Under dim lighting, several powerful figures sat around a round table.
"The Tiger's Vessel is dead."
"Who killed him?"
"That's not important. Do we have backups?"
"This is troublesome. Will that lord be angered?"
"Hard to say. But the Tiger's Vessel is indispensable. Prepare a new one."
"What about the Kengan Annihilation Tournament?"
"Let the Worm handle it. Our Western Wu faction has other matters to deal with."
...
The underground world surged with hidden currents. And beneath a sky where stars and moon hung high, Kurosaki Rei arrived at his destination.
"So big… money really does let people do whatever they want."
Standing on the mountain, Kurosaki Rei looked down at the massive estate and the vast lawn below, sighing with emotion.
His body leaned forward, diving downhill. At the last moment, he landed lightly on a tree branch, using its elasticity to spring upward and vault across the air.
When he stepped onto the lawn inside the estate, he made not a single sound.
During dinner, Elder Hui Li'ang had contacted him, saying that he had already spoken with Katahara Metsudo. The old man had made an interesting proposal—telling Kurosaki Rei to go meet him directly.
Once on the ground, Kurosaki Rei's eyes and ears worked in perfect coordination. His movements were silent and swift. Katahara Metsudo's elite personal guards failed to detect even a shadow as Kurosaki Rei infiltrated the estate.
Yes, he was indeed a head-on fighter—but that didn't mean he didn't know how to infiltrate.
As a top-tier martial arts master, his ability to suppress his presence was unmatched. Kurosaki Rei knew Metsudo well—an old prankster at heart. Telling him to come directly was partly a test, and partly an attempt to see if something "interesting" might happen.
Unfortunately, the result was bound to disappoint the man who controlled the Bank of Japan, pulled the strings of Japan's economy, and—despite being nearly a hundred years old—still possessed the bearing of a fierce tiger.
Knock knock knock—
Kurosaki Rei knocked on the reception hall door. Soon, a voice invited him in.
The massive doors were pulled open from the inside by two guards. In the center of the vast hall stood a single sofa, occupied by an elderly man as thin and frail as Hui Li'ang.
Judging by physical condition alone, the man seemed weaker than an ordinary person—just a candle in the wind, nearing the end of life.
Yet seated there, he exerted an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire hall—the majesty forged by a century of power.
Katahara Metsudo.
A man who had ruled the Kengan Association for over sixty years with an iron hand. Though nearly buried by age, his eyes still carried the ferocity of a tiger.
Standing behind him were elite members of his personal guard. Every one of them was a first-rate fighter—any of them could step into Kengan matches and rack up dozens of wins with ease.
And standing slightly in front and to the side of him was a tall man clad head to toe in tight black combat gear. He was staring at Kurosaki Rei, the muscles around his mouth twitching before twisting into a distorted smile.
The oppressive aura radiating from him made even the two guards who had opened the door feel uncomfortable.
This was the man with a record of 157 consecutive victories in Kengan matches, hailed as the strongest fighter in Kengan history—
The Fang of Metsudo: Kanoh Agito.
Katahara Metsudo studied Kurosaki Rei for two seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"So you're the kid Hui Li'ang told me about. Indeed, you possess outstanding ability. My personal guard didn't even notice you—looks like my security still needs improvement."
"My lord, even so, there is no need for concern. I am here."
Kanoh Agito spoke, his gaze locked onto Kurosaki Rei, his muscles already taut. He didn't know what Metsudo and the Wu Clan's head had discussed earlier in the day, but someone infiltrating the reception hall without the guard noticing was an unforgivable failure.
As a child, Kanoh had been captured by the Worm and subjected to the Gu ritual, only to be rescued by Katahara Metsudo. To repay that debt, he had resolved to give his life if necessary.
If the young man before him was an assassin, he would show him exactly what it meant to be the Fang of Metsudo.
"Hahaha, how reliable."
Metsudo laughed again, then turned to Kurosaki Rei.
"Hui Li'ang told me you want to participate in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament and need a fighter's identity?"
"That's correct."
Kurosaki Rei stepped forward.
"Although I don't think Chairman Metsudo particularly cares about his seat, if there's a chance to win, it's better to win, isn't it?"
"Oh?" Metsudo looked at him. "Do you believe my 'Fang' will lose in the tournament?"
Metsudo's aged face was inscrutable, impossible to read.
"Chairman, you should know the answer better than I do. Why ask me?"
Kurosaki Rei smiled.
In the original story, Katahara Metsudo had personally invited Kuroki Gensai to represent another company in the tournament—specifically to teach the Fang a lesson. He never cared much about winning or losing this tournament in the first place.
In terms of magnanimity, he far surpassed the vice chairman who was plotting trouble. Metsudo was indeed old now—what he truly wanted was a capable successor with vision and temperament to manage the Kengan Association. Tempering the Fang along the way would be killing two birds with one stone.
"Kid, you seem clever enough. But I wonder how strong you really are."
Metsudo said with a grin, showing no reaction at having his thoughts read. He turned to Kanoh.
"You heard him. He wants to compete, and he's already come here. You know what to do—I don't need to spell it out."
Kanoh Agito's face twisted into an almost theatrical grin as he stepped forward. His 201-centimeter, 130-kilogram body radiated overwhelming pressure.
His physique wasn't bloated in the slightest—every muscle was perfectly proportioned, fully outlined by the tight suit.
He spread his arms, lowered his stance slightly, like a beast preparing to pounce.
"I will crush him with everything I have."
"Crush me, huh…"
Kurosaki Rei looked at Kanoh's towering frame, sensing the man's sheer "purity," and walked forward.
In the next instant, Kanoh changed posture. His arms retracted into a half-guard, and he took half a step back.
"Oh?"
Kurosaki Rei seemed surprised.
"You're very strong—stronger than Raian was."
Kanoh froze—not because Kurosaki Rei compared him to some Raian he didn't know, but because he had stepped back.
He didn't know why he had shifted into a defensive stance. He didn't know why he had retreated.
In that brief instant, it had been instinctive—his body reacting on its own.
As if, had he not done so, he would have been utterly destroyed in the next moment.
The guards behind Metsudo found it strange as well. And as Kurosaki Rei continued to approach, they were shocked to see—
The Fang of Metsudo was trembling.
Yes. Kanoh Agito's massive, imposing body was shaking uncontrollably.
This was the first time he had ever experienced such a thing.
Why?
He wasn't afraid of death. Even if the man before him was unimaginably powerful, he wouldn't feel fear.
And yet, he was trembling.
Ah…
He understood.
Looking at the man under the lights—this enemy stronger than anyone he had ever faced—his body shook endlessly.
He wasn't afraid.
He was excited.
In the next instant, Kanoh Agito charged forward like a lunging tiger. His stance shifted into Formless—a state unbound by any fixed posture, unpredictable in movement, and adaptable to all forms of combat.
It was an incomparably fierce punch, thrown purely on instinct by the Fang of Metsudo.
Even Katahara Metsudo's eyes widened.
Kurosaki Rei stood there without retreating a single step, raised one hand, and caught Kanoh's punch.
The force flowed through Kurosaki Rei's body like water, part of it guided backward, the rest dissipated into nothingness.
It was an utterly absurd sight.
A two-meter-tall giant, throwing a full-power blow, was stopped cold by a "smaller" man with one hand—motionless.
It completely violated common sense.
Before Kanoh Agito could even react, a fist slammed into his jaw. His body was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the floor.
True to his title as the Fang of Metsudo, Kanoh instinctively dispersed the force at the moment of impact, and his ukemi on landing was flawless. He avoided serious injury or a concussion—though blood poured from his mouth.
As he rose and turned to face Kurosaki Rei again, a smile spread across his face—a smile of unmistakable joy.
He trembled from encountering a powerful foe.
He thrilled at meeting such strength.
He rejoiced at the chance to evolve further.
Meanwhile, the members of Katahara's guard were completely stunned.
They never imagined that the invincible Fang of Metsudo would be beaten like this in a single exchange.
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