"Now's your chance—surrender," Kurono Shinguuji said, looking coldly at Rei Ao.
Even she couldn't control the power if this continued.
"Surrender?" Rei Ao chuckled and shook his head. "No, this is a great opportunity to test my newly mastered… power."
Freeze!!!
No cold air or ice appeared.
This time, he was using the conceptual power of freezing for the first time.
Void!!!
In an instant, all the noise in the arena stopped.
Everyone's expressions and movements froze in place.
Even the shattered space around Rei Ao remained unchanged.
With ease, he walked out of the shattered space zone and casually approached Kurono Shinguuji.
In the chat group, the members were confused by what they were seeing.
Akame: "Why is no one moving?"
Saeko Busujima: "@Stella, is there something wrong with the live stream?"
They tagged Stella, but there was no response.
Ayame Yomogawa: "This is really strange."
Frieren: "I think I get it."
Mai Sakurajima: "Get what?"
Frieren: "It's time! And space! They've been frozen!"
Frieren's eyes were bright and curious.
Frieren: "How was that done? @Rei Ao!"
Rei Ao: "Oh, I just simply froze time and space in this arena."
Mai Sakurajima: "You froze time? And space?"
Akame: "That's… incredible. Can ice really do that?"
Frieren: "This is a fascinating concept to study."
Frieren: "If the temperature of ice was low enough, it could theoretically halt molecular motion, which might result in a 'frozen space' effect."
Frieren: "But freezing time… that's…"
Rei Ao: "My ability isn't just ice. It's freezing in the literal sense."
Frieren: "!!!"
Frieren: "Oh! How could I forget!"
Frieren: "Freezing… freezing… What an interesting power! I want to research this further."
Frieren: "Can I make a trade with you?"
Rei Ao: "We'll talk about that later."
By this point, Rei Ao had reached Kurono Shinguuji.
With a thought, he released the freeze on the area and pointed his ice sword at her throat.
"You've lost."
Kurono Shinguuji trembled at the sound of his voice, as if from a nightmare, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"When did you escape from the shattered space?"
She hadn't seen anything happen.
Was it that strange ability again?
Rei Ao gave a mysterious smile.
"You're not the only one who can manipulate time."
Time!
Kurono Shinguuji finally understood.
Rei Ao also had some form of time manipulation ability.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips. "I've lost."
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened.
"This is bad! The shattered space has gone out of control!"
"What's happening?!"
A short-haired girl with a black headband was watching in panic as the fractured space started spreading toward her.
She felt a tearing sensation in her body as it approached.
"You can't control this?" Rei Ao asked, his expression puzzled.
"My power causes space-time to shatter, but that doesn't mean I can control space!" Kurono Shinguuji replied, feeling anxious. If her students were harmed because of this, she would never forgive herself.
She quickly shouted to the others in the unaffected area of the academy, "Everyone, back away from the dueling arena!"
"That girl…"
Rei Ao looked at the girl caught in the fractured space. She seemed familiar.
He smiled at Kurono Shinguuji and said, "Let's add a new condition to our deal—I'll help you save her."
Kurono Shinguuji's face grew serious. "Save her, and I'll agree to anything!"
"OK, deal."
Rei Ao froze time and space again, then dashed toward the girl.
Up close, he realized who she was.
Ikki Kurogane's younger sister, Shizuku Kurogane.
Wow, what bad luck she had.
He scooped her up and carried her out of the shattered space, then released the freeze.
Kurono Shinguuji, who had been extremely anxious moments ago, was now relieved to see Rei Ao standing next to her with Shizuku Kurogane in his arms.
She immediately realized that Rei Ao had used that strange time-manipulation ability again, one even she couldn't perceive.
Luckily, no one had been hurt.
Kurono Shinguuji sighed with relief.
Shizuku Kurogane, realizing she was being carried, froze for a moment.
Rei Ao glanced down at her. "You're not hurt, right?"
Shizuku instinctively shook her head.
But Kurono Shinguuji, still concerned, said seriously, "You need to be checked thoroughly. Shattered space is no joke."
Then she bowed deeply to Rei Ao.
"Thank you for saving her. Otherwise, the consequences would've been unthinkable."
"As for the wager I made with you, and the additional condition just now, please give me half an hour to deal with the current situation."
"Half an hour… fine."
With two hours remaining, there was plenty of time left.
As for Shizuku Kurogane…
"Can you stand on your own?"
"!!!"
Shizuku suddenly realized she was still holding onto Rei Ao's neck.
Blushing, she nodded slightly.
"Yes, please, put me down."
Once on the ground, Shizuku hurriedly straightened her skirt.
~~~
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