Chapter 21: Preparation for the Next Battle
Karma sat on the edge of his bed in the dimly lit room, his body aching from the previous battle against Jake. His shoulder throbbed where Jake's dagger had grazed him, and the exhaustion from using his synchronization with Shiro weighed heavily on him. He had won, but it had been close—closer than he'd like to admit. Jake's speed had been overwhelming, and Karma knew that if he hadn't thought quickly and used his Tyrant's paralysis ability, the result could have been much different.
With a sigh, Karma lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as his thoughts raced. The tournament was brutal. There were 32 contestants in his block, and now that he had won his second battle, he was in the top 8. The stakes were getting higher, and with every match, the opponents would only grow more dangerous. The battle with Jake had been proof of that. His next fight wouldn't just be another test—it would be a battle against someone who had also clawed their way to the top.
"**Kai, the wizard...**" Karma muttered to himself, remembering the brief description he had heard from the tournament officials. Kai was known for his immense mana reserves and powerful long-range spells. Wizards, especially those with high mana capacities, were dangerous foes. They could control the battlefield from a distance, raining down magic before their opponents could even get close.
The thought of fighting someone like Kai filled Karma with both anticipation and dread. He needed a plan—a solid strategy to overcome Kai's long-range attacks and force him into close combat, where Karma's sword and synchronization with Shiro would give him the upper hand.
He sat up again, his brow furrowed in thought. "**Alright, let's break this down.**" He took a deep breath and began to go over his abilities, analyzing what he had in his arsenal and how he could best use them in the fight.
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**Karma's Abilities**
"First, there's **Skill Share**," Karma said aloud, thinking through each of his spells and abilities. "It lets me borrow the skills of my tamed monsters without putting any strain on my body." He glanced over at Shiro, who was lying peacefully on the floor by his bed, ears twitching occasionally. Skill Share had been incredibly useful in his last few battles, especially with Shiro's enhanced agility and senses. He could borrow Shiro's speed and reflexes without having to fully synchronize, which kept him from exhausting his mana reserves too quickly.
"But that won't be enough on its own against a wizard like Kai," Karma continued, tapping his fingers against his knee. "Kai will likely keep his distance and bombard me with spells. I won't be able to dodge them all, even with Shiro's speed. I need to close the gap fast."
Next was **Synchronization**, one of Karma's most powerful abilities. By synchronizing with his tamed monsters, he could gain all of their abilities and make them a hundred times stronger. When synchronized with Shiro, Karma had access to the rabbit's incredible agility, enhanced hearing, and jumping ability, all magnified to a level that far surpassed what Shiro could do on its own.
"Synchronization could be the key to closing the distance," Karma mused. "If I synchronize with Shiro, I'll be fast enough to dodge most of Kai's spells and get in close before he can react."
However, synchronization came with a cost. It drained Karma's mana quickly, and the physical toll it took on his body was significant, especially after prolonged use. He couldn't afford to rely on it for too long.
"I need to be smart about when I use it," he reminded himself. "I can't waste it early in the fight, or I'll be too drained to finish him off."
Then there was **Miniaturization**, a unique spell that allowed Karma to shrink his tamed monsters to a smaller size, making them easier to conceal or transport. He had used it effectively in past battles to surprise his opponents, like when he miniaturized Shiro before revealing its true size during combat. But against someone like Kai, who fought from a distance, Miniaturization might not be as useful.
"Still," Karma said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "it could help me set up a surprise attack. If I keep Shiro small and hidden, Kai might underestimate me, thinking I'm fighting without a monster. Then, I can reveal Shiro at the right moment and catch him off guard."
Karma glanced down at his wrist, where a small, intricately designed wristband rested. It was his **spatial wristband**, a magical device that allowed him to store and summon items from a pocket dimension. Inside the wristband was his sword—a sleek, black blade that had served him well in close combat.
"I'll need to use the sword," Karma said to himself, his voice firm. "Kai won't expect me to engage him in close combat, but that's where I have the advantage. If I can get close enough to summon my sword, I can end the fight quickly."
The key to defeating Kai would be keeping him off balance. Wizards, especially those with high mana, were dangerous at a distance, but they were vulnerable in close quarters. If Karma could close the gap and force Kai into a melee battle, he would have the upper hand.
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**Kuro's Potential**
Karma's gaze drifted to Kuro, his grey fox cub, who was curled up at the foot of the bed, sleeping peacefully. Kuro was still young, too young to synchronize with, but the fox's potential was undeniable. Karma had been training with Kuro, and the cub had shown remarkable promise. Its abilities included enhanced senses and stealth, and Karma knew that once Kuro matured, it would be a formidable companion.
"I wish I could synchronize with you, Kuro," Karma whispered, his voice tinged with regret. "Your abilities would be perfect for this fight—stealth, agility, and your heightened senses. But you're still too young."
Karma couldn't risk using Kuro in a battle this intense. The cub was strong, but it wasn't ready for synchronization yet, and Karma wasn't willing to endanger Kuro's life for the sake of the tournament. Still, there was potential in Kuro's abilities that he might be able to use in other ways.
"I'll rely on Shiro for now," Karma decided, his mind sharpening as his strategy began to take shape.
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**The Battle Plan**
With his abilities reviewed, Karma began to formulate his plan for the upcoming battle. Kai was a powerful wizard with a large mana pool and devastating long-range spells. His primary advantage was his ability to keep his opponents at a distance while unleashing a barrage of magical attacks. To win, Karma needed to negate that advantage by getting close—and fast.
First, Karma would start the battle by using **Miniaturization** on Shiro, keeping the rabbit hidden from Kai's view. This would give Kai the impression that Karma was fighting without a monster, leading him to underestimate Karma's strength.
While Kai focused on casting his long-range spells, Karma would rely on **Skill Share** with Shiro, borrowing the rabbit's agility to dodge the initial attacks. He would need to stay on the move, avoiding direct hits while gradually closing the distance.
Once he was close enough, Karma would activate **Synchronization** with Shiro, amplifying his speed and reflexes to a superhuman level. This would allow him to dodge Kai's more powerful spells and rush into close combat. At that moment, Karma would summon his sword from the spatial wristband, catching Kai off guard with a surprise melee attack.
"The element of surprise is key," Karma muttered. "Kai won't expect me to engage him in close combat. He'll think I'm playing defensively, trying to dodge his spells. But when I get in close, he won't stand a chance."
Karma knew it wouldn't be easy. Kai's mana reserves were likely vast, and a single misstep could cost him the battle. But he felt confident in his strategy. If he could execute it perfectly, he would have a chance to win.
"I'll have to time it perfectly," he whispered. "Synchronization can't last forever. I need to end the fight quickly once I'm in range."
With his plan solidified, Karma lay back on the bed, feeling the tension in his body slowly ease. He had survived two battles so far, but this one felt different. Kai was no ordinary opponent, and this fight would push him to his limits. But Karma was ready. He had come too far to back down now.
As he closed his eyes, allowing himself a few hours of rest before the next day's match, Karma repeated his strategy in his mind. Stay on the move, dodge the spells, get in close, and end the fight quickly.
"Tomorrow," he whispered to himself. "I'll be ready."
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**Author's Notes:**
This chapter focuses on Karma's preparation for his upcoming battle with Kai, a powerful wizard. Karma takes the time to reflect on his abilities, strategize for the fight, and acknowledge his limitations with Kuro. The chapter emphasizes the importance of planning and adaptability in the tournament, setting the stage for the intense battle to come. Karma's tactical approach and careful consideration of his abilities show his growth as a character, and readers will anticipate how his strategy will play out in the upcoming match.