Tiona was getting impatient and the Ki that had been covering her entire body became visible as an aura. The increased concentration of her Ki was even more pronounced on her arms and legs. Though Kisuke was able to see that she was still holding back, 'Oh? That form is... She could probably materialize her Ki further than that.'
Tiona's long hair swayed along with the air being pushed around by her aura. There was also an obvious luster that was present in her eyes, but Kisuke doesn't know what those entailed. Regardless, he was still carefully observing the flow of her Ki-turned aura and concluded that this was where she was putting out her real ability.
Even then, nothing really changed besides her attacks having more punch and kick in them, alongside the small shockwaves she was creating by whipping her limbs around. Tiona's overall pattern was still the same and what concerned Kisuke more was his hat leaving his head with all these winds whipping around.
After a minute or two, Tiona gritted her teeth and couldn't take it anymore, "Why are you only dodging!?"
"Hmm..." Kisuke tilted his head to the right to avoid her fist, "I apologize. The defense you have right now has already exceeded the strength I can use and I won't be able to do any substantial amount of damage even if I could get a direct hit."
"Then why don't you surrender!?"
"I don't know how things are done here, but... Do you just surrender when your opponent is stronger than you? Now I wonder how you even reached this level."
"Wh-!? That's not- !?" Tiona couldn't complete her sentence because one of her feet suddenly sank and she lost her balance.
After creating that chance, Kisuke went on the offensive and sent his fist toward her face.
Tiona gritted her teeth and raised up her left arm to block it. Kisuke's punch didn't do anything to her, but because she was out of balance, she couldn't stop herself from falling backward. She tried to recover her balance by moving her other foot back, but the same thing happened again with it sinking to an unnatural angle.
Tiona saw Kisuke's second fist coming for her face once again and used her other arm to block it, "Kuhh..." However, the second fist never came, instead, she felt something swiping both of her feet off the floor and throwing her airborne. The next instant, she felt a dangerous impact on her unprotected stomach, sending her back down and smashing the floor, "Guhaaaa!"
The air in her lungs was forcibly ejected, making her disgruntled for a split second. Though within that split second, the battle was already over with Finn shouting, "Stop!"
Tiona was confused for a moment as she was just trying to get up but soon enough, she also understood. On top of her neck were two fingers covered in dense Ki that could easily puncture her own defensive Ki. She shuddered once again and followed the arm that was holding those fingers until she reached Kisuke's eyes looking down on her, "If you're going to be talking, at least try not to be distracted by it."
After leaving those words, Kisuke stood up and stepped away.
When he turned back again, he saw the almost unresponsive Tiona being assisted by Tione and Ais, 'They got strong, alright? But due to that, they also became dismissive of other people. To think they wouldn't even listen to Riveria properly.'
This is the real reason why Kisuke was pissed. Even though panicking, Riveria was trying to explain something yet all they did was deny it because they already had a conclusion in their mind, 'Just because I'm an unknown person, they'd disregard the words of someone important to them? Sitting at the top of the world has made their ego too big. Was it because they don't have many rivals and those weaker than them have no way of reaching them?'
Kisuke turned his sights to Loki who was also looking at him while scratching her head and making an awkward smile, 'So this is a problem for you too. Can't you discipline them on your own? Dang it... these 'lessons' won't be free.'
Now that they'd moved Tiona away, Kisuke finally spoke again, "Next... But this is taking too long. The four of you have a problem with me, don't you? Come together so we don't waste anyone's time."
Everyone froze and Tione slowly turned to him with veins visible on her forehead, "Huh? Forgive me, but it seems that I misheard you."
"Stop pretending to be deaf when it's convenient. You heard me. Let's get this done because I still have more important things to do than waste my time here."
More veins popped in Tione's head as she stood up while taking out her trusted pair of kukri knives, "Take out your weapon. I don't want to accidentally kill you for Riveria's sake."
"Pffft... Just you?" Kisuke then took out his cane from his sleeve, "You'll be the one writhing in pain on the ground later."
Tione instantly reached her limit and stepped out while her Ki surged out of her body. But before she could reach Kisuke, Finn suddenly said, "Lefiya, Filvis. Join Tione."
"Captain!" Tione shouted back.
Finn sighed and approached Tione before saying in a whispering voice, "I know... But he has already proven himself to be more than capable. I'd like you three to force his cards while we still have this chance. I would ask Ais too, but as you know, her skillset isn't suitable in this kind of group battle."
"...You rated him that highly?"
Finn nodded, "His strength never exceeded that of a Level 6 or 7 but the amount of control he has is better than mine and Gareth's."
Tione's eyes widened because she wasn't able to tell that at all.
"And above that, Lefiya only noticed the Magic that tripped Tiona when she'd already fallen for it. Most likely, he's an assassin whose expertise lies in anti-personal combat. Our strengths don't match well with him so just as he said, not enough."
.
.
.
Despite the warnings from Finn, it only took Kisuke less than ten minutes to smack the three girls to the ground with his cane. He defeated three Level 8s with relative ease and everyone who was watching was now palpitating for many different reasons.