Late at night, beneath the cold white lights of the Underground Arena, a burly man in a brown coat stood beside Mitsunari Tokugawa at the center of the ring.
The man's yellow crew cut and heavy build made him impossible to miss.
Sikorsky, one of the five death row convicts.
The arena, usually roaring with cheers and applause, was unnervingly silent. The stillness was so complete that even breathing felt loud.
"There's a scent in the air," Sikorsky muttered, inhaling deeply. A twisted smile spread across his face. "Fresh blood."
"The Tokugawa blood has been stirring something in me these past few days. That strange excitement."
"Tonight, I'll find the reason."
"Truly strong ones," he added, eyes gleaming, "can only be found here."
Mitsunari Tokugawa watched him quietly, his expression serious. A sense of anticipation weighed heavily on his mind. Tonight, something dangerous was about to surface.
Footsteps echoed through the empty corridors.
Steady. Unhurried.
"Welcome," Tokugawa said.
From different directions, three figures emerged like phantoms.
Doyle.
Spec.
Yanagi Ryuko.
Their eyes gleamed with the cold hunger of predators.
Tokugawa stood at the center of the ring, gently fanning himself, excitement barely concealed.
"Gentlemen," he said, his voice echoing through the arena, "your opponents tonight are not ordinary fighters."
"They will show you a form of defeat you have never experienced."
Spec laughed, licking his lips. "Enough with the buildup, old man."
"We didn't break out of prison just to hear you talk."
"So?" he sneered. "Are these opponents actually worth my time?"
A calm voice drifted down from above.
All four convicts looked up at the stands.
A figure walked forward, hands in his pockets, dressed in simple black training clothes.
He looked relaxed, almost bored.
Yet the pressure he carried was unmistakable.
Sol Mirek.
Behind him, Baki Hanma, Retsu Kaioh, and Doppo Orochi entered the arena at an even pace.
"These are your opponents," Tokugawa announced, his excitement no longer hidden.
"I believe they will give you exactly what you've been craving."
Retsu glanced at Sol, surprise flickering briefly across his face before settling. It was unexpected, but not unreasonable. A talent like Sol being invited by Tokugawa made sense.
The eight fighters took their positions.
Spec pointed at Sol, annoyance written clearly across his face. "Old man, are you serious?"
"The others have names, reputations," he scoffed. "And this kid?"
Doyle narrowed his eyes, studying Sol's lean frame. "Looks like he'd go down in one hit."
Yanagi remained silent.
But his gaze never left Sol.
As an assassin, Yanagi trusted instinct more than logic, and every instinct he had was screaming danger.
This young man felt wrong.
If the death row convicts were beasts, then Sol was something else entirely.
Tokugawa smiled calmly. "Don't underestimate him."
"Sol Mirek defeated Dorian."
The arena froze.
Sikorsky's eyes widened. The others stiffened instantly.
"Dorian?" Sikorsky repeated slowly.
Tokugawa nodded. "Yes."
"And Dorian was armed," he added casually. "Sol defeated him without taking a single injury."
The air thickened.
They all knew Dorian's strength. Cruel, deceptive, and brutally effective.
Spec grinned, excitement flaring. "Now that's interesting."
Tokugawa cleared his throat. "Earlier, Sikorsky said something that stuck with me."
"You convicts believe prepared matches are just games."
"So let's do something different."
His voice dropped, echoing beneath the arena dome.
"This will not be limited to the ring."
"Life is unpredictable," Tokugawa continued. "True strength is tested when danger arrives without warning."
"These four fighters," he said, gesturing proudly, "exist to grant your wish."
"To finally experience defeat."
He spread his arms wide.
"They can do it."
Baki yawned. "So when does this actually start?"
Sol tilted his head slightly. "Why not start now?"
Tokugawa smiled. "Exactly."
"Not just here," he said calmly. "Anywhere."
"No rules."
"While eating. While sleeping."
His gaze swept across them.
"Even while you're in bed with a woman."
"This is what a real fight looks like."
The arena went dead silent.
The convicts' eyes gleamed with savage excitement.
"Well then," Sol said lazily, stretching. "I'm heading home."
He turned and walked away.
"Wait up," Baki said, jogging after him.
There was no fight tonight. They both knew it. And Baki still had school in the morning.
"Since the duel has begun," Tokugawa said slowly, "you may all disperse."
He watched their backs as they left.
With a sharp flick, his fan snapped open.
"Let the game begin."
___
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