Abandoning the frontal assault on the barrier, Soichiro changed tactics. His blade struck from the side.
This time—he truly landed it!
His movements blurred. The blade already tore a corner of the floral shirt.
But faster than him—that translucent barrier slammed down heavily.
"What—!"
In this moment where everything seemed slow-motion, Soichiro's blade tore through the floral shirt, about to reach Natsuki's skin... But his peripheral vision only saw the expanding translucent barrier.
Gripped in Natsuki's hand like a door panel. Through it, he could still see the other's pained expression over his ruined shirt.
"No..."
SMACK!!
The Ultra Barrier crashed down. Soichiro couldn't change tactics a second time. His cheek contacted the barrier first. Unstoppable force transmitted. Slammed him straight into the ground.
Release your imagination, old Ultra!
"Close call..."
"Your swordsmanship is indeed somewhat stronger than Soshiro's." Natsuki tossed aside the Ultra Barrier. Said to Soichiro in the ground.
Then looked down at his floral shirt. Felt heartache. Still got torn in one corner.
Hearing that, Soshiro watching from the side—forehead veins bulged. This guy... is he finding creative ways to call me weak?
"Alright, I've roughly understood their strength."
"Now only you remain." With all Defense Force elites knocked down, Natsuki turned his gaze to Gen Narumi squatting at the stadium center.
Before coming to train them, Natsuki had already reviewed everyone's files... Among these people, the strongest was this First Unit captain.
"Oh!"
"Cleared it!" Narumi, frantically mashing his console, suddenly shrieked. Stood up from the ground. Waved excitedly.
He finally beat the final stage.
"Eh?"
"What happened? Everyone's down?" Attention returning from game to reality, he noticed these guys challenging Natsuki—why were they all resting?
These guys... really can't take a hit.
"Your strength truly isn't to be underestimated." Narumi put away his console. Looked at Natsuki. Expression filled with interest.
His First Unit had the most eccentric culture... No matter what flaws members had, even if they didn't follow discipline—didn't matter. Just needed to be strong enough. Strong enough to kill all Kaiju.
"But if you don't show your real skills, defeating me won't be easy." Narumi looked at Natsuki. Grabbed his hair upward. Black hair covered by pink. This meant he'd entered serious mode.
Beside him—a gun-blade larger than a person. Red eyes displayed hollow cross patterns. Gaze locked onto the floral-shirt man.
He knew Natsuki could transform into a red-and-silver giant.
He also looked forward to fighting such an alien.
"Unnecessary." Natsuki said.
This battle also gauged each person's strength. Human form was just right. Transforming would actually reduce effectiveness.
He still needed to conduct targeted training afterward.
"Then... experience having all your attacks seen through!" Narumi entering combat state—his Defense Force Suit slightly bulged. Energy overflowed, forming lightning crackling across his body surface.
Momentum condensed into substance. Swept across the entire stadium.
"That's the First Unit captain. 98% Combat Power Release—the Defense Force's strongest captain..." Kafka sensed the aura he radiated. Thought the other truly deserved being a celebrity frequently appearing in newspapers.
He greatly admired Captain Narumi. Back at the Kaiju cleanup company, often fantasized about being as handsome and strong as Captain Narumi.
In citizens' eyes, Captain Mina Ashiro dominated the popularity rankings due to outstanding looks.
But within the Defense Force, Captain Narumi's fame was absolute first. In their eyes, strength mattered most.
Base building members—seeing Captain Narumi enter combat state, everyone got excited.
Able to see through all enemy attacks and execute thunderous methods—Captain Narumi's battles were complete visual feasts. Watching was profit.
"Come at me."
"I'll see through all your attacks." Pink-haired Narumi held his gun-blade. Said to Natsuki. Between his brows—full of flamboyant confidence.
A weapon crafted from history's first numbered Kaiju's retina—Rt-0001. Currently equipped in his eyes.
This weapon let him see signals released by any living creature's brain during activity. Thus predicting target movements. Forming a function similar to foreseeing the future.
Though he didn't know why an alien's body structure matched humans perfectly... He could now see signals released by Natsuki's brain.
Everything—within his vision!
"Pretty convincing act." Natsuki looked at Narumi with full aura. Fist gradually clenched. Legs exerted force. Instantly appeared before Narumi.
"So fast!"
Narumi predicted Natsuki's movements. Dodged sideways.
Avoided a straight punch. Then raised his gun-blade. Thrust toward the man right before him.
Able to predict opponent attacks in advance—he'd always hold advantage!
"Wrong!"
His gun-blade hadn't reached the other yet. He suddenly felt his head uncontrollably ramming toward the other's fist... Though he resisted this force immediately, a momentary opening had formed.
BOOM!!
"Uwaaaah!"
Narumi's cheek took a solid punch. Words in his mouth got stuffed back, producing meaningless sounds. Spun once midair. Finally landed face-down, butt up.
"Why... why?" He couldn't understand why this happened.
Natsuki looked at fallen Narumi. One exchange revealed his ability.
"You're still far from true future prediction. If it were real future sight, you'd react to me using psychokinesis to interfere with your movements."
"Your ability needs development."
Hearing that—
Narumi on the ground looked unconvinced.
"What the hell!"
"Psychokinesis is cheating!?" Both sides' information was completely unequal. He didn't even know how many abilities Natsuki possessed.
"Kaiju also exist that use psychokinesis. Don't tell me you haven't seen them." Natsuki said seriously.
"Kaiju don't have such terrifying psychokinesis!"
"At most they control surrounding objects!" Narumi got up from the ground. Said frantically.
He'd never seen psychokinesis directly applied to people that actually worked.
His 98% Combat Power Release should normally ignore all psychokinesis.
"That's because the Kaiju you've faced were too weak."
"Created the illusion you're strong." Natsuki ruthlessly exposed this point.
Narumi: "QAQ..."
Want to argue... but suddenly feels like he has a point.
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