Chapter 301: The People Who Can Change
"The match is decided!"
The Kure announcer, her black-and-white eyes wide, bared her fangs in a jubilant
roar. "The victor is Ren Shiroki!!"
"The [SOUL COMBATANT]—!!"
"Even with his right wrist suffering catastrophic damage, even after taking hits
that would dim any man's soul, he was the one left standing at the end!"
"He even used a Pro-Wrestling three-count to close the book on this battle!"
"What an incredible display of will!"
"What a staggering [SOUL COMBAT]!!"
Ren had already lowered his fists. He stood in the center of the ring, chest
heaving as he drew in deep, ragged gulps of the evening air. The crowd's cheers
showed no sign of stopping.
As the festival's official hype-woman, the Kure girl wasn't about to let the
energy dip. "That right wrist... the one he used to reflect the 'Receiving'
damage... it must hurt like a demon!"
Ren: "..." Ren: "It hurts like hell!"
The announcer continued, "That shattered nasal bridge must be throbbing with
every heartbeat!"
Ren: "Everything hurts... my whole body..."
The announcer added one more, "And his head! Rapped by those iron knuckles! He
must still be seeing stars!"
Ren: "..." Ren: "Mm. Pretty ones."
After a few more dramatic descriptions, the announcer finally closed her mouth.
Ren let out a long, relieved sigh.
He turned back toward the center of the ring. Jun Sekibayashi had finally
blinked back to consciousness. He was lying flat on the sand, gasping, as a
trainer tossed him a towel to wipe the gore from his eyes.
"Aha!?"
Ren walked over with a shaky grin. "Seki-aniki... you really are built out of
iron!"
Sekibayashi bared his teeth in a bloody smirk. "Heh! This round goes to you,
kid. But next time... the script ends differently!"
The Hell's Angel tightened his fist and hoisted it toward the darkening sky.
"Thanks, Ren-kun. I feel like I've remembered something vital today. My
Pro-Wrestling is going to reach a new level because of this!"
He pushed himself up and waved a dismissive hand. "Go on, enjoy the cheers. You
earned 'em. This loser is heading for the showers—"
Sekibayashi prepared to haul himself up and slink off-stage, but he was
surprised when Ren wobbled over. Ren reached down and grabbed the giant's left
shoulder, manually "plucking" him off the floor with a grunt of exertion.
"I've always wanted to try a slugfest like that," Ren panted, ignoring
Sekibayashi's bewildered blink. He hoisted the giant's right arm high, forcing
them to share the roar of the crowd.
"Seki-aniki... thanks for playing with me."
Ren bared a row of blood-stained teeth. "A proper 'Festival' needs a proper
fight, after all!"
The sight of the two warriors acknowledging each other sent the plaza into a
frenzy.
"BEAUTIFUL FIGHT, BOYS!" "SET THE REMATCH SOON!" "REN-CHIN IS THE BEST!"
"SEKIBAYASHI! YOU'RE THE MAN!"
After a final salute, the session officially ended. The crowd began to filter
out toward the food stalls. Ren and Sekibayashi were immediately surrounded by
their friends and handlers.
"Ren-chin!"
Fusui Kure spread her arms and tackled Ren in a massive hug, causing the
surrounding Kure members to hoot and laugh. Jaku Kaioh was already busy passing
out business cards, his mouth a non-stop machine of technical advice that made
everyone's brow furrow in social exhaustion.
The two fighters walked together toward the cordoned-off preparation area,
ducking behind the heavy curtains.
The moment they were out of the public eye—"Nngh?!"
Ren and Sekibayashi let out a synchronized groan. Both men dropped to one knee,
blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. They were both in a state of
near-total physical collapse.
"Phew... hah... damn, that hurts..."
Sekibayashi clutched his jaw, supported by the CEO of Gandai, Gen Shikano.
"Point-blank technical strikes are no joke. I think my jaw is actually crooked!"
The bald Chairman chuckled, patting the giant on the shoulder. "Your face says
otherwise, Jun. You look like you just won the lottery."
Sekibayashi gave a thumbs-up. "Hahaha! Naturally! I'm going to win the next
one!"
Gen Shikano handed him a water bottle. "As expected of the strongest fighter I
know."
"Don't talk crap. I've still got a long way to climb!"
The two old friends shared a laugh. Sekibayashi turned to look at Ren, who was
also struggling to stay upright.
"摔角手 (Wrestlers) are professionals, kid," Sekibayashi noted, sounding confused.
"Part of the job is never letting the audience see the pain behind the curtain.
That's why I stayed standing until we hit the exit. But you? Why did you act so
tough?"
Pfft... pfft...
Ren spat out a blood clot and grinned. "Because it looked cooler that way,
didn't it?"
Sekibayashi froze, then burst into a laugh.
Ren slung an arm around Fusui's neck for support. "Well? Tell me the truth. I
looked pretty badass out there, right?"
Fusui giggled, helping him to his feet. "The most badass, Ren-chin."
At that moment, Haruo Kono [The God of Destruction] was watching the exchange.
He was drenched in sweat, his massive frame vibrating with a mix of excitement
and profound shock.
"The two of you... no, everyone in that ring... you're all so incredible!"
Haruo began to weep, tears and sweat mingling on his face. He looked at the
legends with a gaze of pure, desperate longing.
"Can... can someone like me change?"
"I'm a failure. I betrayed my village. I let myself rot."
"Can I become like you? Can I become a man who fights with everything he has?!"
"..."
The seniors—Erio Kure, Shibukawa, and Kurachi—all shared a knowing, faint smile.
They had seen many men find their souls in the sand of a ring.
Jaku Kaioh looked on with maternal approval.
Ren reached into Fusui's pocket, plucked out a Soul Combat Hub business card,
and slapped it into Haruo's meaty palm.
Sekibayashi, meanwhile, stood tall. Hearing Haruo's plea reminded him of his own
past. He didn't know his parents; he had been a delinquent who thought he had
nothing to lose until he found the SJPW.
Pro-Wrestling had given him a Master, a family, and a purpose.
"Yeah. You can," Sekibayashi said, stepping forward to pat the giant on the
shoulder. "Anyone—and I mean anyone—can reinvent themselves if they have the
heart for it!"
Hearing those words, Haruo's sobbing intensified.
"I—I..."
He thought of the matches he had just seen. "I've wasted so much time! I've
missed so much! I'm so sorry!!"
Sekibayashi reached up and ruffled the giant's hair with a massive hand. "It
starts now. So stop crying and stand up!"
By the time they reached the clinical area, it was official: Haruo Kono would
become the first official disciple of Jun Sekibayashi, starting his new
cultivation from zero.
Jaku Kaioh: "..." Jaku Kaioh: "Wait... what about me?!"
Haruo scratched his head sheepishly. "Uh... Master Jaku... I'm not really a
technical grappling guy. I like the 'Loud and Proud' style better."
Jaku slumped into a corner, dejectedly drawing circles in the dust.
The match was over. Both warriors were covered in gore but lacked any
life-threatening injuries. The immediate priority was a long, hot soak to clear
the adrenaline and the blood.
A local Kure bathhouse sat nearby, featuring private open-air tubs for the
combatants.
SPLASH!
Ren Shiroki hoisted a bucket of warm water and dumped it over his head, rinsing
the grit and blood away. He lowered himself into the medicinal hot spring,
letting the water rise to his chin. He let out a long, echoing sigh of relief.
"Phew!"
It was exhilarating. His right wrist—and honestly, his entire body—ached with a
dull, throbbing pain, yet the joy he felt was undeniable. Every man he had
fought—Shibukawa, Jose, Jaku, and Seki-aniki—had left a "Signature" on his soul.
One battle after another. It was agonizing, yet his cells were cheering. He
couldn't hold back the smile.
The sun had set, leaving a fiery red streak across the horizon. From the streets
outside, the sound of traditional festival music began to rise.
The ink-wash lines swirled in the steam of the bath. A vibrant, pulsing rhythm
began to outline a silhouette leaning against the exterior wall of the
bath-room.
[Ah! Is that the new track I'm hearing? The one that's blowing up on the
charts?!]
[Internet music... it's nice. It's real nice—]
[But Combat can't be experienced through a screen, can it?]
Dee Jay tapped his fingers against the wall, creating a light, upbeat tempo.
[Combat is face-to-face. Fist-to-fist. The raw, beautiful sting of the hit!]
[If you aren't close enough for your heartbeats to synchronize...]
[If you aren't right there in the fire... you aren't living the Rhythm.]
Ren Shiroki smiled, leaning his head back against the edge of the tub. Instead
of a rolled towel, his head rested against a pair of soft, bare legs sitting on
the edge.
"Phew...!"
Ren let out another long breath. The warmth of the water and the atmosphere were
perfect.
So, Ren decided to just ignore the question of why Fusui Kure had appeared
behind him in the bath for the third time this week.
It was... a minor detail.
(End of Chapter)
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you