Chapter 189: Four vs. One

"Mr. Raian, you still need to rest…"

"Get lost."

Raian roughly shoved the medical staff aside, yanked out the tubes from his body, and got out of bed to put on his shoes.

His head was still aching, but he clearly remembered what Rinji had done to him.

Even after entering his 'Release' state and using 100% of his strength, he was still overwhelmingly beaten down by Rinji.

"Tch."

Bang!

He punched the wall with his still-functioning hand, cracking it like a spiderweb.

Raian now understood that he couldn't defeat Rinji—the one who looked scrawny but fought with crushing force.

He had always loved to dominate others one-sidedly. This time, the tables were turned.

Just as he opened the infirmary door, he saw Kure Erioh and the others standing outside.

"Looks like you're mostly healed, Raian," Erioh said with a smile.

"Tch. You came to laugh at me, old man?"

"Of course not. Losing to that guy isn't shameful. And a defeat can still teach you something."

Erioh chuckled, then asked, "What? Gonna mope around because you lost?"

"What are you talking about, old man?"

Raian's face was still as cocky as ever.

"Yeah, it pissed me off. But I'll just win next time."

"Hah, then good luck."

Though he knew beating Rinji was nearly impossible, striving toward that goal was still worthwhile.

Bzzzz~

"Whose phone?"

"Mine, I think."

Raian took out his phone and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, big bro." A woman's voice came through.

"Fusui?"

"Heard you got your ass kicked?"

"…"

Kure Hollis, nearby, raised his hand. "Oh, I sent word back home. Pretty sure the whole clan knows by now."

"Wanna die?"

"Relax. They'd find out eventually anyway."

Raian clicked his tongue and said into the phone, "Yeah, so what?"

"Who was it that strong? Even you couldn't beat him?"

"You know him. A guy named Takamine Rinji."

"…Little Rinji's a fighter?"

"No, I challenged him myself."

"Oh. Then you totally had it coming."

"…"

"You're crazy as always, but I didn't think you were this crazy. You think you can beat someone like him? Are you brain-dead?"

"…Let me tell you something."

"What?"

Raian grinned.

"That guy's already been taken by Karura."

"WHAT?! You said wha—"

Click

"Hmph."

He hung up, ignoring Erioh and the others, then started walking toward the arena.

"Where are you going?"

"Duh. Gonna watch the next match—see how those pig-heads get flattened."

"Not worried one of them might actually win?"

"Are you stupid?"

Raian laughed out loud.

"If I couldn't beat him, how the hell could anyone else?"

---

"To think it takes four people to gang up on one kid."

"To be honest, I want to refuse. This is a total insult to our reputation."

In the hallway, four fighters walked with distance between them, exchanging words.

One of them was a calm, dark-skinned youth leaning against the wall. Another was a bald, burly middle-aged man covered in chains.

The giant was Bando Yohei—the same man who nearly killed Hanafusa.

Because he was still technically serving time, he wore heavy chains, though they did nothing to restrain him. He simply didn't bother removing them.

The young man's name was Kaolan Wongsawat, a Thai fighter borrowed from the King of Thailand by Yato Trading Co., nicknamed "God of War."

"It may be cruel, but this is to fulfill our agreement. We just have to say sorry to the kid later," Bando said.

"How disgraceful."

"You'd better not underestimate him," muttered Mikazuchi Rei.

"That guy's really strong. I've always wanted to fight him, but he's the only one I've ever felt I couldn't beat with certainty."

"So you think four-on-one is fair?"

"Of course not. But my mission is to get Rino into the chair of the Kengan Association."

"…"

"By the way, isn't there a fourth fighter?" Bando looked around. Only three fighters and some staff were here.

"You mean that guy?"

Kaolan sighed. "He probably got too excited and already rushed into the arena."

---

"The third challenge match officially begins!! After two rounds, Takamine Rinji remains completely unharmed. Now he'll face four opponents at once. Will these four fighters claim victory, or will Rinji continue his undefeated streak?!"

Sayaka shouted into the mic as the crowd roared.

"Let's welcome the challeng—"

"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Before she could finish, a young man with spiky hair and a headband rushed into the arena, roaring at the top of his lungs.

It was "Howling Fighting Spirit" Yoroizuka Saw Paing, a fighter from Myanmar.

His scream was so loud Sayaka instinctively covered her ears.

After yelling,Yoroizuka looked at Rinji and laughed loudly. "I saw your earlier matches! You're strong! Let's have a good fight!!"

"Calm down, kid."

Rinji waved a hand.

"There are still three others who haven't shown up yet."

Just as he spoke, the other three challengers entered the arena.

The four top-16 contestants now stood surrounding Rinji from all directions.