In the arena, Jiren kept retreating under Lin Chen's attacks.
Though he maintained the Ultra Instinct state, the supposedly invincible Ultra Instinct seemed to have malfunctioned in front of Lin Chen.
Lin Chen's fists kept landing heavily on Jiren, waves of intense pain constantly transmitting to his brain.
Although Jiren could still hold on, dizziness gradually crept into his head.
"Why?"
"Why is this happening?"
Jiren couldn't figure it out.
His Ultra Instinct was taught by Angel Marcarita of Universe 11.
According to Marcarita, Ultra Instinct differed from previous combat styles that relied on sensing ki; it relied on reflexive movements of various parts of the body.
Because it didn't require any thought from the brain, Ultra Instinct maximized movement speed and reaction time.
Once activated, the body and mind would separate, and each part of the body would instinctively perceive danger around it, eliminating the need for the brain to think before acting.
Because of this, opponents couldn't harm the one who was using Ultra Instinct.
Even if occasionally hit in unavoidable situations, due to the body's conditioned reflex protection, they would only suffer minor injuries.
Just now, when Jiren and Goku teamed up to attack Lin Chen in his Super Saiyan 4 Silver-Grey form, Jiren barely got hurt.
Then, why has the situation now drastically changed?
Could it really be because of that Ultra Ego?
Jiren shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his mind.
Then he was once again sent flying by Lin Chen's fist.
"Marcarita! Has Jiren's Ultra Instinct lost effectiveness?" Belmod asked anxiously.
"No, Belmod-sama, Jiren is still using Ultra Instinct," Marcarita replied.
"Then why is he like this? Could it be that Jiren's mastery of Ultra Instinct is too low?"
"No, Belmod-sama. Among the people I have seen, Jiren is the most suitable person for mastering Ultra Instinct. Although he is currently in the Ultra Instinct Sign state, I believe he could fully master Ultra Instinct at any time."
"Then why..."
"It must be the technique used by Lin Chen that's the problem, Ultra Ego... Perhaps this state truly has some restraint over Ultra Instinct," Marcarita speculated.
"Impossible, isn't Ultra Instinct the ultimate technique of you Angels?"
This time Marcarita didn't reply because even she couldn't understand.
How could the supposedly strongest realm in the universe, Ultra Instinct, be restrained like this?
At this moment, in the arena.
Lin Chen's body once again turned into a red stream of light and rushed towards Jiren.
Jiren, having suffered consecutive beatings, began to feel a sense of unease in his heart. He didn't dare to rely solely on Ultra Instinct anymore. With a determined stomp of his feet on the ground, his body became like a silver blade, charging into the air to dodge Lin Chen's attack.
But then, Lin Chen, whose attack missed, also pushed off the ground with his feet and leaped up.
Seeing Lin Chen following, Jiren suddenly gathered a massive energy sphere above his head, resembling a Spirit Bomb, and smashed it towards Lin Chen.
"Even if you can break through Ultra Instinct! Your power is running low! Let's see how you block this blow!"
Like a small sun, the golden energy sphere quickly rushed towards Lin Chen. However, at that moment, a strange scene unfolded.
The blood-red aura that had been enveloping Lin Chen suddenly rushed ahead and covered the energy sphere before him.
Following that, Lin Chen's body evaded Jiren's attack at an extremely peculiar angle.
To onlookers, it seemed as if Lin Chen was holding a rope as he swung past the energy sphere.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted beneath their feet, resembling a dazzling fireworks display.
In the midst of this dazzling display of fireworks, Lin Chen arrived in front of Jiren.
Bang, bang, bang!
The dull sound of fist meeting flesh echoed.
Splatter...
As blood droplets filled the air, Jiren crashed heavily onto the ground, only to struggle back to his feet.
However, this time, his expression showed a new change.
"So that's it. I've somewhat figured out your Ultra Ego."
"Oh?"
Lin Chen showed no surprise.
"That's right. Your so-called Ultra Ego is actually the red aura around you! Every time you attack, the red auras attach to my body, pulling me towards your fists! No wonder your attacks always hit me!"
"I see!" Belmod suddenly realized, "What Ultra Ego, it's just a trick! Damn it, we almost got deceived by Lin Chen!"
"Jiren! Now that you know the truth, hurry up and finish him off!"
Jiren also thought the same.
His fists gradually turned red as power condensed within them.
In the next moment, a thunderous roar erupted from Jiren's throat, and a deep pit cracked open beneath his feet.
This time, Jiren actively charged towards Lin Chen.
Lin Chen silently raised his fist and also moved forward to meet him.
Just before the two were about to collide, Jiren's eyes widened.
He had already seen Lin Chen's red aura enveloping him, and then, an almost imperceptible force did indeed affect his body.
At the same time, Lin Chen's fist struck.
"Let me break your Ultra Ego!"
Jiren yelled, his muscles suddenly swelling, a surge of increased power freeing him from Lin Chen's aura.
Ultra Instinct also kicked in, causing Jiren's body to start dodging on its own.
But...
Bang!
Lin Chen's fist still managed to hit Jiren's face.
The calm expression on Jiren's face due to Ultra Instinct distorted because of Lin Chen's powerful fist.
"Jiren, you've underestimated my Ultra Ego too much!"
A terrifying power erupted, and Jiren was sent flying once again, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop.
"No way! This is impossible! I already saw through your Ultra Ego, why was I still hit! Why was I still hit!"
After being knocked down by Lin Chen again, Jiren, who had thought he was about to win, now had a crazed look on his face.
Which caused the Ultra Instinct to become unstable.
But his loss of composure seemed reasonable to Belmod and the others.
Because even Marcarita and he couldn't understand why, despite seemingly seeing through Lin Chen's Ultra Ego, Jiren was still knocked down?
"Hehe..."
Wise laughter echoed from Universe 7's stands. Old Kai chuckled, "The technique used to counter Ultra Instinct back then, how could it be so easily broken?"
"If Ultra Instinct is about dodging attacks a hundred percent, then Ultra Ego is about landing attacks a hundred percent."
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