Seeing that Rice Shower had no intention of giving up her chance to save Mizuno herself, El Condor Pasa took a deep breath, her expression turning serious.
If her opponent wanted a real fight, she wouldn't back down.
With her pro wrestling skills, there were only two Uma Musume at Tracen—her dormmate Grass Wonder and a few seniors like Symboli Rudolf—she couldn't easily pin. Against anyone else, she was confident she could bring them down within ten rounds.
And to personally bring the "prince" out of the demon's lair, this match—she had to win!
But just as El Condor Pasa was warming up, ready to show off her years of wrestling practice, Rice Shower suddenly reached behind her back and pulled out a sharp little knife from her waistband.
Xing— The blade was bright and polished, flashing with a razor edge, reflecting El Condor Pasa's shocked expression.
"Huh?!" El Condor Pasa was dumbstruck.
This wasn't right! When did it become a weapon match?!
Everyone knew—bare-handed and armed fights were totally different. No matter how skilled you were, going up against a knife was another thing entirely.
They say: No matter how good your kung fu, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife. Give even an amateur a blade, and they could take down Tyson.
If her opponent was just a human, El Condor Pasa still had ways to subdue them. But her opponent was Rice Shower—an Uma Musume, just like her!
El Condor Pasa had never seen Rice Shower actually use a knife, but the way she carried one around every day, she probably practiced moves in secret, right?
El Condor Pasa was already bracing herself for some on-the-spot, bare-handed blade-catching techniques—when suddenly, Rice Shower flicked her wrist and tossed the knife away.
"Rice Shower wants a fair fight with you. I won't use something like that…"
"I see…" El Condor Pasa paused, awkwardly scratching her head.
She'd thought Rice Shower was going to use the knife to win, but it turned out she just didn't want anyone to get hurt by accident, so she'd tossed it aside…
"But, Rice Shower, doesn't that make things even more unfair?" El Condor Pasa asked.
In her mind, since Gold Ship had said any means were allowed, Rice Shower using a knife was totally within the rules.
But now, Rice Shower was giving up her knife and insisting on a fair fight—wasn't that just handicapping herself, going easy?
How was El Condor Pasa supposed to go all out, using her wrestling moves against such a small, earnest opponent?
"Then I'll give you a handicap—I'll only use one hand." El Condor Pasa tucked her right hand behind her back, ready to face Rice Shower one-handed.
"Rice Shower will use just one hand too…" Not to be outdone, Rice Shower also put her right hand behind her back.
"Then I'll use neither hand!"
"Rice Shower won't use them either!"
"I won't use my feet!"
"Rice Shower won't use hers!"
"Stop, stop!" Off to the side, Tokai Teio couldn't take it anymore. She quickly called out, interrupting the escalating contest of weird handicaps, and suggested:
"How about this? You can't use weapons, but for fairness, let's change the rules… Each of you picks something you're wearing as your 'critical weakness.' Whoever can snatch away the other's 'critical weakness' first wins. How about that?"
"Hmm… good idea!" El Condor Pasa and Rice Shower both nodded, clearly approving.
This way, their abilities would be roughly matched, and the fight would be much less dangerous. No more worrying about someone refusing to surrender even after being pinned, risking a real injury.
"I'll pick this." El Condor Pasa pointed at her signature eyemask.
"This is the most important thing I have. It's my pride as a masked wrestler, holds my father's hopes, and all my memories with Trainer-san. If you can take it, Rice Shower, you win."
"…." Rice Shower hesitated, then raised the blue rose sachet hanging from her neck.
"Rice Shower picks this…"
"Alright." Tokai Teio moved to stand between them, automatically taking on the role of referee.
"Since you've both chosen your weaknesses, please get ready. Once I finish counting down, the match officially begins."
"Okay." El Condor Pasa and Rice Shower nodded, put some distance between them, then turned to face off, getting into a runner's stance like real competitors.
They looked just like samurai preparing for a quick-draw duel—poised, waiting for the referee's call, ready to move with lightning speed.
Tokai Teio, seeing both were ready, began her countdown.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One—start!"
As Tokai Teio shouted, like the bang of the starting gate at a race, both El Condor Pasa and Rice Shower reacted instantly, powering off their legs and charging at full speed.
Both surged forward, determined to strike the other down and win the right to go on.
But it was clear to anyone watching—even with the new rules, in a contest of raw strength, El Condor Pasa was still stronger.
She had the advantage in speed, reach, and power—she'd be able to touch Rice Shower's "weakness" faster.
Just like now—once they closed the distance, Rice Shower had barely lifted her hand before El Condor Pasa's fingers were already at the sachet on Rice Shower's chest.
"Got it!" El Condor Pasa's eyes shone—her fingers brushed the sachet.
But the moment her fingertips made contact, Rice Shower's pupils contracted, a surge of inky darkness radiating from her, as if she could swallow all the world's light.
Rice Shower spun lightly, swinging the sachet out of reach, and at the same time, her hand shot out, grabbing straight for El Condor Pasa's face.
El Condor Pasa's vision went black—for a split second—and when she recovered, her most precious item was already gone.
"What?!" El Condor Pasa clutched at her bare face, staring in disbelief behind her.
There stood Rice Shower, holding the eyepatch aloft, her tiny frame still twisted from the spin, the blue rose sachet on her chest fluttering down with inertia before settling back in place.
The match was decided in a flash.
"I… lost?!" El Condor Pasa covered her face, falling to her knees, eyes wide in shock, unable to believe it.
She'd had every advantage, but she'd lost to someone smaller, weaker—Rice Shower, of all people!
"…Sorry." Rice Shower's eyes were hollow as she stepped up to El Condor Pasa, handing back the eyepatch, murmuring softly:
"Your memories… can't win against Rice Shower's memories of Onii-sama…"
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T/N: i want rice to win... and guys... you NEED TO STOP HITTING SUCH HIGH POWERSTONES!!! thats it im limiting the powerstone rewards ehehehehehe 500 powerstones so 5 bonus chaps is the limit for basement from now on >:)