Chapter 218

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When a punch was thrown into the wind, sweat scattered across the grass.

When a kick struck the trunk of a tree, its whole robust wooden body trembled but did not give way.

When air was drawn into his lungs, and sweat dripped from every muscle in his body, he took a stance, a calm breath on his lips, despite the clear image of exhaustion.

Every micro-movement, every breath, every technique applied was meticulously well-executed, not bordering on perfection but practically achieving it.

A level of mastery attained by Yuji Shinakawa, one that thousands could only dream of.

Yuji had thought about this before but had never put much effort into understanding it. His talent was extraordinary; it wasn't an exaggeration to say it was the greatest in the world, considering that not even the system was capable of measuring it.

Even the most talented should evolve their skills quickly. Simply put, it was as if people with the maximum possible talent measured by the system, the ZZZ talent, would gain a large amount of XP every time they used a technique.

Something like:

Boxing Lv. 20 [50/1000] > Boxing Lv. 21 [50/1020]

And this took into account the highest talent level since people with lower talent should take longer to level up a single skill.

But Yuji was different. Compared to the highest talents, it was as if he received double XP, always considering the requirement to improve a technique.

Something like:

Boxing Lv. 400 [0/50,000] > Boxing Lv. 402 [0/50,300]

No matter how much XP a technique required, Yuji would always improve at least one level when he used it.

This could make him a master of any technique in a matter of seconds.

But… where was he going with this conversation?

Basically, he wanted to justify himself a little.

As enviable as his talent was, indeed the greatest in the world, this did not apply to his body.

When it came to martial arts, Yuji had maximized most of them, but his body simply could not keep up with the terrifying growth of his combat skills.

[Status]

Name: Yuji Shinakawa [Yamashita]

Age: 18

Strength: URR+++

Durability: URRR

Stamina: URRR

Speed: URRR+

Intelligence: MR

Potential: ???

.

His attributes had indeed improved abnormally, but compared to his skills, it was like a human racing against a cheetah.

When it came to physical strength, Yuji still paled in comparison to Pickle. Even using the [Fallen Angel], he would probably still be one strength ranking behind the prehistoric beast, and that was with Pickle not revealing his true form.

This was a gap Yuji could not close, at least not in such a short period. Since reaching the UR rank, it had become increasingly difficult to improve, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that climbing a single ranking would take at least five months.

But… Did this discourage Yuji?

A little, yes. But he had already fought with similar attribute differences.

His martial arts had improved as much as he could in this lifetime, with few gaps left for improvement.

Yuji would fight with everything he had learned during his journey in this world. He would use every part of himself to win and would give his own life if necessary.

It might seem foolish, irrational, but this was the life he had chosen. On his path to strength, he decided to follow his own morals, without trampling on the weak, focusing solely on facing the strongest to improve himself.

And that was what he would continue to do until he could comfortably sit at the top as the strongest.

He had received a blessing that helped him on this path, and he made the most of it. Could it be considered cheating? Certainly, but this world was not made to be fair when bloodlines were practically pure cheats.

He used the cards he had on the table to pave the way.

And it wouldn't be long before he reached his goals.

He would not slow down now.

"…!"

Stopping his punch mid-execution, Yuji narrowed his eyes as his senses picked up the barefoot steps in the soft grass around him, his head slowly turning to see a figure emerging from the shadows of the trees.

His location was no secret, the only grove far from the city was known as his favorite training ground by all his friends from the Kengan Association. He even often received visits, mostly from the group composed of Himuro, Kaneda, Okubo, and Lihito, although the latter had left on a trip to train with Kuroki Gensai.

So, it wasn't surprising to have someone come to join him in his training.

But…

"It's been a while, kid."

…It was a bit surprising who had come to visit him this time.

"Master Mokichi!" Yuji smiled upon seeing his old master reveal himself, and approaching him, he was quick to pull the older man into a hug. "I thought you had returned abroad to continue your studies as a priest."

Hugging his former student back, Mokichi gave a friendly pat on the back before stepping away. "My matters with God can wait; I had to return to Japan when I heard you'd be fighting that caveman."

Yuji chuckled lightly as Mokichi spoke so casually. Mokichi might be a priest, but he would never place his religion above his family. It might seem disrespectful, but that was simply how Mokichi felt. Kou and Elena—he would never put them below any deity.

"And also, Kou has a school presentation; I couldn't miss it…" He coughed as he looked away, making Yuji stare at him amusingly.

"Well, don't worry," Yuji reassured him, stepping back to sit on a fallen tree trunk. "Pickle may be strong, but I'm confident I can win."

"I have no doubt, Yuji." Mokichi smiled proudly, his eyes shining as if remembering moments from the past. "I still remember when I beat you in that match…"

A nostalgic sigh escaped the priest's lips before he continued. "And now, I can't even dream of doing that. Man, you've even improved Baritsu; I thought those hidden techniques were lost forever."

Yuji smiled gratefully. "I wouldn't have come this far without your mentorship, Master."

"Don't be modest, your talent is unparalleled; you never needed me." Sitting beside him, Mokichi hid his hands in the sleeves of his cassock. "Actually, I can only thank you for standing by Elena all this time… though I don't like the idea of you dating other girls at the same time."

Yuji smiled nervously as Mokichi's aura began to seep out. "It wasn't my plan either…"

"But I won't judge you for that. Elena likes the other 'companions' a lot, so if she's happy, I have nothing to say."

Yuji nodded, a relieved sigh escaping.

"And how do you plan to beat that caveman? I don't want to discourage you, but those strikes from Katsumi were the strongest I've ever witnessed, and even they weren't enough." Mokichi turned, raising a curious eyebrow.

Yuji remained silent, his fingers scratching his neck as he seemed to ponder Mokichi's words.

He didn't have an unusual strategy, something like hit and run. He would simply fight Pickle in a regular match, just as he had faced Kuroki Gensai, using his entire arsenal.

He wouldn't neglect his techniques just to prove that he could compare to Pickle in brute strength. In fact, he refused to do so, not out of fear but out of respect.

Discarding his martial arts in such a fight was like throwing away everything he had learned over the years.

He would not trample on his own efforts.

"I will use everything I have, every part of my body, every technique, every martial art I have at my disposal." And with conviction, he declared without stuttering.

Mokichi observed him for a moment before nodding proudly. "Modernity against Prehistory then… Kid, I'll be rooting for you."

.

The next day.

Standing in front of the entrance to the stadium that led to the elevator to the underground arena where Pickle was kept, Yuji stared at the door for several seconds.

The reason? He was waiting for someone.

Needless to say who, since the fight after Katsumi's could be one of the most memorable in martial arts history.

He was waiting for the one who carried the blood of the Hanma, the one who had undergone every kind of procedure to become stronger.

The one who, even with the weak blood of the strongest creature running through his veins, managed to match the legitimate son.

Jack Hanma.

!

With heavy footsteps echoing behind him, Yuji slowly turned to see the one he had been waiting for.

And when the man's enormous shadow covered his body, he seemed surprised for a moment before lifting his head slightly to see his face.

He appeared to be almost as tall as Kono Haruo, which was a rather surprising feat.

"Get out of my way." But even stopping in front of Yuji, from his tone, Jack didn't seem inclined to talk, as if the bulging veins on his forehead weren't indication enough.

Yuji could only smile at this.

As much as he liked Jack, he couldn't allow the man to fight Pickle.

Because it would be he who faced the prehistoric man that night.

"Jack Hanma… Why don't you follow me to the stadium? You won't regret it."

And with the aura emanating from his body, Yuji declared before turning to enter the stadium, Jack following him with his eyes as his interest was piqued upon noticing the younger man's powerful aura.

His focus might have been on Pickle, but he wouldn't turn down a strong opponent wanting to face him.

It would serve as a warm-up for his fight against the beast.