Chapter 46: The Three Emperors, Seven Sages, and Five Kings
"This place is impressive…"
After entering the underground market, Akio Tatsuma slowly scanned his surroundings.
The black market was built directly beneath the shopping mall above it. The space was enormous—at least as large as a football field. If someone installed bright stage lights on the ceiling, it could easily pass for a high-end nightclub.
Different areas were spread throughout the underground complex.
There were gambling sections, illegal weapon dealers, shady trade stalls, and all kinds of underground businesses.
But the most popular attraction was the arena.
Underground fighting—commonly known as black boxing.
Most of the people here dressed strangely or had unusual appearances. Almost everyone seemed like they carried a long and complicated past.
Akio didn't rush into anything.
Instead, he walked calmly toward the center of the market, where the fighting arena was located. That was the true core of the entire underground market.
"Hit him in the jaw!" someone in the crowd shouted.
Akio turned his head and watched.
Inside a cage surrounded by iron fencing, two fighters were battling fiercely. Both were using their Quirks.
One of them was kicked hard and slammed into the metal fence.
The moment his body hit it—
He began convulsing violently.
Akio had already noticed the electric current running through the metal fence. It was clearly designed to prevent fighters from escaping.
The man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Immediately, the crowd erupted.
"Kill him!"
"Finish him!"
"Don't let him get up!"
Akio looked at the spectators coldly.
To the people here, human life meant nothing.
Death was simply entertainment.
If your opponent decided to kill you inside the ring, then the only thing you could do was fight with everything you had.
Otherwise, you wouldn't just lose the match—you would lose your life.
Above the arena hung a massive display screen.
It showed the names and rankings of the top fighters in the underground arena.
Akio focused on the list.
1st – Divine Fist 2nd – Death Scythe 3rd – Joe Bridge 4th – Clifford 5th – Murder Girl 6th – Ichiro Kitazawa 7th – Snow White 8th – River Overlord 9th – Skeleton Killer 10th – Void Trident
These ten fighters were the dominant figures of the underground arena.
People here even called them Underground Heroes.
Among them:
The top three were known as the Three Emperors. The remaining seven were called the Seven Sages.
There was also another group called the Five Kings.
These fighters were ranked just outside the top ten and were considered strong enough to potentially replace one of the Seven Sages.
Akio found the ranking system interesting.
However, the two fighters currently in the arena didn't seem particularly strong.
"My friend," Akio said, turning toward a fat man standing nearby, "are either of the fighters in the ring part of the Three Emperors, Seven Sages, or Five Kings?"
The fat man looked at him with clear disdain.
Seeing Akio wearing a Tiga Ultraman mask and a black cloak, he immediately categorized him.
People dressed like that were usually one of two types.
Either they were incredibly powerful…
Or they were pretending to be mysterious.
The fat man assumed it was the second type.
"You're new here, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes," Akio replied calmly.
"That explains it," the fat man said while rubbing his chin.
"The two fighters in the ring are nobodies. The Three Emperors, Seven Sages, and Five Kings don't appear during this time."
"And the Three Emperors themselves haven't shown up for a long time."
"Why?" Akio asked immediately.
The fat man seemed pleased that someone was listening to him.
"Because fighters at that level are almost impossible to challenge."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"The number one fighter—Divine Fist—was already considered unbeatable five years ago."
"He hasn't appeared for almost a year."
"Some people say he took work overseas."
Akio's interest increased slightly.
"And the second-ranked fighter, Death Scythe, is even more terrifying," the fat man continued.
"In every match he fights, the arena ends up covered in blood."
"Most people don't dare challenge him anymore."
Akio started to feel something strange.
If these fighters were really that powerful, why had he never heard about them before?
"Why doesn't anyone talk about them?" Akio asked.
"Wouldn't professional heroes intervene?"
The fat man looked at him like he had just asked the dumbest question imaginable.
"You think professional heroes would come here?"
He laughed.
"The people backing this underground market are extremely powerful."
"That's why it still exists."
"And the reason you've never heard about these fighters…"
He shrugged.
"You've never reached this level of the world."
"You've only seen what happens on the surface."
Akio nodded slowly.
He had always been focused on U.A. High School and the League of Villains.
He had never paid attention to the underground world before.
If he hadn't come here today, he might never have known about these hidden fighters.
"If these underground fighters are really that strong…"
Akio murmured quietly.
"Then this world is more complicated than I thought."
The fat man suddenly leaned closer.
"You came here to fight, didn't you?"
Akio nodded.
The fat man laughed loudly.
"You don't look very strong."
"Be careful. Someone might beat you to death in that ring."
Akio rolled his eyes.
"Fat man, can't you say something encouraging?"
He patted the man on the shoulder.
"Since you explained things to me, I'll treat you to a meal if I win."
"Or maybe a hot bath."
"Really?" the fat man asked with surprise.
"Of course."
"But first, I still need to ask you more about those fighters."
The fat man nodded.
"My name is Hiroshi Kumada."
"You can just call me Kumada."
Then he suddenly stared at Akio.
"Can I see your face?"
"No."
Akio refused immediately.
Kumada sighed.
"You're really cautious."
Then something suddenly occurred to him.
"Wait…"
"Don't tell me…"
"You came here to challenge the Three Emperors, Seven Sages, or Five Kings?"
Akio looked at him like the question was obvious.
"Of course."
"Why else would I ask so many questions?"
Kumada stared at him silently.
Then he thought to himself:
This guy must be crazy.
Challenging the Three Emperors, Seven Sages, or Five Kings?
Does he have a death wish?
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