Nijima was completely battered, his body bruised from the blows, and traces of blood were visible. Kei held him by the neck, and the entire atmosphere of the Shimpaku alliance was filled with the presence of all Kenichi's friends. For the first time, they felt the fury of a true fighter. Curiously, Kei came with good intentions, but Nijima refused to reveal the Ryōzanpaku dojo's location enough.
In the end, one of the members gave the address under threat.
- You will never get what you seek. Kenichi will defeat you; he is a man who will not give up even when facing defeat. He is the kind of man who will confront his struggles and surpass his limits. - Sigfried commented from the ground, another one who was completely defeated.
Two rounds! That was all he managed. The first round ended with a blow to the back, and in the second round, Kei dodged and, with a flickering step using the adamantine kata, aimed at all vital signs, stopping abruptly after a strike. The fight was a blur; even ingenuity was insufficient against the combat. For Kei, although he didn't know it, Kenichi would change people's hearts! But seeing the change in Nijima, an individualistic, egocentric, and greedy person who withheld the secret of the dojo's whereabouts, the home of the protagonist, was a testament to the warrior's will—the one who understands better than anyone the power of combat from someone who can make friends of his enemies.
Everyone could breathe when Kei stepped away from the control base. Kei's unleashed instincts were complex, similar to Kannoh Agito's. The taste of fear is what makes fighters afraid to fight again; it is the brutal impact, combined with the disregard for life, that exudes terror. Only great opponents can withstand such waves; the mental impact can be fierce.
,..
Wow!
- Just as I planned. - Nijima murmured, getting up from the floor. - They just had to pretend to be dead to Kei; he likes strong fighters, hahaha! Nijima surrenders once again. -
Most of them got up, but some needed help and support. They were mistaken; Kei would not leave alive a weakling who annoyed him, like some worms or thugs. He let them go because they were good kids. Taking his phone in hand, he sent a long message about everything that had happened and Kei's sudden arrival; coincidentally, Nijima was a bit exaggerated.
He received a message from Kei at that moment, and his body trembled like never before.
***
- It can't be. How is it possible that he attacked so closely? - Kenichi commented nervously, trying to get up from his mat, but his ribs were completely broken… something that no one could allow.
- Perhaps he's come to collect the elder's favor. - Apachai murmured.
- So fast, what could a guy like that possibly ask for?! - Kenichi shouted. Miu was on the roof, observing the landscape. Kei's arrival also held a certain revenge against the red-haired young man; his gaze made her feel exposed, and her soul laid bare. The hatred behind his brown eyes was so pure that she could say he was the complete opposite of Kenichi. Darkness engulfed Kei's entire being.
It frightened her, a darkness that consumed Kei like a demon!
- You need to calm down, Kenichito. If you lose your temper, it won't be good. - said Ma Kensei, taking pictures of Miu, who was trying to make sense of what Kenichi was saying. He was like a headless chicken, running around trying to breathe, to the point that he slipped on a pillow and hit the door. Apachai laughed, and Kensei Ma sarcastically complained about Kenichi's foolishness, while Sakaki merely raised an eyebrow and sighed deeply.
- But Master Kei is a demon! - Kenichi roared, managing to lighten the atmosphere for everyone. Kenichi's soul began to escape his body humorously; it could all be rewritten as Kenichi's common trauma of facing individuals with such murderous intentions.
Kei took several routes but finally arrived at the familiar wooden door that, upon seeing it, brought him a sense of nostalgia that calmed his mind. This new life had given him many things, both good and bad, but it was a true discomfort. The price paid was very high; when he fought, he could feel that sometimes his instincts became uncontrollable. The ritual left a mark on his heart that was not easy to forget; it was something that simply caused him loneliness. His mind wandered, and all he wanted was to fight and fight… it was frightening.
Kei pushed the wooden door with all his strength, managing to open it slightly, but it took more effort than it should have. He felt an aura and instinct so powerful that any animal would flee for its survival. The hairs on his arms stood on end, a chill ran down his back as sweat trickled down. He was not afraid! This was just talk! Niko would kill him with disdain, and perhaps out of boredom, he would kill his family or send some of his pawns, with the contempt of a man who cuts flesh. These individuals only looked down on people as mere insects, even though Kei knew most of Niko's techniques. He still had much to learn.
There were so many favors he could ask for, but only one kept crossing his mind. The master who came to his judgment was none other than Akisame, the master of Jujutsu. He did not look pleased, but Kei was beyond caring about his heavy gaze. For now, the only one who truly knew what had happened with the other Niko was Ogata, but he had known even before Kei told him, as he had been notified by the shadow.
- What do you want by coming to the enemy's lair? - Akisame asked, while the shadow of Buddha loomed over Kenichi, another form of threat; Akisame's energy did that.
- You're rude, but it doesn't matter. I'm not here to fight anyone; it's just that people don't usually believe my words. Fear always leads them to commit stupid acts. With you, it's different; it's something more organic! When you're at the top, you can afford anything. - Kei commented.
As they walked down a hallway, Akisame calmed himself and struck the mat with a quick gesture, beginning the tea ceremony. He expected this, so he left his shoes at the entrance, a tradition that annoyed him, but there was nothing to be done about it.
They were alone in a room when he focused on preparing the traditional drink. All the masters appeared.
- First, we will have some tea. - Hayato commented.
- I don't think I have much time. I'll be clear: the favor I want you to do is to take care of my mother and sister for seven years, no more, no less. In this backpack is all the money you need for their care, and forget it; I earned it fairly in the underground arenas. - Kei stated.
He heard something about the youth's hurry but ignored it.
- Underground arenas? Which ones have you participated in? - Shio Sakaki asked, clearly wanting the truth, as using money earned from the innocent was not something they could accept.
- I've fought in several: Kengan Arena, Purgatory, Japan Fighters... The Hole. - Kei replied, knowing full well that the last one was interior, true death matches 60% of the time; it was no game.
Silence stretched as the elder stroked his beard. Miu and Kenichi listened from the ceiling, along with Tochumaro, Shigure's gray mouse. Kei drank the tea, relaxing; being on guard in a place like this seemed ridiculous, but it didn't matter.
- What are your motives? - The invincible Superman could find no bad reason for such a request; it was reasonable after all, as it came from the heart.
Kei smiled; it was time to feign.
- You know, disemboweling an innocent person is very easy. There are so many ways to kill someone. - The room dropped two degrees. - You could grab their neck with force and snap it, or perhaps pierce their chest with a single blow; that's not difficult. -
The atmosphere thickened in heavy silence. Kenichi's anger was now something he could not deny; his cowardice had evaporated like silence. Now the noise of his heart could not be silenced.
- Maybe I do it because I would kill them, maybe I have other motives; it doesn't matter! Will you do it or will you break your word, you old bastard?! - Kei exclaimed, with the fury of his heart. It had to be this way; he could not cry his way through the first conversation. He had to fall completely into darkness to play his role. He was manipulative, but he had already decided his path.
- Stop! How is it possible that you speak this way? How can you care so little for life? - Kenichi said, utterly desperate.
- Oh come on, killing isn't that fun! Or why do you think I left your friend Ryuto alive... - Kei mocked Kenichi, directing his gaze at Hayato.
He nodded.
- Well, as a thank you, I'll give you information you'll appreciate. Take it as you wish: Yami, the organization will move soon. Your loudmouth disciple needs to improve; many want to see him dead. - Kei commented, leaving without a word.
For now, his plan was going perfectly.