"It's… already over?"
"That was less than five minutes."
"And that kid—Takamine Rinji—didn't even take a hit."
The tens of thousands of spectators stared in shock. Rinji had defeated Akoya Seishu with ease. Their impression of this unexpected challenge round participant completely changed.
Originally, they had thought the final boss of the tournant would be Kanoh Agito, the reigning champion of Kengan matches.
But Rinji's appearance shattered that assumption.
If Agito was the final boss, then Rinji was a DLC final boss—possibly even tougher.
Even without seeing Katahara tsudo in person, they could already imagine the old man's perverted laughter.
He wouldn't give up the Kengan Association chairman seat so easily. Many fighters might not even make it past the challenge round.
In the VIP room, Nogi Hideki puffed on a cigar and asked Hatsumi Sen, "If you fought him, what're your chances?"
"More like, what're my chances of not dying."
Hatsumi scratched his head casually.
"I felt it during the prelims—he was holding back. And just now? He definitely didn't show his full power. It's like he's constantly suppressing himself…"
"I see…"
Nogi's brows furrowed. He realized—he'd been tricked.
He already suspected Rinji was strong. Katahara tsudo's condition—beat Rinji to win the chairman seat—was a red flag. But the "co-op challenge" option had given him hope.
Now, seeing Rinji's performance, even a joint attack seed unlikely to succeed.
His fighters—Hatsumi Sen, Ohma Tokita, Wakatsuki Takeshi—were all top-tier. But even then, the outco wasn't certain.
And if any of them were injured and couldn't compete in the main event, that would be the real disaster.
"…This is going to be tough."
---
"This is a 5% equity transfer agreent of Wakasa Life Insurance, and so microelectronic tech patents. Please review it, Mr. Takamine."
"Alright."
In the dical room, Akoya Seishu lay unconscious on the hospital bed, wrapped in bandages.
Though not dead, he wouldn't be getting up anyti soon.
The real damage wasn't the final slam—his internal organs had begun failing after the palm strike to the chest. Even with top-tier dical care on the island, he'd be recovering for months.
By the way, had he not fought Rinji, his next match would've been against Imai Cosmo.
Now that he was out, Imai Cosmo would automatically advance to the quarterfinals—making him the biggest gainer of the tournant.
"Regardless, thank you for not killing him," said Hiyama Shunka, bowing politely.
"I don't kill unless absolutely necessary." Rinji signed the contract and smiled. "Besides, I don't dislike him. Twisted or not, people who carry out their beliefs are worthy of respect."
As they spoke, the door to the dical room opened.
Karura rushed in and leapt into Rinji's arms.
"Rinji! I knew you'd win!"
"Of course."
Rinji hugged her back with a smile.
Doctor Hanafusa then erged from the operating room, followed by a groggy Mokichi, now confined to a wheelchair and pushed by Elena.
"Mokichi, you're already awake?" Karura said happily when she saw him.
"Yeah, thanks to Doctor Hanafusa." Mokichi smiled.
"Your dical skills are amazing," Rinji said to Hanafusa. "But you're also quite sothing. Your neck got snapped and you're still bouncing around."
Hanafusa was also a fighter. Back when Rinji went to deal with Hayami Katsumasa, Hanafusa had a match in the arena.
His opponent was a man called Bando Yohei, nicknad "Bloody Tusk." He used to be a third-year dical student at Teito University, who stord a yakuza office and killed 17 mbers, injuring 5 more. He then killed two officers who ca to arrest him and injured four others before calmly surrendering.
Bando's first hanging execution lasted 90 minutes, and he still survived. Over the next 25 years, he survived 45 execution attempts.
For so unknown reason, Juoh Communications tracked him down and had him participate in this Kengan Annihilation Tournant—where he happened to face Hanafusa.
Despite Hanafusa's frail doctor appearance and Bando's bulked-up, monstrous physique, the match was evenly matched. It was so brutal that just watching it made you hurt.
In the end, Bando snapped Hanafusa's neck.
Unlike Mokichi's 90-degree twist, this was a complete spinal severance—normally instant death.
But after soone repositioned his neck, Hanafusa just ca back to life—startling even Rinji.
"My body's been modified. Injuries like that can't kill ."
Hanafusa rubbed his neck, a sickly smile still on his face.
"So, Rinji, how about letting dissect you?"
"You let dissect you first, then I'll let you dissect ."
"Deal."
"Straightforward."
Hanafusa's assistant, the nurse Yoshizawa Kokomi, clutched her stomach from the ntal stress of watching these two maniacs. She had no idea what to even say.
Rinji glanced at the ti on his phone. The next match was about to start. It was ti to head to the arena.
"Alright, I'm off. See you in a bit."
"Wait."
Mokichi, still in his wheelchair, suddenly spoke up.
"Hm?"
"Your next match is against Kure Raian, right?"
"Yeah. Want to avenge you?"
"No need for revenge... but be careful of that move of his. That technique that multiplies his physical abilities out of nowhere—it's dangerous."
Even now, Mokichi shuddered a little. He had landed hits, yet his opponent suddenly got back up—several tis stronger.
"Don't worry."
Rinji smiled.
"That trick won't work on ."
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