So Simple.
I still couldn't believe the past foolishness of my actions, even as I exited the arena.
'Imitating the reasons of others to fight, did I truly lose my way to such a degree, getting caught up in the delusions of my dream coming true that I forgot my initial goal?'
'I am not gifted with natural strength.' But I never was.
Nothing has changed since then, my goal. It wasn't to become a great martial artist, it wasn't to gain meaningless things like honor or respect, or even to have 'fun' during my fights.
No.
It wasn't to gain the greatest physical strength like him, it wasn't to become the most 'experienced' in every martial art known to man, it wasn't to master all the tricks I could, it wasn't even to just survive.
It wasn't even to become like him. I could never be like him, a lion since birth. There was no reason for him to aim to be the strongest when he always was, he knew it since he was born, having the strength of monsters.
'Foolish.'
Following that man's steps when I had my own path to tread, did I not trust myself enough to reach that summit without his 'guidance'? Where would be the fun in that? Taking the road that was already laid out by my predecessors, it would be so easy, so simple, so effortless.
I was my own man, with my own strengths, that I would use to reach that goal.
'I would surpass them, this world even.'
I wasn't a martial artist, a 'warrior', or even a demon.
No.
My heart was set aflame, burning away my past doubts and worries, turning them into ash.
'I'm something more.'
[Gouki Shibukawa POV]
"Hahahaha, that boy finally get's it..."
[Doppo Orochi POV]
'Finally have your head on straight, huh boy?'
[Kuzan POV]
I exited the arena, still caught up in my thoughts when my instincts suddenly screamed at me to snap out of it.
'Hmmm...' I turned my head backward, not expecting him to seek me out so soon.
'I guess it is his duty, as the champion of this underground arena.'
Standing in front of me was perhaps my second greatest 'rival', the only other man capable of reaching that goal.
The supposed strongest teenager alive, the hell spawn of that accursed demon, perhaps the only young man capable of posing me a serious threat within this arena.
Baki Hanma, in the flesh.
I had a lot of feelings toward this strong young man despite never having met him before. It was a bond that we shared that I was sure he was unaware of himself.
I could sympathize with the young man, all the pain he's been through to become as strong as he is today. His will to succeed, to not succumb to his losses, to keep moving forward in spite of them.
But most of all, I appreciated his heart, his heart to not be corrupted by his strength, to never succumb to his ever-growing power, to continue remembering those he 'fought for'.
Still, as much as I appreciated his sentiments, his reasons for gaining so much strength, we were inherently different in our ideals.
'That could never be me.'
With this plethora of emotions in my heart, I walked up to the young man with a smile. And despite his confusion, I pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you."
He was obviously still surprised by my actions, if not by the weight of the moment.
Even as I released him from my hug, he looked at me with eyes of confusion, mixed with a dash of sympathy.
'Haha, know that stare well.'
"It's not time yet, Baki."
It seemed the young fighter vehemently disagreed with my statement, still raring to go.
"We're both still growing. What would be the fun of a fight where we can't 'give it our all'? You should be patient; I'm sure you know the result of a premature fight more than anyone."
'Stupid Kuzan, why the hell would you say that.'
It seemed that despite my reluctance, my heart had other ideas, forcing my brain to choose words that would only continue to infuriate the young man into a fight.
Still, my mind won. I grabbed the young man's shoulders with both of my hands and looked into his eyes with a passionate gaze.
"There's gonna be a time when you're ready to face him, look for me the—"
"KUZAN!" I was broken out of my statements, however, by a now buff Diana, who had scooped me up in her arms and was currently dragging me to who knows where at full speed despite my lack of consent.
"Come on Diana, put me down. I was still talking to tha—"
"NO!" My request, however, was cut off by a worry-filled scream by the 'small' girl, with more passion in her voice than I had ever heard before.
I was curious about the reasoning behind her actions, so I decided to play along.
We eventually reached the exit of the underground arena, which to my surprise housed a squadron of ambulances and medical professionals ready for some work, as if having just arrived on the scene.
"Diana, I thought I told you not to move the patient!"
"Please Uncle Lander, you have to understand he was only continuing to act in his delusions." The girl responded to the man's strict words with her own cries and sniffles. "Is Doctor Shinogi here? Please tell me you called him, Uncle!"
"Um, what is going on—" I tried to get some answers again when my words were again cut off by a different person this time...
"Make way, make way, let me have a look at my student's condition..." Master Shinogi made his way across the army of medical professionals with a teasing smile as he did so.
"Can anyone please explain to me what the hell is going on?"
[Diana POV]
[5 Minutes Ago...]
'Ah, he's finally out of the arena, look at him all serious and thinking about stuff with such a determined gaze.'
'So cute.'
I was just about to run up to him to congratulate him for his victory when he suddenly turned his head swiftly, as if expecting to fight a dangerous opponent.
I was confused, however, by his weird actions.
'What's he doing, there's nothing there?'
I was just about to move closer to him to make sure that he was alright when he suddenly started walking forwards, away from me. His next actions, however, caused cold sweats to run down my back.
'He's hugging air.'
'MY GOD!'
With all the willpower I had, I followed the correct medical protocol, having experience with it myself from all of his lessons, and dialed my uncle's number.
'Hey Diana, where did you ru—'
"PLEASE, UNCLE LANDER, YOU HAVE TO CALL THE AMBULANCE!" I cut off his scolding with my screams of terror.
"Kuzan's obviously suffered from brain damage, he's seeing things that are not there!" I let out my desperate plea to my uncle with all the strength that I could muster.
"Ok Diana, I'll call everyone, don't worry, we even have Doctor Shinogi nearby. Don't worry, just don't move him too much, try to get him to stay still until we arrive." my Uncle hurriedly relayed his instructions handling the shock of the situation in a matter of seconds.
I understood my uncle's instructions, however, I couldn't help myself after Kuzan continued to move around, talking to no one.
"We're both still growing. What would be the fun of a fight where we can't 'give it our all'? You should be patient; I'm sure you know the result of a premature fight more than anyone."
'NO, NO, NO!' I rushed forward and carried him ever so delicately in my arms, trying my best not to move him too much while swiftly darting toward the exit of the Dome.
'Please be alright, please be alright...' I continued praying for his well-being in my heart, his next words only causing me greater pain and worry.
"Come on Diana, put me down. I was still talking to tha—"
"NO!" I screamed at him to shut up, furious at him for not realizing the severity of his injuries sooner.
'Please Uncle Lander, I promise to never run away again, I promise to follow all of your steps from now on to make sure I'm safe, just please, God, please let him be alright.'
This time, however, perhaps fueled by the seriousness of my vow, my prayers were answered as Doctor Shinogi continued to examine Kuzan while the patient in question continued to ask for clarification.
"There's nothing especially wrong with him, medically at least, from everything that I can see," the man's words soothed me for a second, before I realized their meaning and implications.
"No, I swear I saw him talking to no one, you have to believe me, please, please Doctor Shinogi, please." I continued to beg the Doctor, still worried about his condition. "Please."
[Kureha Shinogi POV]
Even I couldn't stand a now little girl's crying. Thus, despite being confident of my diagnosis, I decided to entertain the girl's worries.
"Don't worry, Princess Diana, I'm gonna take Kuzan to the hospital for a much deeper medical check-up, why don't you accompany him with me in the back of the ambulance?"
Gaining the Princess's approval and finally getting her to stop her tears from flowing, I helped move the still confused student of mine onto the stretcher and helped place him into the back of the ambulance.
'Really, Kuzan,' I thought while shaking my head with envy at my disciple's luck, 'getting even a Princess to cry and plead for your help, I can't believe I raised a disciple like you.'
[Kuzan POV]
'So that's why everyone thinks I'm currently crazy.'
I finally understood the 'severity' of my situation after deriving an explanation from Master Shinogi after a barrage of questions at my supposed "caring Doctor," who seemed more pleased and amused than concerned at my previously confused state, initially even refusing to acknowledge my request for answers.
'I finally achieved it.'
Though it wasn't the improvement of [Ultra Instinct] that I was seeking, it was no less important and useful to my future training.
'Shadow Boxing.'
I had, of course, tried shadow boxing before, but it seemed that I was not as naturally gifted in this aspect as others. Being unable to conjure up 'real' figments of my imagination that would do 'real' damage to myself.
'I had assumed it just needed a strong enough will, and a plethora of fighting experience, but in my case it needed a whole lot more to achieve.'
Everyone's different; no two techniques, even performed by two students who have trained under the same master, will be perfectly alike. I was unable to achieve 'Baki's' version of the skill, however, I could feel that mine had no less room for growth.
My achievements in the medical field after training under Master Shinogi, coupled with my past experience of having watched the greatest of fighters 'grow' on the pages of a book, resulted in something truly extraordinary.
'I could see them.'
It wasn't as if I was imagining their styles, their moves, or even 'predicting' their next attacks. It was as if they had fully materialized in human form, colors and everything, even being able to trick me at first glance.
'So stupid Kuzan, so stupid, Baki's currently out seeking treatment for his poisoned body from Reiichi Andou, what would he be doing here?'
Still, despite the worry the 'event' had caused to the poor Princess, it was definitely worth it.
'Although I can't 'imagine' creatures that I have never seen, or even go so far as making existing animals bigger or smaller in size to fight me, I can 'conjure' up fighters that I'm familiar with. All that's required is having seen them in person; it's not perfect yet, but hey, not bad for now.'
This, of course, meant that I was unable to replicate yet his movements, despite being very familiar with his 'fighting style,' not as if he'd call it that.
'It's fine, this changes nothing. I'm not gonna put myself in fights that would be tantamount to suicide just yet, I'm sure I can improve this skill by training in it.'
I may be stupid, but I wasn't an idiot. I knew better than to let my 'greed' get to me to such an extent that it would hurt my future path. I was still growing, and at a good pace.
'I still need that before I even think about challenging him, otherwise...
'What would be the fun in that?'