Final Battle With The Tree Guardian

Momentum accumulates.

The skill fused into Akatani's abilities was originally named Arrest. Its effect wasn't to halt movement entirely but rather to hold and accumulate energy, much like coiling a spring.

As the scale of what it impacted grew, Akatani had to exert greater effort to maintain control. His focus created an effect that seemed almost supernatural—a transparent, shallow disk formed in the air, like an overturned frisbee brimming with water.

Below, the Tree Guardian lashed out. Its gnarled roots tore through the air, targeting Akatani as he held the suspended "lake" aloft. But before they could reach him, a cold blade sliced through the roots. Shihabime's intervention was precise and ruthless, leaving the assault severed and ineffective.

Above, the suspended water shimmered like a fragile veil, beautiful yet foreboding. Twenty seconds passed in silence, Akatani pouring every ounce of focus into his skill. Then, time resumed.