"Is it really okay to eat this much right before intense exertion... especially when you'll be taking heavy impacts?"
The moment Sakura Ohgami and Tokita Ohma pushed open the door, this was the scene that greeted them.
A table completely buried under food.
And Jaden sitting in front of it, eating without pause.
No breaks.
No hesitation.
Just eating and drinking nonstop.
Seeing this, Sakura Ohgami instinctively turned her head toward Erina, who was also in the room.
From behind her, Ohma shook his head.
"Compared to that... shouldn't you be more surprised that he can even eat this much?"
Ohma glanced at the tall stacks of empty plates piled to the side and raised an eyebrow.
"And... is he actually serious right now?"
As Jaden continued eating, an intense heat radiated from his body.
It was strong enough to visibly distort the air.
The temperature in the room had clearly risen.
Ohma didn't understand complicated theory, but even someone with no medical knowledge could tell-
Something was wrong.
This didn't look like something a human body should be doing.
"I don't know either..."
Erina shook her head.
Jaden must have heard the noise.
But he ignored Sakura Ohgami and Ohma completely.
No reaction.
No acknowledgement.
He simply kept eating.
At that moment, a voice came from behind Ohma.
"I was just passing by... but I didn't expect to see something like this."
Ohma stepped aside, and everyone turned.
A young doctor in a white coat stood at the doorway, staring intently at Jaden.
"Ah-you're the doctor who treated me before..."
Ohma recognized him immediately.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes. Hajime Inaba."
"When I treated you, I thought the greatest discovery of this trip would be the new type of heart condition I found in you."
"But I never expected to witness something this close to a miracle."
After nodding to Ohma, Inaba's gaze returned to Jaden.
"You should stop disturbing him."
"Though I don't fully understand the structure of his body, he's clearly converting everything he eats directly into usable energy."
"Honestly, I'm curious how much energy his body requires to function."
"And when he fought his first two matches..."
"...was he fighting while keeping his body in a starved state?"
Even Inaba couldn't help but shake his head.
"The world is vast."
"And the human body truly is a wonder."
"A starved state..."
That was the phrase that stuck with Ohma.
Because-
That meant that when Jaden fought him, he wasn't just holding back.
His physical condition hadn't even been optimal.
Ohma clenched his fist slightly.
Then, after a moment, a slow smile appeared.
-Good.
The more I know about you, the better my chances next time.
As Ohma was thinking this, Jaden finally finished everything on the table.
After that, Ohma, Sakura Ohgami, and Inaba all left.
Only Jaden and Erina remained.
Jaden turned his head slightly toward her.
"Erina, I'm going to rest for a bit."
"Call me when the match starts."
Erina nodded.
After Jaden closed his eyes, she gently placed his head on her lap and adjusted his posture so he could lie more comfortably.
She sat there quietly, one hand lightly stroking his hair.
"Jaden..."
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself..."
"As long as you're here, losing everything else doesn't matter."
"If the two of us are together, we can always win it back."
"But if you're gone..."
"...then even winning everything would be meaningless."
Listening to his steady breathing, and believing herself alone, Erina spoke softly.
Then-
Jaden opened his eyes.
Hiss-
In an instant, Erina's face turned bright red.
"Y-You... you weren't asleep!?"
"Even if I were going to sleep, it wouldn't be that fast."
"Th-That... then-!"
She was completely flustered.
Jaden raised his hand and gently tapped her forehead.
That small action calmed her slightly.
"It's been a while since I've seen you like this."
"I'm not under that much pressure."
"It's you, Erina."
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself."
Erina instinctively tried to reply.
Before she could, Jaden's finger tapped her forehead again.
Their eyes met.
Erina blushed, lowered her head, and made a small sound.
"...Mm."
-
"The final day of the Death Elimination Tournament begins now!"
"A kill-or-be-killed format requiring up to three consecutive high-intensity matches!"
Sayaka Katahara stood at the center of the arena, dressed even more boldly than usual, surrounded by a large group of attendants wearing animal ears and tails.
Microphone in hand, she began her announcement.
"Now-please welcome the fighters!"
The lights dimmed.
From one of the tunnels, a figure emerged.
"The greatest problem child of the Assassin Clan!"
"A man who has made it this far into the tournament!"
"Betting the name of the Kure Clan, he will slaughter everyone in his way!"
"Height-188 centimeters!"
"Weight-94 kilograms!"
"Making his first appearance in this Kengan Annihilation Tournament-"
"The Devil!"
"The forbidden descendant-"
"Raian Kure!"
Raian Kure stepped out, his body already stained with blood from who knew what he had been doing earlier.
That twisted grin.
Those eyes-black irises set in white sclera.
Sayaka Katahara visibly stiffened.
Murmurs erupted throughout the stands.
'What was he doing before the match?'
'Did he kill someone...?'
Sayaka took a breath and steadied herself.
Then she began Jaden's introduction-
Inside the fighter tunnel, Jaden listened calmly while looking at Kure Fuki and Kure Karura, who were waiting for him.
"Are you two here because you want me to go easy on your relative?"
Raian Kure was Karura's relative.
And Fuki's older brother.
"No."
Fuki answered without hesitation.
"We're here to tell you the opposite."
"When facing him, don't hold back for our sake."
"Go all out."
"And even after going all out..."
"Remain cautious."
Karura nodded repeatedly.
Jaden stretched slightly, his body already adjusted to peak condition, and walked toward the tunnel exit.
"Relax."
"This is a match."
"I won't hold back."
"...Of course, I'll try not to kill him."
When he said the first part, Fuki nodded seriously.
When she heard the second-
Her expression immediately collapsed, and she was about to speak.
Karura beat her to it.
She paused, then smiled brightly.
"Good luck, Jaden!"
Jaden nodded.
As Sayaka Katahara finished her announcement, he stepped into the arena.
All preparations were complete.
This was the first of three matches he would fight today.
As Jaden's gaze met Raian Kure's-
A curse activated.
[Mild Onychomycosis (Asymptomatic)]
(Not Fatal)
(Not Contagious)
Tsk.
Jaden shook his head.
Looks like I can't slack off.
He walked forward.
Raian Kure raised his hand slowly and flipped him off with a grin.
Jaden raised an eyebrow.
Said nothing.
The referee slammed his raised arm down.
"The match-begins!"
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