Chapter 182: A Test of Hands
"Even if you have to follow boxing rules, you truly don't mind?"
Metsudo turned his head, chuckling as he studied the martial artist beside him.
In the wide-open space of the stadium, the man's presence was even more
striking.
He wore a traditional cotton-linen training uniform paired with black trousers
and cloth shoes. His stance was rooted and stable, his back as straight as a
spear, and his facial features were sharp and chiseled. His eyes burned with a
fierce, forge-like intensity.
His long black hair was gathered in a traditional style behind his head, looking
both practical and natural.
Height: 176cm. Weight: 106kg.
The man known as the "Fist Master"—Retsu Kaioh!
"Ho-ho! Truly worthy of the title 'Kaioh.' A peak martial artist indeed."
Metsudo Katahara sighed in admiration before turning his gaze back to the venue.
Spotting Ren Shiroki and the others gathered in the distance, he waved
cheerfully.
"I'm going to go join my friends. Please, make yourself at home. If you need
anything, just say the word."
Metsudo left the martial artist behind, skipping and weaving through the crowd
to find Arisa and the snacks.
"..."
Watching him go, Retsu pursed his lips, feeling a bit underwhelmed. "Though it
is lively, it is ultimately just a gathering for 'amateurs'..."
However, since this was an invitation from the legendary Mitsunari Tokugawa,
Retsu wouldn't dream of disrespecting him. He decided to take a lap around the
venue before leaving.
But to his surprise, before he could even take a single step, his senses
tingled. He lifted his head and spotted Ren Shiroki amidst the distant crowd.
"Him?"
Retsu had been an observer at the Underground Arena the night Ren fought Dr.
Kureha Shinogi. The impression Ren had left was profound.
This might be interesting after all.
Retsu saw that things were getting rowdy over by Ren; it looked like someone was
about to start a fight in one of the rings. He began to head over to
investigate, but then, suddenly—
?!
An even more unusual aura, as if tearing through the very fabric of space,
slammed into Retsu's face.
He turned toward the main stage behind the curtains. From the VIP area, he
detected an undeniable, soaring battle intent.
There is another master here?
Retsu arched an eyebrow, his mood instantly improving. He decided he would stay
for a while—and perhaps experience this "boxing" for himself.
To the side, at a temporary ring...
Two men leaped into the ring one after the other, their confrontation drawing a
massive, roaring crowd. Ren and the others were among those watching.
On one side was a moderately famous active heavyweight pro boxer, currently
fuming with rage.
On the other side was a man with dyed blonde hair. He was also a heavyweight,
his body covered in incredibly dense, solid muscle. This "blonde brat" was the
same man who had shattered the climbing wall record earlier—the man who could
support his 100kg frame with a single finger and "moonwalk" in mid-air.
According to Fusui, the blonde was a registered fighter of the Kengan
Association. Ren searched his memory and found the man's name.
Ichiro Nakata.
Better known by his self-given name, Lihito (meaning a person who surpasses
reason), and his nickname: "The Superman."
Kengan Record: 5 Wins, 0 Losses.
While he wasn't a top-tier legend like "The Wild Tiger" Takeshi Wakatsuki, his
unique "Special Move" made him a highly popular and formidable fighter.
"Aha!"
Even standing in a boxing ring, Lihito was brimming with confidence. He had
already bitten down on his mouthguard, wrapped his hands, and donned gloves. He
slammed his fists together, mimicking the pros he'd seen on TV.
Bang!
"This is my first time boxing, but it feels pretty good!" Lihito grinned at the
pro boxer, his expression mocking. "I have a feeling that even under boxing
rules, I'm going to be a monster!"
This arrogant provocation sent the pro boxer over the edge. He had been happily
greeting fans until this blonde brat stole the spotlight with an "I'm number
one" attitude.
"Kid, you're the one who asked for this 'exhibition match.' Don't go crying
later..."
The pro boxer moved his feet, staying light, while gesturing for his manager to
help him secure his gloves. The manager looked worried. "Is it really okay to do
a demo match in a place like this?"
"If I can't handle a punk like this after he insults me to my face, I might as
well retire!" The pro glared back before reassuring his manager. "It's fine. The
kid is a good climber, sure, but he's a total amateur at boxing. You can tell
just by his footwork."
Bang!
The pro boxer slammed his gloves together and stepped forward to tap gloves with
Lihito. Both men then retreated a few steps. The manager, seeing no way out,
acted as the temporary referee.
"Three-minute exhibition match. Ready... BEGIN!"
Zip!
The moment the words left the ref's mouth, while Lihito was still admiring the
"weight" of the gloves, the pro lunged forward with a lightning-fast jab.
Thwack!
The punch landed square on Lihito's nose. It was followed immediately by a hook
to the solar plexus and a rapid-fire barrage of uppercuts to the chest.
Bang-bang!!
The high-speed combinations forced Lihito back. His nose began to bleed, and the
impact to his face made his eyes water involuntarily.
"Wu-ha! Those are some heavy hands!" Lihito wiped the blood from his face, his
grin widening. "But you can't take me down with those! You've never been in a
real fight, have you, pal?"
The pro boxer, jaw set tight on his mouthguard, said nothing. He simply kept
swinging.
But to his shock, Lihito suddenly charged forward, taking the punches directly
to the face to close the distance. He began swinging his own arms in a wild,
unrefined barrage of brute force.
Thud-thud!
Two chaotic, heavy blows slammed into the pro's face, sending blood spraying
from his nose as well.
"Pwahaha!" Lihito laughed, baring his teeth. "Maybe I'm a boxing genius after
all!"
Tch!
The pro boxer's pride was wounded. He refused to retreat and circle, instead
standing his ground to trade heavy blows with Lihito. For a moment, they were
deadlocked, neither willing to give an inch.
Bang!
Lihito took another straight to the face. He stumbled back half a step but kept
pressing the attack, thinking to himself: This guy is tough. But I'm going to
make him submit! If I used my 'Special Move,' this would be over in a second...
As a fighter, Lihito's innate gift was terrifying. It was a technique known as
"Razor's Edge." Using his freakish, superhuman finger strength, he could turn
his fingertips into blades that could slice through human flesh like a razor. In
terms of sheer lethality, it was the same "tier" as the Siberian convict
Sikorsky's strikes.
While the two were duking it out on stage, Mitsunari Tokugawa noticed that the
"Martial Artist" he had been waiting for had arrived. He chuckled and waddled
over to ask for his opinion.
Retsu Kaioh looked at the two in the ring and let out a light sigh. "They have
talent, but they are both too green. This does not qualify as a battle."
"Oh?"
Before Tokugawa could respond, someone else chimed in with a question. The group
turned to see a young man with a slight stubble wearing a baseball cap. He was
another "active pro," and a very famous one at that.
The OPBF Super Cruiserweight Champion—Akio Maren!
He had gone from amateur to pro without a single loss. Furthermore, all fourteen
of his professional matches had ended in first-round KOs. His number of matches
and number of rounds fought were identical—a true rising star of the boxing
world.
He had some history with the pro in the ring; they had trained at the same gym,
and he wasn't about to let a "traditional martial artist" look down on his
sport.
"You've got a solid frame, pal. You look like you know your way around a gym."
Akio Maren patted Retsu on the shoulder. "But whatever you think, don't
underestimate 'professionals'..."
"How about it? Want to go a round with me? I promise I won't hurt you."
"..."
Retsu Kaioh looked Akio over for a few seconds before shaking his head. "I
refuse."
"Is that so? Lacking confidence?" Akio laughed, leading Retsu over to a heavy
punching bag nearby. "Tell you what. Let's both give this bag our best shot.
That way, you can experience what a 'professional' punch feels like."
"..."
Retsu stared at the bag, lost in thought for a moment, before asking, "This is
brand new. Does it matter if I break it?"
Akio paused, then put his hands on his hips and laughed. "Pal, if you can break
this bag, I'll personally recommend you for a contract at any club you want."
"Very well..."
Retsu Kaioh stood before the bag. Though he had zero interest in a boxing
contract, for the sake of the high battle intent he felt in the air, he didn't
mind showing off a little.
"Hah!"
With his bare hands, the "Fist Master" unleashed a sudden right straight.
BOOM!
The heavy bag underwent a visible, violent deformation. The force of the strike
penetrated entirely through the stuffing. A massive tear erupted from the back
of the bag, and a geyser of sand and filling material sprayed out onto the
floor.
—?!
Before Akio Maren could even register what had happened, he saw Retsu turn
toward him and unleash a ferocious uppercut.
Whoosh!
For a split second, Akio saw his life flash before his eyes. He instinctively
squeezed his eyes shut.
But Retsu suddenly pulled back his power, withdrawing the strike. The wind
pressure from the uppercut was so intense that it sent Akio's baseball cap
flying off his head. Retsu reached out with his other hand, caught the cap
mid-air, and placed it back onto Akio's head.
To an outside observer, it looked like Akio had perfectly calculated the
distance and didn't even flinch—a display of high-level mastery.
"This is why I refused you."
Retsu lowered his voice, patting Akio lightly on the shoulder. "Fighting me is
too dangerous. It would be entirely to your disadvantage."
"With your level of power, you cannot force me to go all out."
(End of Chapter)
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