"This is just training. To make sure you can still compete tomorrow, I won't hold back, but I will restrain my strength."
Facing the already-ready Kanoh Agito, Rinji held out his hand, his fingertips aid at him.
"I'll limit my output to about 5%. If you can handle it, I'll gradually increase it."
"Much appreciated."
With both n ready, the training began.
"Rinji! Do your best!!"
Karura cheered loudly from the sidelines.
She knew who Kanoh Agito was—"The Fifth Fang of tsudo," the undefeated champion of Kengan matches. Even her grandfather spoke highly of him.
Now, this king was about to duel with Rinji. She was beyond thrilled.
Rinji smiled and waved at her, then turned back toward Kanoh. In that instant, his expression turned sharp.
"Begin."
Whoosh!
As soon as Rinji gave the signal, Kanoh vanished from view. In the next second, he was right in front of Rinji, thrusting a straight punch at his forehead.
As the punch closed in, Rinji didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his right hand, parried the punch at the wrist, then stepped in and slamd his elbow into Kanoh's left ribs.
"Ugh..."
Despite the pain, Kanoh didn't pause. He lifted his leg for a low sweeping kick aid at Rinji's shin.
Clack!
But before it connected, Rinji raised his leg and blocked it with his knee.
Kanoh reacted quickly and tried to retreat, but in a flash, a shadow ca flying at his head.
Thud!
A dull thump echoed as Kanoh's vision warped.
He'd been struck on the side of the head.
Rinji didn't stop. With a blank expression, he whipped his arm like a lash and slamd it down at Kanoh.
Kanoh, now recovered, raised his arm to block the attack.
Bam!
A drop of cold sweat ford on Kano's face.
It was only supposed to be 5% power—but the impact made his entire arm go numb.
And the attack wasn't over yet.
After making contact, Rinji's arm slid down toward the ground, and in the sa mont, using the montum and a twist of his hips, he swung his arm upward and slamd it into Kanoh's face.
Wham!
The strike landed right on Kanoh's nose, sending his massive body staggering back a few steps.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Kanoh answered while covering his nose, hiding his expression.
"Alright, I'll continue then."
With that, Rinji pushed off the floor and rushed at Kanoh, swinging his arm at Kanoh's head.
Just then, Kanoh lowered his hand.
His blood-covered face broke into a twisted, inhuman smile.
Even as Rinji's arm ca down like a blade, when it landed, Kanoh's body absorbed the blow like cotton. Most of the force was dispersed.
Rinji quickly closed in and threw a snake-like jab at his shoulder.
But that too was neutralized.
"I see... Systema, huh?" Rinji remarked, recognizing the old Soviet military martial art. "Though your current state looks a little off."
"It's nothing. An old condition."
Kanoh kept the creepy grin on his face.
"Thanks to you, I've 'evolved' right before the tournant."
"You fighters are obsessed with getting stronger. Is that really so fun?"
Rinji sighed, then launched himself forward.
His arm twisted mid-air, striking at Kanoh's neck from a diagonal angle.
By now, Kanoh had deciphered Rinji's patterns: three core moves—strike, hook, sweep.
The strikes weren't from the hand but the arm bone, delivered with relaxed shoulders to extend reach unpredictably, like being hit with a teor hamr.
This was the "Piguaquan," the martial art Rinji was using.
Having seen through the moves, Kanoh dodged several and closed in quickly.
He was faster than before.
Though Rinji's attacks were strong, they had wide arcs—once up close, they were harder to execute.
That was Kanoh's plan—but it didn't help.
He successfully got into close range, but just as he threw an uppercut at Rinji's chin, a sudden sharp pain hit his chest.
At close range, Rinji had already switched styles. No longer using Pigua's long-range strikes, he twisted his waist and drove his elbow sharply into Kanoh's chest.
"Ugh..."
Kano stumbled back two steps—and in that instant, the match was decided.
Two lightning-fast chops landed on either side of Kano's neck, knocking him to the ground.
"That's enough, Kanoh."
Rinji rotated his neck and walked up to the kneeling fighter.
"You're already impressive. Among normal humans, you're really strong."
"...Still not enough."
Kanoh stood up, trembling, steadying himself.
The creepy grin was gone. His face returned to its usual seriousness.
"I must grow stronger... to protect Lord Katahara."
"Getting stronger, huh..." Rinji looked down, his golden hair falling over his eyes. "All of you thinking about how to get stronger... what a fun life that must be..."
"What?"
For so reason, Kanoh detected a hint of helplessness in Rinji's words.
"RINJI!!!"
Suddenly, a shadow slamd into Rinji's back.
Karura clung to him like a koala, her adorable little face nuzzling his hair.
"I knew it! You're the strongest!!"
"Yes, yes, co down first."
Only when Karura hugged him did Rinji finally look up, a smile spreading across his face.
"Let's have a baby right now!!"
Karura's cheeks flushed red. As she spoke, she began trying to undo the clasp of her swimsuit.
She liked strong n—she liked Takamine Rinji.
When she saw Rinji overwhelming Kanoh in battle, her admiration nearly exploded. Her eyes practically sparkled with hearts.
"Wait! Not right now!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)