This coaching is not right.

He was unwilling to pay too high a price for this one point, so he quickly withdrew his mental energy and announced his surrender.

Sakagami immediately announced the end of the match. Although Katsuragi was exhausted, he successfully defended the ring.

Ito Sawa had been silently observing the duel between Kanzaki and Katsuragi, his mental focus constantly on their exchange. As an observer, he was able to perceive Kanzaki's true state and thoughts more clearly.

The moment Kanzaki announced his surrender, Ito Sawa understood that Kanzaki hadn't truly given his all, but rather, out of a desire to cherish his own spirit, he was unwilling to continue sacrificing himself.

Ito Sawa sighed inwardly, realizing that transforming Kanzaki into a more resilient and energetic individual was a long and arduous task.

According to Itō Sawa, Kanzaki's personality hasn't changed much from the original work. He still tends to perform well when things are going smoothly, but is prone to giving up when facing adversity.

Kanzaki glanced at Ito Sawa's expression and knew he had figured it out. A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, but he quickly composed himself and began to seriously discuss strategies for dealing with Katsuragi.

“Ito Sawa, you sensed right, I did hold back,” Kanzaki frankly admitted. “But I believe we have a more effective way to deal with Katsuragi.”

Ito Sawa nodded, signaling Kanzaki to continue.

“Katsura’s ability analysis is indeed troublesome, but we also have our advantages,” Kanzaki analyzed. “He needs time to analyze and adapt to our abilities. If our ability changes quickly enough, or if we use high-intensity abilities to directly outmaneuver him, he won’t be able to analyze it all.”

"Forget about changing your superpower. A person can only have one superpower, so the only option is the second one: using your mental energy to wear him down. Fortunately, your superpower can absorb other people's mental energy, so you're not afraid of the drain from wearing him down."

Ito Sawa nodded, indicating his approval of the plan, but still looked at him with a half-smile.

Kanzaki readily agreed: "After the match, I'll feed you mental energy every day as compensation for avoiding the fight."

In any case, ordinary mental power is completely unimportant compared to the mental power he has specially refined and cultivated; he can have as much as he wants.

Ito Sawa nodded and walked onto the ring.

Ito Sawa stepped into the ring, facing Katsuragi, his eyes gleaming with determination.

He did not intend to resort to the inefficient method of directly confronting each other's mental strength.

What Ito Sawa wanted to do was something even bolder and crazier—he planned to try to absorb Katsuragi's supernatural abilities.

Ito Sawa stood on the arena, his mind racing. He knew his chessboard ability had a unique characteristic: it would never actively exert itself unless its territory was invaded.

This means that he cannot directly draw upon the power of the chessboard to absorb Katsuragi's special ability.

So how could he possibly do that? By getting Katsuragi, the defender, to attack him?

Ito Sawa's gaze swept over Katsuragi. He knew that to absorb Katsuragi's ability, he had to let Katsuragi's ability "invade" his chessboard territory.

He needed to devise a plan to allow Katsuragi's special ability to enter his chessboard area without him noticing, thereby triggering the chessboard's absorption ability.

He recalled the time when he faced a barrage of mental attacks, during which his mental energy overflowed, causing the chessboard to briefly expand outwards.

This scene inspired him, and he decided to use it to develop a new strategy.

"Classmates, attack me with your mental strength!" Ito Sawa shouted loudly to the B-class students below the stage, his voice echoing throughout the gymnasium.

The students in the audience were initially confused, not understanding Ito Sawa's intentions.

But Kanzaki, who had once had a direct mental clash with Itōsawa, immediately understood his plan.

Although Kanzaki didn't know exactly what Ito Sawa's ability was, judging from his previous tests, it seemed that Ito Sawa could absorb other people's attacks and convert them into his own mental energy.

Although I don't know why he suddenly made this request at this time, there must be a reason.

"Listen to Ito Sawa, attack him with your mental powers!" Kanzaki immediately responded, his voice encouraging the other students. Then he took the lead and directed the mental attack.

Although the students in Class B were puzzled, out of trust in Kanzaki and Itōsawa, they began to concentrate their mental energy and launch a mental attack on Itōsawa.

Streams of spiritual energy shot towards Ito Sawa, who was standing on the arena, like invisible arrows.

Katsuragi was stunned; he hadn't expected this to happen. He didn't know why Ito Sawa would suddenly make such a strange request.

Mr. Sakagami was also stunned. As the referee, he was caught off guard by this situation.

After all, the rules of the competition did not explicitly prohibit the defending champion from attacking the attacking champion, let alone the attacking champion actively requesting that someone else attack them. Sakagami-sensei was momentarily at a loss for how to rule; this situation had never occurred before in the competition's history.

Ito Sawa stood in the center of the ring, his mental energy rapidly absorbing the mental energy from his classmates.

As the spiritual energy of the students in Class B continued to flow in, Ito Sawa felt his spiritual sea becoming increasingly full.

His spiritual power, like water being constantly injected, gradually filled his spiritual sea and began to overflow.

This overflow is not disordered, but rather guided and transformed by Ito Sawa's chessboard ability.

Behind Ito Sawa, the Go board reappeared, this time clearer and more stable than ever before.

As mental strength increases, the chess pieces on the board become more active, each piece flashing with a different light, representing different mental strength attributes and intensities.

Inside the stadium, only a few people with the ability to sense mental energy could detect the overflow of Ito Sawa's mental energy.

They stared in astonishment at the almost visible mental fluctuations behind Ito Sawa, but could not fully comprehend the source and significance of this power.

No one but Itō Sawa could see the chessboard that appeared behind him, or the pieces that were moving on it.

Ito Sawa could feel the power of the chessboard increasing, and his heart was filled with confidence.

He knew that his chessboard ability was exerting unprecedented power, which would give him an advantage in his duel with Katsuragi.

Katsuragi faced Ito Sawa. He could sense the changes in Ito Sawa's mental energy, but he could not see the existence of the chessboard.

He could only rely on his supernatural senses and experience to judge Ito Sawa's strength, which made him feel unprecedented pressure.

"Katsura, are you ready?" Ito Sawa's voice was calm, but a hint of excitement shone in his eyes. "Let's continue this duel."