Chapter 376: Snap Out of It
Retsu Kaioh hung up the phone after confirming the reservation with Ren Shiroki.
[THE SEA EMPEROR] Kaku Kaioh watched the exchange with a mischievous,
inscrutable smile. Beside him, Li Kaioh—the master of the Medicinal Hard
Fist—stood behind the wheelchair, looking utterly exhausted. Having recently
faced Baki Hanma, Li understood the weight of Retsu's frustration.
If you don't possess a certain level of "Resolution," you might be fit for a
tournament, but you will never survive a "Real Fight." A genius who loved Kenpo
as much as Retsu simply couldn't accept these naive men stepping into the Pit to
display their "immature" arts.
But did the five new arrivals—Sun, Yang, Chen, Chu, and Samwan—truly believe
their Kenpo was immature?
"Retsu. Is this a provocation?"
Sun Kaioh looked down at the slightly shorter Retsu, his brow furrowed. "What
exactly are you planning?"
Retsu's eyes remained lowered. "Though we are from different schools, I wouldn't
mind settling this right here. But as Kenpoists, it is only proper that we move
to a ring."
The five Kaiohs shared a confused look, unsure of how to respond to his
intensity.
Retsu's brow suddenly snapped together in a sharp scowl. "HAVE YOU STILL NOT
SNAPPED OUT OF IT?!"
"—?!"
The Kaiohs flinched. Retsu's voice turned low and resonant. "The 'Street Brawl'
you wish to join has no rules. You choose your opponent. You choose the time.
You choose the location. Rules don't exist."
"Whether you are eating, sleeping, or with a woman—you must be ready to enter
the frames of battle at any second."
"Since you want to participate, then bring it! Show me that readiness!"
A single bead of sweat rolled down Sun Kaioh's forehead. He felt a surge of
irritation beneath the pressure. "Fine. Let's do it. I don't care if we're at an
airport."
Sun looked around, putting his hands on his hips. "But the local authorities
might find a brawl in the terminal a bit... distasteful, wouldn't they?"
Retsu remained unmoved by the shallow psychological play. "I don't give a damn!"
[Soul Combat Hub — Afternoon]
Rihito had just finished a grueling session of solo rock climbing. He headed to
the Hub to wrap up his day with his standard weight routine. Marco was already
there, working the iron.
"Phew!" Rihito finished a heavy set of deadlifts, looking energized. "Hey,
Marco! Want to get a few rounds of sparring in this afternoon?"
Marco was about to agree when Ren Shiroki walked out. "The arena is booked for
the afternoon, guys."
"Seriously? That's rare," Rihito noted, curious. "Is it a big group? Who is it?"
"Rihito-kun, you ask too many questions!" Ren laughed, taking a long drink of
water while wiping his face with a towel. "I don't know the specifics yet, but
it's definitely going to be fun!"
Rihito's confusion was soon answered.
Two taxis pulled up to the front of the Soul Combat Hub. Eight men stepped out.
All of them were Kenpoists.
There was Retsu, whom Rihito knew well. There were the two men Ren had met—Kaku
Kaioh and Li Kaioh. And then there were five strangers, all carrying the
prestigious title of Kaioh.
"Whoa...!"
Ren was genuinely surprised by the size of the group, but his "Willpower
Addiction" flared up instantly. He beamed with excitement. Up on the second and
third floors, Fusui and Arisa poked their heads out of the windows to wave at
Retsu.
Sun Kaioh led the group into the courtyard. The ten gleaming metal rings on his
fingers caught Marco's eye; the giant child thought they looked incredibly cool.
"I see," Sun Kaioh mused, taking a deep breath. "The scent here is good."
He walked to the edge of the sand arena, stooping down to let a handful of grit
slip through his fingers.
"Vitality. The scent of iron. The marks of previous wars. This isn't just a gym;
it's a battlefield."
Retsu gave a short nod. "Exactly."
Rihito watched from the porch. Ren walked forward to shake hands with the
ancient Kaku Kaioh, greeted Li, and then gave Retsu a silent nod of
acknowledgment.
The five visiting Kaiohs appraised the "Dojo Owner." He was handsome, but the
scars on his knuckles and calves spoke of a man who had lived through
high-torque violence. And he wasn't alone—the blonde kid on the porch and the
innocent-looking giant beside him both radiated a formidable presence.
"Heh. This works for me!" Sun Kaioh smiled. "So, Retsu? Who are we fighting? Is
it this Shiroki fellow? Or the two over there?"
Retsu didn't answer. He simply stepped onto the sand, beginning a series of
loose, rhythmic stretches. It was clear he had been ready since the airport.
"So the pride of the White Forest Temple is taking the lead?" Sun shrugged.
"Fine. Who's your opponent?"
"I don't give a damn!" Retsu rumbled.
"Who I fight is my decision. Who you fight is yours to consider. This isn't a
committee meeting where we discuss terms."
"The reality is simple: I want to fight. The rest is up to you." Retsu looked at
the five visitors with a piercing, lethal gaze. "This is Street Combat!"
The sheer pressure in Retsu's voice silenced the visitors. They hesitated, the
weight of the moment suddenly feeling very real.
Finally, Sun Kaioh put his hands on his hips. "In that case... I'll go first."
Retsu shrugged. He turned to Ren. "Ren. If you wouldn't mind... act as the
referee."
"Nice. That's perfect!" Ren grinned, skipping to the edge of the arena. He
gestured for the two Kaiohs to take the center.
The other four visitors gathered around the perimeter. Kaku Kaioh and Li Kaioh
found a comfortable spot on the porch to watch. Ren checked Sun's name and then
raised his hand to the "crowd."
"Technical Sparring—"
"Sun Kaioh (Jeet Kune Do) vs. Retsu Kaioh (White Forest Temple)!"
The two masters squared off. Sun had shed his shirt, revealing a lean, corded
physique with excellent muscular definition.
"The prestigious White Forest Temple..." Sun muttered. He noticed Retsu's eyes
were fixed on his hands—specifically the ten heavy metal rings. "Heh. Worried
about these? Afraid they're weapons?"
Retsu's expression was flat. "I don't give a damn."
Sun didn't respond with words. He held up his hands, palms toward Retsu,
spreading his fingers for the "audience" to see. Then, he slowly closed them
into fists.
Creeeee—SNAP!
Under the staggering force of Sun's grip, the ten reinforced metal rings groaned
and shattered, falling into the sand as twisted scraps of junk.
"Behold." Sun showed Retsu his empty hands. "My grip strength is so immense that
even steel rings cannot contain it."
Retsu didn't blink. In the distance, Rihito scratched his head, looking
unimpressed.
Sun continued, "It has been seven years since I earned the title of Kaioh.
Today, for the first time, I release my seal! I will use these fingers to tear
into you at will! Retsu, you—"
Before he could finish, Retsu suddenly dropped into a deep horse-stance. His
feet slammed into the sand—BOOM!—the shockwave echoing like a drum.
"BREAK!" Retsu barked.
The sudden shout made Sun flinch, his arms rising in an instinctive, panicked
guard. His previous composure vanished instantly.
Sun felt a surge of embarrassment and rage. He prepared to retaliate, but Retsu
was already moving.
Zip!
Retsu closed the distance, reaching out and grabbing Sun's left hand with his
right. He interlaced their fingers, locking them together in a palm-to-palm
grip. Neither exerted force yet.
Sun froze in shock. On the porch, Li Kaioh whispered, "Is Retsu... challenging
him to a grip duel?"
"Ready?" Ren raised his hand, then snapped it down. "FIGHT—!!"
Retsu looked up at the taller Sun Kaioh, his voice calm and instructional.
"I have met a young Yakuza named Kaoru Hanayama. His grip strength is a
biological miracle; he can rip the corner off a deck of cards as if it were
tissue paper."
"I also know a brat named Ichiro Nakata, who calls himself Rihito. Though his
technique is green, he trains day and night and possesses an 'Outlier'
talent—his finger-strength can slice through metal like a blade."
Retsu's eyes locked onto Sun's.
"Compared to them... your power—whether it's your fingers or your grip—is
nothing but a parlor trick."
The words, delivered with such absolute certainty, made Sun's skin crawl. A cold
sweat broke out on his brow. He was drowning in Retsu's aura.
SHICK!
Sun couldn't take the tension. He tried to lead with a right punch while their
left hands were locked.
But in that same frame, Retsu's right hand flexed. Using pure wrist torque and
grip force, he crushed Sun's hand and twisted it backward.
"GAH—?!"
Sun's breath hitched. Agony flared through his arm. Because his joints were
being manipulated against their natural axis, his body lost its base. He was
forced down, collapsing to his knees in the sand.
His fingers were being ground together, his wrist pinned down. It was
excruciating. He was completely immobilized. In the span of a single heartbeat,
the "Grip Duel" was over. It was a slaughter.
"What's wrong?" Retsu looked down at the kneeling man. "I thought this was your
specialty?"
CRACK!
Retsu increased the pressure. His five fingers felt like five iron clamps from
an ancient torture rack. He squeezed Sun's metacarpals until the man's eyes
bulged and his mouth fell open in a silent, agonizing scream.
"WAAAAAAAGH!!"
Sun Dudley—the Emperor of Texas had more dignity in defeat than this. Sun Kaioh
faceplanted into the sand, his entire frame trembling from the pain.
Retsu's face was calm, though a hint of sadness touched his eyes. "Sun. Give
back the title of Kaioh. Go back to the basic horse-stance and start your
training over."
Retsu pressed his four fingers together and delivered a light tap to the back of
Sun's neck.
Thud.
The light impact was enough. Sun's eyes went vacant, and he slumped into
unconsciousness.
Ren Shiroki raised his hand. "THE MATCH IS DECIDED!!"
Ren looked at Retsu, his own fighting spirit beginning to itch. "You want a
break? Want to switch out? I can hop in! You want to rotate?!"
"No," Retsu refused, letting out a long, weary sigh. He looked at the remaining
four Kaiohs, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl.
"I don't give a damn. NEXT!"
☆☆☆
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