342. Saving Rachel

"I am Laughing Fist Diego Carlo! Even when I fall, I am an entertainer. This is DIEGO QUALITY!" announced Diego before finally succumbing to his injuries, blood-splattered out of his injuries as he coughed blood. He dramatically fell backward allowing the camera to capture just who had defeated him. Even in the face of defeat he still dramatized everything perfectly. 

In that instant, the flagship blew its steam whistle as it began to turn all of its canons towards Diego's ship, intending to sink it and kill everyone on it. Before it even fired though a clean snap of finger could be heard.

"Take it down and take control" ordered Niijima as he came out of the shadows. 

In that instant dozen of Zanshin Taisha-Ryuu, all came spilling out of various rooms, quickly gaining control of the flagship including its cannons while never spilling blood. Niijima giggled as his and Kenichi's plan went without hitch. It was smart of Kenichi to assume that there would be one more ship that will take Diego and all those people he doesn't want to kill off the boat to the other ship. Niijima managed to rent several boats for them all and as soon as they got close, the Elder snuck most of them into the flagship before just waiting. It was there that Niijima used his PDA to connect to the other PDA that he had given to Miu.

"It has been finished" reported Kurando, "The Elder of Ryozanpaku has also disabled the cannons as a precautionary measure by... completely bending the cannon out of shape."

"Seriously I didn't think it was possible," said Tsukasa.

"Good good" nodded Niijima, "Now to see what data I can get from their mainframe"

_______________________________

"Hahaha" laughed Diego as he could hear the cannons being forcefully dismantled, "Now is a good time to die! Now... kill me!"

Having lost in a match it was Yami's logic that the loser died in a fight. However, being Katsujinken, Kensei refused to take Diego's life, not even when Diego began to slowly plead for it. Stating it would be good for the ratings. In the end, seeing that Kensei wouldn't do so, Diego summoned the last dregs of his strength to finish one task.

"It can't be helped the loser had to obey the winner, and I must uphold my manners as a Luchador. I present you with this mask" 

"Diego removed his Angry Mask, revealing to the world his 'Naked Mask', a mask that was extremely simple in design but never revealed before in Diego's life. After all, he showered with his mask on still! Not even Rachel had seen the mask before, only having heard of it. After presenting the mask to Kensei Diego collapsed before him.

"Don't worry Laughing Fist" said Kushinada hopping onto the cruise ship from a hovercraft that she had driven, "I will kill you,"

Without hesitation, she managed to grab Diego by the head, and with one hand threw Diego overboard. Rachel roared in rage as he charged at Kushinada.

"Don't" warned Kensei, thankfully Kenichi came at the right time and grabbed Rachel stopping her from jumping at Kushinada.

"Should you really be worrying about the enemy?" asked Kushinada with a dreary tone. 

Instantly images of Kushinada appeared behind Kenichi, Miu, Renka, Saeko, and Raichi who had followed Kenichi to enter, each image threatening to grab one of them. Kensei instantly rushed in, kicking the image grabbing Renka and Saeko. Sakaki bellowed as he destroyed the one behind Raichi and Miu.

What surprised Kushinada the most, however, was Kenichi's reaction as he pulled Rachel in front of her then turned around to deal with Kushinada's after image.

Eight Trigrams: 64 palms

None of the other teenagers had even noticed their very lives had been just threatened. Moreover, she was intrigued by his palms technique making her curious. She knew that Kenichi would be able to see through her feints as he was already a master class but she hadn't seen this palm technique before even with her vast knowledge of martial arts. This clearly meant that this was another one of the styles this young man had created.

'He really is too talented' thought Mikumo Kushinada as she moved again this time to grab Rachel but she wasn't going easy this time as more than 100 images of Kushinada's hand appeared moving towards Rachel, it was clear that she was warning not to interfere anyone between her and Rachel.

Kenichi standing behind Rachel for the second time felt a great amount of pressure. He felt it once when he sparred against Elder, but this time it was different as he also felt Kushinada's killing intent towards him, he knew if he made a move to save Rachel, Kushinada will really go for the kill since he was already a Master.

'Fuck since when did I start getting scared of this shit' thought Kenichi as he stepped in front of Rachel and went into his stance.

Sakai and Kensei wanting to rush towards Kenichi to save him but had to make sure that the kids will stay safe, so they couldn't rush but when they saw Kenichi's stance they were surprised as it was a little different from th one he uses for 64 palms.

'I really hope it works this time' thought Kenichi and lashed out.

Eight Trigrams: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms

-First, two consecutive strikes to make two.

-Second, another two consecutive strikes to make four.

-Third, four consecutive strikes to make eight.

-Fourth, eight consecutive strikes to make sixteen.

-Fifth, sixteen consecutive strikes to make thirty-two.

-Sixth, thirty two consecutive strikes to make sixty-four.

-Seventh, another sixty four consecutive strikes in succession to make a total of one hundred and twenty-eight strikes.

At the moment of great peril when his life was on the line, Kenichi was finally able to perform the final technique of Gentle Fist and save Rachel and even himself as after his first 64 palms the later 64 were used to save himself as Kushinada had changed her target from Rachel to him.

The feeling of using the Eight Trigrams: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms was what Kenichi needed to breakthrough and enter the Grandmaster Class if it wasn't for the current situation he was in, Kenichi would have sat down right at that moment to meditate and cultivate on that feeling.

"Well looks like I underestimated your talent"