The masked guards stepped down from the platform and rushed at Baki.
The first one came in fast, swinging his arm in a wide arc. Small blade extended from his wrist, glinting in the light. Baki leaned back. The blade passed inches from his throat. Before the guard could recover, Baki grabbed his arm and twisted hard. The wrist blade stabbed into the guard's own shoulder. Blood sprayed out. Baki kicked him away into two others behind him. They went down.
Two guards attacked from both sides. Their hair whipped forward, and Baki saw thin blades tied to the strands. He dropped to the ground just as the hair-blades crossed above his head. From his crouched position, he swept both guards' legs. As they fell, he sprang up and delivered twin punches that sent them crashing through a marble pillar. Blood dripped from their masks.
A guard jumped at him with a flying kick. Sharp blades extended from his boot heels. Baki caught the guard's leg mid-air with both hands and scoffed. "Nothing but petty tricks." The heel blade cut into his palm. Blood ran down his wrist. He spun the guard around like a hammer throw and released him into four others who were rushing forward. They all went down in a heap.
Three guards surrounded him. Their wrist blades extended with metallic clicks. They slashed at him from different angles. Baki moved between the strikes, his body twisting and bending. One blade grazed his shoulder, cutting through his jacket. Blood seeped through the fabric. He grabbed that guard's wrist and used him as a shield against the other two. Their own blades stabbed into their teammate. Blood gushed from the wounds. Baki shoved the body forward, bowling over both guards. Red streaks marked the floor where they slid.
Another guard charged with his hair swinging. The blade-tipped strands lashed out like whips. Baki ducked under the first swing, sidestepped the second, then caught several strands in his fist. Blood dripped from small cuts on his fingers. He yanked hard. The guard stumbled forward. Baki's knee met the guard's face, shattering the mask. Blood and teeth flew. The guard crashed backward into three others, leaving a red trail across the marble.
Two guards came at him with synchronized kicks, their heel blades aimed at his head and chest. Baki jumped straight up. Both guards kicked each other instead. Their heel blades buried deep into each other's bodies. Blood spurted. They collapsed in a growing crimson puddle. Baki landed on one guard's back and immediately launched himself at another group, delivering a flying punch that sent the lead guard crashing through five others. Blood splattered across the walls.
A guard tried to stomp on him with his heel blade. Baki rolled aside. The blade struck the marble floor and stuck there. While the guard struggled to pull it free, Baki kicked his other leg out from under him. The guard's face hit the floor hard. His nose shattered. Blood spread across the white marble.
The remaining masked guards attacked together. Wrist blades flashed. Hair blades whipped through the air. Heel blades stabbed downward. Baki weaved between their attacks. He caught one guard's wrist, twisted it until the blade pointed back at the guard, then shoved it into the guard's own chest. Blood poured from the wound. He ducked under a hair-blade attack and grabbed the strands, yanking the guard forward into a devastating uppercut. Blood sprayed from the guard's mouth as he flew back.
Another guard tried to kick him. Baki caught the boot, heel blade and all, and twisted. The guard's ankle snapped. Blood leaked from where the blade had cut into Baki's hand. He threw the guard into the last group. They all went down like dominoes, leaving smears of blood across the floor.
One final guard stood. He extended all his weapons at once. Wrist blades and heel blades. He rushed at Baki with everything.
Baki didn't move until the guard was right in front of him. Then he stepped inside the guard's reach, too close for any of the blades to hit him. His fist drove into the guard's chest. Ribs cracked. Blood erupted from the guard's mouth, staining his mask red. The impact lifted him off his feet and sent him flying backward into the throne platform. The guard's body left a crack in the stone and a long streak of blood.
Silence filled the hall. All the masked guards lay scattered across the floor. Blood covered the marble in pools, trails, and splashes. Against any other fighter, they might have been lethal, but they hadn't faced just any fighter. They had faced Baki Hanma, the Ogre himself.
Baki stood in the center of it all. Blood splattered across his face and dripped from his hands. Small cuts marked his arms and shoulders where blades had grazed him. He looked up at Wang Wei and smiled like a devil. "Now then. Shall we have that talk?"
Wang Wei was terrified. Baki slowly walked toward the platform. Wang Wei pointed at Baki with a shaking finger. "Y-YOU! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! DAMN! WHERE THE HELL ARE THOSE BASTARDS FROM RED DRAGON?!"
Just as Baki was a few feet away, a voice called out from behind. "Hey! Not gonna meet this friend of yours first?"
Baki turned around. Seeing Zhang Jian's face, a smile appeared on his. Baki cracked his neck. "I was saving you guys for last."
Zhang Jian walked toward him with a smile. "Is that so? What can I say—I'm not exactly the kind of guy who waits for the fun. So, how about we play right now?"
Baki laughed thunderously. "Good. But will you be able to keep up?"
Zhang Jian shook his head with a cheeky grin. "I'd like to try." With that, he rushed at Baki.
Baki rushed forward. Zhang Jian met him halfway.
Zhang Jian swung a knife at Baki's face. Baki caught his wrist mid-swing and twisted. Zhang Jian winced.
"Fast hands, eh?" Zhang Jian said with a grin.
Baki delivered a single punch to Zhang Jian's chest before releasing him. Zhang Jian gasped and stumbled back.
Zhang Jian hopped forward with a side kick. Baki caught his leg and replied with a powerful knee to Zhang Jian's gut. Zhang Jian doubled over, coughing.
"That all you got, love?" Zhang Jian wheezed, trying to sound confident.
Zhang Jian attempted a spinning move to grab Baki for a spinebuster. Baki sidestepped, and as Zhang Jian spun past, Baki grabbed his arm and pulled him off balance. Zhang Jian stumbled. Baki kicked him in the back. Zhang Jian flew forward.
"Slippery bastard, aren't you?" Zhang Jian laughed, turning around.
Baki stepped forward and launched a fast kick at Zhang Jian's ribs. It connected hard. Zhang Jian grunted but stayed on his feet. He crouched low and swung a knife in a low arc at Baki's legs.
Baki jumped over it easily. While in the air, he delivered an overhead kick that hit Zhang Jian twice with his heel. Zhang Jian's head snapped down from both impacts and he stumbled back. Blood dripped from his forehead.
"Okay, that was a good one," Zhang Jian admitted, wiping the blood.
He pulled out his butterfly knives and swung them downward while stepping back.
"Let's dance properly now!" Zhang Jian said.
Baki advanced calmly. Zhang Jian rushed forward with a blade swipe and tried to stab Baki's knee.
"You like your knees, right?" Zhang Jian said with a grin.
Baki sidestepped and caught Zhang Jian's wrist before the blade could touch him. "I'm rather attached to them." He twisted Zhang Jian's arm and delivered an uppercut to his chin. Zhang Jian's head snapped back. The knife fell from his hand.
Zhang Jian tried to slash with his other knife. Baki caught that wrist too. He delivered a rushing overhead axe kick with his leading leg. Zhang Jian couldn't block with both wrists held. The kick drove him to one knee.
"Strong bastard!" Zhang Jian grunted.
Baki suddenly stopped his next kick mid-motion. Zhang Jian flinched, expecting the strike.
"What's wrong? Scared?" Baki grinned.
"Just being careful, mate," Zhang Jian shot back.
Baki completed the kick anyway. His heel crashed into Zhang Jian's shoulder. Zhang Jian rolled to the side, breaking free.
He came up spinning, his knife slashing in a wide arc. Baki ducked under it and rolled forward evasively, closing the distance instantly. Zhang Jian followed with another spinning knife combo, swinging downward then upward.
"Come on, come on! Keep up!" Zhang Jian taunted.
Baki weaved between both strikes effortlessly. "I'm right here." He caught Zhang Jian's knife hand mid-slash and twisted. Zhang Jian dropped the knife with a yelp.
Baki lunged forward with a heavy hook. The punch caught Zhang Jian in the jaw. Zhang Jian's head whipped sideways. Spit and blood flew.
"Oof! That one actually hurt!" Zhang Jian said, spitting blood.
Zhang Jian backed up and pulled out another knife, executing a rising strike. Baki leaned back, letting it pass inches from his face, then grabbed Zhang Jian's arm. He pulled Zhang Jian close and delivered a punch to his chest, then followed with an uppercut to the chin. Zhang Jian flew into the air.
While Zhang Jian was airborne, Baki delivered a high roundhouse kick. Zhang Jian's body spun from the impact. Before he could fall, Baki followed with a crescent kick. Zhang Jian launched higher and crashed down hard on his back.
"Bloody hell!" Zhang Jian coughed.
Zhang Jian rolled away quickly. He attempted a spinning move to grab Baki for a spinebuster. Baki saw it coming. He sidestepped and caught Zhang Jian's arm mid-grab. Before Zhang Jian could react, Baki pulled him over his shoulder. Zhang Jian crashed hard on his back. The marble cracked under the impact.
"Stop throwing me!" Zhang Jian groaned.
Zhang Jian tried to get up. Baki grabbed him again and fell into a backward roll, planting his foot on Zhang Jian's chest and applying pressure. Zhang Jian flipped back and landed face-first on the ground with a sickening thud.
"Okay, okay! I get it! You're strong!" Zhang Jian mumbled into the floor.
Zhang Jian pushed himself up slowly. Blood covered his face. He pulled out his boot knife and tried to slash it across Baki while stepping back. Baki leaned back smoothly. The blade cut through empty air, not even grazing him.
"Still got some tricks left!" Zhang Jian said, frustration creeping into his voice.
He pulled out another knife and slashed it upward at Baki's chin. Baki tilted his head. The blade missed. Zhang Jian threw the knife straight at him. Baki caught it mid-air and threw it aside.
"You're good at this dodging thing, I'll give you that," Zhang Jian said, his eyes widening.
Zhang Jian rushed forward with a hook punch and tried to spit at Baki's face. Baki moved his head before the spit even left Zhang Jian's mouth. The spit sailed past. Zhang Jian tried to deliver a headbutt. Baki put his palm on Zhang Jian's forehead and stopped him cold.
"That's not fair!" Zhang Jian complained, pushing against Baki's hand uselessly.
Baki shoved Zhang Jian back, then dashed forward quickly, closing the gap in an instant. Zhang Jian barely had time to react.
"Fast little bugger!" Zhang Jian said.
Baki stepped forward and launched a fast kick. Zhang Jian tried to block, but Baki's kick shattered through his guard. The force sent him sliding back. Baki advanced, delivering a high roundhouse kick. Zhang Jian raised his arms desperately. Baki's kick broke through and hit his ribs. Baki immediately followed with a second roundhouse kick that knocked Zhang Jian's arms aside completely, then a third roundhouse kick to the head. All three kicks came in rapid succession. The third caught Zhang Jian's temple and sent him spinning.
"Alright, alright! Point taken!" Zhang Jian said as he spun.
Zhang Jian hit the ground and immediately rolled forward, trying to hit Baki with an extended leg. Baki jumped straight up, avoiding it completely. Zhang Jian sprang up and executed a wheel kick. A small blade extended from his boot. Baki ducked under it so smoothly it looked effortless.
Zhang Jian landed and immediately kicked again, this time low at Baki's shins. Baki lifted his leg. The kick passed harmlessly under him.
"How are you feeling now?" Zhang Jian taunted, though his voice sounded strained.
He followed with two headbutts, rushing forward. The first aimed at Baki's nose. Baki blocked it with his forearm. The second came at Baki's face. Baki caught Zhang Jian's head with both hands and stopped it inches from his face.
"Nice try," Baki said calmly.
"Not... funny," Zhang Jian wheezed, struggling against Baki's grip.
Baki shoved Zhang Jian's head down and replied with a powerful knee to his gut. Zhang Jian doubled over. Baki delivered a knee strike to his face, then extended his leg, hitting him again. Zhang Jian stumbled back, blood pouring from his nose.
Zhang Jian tried to rush at Baki with a knife extended, attempting to stab Baki's gut. Baki sidestepped smoothly and caught Zhang Jian's wrist. He twisted it hard. Zhang Jian's knife clattered to the floor. Zhang Jian spun and tried a low kick to Baki's shins. Baki jumped over the kick and delivered an overhead kick to Zhang Jian's head while airborne. Zhang Jian's head snapped down. Blood sprayed.
Zhang Jian stumbled but desperately pulled out his boot knife and stabbed upward with all his strength. This time, the blade connected. It sank into Baki's abdomen. Blood poured.
"Got you!" Zhang Jian exclaimed, relief and triumph in his voice.
Zhang Jian tried to grab Baki and throw him over his head, using the embedded knife for leverage. Baki grabbed Zhang Jian's wrists before he could get a proper grip. With the knife still in his gut, Baki twisted Zhang Jian's arms and pulled the knife out himself. He kicked Zhang Jian in the chest. Zhang Jian flew backward and crashed into a table. Wood splintered.
"How's that for a throw?" Baki said, blood running from the stab wound.
Zhang Jian pushed the debris aside and stood, breathing hard. Blood covered his face.
"You're... really not holding back, are you?" Zhang Jian said weakly.