CH 254.1

It was as if I was dreaming.

Several minutes after I spent escaping reality in the bathroom. When I finally came outside, frightened, I saw――Standing in the middle of the arena Kryhi and a man wearing a fox mask.

On top of that, I was lying down in a corner of the arena. I don’t even know what I am saying right now.

Due to those extra events that were so unexpected, even my brain, which was not working very well normally, was completely not working.

The arena was in turmoil. No one seemed to notice me hiding in the shadow of a pillar. I crossed my arms and asked myself.

“I see…………… This is what it means…………………… It means…… It meeeeeean…………?” (Cry)

What………… Does it mean? I can’t even come up with a hypothesis……

Come to think of it, something was wrong from the time the water bottle screamed. To begin with, I was supposed to come out a little earlier.

For some reason, I could not get out of the bathroom. I opened the door to the private room and stepped out to leave the bathroom, only to find myself back inside the bathroom.

I don’t even know what I am talking about. I am at the point where I doubt my own intelligence when I am making this much nonsense.

I had no choice but to wander around the restroom, and when I tried to return to the private room instead of out of the restroom, this time I was outside………… But when I look at this situation maybe I should have stayed in the restroom a little longer.

The arena looks completely like a battlefield.

A man with a fox mask raises his right hand. It was a man fully in black with a white fox mask.

I can only see his profile, but it is the same design as the mask I had. However, in terms of physique, he is not Gaff-san.

With a badass expression, but without thinking of anything, I checked inside the arena.

And then――The man swings his arm down.

It was as if an invisible bomb had exploded. Then a sound and a shockwave passed through the arena.

Of course, there was no way I could react. However, the Barrier Ring, which was not supposed to come into play this time, was activated and completely blocked the sound and shockwave.

Nearby――The barrier over the arena produced cracking sounds. Dust flies, and the me, who was fallen down, and several Magi who had gathered near me, fly violently through the air.

I could hear terrified screams. And in the midst of the cloud of dust that made it impossible to see anything, I heard Kryhi’s impatient voice.

“Wh-What are you doing!? All of sudden――It shouldn’t be your turn to fight yet! Moreover, this power………… Kuh!” (Kryhi)

“………… Kuh.” (Cry)

I couldn’t see anything. I always see nothing. Whether it is the past, the future, or reality.

In the middle of the arena with extremely poor visibility, explosions could be heard in succession. Some of them seem to have exceeded the activation threshold of the Barrier Ring and were blocked by the barrier.

It’s bad, I don’t know what it means, but it is killing me. But I don’t know what to do. It was a common thing, tho’.

For the time being, I hid myself in the shadow of the pillar at the entrance and took a big deep breath.

Stay calm, you gotta stay calm, Cry Andrich. Right now, it should have been my turn to fight. If I solve the situation one by one, I should be able to see the light.

For the time being……………………I know, a Dogeza!

“Guh…… Calm down, calm, down. “Giant Lightning Fang (Gouraitenkou)”!” (Kryhi)

A very thick lightning bolt falls from the sky. Because Anthem wasn’t nearby, it fell on me as if it was natural, and my Barrier Ring prevented it.

Due to me hiding behind the entrance, the entrance got caught up in the middle of it and half of it collapsed while screams erupted from the surrounding audience.

“My aim, is――Guuuh.” (Kryhi)

“When, I was thinking, how strong you can be, did you really, think, you will win, against us, with such strength, don’t make, me laugh!” (Kitsune’s boss)

I don’t know who he was, but his voice was shaking, and he was clearly not laughing.

Deafening sounds could be heard intermittently. And as I observed from a distance, I could see the dust swirling in the air.

It was a familiar sight.

This is――A Magic barrier. It is a secret technique that boasts absolute invincible defense by releasing the pure magical power hidden in your body.

At the same time, the release of pure magic power is close to the worst in terms of fuel consumption, and although theoretically anyone can do it, it is a technique that should not last long unless you have a huge amount of magic power like Lucia. Apparently, the man with a fox mask is a Lucia-class Magi.

The heavens screamed. I could hear Kryhi’s voice and it sounded as if he was enduring the pain.

“Guh――I, won’t lose!” (Kryhi)

He is going to use a big Magic. Moreover, it is Lightning Magic. I don’t know what is going on, but I reflexively shouted.

“Kryhi, you gotta aim properlyyy!” (Cry)

“Kuh!? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! 『Ama no Ikazuchi (Heavenly Lightning)』 !!!” (Kryhi)

The heavens were filled with light. Electricities, sounds, and shockwaves filled the arena. It was clearly a dangerous Magic.

When I said to aim, I didn’t mean to hit his opponent, I meant not to hit me, but――.

Lightning was pouring down on my whole body. All the attacks are blocked by my Barrier Rings, but they were probably guided towards me because of all the chains I have. Without the lightning rod called Anthem, I am helpless against lightning.

However, that fox mask guy…… Who the hell is he……?

I, who is used to being scold, can see through him.

That fox mask guy――Is totally pissed.

The lightning stopped after Kryhi’s finishing blow hit me. Then, I hear Kryhi’s astonished voice.

“It can’t be. I felt a resistance. After being hit by that much lightning――And you are unharmed!?” (Kryhi)

“It is useless. 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, if you are the sky, then――My power is the void. This is not what I had planned, but you will die for the offense you have caused me!” (Kitsune’s Boss)

Then I opened my eyes. It was as if all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Maybe――No, there is no doubt.

That man is……………… A higher-up of the (Temporary) Fox Mask Fan Club?