"Such powerful fluctuations…"
The Ancient One opened her eyes. She had been meditating in a quiet corner of Earth, her practice at a critical juncture. Just one more step, and she could transcend into another realm.
But she could no longer continue. A terrifying power was erupting elsewhere on Earth, one strong enough to threaten the planet itself.
Amber light flashed in her eyes as her vision expanded. In the next instant, she saw clearly what was happening—
And her expression darkened.
"Why is it him again…"
The Ancient One nearly coughed blood in exasperation.
That terrifying fluctuation… it was coming from Arakawa Zenkichi.
"In just a few days, he's already clashed with another overwhelming existence?" she muttered. "Does he attract trouble every single time?"
Top-level beings like this were supposed to be rare, yet somehow, whenever Zenkichi appeared, one would be drawn to him.
With a weary sigh, she raised her hands and began weaving complex mudras.
"Space Expulsion!"
Instantly, a web of mystic seals spread across reality, exiling the battlefield into a pocket dimension. Without this, the destructive energy from two beings of such caliber could easily spill into Earth itself. Even a fraction of their unleashed power could devastate the planet.
She could not allow that to happen.
Once the spell was in place, she exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing with decision.
"When this state passes, I must speak with him directly," she resolved. "Otherwise, if he continues like this, am I expected to intervene every few days? To clean up after every one of his battles? I won't accept that."
Closing her eyes once more, she returned to meditation—but her mind was already made up.
…
Meanwhile, within the sealed space, both Arakawa Zenkichi and the dragon man, Dragonite, immediately sensed the change in their surroundings.
Zenkichi remained calm, his expression completely unbothered. He had experienced this kind of dimensional manipulation before and adapted to it without issue.
Dragonite, however, stiffened. His face betrayed caution.
Why has the space itself changed? he thought grimly. His gaze darted to Zenkichi, who appeared utterly unconcerned. That lack of reaction only made him more suspicious. Could this be the work of his opponent?
"Open!" Dragonite roared.
He disengaged from Zenkichi, no longer pressing the fight. Instead, he gathered immense energy in his hands and slammed them against the very fabric of the dimension, trying to tear it open. His body glowed with destructive power, each strike aimed at shattering the exile.
Zenkichi, watching this, allowed a small smile.
"Why waste your effort? Shouldn't you be paying attention to me instead?"
Before Dragonite could react, Zenkichi moved in an instant. His palm pressed against the dragon man's back, a subtle glow gathering at his touch. It wasn't just physical force—it was a world-ending power condensed into a single strike.
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