(I have to do this... I’m the only one who can!!)
Confronting Hypno in his monstrous Magic Armor Beast form, Zenon fought to steady his nerves. A paralyzing terror clawed at his heart, but he choked it down and tightened his grip on his sword.
(No matter how much I searched the grounds, I couldn't pinpoint the device spreading the hypnosis. I managed to corner Hypno using teleportation, but with my current strength...)
He knew his limits better than anyone. Sensing the sheer pressure of the magic power radiating from Hypno, Zenon knew he didn't stand a chance in a fair fight.
Yet, he had already made his choice. If he didn't stand his ground, countless lives would be lost. He had to do this. Taking several deep breaths to settle his frantic, pounding heart, he fixed his gaze on his opponent.
(What exactly is his ability? I know he’s a hypnotist, but how does he apply that to direct combat?)
Compared to the other Magic Armor Beasts he’d encountered, Hypno’s form was unnervingly simple, offering no clues about his true nature. Zenon’s only lead was the man’s reputation for hypnosis, and he desperately racked his brain, trying to anticipate how such a skill would manifest in a duel.
If this were a game, he’d expect a strategy focused on status ailments—confusion, sleep, or paralysis. But Zenon knew from bitter experience that clinging to such conventional tropes in this world was a one-way ticket to a shallow grave.
"Zenon Ash... or should I say, Seto Haino? I don't suppose you're entertaining the naive delusion of becoming a hero by striking me down, are you?"
"Tch...!"
The sheer weight of the intimidation Hypno exuded was far beyond anything Zenon had imagined. Despair threatened to swallow him whole as he contemplated the coming clash, but he forced his spirit to rally and glared back at his foe.
"I see, I see... so you truly intend to stand against me? It would seem you’re underestimating me, Seto. How very irritating."
Hypno gave a sharp snap of his fingers. Zenon tensed, bracing for an attack, only to see a ball of flickering purple flame manifest in the air.
(Fire?! Does he have the same powers as Burn?!)
Flame ball after flame ball materialized, hurtling toward Zenon in rapid succession. He frantically parried the projectiles with his blade, stunned that Hypno wielded the same element as Burn, but the surprises were only beginning.
"Now then, shall we try this?"
With another snap, the flames were replaced by a massive, jagged icicle that tore through the air toward him. The frozen tip grazed his cheek, drawing a spray of blood. Even as he slashed the ice aside, Zenon’s mind was racing.
(Fire and ice?! He can manipulate both?!)
The sight of Hypno wielding such diametrically opposed attributes left Zenon reeling. These were only the most rudimentary spells, yet the fact that his opponent could command multiple elements filled him with shock—and a nagging sense of doubt.
"You certainly are persistent. How about this, then?"
"Argh—it changed again?! Whoa!"
First fire, then ice—and now, the element shifted for a third time. Hypno conjured a violent gust of wind, launching a blast that was impossible to block. The force of the impact sent Zenon flying, but even as he tumbled, the suspicion in the back of his mind solidified into a certainty.
(Something’s wrong. What’s he playing at? Hypno’s greatest weapon is supposed to be his hypnosis. So why hasn't he used it even once?)
It was a known fact: Hypno’s core ability was "Hypnosis." While the exact mechanics of how he used it in combat were a mystery, there was no doubt it was his primary strength. Yet, throughout this entire encounter, he hadn't touched it. He was merely cycling through low-level elemental spells.
There was undoubtedly a massive gulf in power between them. Initially, Zenon assumed Hypno was simply toying with him, knowing he held all the cards. But the more he thought about it, the less sense that made.
(Hypno watched Burn lose to Marcos because he played with his food. Would someone as calculating as Hypno really repeat the exact same mistake?)
Of the three masterminds, Hypno was undeniably the most level-headed. Zenon couldn't believe that a man like him would walk straight into the same trap immediately after witnessing Burn's catastrophic failure.
Logically, he should have gone for the kill with everything he had the moment I arrived. As that thought took root, Zenon’s eyes widened, a sudden realization striking him like a lightning bolt.
(Wait... is that it? If I’m right about this, then...!)
If his theory held water, every inconsistency finally made sense. It was a massive gamble, but it was the only play he had left. Steeling his resolve, Zenon took a final, deep breath—and made his move.