Luke was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized it. With Ohma dead, the most awkward person here was actually Hideki Nogi!
In the original story, Nogi had only dared to launch the Kengan Annihilation Tournament and challenge Chairman Katahara after acquiring a talent like Ohma. But after issuing his challenge, his ace fighter was gone. That was beyond embarrassing.
Since Ohma Tokita had died on Luke’s very first night in this world, Nogi Group had at least been given time to prepare a response. Without enough time to properly assess the quality of other fighters, choosing the reputable and powerful Kure Clan was only natural.
But in that case, who would the company of Kazuo Yamashita’s son, Kenzo Yamashita, hire as its fighter?
Wait!
Luke remembered. Wasn’t the organization that had originally funded Kenzo Yamashita’s computer research the Worm!?
The Worm definitely wanted to investigate Ohma’s cause of death. At the same time, they wanted to sabotage the Kengan Association. Now that they had allied themselves with Katsumasa Hayami of Toyo Electric Power Company, the Association’s vice chairman, they would certainly try to infiltrate as many people as possible.
Kenzo’s company’s fighter slot would be an excellent opening.
"Karla, thanks. That was useful information. I need to go check the draw results first."
Luke silently committed it to memory. As soon as he finished speaking, he activated Flash Step and vanished from where he stood.
…
Inside the lavish venue, one business titan after another had gathered, watching the lottery machine with curiosity.
The method for deciding the brackets and opponents had not changed from the original story. They would draw numbers from that machine, and whoever drew the highest number would get first pick of their position.
After Chairman Katahara explained the rules, nobody voiced an objection. Smiling, he walked up first and selected his position on the enormous board.
When he used a brush to boldly write the four characters for "Fang of Metsudo," everyone remained calm. They were merely considering how to avoid facing the Fang of Metsudo in the opening round. But when Chairman Katahara continued writing, their expressions changed.
Because the fighter’s real name listed after that title was not Kanoh Agito, whom they all knew well, but an unfamiliar Eastern name—Luke.
Fang of Metsudo—Luke!
The venue erupted in uproar. No one had expected Chairman Katahara, who already possessed the invincible fighter Kanoh Agito, to replace the Fang of Metsudo during this elimination tournament that would decide his own position and fate.
They had all seen Kanoh Agito standing beside Chairman Katahara today, so it was not as if Agito had quit. Which meant… was this new Fang of Metsudo, Luke, even stronger than Kanoh Agito, the monster universally acknowledged as unbeatable!?
The company presidents present all wore different expressions, already sensing that something was deeply off about this Kengan Annihilation Tournament.
If Katahara Metsudo had truly found a fighter stronger than the former Fang of Metsudo, Kanoh Agito, what could any of them possibly use to win?
The one frowning most deeply was Katsumasa Hayami, president of Toyo Electric Power Company. He was the vice chairman of the Kengan Association and led a clique known as the Hundred, making him the most powerful figure in the Association besides Katahara Metsudo. Everyone recognized him as the man closest to the chairman’s seat.
The launch of this Kengan Annihilation Tournament had made him feel that his opportunity had arrived. To seize the chairman’s seat, he had not only brought in the muscle monster Julius Reinhold from Germany, but had secretly arranged for numerous assassins to take other fighters’ qualifications. He had even gone so far as to collude with the Worm.
Given his position and influence, there was no way Katsumasa Hayami did not know what kind of organization the Worm was. It was the Kengan Association’s greatest enemy. Yet to become chairman, he had willingly made a deal with the devil. If he still failed to claim that seat after paying such a price, destruction would be the only thing awaiting him.
"Luke…"
Katsumasa Hayami repeated the name, then told his attendant, "Look into this man. Five minutes. I want everything on him."
In the crowd, Kazuo Yamashita was sweating profusely as well. Just weeks ago, he had been an ordinary middle-aged office worker. He had never imagined he would be participating in a massive event capable of deciding Japan’s economic future.
The change in the Fang of Metsudo had not shocked him. After all, he had never known how powerful the original Fang had been. He was only trying to figure out how to choose a favorable position.
His Fist Eye, blessed with extraordinary kinetic vision, had allowed him to pick a good number and gain the right to select his slot first. But in his panic, he had no idea what position he should choose. "If I choose badly, Mr. Raian will kill me…"
Under everyone’s urging and his own mounting nerves, Kazuo Yamashita chose the position farthest away from the Fang of Metsudo. Judging from the bracket, they would not have a chance of meeting until the semifinals.
Before long, the heads of every company had selected their positions, and the tournament bracket was finalized.
Meanwhile, Luke was inspecting the arena grounds on Kengan Island. Along the way, he encountered several fighters who had come to survey the venue. In the corridors, contestants who knew each other chatted in small groups.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At a corner in the hallway, Luke heard the sound of metal being pierced. Curious, he walked over—and saw a sight that made his blood surge.
A man in a black gi stood beside a wall, striking it over and over. For safety reasons, the wall had been reinforced with metal plating.
At 185 centimeters, he was not exceptionally tall by fighter standards, but his body was thickly built and incredibly solid.
He stood in a horse stance, driving spear-hand strikes into the wall. Stone fragments burst from its surface, while the steel plate buried beneath—several centimeters thick—was pierced straight through. That was the source of the sound.
The man looked to be in his fifties or sixties, yet he was still in his prime and showed none of an old man’s frailty. Every movement carried the profound essence of martial arts.
His body was powerful, but brute force was not what had allowed him to pierce the steel plate.
It was technique. Martial skill.
Kuroki Gensai—the Demon Lance!
Perhaps he had noticed Luke’s gaze, or perhaps he sensed something else. Kuroki Gensai stopped striking and stood upright before turning to face Luke.
He stared at Luke for several seconds. Then a sharp gleam burst from his tranquil, ancient-well-like eyes. An invisible aura exploded outward, making the fighters at both ends of the corridor shudder with cold dread.
But it lasted only an instant. In the next moment, Kuroki Gensai’s aura vanished without a trace. "I did not expect to find a powerhouse like you here. The younger generation is truly formidable."
Luke returned his gaze and grinned. "You are at the pinnacle of martial arts, sir. I still have much to improve."
"I am merely one who seeks the path. There is no ultimate pinnacle on the path of martial arts."
Kuroki shook his head. After saying that, he no longer looked at Luke and resumed practicing against the wall.
Luke watched with admiration. Kuroki’s strength had not been forged by unmatched talent alone, but by the union of talent and relentless effort. He possessed a martial heart that never stopped moving forward. Even past middle age, he was still growing stronger.
Once the Origin Seed descended upon this world, people like Kuroki would likely benefit the most. Even if there were no mountain before them to climb, they would continue climbing into the void itself—simply to surpass who they had once been.
That was why, despite the appearance of countless monsters and freaks in the second part of the original story, Kuroki had proven upon his return that he was still one of the absolute peaks. Aside from Long Min eighty years ago, he was the only person in the entire manga to ever injure Shen Wulong.
Other masters only began to evolve and climb after meeting Shen Wulong. Kuroki’s ascent, however, had never stopped.
Now, under the Origin Seed’s influence on this world, even his physical abilities had risen dramatically. As for the level his martial arts had reached, Luke could not determine it without crossing hands.
What a formidable old master. It has been a long time since my blood ran this hot.
And if Kuroki was already this powerful, then what about this world’s ultimate boss—the "Immortal," Shen Wulong? How much enjoyment could he give Luke?
He was truly looking forward to it.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register