Chapter 426: He's Gotten Stronger
Late autumn. The weather was crisp and clear.
Ren Shiroki walked through the city streets, his developed muscles filling out
his autumn gear so perfectly that the cut of his clothes seemed custom-made for
his frame. At 187cm with a physique like a heavy-duty rack, he was an undeniable
eye-catcher on the sidewalk.
Occasionally, a few young women would spot him from a distance and consider
approaching him for his contact info. But the moment they got close, they
noticed the scars mapping every inch of his exposed skin.
His face, his neck... and especially his hands.
His knuckles were a landscape of thick calluses and jagged white lines—scar
tissue built upon scar tissue. It reached a point where it was difficult to look
at. Passersby would stop in their tracks, a single thought echoing in their
minds: This guy... he has to be a professional brawler.
Ren continued his walk. At a major intersection, he bumped into a handsome youth
wearing a grey hoodie.
It was Baki Hanma.
The boy looked like he had just finished his morning cardio, a thin layer of
sweat still glistening on his skin as he sipped water to regulate his breathing.
"Morning, [CHAMPION]!"
"Ah? Ren-aniki—"
Baki looked surprised. Ren rarely took this route during his training; he
figured his friend must have specific business elsewhere. The two shared a path
for a while, walking together through the morning rush.
Recalling the "Declaration of War" at the Pit a few nights ago, Ren sighed with
admiration. "So it's really happening. Yujiro Hanma vs. Baki Hanma..."
Ren bared his teeth in a grin. "Truly magnificent!"
Baki wiped the moisture from his lip, his expression serene. "It's just a father
and son having a long-overdue argument. It's not really something worth bragging
about."
Ren looked up at the sky. "Yeah... that is exactly the kind of thing 'Baki
Hanma' would say."
"Haha..." Baki let out a helpless laugh. "Whether it's you or Doppo-sensei, you
all say the same thing. What's the big deal?"
The youth raised an eyebrow and sighed. "I didn't seek the martial way to become
the 'Strongest on Earth.' It's just that my father happens to hold that title,
so I'm forced to deal with it."
"If my Old Man were the weakest creature on earth, I'd be perfectly happy being
the second-weakest. It's that simple."
Ren chuckled. "And that... is exactly the kind of thing a 'Son' would say. Both
'Baki Hanma' and 'The Son' are equally impressive, Baki-kun."
At the next crossing, Ren patted Baki on the shoulder and pointed toward a
different district. "I'm heading this way. Catch you later!"
"Right. See ya." Baki paused, looking at the direction Ren was heading. "That
way... is that Motobe-san's dojo? You have business with him?"
Ren nodded. "I've decided. I want to take a stroll through that 'Lawless Zone'."
[Motobe-ryu Jujutsu Dojo]
The head of this dojo was Motobe Izo, a stocky, powerfully built middle-aged man
with silver-white hair and a rough, unshaven jaw.
Compared to the Soul Combat Hub, this place was steeped in tradition. It was
Spartan, unadorned, and radiated the cold, lethal intent of Ancient Combat.
Ren arrived to find two other familiar faces already there.
One was Gaia, the "God of the Earth" and Motobe's top disciple. He was a small
man with a bald head and a youthful face that belied his status as a legendary
super-soldier.
The other was the [FIST MASTER] Retsu Kaioh.
Gaia's presence was expected; Ren had made an appointment. Retsu, however, was a
coincidence. He had dropped by to exchange technical insights and catch up on
the city's rumors.
Having received Ren's request via phone earlier, Gaia had prepared a
comprehensive briefing. It included a list of essential supplies, survival
tactics for combat in urban warzones, and specific intelligence regarding the
current power structure of The Inside.
Gaia stood up to retrieve the files. This left Ren, Retsu, and Motobe sitting
cross-legged on the wooden floor, engaging in a technical exchange. Naturally,
the conversation turned to the "Match of the Century."
Yujiro had accepted Baki's challenge. About five years ago, a thirteen-year-old
Baki had challenged the Ogre and been crushed, losing his mother in the process.
"There is no doubt," Retsu said gravely, rubbing his chin. "Baki Hanma has
evolved."
"He tasted love, he crossed the Dead Line, and then he systematically dismantled
a Kaioh and the Son of Alai with overwhelming ease. The standard arenas can no
longer contain him."
Retsu glanced at Ren, as if wanting to say something else, but ultimately
remained silent.
Motobe Izo crossed his arms, smacking his lips. "To be honest... if it came down
to taking the Ogre's head... I would be utterly powerless. He is a monster
beyond my craft."
Just then, Gaia returned with a heavy folder. "You're right about that, Master,"
he agreed with a smile.
Motobe's mouth curled into a pout. "A little encouragement wouldn't kill you!
That's harsh!"
Gaia handed the folder to Ren.
"Most of what you need to know is in the table of contents. Check what you need.
Some of the intel is classified lore I picked up during my mercenary days; I
can't vouch for its current accuracy, but it's a start."
Gaia sat back down. "Oh, and one more thing—"
Before the sentence was finished, Gaia moved.
SHICK!
His right hand snapped upward in a blur. Between his index and middle fingers,
he held a long, sharpened metal spike. He slashed it toward Ren's throat.
Zip!
Ren tilted his head, the spike missing his jugular by a hair. He was perfectly
relaxed.
"Heh..." Gaia offered a small, apologetic smile. "That was my first warning. In
the lawless zone, anything can happen at any time."
Ren nodded his thanks. But as he opened his mouth to speak, Gaia struck again.
Supporting his weight with his left hand and elbow, Gaia whipped his entire body
horizontally. He launched a driving right kick aimed directly at Ren's temple. A
secondary ambush.
Whoosh!
Ren didn't flinch. He transitioned from his seated position into a low crouch.
He drove his left wrist downward, his elbow slamming horizontally into Gaia's
shin.
[RYU: DRIVE PARRY]!
THUD!
Ren batted the leg aside. Without pausing, he twisted his torso, unleashing a
reverse-hand back-fist that came to a dead stop an inch from Gaia's nose. The
vacuum of the punch kicked up a violent gust of wind.
Whish—!
Gaia blinked as the air pressure hit his face. A single bead of cold sweat
rolled down his forehead. Retsu and Motobe watched from the side, their eyes
narrowing as they registered the speed of Ren's transition.
Ren grinned mischievously. "That was a bit much, Gaia-aniki!"
"Haha...!" Gaia finally laughed.
The two retracted their strikes and returned to a seated position. Gaia rubbed
his cheek, offering a respectful nod. "Thanks for the pull-back. My face would
have been a crater if that connected."
Gaia took a breath, his expression turning curious. "So, why go to The Inside at
all? Are you trying to be a hero? A vigilante against the syndicates?"
Ren thought for a moment. "It's for the sake of the 'Fight'... I guess?"
Motobe chuckled. "It's going to be difficult, kid."
Ren looked at the folder in his lap. "Yeah. It sounds a hell of a lot harder
than I expected."
"Or rather—" Ren bared his teeth in a grin. "Training is too hard! Fighting is
too hard! Everything is such a pain!"
"—?!"
The other three stared at him, literal question marks appearing over their
heads.
This was the [SOUL COMBATANT] Ren Shiroki. A man who lived for the brawl was
complaining that it was "too hard"?
Ren nodded frankly, his gaze dropping to his hands. "But 'Difficult' doesn't
mean 'Bad.' I don't hate things that are hard."
The three masters waited for him to continue.
Ren closed the folder and clenched his fist.
"If I want to know 'What is Strength,' I believe I have to stand before strong
enemies. I have to be in the frame where they are at their most dangerous."
"I want to do the 'Right' thing," Ren sighed, resting his chin on his knees.
"And throughout history, the 'Right' thing is almost always the 'Difficult'
thing."
"Building a beautiful physique is harder than becoming a couch potato. Dressing
sharp is harder than being a slob. Thinking deeply and seeking truth is harder
than living in ignorance."
"The 'Right' path is the 'Hard' path... and that means Strength lives there!"
Ren offered a wide, vibrant smile. "I want to know the Apex. So I have to do the
'Difficult' thing. That's how I'll find my 'Way'."
"This isn't a slogan. It's not about 'Justice.' It's just... the only research
method I have."
The three men in the dojo watched Ren's back as he bid them farewell and
departed. They sat in silence for a moment before Doppo-style crossing their
arms.
"He's gotten stronger, hasn't he? Shiroki-kun..."
"Significantly," Retsu agreed.
"He's taking another step forward," Motobe mused. "I wonder... how far will we
have to run just to keep him in sight?"
[That Afternoon — Soul Combat Hub]
Metsudo Katahara called the Hub to provide a status update on the Secret Key
Cards.
"Good news," the old man chuckled over the speaker. "We've located the owners of
almost all the cards. Only the 'Four Turtles' gatehouse key remains unaccounted
for."
Fusui Kure nodded, taking notes. "So, excluding the one Ren-chin has, the Kengan
Association is only missing one?"
Metsudo paused. "—No. The Kengan Association hasn't actually secured a single
card yet."
Fusui: "..."
Fusui: "What?"
Metsudo sighed helplessly. "Because the guys holding those cards are just like
your Ren-chin. They're all powerhouses with an astronomical level of ego."
"They won't just 'hand them over.' They all have their own agendas. I can't
exactly talk a tiger into giving up its kill, can I?"
Fusui glanced at Ren, then at the gear bags and supplies he had packed near the
door. She pouted. "Yeah... I guess I see the problem."
"Anyway," Metsudo added. "I've invited a few 'helpers' for the situation. If you
need assistance, don't be shy about calling. Don't stand on ceremony!"
With that, the Chairman hung up.
[The Following Day]
Ren Shiroki and Fusui Kure had synchronized their schedules. Ren shouldered his
pack, loaded with the survival gear Gaia had recommended.
He was heading out alone for the first phase of the trip. His destination:
The Inside.
☆☆☆
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