Ah...
This time, even the fighters who had been angered by Jaden's words were stunned.
Because-
The person Jaden had just provoked-
Was Hanma Yujiro.
The Ogre.
The man known for monstrous arm strength.
The Strongest Creature on Earth.
The King.
A single man said to possess the threat level of a nuclear weapon.
The existence capable of forcing a superpower into a unilateral peace treaty.
In this world, even people who knew nothing about martial arts knew the name Hanma Yujiro.
The fighters gathered here today-
Each of them was the strongest in some regard.
The strongest of a style.
The strongest in a category.
That was why Tokugawa had invited them.
To compete for the title of Strongest on Earth.
But Tokugawa knew the truth.
If Yujiro Hanma participated-
Then aside from Jaden-
Even if everyone else attacked together, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Yujiro Hanma never declared himself the Strongest on Earth.
But if there were a global vote-
Anyone who had seen him would choose him.
Because it wasn't a title.
It was a fact.
A fact you accepted the moment you saw him.
And yet-
This man had just been compared to an ant.
Right to his face.
For that alone, Jaden's earlier "boasts" could no longer be dismissed.
Because none of them-
Not a Martial God.
Not a Martial Saint.
Not Katsumi Orochi.
Not Baki Hanma.
Not Jack Hanma-
None of them could have said those words to Yujiro.
But Jaden did.
And Yujiro-
"Hahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!"
He roared with laughter.
His grin twisted so violently that the muscles of his face bunched together.
Wrinkles spread like cracks.
In that moment, he truly looked like an Ogre.
And that smile-
Was more terrifying than his rage.
Baki and Jack Hanma, who had been about to rush forward, stopped instantly.
Only Jaden remained calm.
Both men were smiling now.
One lightly.
One wildly.
The air itself seemed to reject the presence of anyone else.
No referee announced anything.
No match had been scheduled.
Yet everyone watching fell silent.
Because no one doubted it anymore-
An unprecedented battle was about to erupt.
This time, even Tokugawa didn't interfere.
When his bodyguard asked whether to deploy the armed unit hidden in the stands, Tokugawa shook his head.
"Tell Nobi to withdraw."
"We don't need them anymore."
"I arranged them because I was afraid this competition-my lifelong dream-would turn into a one-sided slaughter by Yujiro."
"But I knew this already."
"A Strongest on Earth competition without Yujiro Hanma..."
"Isn't a Strongest on Earth competition at all."
His eyes gleamed as he stared at the arena.
"This..."
"This is the showdown I want~!"
The bodyguard nodded and left.
In the arena, Yujiro Hanma and Jaden stopped laughing almost simultaneously.
Yujiro raised his arms.
His stance resembled a beast just before pouncing.
He wasn't angry.
He had been waiting.
Waiting for words like those.
Yujiro Hanma had long since reached the summit.
From there, he saw no one.
Only emptiness.
Techniques he perfected had no opponent.
Achievements he attained had no witness.
He was lonely.
He had waited far too long.
His foot slammed down.
But he didn't rush.
Instead, he twisted his torso, pulling his right arm back to its limit, coiling his entire body like a spring.
Then-
His figure blurred.
No one could tell when he moved.
Because when they saw him again-
He was already in front of Jaden.
His fully wound fist smashed toward Jaden's chin from the side.
-Killing God Strike!
Bang!
The strike landed cleanly.
And yet-
Jaden didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Yujiro's fist rested against Jaden's chin.
His foot dug into the ground.
His entire weight poured into the blow.
But-
It was useless.
Jaden didn't defend.
He simply turned his eyes toward Yujiro.
Then-
He threw a punch.
The distance was short.
His left foot stepped forward.
The instant it landed-
His left fist connected.
Support and contraction aligned perfectly.
Even at point-blank range, the one-inch punch exploded with terrifying force.
Yujiro's instincts screamed.
He contracted his body instantly.
Pulled back his extended arm.
Raised knee and elbow into a spear-like structure.
Braced with both hands.
Only then did he block it.
Even so-
He was blasted backward.
His foot scraped across the ground.
His back slammed into the arena wall.
Cracks spread.
Then he stopped.
Silence.
They had exchanged only one blow.
And everyone understood.
Even Baki and Jack-
This man wasn't unqualified.
He could repel Yujiro.
No-
He could overpower him.
The lion-and-ant remark...
Was no longer arrogance.
This man truly saw them as ants.
And disdained to show his strength.
Because-
He was too strong.