A voice as loud as Nishikimachi’s, a giant figure comparable to Nishikimachi’s, and a level of stupidity rivaling Nishikimachi’s.
I’m almost tempted to suspect if it’s Nishikimachi himself, but the only difference is his overwhelming strength.
The famous “Strongest in Close Combat” of Class 3-A, Dojima Tadashi, has come near us.
He’s looking around, seemingly searching for someone. But… he couldn’t find the student he was looking for. Eventually, he heads towards Sakuma and Asahina-san.
“Ah, I lost, I lost. Completely defeated, Class 1-C! I never imagined that we’d be swept away in the third event by the first-years!”
Well, about that tiger-slaying incident earlier. It seems that this senpai Doujima also participated.
“No, it appears that the second and third-year students were focused more on speed rather than strength. To defeat a tiger, a real living creature, it was better to rely on pure speed rather than raw power. …This time, it seems the school’s personality was just bad.”
I frowned at Asahina’s explanation. Hey, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
Come on, it’s as if Asahina and I have similar thought processes.
“Wow, Miss Asahina is so eloquent! I’m so glad she’s respecting her elders,”
Doujima said with a loud laugh.
I could see Sakuma approaching Doujima.
“Doujima. I know it’s rude, but I won’t apologize. I was faster than you in our serious match. …Though I think if it came down to pure strength, you’d probably beat me–“
“I get it. If you won, then hold your head high! It’s not like there was any foul play. You surpassed the top close-quarters fighter, fair and square!”
Doujima gently smiled at Sakuma’s somewhat matter-of-fact statement.
He lightly bopped Sakuma’s head and then headed back to his side, waving his hand.
As Doujima passed by Asahina, it seemed he said something to her. Probably something about the Vigilante Squad still being active.
“Well then. Sakuma, you’ve achieved a wonderful result as the second-place finisher. Along with Hoshina in first and Kurotsuki in second… You’ve now placed three times in a row. So, let’s aim for the overall championship with this momentum!”
Asahina raised her fist, and her classmates followed suit.
As an eager atmosphere enveloped Class 1-C, I opened the pamphlet that had been distributed.
My turn wasn’t up yet, but… I couldn’t let my guard down for the next event either.
The next event would allow Shinzaki’s long-awaited “anything goes” rules.
The fourth event – depending on how it unfolds, this competition might be decided here.
[“Alright, the fourth event is ‘Toppling the King’! Teams of five from each class will compete in a no-holds-barred survival match, where the team whose ‘king’ is incapacitated loses!”]
In the distance, I could see Shinzaki grinning excitedly.
Turning my gaze to Class A, I frowned.
Even from afar, they looked like a terrible lineup. They probably didn’t have any intention of competing seriously.
As I was inwardly thinking that the match might be decided, I noticed Asahina start to move at the edge of my vision.
“…I believe Shinzaki-kun will definitely attack in the next event. So, let’s go with the ‘strongest formation’ I had already decided on.”
Asahina took the lead, and the remaining four followed behind her.
…Of course, Sakuma, who had just fought, and Karasuma, who likely wanted to keep his abilities hidden for future events, weren’t chosen. But excluding them, it was undoubtedly the strongest lineup.
Led by Asahina Kasumi [Blessed by the Thunder God], there was:
Kurotsuki Kanade [Blessed by the Demon King]
Kurashiki Hotaru [Blessed by ???]
Rakuichi Rakuza [The Ninja King]
Manabi Kana [The Winged King]
Incidentally, Rakuichi was a weird student in a ninja cosplay.
Manabi was Kurashiki’s best friend, a gyaru. Other than her strong abilities, she didn’t leave much of an impression.
By the way, the details of Kurashiki’s ability are still unknown. I really wish she would just tell us already.
Well, if I asked her, she’d probably just say, “I’ll tell you if you tell me first.”
“…Just one final confirmation, Hotaru-san. The competition we’re about to enter is a dangerous one.”
“That’s why I’m doing it! I’ll be the first to volunteer for anything no one wants to do. That’s what being a class representative is all about!”
Kurashiki probably put on the headband marking her as the ‘king’ with a smile.
If the ‘king’ is incapacitated – in other words, if the headband is removed – the team loses and is disqualified. The rules are simple enough, but the hidden aspects… A cunning person could come up with all sorts of ideas.
“Kurashiki-san.”
I called out as she passed by. She looked up at me with a slightly surprised expression, but after a moment of thought, she swallowed whatever advice I was about to give.
“Hm? What’s up, Amamori-kun?”
I had thought about giving her some advice, but realizing it wouldn’t really change anything, and she likely didn’t want my advice anyway, I just said,
“…Just fight without regrets.”
“…? Well, that’s the plan, but?”
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After seeing off the puzzled Kurashiki, soon a total of 45 students from 9 classes gathered on the field.
The largest number of participants in any event, radiating an aura like killing intent as they took their battle positions.
“Amamori, how do you see this fight going?”
Manabe, who was nearby, asked. I could see the Literature Club members surrounding me.
Apparently, they wanted my thoughts as the only one able to participate.
“Who knows. …But I don’t think Class C can win.”
As my words shocked those around me, the curtain was ruthlessly dropped on the competition.
[“And so, the fourth event – Toppling the King! Start!”]
At the announcer’s signal, the first to move was – as expected, Shinzaki.
“It was worth the wait! It looks like I can finally crush you guys!”
Shinzaki approached Class C without even glancing at anyone else.
His speed was clearly faster than when he had fought me. I was a little annoyed that he had been holding back, but then I realized that even with him holding back, I had ended up in the hospital.
I was glad he had been holding back. I truly felt that way from the bottom of my heart.
I was lost in those trivial thoughts when…
“Did you forget who the opponent is?”
–Thunder roared.
A yellow lightning bolt pierced through Shinzaki’s body.
The sheer impact and deafening sound sent Shinzaki’s body flying.
He fell to the ground, eyes wide open, and Asahina Kasumi looked down at him.
“I’m sorry, Shinzaki-kun. This time, I’m the one stepping out. Do you understand what that means?”
“Ha, haha… what a monster you are.”
Until now, Asahina Kasumi had never fought.
That’s why no one had even imagined the possibility.
The divine protection of the Thunder God. Given the name, she must be powerful, right?
But the reality far exceeded our expectations.
She was too strong. She had taken down even Shinzaki with a single blow.
What? Wait, was I actually calling you a stalker and a self-righteous hero (laughs)? Hmm, maybe I should change my attitude from now on.
While I was thinking that, Shinzaki suddenly stood up and swung his fist at Asahina.
“If anything goes, then I can just kill you, right?!”
“Feel free to try. If you can actually touch me, that is.”
Shinzaki’s fist let out a roar, but it didn’t even graze Asahina Kasumi.
In an instant, she circled behind Shinzaki and unleashed lightning on him again.
Convulsions shook Shinzaki’s body as the flash of light faded.
A normal person would have lost consciousness after the first hit,
but Shinzaki took the second one and still kept attacking.
“Haha, haha, hah!”
“Your defense… has increased as well?”
Asahina was surprised by his incredible endurance. But… no, it was more than that.
Shinzaki’s wounds were healing before their eyes, and in a matter of seconds, he was completely unharmed.
“…! That’s… “
“Kasumi-chan! I heard a rumor that he has multiple abilities, like physical enhancement and self-healing! I think Shinzaki-kun’s power is something like that!”
Well, that rumor is actually about your ability, isn’t it?
I kept quiet about it. After all, Shinzaki’s power seems to be even greater than that.
“You see, I’m just collecting power from below. Physical abilities, durability, mental strength, bodily regeneration… and the power of [Anomaly]!”
“No, it can’t be–!”
Asahina was shocked and leaped away.
Immediately, blades shot out from Shinzaki’s body, tearing the ground where Asahina had been standing. The many students present were stunned with wide eyes.
Shinzaki’s Anomaly is the [Divine Emperor’s Blessing]. Its essence, as he said, lies in [Power Acquisition].
He copies and assimilates all the [Power] that any being who recognizes him as superior, making it his own. Of course, it doesn’t work on us, his fellow classmates, whom he considers enemies, but… it works ridiculously well on the other students in the class.
“Hoshina and Iroha were there too, right? Excluding the two of them and myself, who don’t revere me, I now have the combined strength, durability, speed, and Anomalies of twenty-seven people!”
This is the ultimate power of Shinzaki.
Even his visible physical abilities can hardly be called the essence of his power.
He can infinitely duplicate and use Anomalies by having subordinates. That is the true nature of Shinzaki Yasuhito’s power.
“Anomalies that create blades, shield, levitation, invisibility. Mental attack Anomalies, leadership Anomalies, summoning magic, gravity magic, Anomalies that infinitely amplify magical power, Anomalies that judge the hostility of others, Anomalies that enable alchemy, Anomalies that harden the body, Anomalies that allow seeing spirits, Anomalies that freeze targets on sight, and so on.”
“What… incredible power…”
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