By imitating the signature technique of the Number Seven Level 5, this was currently the method Arata could think of that maximized the destructive potential of telekinesis.
By fully compressing telekinetic force and releasing it in a single instant, even a telekinetic mass of only six tons could unleash power comparable to a missile. Now that the mass he could manipulate had approached one hundred tons, the destructive force was certainly not merely ten times greater.
It was possible that the output had already approached the minimum destructive threshold of a tactical nuclear weapon.
If it were not for the protection provided by his time manipulation ability, he would never dare to use such a dangerous technique.
With a punch aimed directly at Kakine Teitoku's chest, even at such close distance, Kakine reacted instantly. His six wings folded inward, covering his entire body like a protective cocoon.
Boom!
In that instant, the entire atmosphere of the school district emitted a low rumbling vibration. The walls of the surrounding skyscrapers instantly developed countless cracks, and visible shockwaves rippled through the air within a radius of several hundred meters.
Wrapped inside the white cocoon, Kakine Teitoku transformed into a streak of white light and shot toward the sky. Meanwhile the terrain beneath Arata's feet had completely changed.
If that attack had been directed toward the ground instead of the sky, at least a dozen buildings in this district would have been destroyed.
The violent shockwave sent pedestrians who had not yet taken cover flying more than ten meters away, and several parked cars were overturned by the blast.
"Time Stop."
Arata froze the surrounding matter and time the instant after launching the attack.
If those pedestrians had directly suffered the full impact, it would certainly have resulted in a tragedy.
After only a few seconds of fighting, the surrounding area had already fallen into chaos. The glass panels and wall tiles of the skyscrapers were shattered everywhere. Traffic lights and roadside green belts had been completely destroyed, and several trees had been snapped in half and embedded into the concrete walls.
Glass shards rained through the air. Advertising billboards were blown away, and the flying stones carried destructive force comparable to handgun bullets.
"Time Reversal."
In an instant, everything within a radius of five hundred meters returned to its condition from three seconds earlier. The shattered glass and broken pavement were completely restored. The surrounding buildings returned to normal as if nothing had happened, with the only exception being the massive hole created earlier in the skyscraper.
The pedestrians who had fallen to the ground covered their heads in shock. Some were protecting their companions, while others stared at the unbelievable scene unfolding before their eyes.
"This ability is really exhausting." Arata clicked his tongue. After continuously using time manipulation, he felt a noticeable drain on his stamina. Still, the corner of his mouth rose slightly as he muttered, "But I promised Komoe-sensei that I wouldn't cause a tragedy."
Those who had witnessed the scene did not dare to say anything. Everyone understood that interfering in the battle between espers would only bring trouble upon themselves.
"There won't be any such worries in the sky, you bastard."
Arata instantly shot upward in pursuit of the direction Kakine Teitoku had been blasted toward. His Level 5 telekinetic flight had already reached supersonic speed, and the sharp sound of breaking wind filled his ears.
Kakine instantly spread his wings. They disintegrated into countless white feathers that dispersed the remaining impact force acting on his body. Accompanied by a gust of wind, the feathers reassembled into white wings behind him, allowing him to float calmly in the air once again.
Looking down from that altitude, he could see the entire layout of Academy City and even the distant Tokyo metropolitan area. Farther away, the reflection of Tokyo Bay glimmered under the sunlight.
His expression grew darker.
"That guy... how can simple telekinesis unleash such destructive force? Is he copying the ultimate technique of the Number Seven Level 5?"
"However, he deliberately reversed the direction of the attack and blasted me into the sky to avoid harming civilians. What a foolishly kind person."
Kakine Teitoku watched as Arata shot upward toward him at incredible speed and unleashed a distorted blast of compressed air.
One of Kakine's wings suddenly extended to twenty meters in length, forming a gigantic white blade that easily shattered the incoming air distortion and slashed directly toward Arata.
Arata easily dodged the constantly sweeping white wings. After retreating one hundred meters through the air, he formed his hand into a blade and unleashed a telekinetic slash nearly three hundred meters long toward Kakine.
Kakine Teitoku confidently raised a single white wing to block the incoming telekinetic slash.
He spoke in a casual and arrogant tone.
"Don't you understand yet? Telekinesis is absolutely no match for my Dark Matter. The difference between them is absolute."
"My Dark Matter is a substance that does not exist anywhere in this world. It does not obey the physical laws of reality at all. It is not something theoretical, nor is it something yet to be discovered. It simply does not exist within this universe."
As his six wings gathered power, Kakine accelerated toward Arata at high speed. The wings themselves were surrounded by a strange blue glow that resembled both light and gas.
Arata's expression became serious. He unleashed every telekinetic technique he could perform, cutting, compressing, and launching powerful impacts. However, all those attacks became ineffective the moment they touched the strange blue gas.
"And your telekinesis is nothing more than interference with the physical rules of reality. Telekinesis that can only manipulate the laws of matter cannot affect my Dark Matter."
Kakine Teitoku swung one of his wings, now glowing with that eerie blue light, and launched a massive slash.
"Even if telekinesis allows you to dodge my attacks easily, you will not be able to avoid a continuous barrage."
"So this is checkmate."
A victorious smile appeared on Kakine Teitoku's face.
The six white wings, each twenty meters long and shaped like gigantic swords, instantly disintegrated. They transformed into countless white feathers that surrounded Arata from every direction.
Those feathers ignored telekinetic interference entirely, pinning Arata in place and preventing him from moving.
Kakine Teitoku raised his mechanical claw, now wrapped in the strange blue gas, and slashed toward Arata's chest.
"Heh..."
Arata could not help but laugh when he saw this. His voice carried clear sarcasm.
"Villains always lose because they talk too much. And underestimating an opponent you do not understand is the fastest way to lose."
"You are the second Level 5 who has made that mistake against me."
The instant Kakine Teitoku's mechanical claw cut through Arata's clothing, the weapon suddenly vanished from his hand.
Before Kakine could even react, the white feathers surrounding Arata abruptly disappeared the moment they touched him. A fist rapidly enlarged in Kakine's vision, and a sharp numb pain exploded across his cheek.
"Ah!"
Kakine Teitoku was blasted backward. A tooth flew from his mouth together with a spray of blood. After flying back more than ten meters, he finally stabilized himself and stared at Arata in disbelief.
He touched the corner of his mouth. The taste of rust filled his mouth.
"What just happened?"
"My mechanical claw made of Dark Matter disappeared, and those feathers suddenly changed position."
"It seems that Level 5 telekinesis is indeed completely countered by the Number One and Number Two abilities. Now I understand my own power more clearly."
"It's my turn now."
Arata casually glanced at the mechanical claw that had returned to its position three seconds earlier and was now falling from the sky toward the ground. Then he coldly fixed his gaze on Kakine Teitoku.
Kakine Teitoku's expression darkened.
"What exactly did you just do? Telekinesis cannot perform something like that."
"Who knows?" Arata chuckled.
"Why don't you experience it for yourself?"
With that, Arata instantly charged toward Kakine Teitoku.
...
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