### Chapter 6: Kouki Descends the Mountain
"Grandpa~~!"
A clear and energetic youthful voice rang out.
The person who arrived was none other than the sixteen-year-old Kouki.
The once tiny bean sprout had now grown into a tall, sturdy young man of 1.85 meters.
Only a trace of lingering childishness remained on his well-defined face.
"You brat, did you run to the back mountain for an 'extra meal' again?"
Bang looked at his grandson's heroic posture of holding a tiger in each hand, shaking his head helplessly yet amused.
"Hehe~~"
Kouki grinned, revealing snow-white teeth. Sunlight dappled on him through the trees, full of vigorous vitality.
"Let's go, time to head back."
Bang clasped his hands behind his back. Before his voice faded, his figure drifted up like light smoke, rushing towards the dojo.
Kouki followed steadily, carrying the two giant tigers with ease, as if he were holding nothing more than two oversized plush dolls.
A moment later, the master and disciple returned to the dojo.
"Senior Brother is back!"
"Hello, Senior Brother!"
In the dojo courtyard, shouts and greetings rose one after another.
After these years of development, the dojo was no longer what it used to be, with over a hundred disciples.
Five years ago, talented youths like Garou and Sourface came one after another, attracted by the reputation.
Bang's Dojo rose to fame.
Bang himself often took action to eliminate Monsters appearing in Z-City, guarding the peace of the area.
It wasn't until three years ago that the Hero Association was formally established.
Relying on his powerful strength and outstanding reputation, Bang was invited to become one of the first S-Class heroes without any suspense.
This not only brought lofty honor but also a stable source of funding for the dojo.
Life was much more comfortable compared to the straitened circumstances of the early years.
"Second Grandpa!"
Inside the dojo, in a separate small courtyard.
Seeing Bomb drinking tea, Kouki rushed like a gust of wind to Bomb, who was leisurely sipping tea, still carrying two heavy, colorful prey in his hands.
"Mm-hm, Kouki took down two 'big cats' again today. Well done!"
Bomb put down his teacup, looking at the burly youth who was much taller than himself and the two big tigers in his hands, a heartfelt smile blooming on his face.
This child's strength was truly becoming more and more astonishing.
"Mm-hm!" Kouki nodded vigorously, his golden pupils lighting up instantly, as if he could see chunks of meat flashing inside them. "We can have extra food tonight! Tiger paw soup, roasted tiger steak..."
Just imagining the rich aroma of meat made saliva secrete frantically in his mouth.
The gluttonous nature carved into a Saiyan's bones hadn't been discounted in the slightest on him.
Bomb's gaze lingered on Kouki's sturdy body for a moment, then turned to his younger brother Bang with a hint of emotion: "This child... has really grown up. Hey, Bang, when do you plan to let him report to the Hero Association? You can't keep him cooped up in our small dojo forever, can you?"
"...This..."
Bang stroked his beard, frowning slightly, his face full of hesitation.
Hadn't he thought about letting Kouki walk the path of a hero?
He himself was the Association's S-Class Hero "Silver Fang."
But thinking back to the scene more than ten years ago when Kouki first lost control of his power, emitting a violent aura that almost tore the sky apart and turning half the dojo into dust...
His fingertips still felt a chill.
The disciples in the dojo had faced Kouki with cautious awe, even fear, ever since then.
The stimulation from the outside world was ten million times more complex than the dojo.
Just imagining an accident happening made his heart heavy.
Over the past ten-plus years, he had watched Kouki's power expand as if without limit.
That unfathomable power made even him, the grandfather, feel heart palpitations.
If he went berserk again...
I'm afraid even if he and his brother Bomb joined forces, they might not be able to suppress that world-destroying power.
"Kouki is no longer a child." Bomb saw through his knot, his tone gentle but firm. "Do you really plan to keep him in this dojo for his whole life? Besides, hasn't this child controlled it very well since that accident? It's been over ten years. I believe in him."
He patted his brother on the shoulder.
Bang was silent for a moment, finally letting out a heavy sigh.
He knew his brother was right; the fledgling must eventually leave the nest.
"...Alright!" He made up his mind and turned to Kouki, his expression more serious than ever: "Kouki, listen! Tomorrow morning, go report to the Hero Association Headquarters in A-City!"
"Yes!"
A brilliant light instantly burst from Kouki's eyes, and he nodded heavily in excitement.
Finally, this day has come!
The vast world outside, those legendary powerful S-Class heroes, the terrifying Dragon-level Monsters capable of causing disasters...
Images full of challenges flashed rapidly through his mind.
His Saiyan blood seemed to be boiling.
And what he cared about most was that bald figure—Saitama!
In the entire world, the only one who could truly let him go all out and test the limits of his strength was probably the Bald Demon King.
He couldn't wait to know if his current self could defeat the Bald Demon King.
"You brat..."
Bang looked at his disciple's eager look, ready to jump up on the spot, shaking his head with both annoyance and amusement.
But then, he restrained his smile, his tone becoming grave: "Listen, the outside world is different from the dojo. When encountering Monsters, act according to your ability. As a hero, protecting civilians comes first. If you encounter a danger you can't solve, retreat immediately or call for backup, understand? Especially..."
He paused. The incident three years ago when Garou betrayed the school and went astray was like a sharp thorn, making him more cautious about his method of teaching disciples. "...Especially always remember the essence of martial arts is to protect, not to destroy."
"Got it, Grandpa! Just put your mind at ease!"
Kouki patted his chest and agreed readily.
The next morning.
At the entrance of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo, the morning mist had not yet dispersed.
"Grandpa, Second Grandpa, I'm going down the mountain now!"
Dressed in a martial arts uniform washed white but clean and neat, Kouki's figure, tough as cast iron, was outlined.
He turned around and waved vigorously at the two elders standing under the simple and ancient door.
"Be careful on the road."
Bomb exhorted kindly.
"Go and come back quickly."
Bang just waved his hand simply, but his gaze followed that tall back tightly.
The two stood in silence until Kouki's figure completely disappeared at the end of the winding mountain path, merging into the contours of the distant mountains.
"...No!" Bang frowned tightly and suddenly stomped his foot. "I have to follow him and see!"
That lingering worry wrapped around his heart like a vine.
...