The Wolf God's massive jaws were already closing in, fangs gleaming as they rushed toward Zenkichi's head. At such close range, there was no room for escape.
"Armament Haki!" Zenkichi growled.
In an instant, his body hardened, his head becoming tougher than steel. The change was not unlike the properties of the strongest metals—diamond, vibranium—unyielding, indestructible. The Wolf God's speed was overwhelming, his timing perfect.
"Clang!"
The Wolf God's fangs clamped down. The impact rang out like a hammer striking an anvil, sparks flying as those monstrous teeth met Zenkichi's defense.
The spectators braced themselves for blood, but none came. The Wolf God had expected flesh to tear and bones to shatter, but Zenkichi's hardened body had denied him the satisfaction.
Zenkichi's eyes narrowed, anger burning in his gaze. To be nearly crushed like that—him, the man who had stood unshaken even in the Marvel world—was intolerable.
Zenkichi acted. His arms shot forward, gripping the beast's maw with both hands. With a fierce roar, he forced the jaws apart, prying them open with raw strength. His muscles strained, veins bulging with effort.
Then, his pupils shifted. A swirling vortex formed in their depths, dark spirals tightening and condensing into something otherworldly. The energy that gathered there was terrifying, a storm building behind his gaze.
"Dragon Blast!" Zenkichi roared.
A torrent of destructive force erupted from his eyes, a blazing attack that surged straight into the Wolf God's gaping maw. The sheer intensity of the blast was staggering—the heat alone seared the air, reaching temperatures that could melt steel, nearly ten thousand degrees in fury.
The Wolf God thrashed violently, howling in agony as the destructive energy consumed his mouth. His claws lashed out, swiping toward Zenkichi with enough force to tear through reinforced steel. But Zenkichi's focus did not waver.
Planting one foot firmly, he drove a powerful kick into the Wolf God's abdomen. The blow reverberated like thunder, lifting the massive beast just enough for Zenkichi to twist its body. With both arms, he forced the Wolf God's massive frame into a brutal arc—
"Bang! Bang!"
The creature slammed into the ground, shaking the entire foundation of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. The steel flooring buckled, collapsing inward to form a massive crater. Debris flew everywhere as agents stumbled, barely keeping their balance. Nick Fury, standing off to the side, could only watch with wide, tear-filled eyes. His beloved headquarters was being torn apart piece by piece.
"Die!" Zenkichi bellowed.
Channeling his strength, he dug his fingers deeper into the Wolf God's maw, each digit forcing past razor-sharp fangs. Then, with a primal roar, he pulled, his arms straining as he attempted to tear the beast's jaws apart.
The Wolf God's golden eyes flared, pupils narrowing in fury. Pain lanced through his body, but desperation fueled him. He would not fall here.
A sudden eruption of power burst from within the monster. From his throat came fire, not ordinary flame, but divine inferno—the kind that devoured all it touched. The air distorted as the temperature spiked, the inferno threatening to consume Zenkichi whole.
At the same time, the sky shifted.
Once clear, the heavens above darkened as storm clouds rolled into existence, drawn by the Wolf God's power. Lightning forked across the sky, thunder booming like a war drum. The very atmosphere trembled as if the world itself feared the beast's fury.
From the sidelines, agents could only stare, their faces pale.
"Holy shit…" one whispered under his breath, though the words barely carried over the roar of battle.
Their hands trembled as they watched. The gap between themselves and the warriors before them was overwhelming.
Zenkichi. The Wolf God.
These were no longer beings that could be called human.
They had transcended, stepping into a realm of power far beyond ordinary comprehension.
And as the storm raged above, the true fight between man and god had only just begun.