Chapter 186: I Don't Dislike You

"Rinji!!"

At the commentator's booth, Karura had once again run over to stand beside Sayaka. She excitedly stood up and waved toward Rinji.

"Do your best!"

"Yeah."

Rinji turned around and gave a slight wave and smile toward Karura, then turned back to face Akoya Seishu.

The opponent was clearly ready, already assuming his stance and preparing to charge.

"Ready!"

The referee stood between them, took a deep breath, and shouted.

"Begin!!"

Swoosh!

At the exact moment the signal was given, Akoya sprang off the ground and charged rapidly at Rinji.

Calculating the distance precisely, he stopped just a step away and launched a straight punch at Rinji's forehead.

As if predicting this move, Rinji didn't dodge. He stepped forward and smashed his forehead straight into the incoming fist.

Bang!!

Akoya frowned and pulled back his hand, realizing that four of his knuckles were now sunken in.

The pain from shattered bones was unimaginable, but Akoya didn't flinch. He immediately followed up with a high roundhouse kick toward Rinji's waist.

It didn't work either. The moment he lifted his leg, it was already caught by Rinji.

Now standing on only one leg, Akoya had no balance.

Rinji casually swept at his supporting leg with a low roundhouse, and Akoya toppled.

But he didn't hit the ground as expected. In the nick of time, he braced himself with one hand, twisted mid-fall, and kicked toward Rinji's neck.

Smack!

It was stopped again—Rinji caught it with his other hand.

Now both of Akoya's legs were in Rinji's grasp. With no footing, he could only hold himself up with his hands.

Seeing the determination still etched on Akoya's face, Rinji smiled, twisted his hips, and slammed him into the ground.

Boom!!!!

"Ugh…"

The massive body hit the ground hard, stirring up a cloud of dust. Though he shielded his head with his hands, the shock traveled through his spine to his heart.

"Since your earlier match, I've been wondering—turns out you had a micro earpiece in your ear."

Rinji let go of Akoya's legs and smiled.

At close range, he had indeed spotted the tiny device buried deep in Akoya's ear, but nothing could escape his eyes.

"Hmph."

Akoya climbed back up and launched another attack.

Bang!

But just as he was about to throw a punch, a sudden pain struck his chest. Rinji's hand had whipped out like a snake and slapped his chest with lightning speed—too fast for Akoya to react.

"Though you don't seem remotely controlled this time. Gotta say, without relying on shady tricks, you're a lot stronger."

Akoya's offense against Rinji far surpassed what he showed against Kono Haruo in the prelims.

"That thing was just there to stop me from killing people. But you're different, Rinji—I have to kill you."

Akoya staggered back a couple steps but immediately launched another fierce assault.

He unleashed a barrage of straight punches mixed with unpredictable kicks. His attacks were heavy—enough to knock a regular person unconscious in one blow. But Rinji wasn't a regular person.

He took them head-on, and suddenly closed in. His hand, swift as a snake's tongue, jabbed into Akoya's chin.

Caught off guard, Akoya tried to retreat, but that's when the real attack began.

Rinji's hands danced, his fingers striking in rapid, precise succession.

Chin, forehead, ribs, waist, shoulder blades.

Unlike normal punches, Rinji used his fingertips, concentrating force into a tiny area to magnify the impact.

Soon, Akoya's body was covered in wounds. Not just surface injuries—he could feel multiple broken bones.

And Rinji? He was still only using 5% of his strength.

In one final clash, Akoya roared and swung a punch—but Rinji stepped inside his guard, stomped on his foot, and placed his palm against Akoya's chest.

"It's over."

Thud!

The explosive force transmitted through Akoya's spine struck his heart. His vision went black.

Thud.

Akoya's body swayed and then collapsed.

"…"

The referee was stunned, staring at Akoya lying motionless. After a few seconds of no response, he raised his hand and said, "The match is—"

"Wait!"

Akoya, who had been flat on the ground, staggered to his feet. His eyes were bloodshot, and wiping blood from his mouth, he shakily stepped toward Rinji.

"It's not over yet…"

"You really want to kill me that badly?"

"Of course! Evil must be purged—for justice." Akoya spat blood. Even with the power gap, he wasn't afraid.

"I see. But someone like you, who's executed so many without trial—can you really claim justice?"

"You're right. Even if it's in the name of justice, it doesn't change the fact that I'm a killer."

Akoya trembled, raised his fists again before Rinji.

"I will execute every evil person—and the last one I'll execute is myself. When I die, the world will enter a new era."

"…"

Looking at Akoya barely standing, Rinji's expression softened.

"You can't kill me. But…"

Rinji vanished and reappeared beside Akoya, pressing a hand to his face.

"People like you, who stick to their beliefs—I don't dislike that."

"Wha—"

BOOM!!!

With a powerful push, Akoya was slammed backward, skull hitting the ground with a thunderous crack.

He wasn't dead, but he definitely had a concussion.

Akoya Seishu had lost consciousness.

"The match is over! Winner—Takamine Rinji!!"

With the referee's announcement, the first match of the challenge round officially ended.