"Here it comes!"
Byōdōin's transformation and Oni Jūjirō's last shot had caught the attention of two upperclassmen standing on a raised platform in the distance. Their uniforms were completely different from everyone else's.
Both watched Oni Jūjirō and the utterly battered Byōdōin Hōō below with grave expressions.
Byōdōin Hōō looked utterly wretched, covered in blood, but his powerful aura and deadly menace told everyone that it wasn't over yet!
Dōmoto Shingo was paying more attention to Byōdōin Hōō, while Natsume Ryūichi was more concerned with Oni Jūjirō.
He watched the other man's back, his gaze distant as he recalled the events of two months ago, when Coach Mifune had sent him to recruit Oni Jūjirō.
It had been a nightmare.
That match had wiped out everyone who went with him, and two of the numbered players had been seriously injured.
It was that shocking discovery that had finally drawn Coach Mifune's attention to Oni Jūjirō.
"Ryūichi, is that the Oni you've been talking about?"
Dōmoto Shingo, who had already lost his No. 1 badge, also felt dazed.
There were so many freaks among this year's first-years. Just yesterday, Byōdōin had challenged him, and today he'd watched him fight another man to a standstill.
It was, he had to admit, truly ironic.
Byōdōin Hōō was one thing, but this man, who looked like an oni god, had power he couldn't hope to match!
With two men like them around, losing the No. 1 badge wasn't shameful.
But he hadn't truly given up. He still had to go to the mountain, and he still had to get his revenge on them!
Dōmoto Shingo took a deep breath and glanced at Byōdōin, whose palm glowed with golden light. Then he said coldly,
"Ryūichi, if this Oni's strength is only what he's shown so