Chapter 140 Clash of Titans

Traces of life lingered on the desolate island, and Satoru had a hunch about what awaited him.

"We've found signs of Ryuichiro here before," Hayato said, standing beside Satoru at the bow of the ship. "When he saw our ship, he didn't call for help or act. He just watched silently before vanishing. It seems he didn't fall here by accident—he chose to stay."

Satoru's eyes stayed locked on the island as it loomed closer. "Something on that island must've caught his interest," Hayato added.

Satoru raised his hand, signaling the crew to halt. The ship steadied some distance from the shore. Without waiting, Satoru stepped off the ship, his movements fluid as he glided over the sea, each step rippling against the waves.

Hayato's words echoed in his mind. *Ryuichiro didn't just fall here. He chose to stay.*

Satoru landed on the island, his senses extending in all directions. In an instant, the entire island's energy signatures were laid bare before him. He found Ryuichiro's location without trouble and moved with purpose.

"Ryuichiro, I'm here," Satoru murmured as he approached.

---

Deep within the island, in an underground cavern illuminated by a radiant, multicolored crystal, Ryuichiro stood motionless. The crystal hovered in the air, exuding an otherworldly presence.

"I've stayed here for almost two years," Ryuichiro muttered, his gaze locked on the crystal. "And now, the final condition is all that remains."

The crystal pulsed with light, displaying its requirement:

**[Condition: Become the strongest in this world (Incomplete)]**

Ryuichiro's expression darkened. "The strongest in this world, huh?"

He chuckled, though his tone held no humor. "Is there anyone stronger than me?" He thought of his past battles, the opponents he'd crushed. Not even his clone or his greatest rivals could match him.

As he pondered, faint footsteps echoed through the cavern. Ryuichiro turned, his sharp gaze falling on the approaching figure.

"You are?" he asked, his voice calm but alert.

Satoru stepped into the cavern, his eyes flickering briefly to the crystal before settling on Ryuichiro. "My name is Satoru," he said with a faint smile. "And I've come to kill you."

Ryuichiro's lips curled into a smirk. "You're stronger than Hayato, that much is clear." He paused, as if realizing something. "Ah, so the crystal's condition isn't complete because of you."

Without warning, Ryuichiro vanished from his spot, reappearing in an instant with a kick aimed at Satoru's head.

**Bang!**

Satoru raised his arm, blocking the strike effortlessly. Without hesitation, he countered with a punch aimed at Ryuichiro's chest.

Ryuichiro reacted quickly, shifting to block with his palm. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, his feet digging into the ground to steady himself.

"You're strong," Ryuichiro admitted, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "Stronger than anyone I've ever faced. I underestimated you."

Satoru tilted his head slightly, his expression calm. "If you fell to that, you wouldn't be worth killing."

Ryuichiro laughed, his battle-hardened demeanor returning. "Fair enough. But I've faced plenty of people who thought they could take me down, and they all failed."

The air between them grew heavy as both warriors prepared for their next moves.

This time, Satoru moved first, mimicking Ryuichiro's earlier attack—a sudden burst of speed and a kick aimed at his opponent's head.

Ryuichiro's instincts kicked in. His movements were precise, his body flowing like water as he evaded the strike. Yet, as he shifted to counter, Satoru adjusted mid-attack, increasing his speed.

Ryuichiro's eyes widened in realization. *He's reading my movements.*

With no time to dodge, Ryuichiro raised his arm to block. The impact sent him flying back, crashing into the cavern wall.

Satoru stood where Ryuichiro had been moments before, his expression unreadable.

Ryuichiro pushed himself to his feet, shaking off the dust. "You're good," he said, his tone laced with genuine respect. "Better than I expected. This will be fun."

The battle was far from over.