The Ebizuka Trio, who had been standing high above, observing everything like outsiders, saw this scene, and their expressions instantly changed!
Kirishima Hiromi, the leader, fiercely threw his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it with the tip of his foot.
For the first time, his eyes, which always held a hint of cynicism, revealed a solemn expression.
Honjo Toshiaki and Sugihara Makoto, who were beside him, directly sprang up from the ground, their eyes filled with anger and disbelief!
"Damn it! These bastards from Armed Front are truly fucking lawless!" Sugihara Makoto roared, his voice hoarse with rage. "This isn't just a school fight anymore! This is an attempt to kill!"
Kirishima Hiromi didn't speak; he just turned his head and looked at the group of his subordinates behind him, who were equally indignant.
Then, in an extremely cold voice, he slowly said,
"Suzuran's order is not for these pieces of trash to destroy."
He paused, then added, word by word,
"And... Izaki Shun is still down there."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took the lead, rushing towards the direction of the playground like an arrow shot from a bow!
"Brothers! Follow me! Today, let these pieces of trash riding broken scraps of metal know who truly sets the rules at Suzuran!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh—!!!"
Dozens of subordinates, completely ignited by their leader's heroic spirit, roared and shouted, following closely like tigers descending from a mountain!
...Meanwhile, Sasaki Yu looked at the iron pipe that had brutally struck Ryuzaki Shin's back of the head, and he felt as if his heart, at that moment, had been fiercely gripped by an invisible hand, instantly stopping its beat!
His mind went blank.
His world, at that moment, seemed to lose all sound and color, leaving only the iron pipe flickering with a cold gleam in the rain, and the solid back of the man who had been struck.
Shin-nii... the man who gave him courage... the man who, in his heart, was as omnipotent as a god... could he... really fall here?
No!
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
"Ah—!!!"
Sasaki Yu let out a roar of extreme grief and indignation, a shrill sound like a wounded lone wolf!
His eyes, which should have been clear, were now bloodshot, filled with endless anger and madness!
He stumbled to his feet, even forgetting the faintly throbbing wounds on his body.
Only one thought remained in his mind—
Charge forward!
However, just as he was about to take a step,
Just when everyone thought Ryuzaki Shin had completely lost his fighting ability, or perhaps even died,
Just when Chida's already sinister face was about to reveal the cruel and triumphant smile of a victor!
An anomaly suddenly occurred again!
Everyone saw that man actually... moved!
His body didn't even sway in the slightest!
He just stood there, quietly.
Then, slowly, he raised his right hand and grabbed Chida's wrist, which was still holding the iron pipe!
"!!!"
Chida's pupils instantly contracted to the size of pinpricks!
He felt as if he wasn't grabbing a person's wrist at all!
But a section of a red-hot, incredibly hard branding iron!
The scorching heat and terrifying force emanating from the other party's palm made him feel as if his wrist bones were about to be crushed!
He instinctively wanted to pull his hand back!
But, to his horror, he found that the other party's hand was like a hydraulic clamp, firmly welded to his wrist, and no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't budge!
Immediately after, he saw Ryuzaki Shin slowly turn his head.
What kind of face was that... Chida swore he would never forget those eyes in his life!
There was no anger, no pain, only the purest, most primal... killing intent!
It was as if a demon had crawled out of the Nine Nether Hells, intent on tearing everything to shreds!
"You... you..."
Chida was terrified by that gaze; he couldn't even speak a complete sentence.
And the others around him were also completely stunned by this eerie scene.
They looked at Ryuzaki Shin, then at the iron pipe on the back of his head, which was completely deformed due to the enormous impact.
The iron pipe clanged as it slipped from his head and fell into the muddy water, creating a ripple.
But on the back of Ryuzaki Shin's head, let alone blood, there wasn't even the slightest trace of a wound!
Only the hair there was a bit... well... disheveled from the impact.
"This... how is this possible?!"
"Is his head... made of iron?!"
"Monster! This guy... is an out-and-out monster!"
Serizawa Tamao looked at this scene, and for the first time, his face, which always bore a lazy smile, showed a look of horror.
He knew Ryuzaki Shin could take a beating, but he never imagined he could take a beating to this extent!
Hit hard on the back of the head with an iron pipe, yet completely unharmed?!
But Ryuzaki Shin ignored the shocked gazes around him.
If he hadn't activated his Copper Skin immediately, he would be paralyzed now, if not dead, and even so, his skull felt very uncomfortable.
This is why, when choosing rewards, he basically chose those that would enhance his physical body.
Do you think that in Crows Zero, it's just a bunch of delinquents fighting, and no one dies? That would be a huge mistake.
During Suzuran's 21st-22nd graduating class, there were three factions at Suzuran: the third-year Nakai, Kawanishi, and Kamiki Genjiro.
In a conflict with Housen, Nakai was beaten to death, and Kawanishi Jin believed it was Bito Makio, a key figure at the time, who did it, so he led people to ambush him.
After several people were knocked down, a terrified Kawanishi stabbed Bito with a knife, leading to Bito's death.
To put it nicely, it's youthful impetuousness; to put it harshly, it's brainless.
The more Ryuzaki Shin thought about it, the angrier he got.
Damn it, I just reincarnated, and if some nobody knocks me out with a club and sends me back to reincarnation, damn it, who would I complain to?
He just stared intently at Chida with his bloodshot eyes, saying word by word,
"I originally just wanted to play with you guys, after all, in some sense, you're quite pathetic."
"But, you have successfully, enraged me."
As soon as he finished speaking!
The hand he used to grab Chida's wrist suddenly exerted force!
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of bone cracking echoed across the entire playground!
Chida's wrist was brutally, crushed!
"Ah—!"
He let out a heart-wrenching scream!
But Ryuzaki Shin didn't pause for a moment!
He grabbed Chida's arm, executed a fierce over-the-shoulder throw, and slammed him onto the muddy ground like a sandbag!
"Bang!"
A dull, heavy thud!
Chida felt as if his internal organs were about to shatter, and a mouthful of blood gushed out!
However, this was only the beginning!
Ryuzaki Shin straddled him, expressionless, with no emotion in his crimson eyes.
Then, he slowly clenched his fist.
One punch!
Another punch!
He fiercely, slammed them onto Chida's face!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dull sounds of fists colliding with flesh continuously echoed across the silent playground!
Each punch was inevitably accompanied by the sound of bones shattering and blood splattering!
Chida's face quickly became a bloody mess, completely unrecognizable as human.
But Ryuzaki Shin still didn't stop.
He was like a tireless, cold killing machine, mechanically repeating the motion of punching.
Around him, the members of Armed Front, watching this scene, were terrified.
Their weapons unconsciously dropped to the ground, and their bodies involuntarily retreated.
They looked at the man who seemed like a demon god descended, and in their eyes, only the most primal, purest fear remained.
Just then, a weak voice came from not far away.
"Ryuzaki Shin... you won..."
"Let him... go..."
Ryuzaki Shin heard Bando's weak, yet still somewhat unwilling plea for mercy, but his actions did not pause in the slightest.
He looked at Chida, who had completely lost the ability to resist, lying beneath him, and there was not a trace of pity in his cold eyes.
"Bando, what kind of thing are you, to be worthy of negotiating with me?"
He curled his lip, then, with another punch, he slammed it heavily into Chida's already bloody and mangled face!
"Bang!"
This punch seemed to strike the hearts of all Armed Front members!
After doing all this, Ryuzaki Shin felt his anger subside slightly.
He slowly stood up, shaking off the drops of blood from his hands.
Blood mixed with cold rainwater slid down his well-defined fingers, dripping onto the muddy ground, splashing up tiny, crimson water flowers.
He turned around and looked at Bandō Hideto, who was struggling to get up from the ground.
Bando's face was filled with pain and humiliation.
He looked at the tragic scene around him; of his brothers, only a dozen or so could still barely stand, while the others lay on the ground, their fates unknown.
And those few crooked motorcycles, lying on their sides, emitting black smoke—they were the pride of their Armed Front, but now they were like scrap metal, discarded carelessly.
In his eyes, for the first time, there was deep pain and... regret.
He hadn't expected that just to be a pawn for a despicable villain, just for an illusory promise, he and his brothers would pay such a heavy price!
Bando slowly stood up, he looked at Ryuzaki Shin, took a deep breath, and in an almost hoarse voice, slowly said:
"You won, it's over, we won't bother you again."
He paused, as if using all his strength, and added a sentence.
"Let's shake hands and make peace."
After speaking, he walked step by step towards Ryuzaki Shin, then slowly extended his right hand towards Ryuzaki Shin.
His face carried a hint of sincerity, as if he truly wanted to stop at this point.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his outstretched hand, a playful curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
Slowly, he also extended his hand and grasped Bando's hand.
Bando's heart couldn't help but feel relieved.
He thought, this man, though strong like a monster, perhaps... perhaps he truly only wanted to establish his authority in Suzuran and didn't want to forge a deadly enmity with the Armed Front.
However, the next instant!
The expression on Bando's face instantly froze!
He only felt his hand being violently tugged by an irresistible immense force!
His entire body uncontrollably lunged forward!
Immediately after, before he could even react.
Ryuzaki Shin's right knee had already slammed into his lower abdomen like an outgoing cannonball!
"Bang!"
A dull, extreme thud!
Bando's body instantly arched into a shrimp, he felt as if his internal organs were about to be shattered, and a mouthful of sour liquid mixed with blood directly sprayed out of his mouth!
His legs gave out, and with a "thud," he knelt directly in front of Ryuzaki Shin, unable to stand up again.
"Brother Bando!"
"Damn it! You dare to ambush our boss!"
"Brothers! Let's fight him!"
The remaining dozen or so Armed Front members who could still stand, seeing this scene, instantly had their eyes turn red!
They roared and bellowed, like enraged mad dogs, once again mustering their last bit of courage, and charged fiercely towards Ryuzaki Shin!
However, this time, Ryuzaki Shin didn't give them any more chances.
To be honest, Ryuzaki Shin's original goal in playing house in Suzuran was to establish his own power.
Later, he would need to fight, seize territory, and do business; what good was it if he could just fight?
So, Ryuzaki Shin would not let go of any quality group or excellent talent.
Leaving aside other things, the physical fitness and organizational discipline of the Armed Front group were indeed not bad.
Ryuzaki Shin wanted to first shatter their psychological defenses and reorient their values.
Then, later, he would start with Bando, legitimately intervening in the internal affairs of the Armed Front, and perhaps completely swallow the entire Armed Front.
So, he still held back, after all, this would be his core team in the future, what if he really injured them badly?
But if this group tried to kill him, that would be another matter entirely.
Ryuzaki Shin's eyes, at this moment, became exceptionally cold and cruel.
He put away his previous playful mindset!
Like a completely enraged Tyrannosaurus Rex, he actively met the charging "crows"!
A guy with an afro thought he had seized an opportunity.
He roared, brandishing the iron pipe in his hand, and charged like a mad dog from Ryuzaki Shin's rear-side, slamming it down hard on Ryuzaki Shin's head!
The gust of wind it created even stirred ripples in the rainwater on the ground!
However, facing this certain sneak attack.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even turn his head.
He simply made a move that surprised everyone at the moment the iron pipe was about to strike his head!
He neither dodged nor blocked.
He just leaned back sharply!
His body bent backward at an angle that a normal person could never achieve, defying the laws of physics, into a terrifying curve of nearly ninety degrees!
It felt like a strong bow drawn to its fullest!
"Whoosh—!"
That powerful, heavy iron pipe just grazed his nose, whistling through the air, and swung wildly into empty space!
The pompadour guy, due to overexertion, stumbled several steps forward due to the huge inertia; before he could stabilize his body and adjust his posture.
Ryuzaki Shin's body, which had bent like a spring, had already sprung back in an instant!
He didn't even stand up straight!
While his body was rebounding, he had already crashed into the pompadour guy's embrace like a cannonball!
Immediately after, to the horror-struck gazes of everyone!
One of Ryuzaki Shin's hands, like an iron clamp, firmly gripped the pompadour guy's back neck!
His other hand, like lightning, grabbed the wrist that was still holding the iron pipe!
Then, he exerted force with his waist!
"Ah—!"
The pompadour guy only felt his body being propelled by an irresistible terrifying force, instantly losing control!
He was actually swung by Ryuzaki Shin like a human flail, using himself as an axis, completing a full, aesthetically violent circle in the air!
"Boom—!!!"
A huge crash!
The pompadour guy's body was slammed hard into a comrade next to him who was also preparing to charge!
The two of them, like bowling pins struck head-on by a speeding truck, screamed, tumbled, and flew backward, knocking down three or four more guys before rolling several times in the muddy water, completely losing all movement!
Immediately after, two more people attacked simultaneously from the left and right!
Ryuzaki Shin sneered, he didn't even use his fists, he just spread his hands, like eagle claws, precisely gripping the eye sockets of the two people!
"Ah—!"
The two let out an inhuman shriek, their weapons instantly falling to the ground, their entire bodies losing the ability to move due to the intense pain!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't pause for a moment, he grabbed the two men's heads and violently slammed them together in the middle!
"Bang!"
Two heads, like ripe watermelons, crashed violently into each other!
Blood instantly stained their faces.
At this moment, Ryuzaki Shin had completely transformed into an Asura from hell!
Every one of his moves was filled with the utmost violence and cruelty!
Eye gouging, throat locking, bone breaking, knee shattering... He no longer held back, every move aimed at vital points!
In less than a minute.
The entire playground once again fell silent.
People lay scattered on the ground, but this time, there were no wails, but rather... a deathly silence of groans.
Everyone had been incapacitated, not one could still stand.
Ryuzaki Shin stood in the center of the wreckage, his muscular upper body covered in mottled bloodstains and murky rainwater, exuding a chilling, demon-god-like oppressive aura under the afterglow of the setting sun.
Step by step, he slowly walked to Bandō Hideto, who was still clutching his stomach, kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath.
He reached out, grabbed Bando's hair, and forcibly lifted his face, filled with pain and unwillingness, compelling him to meet his gaze.
Bando's limbs dangled limply, his consciousness already beginning to blur.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at him, his face devoid of any expression, and slowly spoke in an extremely cold voice:
"Bando, do you not pride yourself on being righteous?"
"Do you not believe that your Armed Front is the ultimate refuge for all delinquents?"
"What? Now, to be a dog for a despicable scoundrel you've never even met, you bring your brothers to their deaths?"
He paused, his tone becoming even more contemptuous and mocking.
"Is your so-called righteousness to be used as a pawn, then like a dog, kneel on the ground and beg for mercy?"
"Is your so-called brotherhood to let them follow you, have their arms and legs broken together, and be thrown here like trash?"
"Bando, tell me, are you worthy of them? Are you worthy of the four words 'Armed Front'?"
Every word from Ryuzaki Shin was like a poisoned dagger, savagely piercing Bando's heart!
His consciousness gradually dissipated.
He seemed to see his past self, once high-spirited, vowing to lead the Armed Front to glory.
He also seemed to see his brothers who had once laughed and bled with him.
But now... everything was ruined.
Just as his consciousness was about to completely sink into darkness!
"Thud—!"
A dull, synchronized sound suddenly echoed across the silent schoolyard!
Ryuzaki Shin was slightly taken aback; he subconsciously turned his head to look.
He saw that the Armed Front members who could still barely move were now uniformly kneeling on the ground!
They pressed their foreheads deeply, tightly, against the cold and muddy ground!
In the most humiliating and humble posture, they offered their submission to him!
Dogeza!
Dogeza
This word flashed through Ryuzaki Shin's mind.
In his previous life in Sakura Country, this was a ritual expressing extreme apology or petition.
Performing this ritual meant abandoning all one's dignity, entrusting one's life and honor to the other party to dispose of.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the shocking scene before him, yet there was no ripple in his heart.
He knew these guys weren't submitting to him.
They were using this method to beg him to spare their boss.
Although these guys weren't very bright, their unity and loyalty were indeed beyond reproach.
Ryuzaki Shin wasn't softening at this moment.
He just felt a bit bored.
He had overestimated these people.
He let go, throwing Bando's body casually like trash towards the kneeling subordinates.
"Bang!"
Bando's body crashed heavily into the pile of people, causing another commotion.
Bando was helped up by his subordinates. He looked at his brothers, bruised and swollen, yet still watching him with worried eyes, and then at the man who, like a god, indifferently observed everything.
For the first time, two lines of hot tears streamed from his eyes.
He knew he had lost.
Lost completely.
He struggled to break free from his subordinate's embrace.
Then, under everyone's astonished gaze, he gritted his teeth and performed a standard dogeza towards Ryuzaki Shin.
"I'm sorry, Ryuzaki Shin, I know I was wrong."
His voice was hoarse and filled with despair.
"Please let my brothers go."
He knew that what they did today was no longer a school fight.
It wasn't like Suzuran's rules, where they stopped after a winner and loser were decided.
They came with weapons, premeditatedly, to ambush Ryuzaki Shin.
This was already the way of the streets.
If Ryuzaki Shin didn't agree, they probably wouldn't be able to leave.
And he, as the mastermind, was even more to blame.
For his brothers, Bando felt that dogeza was acceptable, no matter how humiliating.
As long as he could take his brothers and leave.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Bando kneeling before him, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
He walked over to Chida, picked up the iron pipe from the ground, which was completely deformed from the immense impact.
With the tip of his foot, he gently lifted the iron pipe, then, with a powerful flick of his foot.
The iron pipe, stained with blood and mud, arced through the air and landed steadily in his hand with a "clang."
The entire movement was fluid, full of grace and nonchalance.
Under everyone's surprised gaze, Ryuzaki Shin exerted a slight force.
He actually straightened the bent steel pipe!
Then, he gently tossed the iron pipe in front of Bando.
The iron pipe splashed into the muddy water, creating a ripple.
And it also struck Bando's heart.
Ryuzaki Shin rubbed the back of his head and slowly said in a calm tone:
"This brother of yours is named Chida, right?"
"Just now, he used his right hand, holding this steel pipe, to brutally smash the back of my head."
"You handle it."
Bandō Hideto looked at the blood- and mud-stained iron pipe in front of him, feeling as if his heart had been fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand, instantly stopping its beat.
His breathing, at this moment, became incredibly heavy.
He knew what Ryuzaki Shin's words meant.
He wanted him to cripple Chida's arm—the one he used to hit Ryuzaki Shin's head.
Chida's face, always with a hint of a simple smile, instantly appeared in Bandō's mind.
He remembered when he was ostracized by the despicable Kunō Hideomi, had nowhere to turn, and was preparing to leave the Armed Front.
It was Chida who was the first to stand up, bringing over a dozen brothers, and resolutely followed him to this godforsaken place called Suzuran.
They had eaten the same bread, slept under the same bridge, been chased and beaten together, and together… watched the most beautiful sunrise.
Chida was his brother.
He was a brother he could trust with his back, a brother he would die for!
But… Bandō looked up again at the man who was watching him with a playful, spectating gaze.
He knew he couldn't avoid this hurdle today.
If he didn't give this monster a satisfactory explanation, none of them from the Armed Front would leave this playground intact today.
His heart, at this moment, was engaged in a fierce internal struggle!
On one side, the deep bond of brotherhood.
On the other, the survival of the entire team!
How should he choose?
The rain, he didn't know when, had started falling again.
The cold rainwater, mixed with the earthy smell of mud, heavily struck his face, making his cheeks sting with pain.
After a long, long time… he slowly closed his eyes.
Then, he suddenly opened them again!
In those eyes, which should have been full of defiance, there was now only… utter resolve!
He slowly stood up from the ground.
Each step was unusually heavy, as if he wasn't treading on a muddy playground, but on the bones of his brothers.
He walked to the iron pipe, bent down, and slowly picked it up with his left hand.
Then, he gritted his teeth, a flicker of extreme pain and… madness flashed in his eyes!
He roared, pouring all his strength into his left arm!
The iron pipe in his hand, with a strong wind that tore through the rain curtain, slammed down hard onto his own right arm!
"Bandō Brother!"
"No!"
Yamasaki and the other younger brothers who could still barely move, seeing this scene, were aghast, letting out a cry of grief and indignation!
However, it was already too late.
"Crack—!"
A bone-cracking sound, crisper and louder than any before, echoed across the entire playground!
Bandō's right arm bent outwards at an extremely grotesque angle!
Blood gushed out like a fountain!
Staining his black leather jacket even darker.
"Ugh ah…"
Bandō's body trembled violently, and from his mouth came an uncontrollable, beast-like growl.
His lips trembled constantly from the pain.
He struggled to stay upright, not letting himself fall, only staring intently at Ryuzaki Shin with his bloodshot eyes.
Then, in a voice hoarse to the extreme, he said, word by word:
"What… he owed you… I've repaid…"
"Now… are you satisfied?"
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the tragic scene before him, but there was not the slightest ripple in his heart.
Acting?
Heh, playing these games in front of me?
You're still too green.
When you're in this line of work, it's all about "righteousness," but that "righteousness" is for your brothers, not for your enemies.
Bandō was doing this merely to use a self-inflicted injury to gain his sympathy, and then to make him let them go.
Unfortunately… Ryuzaki Shin was least susceptible to this kind of trick.
He didn't even bother to look at Bandō again, just curled his lips and slowly said in an extremely contemptuous tone:
"I remember, there's an old saying in my Ryukoku—
"Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its owner."
"Satisfied? Are you perhaps mistaken about something?"
"When did I ever say I'd let you repay it for him?"
"Since a mistake has been made, then one must… accept the punishment."
As soon as his words fell!
His body appeared in front of Chida, who had completely passed out!
Then, under the horrified gazes of everyone!
He slowly raised his right foot.
Then, he slammed it down hard!
"Crack—!"
Another crisp sound of bone cracking!
Chida's right hand, the one that had held the iron pipe, was brutally crushed!
"Ah—!!!"
Chida had already been unconscious, but the piercing pain actually forced him awake from his coma!
He let out a scream that was not human, then, his head lolled to the side, and he passed out again.
This time, he was truly completely unconscious.
After doing all this, Ryuzaki Shin slowly withdrew his foot, then turned his head to look at Bandō, who was completely frozen in place, a very "kind" smile on his face.
"Now, are you sensible?"
"If I act, the consequences… will only be worse."
Bandō looked at the devil in front of him, as if he had crawled out of hell, and felt his hands and feet turn ice cold.
Fear!
An unprecedented fear, like a tide, completely engulfed him!
He even felt that this man in front of him was a hundred times more terrifying than Kunō Hideomi, who had seized the Armed Front through schemes and tricks!
Kunō Hideomi, though despicable, at least played dirty tricks with you.
But this man in front of him… he disdained to use those underhanded tactics!
He simply wanted to use the most direct, most pure violence to completely crush all your dignity, all your pride!
To make you, from body to soul, feel the most primal fear towards him!
This man was not human.
He was a complete and utter devil!
...At the edge of the playground, the Ebizuka Trio had come down from the high ground a few minutes ago and had witnessed everything that happened.
At this moment, they were already completely stunned by the bloody and brutal scene before them.
Honjo Toshiaki looked at the figure like a demon god, couldn't help but swallow, his voice trembling slightly:
"Hiro… Hiromi… This… this guy is really f*cking ruthless…"
Sugihara Makoto also nodded, feeling his back already soaked with cold sweat.
"I… I used to think Izaki Shun Senior was ruthless enough, but I never thought… I never thought that compared to this transfer student, he's just a… good little boy."
And Kirishima Hiromi, who had been silent, now had an unprecedented glow in his eyes, which usually held a hint of cynicism.
He looked at the man who stood alone in the rain, facing dozens of armed opponents, yet remained calm and composed.
He looked at the man who, with the most cruel methods, completely trampled the once arrogant Armed Front underfoot.
He knew that from today on, the sky of Suzuran was about to change.
But… should he give up their dreams… and surrender?
...Bandō looked at Ryuzaki Shin, who was walking towards him step by step, and his mental defenses completely collapsed.
He knew that today, if he didn't give this man a satisfactory explanation, none of them from the Armed Front would leave this playground properly.
He no longer hesitated, caring neither for dignity nor pride.
Dragging his crippled right arm, he limped to Chida, who was completely unconscious.
On the playground, the grating "zzzz" sound of the iron pipe dragging on the ground echoed.
And also echoed Bandō's uncontrollable gasps, full of pain and humiliation.
He reached Chida, looked at this brother with whom he had once laughed and bled, and a flicker of unbearable sorrow crossed his eyes.
But he quickly suppressed that trace of sorrow.
He knew he had to do this.
For his brothers.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Then, he suddenly opened them again!
Inside, there was only… dead silence.
He roared, using all his strength, swinging the iron pipe in his hand, and slammed it down hard onto Chida's intact right arm!
"Ah—!!!"
Crack—!"
A bone-cracking sound, crisper and louder than any before, echoed across the entire sports field!
Chida's right hand, the one that had wielded an iron pipe and attempted to ambush Ryuzaki Shin, was now twisted outwards, its stark white bone fragments even piercing the skin, exposed to the cold air.
Blood, like cheap ketchup, instantly stained his black leather jacket.
"Ugh…"
Chida's body merely trembled violently.
But he didn't wake up.
His body's protective mechanism, under extreme pain, led him to the most direct form of "shutdown."
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the tragic and brutal scene before him, yet his heart remained unperturbed.
He merely curled his lip, thinking to himself, "Hmph, Bando is truly a ruthless man."
"To be able to strike his own brother with such a heavy hand, he certainly has some guts."
"Honestly, this guy is quite interesting."
"As for whether to take him in… hmm… we'll see later."
He'd been fighting for so long today, he was indeed a bit tired and too lazy to think that much.
He stretched, feeling his bones "creak" all over, then casually waved a hand at Bando, who was still kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.
"Alright, alright, scram."
Bandō Hideto heard this and felt as if he had received a great pardon.
He knew that this hurdle, today, was now behind him.
There was no resentment in his heart; instead, there was a sense of relief, like surviving a disaster.
He knew that if he had truly taken Ryuzaki Shin away today, the other party's fate would probably not have been any better than Chida's.
Ultimately, his side was in the wrong first.
He slowly rose from the ground, his already resolute face now filled with complexity.
He gazed deeply at that figure, like a demon god, and an indescribable sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
He knew the gap between himself and this man was too vast.
So vast that he couldn't even muster a hint of resistance.
He sighed, remembering his former self, once spirited and vowing to lead the Armed Front to glory.
He remembered Kunō Hideomi, once like a brother, who used schemes and tricks to seize the leader's position.
He remembered the "Armed Front"—the home he had once wanted to protect no matter what.
He shook his head, thinking of Sugita Kazushi.
"Senior, the Armed Front… it seems, we really can't go back…" He bowed respectfully to Ryuzaki Shin.
Then, supported by Yamasaki and others, he, Chida, and the other subordinates who could still barely move, limped out of the sports field, battered and disgraced, leaving behind a lifelong shadow.
As for the motorcycles parked nearby, they didn't even dare to look at them again.
Are you kidding? Those were the stakes!
Who would dare to cross this monster?
…The sports field was silent for a moment.
Then, a deafening cheer erupted!
"We won! We won!"
"Holy shit! Shin-nii is awesome!"
"Hahahahaha! We took down Serizawa, and now Bando! From today on, Suzuran's sky belongs to our Shin-nii!"
Tamura Chuta and his battered "ragtag army" had long forgotten their injuries, each of them yelling like they were pumped up!
They looked at the figure standing in the rain-soaked sunset, like a god, their eyes filled with unparalleled fanaticism and adoration!
On the other side, Izaki Shun and Makise Takashi also helped each other up from the ground.
Although they were equally badly injured, their faces bore an unprecedented, thoroughly exhilarating smile!
They knew that from today on, Suzuran's landscape would be completely changed!
Makise was the first, using all his strength, to let out a thunderous roar:
"Ryuzaki—!!!"
As he roared, he charged towards Ryuzaki Shin!
His action seemed to light a fuse!
Izaki Shun, Chuta, Sasaki Yu… everyone still standing, screamed like pilgrims, charging towards Ryuzaki Shin!
The next moment, Ryuzaki Shin felt his body lighten, and he was thrown high into the air!
"Hahahahaha!"
He looked at the faces below, filled with excitement and fanaticism, listened to the deafening cheers, and felt the fresh air after the rain, carrying the scent of earth.
He couldn't help but burst into laughter!
The afterglow of the setting sun pierced through the clouds, falling on him, bathing his powerful physique in a golden radiance.
Youth is truly wonderful… But the next second, he felt something was wrong.
He felt countless perverted hands indiscriminately groping him!
"Damn it! What the hell are you guys groping?! Trying to take advantage of your big brother, huh?!"
"Holy crap! Who the hell is grabbing my junk?!"
"Is the Dragon's Nest something you punks can just mess with?! If you want to get gay, go find Makise! He's exceptionally talented!"
"…"
A more unrestrained burst of laughter erupted in the crowd.
Izaki Shun and Makise were laughing so hard they were doubled over, almost in tears.
They put Ryuzaki Shin down.
Ryuzaki Shin straightened his clothes, then turned his gaze to the cool-looking black motorcycles left behind by the Armed Front.
A smile appeared on his face.
This was the first "fixed asset" he had earned since coming to this world!
He had to make good use of it!
However, he hadn't thought of selling these motorcycles for money.
That would be too small-minded!
What he wanted to do was win people's hearts!
He knew that to make this unruly flock of crows fight for him wholeheartedly, relying purely on friendship?
Superficial!
When playing dirty, the most important thing is to bind interests!
You have to let them know that following you means meat to eat! Wine to drink! Money to earn! Girls to chase!
Only then would they, without hesitation, block a blade for you, fight to the death for you, when you needed them!
Thinking this, Ryuzaki Shin directly jumped onto Bando's harley motorcycle, which seemed to have the highest specifications, feeling the cold metallic texture, a wave of comfort washing over him.
He twisted the throttle, producing a deafening roar of the engine!
Then, he waved his hand grandly to his subordinates, who were looking at him with worshipful eyes, and said with great spirit:
"Izaki Shun! Makise Takashi! Tamura Chuta! Sasaki Yu! The four of you, each pick your favorite!"
"As for the rest, divide them among yourselves, two people per bike, if there aren't enough, three people squeeze in!"
"From now on, following me, Ryuzaki Shin, you won't lack such benefits!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh—!!!"
Hearing this, all the delinquents present instantly erupted!
Their eyes were practically spitting fire as they looked at the cool-looking motorcycles!
One must know that most of them were children from ordinary families; those whose families could afford to buy them a bicycle were already considered well-off.
As for motorcycles?
That was simply unthinkable!
And now, their boss was so generous!
Immediately, everyone's gaze towards Ryuzaki Shin became even more fanatical and adoring!
Izaki Shun and Makise exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of… admiration in each other's eyes.
This man not only had unfathomable strength, but his methods of winning people's hearts were also so perfectly executed.
They knew they had followed the right person.
"Hey, Yu, your family is so rich, are you still going to compete with us?"
Makise looked at Sasaki Yu, who was enthusiastically picking through a pile of motorcycles, and couldn't help but tease him.
Sasaki Yu, however, merely snorted, puffed out his small chest, and said in an extremely proud tone:
"You don't understand!"
"This is a reward from Shin-nii! This is an affirmation of my brave performance and my manly conduct!"
"…"
This time, Makise was choked up.
He looked at Sasaki Yu's self-righteous expression and could only shake his head helplessly.
Soon, everyone had divided their "spoils of war."
Some squeezed two people onto one bike, some even piled three together, but everyone's face was beaming with genuine, radiant smiles.
However, there were still six or seven motorcycles left on the sports field that had been completely totaled during the fight.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the scrap metal, curled his lip, and then said to Izaki Shun:
"Ashun, these few definitely can't be taken away today. Find someone to fix them tomorrow."
He paused, then asked with some concern:
"Leaving them here overnight, no one will steal them, right?"
Izaki Shun thought for a moment, just about to say, "Probably not, after all, not many outsiders come into Suzuran."
Just then, they suddenly heard a perverted voice from nearby.
Everyone instinctively looked in the direction of the voice.
They saw Serizawa Tamao, currently looking at a motorcycle with an extremely infatuated gaze, telling the Mikami Brothers with relish.
"Holy crap… look at this engine… Tsk tsk tsk, this is the latest Yamaha V-MAX!"
"And this suspension… this must have been modified, right? It's too awesome…"
Ryuzaki Shin's mouth twitched as he watched him, drooling.
He twisted the throttle, riding the coolest harley, and stopped directly in front of Serizawa, looking at him with an extremely complex expression.
"Serizawa, tell me, you… wouldn't steal a motorcycle, right?"
Serizawa Tamao was stunned by his sudden remark. Immediately, his face, which was already flushed from defeat, turned beet red!
He suddenly lifted his head.
His eyes were wide, and he bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!
He pointed at Ryuzaki Shin, veins bulging on his forehead, and argued in a voice full of humiliation and anger:
"How can you... how can you just accuse someone out of nowhere like that..."
"Accuse of what?" Ryuzaki Shin sneered, his lips curling. He took his foot off the accelerator, pointed with his chin at the scrapped motorcycles still emitting black smoke, and said lazily, "I just saw you, with my own eyes, practically drooling over the Armed Front's harleys."
Serizawa Tamao's face grew even redder. He stiffened his neck and, with all his might, retorted loudly:
"Appreciation... appreciation!... Do you even know what appreciation means?"
Then followed some incomprehensible words, like "King of Beasts's character" and "King's aesthetic," which made Izaki Shun, Makise, and the others behind Ryuzaki Shin burst into laughter. The playground was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his stubborn expression and didn't bother to argue with him anymore.
He just laughed heartily, then twisted the throttle!
"Boom—!"
The harley roared with a deafening engine sound, like a beast unleashed, speeding away in a cloud of dust!
Leaving behind only a dashing figure and a distant, infinitely mocking remark.
"I get it, you poor bastard, hahahaha..."
"Ryuzaki Shin—!!!"
Serizawa Tamao watched the receding figure, trembling with rage and fuming!
He let out an unwilling roar with all his might:
"You f***ing get back here! If you've got guts, fight me for another three hundred rounds!!"
However, the only answer he received was the increasingly distant, domineering roar of the engine...
Ryuzaki Shin, riding his cool harley, slowly arrived at the entrance of the playground.
The Ebizuka Trio stood there, dazed, looking at him with complex expressions in their eyes.
Ryuzaki Shin stopped in front of the three, propped his foot on the ground, turned off the engine, and then looked up at these three "future stars" who were making waves at Suzuran.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards, and he asked lazily in a casual tone:
"Well, is it cool or not?"
Kirishima Hiromi looked at the man before him, who was like a demon god, and was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Kirishima Hiromi
Honjo Toshiaki and Sugihara Makoto, who were beside him, subconsciously took half a step back, their eyes filled with apprehension.
Ryuzaki Shin ignored their reactions. He simply fixed his gaze on Kirishima Hiromi, who was leading the group.
Then, in an unquestionable tone, as if stating a fact, he directly asked:
"So, what do you three say, do you want to... follow me?"
Ryuzaki Shin actually already had his own plan in mind.
From a purely combat perspective, these three from Ebisuka certainly couldn't be considered the top at Suzuran.
However, they had one major advantage—
That was, they had united the entire first year!
This meant they had enough people under them!
Moreover, their minds weren't fully mature yet; they were like uncarved jade, highly malleable.
With a little guidance and tempering, they could be shaped into whatever he desired.
What Ryuzaki Shin needed was never a group of reckless brutes who only knew how to fight.
What he wanted was a disciplined army, one that strictly followed orders and could be used by him!
And the Ebizuka Trio was the most crucial link in his plan.
Kirishima Hiromi looked at Ryuzaki Shin's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and his heart was in turmoil.
Masked man is Honjo Toshiaki
He knew that the man before him wasn't discussing with him, but rather... giving an order.
To be honest, he was very annoyed.
He, Kirishima Hiromi, was also a formidable character who had made a name for himself at Suzuran, with a loyal group of brothers under him.
If it were anyone else, even Serizawa Tamao, who dared to speak to him in such a tone, he would probably have already arranged a place to confront them.
Even if he couldn't win, he would never give in easily!
But... Kirishima Hiromi's mind involuntarily recalled the overwhelming battle that had just taken place.
That man, alone, faced the siege of nearly a hundred delinquents, yet remained calm and composed, as if strolling in a garden.
That seemingly innate, kingly aura of dominance, that composure of having everything under his control.
It made him, for the first time, feel a sense of "powerlessness."
Did he really have to contend with such a monster?
He subconsciously glanced at his subordinates behind him, who were also somewhat eager to fight.
He knew that with just a word from him, they would rush forward without hesitation.
But... then what?
Then, like the Serizawa Army just now, would they all be easily knocked down by this monster, by himself?
He, Kirishima Hiromi, could not afford to lose face like that!
Just as he was incredibly conflicted and didn't know how to choose.
Sugihara Makoto, who was beside him, suddenly brightened!
Sugihara Makoto
His gaze went past Ryuzaki Shin and fell upon the slowly extending path by the edge of the playground.
He saw a tall figure, hands in his pockets, walking slowly past everyone, without glancing sideways.
The person wore a pair of worn-out sneakers, looking like an ordinary sports student, no more, no less.
However, an unsettling oppressive aura emanated from him!
As if the air around him had solidified because of his presence.
A thought instantly surged in Sugihara Makoto's mind!
He pointed at the tall figure and said loudly to Ryuzaki Shin:
"Ryuzaki Shin! Aren't you good at fighting?!"
"If you can defeat that person, we, the Ebizuka Trio, will follow you!"
Ryuzaki Shin followed the direction he pointed and turned his head to look.
He saw the tall figure had already slowly walked to stand before them.
The afterglow of the setting sun stretched his shadow long, very long.
Ryuzaki Shin's pupils, at this moment, slightly contracted!
He finally saw the man's face.
Suzuran's second-year.
That legendary man, as powerful and despair-inducing as a BUG!
The true strongest man of Suzuran—
Hayashida Megumi!