The air grew thick with tension.
Kaito stepped into the ring, eyes steady, shoulders loose. Across from him stood his next opponent—a mountain of a man known only as Gumbo.
Broad. Brutal. Unrelenting.
He wasn't just strong. He was feared.
The crowd whispered.
"That's the guy who crushed three fighters in under a minute…"
"Can the blonde even touch him?"
The two fighters stared each other down.
Gumbo's voice rumbled across the stadium.
Gumbo (grinning):
"Manso was just the janitor of our team."
The crowd:
"WHAT!?"
Renji raised an eyebrow. "Janitor?"
Kaito (grinning back):
"Hopefully you're not the plumber guy."
Announcer (roaring):
"BEGIN!"
⸻
BOOM—!!
Gumbo moved like a cannonball.
Despite his massive frame, he exploded forward with terrifying speed.
His fist came straight for Kaito's head—
SWISH—!
Kaito barely dodged in time, the wind from the punch brushing his hair.
Gumbo (grinning):
"You're fast. But you'll need more than that."
Kaito (cold):
"We'll see."
He launched a quick flurry—jab, jab, hook—
Blocked.
Gumbo grinned wider, then slammed a punch into Kaito's gut.
BOOM—!!
Kaito skidded backward, boots grinding into the arena floor.
The impact echoed. Pain laced through his ribs.
Kaito (thinking):
He's even stronger than I thought.
Gumbo (taunting):
"You're outta your league, kid. Give up now. I'll make it quick."
Kaito:
"I'm not done yet."
His aura flared.
He launched another combo, weaving around Gumbo's defenses.
But—
Gumbo dropped low and uppercut Kaito in the chin, catching him off guard.
CRACK—!!
A brutal kick to the stomach sent Kaito rolling across the arena floor.
Crowd:
"OHHHH—!!"
But he recovered quickly and wiped the blood off his lips.
Kaito (grinned.):
I can't match his strength…
…but I can counter everything.
Locking in, he watched Gumbo's movements—
every step, every twitch.
The guy was strong, yeah. But he was starting to show a rhythm.
Predictable.
Gumbo charged in like a freight train.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"Now—!"
But just before impact—
Gumbo slid.
A low sweeping kick—WHAM!—cracked into Kaito's leg.
"What—?!"
He stumbled—
BOOM!—a follow-up kick smashed into his side, launching him across the arena.
Kaito hit the ground hard—rolling—
but sprang back to his feet in a flash, fire still in his eyes.
Gumbo came again—faster this time—cocking back a monstrous punch.
"Now!" Kaito roared.
At the last heartbeat—he dodged.
The punch whistled past his face like a cannonball.
Crowd:
"WOAHHHH—THAT WAS CLOSE!"
Kaito's body twisted—
BAM! A brutal uppercut smashed into Gumbo's chin.
And before Gumbo could react—
Kaito leapt into the air—
CRACK!!
A diving kick crushed into Gumbo's chest—
BOOOOOM!
He flew back, slamming into the arena wall with thunderous impact.
Dust exploded.
For the first time, Gumbo grunted in pain.
His cocky expression cracked, just a little.
That flicker of doubt in his eyes?
Kaito saw it.
And he wasn't stopping now.
Kaito didn't hesitate.
The second Gumbo staggered, he launched forward—
spin kick—CRACK!
It smashed against Gumbo's ribs with a sharp thud that echoed.
Before Gumbo could recover—
BOOM!
A blinding DU blast fired from Kaito's palm, surging straight at him.
Gumbo growled.
"You think you can overpower me?!"
His aura flared with rage.
As Kaito rushed in with a punch aimed at his gut—
WHAM!
Gumbo headbutted him, skull crashing into Kaito's face.
"Gghk—!"
Before Kaito could recover, BAM!
A savage kick to the stomach launched him back, skidding across the arena.
But Kaito wasn't done.
Mid-skid—he planted his hand on the floor, twisted, and launched a DU blast directly at Gumbo.
Gumbo's eyes widened—too late.
BOOOOOOM!
The blast exploded against his chest, staggering him back.
Kaito charged in—faster than before—
KNEE STRIKE!
Right under the chin. Gumbo's head snapped back, eyes flickering with dizziness.
"Got you."
Kaito leapt into the air, wrapped both hands around Gumbo's head—
SLAMMMM!
BOOM.
He drove Gumbo's skull straight into the arena floor—
cracks spread instantly.
Silence.
Gumbo's body lay motionless in the cracked floor, his breath shallow.
The stadium went silent—every eye locked on Kaito.
He dusted off his shoulder, smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You'd make a better plumber."
A breathless pause—then the crowd exploded.
Crowd:
Didn't think the blonde kid would win!"
Announcer:
"WINNER — Kaito of Team Genzō!!"
TO BE CONTINUED…