Chapter 86: The Second Battle
This form, compared to the ordinary Hybrid Form, is much stronger in both Haki and physical strength!
Especially the Conqueror's Haki.
The Conqueror's Haki Lightning, which originally only wrapped around attacks and erupted during hits and collisions...
...now transformed into a persistent black-red lightning armor, leaping and covering his body!
Of course, the price is the rapid loss of physical stamina.
But with another template layered on, a stamina monster capable of fighting at full power for ten whole days, along with Aokiji's own constant Training...
...using it as a normal combat mode is absolutely no problem!
"Let's see what happens if I use the Ice Dragon Form along with it," Aokiji muttered to himself.
Frost quietly condensed.
The Azure Dragon Scales added a touch of icy blue.
Or rather, it was in an intermediate state between dragon scales and ice crystals.
His physical strength increased once again!
Tatsumaki flew over, arms crossed in annoyance.
"If you were fine, couldn't you have said so sooner? You made me worry!"
"Don't worry, I didn't take a single bit of damage." Aokiji looked at her with a hint of surprise. "But, I'm surprised you'd actually say you were worried about me so frankly."
"I-I just misspoke!" Tatsumaki's face flushed as she argued back.
She hadn't even realized it herself just now.
It had just slipped out.
"It's just worry for a punching bag! Yes, that's it!"
"Don't get any ideas! Even if we've done... this and that... it's only limited to that kind of relationship! I don't have any strange thoughts about you!"
Tatsumaki shouted frantically, her words completely unconvincing.
Aokiji didn't continue to press the point.
If he pushed Tatsumaki too hard...
...and she blurted out, 'Then what is our relationship now?'
...the one with the headache would be him.
He couldn't exactly reply with 'Don't talk, just keep eating,' could he?
So, Aokiji changed the subject and got back on track.
"Thanks to you, my abilities have undergone further development. So, I'll help you correct your weaknesses as well."
"Weaknesses? What weaknesses could I possibly have?"
Tatsumaki completely ignored his words.
Since she could remember, as long as she willed it, nothing could threaten her existence.
This powerful self-confidence, forged through time and experience, had deeply become a part of her personality.
"Then I'll let you understand during battle." Aokiji's fierce Aura, like that of a malevolent spirit, emerged.
The surrounding black-red lightning flickered wildly!
"I'm not injured, so the battle is obviously still ongoing."
"Humph! Let me see what kind of stupid misunderstanding you've developed that makes you think you've discovered a weakness of mine."
Tatsumaki lightly raised a hand.
In stark contrast to her gentle movement, her Psychic Power once again increased the gravity in this area by hundreds of times!
The same old trick!
Under the restriction of hundreds of times gravity, her Psychic Power launched a violent assault once more!
The wall, already smashed into a giant crater, was devastated again!
The deep pit turned into a tunnel; not just the alloy wall, but even the underground rock layers were being compressed and blasted with extreme force!
But Aokiji, who should have been at the center of the attack...
...abruptly appeared behind Tatsumaki!
"While I'm not a Saint Seiya, I won't fall for the same Move twice."
Having predicted the attack, Aokiji burst forth with even more rapid speed in advance.
Forcing himself against the amplified gravity, he held the Hassaikai(Kanabo) high!
For an ordinary physical body, the biggest damage from suddenly amplified gravity would be to the fragile internal organs.
But for an elementalized body, one only needed to withstand the gravity itself.
"Your weakness is far too rookie-like."
The Hassaikai(Kanabo) swung down heavily!
The amplified gravity intended to restrict Aokiji ended up increasing his attack power instead!
Tatsumaki, still pouring out her Psychic Power for the attack, realized something was wrong a step too late!
Just like the sport of boxing.
Even amateurs with some training develop the habit of keeping their other hand firmly protecting their head while throwing a punch.
And what about Tatsumaki?
She was like a highly gifted novice; she mastered various Advanced techniques without a teacher, and could defeat any opponent she encountered with just a few random punches.
As a result, she had never realized this most basic piece of knowledge.
BOOM——!!!
The strength of the hastily raised Psychic Barrier was significantly weaker.
The Haki-infused impact completed its Breakthrough after a very brief deadlock!
Under Aokiji's control.
Not too light, not too heavy.
Just the right amount of force landed on her head.
"Ugh..." Tatsumaki began to sway uncontrollably.
Her body wobbled, and she fell to one knee on the ground.
Confusion, dizziness.
The world before her eyes became distorted and wavy.
A never-before-felt sensation of nausea swirled in her head... No.
Not just this once.
Although it was different from this dizzying nausea.
...when she was with Aokiji, she had also experienced this feeling.
After her brain received the impact, her Psychic Power briefly went out of control.
Before, it was intense sensory stimulation.
But this time, it was a physical impact!
Aokiji supported her under her armpits and lifted her up like a child.
Still in a dazed state, Tatsumaki was powerless to resist.
She could only glare with resentful eyes at Aokiji as he brushed the dust off her.
"I was right, wasn't I? Don't think you're invincible just because your stats are high. This is a low-level weakness that even Fubuki wouldn't have."
Aokiji sat cross-legged on the ground.
He placed the limp and weak Tatsumaki on his lap, leaning her against his chest.
His fingers sank into her curly hair, gently kneading and massaging her to relieve the nauseating dizziness.
"Today's match ends in Tatsumaki's defeat."
Aokiji said, mimicking a narrator's tone.
The subtle vibration of his chest as he spoke was transmitted to the leaning Tatsumaki.
Tatsumaki weakly raised a hand in annoyance.
She elbowed Aokiji in the abdomen.
She could barely manage to speak.
But having been defeated so humiliatingly...
...easily forced to her knees by a weakness she hadn't even realized...
Tatsumaki was so ashamed she didn't want to open her mouth at all.
Despite how confidently she had previously believed she definitely had no weaknesses.
And this bastard was still making sarcastic remarks!
Tatsumaki kept calling Aokiji a bastard in her heart.
But gradually...
...the comfortable pressure of the massage on her head...
...and the warmth transmitted through their physical contact...
...caused her anger to ebb away bit by bit.
What followed was a gradual sense of relaxation and comfort.
Tatsumaki just lay quietly in Aokiji's arms, enjoying the comfortable massage service.
About ten minutes passed.
Tatsumaki, whose dizziness had long since faded, remained lying there silently with her eyes closed.
"Stop pretending to be asleep." Aokiji called her out, piercing through her disguise.
Before Tatsumaki could jump up in embarrassment...
...Aokiji continued:
"It's time for the second battle. I'll let you get used to this feeling more so you can overcome it as soon as possible."
Battle, get used to it...?
Tatsumaki knew exactly what he meant.
She tilted her head back and glared at him.
"Humph! ╭(╯^╰)╮"
"...Whatever you want."
(T/N: Hmm, I wonder what they're talking about? 🤔)