The hollow silence filled the air. Kei could see each strike now, every one of them powerful and unyielding. That last kick was among the three most painful he'd ever received from someone his age.
–You kick hard.– Kei murmured, pleased to be engaged in a fight. This was the best opponent of his age he'd ever faced. With Jun Sekibayashi, he had an edge, and against Yubito Robinson, the man was injured. In the Pit, he'd found some decent fighters, but none as well-rounded as Shou.
–I'll crush you.– Shou roared, out of control. With fierce determination, he began the kyuu geki status, moving through silat, a sambo hold, then wrestling, silat again, karate, ancient martial arts, kalarippayattu, Kenpo, karate, and even ninja style mixed with the Furinji style.
Facing him, Kei absorbed Shou's force with Kempo, each hit unique except the last, which seemed similar in style due to the kicks. Could it be Sambo? Or maybe another style he didn't know? Kei wondered, completely thrown off by the relentless sequence of Shou's attacks.
Kei stumbled backward from the sheer force of the impact, but he took a breath, relaxing his joints. Shou executed a Kazoe Nukite: a technique capable of breaking defenses with a decreasing number of fingers, starting with a fist, then four fingers, down to three, two, and finally one, targeting joints—perfect for wearing down a highly resilient opponent. Kei stabilized himself with Fajin, the Wolf Fang technique. The mercenary Kai had taught him a similar technique called Rapid Escape: Sinister Defense, which used Kempo principles to counter quick blows by moving only minimally with the knees, shifting the body back and forth, followed by swift steps, ideal for dodging and retreating.
With Kai, he'd learned two things: how to evade, to dodge, and to endure, twisting his body with the strength from his toes.
He took a blow and channeled its energy, using his opponent's force. Shou then tried a bear hug, similar to a wrestling move, combined with a powerful strike that drew strength from the rotation of his hips—something unfamiliar to Kei.
–It's kalaripayattu.– Ethan Stanley observed, noting that Shou's blows were stronger than his own, though not as refined. It was simply a matter of skill.
As Kei spun in midair, his finger tracing a familiar and unpleasant combo, he used the redirection kata and the fire kata. Like a leech, he managed to slip under Kanou's chest, leaving a grotesque red line across him, both hideous and devastating.
–Oops.– Kei murmured, his familiar mocking tone evident. Kanou's fists were powerful, but all Kei needed was to prolong the fight; he wouldn't last in a long round. The enduring pain that had even worn down Kenichi was now in Shou. For Kenichi, connecting seven hits had been enough; how many could Shou withstand—maybe five, no more?
–They can't keep fighting at this pace; the shadow won't like it.– murmured the remaining Yomi members, especially Kojima, who was reporting everything to his master. No one was nearby to stop the fight. Shou was held back by four people, while Kei was restrained by Boris in a hold from behind. They'd seen enough to judge the skill of this new Yomi addition.
–Cockroaches will always be cockroaches, trapped in their cage. They're only free to move in the shadows or wherever they're allowed.– Kei sneered, sticking out his tongue, his primal side resurfacing. –Listen up, little cockroach.–
–You damn fool!– Shou shouted.
Ignoring the rest, Kei broke free from Kajima and Ethan's hold, unleashing Seiou Goui: a forbidden Ogata-style technique combining Sei with Doy to unleash tremendous power. This move could only be used in short bursts, but its strength was enough to send the disciples flying.
DOU. –The beast released.–
Kei reached his limit, 42%, and they clashed fists in a wild style filled with Dou KI. Power surged with every strike, their cheeks bruised from the blows. While Shou attempted an arm throw, Kei used the formless boxing style, landing a punch on Shou's forehead. His knuckles were intact, but his skin was bleeding.
The fight had surpassed disciple level, each strike back and forth. Shou executed a swift attack, a karate blow meant to break stones, a mid-range kick with a long reach. Kei saw the fear in everyone's eyes as he gathered his strength, using the adamantine kata, then a low wall-breaking kick from kickboxing.
Their legs collided, a piercing sound echoing through the room, which was now littered with broken furniture.
–Crushing you is inevitable.– Kanou said, feeling his body go numb, his leg broken, yet exuding elegance as he abandoned Seiou Goui, while Kei returned to his Sei state, mocking yet serene.
Kei breathed deeply; the last impact had been on another level, taking in all of Kanou's blows—quick, precise, and graceful. His combat technique was admirable.
Stretching his arms, he initiated Seikuken, Ogata's technique, as Shou narrowed his eyes. Kei appeared unscathed, yet Shou's strikes weighed on him, especially a spear that nearly pierced his neck, landing on his trapezius, burning like fire. The young man brushed his red hair back, removing his loose shirt to reveal a body scarred all over—reminders of near-death, the other Niko, the pit, two gunshots, a knife slash, a venom-infected wound, and countless others.
A fighter's body. Shou recognized the technique and in a second realized how his movements were being read. He shifted the flow of battle, but Kei, anticipating this, attacked with fierce precision, punching in a wild state. You blocked every strike.
He spun through the air like a diving falcon, striking Kei, who took a second cut just beside his chest. Defending with his left hand, Kei knew Shou's right leg was injured. That was why he risked such a bold move. Yet, when he received the kick, the force of Shou's single good leg caught him off guard.
The leader of Yomi's fists, forged by Kuremisago and Yami to destroy with each blow, brushed against Kei's life in every sparring match, each punch potentially fatal. That lit a fire in Kei, who slipped into his mad state, formless, unleashing his full beast, breaking every chain.
The Yomi members sensed a murderous intent at a master level, a deathly aura that slid across the bodies of its victims, slicing through. Kei let out a scream. –AHHHH– a wave of madness emanated. All martial arts were at his side.
Kei didn't take training lightly; each session pushed his human limits, tearing his body apart and piecing it back together, bound by his will, like super glue. His speed was astonishing, formless boxing took hold, and Shou hesitated to dodge.
'Who is this demon?' thought Shou, feeling his body at its limit. He had only two minutes left before he couldn't move. As they fought, Kanou noticed the unpredictable behavior, the attacking form—it was boxing? He wasn't sure.
Shou's spear returned, jinekin nejeri nukite, a blow with a motion meant to pierce the heart, resembling Rakasha's palm due to the twist, designed to end fights in a single round. But Kei used his first martial arts combo.
–He stole the technique.– Kajima commented, seeing Shou utterly taken aback as Kei used his move against him.
The spear aimed at Kei's heart was easily blocked. Shifting his weight, Kei dropped to his knees and unbalanced his opponent just long enough to land an elbow to the forearm, followed by an extended arm strike that brushed Shou's chin. Before Shou could counterattack, Kei vanished from sight, reappearing with Rakasha's palm. He blocked it with a precise karate move to the side, then followed with a Kushinada-style hold that sent Kei flying—or so Kanou Shou thought.
Kei Kazama executed the kyuu geki issatsu: a nine-style combo attack, beginning with Karate, followed by jiu-jitsu, sambo, silat, wrestling, karate again, ancient arts, Brahim, muay thai, karate, and ninja style plus Furinji style. This time, he used a technique similar to Miu's—a chopping blow to Shou's head.
Acrobatically, he flipped twice and landed in a crouch. The fight was intense, but the beast was unleashed, attacking in formless style—a difficult approach to counter. But in beast mode, he blended countless martial arts into an explosive mix. In martial arts, Kei knew pride didn't exist—only victory mattered.
Kanou's spear returned, yet Kei's body moved like water, shifting and striking. Sensing hesitation, Kei advanced and landed two quick blows.
Two new marks appeared, one on Shou's shoulder and another near his neck. Exhausted, Shou could barely withstand Kei's onslaught. Both were battered, blood dripping from their bodies. Kei shook his head, feeling no different under the adrenaline, his brain refusing to signal surrender. Every strike flew at a speed that Yomi members could barely perceive, and Kojima had started recording a few minutes ago.
For the masters to see the fight. But Kei's demonic laughter froze Rachel Stanley's bones, now understanding the effects of the Gu ritual.
-Don't stop them. - commented Kajima. Seeing how they all gathered again, to stop them, in the same way, he never intended to stop the battle, Kajima was one step below Shou and two steps above Kokin. Although he was hiding it.
-What are you talking about? - answered Ethan Stanley
-This fight has no reverse. -replied Satomi Kajima.
...