[Stellar Eclipse Eye · Future Sight: Allows 100% observation of one's own and the target's 'energy flow,' thereby predicting the opponent's next move a certain amount of time in advance during combat.]
Future Sight is a basic ability of Stellar Eclipse Eye. Although the name sounds intimidating, it is essentially a "result deduction" based on observing the opponent's Star Energy flow trajectory to make a certain degree of prediction.
As a Second-Tier Star Beast with a normal Star Energy value of up to 3000 points, it was unrealistic for Tendo to completely predict all of the Earth Dragon Lizard's future actions. Fortunately, Tendo didn't aim to fully predict all its movements. He simply needed to create a precious opportunity for himself to strike.
Bang...
As Tendo activated Future Sight, a special Star Energy fluctuation began to spread outwards from his body. In his eyes, the Earth Dragon Lizard's massive body gradually became transparent. Countless Star Energy trajectories, some thick, some thin, emanated from its internal Star Core, intertwining and influencing each other, covering the Earth Dragon Lizard's entire body, collectively forming this colossal creature.
Tendo watched these Star Energy trajectories, and countless pieces of information began to flood into his mind, starting deductions.
Drip—
Even with just preliminary deductions, the vast disparity in strength between the two still strained Tendo, sweat dripping from his chin onto the ground. Moments later, a sharp glint flashed in Tendo's eyes.
'I see it.'
Almost at the same time, the massive Earth Dragon Lizard had already covered the hundred-meter distance, arriving before Tendo. Facing this human whose Star Energy value and size were far inferior to its own, a human-like hint of disdain flickered in the Earth Dragon Lizard's vertical pupils. It raised a claw and casually swiped at Tendo.
Although this strike was unremarkable, Tendo still felt immense pressure from it. No one doubted the power of this strike, just as no one thought Tendo and his team would win. But to everyone's surprise, Tendo seemed to know what would happen, reacting even before the Earth Dragon Lizard's claw fully lifted.
Instant Step.
Tendo gathered a large amount of Star Energy at his feet, using the impact generated by this Star Energy explosion to briefly gain astonishing burst speed, thus narrowly dodging the Earth Dragon Lizard's first attack.
Bang!
The Earth Dragon Lizard's claw struck the arena floor. The specially made steel plates of the arena emitted a harsh metallic screech, sparks flew, and three shocking gouges were left behind. Looking at the empty ground, a peculiar glint flashed in the Earth Dragon Lizard's eyes. It clearly hadn't expected its attack to be dodged by Tendo.
However, this was nothing. After all, it never regarded Tendo and the others as opponents from the start, but merely... a group of toys. Therefore, the Earth Dragon Lizard didn't linger and immediately pursued the dodging Tendo. Each of its subsequent attacks was more ferocious than the last, to the point that although Tendo could predict the Earth Dragon Lizard's movements approximately half a second in advance, the absolute numerical difference between them still put Tendo in precarious situations multiple times, preventing him from making any effective counterattacks.
Seeing this scene, the expressions of the other Children of the Stars outside the arena turned grim. Some of the more weak-willed ones even showed obvious fear.
"You've got to be kidding... This kind of monster... can we really last three minutes?"
Even Tendo, the strongest among them, was being suppressed by the Earth Dragon Lizard with no room to fight back. What if they were in Tendo's place? The mere thought sent chills down their spines. Not to mention actually stepping into the arena and fighting such a monster. That wasn't combat; that was suicide!
"Sis..." Chen Kong looked at Tendo, who was "valiantly" dodging inside the arena, and then turned to Chen Xing with terrified eyes. He clearly didn't think they stood a chance against this Earth Dragon Lizard.
To this, Chen Xing retorted unceremoniously, "Shut up, and watch carefully."
"..."
Unlike Chen Kong, who was already somewhat flustered by the Earth Dragon Lizard, Chen Xing's expression was not only calmer but also more serious. Her crimson eyes were fixed intently on Tendo, as if observing something from him.
Meanwhile, in the VIP room upstairs, many people were doing the same. They watched Tendo, who was repeatedly pushed to the brink by the Earth Dragon Lizard in the arena but managed to escape danger time and again with 'Future Sight,' and couldn't help but exclaim.
"To be able to persist to this extent against a Second-Tier Earth Dragon Lizard, that child Tendo truly lives up to his title as the strongest."
"But if I'm not mistaken, that child Tendo must be trying to buy as much time as possible for that Heavenly Mechanism Nekomata, right?"
"Otherwise, he had several opportunities to create distance from the Earth Dragon Lizard, allowing his two other teammates to share the pressure and extend the combat duration as much as possible."
"But he chose not to do so; instead, he deliberately provoked it."
"He must believe that, besides himself, his other two teammates would struggle to withstand the attacks of this large lizard."
"After all, even a Second-Tier Star Beast holding back, its casual strike is beyond what these half-grown children can imagine, isn't it?"
The canary lady analyzed, swirling her champagne glass. Beside her, the griffon man nodded. "The greatest advantage of the Mech System compared to other systems lies in information collection and organization."
"That Heavenly Mechanism Nekomata has been standing still since the start, clearly collecting and analyzing the valuable data Tendo is transmitting to her."
"But there's one thing I haven't figured out..."
"Oh? What is it?" The griffon man placed his hands on his golden cane, gazing at Heavenly Mechanism Nekomata Caroline below.
"Any data collection and organization by the Mech System, in the end, is about calculating a minuscule 'possibility' amidst countless impossibilities."
"Otherwise, relying solely on cold data will never translate into tempting combat results."
"Given that, what is the purpose of them collecting this data? And what is the 'possibility' they are painstakingly pursuing?"
"To extend the combat duration as much as possible? I highly doubt it..."
Hearing this, the canary lady beside him also seemed to discover something. Her swirling wine glass gradually stilled, and she fell into contemplation.
Noticing their conversation, the Doctor's lips curved into a meaningful smile beneath his silver mask. They couldn't guess what Tendo wanted to do because they didn't understand Tendo's personality. They also couldn't imagine just how proud a heart was hidden beneath Tendo's playful exterior.
Delaying time?
No, he knew very well that Tendo would never choose that. Because if Tendo did that, it would mean he had already conceded defeat in his heart. This was something Tendo would absolutely never accept.
Given that, eliminating all impossibilities, no matter how incredible the remaining answer, it would be the only answer. Therefore, the Doctor concluded that Tendo's purpose in doing this was not to delay time at all.
He was waiting, waiting for a perfect opportunity to counterattack. Everyone thought the Earth Dragon Lizard was invincible, but he, Tendo Simei... insisted on trying.
'Come on, Tendo, let me see your limit... where it truly lies.'