"They're so strong! I can't even see their movements clearly. Are they really human?"
"I apologize for being a disgrace to humanity."
"Looking closely, that guy in the black martial arts uniform, Suiryu, is pretty handsome too."
"..."
Hearing the audience's discussion, Suiryu smiled excitedly, increasing the power in his legs, which sent Garou staggering back a few steps with a kick.
"Did you see that? My strength. I should be qualified to fight that Aomori now, shouldn't I?" Suiryu paused his attack and said to Garou.
"Just average. If that's all your strength amounts to, I advise you to surrender quickly," Garou said, stretching his joints. "This level isn't even a warm-up for me."
"Oh, is that so?" The curve of Suiryu's lips widened significantly. "You really are a good opponent."
"Competitor Suiryu's barrage of attacks has finally stopped. It looks like he is conversing with Competitor Garou. Bang-sensei, could you take this opportunity to give us your assessment of their performance so far?"
At the commentary table, Bang said, "What looked like an intense confrontation was actually neither side using their full power. It was merely a warm-up, or rather, a mutual probe."
"What?! Unbelievable! That high-intensity offense and defense was only a warm-up? I can't imagine what they're like at full power!"
In the audience, many spectators involuntarily swallowed.
"Did you hear that? Everyone is expecting us to fight with everything we've got. So, how about we give them what they want?" Suiryu adopted the starting stance of the Void Fist.
"Suits me fine." Garou grinned, lowering his body and entering a hunting state.
"Yaa!" A gust of wind blew by, and a female spectator's straw hat, which wasn't held tightly, was carried into the air, slowly drifting down between Garou and Suiryu.
The moment the hat landed, it seemed to serve as a signal. Garou and Suiryu simultaneously dashed towards each other and collided. A powerful current of air radiated from the point of impact, instantly tearing the straw hat to shreds.
Unlike the flexible and subtle Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, the Void Fist emphasizes overwhelming power.
When Suiryu attacked with his full strength, his movements were broad and sweeping. The muscles beneath his clothing bulged, and every swing of his fist or kick created a blast of wind.
In the principle of "using force to break skill," Garou's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist had encountered its counter. Under Suiryu's explosive power, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist stance was scattered again and again, pushing Garou onto the defensive.
"How about that? How about that? Am I qualified now?" Suiryu threw another punch, knocking Garou back. He then leaped into the air, twisting his body to form a whirlwind, closing in on Garou.
"Try this: Void Sky Dragon Fist!"
"Competitor Suiryu has formed a whirlwind by rotating his body! As time passes, the rotation speed is increasing, forcing Competitor Garou into the corner of the ring! Has Competitor Garou run out of options? Is he about to be defeated?" The nervous and excited voice of the host and commentator reached the audience.
"It won't end that simply, of course," Bang said with a knowing look.
"Huh?"
Bang simply smiled, ignoring the host's puzzled look.
As if he heard Bang's words, Garou smiled slightly, looking at the approaching whirlwind attack. He plunged both hands directly into the center of the whirlwind, precisely grabbing Suiryu's long legs.
The whirlwind instantly stopped, revealing Suiryu's startled expression.
While he was momentarily stunned, Garou used Suiryu's long legs as a pivot, spun Suiryu around, and slammed him heavily into the ground, creating a large crater.
Suiryu quickly sprang out of the crater, dodged Garou's next attack, and retreated to the opposite corner.
The audience was stunned by the reversal and responded with applause and cheers for Garou.
"Spectacular! A magnificent counter-attack from Competitor Garou!" After a brief moment of surprise, the host came back online. Remembering Bang's prediction, he immediately turned the discussion toward him: "Bang-sensei, you made a precise prediction before Competitor Garou's counter-attack. Was that based on your deep understanding of Competitor Garou?"
"Precisely. A wild wolf will patiently observe every move of its prey during a hunt until it has completely grasped its actions. Garou also possesses this habit," Bang explained.
"I see!" The host and the audience suddenly understood. "No wonder Competitor Garou could grab Competitor Suiryu with such precision; he had already seen through his movements. In that case, does Competitor Suiryu have no chance of winning at all?"
"No!" Bang resolutely countered. "If Garou is a wild wolf, Suiryu is a sleeping giant dragon. Once awakened, he will unleash terrifying power. Sometimes, seeing through movements doesn't necessarily mean you can stop them."
"This duel between the Wolf and the Sleeping Dragon is clearly full of suspense. We won't know the final result until the very last moment. Thank you very much for your analysis, Bang-sensei. Now, let's turn our attention back to the match."
During the commentary, Garou and Suiryu were also talking.
"Your previous attacks allowed me to see through your movement patterns. You've already lost this match," Garou said, looking at Suiryu with the eyes of a hunter regarding his prey.
"Saw through my movements? Hehe haha, you really are interesting." Suiryu, despite being on the defensive, managed to laugh. "Thank you for bringing back a long-lost thrill! I was definitely right to come to this Martial Arts Tournament!"
"In return, let me defeat you with everything I have! Haaah!" Suiryu held nothing back, unleashing his full strength for the first time. His bulging muscles instantly shredded his upper garment, revealing his sculpted physique.
Meeting Garou's grave look, he walked forward step by step.
With every footfall, he imprinted a deep crater into the ring.
With every step, Suiryu's aura escalated significantly, reaching its peak just as he arrived in front of Garou.
He widened his eyes, grit his teeth, and unleashed a straight punch, which Garou leaned to the side to avoid.
"It's useless. I've seen through your movements... What?!"
Suiryu's straight punch didn't hit Garou, but the wind pressure accompanying his fist yanked Garou's body off balance.
"Damn it!"
"Void Ascending Phoenix Fist!" Suiryu seized the opportunity. His other hand executed the Void Fist technique, punching through Garou's instinctive double-arm guard and slamming heavily into his abdomen, sending him flying into the air.
Garou spat out a mouthful of blood. Immediately after, Suiryu leaped above him and unleashed another heavy punch.
"Void Shaking Tiger Fist!"
Rumble!
Garou was knocked back down onto the ring, crashing into a massive crater and kicking up a cloud of debris and dust.
Suiryu, spurred on by the excitement of the fight, didn't stop. He descended from the sky, landing a heavy kick.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Clap! Clap! Clap!
A rapid succession of blows came from within the thick dust. Under the anxious gaze of the audience, a figure was the first to fly out of the smoke.
When the figure became clear, the host leaned halfway out of the commentary booth: "What happened in that smoke? It's Competitor Suiryu who was sent flying!"
Indeed, the figure sent flying was Suiryu. His face was covered in fresh blood, clearly having suffered severe injuries.
Suiryu staggered to his feet, staring in immense horror at Garou, who was slowly emerging from the deep pit.
Garou was now enveloped in an aura of wildness, invisible to ordinary people. He looked like an Asura who had just walked out of hell.
"Breathing Style..." Bang sighed almost inaudibly.
————
You can read the ahead chapter on Patr-eon if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]