Arena — Tournament Stadium
The moment Renji stepped onto the platform, the crowd buzzed with curiosity. A few murmurs here and there—mostly doubt.
Then his opponent entered.
Daichi—muscular, confident, and ready to throw down. His face twisted into a sneer as he pointed at Renji across the ring.
Daichi (mocking):
"You've got some nerve saying I need luck."
Renji (smirking):
"But you will need it."
Daichi laughed hard, throwing his arms wide.
Daichi:
"As if someone as weak as you could ever beat me."
Renji raised an eyebrow, still cool and calm.
Renji (cold):
"You could bring your whole team… even your teacher… and you still wouldn't be enough."
The crowd reacted—some gasping, some laughing nervously.
Announcer (over the intercom):
"Match One: Renji Takasawa vs. Daichi—Begin!"
⸻
Daichi charged in like a cannon.
He threw a flurry of heavy punches—each one backed by serious weight and DU energy—but Renji dodged every strike with fluid grace. Side-step. Weave. Lean. Slide.
It was like Daichi was fighting air.
Renji didn't even flinch.
Daichi (frustrated):
"Stop dancing and fight me!"
Daichi's DU Blast crackled red, spiraling like a drill —and hurled it toward Renji.
BOOM!!
The blast shook the entire arena. The crowd gasped.
Someone in the stands muttered, "No way he survived that…"
Another voice added, "I feel bad for that kid."
Even one of Saeki's students laughed.
Saeki's Student:
"Aw man, he just killed that poor kid…"
The smoke began to clear.
And through the fading dust—
Renji stood there. Unharmed. Calm.
Renji (flat tone):
"…Is that all?"
He raised his hand—
DU BLAST!
A huge glowing sphere fired from his palm and blasted across the field. Daichi crossed his arms just in time, blocking it—barely.
His feet slid across the stone. His knees shook. He was still standing, but only just.
Renji didn't give him a second.
He dashed forward, vanishing in a blur.
Daichi fired a volley of DU blasts—
Renji weaved between them like smoke.
Then—
UPPERCUT!!
Daichi's feet left the ground.
Renji (cold):
"Let me show you real power."
Spinning kick—WHAM!!—Daichi shot forward across the arena.
But Renji vanished again.
Behind him now.
Two brutal body blows.
CRACK.
CRACK.
Daichi gasped.
Then Renji reappeared in front of him.
Renji:
"Up you go."
A violent kick to the chest sent Daichi flying upward.
Renji jumped after him, caught him mid-air—locked him in a DDT position.
Renji (cold):
"Say hi to the floor for me."
DU BLAST—DDT!!
BOOOOOM!!
Cracks split the arena floor. Smoke curled up around Renji like steam off lava. Even the announcer had no words left.
Then the crowd erupted.
Spectator 1 (wide-eyed):
"Did you see that?!"
Spectator 2 (shouting):
"That wasn't a fight…
THAT WAS A PUBLIC EXECUTION."
When the smoke cleared…
Daichi was lying face-up, unconscious.
Done.
⸻
Renji stood tall.
His fists at his sides. Breathing barely broken.
He looked down at Daichi's motionless body—
Renji (flat, cold):
"Your teacher should've never disrespected ours."
He turned toward the stands.
Locked eyes with Saeki.
Renji:
"I could take you too."
Saeki's smirk twitched.
Saeki:
"Don't be foolish."
He turned toward the next fighter in his squad.
Saeki:
"Hakiro… defeat your opponent."
Hakiro (confident):
"Don't worry, sensei. I'll make you proud."
Kaito was already stretching his shoulders.
Enro gave him a calm nod.
Enro:
"You got this."
Renji smirked from the sidelines.
Renji:
"Don't hold back."
Kaito (grinning):
"Got it."
⸻
TO BE CONTINUED…