Hou Qing came to his senses when he heard a massive explosion. He barely pushed himself up, and as soon as he rose, he witnessed something unimaginable. His brother was on the ground. "How is this possible?!"
Hou Qing couldn't process what he was seeing. It wasn't like he'd never seen his brother this battered before—but that was a long time ago. His brother was far stronger now. It didn't make sense for him to be in this state.
He looked around and found Li Xiu and Zhang Jian still unconscious. He dragged their bodies over and laid them against a wall. He crouched down and tried to wake them, but Zhang Jian's situation was too critical. No matter how much he called out, Zhang Jian didn't respond.
Fortunately, Li Xiu stirred. She slowly opened her eyes, and seeing Hou Qing's concerned face, a smile appeared on hers. "Hey~ Are you concerned about me now~?"
But Hou Qing paid no attention to her teasing. "Take Zhang Jian and leave. Now."
Li Xiu raised an eyebrow. "Why? Isn't the leader here?"
Hou Qing nodded. "The leader is fighting that Japanese guy. I need you to take Zhang Jian and get him treated. Our people should be outside with a helicopter ready."
Li Xiu frowned. "What about you? Aren't you coming? Let's go together."
Hou Qing shook his head. "I'm staying to help the leader. Leave quickly. Zhang Jian's condition is critical."
Li Xiu nodded. "Okay. By the way, did you bring his weapon?"
Hou Qing nodded. "Yes. As long as he has it, he won't lose. Dragon of Heavens isn't just a title—it's his partner. A weapon on par with Japan's Yodo Maramusa. Even the Seven Continental Stars coveted it, but no one could defeat him."
Li Xiu nodded. "Hmm. I guess I don't have to worry then. I'll be going."
With that, Li Xiu carried Zhang Jian away. Hou Qing immediately rushed off to deliver Dragon of Heavens to his brother.
---
Long Tianho swayed as he stood. He swept his long hair back, then slowly tore off his shirt, revealing a dragon tattoo coiled around his torso. "I didn't think I'd be pushed this far."
Baki walked forward slowly. "I didn't think killing that fat pig would be this difficult either. I guess it's better this way. Otherwise, it'd be too boring."
Long Tianho smiled. "You know you can't win tonight. Why not surrender now? It would be a shame if someone as strong as you died here."
Baki smiled back. "Confident, aren't you? But I'll say it again—I will win."
Long Tianho covered his face. His body began to tremble, and laughter escaped his lips. "Hahaha! It's amusing. Seeing someone on the verge of collapse still boasting—it's truly amusing."
Baki shook his head. "Come to think of it, I never introduced myself."
Long Tianho smiled. "I don't think you did. Are you going to now?"
A demonic grin spread across Baki's face. "My name is Hanma. Baki Hanma."
Just then, a long wooden box flew toward Long Tianho. He extended his hand, broke through the box, and grasped what was inside. He slammed it against the floor, shattering the wood. A long spear appeared, a dragon coiled around its shaft.
Long Tianho's expression turned serious. "I will make you taste defeat tonight."
He gripped the spear with both hands. The dragon coiled around the shaft seemed to pulse with life. He spun it once, then pointed the tip at Baki.
"Dragon of Heavens," Long Tianho said. "It's not just my title."
Baki didn't respond. He assumed a fighting stance.
Long Tianho moved first, thrusting the spear straight at Baki's chest. Baki sidestepped, and the spear tip passed close enough to slice his shirt.
Long Tianho pulled back immediately and thrust again, this time at Baki's throat. Baki leaned back, and the spear tip cut through empty air where his neck had been.
Long Tianho stepped forward and thrust a third time. Baki twisted his body, and the spear passed by his shoulder. He grabbed the shaft with both hands.
Long Tianho rotated the spear immediately, trying to break Baki's grip. Baki held on. Long Tianho yanked the spear back hard, pulling Baki forward, then drove his knee into Baki's stomach.
Baki grunted and released his grip. Long Tianho swept the spear low. Baki jumped over it, but Long Tianho brought the spear up instantly. The shaft caught Baki in the chest while he was airborne. Baki flew back and crashed through a wooden pillar.
The pillar cracked and toppled. Baki rolled away before it could crush him and got to his feet, breathing hard.
Long Tianho walked forward slowly. "It's over."
Baki wiped blood from his mouth, then charged.
Long Tianho thrust at his face. Baki ducked under it and closed the distance, throwing a hook at Long Tianho's ribs. Long Tianho shifted the spear and blocked with the shaft. The impact rang out sharply.
Baki immediately threw his other fist. Long Tianho stepped back, pulling the spear with him. The butt of the spear drove into Baki's stomach. Baki doubled over. Long Tianho spun and slammed the shaft against Baki's head.
Baki's vision blurred. He stumbled sideways. Long Tianho thrust the spear at his chest.
In that instant, Baki's perception sharpened. Everything slowed. He saw Long Tianho's muscles tense, saw the spear begin its forward motion. His mind calculated the timing with perfect precision.
Then, in the half-second gap between Long Tianho perceiving Baki's position and his brain processing a response, Baki moved.
The shift was so fast it seemed like teleportation. One moment he was in the spear's path—the next, he was to the side, his fist already driving into Long Tianho's ribs.
Long Tianho's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't seen Baki move. One instant the hit was guaranteed; the next, pain exploded in his side.
The force of the blow cracked two ribs. Long Tianho gasped and stumbled back.
But the technique took its toll. Baki's muscles burned. His mind felt like it was tearing itself apart.
Long Tianho recovered quickly. He spun the spear and thrust at Baki's legs. Baki jumped back, but not fast enough. The spear tip grazed his thigh, cutting through skin and muscle. Blood ran down his leg.
Baki grabbed the spear shaft. Long Tianho tried to pull it back, but Baki held firm. He stepped in close and headbutted Long Tianho. Their foreheads collided. Long Tianho's nose exploded with blood.
But Long Tianho didn't let go. He drove his knee into Baki's wounded thigh. Baki's grip loosened. Long Tianho yanked the spear free and thrust at Baki's throat.
Baki leaned back. The spear tip passed inches from his neck. He grabbed Long Tianho's wrist and twisted hard. Long Tianho's grip shifted but didn't break. He kicked Baki in the chest. Baki flew back and crashed into a stone fountain. The fountain shattered, water spraying everywhere.
Baki got up slowly, his thigh bleeding heavily. Long Tianho approached with the spear ready.
"Interesting," Long Tianho said. "What was that earlier? I didn't see you move."
Baki didn't answer. He circled to the side, looking for an opening.
Long Tianho thrust at his legs. Baki jumped back. Long Tianho immediately thrust higher. Baki swatted the spear aside with his forearm, and the sharp edge cut deep into his arm. Blood ran down to his hand.
Baki ignored the pain and rushed forward. Long Tianho pulled the spear back and stepped diagonally. The spear traveled in a slight curve as Long Tianho rotated his wrist. The movement looked off-target at first, then the spear tip slipped past Baki's guard and cut across his chest.
Baki gasped. Blood poured from the new wound. He stumbled back.
Long Tianho didn't give him time to recover. He feinted a high strike. Baki raised his arms to protect his head. Long Tianho immediately rotated the spear behind his back and swept low. The shaft hit Baki's legs hard. His legs buckled and he fell to one knee.
Long Tianho brought the spear up for a downward thrust. Baki rolled to the side. The spear tip drove into the stone ground where he'd been. Cracks spread from the impact point.
Baki got to his feet and charged again. Long Tianho pulled the spear free and delivered a quick jab—short and fast, with barely any body movement. Baki moved to block. Long Tianho immediately thrust with full force. The real attack came while Baki was still reacting to the first. The spear tip punched through Baki's guard and stabbed into his shoulder.
Baki groaned and grabbed the spear shaft with both hands, holding it in place. Blood ran down the shaft. Long Tianho tried to pull it free, but Baki held tight. He stepped forward, driving himself further onto the spear to close the distance.
Long Tianho's eyes widened. Baki drove his knee into Long Tianho's stomach—once, twice, three times. Long Tianho grunted but didn't release the spear.
Baki pulled himself off the spear. Blood poured from the shoulder wound. He threw a hook at Long Tianho's face. Long Tianho rotated the spear in a tight arc, using just his wrist. The shaft caught Baki's punch and deflected it, turning the force away from its target.
Long Tianho immediately thrust at Baki's gut. Baki twisted, and the spear passed by his side. He grabbed Long Tianho's arm and threw him with a hip toss. Long Tianho hit the ground hard but rolled immediately, sweeping the spear in a wide arc as he rose.
The sweep was full-body, generating power from his hips. The spear shaft came at Baki low and fast. Baki tried to jump, but his legs were too tired. The shaft hit his legs. His stance broke and he fell.
Long Tianho was on him immediately, thrusting downward.
The spear descended. Long Tianho was committed to the strike, his perception locked onto where Baki was.
In the half-second gap, Baki moved.
To Long Tianho, it looked like Baki simply vanished. The spear hit empty ground. Then pain exploded in Long Tianho's jaw as Baki's uppercut connected from an impossible angle.
Long Tianho's head snapped back. Blood filled his mouth. He stumbled but kept his grip on the spear.
Baki's mind felt like it was on fire. His muscles screamed in protest.
Long Tianho recovered and thrust at him. Baki barely dodged. The spear tip grazed his side, cutting deep. Blood ran from the wound.
"I've heard," Long Tianho said, breathing hard, "there are monsters who can perform something called invisible attacks. Are you one of them?"
Baki pushed himself to his feet. His vision was starting to blur. Blood covered his body. His breathing was heavy.
Long Tianho moved in a short burst—too fast for normal eyes to track. He appeared to the side, completely breaking Baki's line of sight, then thrust.
Baki barely moved in time. The spear tip cut across his cheek instead of punching through his skull. He threw a wild punch, but Long Tianho had already moved again. Another burst step. He appeared on Baki's other side and thrust.
This one caught Baki in the ribs—shallow but painful. Baki turned, but Long Tianho was already moving again. Another burst step. Another thrust from a new angle. This one hit Baki's thigh.
Baki dropped to one knee. Blood ran down his leg.
Long Tianho stopped moving. He stood a few feet away, spear ready. "What's wrong? Feeling weak?"
Baki pushed himself up with effort. He assumed a fighting stance anyway. "Don't worry. I'm just fine. But I'll make sure you aren't by the end of this."
Long Tianho charged, thrusting the spear forward—not once, but continuously. The first thrust came at Baki's chest. Baki moved his body slightly. The second thrust followed immediately, adjusted by millimeters to track his movement. Baki swatted it aside. The third thrust came before he could recover. Then the fourth. The fifth. The sixth. The seventh.
Each thrust adjusted based on Baki's reaction to the previous one. They blended into one continuous motion. Baki blocked and dodged desperately, but the fourth thrust cut his forearm. The sixth cut his other arm. The seventh punched through his guard and stabbed into his stomach.
Baki grabbed the spear shaft with both hands, stopping it from going deeper. Long Tianho tried to pull it back. Baki held on, even as blood ran from his stomach wound.
He pulled himself forward along the spear shaft. Long Tianho tried to stop him, but Baki kept coming. He got close enough and threw a desperate hook that caught Long Tianho on the temple. Long Tianho's vision blurred.
Baki pulled the spear out of his stomach and shoved Long Tianho back. Both stumbled away from each other.
They were both breathing hard now. Baki was covered in blood from multiple stab wounds. Long Tianho had various bruises and cuts from earlier exchanges, including a large purple bruise near his chest from the Goutaijutsu.
Long Tianho moved the spear in impossibly tight movements, thrusting at Baki through gaps that looked too small for the weapon to fit through. The spear slipped past Baki's blocks as if it had no width.
One thrust came through the gap between Baki's arm and body, cutting his side. Another came through the space below his elbow, stabbing his ribs. A third came through a gap Baki didn't even see, hitting his shoulder.
Baki tried to close the distance, but Long Tianho was already moving. He stepped around Baki at high speed, circling like a predator. The spear maintained constant pressure, thrusting from different angles as Long Tianho moved. Baki tried to track him, but Long Tianho was too fast. The circle was complete before Baki could react properly.
Long Tianho performed a fast crescent motion with the spear while circling behind Baki at near-blur speed. Baki reacted to the first motion, turning to face it. He didn't realize the real thrust was already coming from behind until the spear tip punched into his back.
Baki groaned and spun around, throwing a wild backhand. It missed. Long Tianho had already pulled back and reset his position.
Baki was reaching his limit. Blood loss was making him dizzy. His movements were far slower. His breathing was ragged.
Long Tianho saw it. Time to finish this.
He lowered his stance. His legs coiled beneath him. Torque built through his hips and shoulders. He read Baki's micro-movements—the slight shift of weight, the adjustment of posture, the position of the hands.
Then he launched forward. Three-stage acceleration—legs, then hips, then torso. His entire power chain compressed into one perfect line. The spear thrust forward with devastating force.
Baki saw it coming. At that moment, he suddenly felt as if he'd reached a certain threshold. His body felt more liberated than ever. A pink glint appeared in his eyes.
He took a step forward, stacking strength, speed, and technique mastery to meet the attack.
Long Tianho's eyes widened. The spear was already committed. It would pierce Baki's heart in less than a second.
But Baki's body began to change. His muscles tensed in a specific pattern. His joints locked into position. His entire skeletal structure aligned into a single straight line from his foot through his spine to his fist.
Time seemed to slow.
Long Tianho's spear came at his chest. At the final instant, Long Tianho applied a precise wrist-roll, and the spear tip shifted by millimeters, adjusting for Baki's forward movement.
But Baki had already drawn his fist back. Every joint in his body was locked. His entire body weight, all his remaining strength—everything concentrated into that single point.
His fist shot forward.
The speed was inhuman. The fist accelerated so fast it broke the sound barrier—then broke it again. And again. The air around his fist compressed violently. A visible shockwave formed.
The fist moved so fast it became invisible.
A thunderous crack split the night. The sound of multiple sonic booms rolled across the compound.
Long Tianho tried to adjust the spear's angle at the last possible moment. Too late.
The fist hit him square in the chest.
The impact was catastrophic. Long Tianho's ribs shattered. His sternum cracked. The force compressed his chest cavity. His feet left the ground.
The Dragon of Heavens spear flew from his hands, spinning through the air.
Long Tianho's body flew backward as if hit by a cannon. He crashed through a stone wall, which exploded into rubble. He continued through the next courtyard, smashing through a decorative gate and destroying it completely. He flew through another wall. Finally, his body slammed into the side of a building so hard the entire structure shook. Windows shattered. Cracks spread across the facade.
Long Tianho's body fell from the impact crater and dropped to the ground. He didn't move.
The Dragon of Heavens spear clattered to the ground several feet away, intact but separated from its master.
Baki stood with his fist still extended. His arm was smoking from the friction. The skin on his knuckles had burned away. Blood dripped from the exposed flesh. He had achieved something humanly impossible—a Mach punch. No human should be fast enough for something like this, but Baki had done it. His arm was completely useless now. He wouldn't be able to use it for a long time.
Just as he was lost in thought, a gunshot echoed through the night.