The next day, the Dark Tournament finally commenced.
Morpheus rose early, led by Hone-onna alongside his companions to the venue.
It was a grand arena, built before the imperial palace.
In ancient times, such a contest here would have been called a martial display before the palace.
But in this era, such traditions held little sway.
Toguro, masked as before, appeared once more. Before the crowd, he activated a mechanism, raising spectator stands around the arena, encircling it.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Toguro's voice echoed across the arena, "This Dark Tournament is about to begin. The first match pits Team Enterprise, Number One, against Team Saigoku, Number Eighteen."
"All other teams, please take your seats in the stands."
Morpheus and his group ascended to the stands, settling into a spot.
Meanwhile, Team Enterprise and Team Saigoku took the field.
Team Enterprise was formed by members backed by major corporations.
Its roster was familiar.
Tokita Ohma, Hatsumi Sen, Kuroki Gensai, Kanoh Agito, and Wakatsuki Takeshi.
All were characters from Kengan Ashura.
Each a fighter employed by powerful corporations.
The name Team Enterprise was fitting.
Tokita Ohma was the undisputed star, the Ashura of Kengan Ashura, a fighter for Yamashita Trading.
Hatsumi Sen, a Nogi Group fighter, was notoriously lax yet immensely skilled.
Dubbed the "most irresponsible powerhouse" in Kengan history, his fifteen losses stemmed from oversleeping nine times, getting lost four times, and forgetting matches twice.
Kuroki Gensai needed no introduction—the Kengan Ashura champion who defeated Ohma, nearly turning Kengan Ashura into Kengan Black Spear Saga.
Kanoh Agito, the Dainippon Bank's exclusive fighter, the Fang of Metsudo, was the strongest of the Three Crows, boasting an unbeaten record of 157 consecutive victories, hailed as the greatest fighter in Kengan history.
He was the overt final boss of Kengan Ashura.
Though he ultimately lost to Kuroki.
Lastly, Wakatsuki Takeshi, the longest-active Kengan fighter and the one with the most victories.
A natural prodigy.
Born weighing 12,150 grams—over four times the average newborn—he was immediately tested, revealing a shocking truth.
His muscle fiber density was fifty-two times that of a normal human, his strength far beyond human limits.
Even the Kures couldn't rival his raw power.
This physique was termed superhuman.
Only a handful of such cases had ever been recorded worldwide.
His attacks could shatter reinforced concrete, and his muscle density didn't degrade with age—his strength only grew.
A born martial artist, with advanced training, he could easily become a top-tier master.
In Kengan Ashura's plot, Wakatsuki didn't fully realize his potential.
Whether he had in this world was unclear.
If he had, he might be Team Enterprise's strongest.
Their opponents, Team Saigoku, were a motley crew of yokai from the western regions, five distinct demons.
After deliberation, Team Enterprise sent out their first fighter.
Tokita Ohma.
"For the first match, let's start strong. I'll secure the opening win."
With that, Ohma strode confidently onto the field.
Team Saigoku quickly dispatched a cat yokai.
Unfortunately, it was male.
Morpheus grimaced. A female cat yokai might have piqued his interest as a potential follower.
He had no catgirls among his believers.
But a male? No thanks.
"Human, surrender," The cat yokai taunted, gesturing wildly at Ohma. "Surrender, and I'll spare your life."
Ohma's expression was cold as he assumed an offensive stance.
"Let's begin."
The cat yokai was instantly enraged. "Human, you're dead! I'll eat your heart!"
Whoosh!
In a flash, the cat yokai closed in on Ohma with astonishing speed, like a phantom.
Cats are naturally swift, and as a yokai, its speed was even greater.
To many, it was a blur as it neared Ohma.
In an instant, it extended its claws, sharp nails elongating, aiming to rip open Ohma's chest and tear out his heart.
But at the critical moment, Ohma moved. His right hand shot out, precisely seizing the cat yokai's wrist.
With a gentle twist, the cat yokai let out a startled cry, spinning uncontrollably.
It crashed to the ground with a thud.
Morpheus raised an eyebrow at the move.
In Kengan Ashura, Ohma practiced the Niko Style.
The Niko Style emphasized techniques with four main forms: Adamantine Kata, Water Kata, Flame Kata, and Redirection Kata.
Redirection Kata manipulated an opponent's speed and momentum.
Water Kata relaxed muscles, akin to jujutsu.
Adamantine Kata instantly hardened muscles, reducing damage from heavy impacts.
Flame Kata focused power in the legs, enabling swift movement and powerful strikes.
These forms could be combined or adapted to circumstances, mastery allowing fluid application.
That move had hints of Redirection Kata but wasn't purely so.
It seemed to incorporate judo and aikido.
Intriguing.
The cat yokai, dazed from the fall, hadn't recovered when Ohma's second attack came.
Boom!
A brutal kick to the head sent the cat yokai flying, crashing unconscious to the ground.
Team Saigoku's members cursed. "That careless idiot!"
"I'll bring him back."
A burly, one-eyed yokai sighed, stepping onto the arena.
The one eyed yokai grabbed the unconscious cat and tossed it back to their team, addressing Ohma. "Not switching fighters?"
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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