Chapter 295: [SOUL COMBATANT] vs. [HELL'S ANGEL]
It didn't take long for the octagonal ring and the surrounding area to be
cleared of the previous carnage.
The spectators of the underworld filed in. The Kure Clan led by Erio Kure, the
MPD Judo Division under Mitsuo Sonoda, and the SJPW wrestling squad led by Kugo
Kurachi.
They were joined by Gouki Shibukawa, Haruo Kono, Jaku Kaioh, and the CEO of
Gandai, Gen Shikano. Even the "Devil" Raian Kure, freshly showered and looking
bored, had reclaimed his spot in the shadows.
News of the matchup had traveled fast, drawing in other Kengan Association
members who happened to be in the region. Though this wasn't an official "Street
Brawl" point-match, a clash between the Hub's owner and the SJPW ace was a
spectacle no one wanted to miss.
"Place your bets! Place your bets!" "Haha! I'm glad I took this business trip.
Missing this would have been a crime!" "Gotta love the Kure hospitality—this is
a hell of a pre-show!"
The air was thick with the scent of anticipation and cold beer.
Ringside.
Gouki Shibukawa was chatting with Kugo Kurachi, discussing everything from the
health of their old friend Igari to the technical nuances of their earlier
gymnasium drill.
The little old man looked up at Kurachi and chuckled. "Truly remarkable,
Kurachi-kun~!"
Kurachi looked a bit bashful. "Master Shibukawa, you flatter me. Compared to
your Aiki, I'm just—"
"I wasn't talking about you, brat," Shibukawa interrupted with a wave of his
hand.
Kurachi: "..."
The "God of Wrestling" looked momentarily dejected, but Shibukawa's next words
brought a grin back to his face.
"I was talking about your Pro-Wrestling. It's magnificent!"
Kurachi crossed his arms and let out a boisterous laugh. "Oho! To hear that from
the Saint of War himself... that makes me a happy man!"
Shibukawa recalled his brief exchange with the wrestlers earlier. "The creed of
the Pro-Wrestler—the unyielding resolve to absorb every 'Special Move' the
opponent offers... through your group's relentless efforts, you've pushed it
beyond sport. It's reaching the horizon of a 'Way' (Do)."
"I suspect a new martial art was born today. One named... Pro-Wrestling."
Kurachi rubbed his chin, his eyes shining with pride. "We're far from the peak,
Sensei. But if there's one man who can truly reach that horizon, it's Jun."
"The man named Jun Sekibayashi! He may be my junior, but he is truly Fantastic!
He will walk that Path further than I ever could!"
On the other side of the ring, Sekibayashi's Kengan employer, Gen Shikano,
overheard their conversation. As a former fighter himself, he felt a surge of
genuine joy for his friend.
"Jun... I'll be with you the whole way," Gen murmured. "Keep walking that 'Path
of Strength' you believe in. Take it as far as it can go!"
CLICK—
The ring's PA system hummed to life.
The young Kure announcer from earlier stepped onto the sand, raising her
microphone to the crowd.
"Ladieees and gentlemen! Thank you for waiting!"
The roar of the crowd intensified instantly.
"We have many Kengan Association members in the audience tonight, but since this
is an unofficial festival bout, the protocol will follow traditional ring
standards! Please, enjoy the show!"
The announcer's voice turned crisp and clear as she gestured toward the entrance
tunnel.
"First, the challenger! The Destroying Angel from Hell!"
"The man who embodies the unshakeable spirit of the Ring! Super Japan
Pro-Wrestling's Ace!"
"Height: 196cm. Weight: 141kg!"
"[HELL'S ANGEL], JUN SEKIBAYASHI!!!"
Sekibayashi marched out, bare-chested and barefoot, wearing only his
professional wrestling trunks. He grinned at the crowd, hoisting his massive
arms. The simple gesture was enough to trigger a tidal wave of cheers.
"Go for it, Sekibayashi!" "Keep the win-streak alive!" "Crush him, Angel!"
As a veteran Kengan fighter with a unique, charismatic style, Sekibayashi had a
massive following. His popularity in the room was a physical force.
The announcer waited for the noise to dip before gesturing to the opposite side.
"And now, the defender! The Indeterminate [SOUL COMBATANT]!"
"A warrior acknowledged by the Saint of War, a victor over a Master Kaioh! He is
the rising star of the Tokyo underground!"
"Height: 187cm. Weight: 101kg!"
"[SOUL COMBAT], REN SHIROKI!!!"
Ren stepped onto the sand, also bare-chested and barefoot. He vaulted over the
ropes and began to bounce on his toes, looking perfectly relaxed.
"Ren-chin!" "Don't lose! If you do, you're buying the drinks tonight!"
"Actually, buy them even if you win!"
Over the last few days, many of the Kure disciples had become fast friends with
Ren. They cheered for him with the rowdy affection of family members.
Ren and Sekibayashi met in the center of the ring.
"Two titans stand before us!" the announcer roared. "A scene only a festival
could provide! The heat is off the charts!"
"Against the [SOUL COMBATANT], the [HELL'S ANGEL] issues his challenge—!!"
Ren and Sekibayashi bumped fists. They turned and walked to their respective
corners, staring across the sand at one another.
The announcer raised her hand.
"Ready!" "FIGHT—!!!"
"..."
Ren Shiroki settled into his bladed stance, his lead arm low, his right fist
tucked near his jaw. He looked up, locking eyes with the giant.
Jun Sekibayashi (38 years old) stood with his arms spread wide, his knees
slightly bent in a classic wrestling "Suppression" posture.
Sekibayashi was nearly twenty years Ren's senior, a man in the prime of his
professional career. His physique was distinct from the lean strikers Ren
usually faced; it was "thick," built of massive slabs of functional mass that
radiated a top-tier pressure. Combined with his dreadlocks and the combat tattoo
over his left eye, he looked like a force of nature—a titan capable of trampling
anything in his path.
"Phew..."
Ren exhaled a long cloud of heat. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Seki-aniki... no...
The Hell's Angel really is a magnificent sight!
Ren's mind hummed as the archives on Sekibayashi surfaced.
Birth Name: Junpei Sekibayashi. At fifteen, he entered the SJPW as a delinquent
who knew nothing of losing. On his first day, he challenged the owner, the
legendary Baba Dozan, and was beaten to within an inch of his life. For the
first time, he was helpless.
But Dozan saw the potential in the boy.
Hellish training followed. Rope climbs, endless push-ups, bridges, squats, ring
drills—the volume was unscientific and brutal. Under the tutelage of Kugo
Kurachi, Sekibayashi trained twice as hard as any other recruit. He ate until he
vomited and then kept eating.
It was this relentless dedication that earned him the title of [HELL'S ANGEL].
When Baba Dozan died at the hands of a Yakuza assassin, Sekibayashi didn't miss
a single minute of training. He spent the day of his Master's funeral alone in
the dojo, weeping as he performed his squats, forging his Master's final wish
into a religious-like faith in Pro-Wrestling.
One year later, the Hell's Angel was officially born.
Ren remembered it all.
And now, this "Peerless" warrior was standing directly in front of him, close
enough to feel the heat radiating from the man's skin.
"Haha..."
Ren couldn't help but laugh.
The ultimate representative of Pro-Wrestling was standing on this stage, waiting
for me to trade souls.
Ah... I owe a lot of people for this...
The Street Brawl, the Kure ring, the SJPW squad, the announcer, Sekibayashi
himself...
The Hell's Angel, a world-famous athlete, didn't care about injury. He didn't
care about his next scheduled match. He was here for one thing: the pursuit of
Strength.
To have a man like that give me his absolute everything... what a luxury this
moment is!
I have to play this right—
Ren began to move forward, his steps slow and measured. His eyes glinted with
focus as he observed Sekibayashi's weight distribution.
But he could feel his "Consciousness" beginning to red-line. His mind was
screaming at his body to move, to strike, to engage. He couldn't hold it back.
I want to do this... and I want to do that...!
Ren thought of his sister. How would Arisa describe this feeling?
—Whoo-hoo!
STOMP!
[DRIVE RUSH]!
Ren drove off his back foot, lunging forward in a blur. He closed the gap with
Sekibayashi in a heartbeat and unleashed a mid-section straight punch.
[DRIVE IMPACT: SHOCKWAVE]!
THUD!
The punch caught Sekibayashi square in the solar plexus.
But Sekibayashi didn't block. He didn't even flinch. Simultaneously, his right
arm pulled back, his massive fist tightening as he launched a heavy
counter-punch aimed directly at Ren's face.
BANG!
The massive fist slammed into Ren's face. It wasn't like Kaoru Hanayama's pure,
clean punch. When Sekibayashi hit you, the impact carried a muffled, heavy
throb—and along with the pain and the dizziness, Ren felt as if he could hear
the phantom roar of a thousand fans cheering!
This was the fist of an elite Pro-Wrestler!
"..."
Ren Shiroki's head snapped back from the impact, but his lips were curled into a
wide, exhilarated grin. Even as the force threatened to launch him across the
ring, he whispered through the blood:
"Incredible...!"
(End of Chapter)
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