Yujiro Hanma brushed the dust from his body and stepped out through the gap in the wall.
This time, he wasn't smiling.
But the light in his eyes as he looked at Jaden was growing brighter by the second.
However-
"Yuki, if this is all the power you've got..."
"...then this is going to be very disappointing."
Despite being the one who had just been forced back, Yujiro Hanma was the one who said it.
Because it was true.
Even Yujiro Hanma had to admit that Jaden's previous attack was strong.
But-
That level of force was something Yujiro Hanma could easily produce himself if he wanted to.
And that ultra-short-range method of generating power?
To Yujiro Hanma, it was simple.
Simple enough that he had already learned it after seeing it once.
This was precisely the core reason Yujiro Hanma had once wanted to have a child and raise him as an opponent.
His strength was never static.
Yujiro Hanma grew stronger constantly.
And when he fought strong opponents, he grew stronger during the fight itself.
If an opponent was much stronger than him, he might surpass them after a few battles.
If an opponent was around his level, he might surpass them during the confrontation.
Those kinds of opponents couldn't satisfy him.
What he wanted was someone who could fight him endlessly.
Or someone who was always stronger than him.
Unfortunately-
Such a person did not exist.
So, back then, he turned his gaze toward a child he hadn't even sired yet.
A child who carried his bloodline.
If raised properly, that child would surely be like him-someone who could continue growing under pressure, in battle.
If he couldn't find someone stronger than himself...
Then finding someone who could at least keep fighting him was an acceptable compromise.
And because of that-
"Yuki-"
Yujiro Hanma charged forward.
The instant his foot landed, his fist shot out.
-It was the exact move Jaden had just used.
The same power-generation method.
The same exertion of force.
Even the power was identical to the casual punch Jaden had thrown moments earlier.
Yujiro Hanma wanted to use this to tell him something.
-Being only this strong is not enough.
Then-
The moment Yujiro Hanma saw Jaden move, his eyes widened.
Jaden took half a step back.
Then his arms swung backward as his waist twisted, coiling into a spiral.
This was-
In the instant Yujiro Hanma realized what was happening, danger surged.
Jaden's figure appeared at his side.
His arm was fully wound-
And smashed upward toward Yujiro Hanma's chin.
-The Killing God Strike.
The exact same Killing God Strike Yujiro Hanma had just used.
Bang!
The blow landed.
Yujiro Hanma was sent flying backward.
This time, even he didn't remain standing.
He crashed to the ground and didn't get up immediately.
Because the punch had hit his chin.
Under normal circumstances, a person would've lost consciousness.
Possibly even died.
At the very least, they'd be disoriented or concussed.
But-
Common sense didn't apply to Yujiro Hanma.
He stayed down.
Then, after roughly thirty seconds, he recovered.
He rolled backward, landed in a crouch, and slowly stood up.
In that posture, Yujiro Hanma looked at Jaden.
And laughed.
-Hahaha.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
This laughter was even more terrifying than before.
"That's it."
"This is the opponent I need."
"Yuki-come on."
"Satisfy me!"
As Yujiro Hanma spoke, he raised his hands high and clenched his fists in midair.
His upper-body clothing tore apart, as if something inside him had burst through.
The Ogre's face appeared on his back.
And as Yujiro raised his arms, the Ogre on his back roared as well.
Then he spread his arms wide.
His legs shifted slightly apart.
Doppo Orochi, who had been watching the arena the entire time, felt a shock pass through his remaining eye.
"It's smiling."
"The Ogre on Yujiro Hanma's back... it's smiling."
Hearing this, Baki Hanma frowned and nodded slowly.
"Maybe he's never faced an opponent this strong before..."
"...damn it."
"Just how strong is that guy?"
His words were vague.
For a moment, no one was sure who he was cursing.
Doppo Orochi, understanding him, slowly shook his head.
"But this match is about to end, Baki."
"When Yujiro Hanma reveals that Ogre face..."
"He becomes a real demon."
Before this fight, Doppo Orochi had already clashed seriously with Yujiro Hanma.
Before the Ogre appeared, Doppo could still exchange blows with him.
But once that face emerged-
Forget losing an eye.
He had nearly died.
"That Yujiro Hanma has released the Ogre hidden inside him."
"No one can defeat him in that state."
As Doppo spoke, Yujiro Hanma prepared to step forward again.
Then-
He stopped.
Because Jaden raised his hands.
Just like Yujiro Hanma had done moments earlier.
He lifted his arms high above his head.
Then clenched his fists.
Instantly, Jaden's upper-body clothing was shredded apart.
And an Ogre on his back roared.
The moment Jaden activated the Ogre Back-
His aura completely changed.
If his previous presence had been relaxed...
Now-
He felt like the only being standing between heaven and earth.
Just standing there, he seemed to be looking down on everything below.
That savage aura spread outward.
Several weaker fighters sitting close to the arena seats blacked out instantly when it washed over them.
In the audience section, because Jaden deliberately restrained it, no one fainted-
But no one dared to cheer either.
The surrounding fighters fell completely silent.
Even Doppo Orochi stopped speaking.
Baki Hanma clenched his fists tighter.
Jack Hanma's eyes widened the moment he saw Jaden's back.
At this time, Baki truly believed that Yujiro Hanma had only one son.
So even though Jaden had also revealed the Ogre Back, Baki only felt suspicion.
He wasn't willing to accept that conclusion yet.
But Jack Hanma knew better.
He knew Yujiro Hanma had more than one child.
Because he himself was an illegitimate son.
So-
It wasn't strange for Yujiro Hanma to have another.
It was completely plausible.
Yet even if he could accept it-
He couldn't accept it.
He had sacrificed everything for power.
And still-
He couldn't reach that man's level.
But Jaden-
-That back said everything.
He had inherited that power.
Perhaps even surpassed it.
Damn it.
-Why can't I do that?
Jack Hanma roared internally.
But Jaden neither knew nor cared.
At this moment, he looked at Yujiro Hanma, who had clearly frozen for an instant.
Jaden smiled.
Wider.
He rolled his shoulders slightly.
Then he took a step forward on his own.
"I'm in a pretty good mood today."
"So I'll warm up with you for a bit~"
"And..."
"Yujiro Hanma."
"The words you just said belong to me."
"If this is all you've got-"
"...then this is going to be very disappointing."