As the question crossed my mind, I looked around and saw bubbles coming up out of the arena floor, as if we were at the bottom of the ocean or something. I could still breathe, so just what was this?!

“Oh? I guess our exchanges were too fast for their liking. It looks like they’ve used magic to alter the playing field and slow things down.”

What?! Hindering us at a time like this?! This coliseum allowed spectators to provide support by making a monetary offering. I guess this was just an extension of that.

“The thing is . . . This is cooperative magic known as The Great Deep, and it artificially creates an underwater environment, which just happens to be where I fight best! I guess I really can’t lose this one now, can I?”

“No way . . .”

Raphtalia had leapt in front of me, with her katana readied to strike in a follow-up attack, but she blurted out in surprise.

“Damn it! Chain—”

“Too bad! You’re one step too late.”

The situation felt like some kind of farce comedy, as Nadia used my shields to shield herself, while thrusting Filo away with her harpoon. She then used it to hold Raphtalia off after parrying her strike.

Just how many fights had this woman been in?! I’d played my shield skill trump card to block her escape route, and she still dealt with the situation in a flash. Interference from the audience and our stats might have had something to do with it, too. But I had a feeling she was probably our most formidable opponent yet, when it came to pure skill.

“Ughhh . . . That was ouchieeee . . . But!”

Filo had smashed into my shield. Not to mention, she’d also been electrocuted by the lighting surrounding Nadia. But she pulled herself together and went to attack again. She was starting to look pretty beat-up.

“We’re not done! Chain Shield!”

I wasn’t going to just stand back and watch. But damn, I guess it was because of the artificial underwater environment. Nadia’s lightning was fanning out over a wide area now. It would have been one thing if we could nullify it, but apparently that wasn’t possible. So Nadia was hitting all of us with her attacks—with that formidable lightning! It was no problem for me, but that wasn’t the case for Raphtalia and Filo. Still, if I could just subdue this woman then Raphtalia and Filo could attack unilaterally!

“Got you!”

Chains now linked my shields, which then closed in on Nadia. I used the shields to bind her body tightly, restraining her movement.

“Oh, little Rock! You naughty boy, you!”

“Oh, shut it!”

Despite being restrained, Nadia pointed a hand at Filo and quickly cast a spell.

“Zweite Thunder Bolt!”

“Again, not happening! E Float Shield! Change Shield!”