Chapter 44: Winning

The dojo was deathly silent. Kure Erioh's expression had turned as dark as storm clouds, his mind filled with curses directed at Raian.

What a fool. That brute strength of his has clearly gone to his head. He's all muscle and no brain.

Facing an opponent like Ren, whose strength was unfathomable, how could Raian open with Breaking Mountain, such a wide, aggressive move? The technique was riddled with openings, practically inviting a counterattack by grappling or redirection.

Raian stumbling while using Breaking Mountain was within Kure Erioh's expectations. However, what truly shocked him was how Ren had neutralized the attack.

He hadn't relied on grappling or evasion. Instead, he had read the flow of Raian's muscular force and subtly redirected it, causing the latter's technique to backfire and leave him wide open.

Two seconds later, Raian regained consciousness. He found himself kneeling on the floor, dazed. Raising his head, he saw Ren standing above him, looking down with an indifferent gaze.

I was knocked out? Just like that?

The realization ignited a fiery rage within him. His blood boiled as he watched Ren lift a hand and beckon him with a single, mocking gesture. It felt like every vein in his body was ready to explode.

Yet, to the surprise of all the Kure Clan members present, the usually volatile Raian didn't erupt in a furious roar. Instead, he grew unnaturally quiet.

He stood, his dark eyes locking onto Ren with an icy intensity. The burning anger in his gaze transformed into a frigid killing intent. He was serious now.

Ren observed the change with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Good. I held back for a reason. It seems you can still go a few more rounds. Come, show me the true depths of the Kure Clan's martial arts."

By now, more and more members of the Kure Clan had gathered around the dojo. The sight of Raian, their clan's strongest fighter, on his knees was earth-shattering news.

The Kure Clan had honed their bloodline over 1,300 years, continuously improving through unions with powerful fighters. The result was a clan of genetically optimized warriors, where no one could be called weak.

Physically, every clan member present could be considered superhuman.

And Raian stood at the pinnacle.

As the strongest among the superhumans, capable of unleashing his full potential with 100% Removal, he had never been seen faltering in combat—until now.

But today, they had encountered someone stronger. The young man standing in the dojo exuded an unshakable presence, like an immovable mountain.

Steady.

That was the only word that came to mind for the Kure Clan members watching. Raian felt it too. Standing before Ren, he didn't feel like he was facing a peer, much less someone younger.

Instead, it was as though he were up against a grandmaster of martial arts, steeped in decades of experience, who also possessed physical capabilities rivalling his own.

Facing Ren felt like staring into an abyss—its depths unfathomable.

In the standoff, their invisible auras clashed. For the first time in ages, Raian felt pressure. A bead of sweat slid down his brow.

Then, the silence shattered. This time, it wasn't Raian who moved—it was Ren.

In an instant, Ren exploded into action. The wooden floor beneath him splintered as he launched himself forward. His speed was so blistering that many of the Kure Clan members couldn't track his movements. In mere moments, the distance between him and Raian vanished.

A steel-like fist shot forth, carrying a force as overwhelming as a mountain and ocean combined. The punch hadn't even connected, yet the wind pressure alone blasted toward Raian's face.

In martial arts, there is a vital principle: preempting the preemptive.

Raian attempted to read the subtle signs of Ren's attack and counter with a reactive strike, but Ren's speed left no room for prediction—there were no tells.

At the critical moment, Raian raised his left elbow upward in a defensive manoeuvre. This move, known as Buddha Killer, was typically used for targeting an opponent's throat but now served as an improvised shield.

Though Raian had lost the initiative, he believed his response was perfect. Elbow against fist—at this range, it was nearly impossible for Ren to change course. The collision would favour Raian; Ren's hand would surely shatter.

Bang!

The collision resounded like a thunderclap. Just as Raian thought he'd regained control, a sharp pain shot through his elbow. His body staggered back under the force of the impact, and from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Ren's fist.

A faint, metallic sheen, grey-black and unyielding, coated Ren's hand.

Despite the collision, his fist remained unscathed. Raian, on the other hand, felt as though his bones might crack.

Before he could process what had happened, another attack came. This time, it was Ren's leg. Raian barely managed to raise his arm to block, but the sheer force sent shockwaves through his body.

And then another blow followed. And another.

The crowd stared with mouths agape, as Raian, in his fully unleashed state, was battered relentlessly. He had no opportunity to counterattack. Ren's strikes were swift, unpredictable, and utterly overwhelming.

Raian's martial prowess was undeniable, a prodigy in the art of combat. Yet, even he couldn't find an opening. After dozens of exchanges, he began to falter. The age-old adage proved true: A prolonged defence is bound to fail.

In a critical clash, Raian exposed a weakness. Ren exploited it instantly, slipping into close range. With one hand, he deflected Raian's defensive strike, and with the other, delivered a short punch directly to Raian's heart.

The Removal technique Raian relied on so heavily was powered by his heart's circulation. The direct impact caused his movements to seize up and his body stagger backwards.

Ren didn't relent. A three-strike combo followed, each punch targeting Raian's heart. As Raian fell, completely off-balance, Ren stepped forward, his hand poised like a blade, aimed at Raian's throat.

"No!"

Kure Fusui's voice rang out, but Ren's hand stopped just short of its mark.

Raian's body hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Standing tall, Ren glanced toward Kure Fusui and smiled faintly. "I told you, this is a martial exchange, not a death match."

As he spoke, his foot slammed down on Raian's chest, shattering the floor beneath him. Raian coughed up blood, the violet hue of his unleashed state rapidly fading as the technique deactivated.

Ren gazed down at Raian, his tone calm but cutting. "Sneaking in a counterattack during a friendly match? Not exactly a noble habit. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing your assassination techniques sometimes."

"Ren…"

Raian with his vital point severely struck, no longer even had the strength to roar. His pitch-black eyes could only catch a faint, blurring image of the man standing above him.

Clap, clap, clap—

In the otherwise silent dojo, the sound of slow clapping echoed. The source was a thin, frail-looking old man.

"What a marvellous duel."

The clan leader of the Kure Clan, Kure Erioh, stood up, a smile gracing his face. "The younger generation is truly remarkable. I must thank you, Mr. Hoshino, for teaching this arrogant brat a much-needed lesson."

Kure Erioh was genuinely astonished. Even in his prime, he doubted he could have so cleanly and decisively defeated Raian.

Ren, who appeared no older than his early twenties, had already reached such a profound level of mastery in martial arts. It was a rarity worth marvelling at.

"Take this unruly fool away for treatment," Kure Erioh instructed his clan members, watching as Raian's motionless form was carefully carried off.

With a reflective tone, he added, "After this fight, he should finally understand that there will always be someone stronger, and the heavens extend infinitely beyond one's sight. Secret techniques are not invincible. Without dedication to true martial refinement, defeat is inevitable."

There was a trace of nostalgia in his voice as he spoke.

Kure Erioh himself had tasted bitter defeat in his youth. Yet, that very loss had been the catalyst for his growth. It had driven him to return to the clan and dedicate himself to mastering every martial art and secret technique in their arsenal.

That loss had forged him into the unparalleled warrior he eventually became.

Raian now reminded him of his younger self when he had just been anointed as the Fang of Metsudo.

Back then, he relied solely on the overwhelming power of 100% Removal, bulldozing through opponents with sheer physicality while neglecting the finer aspects of combat technique.

But when he encountered a true top-tier fighter, his flaws had been laid bare.

Kure Erioh's gratitude toward Ren was sincere. Raian's defeat would undoubtedly pave the way for his future strength.

"And now," Ren spoke, his calm voice cutting through the atmosphere as he turned his gaze toward Kure Erioh. "Shall the legendary first Fang of Metsudo honour me with a martial exchange?"

The air grew heavier. Ren's expression remained composed, but his words carried undeniable weight.

If martial artistry alone were considered, Kure Erioh was unquestionably one of the finest warriors this world had ever known.

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[T/N] - Here's the extra chapter! Enjoy.

Oh and 65 more Powerstones for another Extra Chapter tomorrow!