An Outsider's Warning

Arisa sighed. "Of course—I was worried sick."

Metsudo looked puzzled. "But you didn't react at all to what I said?"

"My brother told me that if I couldn't change things, I shouldn't let other people's emotions lead me around by the nose."

Arisa answered earnestly, "Besides, Feng Shui and Kure Karura both know you, and you even spoke up for my brother. Why should I be afraid?"

"..."

Her words left the two bodyguards stunned.

At first, there seemed to be nothing wrong with what she said. But this was Katahara Metsudo. How many people could think about the situation with absolute composure when faced with him?

Hearing that, Metsudo clapped his hands repeatedly. "Ho ho ho, what an interesting way to put it. I'm looking forward to seeing how your brother performs!"

With that, he turned his gaze to Kure Fusui and murmured, "I do quite like that sort of pure match, with no hidden circumstances..."

Kure Fusui understood at once.

The old man had probably come to this little casino in secret because he had also sensed that there were some "hidden circumstances" here related to the Kengan Association!

As for why he had come in person, perhaps he had another purpose, or perhaps he simply had nothing better to do. After all, the old man's train of thought was so unpredictable that even the head of the Kure Clan sometimes couldn't figure him out.

"...Ah, in that case."

Kure Fusui suddenly remembered something. She took out the piece of paper she had intended to sell to Shiraki Uke and offered it to Metsudo. "Would you like the information I gathered? It might fill in some gaps, and the price is a bargain!"

Metsudo knew perfectly well that Kure Fusui was joking. If he wanted information, he only had to ask, but playing along with the youngsters for a while was a pleasure in itself.

"Little Feng Shui, I don't have much spending money lately. How about a discount?" Metsudo began to haggle. "I'll buy you all drinks. How about that?"

With the arrival of Komada the Nioh, the underground casino's atmosphere grew even more heated.

The instant that excitement reached its peak—

Whoosh!

Everything seemed to fall silent. The clamor died away, and even the lights dimmed.

Then, with a click, a spotlight came on, illuminating the ring at the center of the casino. Waist-high wooden boards formed an octagon around it, enclosing a leveled dirt floor.

This was an underground boxing match, after all. There was no entrance ceremony, and the two fighters hadn't even changed their clothes. Only an amateur referee maintained order in the ring.

Shiraki Uke versus Komada the Nioh.

The two stood on opposite sides of the ring, each warming up.

Every eye in the underground casino was drawn to them. After a brief, silent observation, the spectators began talking and shouting again.

"Hey, that's Komada from the Nogi Group? He's huge!"

"A pretty boy like the one opposite him can get in the ring too?"

"Quick, bet more on Komada! It's guaranteed money tonight!"

"Nioh, go smash your opponent to pieces!"

"..."

Clearly, the Nioh, a Kengan newcomer who had won all three of his matches, had several times more support than Shiraki Uke.

Outside the ring, Arisa, Kure Fusui and the others stood on Shiraki Uke's side, calling out from time to time as a few scattered voices of support.

"Ready? Both fighters, step forward and face each other!!"

The referee gestured from the center of the ring.

Once Shiraki Uke and Komada had taken their places, the referee raised his right hand high, took a deep breath, and brought it down sharply.

"Ready—"

"Begin!"

Whoosh!

The moment the words left the referee's mouth, Shiraki Uke's core muscles tensed. He leaned forward and sprinted, so fast that the air seemed to warp around him.

Fighting Spirit Burst!

In an instant, he took two steps forward and reached Komada, driving a straight right into his face.

Bang!

Komada staggered, unable to stop himself from taking half a step back—but that was all.

An unbelievable chill ran through Shiraki Uke's entire body, forcing him to retreat in a hurry, hopping back to a safe distance.

He looked up to see that Komada had already clenched his fist and had been just about to bring it down.

"...You're fast, but that's all."

Komada's speech sounded strange. The punch had broken the bridge of his nose, leaving it crooked and dripping bright red blood.

He unclenched his fist, then grabbed his nose and wrenched it straight!

The sight made quite a few thugs' eyes widen. They knew they could never do the same.

The ruthlessness of a professional fighter was nothing like that of low-level thugs who put on a show of bravado!

The next instant—

Whoosh, whoosh!

Komada stepped forward and threw two left hooks, but they were only feints to force Shiraki Uke to move his feet.

The real follow-up was a powerful straight right.

Boom!

For such a big man, his combination was extremely fast.

In a flash, his fist sliced through the air with a whistle, hurtling straight toward Shiraki Uke's face.

Shiraki Uke was about to dodge to the side when something like an electric current flashed through his mind. Komada's figure warped and blurred before his eyes, and the phantom of Ryu appeared in the same spot.

Yet Shiraki Uke's consciousness didn't run wild this time. He had less than half a second to react and was forced to face straight punches from both Ryu and Komada at once.

In terms of attainment and technique, Long was countless levels above Komada, but Komada's punch still had enough power to end a Kengan match!

Unable to dodge, Shiraki Uke could only turn his neck with the blow, trying to dissipate as much of its impact as possible.

Bang!

The blow sent Shiraki Uke staggering back several steps before he barely managed to steady himself. He lowered his head, trembling uncontrollably.

"Ptooey..."

He ran his tongue around his teeth, turned his head, and spat out a mouthful of bloody froth. His voice was hoarse.

"If I can't dodge it, does that mean I can't win?!"

He raised his head and opened his eyes, his bloodshot gaze fixed on what lay ahead—the phantom of Ryu and Komada, who was advancing step by step!

"Something doesn't feel right. There's still something missing..."

Shiraki Uke kept feeling that there was something awkward about his movements—not just the stiffness from a lack of training, but some kind of more fatal "deep-seated mistake"!

The dizziness in his head, the doubts in his heart, and the searing pain from the straight punch mixed together, setting off an intense surge of agitation in Shiraki Uke.

"Come on!"

He growled like a beast, blood in his mouth, glaring ahead. "Again! Show me what I'm doing wrong!"

Chapter 8: An Outsider's Warning

After just one exchange of attack and defense, blood had already been spilled in the ring.

It hadn't been drawn by a knife or a shard of glass, but by a real beating delivered through sheer physical strength, making it all the more violent and bloody!

"Hmph..."

Komada snorted hard, clearing his nose just enough to breathe.

He truly hadn't expected Shiraki Uke's advance to be so fast, but as a professional fighter, he had quickly found his rhythm and gained the advantage on offense.

He was about to press the attack when he suddenly heard Shiraki Uke shouting something incomprehensible, as if provoking him.

"...Show you what you're doing wrong?"

A sharp pain shot from the broken bridge of his nose to his brain, making Komada's expression grow increasingly fierce. He was genuinely angry now.

"I was wondering why, if you really were forced into this match, you didn't secretly beg me to go easy on you. Now that I think about it, the answer might be simple."

Komada grabbed his own collar with one large hand and tore at the fabric.

"You're a... lunatic!"

Rip!

Komada tore off his shirt, baring his upper body. His massive muscles were sharply defined, making his physique look even more imposing!

The casino spectators couldn't help thinking—

He looked just like a statue of a Nioh!

And indeed, a Nioh was tattooed on Komada's back, blending seamlessly with his monstrous bulk, as though a deity truly dwelled within him.

"What are you doing wrong?"

Komada acted as though he were about to answer, then suddenly threw the torn shirt in his hand to block Shiraki Uke's vision. At the same time, he darted forward and threw a left hook.

Shiraki Uke didn't have time to make a wide dodge. He could only raise both arms beneath his chin and take the heavy punch head-on.

Bang!

He retreated several steps again, his forearms visibly reddening and swelling.

"Your mistake was underestimating the difference in weight class."