Kei danced around Kenichi with the fire kata, his fists impacting violently like rockets against Kenichi's body, which was slipping into the limbo of defeat. However, that was not the case… for martial artists, life-and-death situations are growth points. Kei needed to finish this quickly because Kenichi's will was being tempered as the fight progressed, but he needed to copy the skills of the great masters of Ryozanpaku.
A steel fist struck Kenichi's face, sending him flying. He spun through the air, blood streaming from his cheeks. The sharp pain made the young man with brown hair groan; the blow cracked his bones. It was a sadistic attack—neither too strong nor too weak, just enough to provoke pain.
-One heartbeat!-
Slow punches were just normal jabs, but they always landed precisely where intended. Kenichi couldn't believe he was being deceived; his defense was like paper. Formless boxing fists as the main actors, featuring illusory jabs, mid-movement adjustments, quick strikes, and punches devoid of martial form. Kei adjusted his strike briefly before launching a slow punch, surprising his opponent. Each blow chipped away at Kenichi's seemingly endless stamina, but the experienced masters of Ryozanpaku were solemn, knowing that the worst outcome for Kenichi, given his reckless behavior, could be the end of him as a martial artist. The old Hayato was now close to an energy post, watching over Miu with all his power.
- He's quite powerful. He has copied all the techniques from Kenichi that took us so long to teach him. I even see he's starting to refine the style and incorporate it into his own, yet I can't identify his true style, - Ma Kensei commented from the other side of the lake, stroking his beard.
-I thought it was the Niko style, but this is different… it has a primitive essence that makes his strikes different from traditional arts, - Akisame added.
-It's… bad, - Shigure murmured.
Kei delivered a powerful axe kick, a blow with enough force to break rocks, but it was defended with a karate technique, sending the strike to the side. The defense was designed to compress all the muscles in a closed stance; however, Kei's blow was brutal.
-You're a fool. Accepting defeat is also wise advice, but you've only driven a sword into your own heart; your pride is vain. Even your companion supports my words; just accept it out of respect, humility, and nobility. But know that your attitude is that of a child who cannot fend for himself, - Kei remarked.
He needed to push Kenichi to his limits.
-You have to calm down, - Kenichi told himself, reestablishing his Seikuken. A white layer formed around him, created with great concentration by Kenichi, who, despite his body burning with pain, managed to clear his mind in an epiphany. Kenichi attacked; he had nothing to lose by waiting to be struck. Kei was about to land another blow, but Kenichi shifted into the mode that Kei had been waiting for—the master-copying mode, a perfect imitation of his masters' abilities, wielded with spectacular strength.
-Those movements are… - Miu commented, surprised by what she was witnessing.
Kenichi began to use a pure Muay Thai style, filled with strength and various skills. From his stance, arms, or hips, Kei's eyes widened with admiration; this was the technique he wanted to copy at any level. His laughter was unsettling, and his body began to move back and forth, formless, needing to enter his beast mode.
-Appapapapa. -
Kei attacked with a low kick.
But Kenichi jumped in a frontal attack, landing a knee strike to Kei's face.
-Apapapapa. -
Using the water form with Aikido, Kei avoided the blow, followed by the redirection kata, sending the strike to the ground. Ma Kensei detected it in an instant, allowing the masters to see the technique the young Kazama was using, which was characteristic of Chinese Kempo.
-Apapapapa. -
-That's it, Kenichi, - Miu commented, noticing the new change in how he faced the battle, not allowing space for a response as he received multiple strikes from all sides.
-He's using Kenichi as a punching bag, - Sakaki said, irritated by the fight as he lay on the ground, resting his head on his palm.
-He's a very curious fighter. The point is… who is his true master? - Akisame asked.
-Those are the movements of Apachi, the god of death from the underworld of Muay Thai, Apachi Hopachi, - Miu murmured, perplexed but disconnected from the situation.
The twists and kicks were deadly, and Kei began to mimic, like a hungry wolf stalking its prey, the pieces came together. He already had Muay Thai practice, but with Kenichi's fight, like a worm absorbing venom, he copied all the Muay Thai movements. Blood was gushing from his nose and mouth... but it was the predatory smile that frightened Kenichi, who stepped aside. If the bloodlust was intense before, now it could only be compared to that of a monster; it was a thirst that only a true genocidal maniac could possess. How many lives could a young man have taken to have such a craving for blood? -Hayato thought.
Kenichi watched as Kei adopted a Muay Thai stance until the two faced off. However, against Kei's fist, Kenichi changed styles once more.
- A deadly blow. - Kenichi commented, this time imitating the self-proclaimed 100-dan karate master Shio Sakaki. - hehe' -
Kei observed the stance, even the way he stood up... rigid and stern like karate, with kiba dachi and shiko dachi stances, feet wide apart.
- I don't smile like that. - Sakaki growled.
- But it looks like him, he's imitating Shio, and it's identical. Apapapap. - Apachi said cheerfully.
- I see, Kenichi realized his style was completely neutralized by the enemy; his opponent was reading all his movements, catching the rhythm and fighting form... he began adopting the styles of the Ryouzanpaku masters... but that was a mistake. With an opponent who evolves in battle, he can now see the traces of Muay Thai in his fighting form. - Akisame commented.
- So how can he defeat Kei? - Kizara asked from the bed.
- With his own unique, fully polished style. For someone like Kenichi, it would be best to stick to a single style. Now Kenichi only uses bamboo swords against a great iron door, he's just using brute force. - Akisame commented.
- He hasn't changed the techniques, he's just altered his rhythm, but even so, I have to give him credit for thinking of that possibility; however, he will lose. - Ma Kensei commented.
- The secret potential of humans. - Hayato said, watching as Kenichi broke his limits. He had believed in the battle, not far away was Ogata shaking his chin at the witnessed fight, nothing like the battle of a disciple, who even now was being dominated by rage.
- What is Kenichi doing? - Nijima asked.
- Using the unique Ryouzanpaku style. - Miur commented.
The blows of his masters, from their forms to Shio's style, were devastating in attack. When Kei was about to surprise Kenichi, he imitated a Kempo stance and evaded all the blows, replicating the Chinese Kempo stance.
- Ajajajaja! - Kei's devilish appearance frightened Kenichi, who changed to Shigure's style, but Kei's beast.
For the first time, the fight escalated to another level. The concentration of the Ryouzanpaku disciple led Kei to strike without restraint. He delivered a straight punch, but Kenichi disappeared, seeking Ryuto, who was using the forbidden technique that combines do and sei.
- Berserker, you have done something truly unforgivable. - Ryuto growled in a roar that raised Kei's eyebrows, who changed to his Dou stance. Berserker was trying not to be cornered, but Ryuto's strength was deadly even for Shogo, who showed several traces of having been struck by the forbidden technique. His physique was different and swollen, and Odin's blows were disrupting Shogo's defense, which couldn't withstand the difference in strength.
- I can't believe you're doing this... it's dangerous for that young man. Allowing his aura to explode outward while maintaining his Sei aura inside will end badly when he uses both at the same time. - Hayato quickly warned everyone around him.
Ryuto's strength was about to finish off Shogo, but Kenichi intervened. However, after delivering a head kick, Ryuto stopped and grabbed Kenichi's legs, throwing him against the metal wall. Seeing Odin's predatory smile, was something not very common in him.
- He's completely gone mad. - Sigfried shouted.
- You have to stop. - Kenichi said, sensing something sinister behind Ryuto, who was deranged. The humiliation at Berserker's hands was the last straw. Ogata and Akisame, the shadow of both masters, engaged in an endless battle, exchanging blows.
Blood began to flow from Ryuto's nose as he delivered a palm strike... his eyes began to turn black.
- This is bad. - Akisame commented.
- What's happening? Why has something bad happened? - Miu asked herself.
- Do and See, if these two completely different auras are used simultaneously, they will create friction. It's like letting a bomb explode inside a sealed container; in doing this, incredible power will be obtained for a short period. But in the long run, it will destroy his body. - Ma Kensei commented.
- No! It's not just the body; the terrifying thing is that even his mind will slowly be consumed. If we don't stop him, he'll be paralyzed! - Sakaki roared.
- Ishinsai, this boy must have taught him this on purpose. - Hayato said.
- Unforgivable, he used his disciple as a guinea pig. - Akisame replied, his eyes glowing in silent fury.
- Well done, Ryuto, you have to survive. Then try to reach my level... hahaha! - Ogata exclaimed.
Without giving himself any space, blind fury attacked Kenichi.
...