"Captain Igarashi's temper—consistent as ever."
The captains watching Igarashi charge at Natsuki thought simultaneously.
The other wasn't wearing a Defense Force Suit. If Igarashi's punch landed, it'd cause serious injury.
BOOM!!
Everything happened fast. In a flash, a figure flew out.
In a parabolic arc from the stadium center straight toward the entrance.
The one flying—Captain Igarashi, their vanguard.
Head buzzing. Consciousness blurred. Seeing white clouds racing across the sky... Igarashi couldn't process what happened before landing.
"What!?"
"One punch sent Igarashi flying!?"
Soichiro Hoshina saw this. Heart shocked. That man was even stronger than expected.
"Captain Igarashi!"
"As expected, captain-level figures can't defeat Natsuki-sensei?" Base members watching this scene—eyes wide.
They'd all grown up hearing these captains' legendary exploits.
But clearly, Natsuki-sensei who defeated mythical Kaiju was far stronger.
"Show your real skills."
"I said I'd show you your true strength."
"And right now... I've got plenty of pent-up frustration." Natsuki looked at the remaining elites. Recalled his training frustration with Cosmos. Cracked his knuckles.
They wanted him to display strength. He needed punching bags. Win-win.
"This guy... really a benevolent person?"
Watching Natsuki punch another charging vice-captain away, white-haired Soichiro's eye twitched.
His earlier judgment seemed premature.
"Take this!"
BOOM!!
"Damn it, attacking my captain..."
BOOM!!
"No matter how fast you react, you can't outrun bullets!"
"What!?"
A vice-captain with a sniper rifle had aimed at Natsuki in the chaotic melee... But just as he squeezed the trigger, the figure in his scope suddenly magnified several times. A handsome profile filled his entire view.
BOOM!!
He flew out with his rifle.
"Not enough!"
"Show your real skills!"
"What's with those expressions!? Those tears!?"
"You think that's enough to defeat me!?"
Natsuki charged through the swarming crowd seven times in and out. Used Space Kenpo to brutally school their Defense Force Martial Arts. Figures flew one after another.
Soon, besides Third Unit, only three captains remained. Gen Narumi clutching his console. Soichiro Hoshina holding a long blade. Jugo Ogata carrying his bottle.
"Even the captains... can't defeat Natsuki-sensei."
"Amazing!" Kafka Hibino, watching throughout, looked at the elite pile in the distance. Fist clenched excitedly.
"Someone stronger than Father... Damn it, how can I surpass someone at this level?" Kikoru Shinomiya watched Natsuki with energy to spare. Bit her lip.
She joined the Defense Force to be number one. But now forget comparing to Natsuki—she couldn't even match her peer the old guy or Reno Ichikawa.
"As expected... Ultraman in this world is too overpowered. Without even transforming, he beat them like this..." Brown-haired Lucas saw this scene. Not particularly surprised.
Even felt some sympathy. Why'd you provoke him?
"Come on. Your turn." Natsuki rolled his neck. Approached the remaining three captains.
Seeing his still-smoking fists—
Jugo Ogata scratched his head. "Um... can I forfeit?"
Once people age, competitive spirit weakens considerably.
He and Igarashi were polar opposites. One hot-tempered. One preferred smoothing things over.
"Forfeit?"
Hearing those words, Natsuki's eyes grew serious.
"You don't think I called you here to joke around?"
"War's imminent. If Defense Force members think about forfeiting at times like this, can you face those who trust you?"
"In upcoming training, sparring with me won't be rare... If you truly want to grow stronger, show your real skills."
Normally, Natsuki wouldn't interfere with his choice. But now required united resolve.
Hearing that, Captain Ogata understood the other's seriousness. This wasn't fooling around. Training had begun.
He set his bottle on the ground.
"Alright."
"I'm still a captain. Having my battle resolve underestimated is troublesome."
His gaze sharpened. Alcohol haze vanished from his face. With Soichiro, left and right, charged at Natsuki.
"That's right." Natsuki smiled.
Their lightning-fast movements—in Natsuki's eyes, slowed countless times. The first to strike wasn't the swordsmanship master, but Ogata, this seemingly carefree guy.
His movements were strange. One step extremely fast. Another extremely slow.
Like fighting at two frequencies.
If you could detect his Combat Power Release, you'd see his numbers like an ECG—suddenly dropping, suddenly spiking. Fighting style completely unpredictable.
But for Natsuki—useless!
Feet shifted slightly. Hands shot out like lightning. Grabbed Ogata's incoming punch. Applied slight force, twisted it. Then before the other hand's real killing move arrived—knee strike!
BOOM!!
Ogata's eyes widened. Instantly flew backward. His feint achieved nothing.
The other's overwhelming brute-force style was like a speeding truck on a highway. Crushed him completely.
CLANG!
Blade-drawing sound instantly struck. In the time Natsuki sent Ogata flying, Soichiro had already crouched and executed an extremely fast draw slash. Horizontally aimed at Natsuki's waist.
"Got him!"
The blade swung at extreme speed. Air trembled and hummed.
Just as Soichiro's blade was about to land on Natsuki's body, a translucent barrier appeared from nowhere.
CLANG!
The blade hit the barrier. Didn't reach Natsuki's skin.
But Soichiro reacted quickly. One strike failed—swiftly changed tactics. Footwork shifted. Muscles bulged. Wrist forcefully exerted. Forcibly changed this draw slash's direction. Slashed from another angle toward Natsuki's unshielded body.
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