《The Chime Clan.》

“Yes…you seemed to have "reflected" a flase reality into my mind, entrapping me in a constant loop of that sequence, triggered by my move but first activated beforehand…,” commented Bo.

Adashu replied with a simple, singular nod.

《Possessing illusionary capabilities of a high-end prowess. An aspect of a general power of "reflection". To take and give reflections of many sorts, in many ways.》

“Then you must've known of the Chime's special abilities, which is why you avoided eye contact at first. Intelligent, but with these eyes, I have the upper hand in this fight."

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Bo took a seating position, still mid-recovery as he contemplated the knowledge he had just been divulged.

But in the end, he simply produced a slight smile.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" He howled hysterically, bringing concern to many onlookers, including Adashu.

"Good! Good! Intelligent fellows are rare. That means…”

“This battle will be a proper one,” said Bo with an unsettling smile.

He then flew up to a high vantage point in the sky, whereas Adashu kept watch on him from below.

Bo, from his high point, then threw both arms open, held his hands vertically and fingers wide while gathering "energy".

"I had prepared for that illusion in foresight. For beforehand, I dug into my deepest subconscious, allowing it to naturally gather energy, which I shall use now.”

“Prepare yourself!"

He then straightened his arms to his front, forming a sphere of energy in the space between his palms, emitting sporadic bolts of yellow electricity that shot out in all directions.

And finally, he discharged a massive golden beam of ki with electric sparks streaming around it towards Adashu. “Especially for you! ~My Ultimate Blast!~"

A ki attack? That cannot be blocked with standard Water Art!, thought Adashu with an alarmed glare, as the shadows around him disappeared in the blinding light of the blast.

It seemingly reached its target, destroying an immense portion of the great landmass the platform had become.

And the onlookers gasped in amazement, seemed enthralled by yet another extravagant show of power by a participant.

Bo however, seemed to have been greatly drained by that attack, and headed back towards the ground, which had reformed itself yet again, believing his opponent downed, but not rushing to the point.

As the dust settled, most were left baffled by what they saw. As in the midst of it, stood none other than Adashu, seemingly surrounded by a barrier, and unharmed by the attack, unfazed by it as well.

His opponent however, showed little emotion, as he had realized that this was a greater possibility. And just chuckled at the sight of Adashu.

"Well, this was a high-end possibility.”

"So you're Synflow adroit, capable of using that all-encompassing metaphysical field veil of energy? I'm impressed. However…”

“Was that not one of your last resorts?” He asked, looking at Adashu who had now had an expression change, shifting his body a little.

"That…was part of my plan. Forcing the opponent to draw most of his deck, before using my stronger cards. Intelligent you are, but still easily manipulated..."

Adashu slightly lowered his head, drowning himself in thought.

Afterwards, with his head still lowered, he looked up at Bo with indifference. "Do you truly think…just knowing of my abilities will help you defeat me?"

Bo paused, caught unawares by the question.

He would then give a chuckle, which morphed into a hearty laugh.

"Of course not. (That would be wishful thinking.)” He laughed. "Still, a very smart step towards victory. Don't you agree?"

"Hmm. Alright then. Let us test the 'smartness' of this step,” stated Adashu, who then barreled at Bo with his hands let to flail behind and his ocular talent activated.

Bo also charged at Adashu, as the two clashed and began exchanging all sorts of blows in search of constant momentum. And despite an original disadvantage, Adashu slowly caught up to Bo's masterful combat, eventually supplanting the latter much to his bewilderment.

How? Is my skill in combat not surely greater...?, pondered Bo, clenching his teeth in annoyance.

"Do not wonder why I best you in the martial act,” stated Adashu, still blocking his opponent's moves.

"The answer…should be clear!"

"So, with your eyes you've read my movements and mimicked them at a faster rate?!,” questioned Bo, as he retreated from Adashu's range.

"Sharp as ever. Unfazing, really. But…”

“It won't save you now!” The shinobi proceeded to employ his Synflow powers to telekinetically sweep Bo into a towering cliff.

"Well…,” chuckled the Stralean as he arose in the midst of rubble, with his wear now torn in various spots, and bleeding from his temple. “It seems…the mental battle drags to be inconclusive. In that case..."

"Let us decide this with our bodies!" He charged at Adashu, who prepared for what was to come.

He struck him in his gut yet again, carrying him forward as he did before.

He proceeded to release a swift barrage of punches at Adashu, who used his heightened reflexes granted by his ocular ability to block their greater majority.

Only for a rippling, powerful punch to send him flying backwards, crashing into an alp.

Bo flew skywards, as he looked down and viewed what had happened as the possible end.

But suddenly, the surface rumbled, and once again, the platform changed shape and form.

And it seemed through the telekinetic power granted by that metaphysical veil, a resurgent Adashu, with himself and his robe damaged and all, had begun to compress air into a singularity carrying an inestimable measure of thew.

That much power!?, thought Bo, preparing for defensive action.

Then, with a shout and all his might, Adashu pushed that singularity into one spot with all might.

From which a celestial blast would pulsate, catapulting both parties and wiping away the platform on which they stood.

The audiences looked on in shock and in awe of it, a feat yet to be performed, until now.

And many, if not most, had questions about what had just transpired.

But everyone now unanimously wondered the same thing; who survived that?

《“Who is the victor?” They think.》

And after a period of wait, the calm came, revealing a reformed platform of earth, rock and flora, and both men in soporous perception.

Murmurs of an initial confusion arose as Adashu was already believed to be the sure victor. But in patience they waited, for the call of the final verdict.

Then, Adashu moved ever so slightly, groaning in pain and beginning to take his rise, and keeping all wondering…

《And this penultimate push to victory…》

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