"All right, Captain."
Ain nodded firmly at Arton and answered with a smile.
At a moment like this, when she was about to obtain a template of her own, how could Ain possibly object to anything Arton said?
Besides, she also felt Arton was right.
Before obtaining Ultear's template, she really did need to gain a better understanding of Ultear's power first.
If she didn't take a proper look now, then later on, she would have to slowly figure out how to use Ultear's template by herself.
That wouldn't make it impossible to understand all of Ultear's abilities, but compared to watching a direct demonstration right now, there would definitely still be a gap.
"In that case, watch carefully."
"This is one of the weaknesses of Ultear's time magic."
"Remember it well when you're facing enemies."
As Arton spoke, he had Ultear's projection continue casting time magic.
Ain looked up and saw Ultear constantly using time magic to turn the things her junior fellow disciple created with ice into water vapor or water.
During that time, Ultear even used time magic to create round, grape-like orbs and sent them toward her junior fellow disciple to attack him.
Gradually, Ultear's junior fellow disciple, Gray, began to show signs of exhaustion. He was starting to struggle against Ultear's attacks.
But right then, he suddenly cut open his own body, causing large amounts of blood to flow out.
At the same time, he used Ice-Make magic to freeze his own blood, forming dark-red ice swords attached to both of his hands.
After that, he charged toward Ultear again.
Just like before, Ultear cast time magic, attempting to use it to nullify Gray's Ice-Make magic.
However, this time, her time magic, which had worked so flawlessly until now, failed to erase Gray's ice creation.
Caught off guard, she was directly slashed by the red ice attached to Gray's hands, leaving wounds of all sizes across her body.
"Huh? What's going on? Why didn't Ultear's amazing time magic work this time?!"
Raki widened her eyes and asked in confusion.
"Yeah, her time magic worked every time before."
"Why didn't it have any effect this time?"
Conis asked curiously.
"I imagine this is the reason Captain used the words 'weakness' earlier."
Robin withdrew her gaze from Ultear and Gray, then turned a similarly curious look toward Arton.
Faced with everyone's searching gazes, Arton explained, "This is one of the more hidden weaknesses of Ultear's time magic."
"Her time magic can't affect living organisms, with the exception of plants."
"The ice created by Ultear's junior fellow disciple Gray using his own blood possesses life for a short period of time."
"That's why Ultear's time magic couldn't nullify Gray's ice."
Hearing that, Raki, Conis, Nico Robin, and the other companions present all nodded in sudden understanding.
"So that's why Ultear's magic didn't work."
"It seems her junior fellow disciple Gray isn't a simple person either."
"To think he has that level of battle intelligence. He really is impressive."
Robin sighed in admiration.
"Looking at it from another angle, this could also be considered an advantage of Ice-Make magic."
Chapter 683: Time Magic Can Work Together with the Return-Return Fruit
Smoothie said, "Nico Robin is right. Although this does show one of the weaknesses of Ultear Milkovich's time magic, through Gray, it also indirectly shows one of the advantages of the Ice-Make magic she also possesses."
Cinnamon said, "My sister is right. Since Gray can use Ice-Make magic to this extent, then Ultear Milkovich should also be able to use Ice-Make magic to this same level."
Kujaku said, "This basically counts as Gray giving Ain an online lesson on how to use Ice-Make magic, doesn't it?"
Gion said, "Still, this really does let us know that time magic isn't invincible. This kind of magic can still be countered."
Stussy said, "It's a little unfortunate, though. If Ultear Milkovich's time magic could affect the human body too, then it really would be unbeatable."
Just imagine if Ain could control time magic and make it act directly on an enemy's body.
Then that enemy's body would rapidly age or revert to childhood.
Based on the traits Ultear Milkovich had shown with her time magic, Ain might even be able to do that without needing to touch the enemy at close range.
An ability like that would even surpass the power of that gluttonous woman who could turn people old or young.
Unfortunately, such an ability existed only in their imagination.
The reality was that Ultear Milkovich's time magic could only affect nonliving things, as well as living organisms like plants.
…
"Doesn't this count as exposing a weakness?"
Raki's brows furrowed slightly as she muttered with some worry.
"Exposing a weakness?"
Arton looked at Raki in puzzlement.
"N-no, no, that's not what I meant."
"I mean, this lets us get a fuller display of Ultear Milkovich's power."
Noticing Arton's gaze, Raki hurriedly waved her hands as she spoke.
Arton didn't know about the diary copies, and Raki had no way to tell him that the livestream had also shown the weakness of Ultear Milkovich's time magic to the other diary copy holders.
There was no helping it. Because of the system's restrictions, those who held diary copies couldn't even tell Arton anything related to them.
The moment they even had that kind of thought, the system's restrictions would make their hearts seize with fear.
So even though she didn't want to deceive Arton, all Raki could do right now was wave her hands.
"If you want to call it a weakness, then this is indeed a weakness of Ultear Milkovich's time magic."
Although Arton didn't quite understand what Raki was thinking, he still smiled and looked toward Ain beside him before saying, "But I don't think this weakness should matter much for Ain."
"Ultear Milkovich's time magic may not be able to affect living bodies."
"But Ain, your original ability can affect living bodies."
"When facing an enemy, you can use the time magic from Ultear Milkovich's template first to push the opponent's techniques into the future or the past."
"Then, once you get close, you can use the Return-Return Fruit's power on them and make their body regress. Wouldn't that work?"
Hearing that, Ain's eyes lit up, and she said in delight, "That's right! I can still fight using a method like that."
"You really can!" Raki rested her chin on one hand and nodded firmly.
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.