Baki stepped out of the banquet hall. It was already night outside. A full moon hung in the sky. Baki closed his eyes and felt the cold wind crashing against him. He could hear faint screams in the distance. A flicker of disturbance crossed his face. He slowly opened his eyes and walked toward the source of the noise.
The closer he got, the more screams echoed through the night. Baki finally reached the source.
A massacre. A bloody massacre had taken place there. Several bodies lay on the ground, twisted at unnatural angles. Baki squinted as he looked at the man responsible for the bloodbath.
Wang Wei, alongside two masked men, could be seen standing behind the man. Wang Wei laughed. "Hehe~ Now you're finished, bastard!!"
Then he turned to the man. "Long Tianho, as long as you kill this bastard, I'll pay you double!!"
Yes, the man was none other than the leader of the Red Dragon—the man people called the Dragon of the Heavens.
Long Tianho stepped toward Baki. "You defeated Hou Qing?"
Baki cracked his neck. "Who are you? I thought he was the leader?"
Long Tianho nodded. "Good. I will enjoy fighting you thoroughly. No matter how strong you are, Long Tianho, the strongest of the Red Dragon, is your opponent."
Baki sighed. "Don't waste time on words—just come at me."
Long Tianho tilted his head. "What are you talking about?" With that, he threw a punch at Baki.
Baki watched as the massive fist closed in on him. He raised his arms in guard. As soon as the fist connected, his body vanished from the spot.
A powerful punch came at Long Tianho's face, but he caught it with his palm. "Hmm... What's this? Interesting."
Long Tianho squeezed Baki's fist, but before he could do any harm, Baki headbutted him.
Long Tianho stumbled back. Baki threw a roundhouse kick, but Long Tianho blocked it with his arm. Then he punched at Baki.
Baki raised his arms to block, but they caved in from the impact. Baki glanced at his arms. "What's this? His raw strength is much greater than mine?"
Long Tianho took a step forward and delivered a downward elbow strike. Baki dodged it and lunged forward with an overhead punch. Long Tianho caught the punch and pulled Baki toward him.
Baki stepped forward with a spinning backhand punch using his other fist. Long Tianho released Baki to block the attack. Baki's fist slammed against Long Tianho's guard. Baki immediately followed with a roundhouse kick. Long Tianho blocked the attack once again, took a small step forward, and delivered a straight kick with his right foot. Baki twisted his body at the last moment and the kick passed by him.
Baki immediately slammed his forearm against Long Tianho's leg to unbalance him. Then he followed with a swift, powerful kick using the flat top of his foot. Long Tianho raised his arm to block, but the sheer force launched him backward.
Baki rushed at Long Tianho and tensed every muscle in his body for one strike. Long Tianho crossed his arms to block the attack. The punch connected against Long Tianho's guard, sending him flying. Long Tianho's body smashed into a large boulder, shattering it.
Seeing this, Wang Wei's eyes widened with shock. But before he could panic, Long Tianho's voice came from the debris.
"That punch... It's a unique skill based on speed and strength. But it still shouldn't have been enough to defeat Hou Qing." Long Tianho stepped out of the debris with no visible bruises.
Baki narrowed his eyes. He had just used Taesoo Ma's unique skill, Ultimate Fist. Since he was already severely damaged from his previous fights, he wanted to end this quickly. Surprisingly, Ultimate Fist had no effect on Long Tianho whatsoever.
Just then, Long Tianho's massive figure moved with surprising speed. His arm bulged as he combined strength, speed, and technique mastery. His fist came crashing toward Baki. "Show me what you've got!"
It was incredibly fast. Baki had no choice but to block it. As soon as the punch connected, Baki could feel his bones cracking. His body shot back like a bullet.
Long Tianho glanced at his fist. "Hmm... That's not what I expected. Is he too tired from all the fights?" With that, Long Tianho turned toward Wang Wei. "He won't be getting up anytime soon. My job's done here."
Wang Wei shakily pointed his finger behind Long Tianho. Long Tianho raised his eyebrows and looked back. He saw that Baki was somehow still on his feet.
Endorphin Release. An ability to increase endorphin levels in order to boost one's durability and pain resistance. The user can activate endorphin production within their body to inhibit the transmission of pain signals. Baki had long mastered this ability. Now he was about to unleash his full strength against Long Tianho.
Seeing that Baki was still ready to fight, Long Tianho laughed. "Hahaha! Good. Come at me with sincerity. Then I'll be sincere too!"
Baki rushed from his spot. His speed was so fast that his body became a blur. Long Tianho also moved. Both Baki and Long Tianho threw punches at each other. Their punches connected with their faces. Their heads snapped back, spraying blood. But there was a mad grin on each of their faces. They exchanged several blows.
Baki laughed with excitement. "TODAY! I HAVE BEEN TRULY SATISFIED!"
Baki threw an uppercut. Long Tianho's head snapped back, but he threw a punch at Baki's midsection. Baki doubled over. Baki threw a cross punch at Long Tianho's face. Long Tianho smashed his fist into Baki's face. Both of them slid back.
Long Tianho immediately rushed back and smashed down with his fist. Baki jumped back. The attack connected with the ground, shattering it. Baki planted a foot on Long Tianho and then performed a backflip kick. Long Tianho's neck snapped back as he stumbled.
Baki dashed forward and performed a quick sliding kick. Long Tianho stumbled forward. Baki sprang up at that moment and threw an uppercut at Long Tianho's jaw. But Long Tianho blocked the attack with his palm at the last moment. He gripped Baki tightly and slammed down his fist. Baki raised his hand to block. The impact shattered the ground under Baki's feet. Long Tianho slammed down at Baki repeatedly, creating a crater.
At last, Baki stepped on Long Tianho's knee and struck Long Tianho's jaw with his own knee. Long Tianho released Baki's hand. He immediately retaliated with a punch.
Baki jumped and climbed onto Long Tianho, placing one leg on his back and kicking his chin with the other leg. Then Baki put him into an armlock position and squeezed. Veins popped on Long Tianho's forehead, but he didn't make a single sound. Baki continued squeezing. Long Tianho's shoulder popped and dislocated. At that moment, Long Tianho slowly pushed himself off the ground with his other hand, lifting Baki's entire body along with him.
As soon as he created some distance between himself and the ground, he slammed his shoulder—the one Baki was holding—against the ground. Baki released Long Tianho and rolled back. Long Tianho stood there with his arm hanging limp. "I'm starting to understand why Hou Qing was defeated by you. But that won't be enough to defeat me."
Saying this, Long Tianho tackled Baki. Baki jumped over Long Tianho's head and landed behind him. Long Tianho's tackle connected with a tree. Baki smiled. "You can't defeat me when you're busy fighting a tree."
Long Tianho turned back with a smile. He moved his shoulder and rotated his arm. His shoulder had popped back into place. "Hmm. It's good now. Shall we continue?"
Baki sighed and shook his head. "Yeah. Let's do that."
Baki dashed forward at mad speed and drove his fist at Long Tianho. Long Tianho quickly leaped forward with his big fist outstretched. Both of their heads snapped back, but Long Tianho quickly grabbed Baki and pulled him closer while bending him down. He then kneed Baki in the gut and launched him back with an uppercut to the chin.
Baki's eyes rolled back, but he quickly came to his senses and raised his arms in guard. Long Tianho's punch connected with his guard, sending him flying back.
Baki's body crashed through several trees before he managed to stop himself. He spat blood and rolled to his feet. Long Tianho was already charging at him like a raging bull.
Baki sidestepped and grabbed Long Tianho's arm as he passed. Using the momentum, Baki twisted his body and threw Long Tianho over his hip. Long Tianho's massive frame slammed into the ground, creating a crater.
But Long Tianho immediately swung his leg, sweeping Baki off his feet. As Baki fell, Long Tianho grabbed his ankle and swung him like a rag doll, smashing him into the ground repeatedly. Left, right, left, right. Each impact shattered the earth beneath.
Baki kicked Long Tianho's face with his free leg. Long Tianho's grip loosened. Baki twisted free and scrambled away. Even though endorphin release dulled most of the pain, he could still feel it.
Long Tianho stood up, wiping blood from his nose. "Good! Very good!"
He charged again. This time, Baki didn't dodge. He rushed forward to meet him. At the last moment, Baki dropped low and swept both of Long Tianho's legs. The massive man fell forward. Baki immediately mounted his back, wrapping his arm around Long Tianho's thick neck.
He squeezed with everything he had. Long Tianho's face turned red, then purple. But Long Tianho simply stood up with Baki still clinging to his back.
Long Tianho ran backward, slamming Baki into a large tree. The trunk cracked. He did it again. And again. On the fourth impact, the tree split in half and crashed down.
Baki's grip weakened. Long Tianho reached back, grabbed Baki by the head, and flipped him over his shoulder. Baki's body cratered into the ground face-first.
Long Tianho raised his fist to strike down, but Baki rolled away. The punch obliterated the spot where Baki had just been, creating a crater.
Baki got to his feet, breathing hard. Long Tianho turned to face him.
They charged simultaneously.
Baki threw a straight punch. Long Tianho blocked and countered with a haymaker. Baki ducked under it and delivered a sharp hook to Long Tianho's liver. Long Tianho grunted but grabbed Baki's head and kneed him in the face.
Baki's already-shattered nose gushed more blood. Blood poured down his face. He staggered back but immediately lunged forward, driving his shoulder into Long Tianho's gut. He lifted the massive man off the ground and ran forward, slamming him through a stone wall.
The wall exploded into rubble. Both of them tumbled through, crashing into an empty courtyard.
Baki rolled to his feet first. He jumped high and came down with his heel aimed at Long Tianho's head. Long Tianho rolled aside. The kick shattered the stone ground, sending fragments flying everywhere.
Long Tianho swept Baki's standing leg. Baki fell. Long Tianho immediately grabbed his leg and began spinning. Around and around, building momentum. Then he released.
Baki's body flew through the air like a missile. He crashed through a wooden fence, then smashed into the side of a building. The wall cracked from the impact. Baki fell to the ground in a heap.
Long Tianho walked toward him slowly. "You're weakening. Those previous fights are catching up to you."
Baki pushed himself up using the wall for support. His vision blurred. He couldn't maintain endorphin release anymore. His body was too broken.
"Not done yet," he muttered.
Long Tianho nodded with respect. "Then let's continue."
He charged forward and threw a massive overhand punch. Baki dodged to the side and grabbed Long Tianho's extended arm. He stepped in close, hooked his leg behind Long Tianho's, and threw him using a hip toss.
Long Tianho crashed hard but immediately kicked upward. His foot caught Baki in the chin, launching him backward. Baki flipped mid-air and landed on his feet, sliding back several meters.
Both rushed at each other again.
Baki threw a combination—jab, cross, hook, uppercut. Long Tianho blocked the first three, but the uppercut slipped through, snapping his head back. Baki immediately spun and delivered a spinning back kick to Long Tianho's chest.
Long Tianho slid backward but planted his feet. He caught Baki's next punch and pulled him forward into a devastating headbutt. Baki's forehead split open. Blood poured into his eyes.
Long Tianho grabbed Baki by the shoulders and kneed him repeatedly in the midsection. One, two, three, four, five times. Each impact drove the air from Baki's lungs.
Baki grabbed Long Tianho's leg on the sixth knee strike. He twisted violently, taking Long Tianho down to the ground. Both of them grappled on the earth, rolling and fighting for position.
Baki managed to get Long Tianho's arm extended. He placed his leg across Long Tianho's chest and pulled on the arm, attempting a straight armbar. Long Tianho's muscles bulged as he resisted. Slowly, impossibly, he began to curl his arm despite Baki's full body weight applying pressure.
Baki abandoned the attempt and rolled away before Long Tianho could counter. Both of them stood up simultaneously.
They were both breathing heavily now. Long Tianho had various bruises and cuts across his body. Baki looked far worse—his injuries from earlier fights combining with the new damage.
"I haven't had this much fun in years," Long Tianho said. "You're as strong as the continental stars. But strength alone won't overcome the damage you've already taken."
Baki wiped blood from his eyes. "We'll see."
Long Tianho charged. He threw a straight punch. Baki slipped to the side and delivered a sharp elbow to Long Tianho's ribs. Long Tianho grunted and grabbed Baki's arm, pulling him into a clinch.
In close quarters, Long Tianho kneed Baki in the gut. Then again. Baki's legs weakened. Long Tianho sensed victory and lifted Baki off the ground, preparing to slam him down.
But Baki wrapped his legs around Long Tianho's waist and his arm around his neck, securing another chokehold—this time from the front. Long Tianho couldn't slam Baki without falling himself.
Long Tianho's face turned red as Baki squeezed. But Long Tianho simply squeezed back, crushing Baki's torso with his massive arms in a bear hug.
Both of them were trying to make the other pass out first. Baki's ribs creaked under the pressure. Long Tianho's face darkened from lack of air.
Finally, Long Tianho's superior strength won out. Baki's choke weakened first. Long Tianho immediately threw himself backward, slamming both of them into the ground with his body weight crushing Baki beneath him.
The impact forced Baki to release the choke. Long Tianho rolled away, gasping for air. Baki lay there, struggling to breathe with potentially cracked ribs.
Long Tianho stood up first. He walked over to Baki and reached down to grab him.
Baki's legs shot up, wrapping around Long Tianho's arm and neck. He pulled Long Tianho down and secured a triangle choke from the ground. His legs squeezed Long Tianho's neck while controlling one arm.
Long Tianho's eyes widened. This was a dangerous position. He tried to lift Baki off the ground again, but Baki adjusted his hips, making the choke tighter.
Long Tianho's face turned purple. But with a roar of pure strength, he stood up with Baki still attached. He took two steps forward and jumped, driving Baki's back into the ground with his full weight.
The impact was devastating. Baki's choke released. Long Tianho rolled away, coughing and gasping.
They stared at each other across the ruined courtyard.
"Still standing," Long Tianho said, his voice hoarse. "Remarkable."
"I never lose," Baki replied through split lips.
Long Tianho's expression changed. He could see it now—Baki was on his last legs. The accumulated damage was too much.
"Time to end this," Long Tianho said.
He charged forward one more time. His fist drew back, gathering all his remaining strength. This would be the finishing blow.
Baki saw it coming. He was too tired to dodge. He had one option left.
As Long Tianho's massive fist approached, Baki stepped forward instead of back. He planted his feet firmly. His entire body tensed—every muscle, every fiber, every joint locking into place. His right fist drew back.
Time seemed to slow.
Long Tianho's punch came at his face. At the exact moment of impact, Baki's body became rigid as steel. All his joints fixed in place. His body weight, his momentum, his remaining strength—everything concentrated into a single point.
His fist shot forward.
The two punches passed each other. Long Tianho's fist grazed Baki's cheek. Baki's fist connected solidly with Long Tianho's solar plexus.
The impact was different this time. Not just the force of Baki's arm, but his entire body weight transmitted through his rigid, locked joints. The weight of his whole body concentrated into that single strike.
Long Tianho's eyes went wide. The air exploded from his lungs. His feet left the ground.
His body flew backward like he'd been hit by a truck. He crashed through the remains of the stone wall behind him. Through the next courtyard. Through another fence. His body finally slammed into the side of the banquet hall with tremendous force.
The entire wall of the banquet hall cracked. Windows shattered. The impact echoed through the night.
Long Tianho's body slid down the wall and collapsed in a heap of rubble.
Baki stood there, fist still extended. Then his rigid posture collapsed. He fell to his hands and knees, gasping. That technique had taken everything he had left. Goutaijutsu—an improved version of the Ultimate Fist. Unlike Ultimate Fist, which only used the body's muscles, Goutaijutsu required even his joints.
For a long moment, nothing moved. Only the sound of Baki's labored breathing filled the air.
Then, from the rubble of the banquet hall, movement. Long Tianho's hand twitched. Slowly, impossibly, he began to push himself up.
He got to his hands and knees. Blood dripped from his mouth. His body trembled. He looked up at Baki, who was still on his hands and knees in the destroyed courtyard.
Their eyes met across the distance.
Long Tianho smiled through the blood. "That punch... what was that? It's similar to that punch from before, yet different. Technique mastery? No. It's not completed, is it? I would have died if that was the case."
Baki didn't answer. He didn't have the breath for it.