Chapter 25

POV Jack Hanma/Hammer

After the quarter finals match all of us in the Dome felt the series of quakes that's probably on the scale of magnitude 6 or 7.

as the audience panick and rushed out of the arena, we fighters felt different, especially me who's been fighting in the gladiators pits of Canada.

This feeling,this pressure,this presence could only be the Ogre my father fighting,but to whom?

"I see, they've clashed again" Tokugawa spoke out of the blue making me face him with doubt.

"This presence could only be the Ogre and the Demon King fighting" says the old man named Gouki Shibukawa.

Swiveling my head I ask "Demon King?"

The Old man Tokugawa was the one who answered my query "You don't know? he's the King of New Yorks underground, your countries are basically next to each other? how could you not know?"

"I thought he's just a rumour, last year I went to ask about him last year was that he's gone, so I thought he's just a Boogeyman the Yankees created to attract underground fighters" Jack says as he was getting excited at the prospect of facing someone so strong.

"well he's around here for the last 2 years, that might be why he's not in New York" my half little brother Baki spoke as he continued "let's go, I won't have some foreigner beat my old man before I do"

As Baki rushed out I also followed, tracing where the epicenter of the quakes and the oppressive aura, as we found the 2 with my father being only a few inches smaller than the large and very muscular man trading strikes that almost looked like a well coordinated dance between the two of them.

The fighters including me finally snapped out of our mesmerized gaze when the man took a hold of my fathers shoulders then proceeded with the strongest headbutt I've ever seen.

Seeing my father dazed and spouting blood on his nose made me realize how strong the guy is, as my father slapped himself out they proceeded to banter with each other as if they aren't in a fight.

my half brother Baki finally found the right time to intervene rushed and punched the man, but I've noticed that it didn't even flinched the guy as he reacted like being a friend who got surprised by a tap in the shoulders.

I decided to risk my luck and also sent a wide swing at my father who easily dodge it, Seeing the infuriated face of my Father make everyone on wide alert except the guy who's supposedly the Demon King of New York.

As the Demon King defused the situation by telling my father that they can fight another day made the people present relax as my Father stomp away.

As my Father went out of sight, The guy immediately yelled "What are y'all gawking at? get a move on"

Then he immediately ushered my half brother telling Baki that they have to celebrate, As the fighters went their own ways I'm left alone muttering "Why does people thought of this like it's nothing"

As I caught up with them, I followed them towards the club where they proceeded to celebrate like rich High school buddies.

As my half brother Baki went home, I began stalking this Demon King who went back into a high class hotel in the middle of Tokyo.

Now I know where he's staying at I'll come back tomorrow and ask him to fight me.

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POV Kai

Standing in front of Jack Hanma was quite a shock since he personally came to me, taking a good look at him Jack had a very short hair styled like those people who's going bald.

He's also incredibly built like a sculpture of intense body builder, Kai decided to break the ice with "your must be Jack, Tokugawa has told me about you"

"You're the Demon King, Right?" Jack replied giving Kai an intense stare.

"That's what they call me" Kai smiled as he scratched his head.

"Will you fight me?" Jack requested as he subtly flex his muscles as an invitation.

"hmmm, how about if you win the tourney, I'll consider it" Kai put his finger on his lips as if thinking.

"Don't underestimate me, I can rip your flesh in seconds" Jack threatened as a dangerous glint in his eyes shone.

"Well then, why don't we do a strength test? if you can crush my hands, I'll fight you" Kai says as he held out a hand.

surprised by Demon King proposal Jack was stunned for a minute before grinning and taking Kai's hand.

Jack immediately tried to crush the muscled hands of the Demon King only to find that he's getting heavy.

Jack not understanding what's happening took his other hand and used it also to help crush this Demon Kings hand.

Kai amused that Jack tried to use his left hand to assist his right, intensifying his Aiki on Jack's hand made the poor guy kneel.

"Is that all?" Kai taunted which made Jack roar and focus his strength onto his 2 hands.

Kai swiveling his head could see that people are getting attracted by the commotion decided to use Hatsumi Sen's Gathering cloud: triple strike technique.

Quickly striking at Jack's Glabella,Philtrum, and chin allowed Kai to immediately put Jack to sleep.

As he carefully laid Jack down the sofas in the atrium Kai muttered "That's annoying, your strong Jack physically at least but you're relying too much on brute force, that will be your downfall against Baki, at least I hope you'll win against Shibukawa"

As he left the hotel Kai flag down a cab to take him to Baki's house near the Matsumoto's residence.

As Kai paid the cab he could see that the house was pretty common if you compare it to other Japanese houses the only difference was that it's slightly bigger.

As Kai pressed the Doorbell he could hear a feminine voice that she'll get it with a bark from a dog.

Kai waited then the gate was opened by a teenage girl that he assumed was Kozue Matsumoto with a dog by her side which look similar to a Brazilian Mastiff.

"Hello name's Kai, Baki's friend is he in?" Kai politely inquires as he towers over the small lady.

"umm, I think he's training at his training cabin down the alley, let me show you in a second" Kozue told Kai as she went to tell her mother and father that she'll lead me to Baki.

As her parents came to inspect me, Kai put up a winning smile as he wave at Kozue's parents.

As Kozue went out with a lunch box, Kai offered "would you like me to help?"

Which illicited a giggle and a reply from Kozue "It's fine, shall we" as she beckoned for Kai to follow her.

As they walked Kai got to know Baki's Girlfriend, As they reached the street Kai could see a lot of graffiti aimed to insult Baki plastered over every wall.

"Seems disrespectful" Kai muttered which Kozue replied with "it's nothing serious, the local gangs hate Baki since they could not touch him so they resorted to cowardly things like this"

"I see, oh is that the house?" Kai pointed out which Kozue nods as they went inside.

As Kai neared the house he could hear hits and strikes being launched from the inside, As Kozue knock at the walls Kai could hear that the striking stop with Baki full of bruises coming out from the roof.

"Hey, Baki what's up" Kai greeted Baki who's drenched in sweat.

"Just training, thanks Kozue" Baki replied as we sat down on the concrete.

As he eat the 3 of us had a pleasant conversation about school and everyday life while I also inquired why he had bruises, Baki explained this very peculiar training of imagination.

"I see, you're imagining your fight with Retsu" Kai holding his smirk ask Baki.

"Yeah, from what I saw from his fights, He's very strong" Baki says as he swallowed a mouthful of food from the bento lunchbox of Kozue.

"I'm sure you can defeat him, unless you've become rusty while I'm gone" Kai predicted which surprised Baki.

"You've fought Retsu?" Baki asked.

"nah, I haven't even met him, call it intuition and foresight, I can say he's good at fighting but he placed his chips solely on Chinese Kenpo which will be his weakness" Kai explained which Baki nodded finally understanding his point.

"Thanks Kai-san, I've finally found a way to defeat him" Baki bowed which made Kai laugh and flick him in the forehead.

"ouch!" Baki hold the center of his forehead.

"Just don't lose, it'll make me look weak if you've lost" Kai says as he stand up.

"See ya later" Kai wave as he walk away.

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[Later]

[Tokyo Dome underground arena]

Sitting again near Tokugawa for a nice front seat view Kai can't wait for the fight as he snack on some of the foods he brought making Tokugawa winced.

"Can't you wait for the break?" Tukugawa ask which make Kai reply "hmmm, feeling famished? want some?" as he offered some chips.

"Nevermind, oh they are starting" Kai pointed out as Tokugawa wave the chips away.

As the Announcer called Baki and Retsu and the referee started his usual warnings, the 2 fighters stared intensely at each other before being ushered to their side of the arena.

As the Gong sounded Baki was the first one to rush with him easily predicting Retsu moves then climbing up his neck and shoulders to do a lotus roll submission technique.

Retsu noticing the danger that he was in quickly tried to disengage with Baki releasing Retsu then sneaking an uppercut and a combination of body shot and a right hook, Retsu receiving these punches was immediately sent to the ground.

Retsu after recovering did a circular leg sweep targeting Baki's shins to destabilize him, Baki dodge this by jumping back thus allowing Retsu to stand back up.

"looks like they are talking it out, hahaha Baki's taunting Retsu!!" Kai laugh as he realized what the 2 fighters had been talking about with Retsu being pissed while Baki stayed calm.

"Oh my god, hahaha!!" Kai can't stop laughing when Baki pinched his ears so that he could strengthen himself by boosting his endorphins.

"Can you stop laughing, I can't concentrate on the fight" Ask Tokugawa confused as to why Kai's laughing.

"Sure,sure I'll stop" Kai says as his giggle dies down to a stop.

watching Baki and Retsu brawl it out with their knowledge of Chinese Kenpo was slightly boring for Kai, since having trained with Kaku Kaioh made him extremely knowledgeable on all Chinese techniques.

Of course Kai watched the fight with some sort of things you'd only watch on Anime's like letting your opponent hit you then he lets you hit him back as if the fight was a turn based strategy.

Kai sighs when he saw Baki allowed himself to be hit with multiple kicks by Retsu, instead of dodging Baki choose to tank the hits which made Kai click his tongue.

"Baki could've had ended this instead he chooses to dance" Kai commented as he watched the fight ended with Baki almost twisting the head of Retsu almost killing him.

in the end Baki knocked him out with a well placed round house kick at the neck.

"Oh well, at least the next fight is entertaining with Jack acting like being afflicted by rabies vs Old man with mystical martial technique" Kai says as he shrugged his shoulders.

After buying more snacks this time with 2 buckets of popcorn Kai settled into his seat and waited for the next fight.

As the fight between Jack and Gouki started Kai was shoving a lot of food while he watched the 2 dance around like ballerinas.

Jack was the one who's aggressively attacking with Gouki easily repulsing and deflecting his brute force.

for Kai it's entertaining to watch how the old man was calmly and methodically sent Jack flying overhead and sometimes crashing on the sandy floors.

it didn't last as Jack decided to be a cannibal and just crunched on the poor old Shibukawa's arm and just like a pitbull swinging a Chihuahua on his mouth Jack easily destroyed the technique master Gouki Shibukawa.

As the fight ended, Tokugawa had a promotional standoff between Jack and Baki to hype up the audience and Kai could see that it's working with the crowd eating it up.

"Party's over, what should I have for dinner" Kai exited the Tokyo Dome satisfied about today's fights.

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[Next day]

After waking up early and having breakfast, Kai went around visiting people that he's been acquainted in Japan like Hanayama in his office, Shibukawa on his jujutsu dojo,Motobe on his newly refurbished dojutsu dojo, Doppo on Shinshinkai Karate Gym, and Retsu on his Hotel which surprised the Kenpo master.

After talking and telling Retsu that Kaioh Ryu and Kaku Kaioh is proud of him, Retsu almost cried and then treated Kai as if his long lost best friend.

For Kai he already knew that Retsu would be the best guy to have your back on since the Kaioh was the most honorable amongst all of the fighters aside from Hanayama.

' I guess, I'll not let Musashi kill him or pickle to munch on his leg ' Kai thought as Retsu sent him off with a smile.

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[Tokyo Dome underground arena]

The finals are about to happen and the fight between brothers will commence, as for Kai he's excited since this will be the day Baki will be known throughout the world and of course Jack will get a major change after this.

As Kai was about to walk down on his seat with Tokugawa, Doppo tapped his shoulders and invited him to seat with the other fighters.

After greeting those he knew Kai went on to seat with Retsu and Gouki, As the fighters we're called and announced everyone could see the almost heartwarming sportsmanship between the brothers as they warn each other that they won't be holding back.

as they were ushered to their side and as the Gong sounded out, Baki and Jack rushed at each other DBZ style and brawl it out.

Jack after disengaging with Baki decided to use his biting style of fighting, Baki countered Jack's bite with an elbow to the jaws which stunned Jack enough for Baki to unleash a combo of kicks and punches.

Jack disoriented from Baki's strikes kneeled which prompted Baki to stop hitting him, Baki thinking that Jack was too weak circled around him and put Jack on a rear naked choke.

Jack having recovered decided to taunt Baki by copying his father and just stand up as if Baki wasn't on his back.

Baki stunned by Jack's resilience was took off guard as Jack pried his arms off his neck and spreaded it wide behind his back.

Baki struggling was thrown off as Jack hurled him across the arena, Kai and the other fighters was suddenly surprised when Jack tears came rushing down from his eyes before punching Baki so hard he flew and bang at the arena's barrier.

Baki stunned for a moment can't react when Jack rushed him with kicks and wide swinging hooks, Kai commented "Those are powerful strikes, just like an ox goring a cornered predator.

As Baki flew again this time to the center of the arena, recovering himself Baki took a wrestling stance with Jack copying it.

As they rushed at each other, Baki had the upper hand as he's faster and quickly used Jack's knees as a foothold and used it to propel his other knee to hit Jack on the chins.

As Jack was stunned yet again and staggered away from Baki, everyone was shocked when he bit the barrier of the arena to snapped out of his daze, meanwhile Kai laughed his ass off at Jack's unique way to wake up.

As Jack chewed off the wood to intimidate Baki, Kai was rolling from his seat due to how hilarious it is while his seatmate's are too focused to pay attention to him.

As Jack rushed Baki again this time chasing him with bites, Baki unsure on how to react to this kind of fighting style backed away slowly and soon got caught in the arms by Jack's jaws.

Getting lifted and wiggled around like a chew toy Baki's flesh was ripped out of his arm as Jack bit it off, Baki laying there too shocked to respond was slowly approached by Jack when he's saved by Kozue who distracted Jack enough for Baki to recover.

As Jack went to pick Baki up, he found himself in an arm bar as Baki snaked his legs up.

As Jack shake him up,Baki used the opportunity to use the momentum to distance himself and rushed again.

This time he used the Lotus submission technique again by climbing on Jack's shoulders.

Jack throwing Baki to the ground, thought that he's easy to defeat now as he laid down defenseless on the ground, but it's not the case as Baki used some cord cutting karate strike to sever Jack's optic nerve from the side of his head.

Jack now blind fumbled as he tried to sense where Baki is, Baki circling behind Jack fired a series of Seiken strikes on Jack's back which hurt him enough to arch his back and swing wide on his back.

Baki catching the wide swing used arm breaker a jiujitsu technique which dislocated the joints on the forearm.

Jack blind and one armed swinged with his remaining arm which caught Baki which sent him crashing towards the barrier breaking it, Baki sprawled and seemingly knocked out was approached by Jack who's body is disgustingly becoming distorted as his body cannot take anymore stress.

as he approached halfway towards Baki, Jack vomited all of his drugs and anything that is in his stomach, Kureha disappearing from our seats rushed to help Jack only to get knocked out by Jack's on going will and instincts.

As Jack reached Baki and picked him up with his remaining arm, Baki woke up and unconsciously activated his Demon Back which surprised Jack that he stumbled back allowing Baki to quickly stand up and rushed him.

Putting Jack on a standing guillotine submission hold, Baki strengthen his submission hold using his Demon Back and soon Jack's body collapsed.

As the brothers stayed in that position Tokugawa personally announced the winner which is Baki, which illicited a booming cheer from the crowd.

As the fighters entered to congratulate Baki and as the paramedics wheeled Jack out of the Arena, A wild Yujiro Hanma appeared and wanted to fight Baki since he thinks that's he's ready enough.

As the fighters object they proceeded to blocked Yujiro's path only to be beaten with their own martial arts, as for Kai he's enjoying the show as he muttered "The post credit scene was quite a treat" as he drank some soda.

As Yujiro beat the ass of all the fighters present excluding Kai, Tokugawa craftily enough had a task force made especially to deal with the Ogre, firing at him with weighted nets while simultaneously darting him with Tranquillizer enough to put down several elephants.

After struggling for a bit the Ogre finally was put down, with the disbelief of everyone Tokugawa ordered his people to lock Yujiro on the most secure containment cell.

Kai approaching Tokugawa Clapped while saying "Bravo, bravo, Tokugawa San you're the very first to knocked the Ogre out cold, how do you feel" Kai teased which made Tokugawa tensed before breaking a smile.

As the fighters was patched and healed they went up to celebrate Baki's win with the lot of them calling him champion.

Kai staying up for a few days and mingle with the main characters of Baki, Kai decided to return back to New York, Calling his parents if they could send a Jet to pick him up at Tokyo Japan.

after being scolded by his parents on gallivanting around they finally sent the Jet, After packing his things from the hotel Kai was sent off by Baki,Retsu, Hanayama,Doppo,Gouki, Katsumi, and Tokugawa.

"I'll see you soon" Kai wave at them as he boarded the Jet to come back to New York.

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[Meanwhile]

[Alcatraz]

"Hey you heard there's an international tournament for Underground fighters, I heard the winner was a young 17 yr old, he must be strong" the guard 1 told Guard 2 as they guard the cell of a serial killer bound for death row.

"You sure, that can't be real" guard 2 replied as he can't believe what his pal was saying.

"Yeah, ask anyone in the underground they'll know" Guard 1 says as he backed his story.

"Alright, then where is this tournament held?" guard 2 still skeptical about what his pal was telling.

"I heard it's held in Tokyo, the winner was a resident there too" guard 1 answered and provided another information.

As they talked about the peculiars of the maximum tournament the Prisoner they are supposed to guard smiled as he eavesdrop.

"looks like Tokyo's gonna be fun" Dorian muttered as he listened more closely.

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[Mexico's maximum security]

"Hey Hector, you heard the news? there's a world champion of the underground, heard he's strong, he's also young too" one of the bribed guard told Doyle about the hot news that circulate in the prison.

"I see, will he give me the challenge I seek?" Doyle ask calmly.

"I guess, you had to go to Tokyo cause I heard he live there" the guard replied as he gives Doyle a cigarette.

"Can you contact my pilot, I'll go to Tokyo after they try to kill me again"Doyle ordered which illicited a nod from the guard.

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[Submarine patrolling somewhere in the Pacific]

Whistling Spec was bored with his life when he heard some of the marines talking about the champion of a international underground tournament held in Japan, he also heard that he lived in Tokyo.

Smiling Spec muttered "Once the Sub surfaced in a few days, I'll escaped and see if he's strong"

As he whistled Spec can't wait to meet the supposedly strongest international champion.

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[Evan's prison in Russia]

Sikorsky was bored as he bounced a small ball at the wall when he heard that there's a recent international Champion of underground fighting in Japan.

Smiling he asked the guard stationed outside of his cell "Hey, how old is this champion and where does he live?"

Surprised by Sikorsky questions the guard replied "none of your business"

Sikorsky undeterred reached for the lapels of the guards uniform a tug at it so he could threatened the guard "If you don't tell me I'll kill you in a second"

Drenched in sweat the guard answered " the champion was 17 yr old and I heard he lived in Tokyo!"

Releasing his hold over the guard Sikorsky planned his escape during a snowstorm in a few days.

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[ Maximum security prison in Japan]

As Yanagi write his poetry on a piece of paper provided to him for recreational activity, he heard the most interesting news from 1 of the guards stationed outside his glass jail.

apparently there's a world champion of underground fighting recently and he's Japanese.

"I hope I'm not getting rusty anymore" Yanagi muttered as he wrote some poetry while planning his escape.

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Author here so the death row Prisoners finally got wind of the maximum tournament will Kai be called to rein in this dangerous criminals or will he play with them stay tuned and find out.

Ciao