As the constructs closed in, Keiko grinned. "Alright, Ryuga... let's see how long you can keep up." For a brief moment, Keiko's orange energy shifted to a brilliant blue, the aura expanding across the battlefield. Ryuga's instincts flared in warning as he leapt back, just in time to avoid the wave of energy. Everything the blue aura touched froze instantly—Oshime, Riot, Ouiji, Fin's clones—all disintegrating into smoke as the blue energy rolled through them.
Then, just as quickly, the aura retracted, and Keiko's energy shifted back to its familiar orange, though this time it burned even brighter. A smile played on Keiko's lips as the flames began to swirl around his hand, the heat radiating off him causing the air itself to shimmer.
"I'd run if I were you," Keiko warned with a chuckle.
The fireball ignited in his palm, and the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. As Keiko prepared to unleash the attack, the very air grew thick and oppressive, making it difficult to breathe. But before he could release the energy, Ryuga's entire form began to shift. His long hair stretched, fur sprouting along his limbs as his body grew, taking on a primal shape. His skin darkened, becoming tough and simian.
Ryuga grinned, though his face had now morphed into something else entirely. "I am Sun Wukong," he declared, his voice deeper, more resonant. "And this fight has finally caught my interest."
In that instant, Keiko's vision blurred. He had no time to react. To everyone else in the arena, it seemed as though Keiko hadn't moved at all. But Ouiji, standing on the sidelines, saw everything—the rapid exchange, so quick that only someone with his level of perception could comprehend it.
For a moment, Keiko had advanced on Ryuga with blinding speed, faster than even the eye could follow. Yet, before he could strike, Ryuga—no, Sun Wukong—had already countered. With a single punch to Keiko's gut, delivered with overwhelming precision, Ryuga had ended the battle in an instant. The blow was so powerful, yet controlled, that Keiko didn't even register the impact until he collapsed unconscious.
The battle was over.
Keiko lay on the ground, his orange aura flickering out as his body gave way to exhaustion. His breathing was shallow, but steady. The entire crowd was silent, in awe of what had just transpired.
Ryuga—or Sun Wukong—stood tall, his simian features flickering with divine power, though his expression was one of respect. "He's strong," the Monkey King mused, his golden eyes glowing. "But not strong enough."
From the sidelines, Ouiji's heart raced. He wasn't supposed to interfere—he was an instructor, after all. But watching Keiko get taken down so easily sparked something within him. Without a second thought, Ouiji jumped forward, landing in the center of the arena.
"I don't care if I'm supposed to be the instructor," Ouiji declared, his usual playful demeanor replaced with something more intense. "There's no way I'm passing up a chance to fight you."
Ryuga, still in his transformed state, grinned, baring sharp teeth. "Oh? And who might you be?"
Ouiji's magnetic field surged around him as his black-and-white hair began to flicker. His grin matched the Monkey King's intensity. "The name's Ouiji Kuriguri. And I'm here to show you what real fun looks like."