Pfft!
Several bloody holes opened across Kaku Kaioh's waist.
The most dangerous part wasn't the blood itself-it was the force.
Jaden's fingers had pierced through, and the power followed.
Two opposing forces collided inside Kaku Kaioh's body. Add to that the fact that he was being restrained, and his ability to fully employ deflection was completely suppressed.
He wasn't Jaden.
Jaden could take an absurd amount of punishment.
Kaku Kaioh couldn't.
Even so, his resistance to blows was far beyond that of an ordinary old man. In truth, it was probably higher than that of many top-tier fighters.
And although he specialized in ultra-high-level deflection, that didn't mean he couldn't use the more basic form that Jaden employed.
With both factors combined, Kaku Kaioh didn't die on the spot.
But his horse stance guard collapsed.
Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't grit his teeth and endure.
It was that he shouldn't.
Because at this point, even without understanding how Jaden did it, one thing was clear-
This opponent could release terrifying inch power with nothing but his fingers.
Maintaining that stance would bring only harm.
No benefit.
That judgment, made with a barely recovered mind, triggered Kaku Kaioh's instinct to retreat.
Immediately.
But-
Jaden had no intention of letting him leave so easily.
"Rokushiki Secret Technique."
"Six King Gun."
The instant Kaku Kaioh tried to pull away, Jaden clasped his hands together.
All the force in his body converged.
Then-
He slammed it straight into Kaku Kaioh's crossed arms.
Boom!
A spiraling shockwave tore through Kaku Kaioh's frail body and burst out from his back.
Dust exploded outward.
To the onlookers, it looked like raw force had taken physical form.
Kaku Kaioh was launched.
But not sent flying.
The power robbed him of bodily control, and he dropped straight down from midair.
At that moment, he no longer looked like a Kaioh.
Just an old man.
Fragile.
Blood-soaked.
On the verge of collapse.
Jaden's expression didn't change.
He stepped in.
Swung his arm.
And punched straight toward Kaku Kaioh's chin.
Several spectators instinctively stepped forward to stop him.
Then froze.
Because-
The instant Jaden's fist landed-
As Kaku Kaioh's feet touched the ground and lifted again-
He spun.
Again.
Ultra-high-level deflection.
A backflip in midair.
His leg lashed out, kicking Jaden in the chin and returning Jaden's own force to him.
Kaku Kaioh landed.
Didn't retreat.
He raised his head.
Blood sprayed.
His center of gravity lifted.
And then-
Twelve punches.
A rapid storm aimed straight at Jaden.
Jaden used his own deflection to absorb it.
Then drew his fist back.
And swung toward Kaku Kaioh's head-
Only to stop just short.
"Tch."
He had known this move existed.
He'd known it for a long time.
But experiencing it firsthand-
It was infuriating.
He really wanted to just smash Kaku Kaioh's head.
The thought lasted an instant.
Then he discarded it.
Jaden looked at the old man standing there-bloodied, upright, fists raised, clearly unwilling to fall before death.
And grumbled.
"You're really despicable like this."
He turned around.
And walked away.
The crowd automatically parted for him.
Someone asked, trembling-
"Kaioh... what happened to the Kaioh!?"
Jaden's gaze snapped over.
One look.
The man dropped into his seat.
Jaden snorted, clearly irritated.
"He died of old age."
With that, he left.
This was the Baki world.
A world of the strong.
No one dared stop him.
And he didn't care what happened afterward.
As expected, the crowd dispersed quickly.
The matter vanished.
No discussion.
No pursuit.
As if nothing had happened.
Kaku Kaioh-
Was not dead.
That very evening, when Jaden went to see him, the old monster who claimed chopsticks and bowls were heavy was sitting upright, eating a large meal.
With a bowl.
Seeing Jaden approach, he grinned.
"You've come, Strong One."
"Care for some food?"
"Yes."
Jaden didn't hesitate.
He sat down across from him, took the bowl and chopsticks from the attendant, and ate.
They didn't talk.
Not during the meal.
Not after.
When Jaden finished, he wiped his mouth and stood, preparing to leave for real this time.
At the doorway, Kaku Kaioh spoke.
"Thank you... for today."
"Thank you for not underestimating this old man until the very end."
"Yuki Kaioh."
Jaden snorted.
"I don't care about being a Kaioh or not."
"And fighting you wasn't satisfying enough."
"Next, I'm going to find some punching-bag type and beat him up."
He left without looking back.
As for his next target-
The freest man in the world.
Biscuit Oliva.
-
Jaden had no intention of leaving that night.
He booked a hotel and planned to buy a ticket the next day.
But just as he was about to sleep-
The door opened.
The one who came in was Baki.
He had arrived earlier with the others when the fight was still ongoing.
Jaden raised a hand in greeting, like addressing an old friend.
"Baki."
"What is it-are you planning to challenge me too, like Jack and the others?"
Baki shook his head vigorously.
Then walked over without hesitation.
Pulled a card box from his waist.
And slammed his deck onto the table beside Jaden.
"Yuki."
"I saw you carrying a deck too."
"Forget fighting."
"Card games."
"Wanna play?"