The surrounding audience-fighters included-still couldn't fully comprehend the battle between Jaden and Hanma Yujiro.
Before, what they failed to understand were techniques.
Concepts.
Now-
"This... is this really something a human can do!?"
"The human body... it's actually this miraculous!?"
Exclamations burst out uncontrollably.
Because what appeared before their eyes was no longer something like the Ogre Back-something that could at least be explained.
This was different.
More absurd.
More incomprehensible.
Visible electrical light flowed from Jaden's forearm into his palm. In less than the blink of an eye, blue light rapidly condensed, gathering into a sphere of light that fit neatly in one hand.
"Don't die, Yujiro."
With Jaden's voice, the blue sphere flew from his palm.
Almost simultaneously-
A violent explosion erupted at Yujiro Hanma's position.
Blue flames surged outward, mixed with thick black smoke, blasting away from the epicenter and rolling across the arena.
When the smoke cleared-
Yujiro Hanma was still standing.
His body was scorched black, smoke curling off him. His arms were crossed tightly in front of his vitals, locked in a defensive posture.
He hadn't fallen.
The spectators were completely stunned.
Jaden walked forward calmly.
He raised a finger.
And lightly tapped Yujiro Hanma on the forehead.
The force was minimal.
Yet Yujiro fell straight backward.
His arms spread open as he collapsed, his body slamming onto the ground.
Only then did everyone clearly see it.
His eyes-
Completely white.
Jaden looked down at him and let out a quiet sigh.
"I really didn't intend to kill you."
"And I did hold back."
"But surviving that attack alone is enough to prove your strength."
He paused.
"Since you lived..."
"Then keep getting stronger, warrior."
With that, Jaden turned away.
He walked toward Tokugawa's position, stepped onto the edge of the arena, and leapt directly into Tokugawa's private viewing area.
Standing there, he looked at the visibly tense Tokugawa and spoke plainly.
"I've fought the fight I wanted."
"Disqualify me from this competition."
"Goodbye."
Having already fought Hanma Yujiro, Jaden had no interest in facing anyone else.
As for the commotion-
Defeating Yujiro.
Using an energy blast.
By all measures, it should've been big enough.
So he planned to leave.
Then he would find a way to contact Old Man Yugi and see whether this level of impact was sufficient.
If it was-
He might go find Kaioh Kaku.
Or Oliva Biskuit.
Fight them one by one and stir things up further.
If it wasn't-
Then he might have to stay until Pickle or Musashi appeared.
"If possible, I hope it's the former."
"If this much is enough, I can go back sooner."
"And with the provocation this time, the fighters of this world will feel like an entirely new realm has opened."
"They'll chase it madly once they have a goal."
"Then the next time I come..."
"It'll be interesting."
As for now-
"The fight still wasn't satisfying enough."
"Before, I thought it was a good thing that this world wasn't like Dragon Ball."
"It made Old Man's plan easier."
"But now that I think about it..."
"If this world were One Piece instead, maybe I could've had a truly satisfying fight."
Thinking that far-
"Maybe I'm a little disappointed."
"But completing Old Man's mission quickly isn't a bad thing either."
"As for the fighters here..."
"I think they'll grow a lot by next time."
"But right now..."
"...they're probably too scared of me to want to fight."
Jaden was used to this.
In his own world, it was always the same.
People were terrified at first.
They stopped challenging him.
Then they went back and trained like mad in secret.
This world wouldn't be any different.
...
And indeed-
Jaden had terrified the fighters of this world.
Many who came to participate in the Strongest on Earth tournament were utterly shaken.
Just as he expected.
Some of them gave up entirely.
They didn't even want to face him.
However-
A small handful were different.
"Damn it... that guy ran away!"
"When this competition ends, I'm going to find him!"
"I have to fight him!"
Jack Hanma returned late, unable to catch up to Jaden. His face was twisted with fury as he complained.
A fighter beside him-someone who had already given up-looked at Jack in disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"He seriously injured Yujiro Hanma."
"You still want to fight that monster?"
Jack Hanma turned and glared at him.
"I should be asking you that."
"You just witnessed a realm higher than anything we imagined."
"Better techniques."
"More wondrous moves."
"And you can just... accept that and walk away?"
"To give up victory to save your life."
"To give up getting stronger to save your life."
"What kind of fighter does that make you?"
Jack Hanma had already decided.
Or rather-
There was nothing to decide.
Even if he died at Jaden's hands, it wouldn't matter.
What mattered was this-
He had to personally experience that power.
The power that created that sphere of light.
Before meeting Jaden, he believed Yujiro Hanma stood at the peak.
After seeing that attack-
He knew he was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
-Jaden was the power he wanted to pursue.
No matter the cost.
Even death was acceptable.
Hearing this, many fighters nearby instinctively shrank back.
But Doppo Orochi stepped forward instead.
"Hahaha-well said!"
Doppo didn't elaborate.
But the veins bulging across his arms told the whole story.
He was just as exhilarated.
After saying that single sentence, he walked off to the side, packing his things while grinning foolishly.
Drool slipped from the corner of his mouth without him noticing.
Anyone who got close could hear him muttering one word, over and over.
"Bliss..."
Jack Hanma was like this.
Doppo Orochi was like this.
Goki Shibukawa smiled and joined them.
Even Kaioh Retsu, though he didn't stand particularly close, walked over as well.
Contrary to Jaden's expectations-
The fools of this world.
The ones who refused to abandon the dream of becoming the strongest.
A dream most children let go of-
Were far, far more foolish than he had imagined.