My Level Zero System

Without hesitation, Cecilia charged forward with dazzlingly fast movements.

Unlike the previous matches, when Cecilia only counterattacked passively because she did not take her opponent seriously, this time, Cecilia took the initiative to attack completely.

She just wanted to chop up the silver-haired guy before her as quickly as possible.

However, Cecilia's proactive attacking style was already predicted by Kain.

So as soon as Cecilia took her first steps, the entire team, including the healer who was almost incapable of fighting like Katie, split into five directions.

"Split?"

"Even that girl who has no fighting power?"

For a moment, Cecilia's footsteps slowed.

She had also watched Kain's team's previous matches. And she could tell with certainty that Katie was the team's healer, always protected in the deepest part of the formation, and did not participate in direct combat.

So it seemed foolish to leave Katie alone.

Although Cecilia isn't very good at scheming, it doesn't mean her thinking is shallow.

On the contrary, with her previous defeat against Kain, Cecilia could be said to have been extremely vigilant, inferring every detail.

Therefore, Kain's move made Cecilia suspicious.

"If Kain had just wanted to split up the team normally, Katie would have been accompanied by someone as a guard. But he didn't do that."

"Could it be... that Katie isn't useless in battle, but is Kain's secret weapon?"

"If that's the case, if Kain predicted that I would attack him first, what is he trying to hide? Katie?"

Cecilia's thoughts began to become chaotic.

Although her thinking ability wasn't bad, but in a situation like this where decisions had to be made in seconds, her mind wasn't refined enough to polish her train of thought to make it clear.

By some stroke of luck, she redirected her attack from Kain to Katie.

Although it may seem like a random act, every seemingly random and unconscious action is actually the result of subconscious summations.

Even though Cecilia couldn't think of anything because her head was in such chaos, her subconscious still secretly summarized the results.

"Katie was a problem, take her down first."

But when Cecilia did so, her eyes widened.

Because the attacks of the remaining four people in Kain's team, including himself, Mera, Myra, Elna, were all aimed straight at her.

It was as if he had predicted the future, knowing which way she would attack.

"Doubtful."

"Skepticism is a double-edged sword, on the one hand, it can lead us to detect cognitive traps, deceptions, or the like."

"But on the other hand, if skepticism is not placed at the right time and right place, it can swallow us up, turning into something that blinds us to the truth."

That's why Kain separated Katie.

Such an unusual event would inevitably lead to the suspicion of Cecilia, who was extremely skeptical of all of Kain's actions.

She would have to rack her brain to think about Kain's purpose behind this behavior. Little did she know that Kain's purpose was actually to make her think too much.

Meanwhile, time was of the essence, and of course Kain knew Cecilia would do so, for her hatred for him was too great, and at the same time her fear.

At the above two conditions combined, Cecilia's subconscious could only come to one simple conclusion.

"Regardless, take down Katie first."

This is the fatal weakness of thinking.

And that was how Kain figured out how Cecilia would move, or rather, he forced her to move that way.

Against the four approaching attacks, Cecilia had to forcibly stop her attack to defend. She turned her sword stance, immediately using the "thousand blade" sword technique to cut the attacks into pieces.

But there was not enough time and distance, making it impossible for Cecilia to completely block it all.

She was pushed back, with wounds on her body.

It was clear that Cecilia's invincible, untouchable image had completely collapsed.

Outsiders only saw Cecilia charge forward to attack, then be pushed back by the members of Team Kain.

Furthermore, from the state of both sides, Kain's team was even more dominant.

Only a few people, from that suspiciously coincidental timeline, realized that something was not simple.

In the teacher's lounge.

Ebadon, as the strongest person here, naturally saw that the timing of Kain's team members' attacks was so close to Cecilia's movement that it couldn't be considered a reaction or coincidence.

But it was a foregone conclusion.

This made Ebadon sigh.

"This is truly unbelievable... could it be that this child has [Time Magic]?"

"No, it's not [Time Magic]."

Suddenly, the principal's voice rang out in Ebadon's ears.

"[Time Magic]... is a myth that doesn't exist, even though it should have existed because of the existence of [Space Magic]."

"No exceptions?"

"No exceptions. This child's completely accurate predictions are due to his intelligence."

The principal replied, and Ebadon saw that and stopped asking.

Because the game has continued.

Having been played a painful trick, Cecilia felt like anger was invading her mind, making her want to rush forward and cut down all the opponents in front of her.

But reason suppressed that anger.

She knew that if she did, there was a high chance that she would truly become a puppet for Kain to control.

Taking advantage of this short period of time, Kain signaled to his teammates from behind, proceeding to implement the next step of the plan.

Standing in front of Cecilia, he shouted.

"Surrender, Cecilia!"

Kain's loud and clear shout echoed throughout the arena.

"The match should stop here, you can no longer win."

"Your invincibility, your swordplay, all have been seen through and destroyed by me. You have nothing left, only yourself."

"If you continue fighting, things will just go as they did just now."

"The five of us are stronger than you."

Cecilia was stunned, she was really stunned. Then, she started laughing.

A hearty laugh, as if he had just heard something stupid and ridiculous.

Did Kain really think that with a few words he could make her surrender, offering him victory while she was humiliated like a defeated dog?

Of course, no way.

The reason he said it was because these words were not meant for Cecilia to hear.

The expressions of Cecilia's four teammates changed.

At first, they thought that they could support Cecilia a little. But looking at the situation, they could clearly see that Cecilia was about to lose.

If Kain had dared to say such a thing at the very beginning of the match, they wouldn't have paid much attention to it, as it would have been nothing more than a harmless threat.

However, after Kain's team not only blocked Cecilia's attack, but also counterattacked and injured her, his words carried much more weight.

You must know, before that, Kain's team had to spend all their strength and arrange all kinds of things to be able to reach Cecilia.

But now, it seems so... easy.

Of course, this was just their illusion, because the situations and relevant factors in the two matches were different.

But this is the weakness of thinking, especially when they don't think deeply about it.

They only look at the surface to judge the nature subjectively. They never consider why it is so.

That is why, truth is sometimes the best material for deception. And doubt is the best condition for deception to happen.

They doubted whether Cecilia could win.

This is the key point.

Of course, this wasn't enough, so Kain gave them another push.

In his speech, Kain always emphasized the five people in his team and Cecilia alone, constantly emphasizing that she alone could not defeat his team.

That made Cecilia's teammates behind her have the illusion that joining would balance the situation, even tilt it in their favor.

Even though the two things are inherently unrelated.

Of course, this was still not enough. So Kain pushed them one last step.

Honor, and affection.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity for them to prove themselves to Cecilia?

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to prove that they are worthy of fighting alongside Cecilia instead of being wooden stakes stuck here?

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to become a savior and gain Cecilia's recognition and affection?

And finally, Cecilia's laughter at that time, in their ears, sounded like a miserable laugh.

After all, all these things were flooding their minds.

And they rushed forward, leaving the place where they were supposed to stay.

Their faces were filled with desire, enthusiasm, even the vision of a better future.

However, Cecilia's laughter stopped.

She glanced back slightly, her eyes had no color pupils, but the tension shown was still terrifying.

"Traitors!"