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When a fist threatened to strike Yuji's face, he skillfully parried the attack with mesmerizing ease, diverting its trajectory in a pure and magnificent demonstration of flow manipulation.
And when a kick threatened to destabilize his posture, he quickly blocked it while countering with fluidity.
Every punch, every attack launched with full force, was swiftly parried by Yuji.
But as this fierce exchange of attacks unfolded, it was clear that neither fighter intended to cross the threshold that separated training from a real fight.
What they were doing, in fact, was a reflex exercise.
Attacking with the maximum speed they could muster, they struck with genuine intent to hit.
But each of them did everything possible to prevent the attack from landing.
Considering Yuji's entire history, who could possibly match him in a clash of blows?
Of course, it had to be none other than the one who had faced him in the greatest fight of his life.
The bearer of that style, an improved version of something that already existed.
One who could potentially sit comfortably among the best.
The sole master of the Niko Style, Ohma Tokita.
!
Parrying a punch, Yuji quickly countered only to have his attack defended.
Since the tournament, Ohma Tokita had improved greatly. With a new heart, he was back at his peak, which he had lost many years ago.
In the Kure's domain, he was indisputably one of the most powerful.
But meanwhile, the one he was facing hadn't been idle all this time either.
Yuji Shinakawa was on a different level from his annihilation tournament self. With an innumerable variety of techniques, it was normal for others in his place to struggle in developing them equally.
But Yuji had no such problems.
Every technique, even a common punch, was something important to Yuji. He neglected nothing he had learned over the past years.
This earned him incomparable skill in a fight.
Unpredictability.
Of course, this skill could be combated by using pre-initiative, but there was something that set Yuji apart from the rest.
He simply did not show intention.
Every attack needed intention to start, that was obvious, but this was a trait that could be avoided if the martial artist became so accustomed to a technique that they saw it as part of themselves.
The ability to not show intention was a trait mastered only by those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.
Yuji had naturally reached this level.
A level that, though close, Ohma had not yet achieved.
!
Being struck by a punch to the jaw, Ohma kneeled as his legs gave way, a small smile appearing on his lips as he sighed in defeat.
"I couldn't predict that." Complaining, he lifted his head to see Yuji offering a hand, a gesture he promptly accepted and stood up. "You've gotten even better since the last time I saw you."
"I can say the same about you, your Niko Style is on a completely different level." Yuji also praised his friend. "It won't be long until you cross the threshold."
Nodding, Ohma began to walk when he noticed Yuji moving, the two fighters walking side by side as they wandered through the Kure's domain.
"Did you meet Pickle?" As they wandered, Ohma asked. It was natural for him to want to know since Pickle had caught his attention.
"Yes." Yuji understood this, so he was not inflexible in responding. "I got to see him up close."
"And what was he like? What did you think?"
Yuji remained silent for a moment, seeming to ponder the question.
What did he think of Pickle?
Fascinating? Powerful? Incredible?
No, there was no way to ascribe just one trait to Pickle. To Yuji, the prehistoric man was all of that.
His devastating attack against Baki, his muscles perfectly adhered to his body, his oppressive aura that made everyone sweat just by his presence.
Pickle was strong, so strong that he seemed unreachable.
But Yuji knew, he knew that if he wanted to reach the next level, he had to surpass Pickle...
But knowing this didn't make the process easier... Just remembering Pickle made Yuji's hands sweat.
When he faced Kuroki, he didn't fear the karateka that much for one reason...
He knew he could win.
But Pickle? Pickle was a different story.
Yuji didn't know if he could beat him.
Depressing, but a fact. Pickle was a force of nature, and Yuji felt that Pickle still hid even greater power beneath those muscles... No, he didn't feel it, he knew it.
His bones, muscles, skin, every part of his body could feel it. Pickle hadn't shown even a third of his true strength.
That was frightening, but at the same time, fascinating.
He didn't know how, but he would defeat this creature... Because Yuji doubted if Pickle was indeed human.
But for that, he needed to surpass his limits as he had done so many times in the past, even if it meant subjecting his body to a painful process.
"..."
Blinking when he remembered Ohma's question, Yuji turned to see the master of the Niko Style waiting.
And considering all his previous thoughts, he could say with total sincerity.
"He was strong as hell."