It was five o'clock in the afternoon, at Suzuran High School, in classroom E.
Chuta was sprawled across his desk, snoring loudly, drooling almost onto the floor.
This afternoon was the moment for him and Shin-nii to have their final showdown with the Serizawa Army.
To conserve his energy, he used this last bit of time to catch up on sleep.
In his dream, he seemed to see Shin-nii kick Serizawa Tamao flying, then raise his arm, and the entire Suzuran would submit at their feet—a magnificent sight.
Just as he was happily indulging in his pipe dream.
"Boom!"
A loud bang, like a clap of thunder on a clear day, instantly jolted him awake from his dream!
He shot up from his desk, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Damn it! Who's the blind idiot who dares to disturb my sleep?!"
He grumbled, instinctively glancing at the clock on the wall.
Five o'clock sharp.
"Time's up already? Gotta go."
He stretched, ready to call his subordinates to depart, but then he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere in the classroom was a bit off.
Everyone seemed to be frozen in place, their eyes wide, staring intently at the classroom door.
"Damn, how did this door, which was just fixed, get broken again?"
Chuta followed everyone's gaze and saw that the wooden door, which he had paid to have fixed just yesterday, was now shattered into pieces on the floor, as if hit by a cannonball.
And in the dust at the doorway, a unfamiliar figure stood.
Looking for trouble?
Chuta's brows furrowed instantly.
This guy, he looks very unfamiliar, doesn't he?
The person had black hair and a slender build, but his eyes were a bit... hmm... how to put it?
They held that kind of clear stupidity.
Chuta walked through his subordinates, sizing up the seemingly dull-witted guy in front of him, and asked in an extremely impatient tone:
"Hey, kid, what do you want?"
That person, who was Takiya Genji, the new transfer student, saw Chuta and his eyes lit up, as if he had found a savior.
He pointed at the group of delinquents in the classroom and asked in a slightly stammering but unusually serious tone:
"Who... who in your class... is the strongest fighter?"
Huh?
Chuta was bewildered by his sudden question.
Is there something wrong with this kid's head?
He just comes in and asks who's the strongest fighter?
Are you here to challenge us, or to pay your respects?
He looked at Genji's dazed expression and suddenly felt like teasing him, so he laughed and said:
"You want to find the strongest fighter? Then you've come to the wrong place."
"We in Class E are all peace-loving literary youths; we never fight."
He paused, then pointed upstairs with the tone of an experienced person, giving earnest advice.
"If you want to find the strongest fighter, you should go look for Ryu..."
Before he could finish speaking.
"Thump, thump, thump—"
Suddenly, a series of synchronized and heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway.
A smug smile instantly appeared on Chuta's lips.
He patted Genji's shoulder and pointed his chin towards the staircase.
"See, speak of the devil, and he appears."
"Here he is, the strongest fighter."
Genji instinctively looked in the direction he was pointing.
At the staircase, a large group was marching majestically towards them.
Leading them was a man in a black uniform, tall and straight, with a faint, mischievous smile on his face.
Behind him followed Izaki Shun and Makise Takashi, two equally prominent figures in Suzuran.
Further back were dozens of fierce-eyed, imposing delinquents.
With every step they took, the entire hallway seemed to tremble slightly.
However, before he could react.
The leading man, Ryuzaki Shin, had already walked up to him.
Genji looked at the man in front of him, who was half a head taller than himself and exuded an aura so powerful it was suffocating, and instinctively wanted to ask, "Are you the strongest fighter?"
He was just about to speak.
But he noticed that the other person's gaze didn't linger on him for a second.
Ryuzaki Shin merely glanced at him casually, then walked straight past him, as if he were nothing more than insignificant air.
Immediately after, Izaki Shun also walked past him with a cold expression.
Makise, who was distinctively ugly, even directly bumped him hard with his shoulder, muttering disdainfully:
"Good dogs don't block the way."
"..."
Genji was completely stunned.
He watched the group stream past him, not even giving him a proper look, and felt an unprecedented sense of... disregard.
He, a Crow, was ignored by a bunch of Crows?!
An uncontrollable surge of anger instantly shot from his heart straight to the top of his head!
He spun around abruptly, looking at the back of the person who was now walking arm-in-arm with Chuta, chatting and laughing.
"Hey! You, stop right there!"
Ryuzaki Shin stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at him with an expression like he was looking at an idiot.
"You, are you talking to me?"
"That's right! It's you!"
Genji pointed at Ryuzaki Shin.
"Are you the strongest fighter here?"
Ryuzaki Shin smiled.
He pouted, and in an extremely light and lazy tone, he replied:
"Yes."
No sooner had he spoken!
Genji moved!
He launched himself like a cannonball, without the slightest warning, and directly threw a punch fiercely at Ryuzaki Shin's face!
No martial virtue!
A sneak attack!
Everyone around, including Izaki Shun and Makise, was startled!
They hadn't expected this seemingly dull-witted guy to be so decisive and ruthless when he fought!
However, facing this sudden punch.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even bat an eyelid.
He merely tilted his head slightly just as the punch was about to connect.
Genji's powerful and heavy punch whistled past his cheek!
Immediately after, before Genji could withdraw his fist.
Ryuzaki Shin's right leg, like a venomous snake striking from its lair, had already slammed into Genji's lower abdomen with a force that tore through the air!
Bang!
A dull, extremely heavy thud!
"Pfft—!"
Genji's body instantly curled into a shrimp!
He felt as if his internal organs had been violently struck by a battering ram, and intense pain instantly spread throughout his body!
His vision went black, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground five or six meters away, clutching his stomach and retching continuously.
Although Genji was indeed quite resilient.
However, Ryuzaki Shin now possessed the same physical template as that BUG-like man—Hayashida Megumi!
Forget one Genji; even ten Genjis couldn't withstand his furious knee strike!
Especially in the most vulnerable part of the human body: the abdomen!
"Hahahahaha!"
"Damn it, this kid's an idiot, isn't he? Daring to fight Shin-nii?"
"With this little strength, he dares to come to Suzuran? He really doesn't know how to spell 'death'!"
Chuta and his subordinates all burst into unrestrained laughter at this scene, mocking the struggling figure on the ground to the fullest extent.
Ryuzaki Shin merely pouted, thinking to himself:
Genji, this guy, though brave, is reckless and easily angered, and his brain isn't very sharp. Honestly, he wouldn't even qualify as a boss in the original storyline.
Take him as a subordinate?
What a joke, I find it too much trouble.
Besides, his father is the president of the Ryusei-kai, and I don't want to get involved with those real yakuza yet.
So, let him fend for himself.
Having thought this, he no longer paid attention to Genji, who was still retching on the ground, and waved to the people behind him.
"Let's go, to the training ground."
With that, he took the lead, stepping directly over Genji.
Izaki Shun, Makise, and others followed, stepping over him as if he were just an irrelevant stone... Just as Ryuzaki Shin and his group were majestically walking out of the school building.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Large patches of dark clouds, like overturned ink, rapidly gathered and rolled across the sky.
Several dazzling bolts of lightning, like silver snakes, danced wildly in the clouds!
"Boom—!"
A deafening clap of thunder exploded on the horizon!
Immediately after, raindrops as big as beans, like pearls from a broken string, came crashing down!
Instantly, the entire world seemed to be enveloped in a gray curtain of rain.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't speak; he just looked up at the gloomy sky, and then stepped into the cold rain.
The moment he stepped into the rain.
A black umbrella silently appeared above his head, shielding him from all the wind and rain.
Ryuzaki Shin paused slightly and looked back.
He saw Sasaki Yu holding the black umbrella, looking at him with an expression of immense admiration.
He tilted most of the umbrella towards Ryuzaki Shin, leaving half of his own body completely exposed to the rain, quickly getting drenched.
Immediately after, behind him.
Izaki Shun, Makise, Chuta... dozens of delinquents, in unison, opened their black umbrellas.
They silently followed behind Ryuzaki Shin, step by step, entering the wind and rain.
Dozens of black umbrellas, under the gloomy sky, converged into a black torrent, slowly yet resolutely, surging towards the training ground... At this moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
Only the raindrops tapped out a synchronized and solemn rhythm on the umbrella canopies...
The rain intensified.
Cold rainwater, like countless silver needles, poured down from the gloomy sky, harshly striking Suzuran High School's dilapidated sports field, splashing up circles of muddy water.
A pitch-black crow stood alone on a bare branch.
Tilting its head, it watched indifferently from above with its obsidian-like eyes.
It watched the two slowly converging torrents of black school uniforms.
In the center of the field, over 150 members of the Serizawa Army, like a well-trained military, stood scattered in the rain, holding black umbrellas, forming a huge, loose yet imposing encirclement.
They stood there silently, letting the cold rain beat against their umbrellas, making a "pitter-patter" sound.
The entire field was silent except for the sound of the rain.
And standing at the very front was Serizawa Tamao.
He did not hold the uniform black umbrella, but rather a pure white one, which stood out from the surroundings.
That white umbrella, in this sea of black, appeared particularly abrupt and particularly… glaring.
He still maintained his sleepy, lazy demeanor, as if indifferent to everything before him.
But in his half-closed eyes, a chilling glint of ferocity occasionally flashed.
Just then, a series of neat and heavy footsteps, from far to near, broke the tranquility of the rain.
Serizawa slowly raised his head, a playful curve on his lips.
He knew that the person he was waiting for had arrived.
At the other end of the field, Ryuzaki Shin and his group of seventy or eighty people, also holding black umbrellas, surged slowly but steadily like a black tide into this battlefield already enveloped in a murderous aura.
Ryuzaki Shin was leading them.
Their numbers were far fewer than the Serizawa Army.
But in each of their eyes, a raging fighting spirit burned, and that unstoppable momentum was in no way inferior to the other side!
Two black torrents faced each other across the center of the field.
Rainwater slid down the umbrella edges, gathering into muddy streams on the ground.
A storm was brewing; a decisive battle for the future of Suzuran was about to erupt!
However, at this tense, explosive moment,
Ryuzaki Shin, as if nothing was happening, didn't even look at Serizawa, who was holding a white umbrella and looking lazy.
He just slowly turned his head, looked at Sasaki Yu, who was trembling slightly from nervousness and excitement beside him, and showed a gentle smile on his face.
He reached out and gently patted Sasaki Yu's shoulder, softly saying in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Sasaki Yu, this is the third lesson I'm giving you on becoming a man."
Sasaki Yu instinctively swallowed, looking at Ryuzaki Shin's calm eyes, and stammered:
"W-what is it?"
Ryuzaki Shin smiled, his gaze returning to the dense crowd opposite him, and then he slowly said:
"That is..."
"A true man doesn't need to be taught by others."
"The important thing is simply... how you choose."
After he finished speaking, he didn't look at Sasaki Yu again.
He just casually tossed the black umbrella in his hand behind him.
Then, in the cold rain, he slowly raised his head, facing the more than a hundred unfriendly gazes from the other side, a wild and domineering smile curling on his lips.
The next second!
He used all his strength to let out an earth-shattering roar!
That sound, like a sudden clap of thunder, instantly drowned out the noisy rain!
"Ikuso (Let's go)!!!"
As soon as the words fell!
He charged forward like a cannonball, leading the way, fearlessly rushing into the black "sea of people" opposite!
Behind him, those dozens of delinquents were completely ignited by his unstoppable momentum!
They all threw away their umbrellas, roaring and shouting, following closely like tigers descending a mountain!
"Ah ah ah ah ah—!"
"Damn it!"
"For Shin-nii!"
On the other side, the executives of the Serizawa Army were first stunned to see Ryuzaki Shin actually dare to charge over proactively, then cruel smiles appeared on their faces.
"Damn it! You're asking for death!"
"Brothers! Get them! Kill them!"
Tokaji Yuji and Tsutsumoto Shoji and others also roared, leading over a hundred people behind them, rushing forward like a breached flood!
Two black torrents violently collided in the pouring rain!
Serizawa Tamao, however, remained unhurriedly in place.
He watched the figure, who was darting left and right through the crowd like a demon god descended, a cold smile on his lips.
He knew that he would surely win this battle.
Firstly, his Serizawa Army had over 150 people, all elites carefully selected from the entire third year, each seasoned in battle.
And Ryuzaki Shin's side?
Apart from Izaki Shun and Makise, who could be considered significant figures, the rest were merely Class E cannon fodder under that good-for-nothing Tamura Chuta.
Seventy or eighty people against over 150 people, a numerical difference of almost double!
Moreover, even if Ryuzaki Shin was strong, he could fight ten, he could fight twenty, but could he fight over a hundred?
He would eventually be worn down to death!
What? You say it's unfair?
Haha... This, damn it, is the Crows' Nest!
The weak are prey to the strong, the victor is king!
Fairness?
What the hell is fairness?!
...On the other side of the battlefield.
Makise Takashi had already gone berserk!
He simply used the most straightforward and brutal method, smashing his fists again and again into the Serizawa Army thugs who charged at him!
He was like a tireless beast; every swing was inevitably accompanied by the sound of bones shattering and agonizing screams!
However, two fists are no match for four hands.
Just as he had knocked down one guy and was about to catch his breath,
a Serizawa Army thug, who had been lurking behind him, flashed a sinister glint in his eyes and suddenly hugged his waist from behind, locking him in a death grip!
"Damn it! Let go of me!"
Makise struggled frantically, but the opponent's strength was considerable, and he couldn't break free for a moment!
Immediately after, three more guys, grinning menacingly, surrounded him from the front, their clubs mercilessly smashing down towards his head and body!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Makise could only shield his head with his arms, enduring the storm of attacks!
Just as he felt his consciousness blurring!
"Ah—!!"
A high-pitched, yet unusually firm scream, suddenly rang out behind him!
Makise instinctively looked back.
He saw the seemingly frail, pale-faced Sasaki Yu, now with his eyes closed, like a frantic young calf.
He charged recklessly at the guys ganging up on him!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
His slender body actually managed to knock those several burly men off balance!
The fallen Serizawa Army thugs, seeing that the person who had knocked them down was a scrawny kid who looked even paler than a girl, instantly became enraged!
"Baka! You're asking for death!"
They sprang to their feet, swinging their fists, ready to smash into Sasaki Yu's face!
Sasaki Yu's small face instantly turned pale with fright as he saw those fierce-looking guys rushing towards him, his legs trembling.
But he didn't run!
He just tightly closed his eyes, preparing to meet the impending beating with a tragic, heroic posture of self-sacrifice!
However, just then!
"Roar—!"
A beast-like roar exploded in his ear!
He saw Makise, the man who had just been tightly restrained, now like a primordial beast broken free from its shackles.
He suddenly flung his arm, directly throwing the guy who was holding him from behind flying!
Immediately after, he delivered a vicious elbow strike, hitting the temple of one of the guys rushing towards Sasaki Yu!
That person didn't even have time to let out a scream, his eyes rolled back, and he fell straight down!
Following that, Makise delivered another clean sweep kick, knocking the other two onto the ground as well!
Then, he walked up to the two guys still struggling on the ground, and without a word, raised his foot, giving each of them a kick, directly knocking them unconscious!
After all this, he turned around and looked at the pale-faced boy who was still trembling with his eyes closed.
On his already ugly face, an extremely awkward, yet unusually sincere smile appeared.
"Hey, Sasaki."
"You kid... you did great."
"I, Makise Takashi, acknowledge you!"
Upon hearing this, Sasaki Yu slowly opened his eyes, saw the demonic figure before him, and then looked at the unconscious figures on the ground.
He straightened his back, a look of immense pride on his face, and snorted.
"Hmph, Shin-nii said I'm the ace!"
...Serizawa Tamao stood in the rain, letting the cold water dampen his fluffy curly hair.
He watched the situation on the field, his brow gradually furrowing.
He realized that things seemed to be a little different from what he had expected.
Although his side had an absolute numerical advantage, the scene did not present the one-sided crushing dominance he had imagined.
Instead, his own men were falling faster and faster!
He scanned the chaotic battlefield with his sleepy eyes, and soon, he found the reason.
On the other side of the battlefield, that transfer student named Ryuzaki Shin was simply a tireless, terrifyingly efficient... human meat grinder!
At least fifty people surrounded him!
But strangely, not a single person could get close to him!
He was like a ghost, weaving and dodging through the crowd; every time he struck, someone would inevitably scream and fall!
Serizawa even saw that when that man kicked, a burly man weighing nearly 150 pounds was sent flying like a soccer ball, sliding over ten meters on the rainy ground, directly knocking down five or six companions before finally stopping!
What kind of strength was that?!
Another guy, wielding a steel pipe, launched a sneak attack from behind!
However, the man didn't even turn his head, just threw a backfist, and actually managed to bend the steel pipe, which was thicker than an arm, by sheer force!
Immediately after, he delivered another vicious over-the-shoulder throw, slamming the attacker to the ground like a sandbag, splashing up a muddy mess!
Serizawa watched the explosive combat scenes, and the laziness on his face finally disappeared completely.
He finally understood.
Why Ryuzaki Shin had charged ahead from the very beginning.
This man, from the start, had no intention of playing tactics with them!
He simply wanted to use himself to draw the Serizawa Army's largest and strongest firepower!
Thereby creating opportunities for his subordinates, whose strengths varied, to outnumber their opponents!
This man was not only brave but also very cunning!
The most terrifying thing was that he actually managed, by his own strength, to withstand nearly one-third of his side's forces!
It seems he can't just watch anymore... Serizawa thought to himself.
The rain intensified.
He slowly released his hand, and the pure white umbrella gently fell to the muddy ground, splashing a ripple.
The cold rain instantly drenched his fluffy curly hair, slowly sliding down his chiseled face.
He raised his head, and those eyes that were always half-closed, at this moment, opened completely.
They no longer held laziness and playfulness, but rather a bestial ferocity and... excitement!
— — — — — — — — — —
Both of these chapters are over 3000 words long, making up for the missing word count from yesterday.
Serizawa stretched, and the bones all over his body immediately let out a series of "cracks" like popping beans.
Then, he used all his strength and let out a roar!
"You brats! Get out of my way! Let me deal with him!"
That voice instantly drowned out the noisy rain and wailing!
The Serizawa Army's underlings, who were already terrified and on the verge of collapse from Ryuzaki Shin's beating, heard their boss's words and were all granted a reprieve.
They scrambled backward, quickly clearing a large open space.
They looked at the man who appeared like a demon god in the rain, their eyes filled with the relief of having survived a catastrophe.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the mess before him and then at his own side, where a large number of "ragtag troops" had also fallen, and he pondered.
Although his recent charge had taken down nearly thirty people from the Serizawa Army, he hadn't expended much physical strength.
But the most crucial thing was that his side was already at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, and coupled with the disparity in combat power, besides Izaki Shun and Makise, who could still fight, Chuta and his underlings had long since given up.
Now, those who could stand on his side, at most, were only about forty people.
On the other side, the Serizawa Army had seventy to eighty people!
If this group battle continued, they would undoubtedly lose.
Therefore... he had to utterly defeat Serizawa Tamao, this "King," in the shortest possible time!
To catch the bandits, first catch their leader!
Thinking of this, Ryuzaki Shin turned his gaze to the man who was walking towards him step by step, Suzuran's true King of Beasts.
He curled his lips and said lazily, in a mocking tone:
"What a pity, I thought you would keep showing off from the sidelines and watch until the very end."
Serizawa heard this and, instead of getting angry, burst into laughter.
"I can't help it. If I don't step in, these good-for-nothing underlings of mine will be completely devoured by you alone."
As he spoke, he stopped about five meters away from Ryuzaki Shin.
His eyes, however, were incredibly bright at this moment.
"Kid, you're strong, truly, very strong."
"But..." He changed his tone, his voice becoming incredibly confident and arrogant, "it's not enough."
Ryuzaki Shin shook his head, no longer bothering with him, and simply said impatiently:
"Hurry up and fight, it's almost dinner time, you pauper!"
"Damn it!"
The two words "you pauper" seemed to have touched a raw nerve in Serizawa!
What he hated most was people making fun of his poverty!
He roared, "You're courting death!!"
As soon as his voice fell!
He shot out like a cannonball, leaving a series of deep footprints on the muddy playground, splashing mud everywhere!
He leaped high, his body arcing through the air with a powerful curve, and delivered a heavy flying kick, carrying a wind that tore through the air, aimed squarely at Ryuzaki Shin's face!
However, facing this earth-shattering blow.
Ryuzaki Shin merely sneered dismissively.
He didn't even bother to dodge; instead, just as the opponent's foot was about to connect with his face, he suddenly raised his right foot, striking first!
"Bang!"
A dull, extreme thud!
Serizawa's unstoppable body was actually kicked down in mid-air!
He fell heavily into the mud, splashing a large amount of water, looking utterly disheveled.
"Ah ah ah ah ah! Well done! Ryuzaki!!"
"That's it! Ryuzaki! Climb to the top in one go!!"
"Shin-nii! Go!"
"Shin-nii! Defeat Serizawa! Lead us to the top!"
In fact, the moment the two bosses confronted each other, the fighting on the field tacitly paused.
Behind Ryuzaki Shin, Izaki Shun, Makise, Chuta, and Sasaki Yu, who was almost too excited to faint, couldn't help but let out thunderous cheers at this sight!
On the other side, the Serizawa Army, seeing their boss suffer a major setback in just one exchange, were furious!
They immediately charged towards Ryuzaki Shin.
Tokaji Yuji was the first to rush forward, cursing as he went:
"Damn it! Don't be so arrogant! Your opponent is me!"
Tsutsumoto Shoji also clenched his fists, letting out a series of "crunching" sounds:
"That's right! Ryuzaki Shin may be fierce, but he's just one person. After we're done with you guys, we'll deal with him!"
However, before they could even move.
"Haha... Hahahahaha!"
Serizawa, lying in the mud, suddenly burst into an incredibly hearty laugh!
He slowly got up from the ground, wiped the mud from the corner of his mouth, and stared intently at Ryuzaki Shin with eyes full of excitement and fighting spirit.
"Awesome! It's so damn awesome!"
"It's been so long... so long since I've felt this way!"
"As expected... the Tyrant of Suzuran!"
Ryuzaki Shin merely curled his lips and scoffed:
"But, you've disappointed me greatly."
"What King of Beasts? In my opinion, you're just a... slightly stronger, cute little kitten."
"What did you say?!"
Serizawa's smile instantly froze upon hearing this, replaced by towering rage!
"It seems I've been underestimated..."
He let out a low growl, and his body once again shot towards Ryuzaki Shin like a cannonball!
This time, he didn't use any flashy moves, but simply swung his fists in the most basic and direct way possible!
Ryuzaki Shin watched his wild, uncoordinated punches, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
He dodged one punch with a sidestep, then delivered a fierce whip kick, striking Serizawa hard in the waist!
"Bang!"
Serizawa's body staggered from the blow, but he incredibly endured it, not even retreating a step!
Immediately after, he threw another punch!
Ryuzaki Shin dodged again, simultaneously delivering a brutal hand chop to his neck!
"Thud!"
Serizawa's head snapped back, but he still didn't fall!
Ryuzaki Shin frowned, a little surprised in his heart.
This guy is truly damn resilient!
Just as he was about to use a more brutal move to directly cripple his opponent's combat power.
Serizawa smiled.
He smiled incredibly cunningly, incredibly... sinisterly.
He actually took a heavy punch from Ryuzaki Shin head-on, allowing the terrifying force to impact his chest!
"Pfft!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, but his body, using the force of the impact, suddenly took a step forward!
Then, in the instant Ryuzaki Shin paused slightly from his attack!
His arms, like iron bands, firmly wrapped around Ryuzaki Shin's waist!
"Got you!"
Serizawa's eyes gleamed with a beast-like light!
He roared, his waist suddenly exerting force, pulling Ryuzaki Shin with him as he fell backward!
"Boom!"
The two of them, like rolling gourds, tumbled several times on the muddy playground!
Finally, Serizawa, relying on his weight advantage, successfully rolled over and pinned Ryuzaki Shin firmly beneath him!
He straddled Ryuzaki Shin, clamping his waist with his legs, and then, swinging his massive, pot-sized fists, he rained blows down on Ryuzaki Shin's face like a storm!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Don't underestimate me, you bastard!!"
Serizawa Tamao was astride Ryuzaki Shin, his eyes gleaming with a beastly light.
He let out a furious roar, and his massive, pot-sized fist, carrying a gust of wind that tore through the rain, descended like a meteor from the sky, smashing down towards Ryuzaki Shin's face!
He put his full strength into this punch!
He wanted this arrogant transfer student to know who the true "King of Beasts" was!
However, just as he thought victory was assured!
Ryuzaki Shin, pinned beneath him, showed no sign of panic on his face; instead, he curled his lips into an extremely disdainful sneer.
He didn't even assume a defensive stance. The moment that fist was about to land, he too raised his right fist, striking later but arriving first, boldly meeting the blow!
A fist fight?!
Serizawa's heart jolted with surprise, then was immediately replaced by boundless rage!
This bastard, he dared to go head-to-head with him in terms of strength?!
He was asking for death!
"Boom—!"
Two fists collided violently in the pouring rain!
The sound wasn't the dull thud of flesh and bone, but a deafening explosion, like metal clashing!
"Crack!"
Serizawa felt an unimaginable, terrifying, destructive force transmit from the opponent's fist!
That power was wild, pure, as if it could crush everything!
He felt his finger bones, in that instant, as if struck hard by a sledgehammer, letting out a wail of unbearable strain!
Excruciating pain, like an electric current, instantly spread through his entire right arm!
"This... how is this possible?!"
For the first time, a look of horror appeared in Serizawa's eyes!
His strength was widely recognized as the strongest in Suzuran!
But now, he... he had lost in a pure strength contest?!
Just as his mind reeled, Ryuzaki Shin moved.
Ryuzaki Shin, who was pinned beneath him, suddenly exerted force from his waist, like a carp leaping from the water, and a clever burst of strength erupted instantly!
Serizawa's mountain-like body was actually flipped over!
Immediately after, Ryuzaki Shin executed a beautiful roll, landing steadily on the ground.
He shook his uninjured right hand.
Then, he looked at Serizawa, who was half-kneeling in the mud and water due to pain and shock, with eyes that regarded him as trash.
His gaze was cold and cruel.
The next second!
Ryuzaki Shin's body shot out again like an arrow from a bow!
He leaped high, his body tracing an arc of violent beauty through the air.
His right leg, like a battle-axe, carried a gust of wind that tore through the rain, hack ing down fiercely towards Serizawa's head!
This kick was powerful, heavy, and as fast as lightning!
Serizawa's pupils constricted sharply. He endured the intense pain in his right arm, crossed his hands, and instinctively protected his head!
"Bang—!"
A dull, extremely heavy thud!
Serizawa felt as if his arms had been hit head-on by a speeding truck, instantly losing all sensation!
He was sent flying backward more than ten meters, like a city wall struck by a battering ram, plowing a deep furrow in the muddy ground!
"Pfft—!"
A mouthful of fresh blood, mixed with murky rainwater, gushed from his mouth!
He struggled a few times, trying to get up from the ground, but his body felt as if it had fallen apart, completely unresponsive.
The entire scene once again fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was completely stunned by this crushing battle.
The King of Beasts... was actually, instantly killed?!
Ryuzaki Shin slowly lowered his foot. He looked at Serizawa, who lay in the mud and water, completely incapacitated, and said calmly:
"It's over, Serizawa."
Just then, the Mikami Brothers, who had been standing behind Serizawa, finally reacted!
They roared and rushed over, one from each side, helping Serizawa up from the mud.
Tokaji Yuji also stepped forward. He looked at Ryuzaki Shin, his eyes filled with apprehension, but he still spoke defiantly:
"Hey, Ryuzaki Shin, I admit, you're a good fighter."
He paused, then pointed his chin at the "ragtag army" behind Ryuzaki Shin, who were also lying on the ground, and sneered:
"But, look around you."
Ryuzaki Shin then realized that his side had already been completely wiped out.
Even Izaki Shun and Makise, the two strongest fighters, were now lying on the ground, bruised and swollen, gasping for breath, clearly exhausted.
Sasaki Yu was even more miserable; he was almost beaten into a pig's head. If Chuta hadn't desperately protected him, he probably would have gone to meet his grandfather by now.
Tsutsumoto Shoji also emerged from the crowd. He clenched his fist, producing a series of crisp cracking sounds, and said in a deep voice:
"You've been fighting for so long, you must be out of strength, right? It's still not too late to surrender now."
After he finished speaking, the atmosphere on the field became tense again.
Everyone's gaze focused on Ryuzaki Shin.
On Serizawa Army's side, although a large portion of their men had been knocked down by Ryuzaki Shin's people, there were still over fifty people remaining!
And every single one of them was a battle-hardened elite!
They slowly surrounded Ryuzaki Shin from all directions, their eyes filled with malice and killing intent.
In everyone's opinion, Ryuzaki Shin's defeat was already sealed.
No matter how good a fighter he was, he couldn't possibly defeat over fifty delinquents armed with weapons, let alone with Tokaji and Tsutsumoto, two executive-level monsters, among them.
Now, giving up decisively was the wisest choice.
However, facing this ironclad encirclement.
Ryuzaki Shin merely shook his head, without the slightest fear on his face.
He just slowly took out the box of thoroughly soaked Seven Stars cigarettes from his pocket.
He opened the cigarette box, tried to pull one out, but found that the cigarettes inside were already so soaked by the rain that they were unrecognizable.
"Sigh..."
He sighed helplessly and casually threw the soaked cigarette box on the ground.
"At a time like this, how great would it be to have a cigarette..."
His nonchalant demeanor completely enraged the Mikami Brothers.
Mikami Gaku roared, "Hey! What the hell are you pretending to be profound for?!"
Mikami Go also yelled, "Exactly! Are you going to fight or not! If not, then kneel down and surrender to me!"
Just then!
In Ryuzaki Shin's mind, the system's notification sound rang again!
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for triggering the ultimate showdown. God-level Choice System activated!"
"Option One: A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Immediately lead your remaining forces in a strategic retreat, and plan for future dominance. Reward for completion: Obtain the title [Enduring Hardship], equipped effect: Endurance +50%"
"Option Two: A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm! Immediately slide into a kneeling surrender, claiming to be inferior and acknowledging defeat. Reward for completion: Obtain the "friendship" of Serizawa Army, and receive their protection"
"Option Three: A true king never fears a challenge! Uchiha Itachi could only fight 7, but you, Ryuzaki Shin, will fight 50! Reward for completion: Obtain the physical talent [Undying Fighting Spirit] (Primary), stamina recovery speed permanently increased by 100%!"
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the three options before him and smiled.
Did he even need to think about it?
He didn't even hesitate, directly muttering in his mind.
"I choose three!"
"Ding! Selection successful! Reward obtained: Physical talent [Undying Fighting Spirit] (Primary)!"
In an instant!
Ryuzaki Shin felt an indescribable, ceaseless surge of power erupt from his limbs and bones!
The stamina he had expended from continuous fighting began to recover at an incredible speed at this moment!
He could even feel that with every breath, he was greedily absorbing energy from the air, converting it into the purest stamina!
He slowly raised his head, and in his deep eyes, a blazing fighting spirit ignited once more!
He looked at the dense crowd before him, at those delinquents with fierce expressions, and a very obnoxious smile curled on his lips as he slowly said:
"Hey, did you guys just... say I was out of strength?"
"Huh?!"
The members of Serizawa Army were all stunned to see him like this.
This kid, on the verge of death, still dared to talk tough?
However, before they could react.
Ryuzaki Shin had already moved!
He said no more unnecessary words, simply responding to their doubts in the simplest, most direct way!
He stomped his foot, and like an arrow released from a bow, he charged fiercely into that black "sea of people" once more!
"Ah—!!!"
He let out an earth-shattering roar, a sound filled with endless fighting spirit and... arrogance!
Izaki Shun and Makise, seeing this scene, were so shocked they sat up from the ground!
They looked at the lone figure charging towards over fifty people, their eyes filled with disbelief!
"He's crazy... This guy, he's completely lost it..."
Izaki Shun muttered to himself.
He couldn't even bear to watch anymore and slowly closed his eyes.
In his opinion, Ryuzaki Shin had already lost.
Although he was strong, he was ultimately just a man, not a god.
However, the moment he closed his eyes.
Sasaki Yu, who had been lying beside him, bruised and swollen, suddenly said slowly in an extremely firm tone:
"No, Shin-nii will lead us to the top."
Izaki Shun was stunned. He subconsciously asked, "Why?"
Sasaki Yu looked at the figure fighting in the rain, and his eyes, which should have been timid, were now filled with unparalleled trust and fanaticism.
He smiled, a radiant, brilliant smile.
"Because... he's Shin-nii..."
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the surging crowd from all directions, his eyes devoid of any ripples.
He moved!
Without the slightest hesitation, like a black bolt of lightning, he charged fiercely into that 'forest' made of clubs and iron pipes!
He stomped his foot, his body launching like a cannonball, and with an incredibly sharp aerial flying kick, he precisely struck the chest of the first henchman!
"Bang!"
The henchman felt as if he had been hit head-on by a charging rhino, his sternum instantly caving in, and his entire body flew backward like a cannonball.
He knocked over five or six of his comrades in a row before rolling several times in the mud and finally becoming completely still.
Immediately after, Ryuzaki Shin landed steadily on the ground, not even glancing at the guys he had knocked down.
His body spun like a top, and a fierce whip kick, carrying a gust of wind that tore through the rain curtain, slammed heavily onto another guy's arm!
"Crack!"
The sound of bone shattering was clearly audible!
The person didn't even have time to let out a scream, his eyes rolled back, and he fell straight backward, splashing up a patch of muddy water.
At this moment, Ryuzaki Shin completely unleashed himself, showcasing his artistic violent aesthetics, which combined two lifetimes of experience, to the fullest!
"Everyone! Damn it, hold him back! Surround him! Don't let him have any room to maneuver!"
Tokaji Yuji looked at the ghost-like figure darting left and right through the crowd and finally discovered the crux of the problem.
This guy named Ryuzaki Shin, though fierce in his charge, was unusually cunning!
He always moved along the edge of the battle, using his incredible speed and skill to constantly wear down his opponents, yet never allowing himself to fall into the danger of being surrounded.
Tokaji knew that although his side had more people, if they continued fighting like this, they would eventually be ground down by this monster little by little!
They had to trap him!
As long as they could tie him down, making him unable to move for even a second, then the victory would belong to the Serizawa Army!
"Now! Go!"
Hearing Tokaji's command, the Mikami Brothers exchanged glances, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in their eyes!
They roared, one on the left and one on the right, like two tigers descending a mountain, pouncing fiercely towards Ryuzaki Shin!
"Ahhhhh! Bastard!"
Mikami Gaku swung his fist, aiming straight for Ryuzaki Shin's face!
And Mikami Go, more sinisterly, attacked his lower body, attempting to take him down!
However, Ryuzaki Shin merely scoffed with disdain.
He dodged Mikami Gaku's punch with a sidestep, then delivered a fierce elbow strike, slamming it hard into his solar plexus!
Immediately after, without pausing, he spun and delivered a powerful sweep kick, precisely striking Mikami Go's shin!
"Bang! Bang!"
Two dull thuds!
The Mikami Brothers, these notorious twins in Suzuran, were easily knocked to the ground like two broken sacks in a single exchange!
However, just as Ryuzaki Shin was about to press his advantage and completely incapacitate these two!
A dark figure, like a ghost, had silently crept up behind him at some unknown point!
It was a man in a judo gi—Tsutsumoto Shoji!
He seized the moment when Ryuzaki Shin's attack missed, his old strength spent, and new strength not yet generated!
He lunged forward, his arms like iron clamps, tightly wrapping around Ryuzaki Shin's waist!
Immediately after, he roared, powerfully engaging his waist, attempting to use a standard judo over-the-shoulder throw to slam Ryuzaki Shin heavily onto the ground!
"I got him!"
A hint of joy flashed in Tsutsumoto's heart!
He had absolute confidence in this move of his!
However, the next second, the smile on his face completely froze.
He felt as if he wasn't holding a person's waist at all.
But a red-hot, incredibly hard iron pillar!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even turn his head; he just sneered, and then, under Tsutsumoto's horrified gaze, with a terrifying brute force, he forcefully... began to pry his hands apart!
"Crack! Crack!"
Tsutsumoto felt as if his fingers were being clamped by a hydraulic press, one by one, being forcefully broken!
Excruciating pain, like a tide, instantly engulfed him!
"Ah—!"
He let out an inhuman scream!
But he still gritted his teeth, clinging tightly to Ryuzaki Shin, his eyes flashing with an almost insane tenacity!
"As expected of... Suzuran no Bouryu!"
His voice became hoarse from the intense pain.
"But... don't underestimate me!"
He roared, using all his strength, attempting to drag Ryuzaki Shin down!
However, Ryuzaki Shin merely curled his lip.
"Noisy."
He suddenly lowered his stance, then, using his waist, rotated at an incredible angle!
Tsutsumoto was forcefully flung away!
"Bang!"
He fell heavily to the ground, splashing up mud, his ten fingers twisted at an odd angle, clearly completely broken.
He struggled a few times but ultimately fainted from the intense pain.
"Now! Lads! Go!"