Path to Strength

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When Jack charged like a buffalo, Yuji watched the shadow of the massive man swallow him. His excited smile never faded as he clenched his fist in preparation.

This euphoria, this sensation of having his heart pounding in his chest—Yuji wouldn't lie and say he hadn't missed it.

In Korea, no opponent had been able to thrill him as much.

But the man in front of him was different. Jack was stronger than anything he had seen in the Kengan matches.

He was truly someone very strong.

!

As Jack reached him, he readied his fist and launched it, with Yuji immediately raising his guard.

But proving that his attack was just a feint, Jack surprised the younger fighter when he stopped his punch just before landing it, using his other hand to land a powerful blow to Yuji's abdomen, pushing him back.

Yuji gasped as he felt blood rise in his throat, his fingers digging into the ground as his legs trembled from the impact, the damage seemingly coursing through every inch of his body.

"That was a solid hit, and yet, you're still standing." Jack smiled as he spat out some blood. "Wonderful~"

A solid body, monstrous strength. Jack was, indeed, incredible.

But as terrifying as his strength was, and as tough as his body seemed, there was one aspect where Jack seemed to falter.

!

Moving with surprising agility, Jack rushed toward Yuji, lowering himself with the intent to grab his waist.

His skill level was nowhere near enough to surpass someone like Yuji Shinakawa.

"Huh?"

Surprised when his arms were firmly grabbed, Jack lifted his head to see his opponent's legs spread, his abdomen pressed against his back while his body was fully grounded. It was as Yuji had said many times before.

Raw strength would never be enough to defeat him.

'Is he a grappler?!' Jack gritted his teeth as he tried to twist his body in an attempt to shake the boy off his back, but as soon as he spun, he was startled when Yuji followed his movement and forced him to sit on the ground, quickly locking a perfect chokehold around his neck. 'Damn! He's got so much strength in that small body!'

Jack struggled to hold onto Yuji's arm, but it became increasingly useless as the oxygen was cut off, his teeth clenching and the veins on his forehead bulging.

'I won't lose here!' Jack growled, planting his feet firmly. He surprised Yuji as he began lifting himself off the ground using only the strength of his back and legs, the ground cracking as his fingers sank in.

'Terrifying!' Yuji thought with a grin.

Just as he was about to release the choke, his eyes widened when Jack suddenly jumped and turned his back to the ground in an attempt to crush him. 'Shit!'

Boom!

Propelling himself away, Yuji barely avoided being crushed, his eyes narrowing as he turned to see Jack getting up with little reaction to the fall.

"It seems choking you out isn't going to work, huh?" Yuji took a stance, his gaze hardening as his aura became oppressive. "Then this time, I'll use brute force."

"..." Jack grinned widely upon hearing that, spreading his arms and inviting Yuji to throw his strongest attack at him.

Jack wouldn't be Jack if he didn't have blind faith in his own strength.

This made Yuji blink in slight confusion. Someone inviting him to attack with everything he had… There weren't many brave enough to do that in front of him.

But if Jack wanted to be so proud, Yuji wouldn't deny him…

As the veins in his body bulged, his aura exploded in all directions with an oppressive force, making Jack's eyes widen in complete surprise.

'What is this?' Jack wondered, shocked, his eyes roaming over his opponent's rigid muscles, realizing his terrifying increase in strength. 'How… How did he become stronger?!'

Boom!

With Yuji vanishing from sight, Jack coughed up blood as a fist struck his solar plexus with such force that he felt his insides being crushed, his wide eyes glancing down to see a leg mere inches from his face. 'I…'

Boom!

Taking a direct kick, Jack's enormous body spun absurdly in the air, his feet landing solidly on the ground despite his completely dazed state. 'I want this…'

Boom!

Receiving another powerful punch to the face, Jack felt his jaw shatter as his body was slammed into the ground with such force that it crushed him against the hard stadium floor. 'That increase in strength…'

Boom!

And being hit by a kick that sent him flying into the stands, a semi-conscious Jack crashed hard into the stadium wall, blood streaming down his face as he struggled between the realm of consciousness. 'Teach me…'

"..." Yuji silently watched as Jack showed no signs of returning to the fight, and with a satisfied nod, he let his body calm down. "Four full-power hits, there aren't many people in the world who could withstand that… Your mistake was being too proud. I still have to face Pickle, so I would never hold back in my attacks."

Turning toward the elevator that led to the arena below the stadium, Yuji began to walk away with a satisfied smile.

"Under better circumstances, I'd love to talk with you, Jack." And turning to take one last look at the man, Yuji spoke honestly. "So let's talk after this, Mr. Jack!"

!

Just as he was about to continue on his way, Yuji widened his eyes when Jack suddenly groaned, his fingers moving first before his entire body slowly started to shift.

'He's still conscious?'

Placing his feet firmly on the ground, Jack stood up with a single push, his aura leaking uncontrollably from his body as consciousness finally returned to his eyes.

"Still alive, huh?" Yuji was shocked for a moment, but then grinned excitedly as he turned to face him. "Shall we continue then?"

Rooting himself to the ground, Yuji once again took a stance, hardening his muscles in anticipation, his body heating up as he prepared to continue the battle.

"Fight me, son of the ogre!"

Jack smiled, his bloodied teeth showing, as his battered body began to move toward the boy, growling like a ferocious beast.

Jack refused to lose; he refused to fall.

The will to win was ingrained in his being, to the point that he wouldn't give up until he crowned himself the victor.

He would rise as many times as it took!

Boom!

.

Pickle stared at the ceiling with genuine interest, his mouth open in a thoughtful expression.

That heavy sound he had just heard… He remembered hearing something like that countless times in his life.

The distant sound of battles between the creatures he used to hunt in his ancient world.

He might not be able to see it, but he could feel it through the tremors… Two powerful creatures were fighting right above him.

This was… exciting!

Pickle could tell he was thrilled just by the idea of two powerful beings fighting so close to him, and he was even tempted to see it with his own eyes… But for some reason, he felt like something big was about to happen.

His body reacted strangely whenever a new toy seemed close to coming his way.

He just had to sit still and wait patiently.

His next prey would soon arrive before him…

"Sorry for the delay."

Pickle widened his eyes when a voice sounded from the entrance to the underground arena, quickly turning to see the visitor he had been waiting for.

And Pickle couldn't help but show surprise as he noticed the man's body covered in blood… Probably from some prey he had hunted?

"Did I keep you waiting too long, Pickle?"

With a gentle tone, this man asked as he stood calmly before Pickle, the prehistoric beast rising with a stature that far exceeded his own.

"I apologize again."

Seeing him bow, Pickle blinked a few times. After seeing these small creatures perform this gesture so many times, Pickle had come to understand what it meant.

They were apologizing to him.

But what reason did this new toy have to ask for forgiveness? Had he done something wrong?

Pickle often felt that those around him acted in strange ways… Many times he could barely understand their gestures, though he could read their intentions.

"In any case, we should begin."

Pickle widened his eyes when, from the small man, a strong intent exploded from his body.

It was, indeed, just as his body had predicted. Someone interesting would soon come to him.

And this small man was very different from the other two Pickle had faced.

He was even stronger!

"My name is Yuji Shinakawa, Pickle." Introducing himself with a smile, Yuji took a deep breath as he stared into the eyes of the prehistoric giant. "You're going to make me stronger, so I have only to thank you.

From this moment on, fight me with everything you've got!"

Pickle looked surprised for a moment, before his smile widened to reveal his fangs.

Pickle might not understand his words, but he could read his intentions, and this small man…

Wanted to face him with everything!