Arena — Tournament Stadium
Manso's body bulged with sudden, chaotic energy.
His muscles swelled. His veins pulsed.
His aura expanded like wildfire — glowing white and unstable.
Crowd:
"Whoa… what just happened!?"
His eyes flashed with intensity as his voice dropped into something darker.
Manso (taunting):
"You sure about that? Let's see if you can still keep up with me!"
Renji didn't even blink.
Renji (cold):
"I saw you swallow that pill."
He took a slow step forward.
Renji:
"Desperation doesn't suit you.
No matter how much power you borrow…
…it won't change the outcome."
⸻
BOOM—!!
Manso charged with blinding speed—faster, stronger than before.
THUD!!
His fist slammed into Renji's stomach—sending him skidding back.
The crowd gasped.
Manso blitzed forward again, ready to finish it—
But Renji recovered instantly.
WHAM!!
A brutal counter-punch to the face cracked through the air.
Manso flew backward—spit flying from his mouth.
Renji (steady):
"I told you. You'll never reach my level."
⸻
Manso roared and unleashed a barrage of DU Blasts—each one more explosive than the last.
Renji moved like smoke—dodging, weaving, reading every motion before it came.
The blasts hit nothing.
The smoke cleared.
Renji stood—untouched.
Arms crossed. Smirking.
Renji:
"That pill was supposed to make you stronger, right?"
He tilted his head.
"Disappointing."
Manso (furious):
"SHUT UP!!"
He charged in again—wild fists flying.
Renji dodged—sidestepped—until—
THUD!!
Manso landed a kick to Renji's gut, knocking him to the floor.
Manso (laughing):
"How's that?!"
But before the laugh could finish—
BOOM!!
"Renji exploded a DU blast straight into Manso's skull."
Manso staggered—blinded by smoke—
WHAM!!
Renji reappeared out of the haze and kicked Manso across the face—hard.
Manso (dizzy):
"Gh—!"
He swung wildly—
Renji ducked, slid in close—
UPPERCUT!!
A clean shot to the chin—Manso left the ground.
Renji (cold):
"Let me end this."
SPINNING KICK—!!
BOOOOOOM!!
Manso hit the arena floor like a meteor.
Dust settled.
He tried to stand—but the pill had worn off. His body was trembling. Cracked. Done.
Renji stood over him.
Renji:
"No shortcut will ever bring you to my level."
⸻
Announcer (shouting):
"WINNER: RENJI TAKASAWA!!!"
The crowd went insane.
Enro (thinking): "Kaito's next. Let's see if he makes it quick."
TO BE CONTINUED…