Chapter 222

Join my discord!

https://discord.gg/QZHCyfxhty (New Link!)

If you are interested in supporting me and reading the chapters in advance, here is my p@treon!

P@treon.com/TheJiujitsuGuy

You can also search for: "BaritsuSupremacy" to find it on the platform.

I hope you enjoy the reading!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Pickle trembled as blood spurted from his nose, his vision blurring for a moment before he quickly shook his head to regain composure. This attack had been stronger than the others—he could feel it clearly.

Even after facing countless battles in his life and enduring all kinds of injuries, it was impossible for Pickle to ignore this excruciating pain. No matter how powerful his body became, there were parts of the body that couldn't be strengthened, and the nose was one of them.

If struck accurately, the pain and disorientation were inevitable for anyone. Pickle might have been a true monster, but even he was not exempt from this phenomenon.

!

Knowing this, Yuji wasted no time when he saw Pickle squint from the blow to his face. In an explosive burst of speed, he launched a devastating attack to the prehistoric man's stomach—a kick that drove Pickle to the edge of the arena and knocked the wind out of his lungs.

This attack carried immense power, enough to cause a shockwave that rippled through the arena—a clear indication that Yuji's strikes were breaking the sound barrier multiple times.

"Mach 5? No, maybe Mach 6 or even Mach 7!" murmured Retsu Kaioh, who had arrived at the arena by this point. His eyes were glued to the battle, and he seemed to mentally note every move the two fighters made. "I can't even keep up—this is absurd!"

Sweat trickled down Retsu's forehead. Previously, he had been completely unaware of Yuji's existence, but now, seeing a boy even younger than Baki surpassing him like this, Retsu couldn't suppress his jealousy.

He, who had mastered the pinnacle of Chinese martial arts, hadn't even managed to make Pickle break a sweat. Yet the teenager in front of him was truly hurting the prehistoric beast.

It infuriated him. "I… I need to push myself further."

!

Back in the arena, Yuji surged forward again, determined not to give Pickle a chance to counter. The veins in his arms bulged, and his muscles tensed as he prepared a punch with overwhelming power.

'At this very moment, my arm has thousands of joints,' Yuji thought, not even needing to concentrate as he commanded his body instinctively. His fist clenched, and he felt as if his arm was on the verge of exploding. 'This feels strange, but it works… Though it's not much different from the Mikazuchi clan's "self-suggestion."'

Closing in on his target, Yuji readied his fist. 'But unlike self-suggestion, if someone with a slightly lower level tried to do this, they'd definitely blow their arm apart…

Fortunately, I'm way beyond that.'

Boom!

Yuji's punch landed, the resulting shockwave shaking the entire arena structure. The grandstand seemed about to collapse, and Yuji's eyes widened in alarm.

'What?' He froze as the dust cloud raised by the impact dissipated, revealing his fist firmly planted in the arena's concrete wall. A massive crack spread across the structure supporting the grandstand. 'He dodged?!'

"Behind you!"

Yuji whirled around urgently at a shout from the stands, his gaze lifting to see the towering form of Pickle standing before him, his fangs bared in rage.

'Damn it!' Yuji cursed internally and quickly launched a kick at the beast's abdomen. His eyes widened again as his strike met only air resistance—the realization dawned as he turned to see Pickle beside him.

!

Raising his defenses, Yuji gritted his teeth as a blow to his forearms sent him flying. His eyes narrowed as blood spurted from his arms, revealing shallow cuts on his flesh.

'I see.' He nodded with a sigh, his eyes locking onto the panting, furious gaze of Pickle, who stared at him predatorily. 'He used the strength of his legs to push himself toward the stands and then propelled back just before my attack could reach him.'

'That's…' Yuji smiled, sweat dripping from his brow. 'Terrifying! No wonder no dinosaur ever managed to prey on him… Nothing on Earth in that era could kill Pickle if he used this.'

Yuji clenched his fists, his expression softening as he exhaled calmly, the bleeding on his arms stopping.

'If he had taken advantage of my confusion the first time he propelled himself, I'd be dead by now… But even as a caveman, Pickle clearly carries the spirit of a warrior—and a proud one, it seems.'

Yuji closed his eyes briefly, letting out a long sigh before his muscles tensed and heat began radiating from his skin.

'Unfortunately for you, Pickle, this isn't the Cretaceous period.'

A powerful pressure exploded from Yuji's body. For a brief moment, Pickle's expression softened as he observed the "transformation" of the adversary before him in surprise.

'We humans of this era excel at adapting.'

Pickle's eyes widened as the small creature he was facing disappeared. His jaw dropped in disbelief as he felt movement beside him, his vision shifting downward to see Yuji confidently standing in front of him.

Startled, Pickle reacted instinctively, propelling himself toward the stands to avoid an attack.

But as soon as his feet landed on the concrete wall, Pickle's eyes filled with dread. Matching his movements, Yuji appeared beside him, keeping up even as Pickle returned to the center of the arena. To the spectators, it looked as if neither had left their positions.

"He kept up with him?" Baki, standing beside Retsu, asked in astonishment, his wide eyes fixed on the battle.

"Yes, for a moment, I thought Pickle had demonstrated his superiority by easily dodging Yuji's strikes. But it's more than clear…" Retsu swallowed hard. "This is not a fight where either can dominate the other in just one aspect."

Baki nodded. In truth, he had never been interested in Yuji Shinakawa before. Doppo had mentioned someone who could challenge him for the title of "strongest young fighter alive," but Baki hadn't paid it much attention. He also knew about the Kengan matches, but a brief glance at the organization's fights hadn't intrigued him.

However, if this young fighter defeated Pickle, Baki would obviously challenge him. Previously, Pickle would have been the perfect opponent for Baki before facing his father. But if someone stronger than Pickle existed, the son of the Ogre wouldn't let the opportunity slip by.

Defeating the one who defeated the strongest creature of the Jurassic period—that would be Baki's rite of passage.

!

The grandstand shook as a sharp sound filled the arena. All eyes turned to the wall to see massive cracks with distinct footprints before shifting back to the center of the arena, where the two fighters stood in the same position.

But with another resounding boom and yet another crack appearing on the wall, a cloud of dust began to rise. The piercing sound repeated multiple times as tremors spread through the stands.

After several seconds of this confusing phenomenon, it finally ceased. Silence dominated the spectators as they waited anxiously for the dust cloud to settle.

It didn't take long for the cloud to disperse, revealing a scene that left the spectators even more baffled.

With a faint smile, Yuji was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from every inch of his body—a clear sign of his exhaustion.

This alone might have been confusing, but what left everyone even more bewildered was that, much like Yuji, Pickle seemed to be in a similar state. Hot air escaped rapidly from his mouth, and sweat poured down his body, though he appeared less fatigued than his opponent.

The spectators didn't know what had transpired, but the fighters—those with the keenest perception—could discern what had unfolded before them, even though they had struggled to keep up.

A small contest.

Pickle wanted to demonstrate his superiority in movement, but Yuji made it clear there wasn't a gap so vast between them that Pickle could humiliate him.

Yuji challenged Pickle at his own game, as if to say that no matter how hard he tried, Pickle wouldn't be able to treat him the same way he did the dinosaurs.

And Pickle understood.

He understood the intentions behind the actions of this small creature, and…

He wasn't pleased about having his pride wounded in such a way.

Therefore, he would accept this adversary's challenge and face him head-on, to prove that—

Boom!

He would not allow himself to be intimidated by anything!

Yuji's eyes widened as Pickle suddenly attacked, his hands moving swiftly to block a powerful kick that knocked him off his feet.

'So even you, Pickle…' Twisting in midair, Yuji landed deftly on the ground. His eyes narrowed as he noticed Pickle charging toward him like a bullet. 'Can have your pride hurt, can't you?'

Following the beast's movement, Yuji showed no intention of avoiding the charge. Instead, he opened his arms as if inviting Pickle for an embrace, his eyes closing as his smile faded into a neutral expression.

'But you brought this upon yourself, so…' Opening his eyes to reveal black sclera and silver irises, Yuji braced himself. 'Don't blame me, Pickle.'

Boom!

The moment Pickle struck, the crowd gasped in amazement as the prehistoric man's massive body seemed to pass straight through Yuji. Pickle crashed into the arena's edge with such force that his head sank into the concrete, breaking through to the other side and startling spectators on the opposite end.

"I will use everything now, Pickle." Turning to see Pickle pulling his head out of the concrete and baring his fangs, Yuji spoke calmly, but his tone carried a murderous intent that made the prehistoric man glare at him with darkened eyes. "If you give me any opportunity, if you leave any opening I can exploit...

I will kill you."

Pickle understood. He couldn't comprehend the language of this creature, but somehow, these words, he understood with absolute clarity.

He would be devoured if he lost.