Chapter 99: The Winning Parry
Not far away, the referee watched the battlefield.
This Kengan referee had presided over no fewer than a hundred Kengan matches, many involving top-tier fighters. He was a man of considerable experience.
But even he was tense right now.
Should he declare the match over?
When Orochi Katsumi unleashed that terrifying Mach Punch, when Kei was sent flying and smashed into the wooden crates—should he have declared the winner?!
The referee couldn't speak for a moment.
He knew clearly that neither Kei nor Katsumi would accept his verdict unless it was a definitive KO. Neither side would agree.
But this was a Kengan match after all. As long as there was time, the referee wouldn't watch a fighter be beaten to death.
What should I do... The referee was lost, even silently praying for something definitive to happen.
Ring out?
The referee thought, although there's no boundary limit in this match, if someone is knocked into the sea, I will definitely declare the match over.
Asking himself honestly, if he faced Orochi Katsumi's Mach Punch, he would probably jump into the sea out of fear. It was just too terrifying!
"Shiraki..."
Katsumi watched with open eyes as the blood-soaked figure pushed aside the shattered wood and stood up slowly once again.
From a rational perspective, analyzing Kei's remaining stamina, this should be the last time.
But a question suddenly surfaced in Katsumi's heart—Can I beat him?
The man named Shiraki Kei didn't have Hanayama Kaoru's physique—he even weighed slightly less than Katsumi himself—but Katsumi just couldn't imagine a scenario where he completely defeated Kei!
"I don't even have the chance to 'imagine winning'... I really am still too green..."
Katsumi clenched his fist, aiming at Kei again, stepping forward one stride at a time.
Kei's face was covered in so much blood his features were indistinguishable. Only his eyes remained open, his gaze fixed straight ahead!
"Shiraki-bro, I won't ask what supports you—I won't ask that kind of question anymore."
"But you should understand..."
"With your current body, you can't dodge or retreat anymore. My next strike will hit you directly."
Katsumi stepped in front of Kei. They were only a step apart—within the maximum kill range of the Mach Punch.
"Still not giving up? Shiraki!"
Katsumi roared out the blood in his throat. It looked like intimidation, but he was actually trying to convince himself, hoping to visualize the scene of his "victory."
But no matter how Katsumi analyzed or what facts and logic he listed, that scene of victory remained incredibly blurry.
Why?
Kei was clearly pushed to his limit. His body was teetering, looking like the next hit would destroy him completely, shattering even his life.
But Katsumi felt "victory" was so far away he couldn't see it clearly!
Thinking this, he looked around, noticing the gazes of the audience.
Clearly, the bystanders thought this was enough. Even Suedo and Fusu thought so.
Kei was swaying, supported only by will, as if a gentle push would topple him.
Against such an opponent, there was no need for another Mach Punch. The match could be decided simply; no need to continue.
But only Katsumi knew that was wrong.
He wasn't facing some teetering injured man, but a first-rate fighter he couldn't defeat even in his imagination!
"Shiraki..."
Looking at Kei's standing, blood-soaked body, Katsumi's gaze darkened slightly.
Strike...
Wrapped in inexplicable pressure, a thought suddenly popped into Katsumi's head and wouldn't go away.
Just throw one more punch, and maybe I can clearly imagine—the scene of my victory!
While Katsumi hesitated, Kei had already raised his arms again. [Engine] reactivated, his calm gaze piercing through his arms, staring dead ahead.
"Shiraki!"
Katsumi shouted, linking his eight joints. The Mach Punch exploded!
SNAP!
As the punch landed, amidst the pleasing sound of cracking air, a faint sound of something "shattering" could be heard.
?!
The bystanders' eyes widened. They instinctively looked at Kei, thinking his teetering body had finally been shattered.
But no!
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Kei swung his left wrist horizontally, deflecting Katsumi's fist, changing its direction so it grazed past his cheek.
Swish!
The sharp Mach Punch tore open the skin on one side of Kei's face. Blood flowed instantly, but that was all. The power didn't fully explode.
"..."
The moment his fist was deflected, Katsumi "heard" it.
He heard the crisp sound of his already blurry "scene of victory" shattering completely!
Kei had blocked the Mach Punch!
In a near-death state, facing a punch capable of shattering life, Kei pushed his willpower to the limit and finally grasped the profound secret of that fleeting instant.
[Engine] Full Output — [Drive Parry]!!!
It was the ultimate parry Kei could achieve, sustainable for only an instant!
...
"I can't imagine myself winning..."
Katsumi had little strength left. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he shouted with the last of his energy.
"Shiraki!"
SNAP!
Another Mach Punch, the third one aimed at Kei.
Kei's left arm lifted, colliding with Katsumi's wrist, completely deflecting the force of the Mach Punch, causing Katsumi to swing upward into empty air.
[Drive Parry • Perfect Parry]!
Katsumi's punch missed, leaving him in a massive frame disadvantage (recovery lag), his front completely wide open.
Kei roared. His vision was blood-red, but he didn't need to aim. He simply unleashed his fists with the last of his strength.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Consecutive heavy punches landed on Katsumi's face and chest, sending blood and sweat flying like rain.
Katsumi retreated step by step, and Kei advanced step by step.
Until finally, Katsumi's back was against a shipping container, with no path of retreat, facing Kei's heavy punch barrage.
[Drive Rush • Hashogeki]!
BOOM!
Ryu's straight punch slammed into Katsumi's chest.
Katsumi bounced off the container and was hit by another punch from Kei.
BOOM!
Kei stepped back half a pace and threw a third punch.
CLANG!
This time, it wasn't the sound of fist hitting flesh, but hitting the metal container, denting it deeply, leaving traces of blood on the metal.
Realizing he missed, Kei opened his eyes in a daze to see Katsumi had collapsed on the ground, unconscious from exhaustion.
"Won..."
Kei listed to the side, leaning against the container. He slapped the metal with both hands, splattering blood with a clang, and let out a hoarse roar from his throat.
"—I WON! AAAAAHHH!"