"Six Paths Skybreaker!"
Honma Kina sank into a horse stance, her right fist drawn back, tendons compressed to their limit, like a supercharged spring.
The crowd's cheers faded to a distant hum, their waving arms slowing to a crawl.
Time seemed to drag.
No!
It wasn't time slowing—it was Kina's punch, so blisteringly fast it warped Su Ze's perception.
A dazzling flash sparked in his pupils!
Kina's fist—blinding, lightning-swift, like a laser beam.
At the critical moment, he tilted his neck slightly.
Even so, he wasn't sure he could dodge.
That was real combat.
Even with a 99% chance of victory, there was still a 1% chance of defeat.
Like a fully armed soldier felled by a farmer's blade.
Tens of thousands of spectators fell silent, swept by the punch's gust, eyes wide, tracking the outcome.
Splatter!
A vivid arc of blood sprayed across the arena.
A gash marred Su Ze's cheek.
It had been ages since he felt such raw pain.
Under the cameras, a pleased smile curled his lips.
The two high schoolers' expressions mirrored each other!
"Solid punch, but still green," Su Ze said, feet unmoved, a wild aura surging.
In the stands.
Tokugawa Mitsunari's old eyes widened, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow.
Su Ze's silhouette flickered, overlapping with a red-haired figure in his mind!
The same aura as Yujiro Hanma!
"What a stunning strike," Katahara Metsudo said, sipping tea to mask his shock. "And a terrifying reaction speed."
Wu Huiliyang clenched her fists, roaring inwardly: That kid's bloodline must stay with the Wu clan!
Wu Garura's strange eyes gleamed, darting between the fighters.
She wanted to spar Kina—and bear Su Ze's child!
Tough choice!
"You can throw that punch again, right?" Su Ze fixed on Kina, not waiting for a reply. "Pull your elbow back a centimeter, tuck your armpit tighter, lean back and sink lower, shift your weight to your right fist."
His ghost eyes had dissected her punch—room for improvement.
"What's Su Ze doing?! He's coaching Kina mid-match!" Katahara Sayaka's shocked voice boomed.
Kina retracted her fist, stunned, then instinctively followed his advice.
Whoosh!
A second, fiercer, faster Six Paths Skybreaker grazed Su Ze's cheek.
Yet he emerged unscathed, dodging perfectly.
Despite its greater speed.
Kina stared at her right fist, skin charred from friction, steaming.
"I get it! This… this is evolution! A new revolution!!!" Her face flushed with ecstatic glee, voice shrieking.
But her euphoric expression didn't last a second.
A stellar explosion of light detonated before her eyes!
Her final sight before consciousness faded.
Kina crumpled like a puppet, motionless.
Su Ze delivered his own Six Paths Skybreaker, then turned and walked off, not looking back.
The arena erupted in a tidal wave of cheers.
In moments, thousands of desire points flooded in.
This time, he didn't head straight to the lounge. Basking in the cheers and lights, he looked to the highest stands.
Kano Agito stood beside Katahara Metsudo.
His third-round opponent.
Kano's face was iron, chiseled features cold, meeting Su Ze's gaze without a flicker of emotion.
"Kano Agito, the War Ghost seems like you—evolving in battle," Metsudo said, smiling, voice heavy.
Su Ze hadn't dodged Kina's first punch but evaded the second.
Proof of evolution.
True apex creatures evolved, unshackled by the world's chains.
"I'll win," Kano replied flatly.
Wu Huiliyang smirked.
Tough spot.
One's a grandson-in-law, the other an old friend.
But then… either way, she wouldn't lose!
Su Ze lingered on the stage, raking in over ten thousand desire points.
If staff hadn't started repairing the arena, he'd have stayed.
Checking his invisible dragonfly feed, he saw Yono and Yuba Ri bathing.
Quite the sight.
Before leaving, he'd redeemed two more dragonflies and fed Yono a recovery candy.
Without it, she might've actually died.
Closing the feed, he met Kurapika steps later.
"Brandy, Rum wants you," Kurapika said, expression stern, tone formal, handing him a micro-earpiece.
Su Ze got it instantly. "How many did the organization send?"
Rum's voice hardened. "I'm asking the questions!"
Su Ze and Rum had the worst history in the organization.
What was Karasuma Renya thinking, having Rum contact him? Out of manpower?
Su Ze chuckled darkly. "Next time you use that tone, I'll gut you." He crushed the earpiece, fearless now—no bombs under the couch worried him anymore.
On the other end, Rum smirked triumphantly.
You rejected communication!
Don't blame me for withholding intel.
That old dog Hayami Katsumasa should be desperate.
Could he kill Su Ze's crew?
Can't wait to see!
Hayami Katsumasa, Kengan's number two, Toyo Electric's president, was the closest to the next Kengan presidency—a ruthless schemer with many followers.
He'd rebelled against Katahara Metsudo multiple times, always failing.
This Deathmatch, he'd bet everything, bribing six fighters—none reached the third round!
A pity, but he had one last card.
The path of supreme courage!
Armed rebellion!
If fists failed in the arena, blades would settle it outside!
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