Chapter 25: Death Row Prisoner

"Rei, let's settle this."

As the bell rang, signifying the end of physical education class, Iori and Motoharu returned to the classroom with keen interest. This was the final class, and once they packed up, they could head home. Rei was about to leave when he was intercepted by Baki.

"It's not acceptable to fight at school. I know a park nearby where there's less foot traffic. Let's go there." Baki nodded. It didn't matter where, as long as he could have his rematch with Rei.

Arriving at the park, Rei let out a soft sigh and flexed his fists.

Seizing the moment when Baki wasn't paying attention, Rei's fist swiftly shot toward his face.

It was clear this guy didn't adhere to martial arts principles! Another deception, a sneak attack; he was an eighteen-year-old with a knack for combat.

Baki had been prepared for this. He crossed his arms in front of him, using the momentum of Rei's punch to step back step by step. "That's quite a hit!"

[Iron Fist: Your fist is like steel, able to exert two hundred percent power.]

Rei's wrist could exert twice the power. Initially boasting a strength of thirty-five, with Iron Fist, it could reach seventy. Even a muscle-bound powerhouse might be stunned by this strength, not to mention Baki, who hadn't successfully powered up yet.

However, unlike those delinquents, Baki was a skilled warrior. With extensive combat experience, he knew he couldn't win outright. In an instant, he made adjustments, continuously retreating. This was the limitation of the human body; his arm couldn't reach far enough, making it impossible to strike a constantly evading opponent.

"It's like facing a monster. Despite not having an especially robust physique, the strength is overwhelming." Baki rubbed his bruised arm and sighed. No wonder he was knocked out by this guy last time. "But sheer strength won't defeat me."

[[Street Fight] proficiency 15%]

This exchange brought Rei to 15% proficiency instantly!

Baki assumed a fighting stance, adopting a boxing pose and moving energetically.

The aura emanating from his body even disrupted the air around them.

Rei simply clenched both fists. He didn't require intricate combat techniques; his strong physique was the best skill. Breaking countless laws with sheer force!

"Baki, since you're eager for a fight, let's make it interesting." Rei's expression remained composed as he addressed Baki.

Baki nodded noncommittally. "Of course, that's fine. What are the stakes?"

Rei scratched his chin, considering carefully before finally uttering a very down-to-earth request. "I want the latest New World Online game console."

Baki's mind raced. This request was in a league of its own, something he could've never expected.

Seeing Baki's perplexed expression, Rei added, "The latest New World Online game console. Make sure it's the Premium version, not the standard version. The helmet I'm using now overheats after every gaming session. If it blows up one day, that won't be good."

"Well, if it's something money can buy." Fortunately, Baki gave up on overthinking.

"Of course, it's not contraband. Just ask someone on the street; they'll know where to get it. I really don't know. I can send you a link to the online store here. Once you receive it, you can place an order directly. The URL is..."

Baki pulled out his mobile phone, puzzled, and began searching for the URL Rei mentioned. But he quickly caught on. "Oh, I won't necessarily lose!" Why should I remember this?

Seeing Rei quietly accessing the website, Baki raised his leg and aimed it at Rei's face. However, Rei firmly caught it in his palm. "Attacking by surprise won't work. If you break my phone, you'll have to buy me a new one."

With a power of seventy, Rei could even stun the Coach Machio. Baki's kicking skills were no match.

[[Street Fight] proficiency 17%]

Rei seized Baki's exposed foot, raised his arm, and caused Baki to lose his balance instantly. With the other hand, without hesitation, Rei clenched a fist and landed it on Baki's fairly handsome cheek. The force was enough to render Baki unconscious.

[[Street Fight] Proficiency 59%] [Skill [Street Fight] reaches LV2] [Strength: 35->36]

[Agility: 29->30].

Strength and agility increased once more.

Rei looked at Baki with widened pupils, his consciousness now lost. He clasped his hands together and closed their eyes in gratitude.

Baki: "..."

"If you're really grateful, you can carry me away."

"What a formidable youth, defeating the so-called strongest Baki." A tall figure slowly approached from behind Rei, blocking the afternoon sun.

Rei turned his head and saw a tall man in a black trench coat. Though his face appeared to be in his sixties, his body was incredibly robust, and he sported a formidable hairstyle, exuding a palpable aura.

Rei turned around and tilted his head slightly. This guy had to be at least five heads taller than Baki.

A certain Baki, three heads shorter than Rei: "..."

"I'm Spec (from Baki)." Spec extended his large, tattooed hand toward Rei. "I wonder if you can defeat me, let's shake hands."

"Sorry, but I don't want to shake hands with old men who are criminals." Rei didn't meet his gaze directly, his eyes tinged with a hint of disdain.

Spec, one of the five death row inmates.

He had come to Tokyo in search of defeat. While they claimed to seek defeat, in reality, these guys hadn't truly won many times. They simply filled their hearts with false victories.

Rei curiously asked the question they'd always wanted to pose. "Since you seek defeat, why not challenge the strongest beings on the surface? If that's not possible, there's Biscuit Oliva, the freest man on Earth, or Kaiou Kaku from China. If that doesn't work, you can try the Shinshinkai Headquarters. Their strength is nothing to scoff at."

Sbek: "..."

I seek defeat, not death. What's this about Shinshinkai Headquarters?"

"At the end of the day, you five death row inmates are just cowards evading reality. You can't match others in terms of strength, so you resort to underhanded methods to constantly appease your competitive spirits. In the end, you successfully delude yourselves." Rei remarked.

Upon hearing Rei's derisive words, Spec's expression remained unchanged. "It doesn't matter. As long as I can beat you to a pulp, it'll prove everything you say is wrong."

Rei pursed his lips, almost applauding. "Impressive. If deluding yourself were a skill, you'd definitely be LV5."

Spec didn't respond, but his clenched teeth betrayed his current unrest. His fists were clenched, pummeling towards Rei with ferocity. Each collision produced a muffled thud, and even the point of contact seemed to ripple.

[[Brawling] proficiency 1%] [[Brawling] proficiency 4%] [[Brawling] proficiency 8%] [[Brawling] proficiency 3%]

[...]

[Skill [Brawling] reaches LV2]

[Stamina: 37-38].

While Rei couldn't rack up proficiencies with each punch like Baki did, he won in speed. With every blow, Rei gained proficiency, effectively becoming an experience soaking sponge.

"When normal people attack, after throwing a few punches, they'll need to catch their breath and adjust. This creates a gap of a few tenths of a second—a brief moment—which skilled fighters can exploit, turning it into a vulnerability. But I don't need that! Witness the power of my Apnea Rush!"

Mu Damu Damu Damu Damu Damu Damu Damu Da~~"

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