-Kei was in high school, walking with pride. Sometimes he fought for the Ragnarok gang and reported any updates to Hiyo Kure. Hiyo kept a close watch on all his activities, deciding carefully whether to get involved or not. Meanwhile, Shiba trained him with power, strength, and everything that boxing represented—not just any sport, but a dirty and elusive boxing style.
Training with Shiba was exactly what he needed. Confidence began to grow. Every day and night that he trained with Shiba, he discovered new ways to hit, each punch a fiery revelation. Punches to the back of the head, shapeless punches, flexibility—Shiba taught him everything, except the special techniques.
-We have a meeting. - came the voice on the phone. It was Loki, the fourth fist of Ragnarok.
-I'll be there, just send me the location. - Kei replied on his cell.
-Someone will be there for you, Fenir. Watch out for your fangs; my men are a bit playful, but they'll take you to the place. - Loki said mockingly, already picturing Kei's serious look and stiff demeanor, a complacent and arrogant man who lacked true power.
After three months of school, he still felt mediocrity clinging to his skin. Improvement was slow, but the desire to become more powerful shone in his eyes. The springs compressed his body with every breath. They grew tighter and stronger each day, making every movement, even walking, uncomfortable.
-Nijima, help me with the written assignments and be careful not to get into trouble. Those gang members from last time weren't very pleasant. - Kei Kazama said.
-Hahaha, don't worry, my precious pawn. You're one of the great pieces. - Nijima replied, watching Kei take down people with power. Ten against one, all defeated by his sheer weight. This was a man with whom he had an alliance, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction.
Kei saw that he had half an hour left of his class. The meeting with the fists was in two hours. He pondered heavily as he made his way to find James. Morning training followed by lots of work.
The fists were incredibly talented. They all had the skills to reach the top, but not to draw attention when they barely had the talent to take down some of Yami's disciples. He wouldn't win against half of them. He needed much practice and hoped a brighter light would blind the masters, especially those with more sadistic tendencies. However, he wouldn't deny that a meeting would give him significance. Being a disciple of Akira Hongo would fulfill the favor of surpassing anyone... dreaming in fits, he completed the 40,000 punches as the moon rested on his shoulders.
-I want to rest. - those were the words his mind whispered, and with delicate effort, he tried to take a step but fell to his knees just as the phone rang.
-There's a car on 34th Street. Will you be long? - Loki asked.
-I'll be there in ten minutes. - Kei replied, removing the weights from his feet and hands. The heavy, burdened feeling gave way to a sense of solitude, the absence of weights a relief to his body, which burned with pain and fatigue.
As he continued on his way, it was a path that took him farther and granted him the rest he so desperately needed. On the road was a black jeep with Number 20, the girl with goggles and a green wool hat. She greeted him with a restless wave, similar to Loki's, pacing back and forth before speeding off to the port. There, they entered a dimly lit warehouse. On a dais stood a man surrounded by the fists.
-We are all very pleased with everything that has happened. Our objectives are met. Before you stands what you've always awaited, the presence of the great master of martial arts and our sponsor. He is the one who helps us unite in the fight and find the true martial style, "the killer fist." - Ryuto announced. We have great news on our shoulders. He hadn't noticed Kei's physical changes in just a month, though his aura had grown stronger, perceptible only to experts. Different from many, he fought Shiba almost every day, who said the best material was the fight itself.
-You will meet Isshinsai Ogata. - Ryuto said as Ogata descended behind him like a dove, with his white cape and posture. Different yet similar to Shiba, much more deadly, and unlike the others, he exuded a certain air of madness.
Lalalalallalala, Sigfrid sang with his usual violet hat, but he was silenced by Ogata's arrival. The entrance was as theatrical as expected; martial arts were dramatic. Kei could even glimpse the ki escaping from Ogata's eyes as his cape billowed—a sudden, unexpected presence.
-Before you, Master, we have Ragnarok's fists, - Ryuto commented joyously, seeing all his fighters in front of their imposing master.
-Young promising ones, Ryuto, - Ogata cryptically remarked. His attention was fully focused, even Hermit, draped in a similar demeanor, had a clear way of looking at him. Close by, each of his fists was surprised.
-Yes, these are the eight fists of Ragnarok, just as you say, Master. We will expand our power, and dominate multiple gangs across the Kyrko area, - Ryuto proudly declared. Kei wanted to see the power, and with a simple touch, Ogata disappeared and held Freya's face in his hands.
-A very promising young lady, - Ogata commented with his allergic, feverish demeanor. A white shadow that swept over all people was intense in any way, from his soft, silky voice that reached every corner; everyone was amazed, even the excitable berserk, who used to be heavy, a man who seemed more like an animal than anything else, even the way he cast his shadow over people's psyche.
He walked slowly while his bandaged feet followed the traceability, stopped right in front of Kei coldly, and Kei saw the same feeling he had with Hiyo, an impending death, jumping aside. But the blow never reached anywhere; it was a mere projection. Ogata put a hand on his chin.
-This is Fenir the Beast. His instincts are as good as you mentioned, - Ogata commented.
-You're quite presumptuous for a grandmaster, - Kei commented, cutting the breath in the entire room.
-Hahahahahahaha, - the great master's laughter was not waiting, he said that Ishijin had two personalities, and each of them was different, there was the calm man, the man who appreciated the arts, while the other was the demon, the martial artist, the man who clamored for blood and did not fear competing, with other great masters, he always behaved in a presumptuous way, and acted in unconventional ways.
-Your instincts are great, and it seems you have a well above average. I didn't expect you to be accepted to be part of this team - Ogata commented, the plan was several talented people, each of them embraced and carefully decided, but it was this new man who decided on formality to the way he performed, his punches were primitive, he had a powerful grip, powerful punch and instincts. Yami would appreciate a man like this.
-What are martial arts? - Ogata asked. Before all the members of Ragnarok, in an indistinct. Sign, of ideology, which continued as the essence of both Yami and Ragnarok in principle.
-Martial arts are power, -. Ryuto said, like the leader. He always spoke silkily.
-It's the guide to our martial arts. In my case, sumo, - Yuma Shiaki, also known as Thor, commented.
-The power of our beliefs, - Freya commented.
-Our fists, our arrogance, - Shogo/berserk commented.
-It's the music of the soul, the soul that leads us to compete, - Sigfrid commented.
-Intelligence, you can always fight with your head, - Loki commented.
-The strongest, power is all that matters, - Hermit commented.
They were all very wise decisions, seeing that there was no mistake, he decided to be quiet, and understand everything that happened, in one and another difference he saw, that people always tend to be guided by their experiences, but seeing the series, seeing the opponents, he realized that there were many different ways of understanding what to do and not to do, many masters were guided by what they were, Yami created after World War II, when many masters died, in the way each one died, it had an incidence, in the multiple styles of martial arts, they sought to keep and preserve the arts, without hiding the mystery. It was for this reason that words could not be taken lightly, they had to surprise them.
-Martial arts are life, my life. They must be understood not for power, but for what they represent for humanity, using them for pleasure is fun sometimes, but it's boring when you don't find someone who can encourage you when you fight, it's ideal to fight, goals, objectives, I like it, even when a word describes, how to perform doesn't matter, all are correct, as long as you have the will to follow the path, - Kei commented, not far, followed by all Ragnarok's plans.
Ogata ordered that they should continue expanding their gang, finding young talents, the way Ogata had long ago, had the plan to create a large gang.
...