Chapter 188: Beating People Up

"Ohoho, finally it's time for someone from the Kure Clan to fight."

"...Sigh."

Katahara Metsudo and Kure Erioh sat together in a VIP viewing room with a full view of the arena.

"That brat Raian is way too confident because of his talent—cocky, even. Never thought he'd go challenge that brat Takamine Rinji on his own."

Erioh covered his face.

He never expected Raian to win.

"These kids sure have energy."

"Yeah. We're getting old."

Erioh continued watching through his binoculars—not at the arena, but at his great-granddaughter Karura at the commentary booth.

"Since you're sending Raian to fight, does that mean he's the strongest of the Kure Clan?"

"More or less," Raian replied, still peeking through his binoculars. "We Kure Clan members u 'Release' to unlock our body's potential. The extent of that release depends on talent and training. Most can only go up to 30%, but there are exceptions."

"Oh?"

"This time I brought our strongest. Kure Reiichi can release 50%, Kure Horio can release 65%. That's already top-tier. Horio's nephew can go as high as 80%."

[Correction, Kure Henzo who appear in the earlier chapters is supposed to be Kure Hollins. The raw is kinda messed up when it comes into names so I was confused at first and decided to put a random Kure Clan member. And that's when I decided to appoint Kure Henzo but it turns out, It's actually Kure Hollis.]

"You mean Kure Hollis? The Kure Clan's figurehead. Terrifying—80% is insane." Katahara stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Even 80% isn't the limit. My great-granddaughter Karura can go up to 85%—and she's only sixteen. As expected of my descendant."

"...What about Raian?"

"100%." Erioh's expression turned uncharacteristically serious. "Only three people in 1300 years—since the Asuka period—have ever reached that."

"A prodigy seen once in a millennium."

"Exactly. He has every right to be proud. But unfortunately, he's up against Takamine Rinji."

Erioh smiled faintly.

"A monster who shares nothing in common with humanity except appearance."

---

"After the intermission, we're back with the second match of the Challenge Tournament!"

Sayaka raised her microphone, reigniting the crowd's excitement.

"Takamine Rinji easily won the first match. Akoya Seishu's challenge ended in failure. Will the next challenger pull off a miracle? Let's find out!!"

She pointed toward the arena where Rinji was already standing.

"Introducing the challenged fighter, Takam—Takamine Rinji—Takamine-san, wake up! It's match time!"

"Just announce the idiot's name already."

"You're seriously… cough, cough—welcome the challenger! Under Mount Inc's gladiator, the 'The Devil'—Kure Raian!!"

Sparks flew at the arena entrance as Raian swaggered in, swinging his arms.

His walk practically screamed "please punch me." If not for his overwhelming strength, he'd probably get beat up five times a day just for walking like that.

His entrance path passed right by the commentary booth.

Leaning on the desk, Raian sneered at Karura.

"Hey, Karura. Your little boyfriend might just die by my hand today."

"Rinji won't lose," Karura shot back angrily.

Though they were technically relatives, she didn't think much of him—and after he'd tried to kill her friend's brother, her opinion of Raian was already rock bottom.

"Heh, confident little girl, aren't you?"

Raian turned and swaggered to the center, grinning arrogantly at Rinji.

"Brat, time to settle our score."

"..."

Rinji yawned and didn't say a word.

"Fighters, ready!"

The referee raised his hand high.

Then swung it down hard.

"Begin!!"

Raian made the first move.

He charged at Rinji with a loud laugh, launching a kick aimed at his abdomen.

Caught.

Rinji grabbed his leg with one hand, lifted a foot, and stomped down hard on the joint between thigh and pelvis.

Crunch!

"Aaaagh!!"

Raian's legs bent inward like a broken hinge—his thighbone dislocated.

Before he could react, Rinji grabbed his throat and, with a single-arm shoulder throw, slammed him into the ground.

Boom!

Face first into the dirt. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

"You're Karura's relative, but you're more annoying than I expected," Rinji said coldly. "I'm not trying to kill you. But beating you up? That I can do."

Lying on the ground, Raian pushed himself up, placed both hands on his thighs, and crack—snapped the dislocated bones back into place.

He stood again, twisted grin full of bloodlust.

"Brat, enjoy your smugness while it lasts."

His blood vessels suddenly bulged. His skin turned purple, and that smug grin became even more twisted.

At a speed several times faster than before, he charged again—both hands aimed at Rinji's head, ready to twist it clean off.

Swoosh!

Just as he was about to reach him, Rinji stepped in, causing the attack to miss.

"Wha—"

Before he could finish the word, Rinji grabbed his hair and pulled his head down while bringing his knee up.

BAM!!

A direct hit to the face. Rinji didn't stop there—he clutched Raian's head and repeatedly kneed him in the face.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam…

Each strike flattened his face further, splattering blood with every blow. Raian tried to retaliate, but Rinji broke his reaching arm and kept going.

CRACK!!!

Finally, with a sound like a skull fracturing, Raian stopped struggling.

Rinji let go, and Raian collapsed face-first onto the floor, blood soaking the ground.

Thankfully he fell face-down. If the audience saw that mangled face, they'd probably have nightmares.

"Match decided!!"

The referee checked on Raian for a moment before raising his hand.

"Winner: Takamine Rinji!!!"

---

"Damn it!!"

Kure Raian jolted awake from the hospital bed.

Eyes wide, he looked around—he was in the infirmary.

His face was wrapped in bandages, arms in a cast, and an IV was hooked up beside him.

The attending doctor jumped at his sudden awakening but quickly walked over to push him back down onto the bed.