Boom!!!
On an open field outside West City, Yuujin and the Snake Princess slowly descended, while Tao Pai Pai's tree trunk stuck into the ground, causing the entire area to shake.
"Kid, get ready to die!"
"Since you're the Turtle Hermit's disciple, I have no reason to spare you. The only ones General Red wants are those two women, Bulma and Tights."
Standing opposite Yuujin, Tao Pai Pai wore a cruel smile.
"Who lives or dies remains to be seen."
"Come, Tao Pai Pai, show me your strength," Yuujin said, motioning for him to bring it on. "After all, you're the world's top assassin, the Crane Hermit's brother. Don't disappoint me."
Without further words, the two took their stances, tension brewing.
"Yuujin, go, go!" The Snake Princess cheered, while Goku and Chi-Chi hopped in place, cheering for Yuujin.
Their voices seemed to signal the start, as Yuujin and Tao Pai Pai charged at each other simultaneously.
"Hah!"
With a forceful stomp, they dashed towards one another, colliding mid-air with a thunderous crash.
Yuujin smirked slightly, while Tao Pai Pai was taken aback. This kid is strong!
Though surprised, Tao Pai Pai didn't flinch.
This level of strength? I can handle it!
"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!" They traded blows furiously.
The Turtle School's martial arts are open and forceful, meant to overpower and crush opponents head-on, while the Crane School's techniques are cunning and ruthless, using any means necessary to secure victory.
As the Crane Hermit's brother, Tao Pai Pai had mastered many of the Crane School's techniques, and as the world's top assassin, he had honed his unique killing moves to target Yuujin's vital spots mercilessly.
If they had equal strength, facing such a vicious opponent would have been challenging, even for Yuujin. But their strength gap was vast; Yuujin could easily dominate Tao Pai Pai.
However, Yuujin's goal wasn't just to defeat or kill Tao Pai Pai. If he had wanted to, he could have taken him down with a single move back in the office.
Yuujin humored Tao Pai Pai to test his strength, evaluating if he was worthy to become his subordinate.
Although a scouter could measure his battle power, and Yuujin's sensing abilities were sharp enough to gauge Tao Pai Pai's strength, real combat abilities go beyond mere numbers.
True power involves multiple factors: strength, technique, experience, even courage and determination, all of which impact the outcome of a battle.
And Tao Pai Pai didn't disappoint. As the world's top assassin, he lived up to his reputation, with remarkable strength, skills, battle experience, and temperament, marking him among Earth's top-tier humans.
In terms of ki and power, Tao Pai Pai was comparable to Bulma after eating the Hell Peach. However, in actual combat, ten Bulmas wouldn't match Tao Pai Pai!
Yuujin mentally tagged Tao Pai Pai as qualified, determining he had the potential to be his subordinate.
"Hah!"
Yuujin remained relaxed, but Tao Pai Pai, frustrated at his lack of progress, grew agitated. He leaped into the air, chopping down towards Yuujin.
Yuujin sidestepped, dodging the attack as Tao Pai Pai's chop smashed a several-meter-deep crater into the ground.
Ordinary people would have been stunned by such a sight, but neither Yuujin, Goku, Chi-Chi, nor the Snake Princess were ordinary. Such scenes didn't faze them.
"Hah...hah..."
Landing, Tao Pai Pai panted heavily, the intense attacks draining him, while Yuujin remained unaffected.
"Tao Pai Pai, is this your limit?"
"How disappointing; the title of the world's top assassin must be weeping," Yuujin taunted, attempting to provoke him into displaying greater power.
Predictably, Tao Pai Pai was enraged.
He took immense pride in his status as the world's top assassin, and this kid dared mock him? Unforgivable!
"Full Power Dodon Ray!"
Gathering energy into his finger, Tao Pai Pai aimed at Yuujin.
The Full Power Dodon Ray was actually a small ki wave, a signature Crane School technique, similar to the Turtle School's Kamehameha. But Yuujin preferred to call it the Finger Hole Wave.
While the Full Power Dodon Ray lacked the raw power of a true ki wave, it was focused and penetrative. If it hit a vital spot, it could be even more effective than a ki blast, making it a practical technique.
Watching the Full Power Dodon Ray whistling towards him, Yuujin smirked and gathered energy into his finger, firing a Finger Hole Wave of his own.
The Full Power Dodon Ray and Finger Hole Wave clashed in mid-air, and to Tao Pai Pai's shock, Yuujin's Finger Hole Wave overpowered his, barreling towards him.
"No!"
A horrified shout echoed, and with a deafening explosion, Tao Pai Pai was engulfed in a storm of violent energy.
"Ahh… no, impossible…!"
When the dust cleared, Tao Pai Pai was visible again, his clothes in tatters, smoke rising from his bruised, battered form.
He was stunned. How could a Turtle School disciple know the Crane School's Full Power Dodon Ray? And how did his own technique lose?
Such a thing was unthinkable!
What Tao Pai Pai didn't realize was that Yuujin had held back. Otherwise, he would have been obliterated in that explosion.
"Yay, Yuujin won!"
Goku and Chi-Chi cheered happily. Although the outcome was predictable, they still celebrated for Yuujin.
While such a victory didn't bring Yuujin any joy, seeing Tao Pai Pai's disbelieving expression was still amusing.
Under the gaze of Goku, Chi-Chi, and the Snake Princess, Yuujin walked towards Tao Pai Pai...
To be continued…
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