The Tournament Was About to Begin

Grandpa Fossil had made plenty of chemistry equipment.

What else could you expect from a veteran craftsman? His workmanship put those clumsy amateurs to shame.

That said, the most pressing task in their scientific development was undoubtedly extracting sulfuric acid.

It was the key ingredient for producing antibiotics and curing Ruri's chronic illness for good. Without sulfuric acid, every subsequent stage of drug production was nothing but talk.

Senku had put this on the agenda early on, but when the time came to actually carry it out, everyone hit a wall.

Natural sulfuric acid deposits were highly corrosive, and the extraction process was incredibly dangerous. Both the corrosive acid and the toxic fumes could kill, and the slightest mistake could cause severe injuries. In this primitive Stone Age, it was a high-risk operation that meant gambling with their lives.

Everyone gathered at camp to discuss their options. Looking at the extraction hazards marked on the diagrams, their expressions grew grave.

Senku studied the ingredient ratios and purification steps. After a moment of silence, he made the call.

"It's too dangerous. I'll handle this part."

Only he had a complete grasp of chemical purification theory and understood every precaution needed to avoid the risks. Anyone else could easily have an accident.

Li Xiang immediately frowned when she heard him.

"No. That's too risky. What if you get hurt?"

Senku was the scientific team's central brain, though that didn't mean everything rested on him alone.

He simply couldn't be allowed to come to harm, and it wasn't just about protecting a scientist.

Senku was still a child. No matter how you looked at it, this was dangerous, wasn't it?

Faced with Li Xiang's concern, Senku remained perfectly composed. His gaze shifted slightly toward Chrome, who stood ready nearby.

"Relax. Nothing's going to happen."

Even if I'm gone, there's still Chrome... If necessary, I can teach him a little more now.

But Li Xiang refused to budge, her brow tightly furrowed.

"Sulfuric acid's corrosiveness isn't something an ordinary person can handle. There's practically no room for error."

"How old are you, anyway? Do you understand how dangerous this is? One slip and you could die of poisoning, you know?"

Senku picked at his ear. "Like I said, there's still Chrome."

"Are you an idiot?" Li Xiang finally lost patience and reached over to vigorously ruffle his leek-shaped hair. "Do you not get that I don't want you to go?"

Li Xiang glanced aside, her eyelids lowered. "If anyone has to go, shouldn't it be me, as the older one?"

"Huh? We don't need you for this, old lady!"

"You little brat! I'm only twenty-four!"

As the two remained deadlocked, neither able to convince the other, a lively figure came hurrying over.

Holding up her skirt, Kohaku rushed into camp. "Everyone! I have important news!"

Everyone immediately turned toward her.

Kohaku stopped and delivered the news at top speed.

"The village martial arts tournament starts in exactly half a month!"

This tournament, watched by the entire village, was Ishigami Village's most important annual event. The ultimate victor would gain control of all the village's resources and become the new Village Chief.

It was also the only legitimate route to obtaining brewing ingredients and all sorts of scarce supplies.

And brewing alcohol was a prerequisite for making antibiotics.

In other words-if they couldn't win the tournament, they still wouldn't be able to make the lifesaving medicine, even if they extracted sulfuric acid.

Li Xiang immediately changed tack.

"Let's put collecting sulfuric acid on hold. It doesn't have to happen right now."

"We'll win the tournament first and take control of the village's resources."

No one objected.

As the news spread, everyone learned who would be competing in this tournament.

All the village's established fighters would be participating. The brothers Kinro and Ginro had signed up early.

Kohaku had also signed up without hesitation. She was already the village's strongest fighter.

To improve their chances, secure more qualifying spots, and prevent an unexpected defeat along the way, Senku decided everyone would compete.

He, Li Xiang, and Gen Asagiri all signed up, maximizing their side's odds and guarding against surprises.

The moment the roster was finalized, Gen Asagiri fell apart. His face filled with resistance as he frantically waved his hands and wailed.

"Why do I have to compete too?!"

As a Mentalist who made his living with his brain, fighting had never been his strong suit. Sending him into the arena was forcing him into something he simply wasn't suited for.

Li Xiang turned to Gen, who looked as though he had lost all will to live.

"One more person means one more chance to advance. In a team competition, numbers and room for error matter. It's crucial."

"But I don't wanna! I really don't want to fight! I don't want to compete!"

Gen shook his head fiercely, whining and refusing to cooperate. He was utterly unwilling and wouldn't agree no matter what.

Seeing him like this, Li Xiang walked straight over, extended an arm, and casually slung it around his shoulders with practiced ease. She leaned close to his ear and lowered her voice.

"All right, all right, my little Gen. Stop fussing."

"As long as you behave and take part in this tournament, I'll grant you one wish. Whatever it is, as long as we can do it, we'll do exactly what you want. How does that sound?"

Gen's eyes instantly lit up. "Any wish at all?!"

"Of course." Li Xiang nodded without hesitation.

Promise him the moon first... Whether he actually gets it is another matter.

"Deal!"

Gen Asagiri caved in a second and immediately agreed to compete, without the slightest hesitation.

With the last participant won over, everyone successfully submitted their entry forms, officially finalizing the full team roster.

But the instant the forms were handed in, a burly figure beside the arena cast a sinister look their way.

Maguma.

The village's strongest brute-force fighter and a favorite to win the tournament, he had long coveted both the position of Village Chief and marriage to Ruri.

Now he stared at Senku's group, his expression dark and his gaze hostile, radiating a powerful sense of rivalry and intimidation.

Everyone knew he would be their greatest opponent in this tournament.

Once registration ended, they entered an intensive, closed-door training period for the next half month.

All around camp, people trained with sweat pouring off them.

Old Man Fossil passed by the training grounds, checking everyone's progress one by one.

Seeing everyone hard at work while Senku alone spent the whole time slacking off and wandering around, he couldn't help approaching him in bewilderment.

"Senku, everyone else is training their hearts out. Why aren't you practicing at all?"

In response to the old man's question, Senku curled his lips into his signature sly "kukuku" laugh, looking utterly confident of victory.

"It's fine."

"We're fighting as a team. Not everyone needs to advance. As long as one person on our team can reliably take the championship, that's enough."

Old Man Fossil paused, then understood.

Across the training grounds, everyone trained differently, each focusing on something distinct.

The brothers Kinro and Ginro worked exceptionally hard, holding long staffs as they sparred together day and night.

Day after day, they refined their coordination, improving at a visibly rapid pace.

Two others were working hard too.

Kohaku was looking after her older sister. (Slacking off.)

Everyone else was sparring desperately and honing their moves, while she alone stayed out of it the entire time.

Why wasn't Kohaku practicing, you ask?

Please. Kohaku was unquestionably Ishigami Village's strongest fighter. Her individual combat ability eclipsed everyone else's, so she had no need for any extra coordination.

Her strength alone was enough to overwhelm the vast majority of contestants. She had no need to rely on support from teammates.

Meanwhile, Li Xiang was off to the side again, doing something on her own.

Watching her thoughtful expression, Old Man Fossil couldn't help marveling inwardly.

He didn't even need to think about it. That girl was definitely plotting some underhanded trick again.

But Homura still needed watching, and Li Xiang really couldn't spare the time alongside everything else, so she asked Watermelon to keep an eye on her.

Then she went back to tinkering with things.