"Ah... this is actually pretty fun..."
Orochi Katsumi said this while backing off slightly.
As he recovered, he kept his guard up against Jaden in front of him, his mind spinning rapidly.
Is this guy using a style focused purely on body conditioning?
Or is he acting relaxed because his style clashes with karate, and he's bluffing?
Or... is this some special system that only trains resistance to strikes?
He couldn't tell.
At all.
While maintaining his guard, Orochi Katsumi spoke slowly.
"Yuki..."
"What style are you using?"
When in doubt, ask.
Things couldn't get worse than they already were. He couldn't see any opening anyway.
But the moment he asked, Jaden froze briefly.
Then-
"Hahaha... hahahahahaha!"
It was as if Orochi Katsumi had asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.
Jaden frowned slightly, like he was looking at something troublesome, and then burst out laughing.
After his laughter died down, he looked at Orochi Katsumi, who now looked genuinely confused.
"Style?"
"What a stupid question."
"I am playing with you right now, sure."
"But this 'play' is still called combat by everyone watching."
"And combat isn't a dojo match."
"It's not a spar."
"It's not some honorable exchange between students."
"Combat is combat."
"It's the direct collision of power between two individuals."
"Everything else-styles, techniques, rules-those are impurities."
"Your purity is too low, Orochi Katsumi."
Jaden's voice echoed throughout the arena.
Many people who called themselves martial artists frowned.
But figures like Doppo Orochi, or Shibukawa Goki-the so-called Martial Saint and the peak of modern martial arts-remained calm.
They even wore faint, knowing smiles.
Hanma Yujiro, seated beside Tokugawa, widened his eyes.
He completely ignored Orochi Katsumi.
His gaze locked onto Jaden.
The look in his eyes was the same one he'd wear when staring at a treasure.
Or a beautiful woman.
He suddenly stood up and laughed loudly.
Then, after a brief pause, sat back down.
Watching.
Waiting.
Tokugawa, seated beside him, saw everything clearly.
He had known Yujiro for a long time.
And he was certain-
Just now, Yujiro Hanma had wanted to jump into the arena and snatch Jaden away from Orochi Katsumi.
But for some reason...
He restrained himself.
Realizing this, Tokugawa looked back at Jaden, his earlier speculation becoming firmer.
To make Yujiro restrain himself...
Jaden... if it's you, then maybe you really do have the qualifications to challenge the King.
Jaden didn't care about the reactions outside the ring.
He looked at Orochi Katsumi, who had fallen silent and was clearly thinking.
Then he shook his head slightly.
He didn't believe his opponent would truly change after hearing those words.
At best, Katsumi might become a little clearer in thought.
A little stronger.
But someone who couldn't hold onto their own beliefs...
Someone so easily shaken-even by their opponent-
Was boring.
The strong don't need validation.
So-
Jaden stepped forward.
"You're really boring, Orochi Katsumi."
"I originally planned to play with you for a while."
"But honestly..."
"I don't even feel like playing anymore."
The moment Jaden took that step, Orochi Katsumi's focus snapped back.
His knees and elbows bent.
His center lowered.
He was ready to shift into Sanchin at any moment.
His eyes widened.
They never left Jaden.
Even if blood splashed into them right now, he wouldn't blink.
He wouldn't miss a single movement.
That was what Orochi Katsumi thought.
But-
The next instant-
Not even a full second later-
Jaden was already beside him.
"Fall."
The flat, icy voice brushed past his ear.
Orochi Katsumi's hair stood on end.
He immediately tried to counterattack-
And failed.
His brain issued the command.
His body received it.
But for some reason, it couldn't execute.
As if the connection itself had frozen.
His thoughts stalled.
Then, slowly-
His sense of space returned.
Time realigned.
Jaden's voice still seemed to echo beside him.
But Orochi Katsumi was already on the ground.
His face had taken a heavy blow.
Judging from the bloodstain beneath him, he'd been struck and sent flying from where he had stood.
His vision dimmed.
His body went limp.
He could no longer resist.
Through the blur, he saw Jaden's back as he walked toward the contestant tunnel.
Using the last of his strength, Orochi Katsumi raised an arm toward him.
"Wait..."
"Yuki..."
"Why are you-someone who appeared out of nowhere-so strong...?"
Blood spilled from his mouth as he spoke.
Jaden paused.
He turned slightly.
Looked down at Orochi Katsumi lying in a pool of blood.
His tone was calm.
Almost casual.
"Does a lion need to show its might to ants?"
So that was it.
Orochi Katsumi understood.
His arm dropped.
His eyes closed.
He passed out.
Staff rushed in immediately to carry him away.
And just as Jaden reached the edge of the arena-
Hanma Yujiro leapt down from the stands.
The entire venue reacted.
Even Jaden stopped and looked at him.
Yujiro was smiling.
"Yuki," Yujiro laughed, "when you said 'lions' and 'ants'..."
"Did you mean the kid who just got carried out was as weak as an ant to you?"
Jaden smiled back.
"No."
He denied it first.
Then his smile widened.
"When I say ants..."
"I don't just mean Orochi Katsumi."
"I mean everyone except me."
His gaze swept across the arena.
Those who met his eyes felt instinctively looked down upon.
Finally, his eyes settled on Yujiro.
Still smiling, Jaden raised a hand and pointed at him.
"And of course..."
"That includes you too, Hanma Yujiro~"