- You are the last person I should have to face. With all the hatred I have for you, it would be better if I could end you before your pathetic existence continues to meddle. - Ryuto commented.
Odin's blow gathered all the muscles in his back, executing a brief twist of his hips and delivering three slaps to Kenichi's chest, shattering the ribs that Kei had already cracked; all six broke, one of them impacting his lung. However, his resilience allowed him to endure such punishment and hold on.
- You give victory to me, the one who was defeated. That's why I hate you so fiercely. - Ryuto remarked.
Ryuto was crushing Kenichi's head against the metal roof.
- Is that all there was to it? - Kenichi replied.
- You pretend you lost and give me the pin back... saying it was just that. This attitude has constantly hurt those around you. After that fight, I returned to the vending machine and bought every pin, finally obtaining the same yin-yang pin. But all I felt at that moment was emptiness. - Ryuto explained.
- That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard... spoiled kids are indeed foolish, but you two are the biggest fools. - Kei commented, arriving on the scene between Kenichi and Ryuto.
- I will settle everything with you later... you see, it's not about the pin... it's about how I obtained it. That gave me the strength to reach where I am in the world of battles. Since that defeat, I have only fought for victory; the weak must be buried by the weak. Goodbye, Kenichi! - Ryuto said, launching a blow at Kenichi that never landed.
- Idiot. - Kenichi retorted.
- You ambushed me. - Ryuto simplified, beginning to feel the effects of the forbidden technique.
Kenichi vanished in a swift step to Ryuto's rear, who only threw a spinning punch, which Kenichi evaded once more. He stopped the next one.
- Ryuto, you are walking the path of Asura. - Kenichi remarked, more serious than usual, both of them locking onto the Seikuken. Blood began to seep from his chest as he fought the urge to vomit blood, pushing himself to the limit as a martial artist.
- Damn it. -
- If I don't stop you here, I won't be able to help, but I believe you will eventually kill someone. - Kenichi said, with the little air left in his lungs, before delivering a strike.
Odin received a hit, and Kenichi another; each blow, each inch, was a constant and intrinsic pain for both parties. They both threw punches, connecting simultaneously, cheek to cheek. All the wear and tear caused by Kei took its toll when Kenichi's left arm ceased to function, followed by his right leg, his ribs, and his lungs, and finally, his consciousness faded.
Ryuto began to feel the effects of the forbidden technique, and his entire body exploded in a surge that started to disintegrate his muscles and joints.
- My body, I can't let myself fall. - Ryuto commented, fixing his gaze on Kei. - I still have cockroaches to crush. -
But Kei remained stoic.
Miu's exclamation, surprised everyone, and the atmosphere plunged to subzero; Ryuto's murderous intent awakened the sleeping beast within Kei. One arm impaled Odin, with nothing but blood gushing. The arm did not touch any vital organs, but it did put Odin's life at risk.
- Why did you do it, Kei? - Berserker shouted in anger. - You're not a killer; we don't kill. - Berserker confronted Kei, who was drenched in Odin's blood. -
- You're the last person who should face me. With all the hatred I have for you, it would be better if I could end you before your pathetic existence continues to meddle. - Kei murmured, observing Shogo, who was completely stunned by his friend's behavior. He couldn't believe it; this wasn't Kei, this wasn't the young man he knew. Shogo took two steps back and ended up falling to the ground.
- You're trash too, Shogo! - Kei remarked, moving past him, searching for the one who must pay with his life.
All the masters of Ryouzanpaku appeared on the scene, while Ogata emerged behind Kei, wearing a sinister smile.
- Well done, Kei. Well done. Initially, I wanted to take him with me, but he had already served his purpose; he was weak. - Ogata replied.
- We're in a disciple's fight; it's Kenichi's death. - Kei stated, facing the wrath of all Ryouzanpaku. - Oh, are you going to change the precepts of martial arts? If you trained him, you should have known this day would come. - Kei commented.
- You don't have to fight, young man; the battle is over. - Hayato interjected.
- The fight only ends with death; it's his life that ends the battle. - Kei said, standing firm before Hayato.
- The young man is right. - Ogata chimed in melodiously, his charisma shining through. Interrupting a battle cannot be done, something you just reminded me of.
- Yes. -
- Although I might let him live if you fulfill a request, of course, I only desire his request. - Kei said mockingly, pointing at the old man with yellow hair, Hayato Furiniji, whom Kei considered the strongest among all martial artists.
Crossroads formed in Hayato's mind. - You don't have to fulfill it; I will fight you. - Miu said, stepping in front of Hayato.
- So you send a mere girl to the slaughter? She will die at my hands, and then Kenichi will follow, which is the life of your two students, with just one request. - Kei commented.
Hayato unleashed a wave of fury that even made Ogata jump back; all the KI from the elder directed itself at Kei. - A promise. -
- Hahahahaha! What a clever person. - Kei remarked, turning his back.
The hooded figure in a white cloak stood beside Kei.
- Now that you've killed my disciple, do you want to be my disciple? - Ogata asked.
- Of course. - Kei replied, disappearing with Ishinjin Ogata.
Both vanished into the sky, following a helicopter. Meanwhile, the battlefield became solemn for all the martial arts masters. Ma Kensei rushed to check if the purple-haired boy was alive, giving a slight gesture to Akisame, and they got to work.
But the atmosphere was at an all-time low; morale was on the floor, and many faced the harshness of life—a cruel, rudimentary, and unpleasant life that always led them to a point.
- But Grandpa, why? - Miu asked, crying.
- He's not someone you can fight, Miu. My promise is my burden; no matter what happens, you are the future. In the future, you will win and teach him the path that the young must follow, or face him in battle, but this is not the time. - Hayato explained.
On the other side, above the helicopter.
- I never expected the young man I saw for just a second to kill Ryuto using the technique I invented so quickly. - Ogata remarked.
- He was weak; however, my master is affiliated with an organization, and he's a bit suspicious… how about you train me in secret? To be honest, my only desire is to kill him. - Kei stated coldly.
- And your organization will not be named Yami. - Ogata questioned.
Kei's eyebrows raised, and his mouth opened.
- How do you know? -
- Because I am one of the nine shadows, the Holy Fist. - Ogata replied.
- Ten fists; my master was approved… so you can keep the secret that I want to kill him. If he finds out, he will kill me. - Kei commented.
- Of course. - For Ogata, chaos was merely a dance. - Will you tell me why? –
- For your pride as a martial artist. - Kei said, accusingly looking at Kensei, whom he believed had a moral compass better than most people.
- Of course. - Ogata replied, observing how Kei ruthlessly pierced Ryuto, confronting the superman without resentment.
Kei recounted the story of his life and why there was so much hatred between them, despite their disciple-master relationship. It was a tumultuous relationship at the very least; the struggle he lived was one of desperation, and at all times, he didn't change his emotions. There was anger, but he flatly told everything.
...