Chapter 328: So Strong!
Since the dawn of time, humanity's pursuit of strength has birthed countless
forms of destruction.
In the primitive era, there were stones, clubs, and bare fists. As technology
advanced, these evolved into swords, spears, firearms, and eventually nuclear
warheads. Modern combat sports further refined the art, categorizing strikes,
throws, and locks.
If you looked closer, the list grew even more granular: knuckles, joints,
fingernails, and even the primal use of teeth. It was a chaotic, star-studded
map of violence.
Ren Shiroki couldn't have explained the philosophy behind all that. He wasn't a
historian or a scholar of war; he had never given it much thought.
But tonight was different.
In the distance, the lights of Kure Village glowed brilliantly, marking the
height of the Summer Festival. People surged through the streets in a vibrant,
noisy celebration. Fireworks rose from the central plaza with a rhythmic
shoo-shoo, blooming into kaleidoscopic blossoms against the dark sky.
And here, on the quiet, deserted hillside...
A boy had his chin gripped by a girl. He was pulled into her orbit, his lips met
by hers.
"————"
Ren couldn't help but shudder. For the first time in his life, he felt the
terrifying "power" of a tongue. So strong!
In the world of martial arts, physical assessment was a fundamental skill, and
Ren's judgment was pin-point accurate. His body, tempered in the fires of a
hundred battles, was capable of standing toe-to-toe with [HELL'S ANGEL] or the
[MAJIN]. Even when their fists carried the weight of a freight train and dealt
agonizing damage, he could endure it through sheer force of will.
But this?
Ren gripped the girl's shoulders, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.
What kind of "technique" was a tongue?
If you failed to intercept it at the start, it was over. There was no "Tanking"
this. You couldn't just endure it! It was like a razor-sharp stiletto slipping
past your guard to find a vital organ.
Exactly how high is the "Attack Power" of this?!
Ren couldn't calculate it.
Even if it were [MR. UNCHAINED] Biscuit Oliva, with his mountains of
invulnerable muscle—if a dagger were slipped into his skull, even he would be
left powerless, wouldn't he?
Though such a thing was physically impossible...
Ren's mind was a whirlwind of tactical confusion. He tried to exert force in his
arms to create distance, but he found he couldn't break the "clinch." More sweat
gathered on his brow.
The thing invading his mouth... it was powerful. And incredibly flexible!
Ren's eyelids flickered, slowly opening from their closed state. His pupils
contracted, trying to focus on the girl's face. Specifically, her eyes.
Those unique Kure Clan eyes were wide open, staring back at him from inches
away. He could see his own reflection in them. The pitch-black sclera, the white
pupils, and the faint, pulsing veins around her sockets—she was beautiful.
Wait... is she applying pressure?
Ren could feel it clearly. He could read her "output" and her movements, but he
couldn't "evade" them. It was as if his very ears were being targeted next—as if
his entire body had become one giant vital point!
Shala!
Fusui Kure suddenly twisted her hips, pivoting to slip behind Ren as if setting
up a Rear Naked Choke.
"—?!"
Ren instinctively leaned back, pinning his shoulders against the picnic mat to
deny her the back-take.
Fusui didn't stop. She adjusted the "Grapple," flowing into a front-facing
choke, pinning herself directly on top of Ren.
Swish!
Ren grabbed the girl's wrists, his arms bulging as he slowly pried her hands
away from his throat. He turned his head toward the distant fireworks, trying to
change the subject. "This... this doesn't count as a joint lock, does it?"
"But it's just as dangerous."
Fusui narrowed her eyes, letting him hold her wrists as she pressed her weight
down further. Her hot breath hit his neck, and she flashed a grin, showing off
her sharp canines.
"Your carotid artery is right in front of me. For an assassin, this is more than
enough. What's the plan, Ren-chin?"
Ren felt a tickle at his neck. He sighed, releasing his left hand to guard his
throat.
Fusui's right hand, now free, slid around the back of Ren's hand, her fingers
pressing firmly against his spine.
"Ren-chin's muscles have great elasticity, so they're quite soft when relaxed,"
she whispered. The girl's black-and-white eyes shimmered in the moonlight. "And
now, even your cervical vertebrae are in danger~!"
Ren took a few ragged breaths and finally let his guard down. He lay flat on the
ground, a look of total helplessness on his face.
Fusui grinned, looking down at him playfully. "Hmph... I guess you're not that
strong after all~!"
The suppression was complete. The winner had been decided. And of course, the
match wouldn't end just yet.
In a fight like this, the victor dictated the terms.
Fireworks continued to bloom, and the Summer Festival entered its rowdiest hour.
Once the main display concluded, Fusui led Ren back down from the secret
hillside. They blended into the crowded streets, wandering through the stalls to
enjoy the rest of the night.
The variety was endless: ring toss, goldfish scooping, whack-a-mole, spinning
tops, karuta cards, ball tossing...
And then there was the classic "Air Rifle" booth. It was Fusui's favorite and
her specialty. Unsurprisingly, she walked away with a mountain of prizes.
Bang!
After sniping the final target, the girl shouldered the air rifle and pumped a
fist. "Yes!"
The stall owner, also a member of the Kure Clan, wiped his forehead and waved
her away. "Every year! My own family ruins my profit margins. Next year, I'm
changing the game!"
Fusui teased him with a laugh. "Changing it to knife throwing? I'd love to play
that too!"
The owner threw his hands up. "I'll just deliver the prizes to your house
directly and save us both the time!"
After some banter, Fusui only took two bags of candy and left the rest for the
owner. Ren sipped on an ice-cold cola and chewed on a candy bean as they
strolled through the village, bumping into familiar faces at every turn.
The cast was a wild mix: underground fighters, CEOs, assassins, gamblers, police
officers, pro-wrestlers, martial arts masters...
And of course, there was that one person who insisted on being called a "healthy
and cheerful ordinary bone enthusiast" (Dr. An Sakurai).
But no matter who they were, everyone was simply a festival-goer tonight.
Naturally, it was time for photos.
[Outdoor Izakaya]
The female fighting circuit, Valkyrie, had booked the entire outdoor section. A
large group was laughing and drinking to their heart's content.
Nozomi Tenma, Ichika Iori, Hana Mitani, Hina Hongo, Yuzuha Li, the Sena sisters,
and even Karura Kure.
Ren and Fusui stopped by the entrance for a group selfie.
Click!
[Quiet Park]
The [KING OF STRANGLERS] Cosmo Imai and his master, [THE FREAK] Mitsuyo
Kureishi, were away from the main noise, enjoying a private BBQ.
"Ren! Fusui! You two look like you're in great spirits!"
"Haha! Shiroki-kun, want some meat? Master's actually a pretty good cook!"
The park was dim, but the camera flash gave the photo a nostalgic, retro vibe.
Click!
[Tea House]
On the second-floor balcony, four CEOs were gathered for a tea party—all members
of the Kengan Association.
Akira Nishihinji (Nishihinji Security), Heihachi Furumi (Furumi
Pharmaceuticals), Gen Shidai (Shidai Services), and Akio Kono (NENTEN).
The first three were laughing non-stop, while Kono still looked as perpetually
stressed as ever. They spotted Ren and Fusui below and waved. Ren tilted the
camera upward, asking Fusui to crouch down to get a perfect three-point
composition.
Click!
[Street Corner]
The pro-wrestling contingent was holding a fan meet-and-greet at a corner,
signing autographs for a long line of fans.
The [GOD OF WRESTLING] Kurachi and [HELL'S ANGEL] Sekibayashi had the longest
lines. Kanazaki, the rookie, was doing his best to keep up. Meanwhile, the
recently apprenticed [GOD OF DESTRUCTION] Haruo Kono was running around, acting
as an assistant to his master and seniors.
Ren and Fusui pushed to the front of the crowd and held the camera high.
Everyone squeezed into the frame, including a few excited fans in the front row.
Click!
"Ahaha!" Sekibayashi reached out with his massive hands, ruffling Ren and
Fusui's hair as he leaned in to flash a peace sign for one more shot.
Click!
[Small Tavern]
Moving through the alleys, they found a small pub that had been rented out by
the Metropolitan Police Department.
The [SAINT OF WAR] Gouki Shibukawa, Inspector Morio Sonoda, and Jaku Kaioh were
there, along with various members of the Judo department.
"Ho ho~!" Shibukawa sat at the front while the others stood in an orderly, yet
characteristically sharp formation for a commemorative photo.
Click!
(Poor Sonoda had clearly had too much to drink and fell right off his chair a
second later.)
Ren and Fusui continued their trek, snapping selfies with various acquaintances
and capturing the scenery.
Arisa, Baku Madarame, and the others had apparently been summoned to the
Patriarch's estate. Akagi and Marco were likely there too, making them
temporarily unreachable.
But aside from them, it felt like one key photo was missing.
After some thought, they headed back to Fusui's house. From a distance, they
could see the second-floor window open. A man wrapped head-to-toe in bandages
was leaning against the frame, staring out at the night air.
Fusui waved. "Aniki! Over here!"
Click!
"This is boring! Leave me alone!" Raian growled.
Many friends had missed this festival, and many more had missed the photos. But
there was no regret to be found.
As long as they kept moving forward—as long as they were still in the
"process"—there would always be a chance to meet again.
Whether it was for a fight or a debate on the nature of strength... to be able
to think about such things anytime, anywhere, was a stroke of incredible luck.
☆☆☆
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