They roared, following closely behind the black figure who was carving a path for them, charging desperately forward along the bloody road he tore open with his fists and body!
Each step trod upon the fallen bodies of comrades and enemies, each step accompanied by roars and the dull thud of bones colliding!
Yuwen used his already bruised and purple shoulder to violently shove aside the last Fengxian backbone thug blocking the doorway, completely clearing the final obstacle for his companions behind him!
The executives, leading their elites, entered without the slightest hesitation, one after another.
But just as they stepped into the shadows of the building, on the verge of heading to the final battle at the summit, almost everyone paused, turning back to look at the crazy figure still standing outside the door, preparing to face the entire white tide alone.
Makise's eyes were exceptionally serious, and he roared in a rough voice, "Don't actually fall here!"
Izaki's voice was still calm, but with a hint of tremor, "Don't overdo it... wait for us to come down."
Tokio's face was filled with worry and respect, and he nodded heavily, "...Please be careful, Yuwen!"
Yuwen had his back to them, merely raising his clenched right fist high and waving it back forcefully, his voice carrying its usual wild and relaxed tone:
"Cut the chatter! Hurry up! Don't let me do all this for nothing!"
The last person rushed into the corridor.
He suddenly grabbed the heavy iron door handle, his muscles bulging to an astonishing degree, and with a jarring metallic groan, he slammed the large door shut!
He even brutally bent off a rusty iron bar nearby and jammed it firmly into the bolt, sealing it completely!
After doing all this, he slowly turned around and let out a long sigh.
At this moment, all the clamor seemed to quiet down instantly.
The gazes of all the pursuing Fengxian delinquents focused on this Suzuran Crow.
The white tide slowly closed in, surrounding him from all directions, their gazes unfriendly and filled with the anger of being underestimated.
Yuwen stretched his neck and shoulders, his joints cracking with a grating sound.
He looked at the dense Fengxian Army before him, a brilliantly radiant smile, even with a hint of fanaticism and anticipation, spreading across his face. He spread his arms as if to embrace the entire army, and said loudly enough for everyone to hear:
"Alright... all the riff-raff have been cleared out."
"Now, this is my stage."
"Your 'enthusiasm' and 'fists' will all be... received by me!"
"Don't disappoint me, Housen!"
The moment his words fell, the red light in his eyes flared, the Berserker's aura erupted without reservation, and he actively charged into that white, angry ocean!
On the training ground, Yuwen's figure had already transformed into a violent whirlwind!
After repeated fierce battles and the continuous activation of his [Berserker] talent, his body seemed to have broken through some kind of limit. His muscles bulged, his blood surged like mercury, and every punch and kick carried terrifying, almost crushing power!
The Fengxian delinquents, who originally needed to be taken seriously, were easily sent flying like scarecrows before him. Wherever he went, the white tide was forcefully suppressed, even rolling back!
"Not strong enough!!" he roared, adrenaline surging, enjoying the thrill of overwhelming power!
Just as he was immersed in this surging power, a distinctly different heavy punch suddenly slammed into his side abdomen!
Bang!
With a muffled thud, Yuwen's body swayed uncharacteristically.
He slowly turned his head to look at the source of the attack.
A burly, fierce-eyed, short-haired man stood there, his fist still in the striking posture, exuding an oppressive aura far exceeding that of an ordinary thug.
It was none other than Fengxian executive — Ogiri Rikiya!
Ogiri Rikiya twisted his neck, making a cracking sound, his voice low and full of fighting spirit: "Hmph... I heard you're a good fighter. Good, let me crush you!"
Yuwen felt the burning pain in his side abdomen; this long-unfelt substantial injury only made the smile on his face wilder. He licked his teeth, and the red glow in his eyes intensified:
"Oh? Those soft punches just now almost put me to sleep!"
"Arrogant fellow!" Ogiri Rikiya roared, his muscles bulging, "Housen's backbone is not something you can easily break! Come with me! Overwhelm him!"
The equally formidable Fengxian elite delinquents behind him immediately let out roars, and together with Ogiri Rikiya, they charged at Yuwen like a battle tank in a group assault!
Yuwen let out an even more excited battle cry: "Come on! Let me see if your bones are as hard as your mouths—!!!"
He actively met them, his fists like heavy cannons, directly clashing with Ogiri Rikiya's punches!
At this moment, most of Suzuran's main force on the training ground had followed Genji and Serizawa to the main building, leaving only Yuwen, the Ebizuka Trio, and a few scattered Suzuran Crows still fighting a bloody battle against a large number of Fengxian cannon fodder!
Meanwhile, inside the training building.
Genji and Serizawa, like two sharp knives, charged upwards, sweeping away everything in their path.
As soon as they reached the third-floor stair landing, the passage ahead was blocked by a group of people. The leader, with sharp eyes and a gloomy demeanor, was Shibayama Hayato, one of Housen's Four Heavenly Kings.
Shibayama Hayato looked coldly at the two who charged up, his voice steady but filled with murderous intent:
"Suzuran's summit? This is as far as you go. This will be your end."
Genji and Serizawa's eyes sharpened, just as they were about to charge forward—
"Boss! Leave this to us!" Urgent footsteps approached, and the two leaders' executives, with a group of Suzuran elites, finally rushed up. Everyone was injured, but their fighting spirit was high.
Tamura Chuta and Tsutsumoto Shoji and others remained on the second floor to block the pursuers from below.
Tokaji, panting, shouted to Serizawa and Genji:
"You two keep going up! Don't waste time here!"
Izaki Shun calmly analyzed: "The showdown at the summit is waiting for you. Don't let Yuwen's and our brothers' efforts below be in vain."
Serizawa grinned and clapped Tokaji on the shoulder forcefully:
"Oh! Then I'll leave it to you! Don't lose to Housen's baldies!"
Genji looked at them deeply, nodding heavily: "...Mm! I'm counting on you!"
Without the slightest hesitation, the two immediately took the remaining executives and elites, bypassed the battle, and continued to rush upstairs!
"Your opponents are us! Shibayama!" Tokaji Yuji and Izaki Shun roared simultaneously, leading the Suzuran Crows behind them, bravely confronting the Housen forces led by Shibayama Hayato!
Genji and Serizawa broke through, charging to the fifth floor!
Another checkpoint!
Guarding here was Matoba Toushi, one of Housen's Four Heavenly Kings, with wild eyes and a warlike smile.
Matoba Toushi stretched his wrists: "Ho, you've finally arrived? Let me enjoy myself, Suzuran's two bosses!"
"Leave this guy to us!" Makise Takashi and Tokio arrived just in time with another group!
Makise was covered in injuries but even more agitated: "Damn it, fighting all the way up here is so annoying! Just in time to vent my anger on you!"
Tokio also panted and said firmly: "Genji, Serizawa, leave this to us!"
Serizawa laughed loudly: "Haha! Good! Makise, Tokio, don't disgrace yourselves!"
Genji simply uttered two short, powerful words: "Hurry up and follow!"
The two accelerated again, sweeping across the battlefield like a whirlwind, charging towards the final staircase!
Upon reaching the sixth floor, the anticipated ambush did not appear.
The entire floor was empty, with only one figure standing silently in the center of the corridor, blocking the last path to the rooftop.
That person's eyes were hollow and cold, exuding a chilling aura that warned people to stay away. It was Housen's strongest "killing machine" — Urushibara Ryo!
He merely looked coldly at Genji and Serizawa, without a word, yet he brought a pressure heavier than all the teams below combined.
Serizawa Tamao's wild smile on his face slightly receded. He twisted his neck and said to Genji:
"Hey, Genji. This guy... is mine."
Takiya Genji did not stop, his cold gaze piercing Urushibara Ryo, his voice low: "Hey, you drew the short straw."
Urushibara Ryo did not answer, only slowly straightened his body, and an invisible oppressive force instantly permeated the air.
Genji glanced at Serizawa, then took a deep look at the blocker. Without any unnecessary words, he simply gave a heavy "Mm" and charged straight towards the final door leading to the rooftop!
Serizawa Tamao, with a wild smile, came before Urushibara Ryo:
"Hey! Your opponent... is me!"
The battle on the training ground finally ceased.
Yuwen lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving violently, too exhausted to even lift a finger.
The sun was blinding, but he didn't even have the strength to raise a hand to shield his eyes.
The area around him looked like a typhoon had passed through, with circles upon circles of Housen delinquents lying prostrate, either groaning in pain or already completely unconscious.
Not far away, Housen executive Ogiri Rikiya sat slumped on the ground, one arm hanging limply at an unnatural angle beside him, clearly dislocated.
He was covered in wounds, gasping for breath, unable to even stand up, his face still etched with the shock and disbelief from the moment he exchanged blows with Yuwen—that was not a strength a human should possess.
Further away, the Ebizuka Trio and a few scattered Suzuran Crows who had managed to hold on until the very end also finally collapsed from exhaustion, surrounded by the Housen delinquents they had fought to the ground.
The entire training ground resembled a brutal ancient battlefield, with only heavy breathing and painful groans permeating the air.
Yuwen looked at the devastation, twitched his lips, and revealed a tired yet satisfied smile.
He painstakingly turned his head towards the main gate of Housen Academy, and with a voice filled with a certain expectation, he whispered,
"Next… it's your turn to shine…"
As if in response to his words—
A dense yet orderly sound of footsteps suddenly came from Housen's magnificent gate!
Immediately after, a group of figures appeared at the entrance!
They were all uniformly dressed in Suzuran's black special attack uniforms, but their demeanor was completely different from the Crows on the field.
Their numbers were around a hundred, not a vast horde, but they carried a strange sense of order.
The few leading figures were particularly striking:
Katagiri Satoshi, tall and burly, with a resolute face, stood silently like an iron tower, exuding an undeniable aura of dominance.
Imai Katsutoshi, slightly less prominent, was equally strong, but his face carried a hint of barely concealed nervousness and fear, his eyes darting around, yet he forced himself to stand at the very front.
Ito Shinji, with his characteristic urchin hairstyle, wore a serious expression, his eyes revealing a sense of integrity mixed with a touch of cunning.
Mitsuhashi Takashi, with his distinct golden curly hair, had a sly and somewhat irritating smile on his face, his eyes constantly darting around, surveying the tragic scene on the field, seemingly assessing potential risks.
And there was Tanaka, wearing glasses and appearing somewhat timid, nervously pushing up his spectacles.
Behind them were more students from Suzuran's "Full-Time Student Faction."
Their faces generally showed tension, fear, and even paleness; many carried medical kits and dragged boxes filled with Simple stretcher and bandages, their hands even trembling slightly.
But strangely, besides fear, their eyes inexplicably burned with a sense of excitement and thrill, a mission to participate in some significant event.
These were precisely the "nerds" who, after Yuwen introduced the "Full-Time Student Faction and fixed-time system" at Suzuran, focused on their studies and were always bullied and avoided by the thugs.
The Suzuran Crows who were still conscious on the field struggled to lift their heads, looking at this suddenly appearing group of "peers" with confusion and even a hint of wariness.
They recognized these people—the ones they used to corner and demand lunch money from, the ones they mocked as "nerds" and "losers."
What were they doing here? To laugh at them! Damn it…!
The fallen Housen bald-headed thugs and executive Ogiri Rikiya also saw this new group of people dressed in Suzuran special attack uniforms, their feelings becoming even more complex.
They weren't here to fight, were they?
When they saw the medical kits in the hands of those people, their eyes filled with disbelief and an inexpressible emotion.
"Quick! Move fast! According to the groups we assigned earlier!" Katagiri Satoshi's low voice broke the silence, carrying an undeniable tone of command.
Ito Shinji immediately began to direct: "Prioritize serious injuries! Stop the bleeding first! Stabilize! Do not move anyone with potential fractures carelessly!"
The students seemed to have found their backbone; though scared, they gritted their teeth and dispersed, running towards the fallen Suzuran thugs on the field, attempting to perform simple wound cleaning, hemostasis, and bandaging.
As these students, with trembling hands, approached the Suzuran thugs, who were covered in blood and still exuded a fierce aura, the thugs' reactions varied.
Some struggled weakly, issuing faint threats: "Get away… don't touch me…"
Some glared at them with suspicious and fierce eyes, though this gaze was greatly diminished by their weakness.
Some simply closed their eyes, appearing resigned yet extremely uncooperative.
The students were clearly very scared, their hands trembling even more violently.
A bespectacled boy looked at a thug with a grotesque bruise on his chest and fierce eyes, almost wanting to retreat, but he glanced at Katagiri and Ito, who were supervising nearby, and then at his companions who were also mustering their courage, and took a deep breath.
He said in an almost inaudible voice: "Please… please don't move… you need to stop the bleeding…" Then he carefully took out gauze.
thugs who reacted particularly violently, such as one who tried to swat away a student's hand, immediately drew the attention of a "supervisor."
"Calm down!"
Imai Katsutoshi, though scared himself, shouted particularly loudly, as if to bolster his own courage, and stepped forward to press down on the thug's shoulder with his strong arm.
Mitsuhashi Takashi was more cunning; he squatted down and said with a grin: "Oh dear, don't move around, you're bleeding so much, if you don't get it treated, you'll die, you know? If you die, you won't be able to look cool anymore, you know?"
Despite his words, the hand pressing on the opponent's wound subtly applied a little force, making the thug grimace in pain and instantly lose the strength to resist.
Katagiri Satoshi didn't need to say much; just a cold glare was enough to make the most troublesome thug temporarily shut up.
Some thugs who had passed out from pain during the fierce battle slowly regained consciousness as the students treated their wounds.
They opened their eyes blankly, first seeing a familiar yet strange face, filled with tension and concern—it was the face of a "nerd" they had once bullied and mocked.
A dead silence.
A thug with a scar on his face looked at a thin boy carefully applying medicine to his arm—this was the guy whose lunch money he had once stolen.
His throat worked, his voice dry and hoarse, almost squeezing out a sentence from between his teeth:
"…Why?… We… treated you guys like that…"
The thin boy's hands paused; he didn't dare to meet his eyes, his head bowed, his voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet unusually clear:
"Because… you are also Suzuran people… and… Yuwen-senpai said… we can't watch our comrades fall without helping…"
"Com…rade?" The scar-faced thug was stunned; this word had never appeared in his perception of these "nerds."
He watched the other's clumsy yet earnest movements, saw the slightly trembling fingers, and a never-before-felt, searing emotion suddenly rushed into his heart, burning more intensely than his physical wounds.
He abruptly turned his head away, no longer speaking, only his clenched jaw and slightly twitching eye corner betraying the violent tremor within him.
Another awakened thug looked at the straight-A student who was stabilizing his lower leg, a student he had once forced to do his homework; he opened his mouth, and finally, with extreme awkwardness, mumbled in an almost inaudible voice: "…Thanks."
The straight-A student pushed up his glasses, expressionless, but his movements became a little gentler: "…Next exam, remember to write it yourself."
The Housen thugs silently watched this scene.
Seeing that the Suzuran people were not there to continue fighting but to provide aid, they first breathed a sigh of relief, then their expressions became even more complex.
Watching their former enemies help each other, a sense of bitterness and bewilderment welled up in their hearts.
A Suzuran student looked at a severely injured Housen thug nearby, who was barely groaning, and hesitated for a long time.
The bald-headed Housen thug's face was covered in blood, his eyes unfocused.
The student gritted his teeth and finally slowly approached, taking out clean gauze and a water bottle, carefully beginning to clean the blood and wounds from his face.
The Housen thug seemed to feel the touch; his eyelids fluttered, but he didn't even have the strength to open them, only allowing the other to act.
As his blurry vision gradually cleared, and he saw the unfamiliar Suzuran special attack uniform and the other's tense yet persistent expression, his eyes became extremely complex, with confusion, wariness, but ultimately transforming into a faint glimmer of light.
He moved his lips with extreme difficulty, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, only a whisper of air escaped, and then he slowly closed his eyes, allowing that trivial kindness from an enemy to temporarily alleviate his pain.
Across the entire training ground, a feeling different from the heat of battle, yet equally profound, silently flowed and spread.
Hatred and division had not disappeared, but in the face of shared pain and this sudden assistance, something solid seemed to have quietly cracked.
On the training ground, a strange scene of "busyness" replaced the bloody fight from before.
The Suzuran Full-time System students moved among the fallen figures, clumsily yet earnestly tending to their wounds.
The initial fear and estrangement gradually melted away in the shared pain and silent assistance.
Most of the thugs, whether from Suzuran or Housen, silently accepted this aid from "enemies" or "outsiders." The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and an inexpressibly heavy atmosphere.
Seeing the situation gradually stabilize, Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, and Ito finally breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to Yuwen, who was still slumped on the ground, sprinkling some powder he'd gotten from who-knows-where into his mouth.
Imai remained slightly tense, continuing to supervise the scene, while Tanaka was still pushing up his glasses, somewhat flustered but diligently directing and coordinating.
The three looked at the unimaginable scene before them—the former "nerds" were now treating the former "bullies."
Katagiri Tomoji crossed his arms, his resolute face slightly furrowed, and said in a deep voice:
...I see. Is this why you insisted on implementing the 'Full-Time Student Faction,' even going so far as to use your fists to suppress all opposition, Yuwen?
He seemed to understand the deeper intention behind Yuwen's seemingly brutal reforms.
Ito Shinji pushed his spiky hair, his expression serious with a hint of understanding:
Indeed... merely using violence to draw lines will only create deeper antagonism and hatred. Seeing them like this now... I think I understand a little.
Mitsuhashi Takashi rubbed his chin, his eyes darting around, uncharacteristically dropping his usual sly demeanor, and mumbled:
Hmm... Although it's troublesome and dangerous... this feeling seems a little... more powerful than just fighting?
He seemed unable to find a more accurate word to describe this complex feeling.
Yuwen grimaced as he treated a deeper wound, and hearing their words, he looked up, a tired but knowing smile on his face:
Unwavering violent suppression can only lead to fear and even stronger backlash. Suzuran doesn't need to be divided into 'those who hit' and 'those who are hit.'
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the figures supporting each other, his voice calm yet powerful:
Between the Full-Time Student Faction and the "fixed-time system," what's needed isn't a wall, but a bridge. And common struggle, even shared pain and aid... that's the fastest and strongest 'bond.'
Fists can make people shut up, but they can't make them understand. Only when you and I have been in each other's shoes, felt each other's pain and struggle, can we truly understand the weight of the word 'comrade.' This isn't compromise; it's evolution.
The eyes of Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, and Ito sparkled as they looked at Yuwen, deep in thought, seemingly having a deeper understanding of his words and the scene before them.
Yuwen felt a little relieved seeing the situation on the training ground stabilize.
He had been worried that those troublesome thugs would resist fiercely, but thankfully, the worst didn't happen.
He struggled to his feet, preparing to leave some students to continue treatment, while he would lead another group into the training building, where the fighting should have also ended.
Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, Ito, take some people and come with me into the training building.
Yes!
Got it~
Understood.
Just as Yuwen was about to lead Katagiri, the other two, and a group of students towards the training building, a muffled voice sounded from the side; it was Ogiri Rikiya.
He had just been treated by a Suzuran student; his dislocated arm was simply stabilized, and his wounds were cleaned.
Although he was still unable to move freely, he was in much better condition. His face remained grim, carrying the resentment of defeat and the pride of a Housen executive, unwilling to bow to Suzuran, but his voice was unusually serious:
Hey... are you guys going into the training building to continue... doing this (referring to the treatment)?
Yuwen stopped, looking with interest at this opponent he had just beaten down.
Ogiri Rikiya turned his face away, seeming somewhat unwilling, but still said stiffly:
...I'm more familiar with the structure inside than you guys. And, how to get through the passages... I... I can lead the way.
He paused, his voice deeper.
And it could avoid some trouble.
...I don't want to owe you guys a favor. Especially you, Yuwen!
This was almost his obsession as a Housen man: to repay kindness, even if the recipient was an enemy.
Yuwen looked at his awkward demeanor and couldn't help but laugh: "Heh... alright, then follow along, don't fall behind."
So, Yuwen led Katagiri and the others, along with some students, towards the training building, and behind them, the Housen executive Ogiri Rikiya gritted his teeth, called over a few subordinates who had received simple treatment and could barely move, and silently followed behind.
As they walked along the path to the training building, Ogiri Rikiya and his subordinates silently watched the scene along the way:
Suzuran students were also carefully treating their fallen Housen comrades, their movements clumsy, but their gazes focused.
Then, looking at Yuwen, who was dragging his battered body but still holding his back straight, and the "Full-Time Student Faction" students around him, each with a different but equally resolute aura... Ogiri Rikiya clenched his uninjured fist, his eyes extremely complex.
His subordinates also exchanged glances; their previous mockery and disdain for Suzuran's Yuwen and the "Full-Time Student Faction" seemed so pale at this moment.
An unprecedented emotion quietly sprouted in the hearts of these Housen tough guys.
The group finally arrived at the huge iron door of the training building.
Then, everyone saw the thick iron bar that Yuwen had forcibly bent and twisted, jamming it into the door latch earlier.
Katagiri Tomoji: "..."
Mitsuhashi Takashi whispered: "Wow..."
Ito Shinji: "This..."
Ogiri Rikiya and his subordinates: "!!!"
This was not something that could be easily opened by human strength!
Yuwen just clicked his tongue and mumbled, "I just did it on the spur of the moment... So troublesome." Then, under everyone's stunned gaze, he walked forward, gripped the twisted iron bar with both hands, and took a deep breath.
The Berserker effect was still active; the muscles in his arms suddenly bulged, veins protruding.
Creeeeak—!!!!
The teeth-grinding metallic groan sounded again. That tightly jammed iron bar was actually straightened again, little by little, with pure force, and then pulled off!
Clang!
The deformed iron bar was casually thrown to the ground.
Yuwen clapped the rust off his hands, as if he had just done a trivial thing, and then pushed open the heavy iron door.
The dim hallway inside the door came into view.
And outside the door, including Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, Ito, and all the Housen members behind them, including Ogiri Rikiya, looked at Yuwen, then at the twisted iron bar on the ground, and collectively fell into a petrified silence.
Is this... is this guy... a monster?!
Brother Yuwen pushed open the heavy iron door of the training building, and a turbid air, mixed with dust, sweat, and a faint smell of blood, rushed towards him.
The scene inside the door was even more tragic than outside; the corridors and stairwells were strewn with bodies, mostly Fengxian delinquents in white special attack uniforms, interspersed with a few Suzuran Crows.
Their arrival immediately caught the attention of these injured individuals.
"It's... Suzuran's people!"
"And... our people? Brother Otokiri?!"
"What do they want to do?!"
The Fengxian delinquents struggled to get up, their eyes filled with wariness, hostility, and deep confusion.
Some even tried to clench their fists but dropped them powerlessly due to their injuries.
The Suzuran thugs, however, reacted with more complexity; they saw Yuwen and Katagiri, among others, and also the "Full-Time Student Faction" students behind them, wearing similar special attack uniforms but with vastly different demeanors.
"According to the old rules."
Yuwen's voice carried a tired but undeniable authority.
"Save them."
"Anyone who dares to cause trouble—"
"Deal with them!"
Although the Full-Time Student Faction students were still nervous, they were a little more skilled from their experience outside.
They encouraged each other with a glance, then quickly dispersed and began the rescue work.
Surprisingly, the resistance from the Fengxian delinquents was relatively small.
Otokiri Rikiya, with the few subordinates who could still move, endured his injuries and growled in the corridor:
"All of you, settle down! Let them handle it!"
"This is... an order! Don't disgrace Housen!"
"If you still want to walk out of here, don't move!"
Although the Fengxian delinquents were full of confusion and even humiliation, seeing their own cadres' serious expressions and their similarly treated wounds, most gritted their teeth, turned their heads away, and tacitly allowed the "nerds" they once considered weak to touch their bodies.
On the Suzuran thugs' side, however, some reacted violently.
A Suzuran Crow with a twisted arm violently slapped away the hand of a student who tried to help him stabilize it, growling, "Get lost! I don't need you useless bastards' pity!"
"Exactly! What are you touching! Get away!"
For these troublemakers, Yuwen and the cadres showed no mercy.
"It seems you still have strength?"
Yuwen snorted, stepped forward, and directly stomped his foot near the injured leg of the struggling thug; the immense force made the floor tremble, and his cold gaze instantly froze the thug.
Katagiri Satoshi directly pressed one hand on another shouting guy, his immense strength rendering the opponent unable to move:
"If you want to die, you can fight after you're healed."
Mitsuhashi Takashi, meanwhile, squatted beside a cursing thug, grinning as he took out a bandage, but deliberately applied it a bit heavily, making the other person howl in pain:
"Oh dear, don't move around, or next time I'll steal your girl, okay?"
Under the dual effect of absolute force suppression and "treatment," these troublemakers quickly "behaved themselves"; although their faces still showed unwillingness, they no longer resisted.
Yuwen left some students and the relatively calm Ito Shinji on this floor to maintain order and continued upwards.
Otokiri Rikiya gave a few instructions to his subordinates and then silently followed, his steps heavy.
Second floor. The battle here was clearly more brutal; blood splattered the walls, and a stronger smell of blood permeated the air.
Tsutsumoto Shoji and Tamura Chuta leaned against the wall, panting heavily, their bodies covered in wounds, but at least they were still standing!
Around them, all the Fengxian delinquents had fallen, unable to get up.
"Bro... Brother Yuwen?!" Tamura Chuta's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Yuwen and his group, especially Otokiri Rikiya following behind.
Tsutsumoto Shoji also frowned, watching Otokiri Rikiya warily, then looked at the "Full-Time Student Faction" students behind Yuwen, his expression complex: "What are you all...?"
"To clean up the mess." Yuwen said concisely, "Leave the rest to us."
With Tsutsumoto and Chuta, two cadres, present, the Suzuran thugs on this floor offered almost no resistance and quickly accepted the Full-Time Student Faction students' treatment.
Some even actively cooperated, and their gaze towards the Full-Time Student Faction held a few complex emotions.
Otokiri Rikiya looked at the two black figures, battered but still standing, then at the many fallen white figures on the ground; his fists involuntarily clenched, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
But he still took a deep breath and cast his gaze upwards:
"...Matoba, Shibayama... they wouldn't lose so easily."
However, hope gradually dwindled as they ascended floor by floor.
Third floor... Fourth floor... Fifth floor... Each floor presented a similar scene.
Standing were the battle-scarred but sharp-eyed Suzuran Crows.
Fallen were the utterly defeated Fengxian Army.
When he saw that even Matoba Toushi and Shibayama Hayato, on whom he had placed great hopes, had fallen at the stairwells of the fifth and fourth floors respectively, surrounded by Suzuran's cadres and students tending to their wounds, the last trace of color drained from Otokiri Rikiya's face.
His strong body swayed slightly, and immense disappointment and frustration almost overwhelmed him.
Housen... lost.
Completely.
"...Only... Brother Narumi is left."
He almost mumbled to himself, placing his last faint hope in the man who stood at the pinnacle of Housen.
Yuwen, looking at the mission panel in his mind that still didn't show completion, also frowned.
"Strange... Genji and Narumi's fight should have ended a long time ago?" He mused, "Narumi has high attack and low stamina, he can't compare to Genji's physique, so it shouldn't drag on this long... Where did Serizawa and Urushibara Ryo go? Why is there no movement at all on the sixth floor?"
They reached the sixth floor. It was unusually quiet, completely empty, with only the chaotic traces left by a battle.
Broken railings, scattered items, bloodstains on the walls—everything indicated that a fierce fight had taken place here, but now it was eerily silent.
A faint, sweet, peculiar scent permeated the air, causing an inexplicable discomfort.
At this moment, only Katagiri Satoshi, Mitsuhashi Takashi, and the silently disappointed Otokiri Rikiya remained by Yuwen's side.
Everyone else stayed on the lower floors to carry out rescue work.
Yuwen's doubts reached their peak; he cautiously pushed open the door leading to the rooftop, which should have been the site of the final showdown—
The moment the door opened, an unexpected change occurred!
A large cloud of white powder, without warning, rushed towards them, instantly blinding their eyes!
"Cough! What the hell is this?!" Mitsuhashi Takashi was the first to shriek, waving his hands frantically.
Katagiri Satoshi reacted extremely quickly, attempting to retreat, but the inhaled powder caused a violent dizziness and weakness, and his body began to sway.
Otokiri Rikiya only managed to let out a muffled grunt before feeling his limbs go soft and his vision blur.
Yuwen felt a burning pain in his eyes, followed by a strong wave of fatigue that swept over his entire body; his limbs were too heavy to lift.
He didn't even see who the attacker was before his vision was swallowed by darkness, his consciousness rapidly blurred, and the last thing he heard was the heavy thud of his body falling to the ground, and an extremely faint, cold snort.
Then, everything fell silent.
The time rewound to one hour ago.
On the Housen rooftop, the scorching sun blazed, and the hot concrete seemed to shimmer with distorted air.
Two figures, like wounded beasts, panted heavily, staring intently at each other.
Takiya Genji and Narumi Taiga, both pushed to their limits, their special uniforms soaked with sweat and blood. Each breath brought a burning pain to their lungs, yet their eyes still blazed with an unyielding fire.
"Cough… it's not over yet… Narumi!"
Genji spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, propping up his almost-collapsed body, and once again assumed a fighting stance.
His fists were clenched, knuckles already raw and bleeding.
"Heh… is that all you've got, Takiya Genji?"
Narumi Taiga, though equally disheveled, his chest heaving violently, still wore a wild grin:
"Suzuran's new top… is still far from it! The backbone of Housen… won't break so easily!"
"Then let's see!" Genji roared, once again erupting with astonishing willpower, and charged fiercely at Narumi!
"Come on!" Narumi also roared, meeting him head-on without flinching!
Their fists slammed together again, producing a dull thud!
This was a clash of wills and beliefs, a fight for the honor of their respective schools!
Just as the two were once again locked in a fierce stalemate, every exchange potentially deciding the victor—
At the rooftop entrance, a sudden, chaotic yet unusually heavy sound of footsteps echoed!
More than ten figures slowly emerged, blocking the only way out.
They all wore Housen's white special uniforms, but apart from the two in front, the rest were uniformly bald.
However, the demeanor of this group was completely different from the Fengxian Army downstairs!
Their eyes were cold and numb, exuding a brutal aura of having experienced real street brawls, as if they weren't thugs, but a pack of ruthless hounds.
Their appearance instantly dropped the scorching air on the rooftop to freezing point.
The two leading figures were none other than Kamakura Taro of the Silver Dragon Society, and… Washio Gota, the former Housen executive who was supposed to be disciplined and reflecting!
Washio Gota's face was filled with twisted excitement and tension. His gaze towards Narumi Taiga held a trace of lingering fear, but even more, a pathological fanaticism and long-suppressed resentment, like a venomous snake finally getting its chance to strike back.
Genji and Narumi were forced to halt their fight, warily looking at these uninvited guests.
The intense exertion left them barely able to stand, but the presence of a strong enemy forced them to rally their spirits.
Genji gasped heavily, his suspicious gaze falling on Narumi: "Cough… Narumi… is this… your arrangement too?!"
He couldn't believe that Housen's boss would use such despicable means.
Narumi Taiga's brows furrowed tightly. Ignoring Genji, he looked at Washio, a flash of disappointment and anger in his eyes, then his gaze sharpened, fixing on Kamakura Taro. His voice, hoarse from exhaustion, still carried authority:
"Kamakura… I told you, Housen's affairs are none of your Silver Dragon Society's business! Get out!"
Upon hearing this, Washio Gota seemed provoked, taking a sudden step forward, his voice shrill and frantic with excitement:
"Shut up! Narumi Taiga! You're not Housen's boss anymore! From today on, Housen will be taken over by me, Washio Gota! Your naive era… is over!"
His frenzy held a hint of bluster, as if he desperately needed words to bolster his courage.
Kamakura Taro wore a false, cold smile, and slowly said:
"Narumi-kun, I gave you a chance to cooperate, to deal with that guy together. Unfortunately, you refused. Housen needs tougher methods, not your outdated pride." His gaze swept over Genji and Narumi, as if looking at prey fallen into a trap.
"As for the Suzuran kid, you're just unlucky."
Genji's heart sank. He sharply demanded, "What about Serizawa?! What did you do to Serizawa?!" He realized that Serizawa's prolonged absence meant something had definitely happened!
Just then, an extremely tall and burly figure, like an iron tower, slowly emerged from behind Washio and Kamakura.
That terrifying oppressive aura instantly enveloped the entire rooftop, even causing Kamakura's fierce subordinates to unconsciously lower their heads slightly.
A long, stick-like object, wrapped in a long strip of cloth, was tied around his waist, swaying slightly with his steps.
Even more chilling was that he was casually dragging two people with his two massive hands, as if they were rag dolls.
"You mean these two pieces of trash?"
A deep, emotionless voice, like muffled thunder, rang out.
He casually tossed the people in his hands like garbage onto the concrete floor in front of Narumi and Genji.
It was none other than the battered Serizawa Tamao and the unconscious Urushibara Ryo!
"Serizawa! Ryo!" Genji and Narumi simultaneously cried out in shock, their pupils constricting!
Serizawa seemed to retain a sliver of consciousness. He struggled to lift his head, his face covered in blood and bruises. He bared his teeth, trying to show his usual wild grin, but only spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, his voice weak yet still defiant:
"Damn it… I… capsized in a ditch… Be careful… that big guy… guy…"
Seeing their comrades in such a tragic state, a towering rage instantly consumed Genji and Narumi's exhaustion!
"Bastards—!!!" Both of them unleashed their last reserves of strength, charging recklessly at the tall figure!
However, they were at the end of their rope.
Before they could even get close to their target, several elite subordinates brought by Kamakura immediately stepped forward to intercept them.
Genji and Narumi, with their last vestiges of will, threw punches and kicks, barely knocking down two of them, but more attacks landed on their already overtaxed bodies.
Both of them fell heavily onto the scorching concrete, excruciating pain spreading through their entire bodies, but their strong willpower allowed them to barely remain conscious, gasping for air and glaring at the group before them.
Seeing the two top fighters completely lose their ability to resist, Washio Gota's taut nerves finally relaxed, and the twisted excitement and arrogance on his face were no longer hidden.
He stepped forward and, facing Narumi Taiga on the ground, shouted in a shrill voice:
"Do you see, Narumi Taiga! Your outdated pride is nothing in the face of true power! Housen needs someone like me… someone who knows how to adapt to the times!"
Even lying on the ground, the pride in Narumi Taiga's eyes had not extinguished.
He struggled to lift his head, his gaze like a torch piercing Washio, his voice hoarse with pain, yet filled with undeniable authority and deep disappointment:
"Washio… you… idiot! Do you think that by relying on outsiders' power… you can truly rule Housen? You are nothing more… than a dog of the Silver Dragon Society! You are… destroying Housen!"
The tall man—coldly glanced at Genji and Narumi, who lay on the ground like defeated dogs, and let out a snort of disdain.
He turned to Kamakura Taro, his voice deep and unruffled, with a hint of impatience: "Kamakura, do you really need me to deal with such childish fighting games? What a waste of my time. Now, it should be over, right?"
Kamakura Taro was very respectful of Onizuka's attitude, and immediately bowed slightly, explaining:
"Mr. Onizuka, please forgive me. These thugs of Housen are wild and untamable. To ensure the plan is foolproof, we absolutely need your overwhelming strength to completely suppress them and make them dare not resist. Your power is indispensable."
Onizuka Goriki seemed unimpressed by the flattery, merely stating, "Since it's over, let's go." He turned to leave.
"Please wait, Onizuka-san." Kamakura quickly called out to him, a sinister smile on his face.
"There's another more troublesome guy to deal with. That Suzuran Crows named Yuwen in the training ground below—he was the one who ruined Tsukikawa-sama's deal last time, making our plan fall through. He must be eliminated."
Onizuka Goriki paused, slightly tilting his head. His face, hidden in shadow, showed no expression, only a cold voice came through: "...Yuwen? Is that the kid who caused us so much trouble? I hope he can take a beating better than these two on the ground." His tone showed no clear expectation or pure disdain.
At this moment, Kamakura Taro took a gleaming short sword from one of his subordinates and offered it to Washio Gota.
His voice carried both enticement and an undeniable sense of pressure: "Washio, it's time to make a choice. Take it, and personally usher in your era—with Narumi Taiga's blood."
A cold arc formed at the corner of his mouth as he continued, "Only then can you completely sever ties with that naive past and truly sit at the pinnacle of Housen. By then, the full power of the Silver Dragon Society will be your backing, helping you establish your footing."
He deliberately paused, letting the unspoken threat solidify in the air: "Otherwise..."
Kamakura Taro gazed at Washio Gota's face, twisted by fear and greed, and sneered inwardly.
This somewhat abnormal, easily manipulated fool was the most crucial and perfect chess piece for him to execute his entire plan.
Washio's accumulated resentment and pathological ambition were like a pile of dry kindling; with just a spark from him, it could burn down everything Narumi Taiga had painstakingly built, thereby clearing the biggest obstacle for the Silver Dragon Society to smoothly take over Housen.
Washio Gota looked at the deadly weapon offered to him, his face first filled with shock and fear, and his hand instinctively recoiled.
"Kill... kill someone? I..." No matter how wild he was, he had never imagined going this far.
Kamakura Taro continued to tempt and threaten: "Think about how Narumi suppressed you? Think about how he punished you? Now he lies before you like a dead dog! Kill him, and you will be the new king! Otherwise, today, you will be one more lying here. The Silver Dragon Society has no need for trash."
Washio Gota's already not-so-bright mind was completely muddled by fear, resentment, temptation, and pathological ambition.
His breathing became heavy, and his eyes gradually became replaced by a desperate madness.
He trembled, and finally, he snatched the short sword!
Kamakura Taro watched this scene with satisfaction, then turned to the immobilized Narumi Taiga on the ground, a victor's mocking smile on his face: "Narumi-kun, do you remember what I said when I first sought a truce with you? I told you that you would regret your refusal. See, it's come true now, hasn't it? This is reality."
Washio Gota walked up to Narumi, raising the blade, its tip reflecting a dazzling cold light in the sunlight.
But in this very moment, looking at Narumi's sharp eyes, even in defeat, his hand began to tremble violently again. The deep-seated fear of Narumi resurfaced, and he hesitated.
"What are you waiting for?!" Kamakura Taro urged sharply, "Think of the pinnacle of Housen! Think of who will dare to look down on you afterward! Do it!"
Narumi Taiga stared fixedly at Washio, his eyes devoid of fear, filled only with fury and profound disdain. He squeezed out words through gritted teeth:
"Washio... you coward... you don't deserve... to wear Housen's tokkofuku... Housen's will... will never be inherited by scum like you..."
Genji's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared, "Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!!!"
He struggled desperately to get up, but the intense pain and exhaustion in his body made him fall back to the ground again and again, only able to unleash powerless rage:
"Washio! Look closely! Your opponents are us! It's Suzuran! Using a knife against someone who can't fight back... What kind of thug are you! What kind of man! Come at me if you dare! You damned traitor! Scum!"
Seeing one of The Three Heavens about to be ended in such a manner, a strong sense of justice and anger almost made him explode.
Serizawa Tamao's eyes, previously unfocused from severe injuries, instantly re-centered, erupting with terrifying ferocity.
He bared his teeth, stained red with blood, his smile becoming unusually hideous and terrifying, like a fully enraged lion: "Heh... Heh heh... Washio... you motherfucker... I'll remember this... When I get back up... I will absolutely... absolutely smash every single one of your bones... one by one...!" Every word was squeezed out through gritted teeth, filled with furious rage.
Urushibara Ryo, who had just regained consciousness, was still somewhat dazed, and a severe headache blurred his vision, but he saw the scene before him.
His eyes instantly sharpened, his gaze coldly fixed on Washio Gota, and he said softly in a very calm yet chilling tone, "...Washio Gota... you are dead."
"Shut up! All of you, shut up!" he screamed hysterically, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes completely overridden by murderous madness. He gripped the knife handle with both hands and plunged it fiercely into Narumi!
The dull sound of the blade piercing flesh was exceptionally clear on the rooftop, as if tolling the death knell for an era.
Washio Gota's cowardly yet insane stab, and the furious roars of the three, filled the rooftop with grief and murderous intent.
However, this passionate confrontation seemed like a clumsy farce in the eyes of Kamakura Taro and Onizuka Goriki.
Kamakura Taro clapped softly, a sickeningly fake smile and undisguised contempt on his face: "Splendid, truly splendid. Look at you, like a pack of wild dogs trapped in a cage, tearing at each other for ridiculous things like 'the pinnacle' and 'a man's pride.'" He paced to Narumi Taiga's side, looking down at the king of Housen from above, his tone full of mockery:
"Narumi Taiga, I told you long ago, you are too naive. What do you think thugs are? Are they hot-blooded manga characters? Still clinging to that ridiculous pride? Truly pitifully childish."
He surveyed the fallen figures, his voice cold and realistic: "Let me tell you, you so-called thugs, in the eyes of true yakuza, are nothing more than quality grassroots provisions. Energetic, fearless, a little 'polishing' and they become the best enforcers, pawns. So-called Housen, Suzuran, Oni-Dwell are merely our talent reserve bases. Your struggles, to us, are like children playing house, just sifting out slightly stronger toys."
Narumi Taiga's body uncontrollably convulsed violently, a short, painful grunt, forcibly choked back, escaping his throat.
His vision began to violently sway and blur, the sunlight becoming dazzling and dizzying, and strength rapidly drained from his limbs like a receding tide, his body growing cold and heavy.
However, even in such extreme pain and the clear sensation of death, he stared fixedly at Kamakura Taro, still burning with unyielding fire and the deepest contempt.
He gasped with difficulty, refuting word by word, his voice weak but full of conviction: "Impossible... Housen... is definitely not your yakuza reserve! thugs... should not be tools for you to exploit! thugs... have their own path! A path forged with their own fists! A path walked with a straight spine! Yakuza... are not all scum like you, who only play with schemes and backstab!"
"A path of his own?"
Onizuka Goriki, who had been silent, finally spoke again, his voice low and filled with overwhelming disdain. He didn't even bother to look at Narumi, as if stating a simple fact:
"What a naive fantasy. Kid, tell me, among your so-called 'The Three Heavens of the thug world,' how many of the past leaders and executives, after graduating gloriously, actually joined the yakuza? And among those who joined the yakuza, how many made it big by relying on your 'benevolence,' 'loyalty,' and 'fists and reason'?"
He paused, his tone becoming even colder and crueler: "More often, they die like trash in some alley, or become dirtier than us to climb up, or spend their lives as disposable pawns at the very bottom. Stop dreaming. A thug is a thug, always the dregs of society. The best outcome is to become a brick under our feet. This is reality."
These words struck Narumi, Serizawa, and Genji like heavy hammers!
Narumi gritted his teeth, his eyes wavering violently. He wanted to retort, but found that while Onizuka's words were cruel, they pointed directly to a fact he had always been unwilling to deeply consider.
The Housen pride he believed in, the backbone of a thug—did it really crumble so easily in the face of cold reality?
Would the path he insisted on ultimately lead only to destruction or being exploited?
His belief developed its first crack.
The furious expression on Serizawa Tamao's face also froze slightly. He bared his teeth, wanting to say something, but for the first time, he felt a sense of powerlessness.
He growled hoarsely: "...Bullshit! My fists... what they create... is mine! Who the hell wants to become a rat in the gutter like you guys!"
But his voice lacked its usual absolute confidence; deep inside, something was also cracking.
He had always believed in speaking with strength, in carving out a world with his fists. But Onizuka's words made him realize that what he considered the "peak" might be nothing in the face of a larger, darker power.
His worldview, purely based on strength and loyalty, was severely impacted.
And Takiya Genji was hit most directly.
He suddenly remembered his father—Takiya Hideo, the head of the Ryusei-kai.
His father had denied him again and again, even publicly stating he was not qualified to be his successor... Was it that the yakuza in his father's eyes was not the kind of world he imagined, where one could fight with fists and passion?
Was the yakuza so... dark and realistic?
The "strength" he had always wanted to prove to his father, in the eyes of true yakuza, might really just be child's play?
A huge wave of confusion and loss instantly enveloped him, making him temporarily forget the pain in his body.
He murmured: "...Could it be... Dad... was right all along...?"
The beliefs of the three seemed to be brutally shattered at this moment, the wavering cracks clearly visible.
A voice still screamed within them:
"It's not like this!"
"It shouldn't be like this!"
But the cruel questioning of reality left them unable to immediately retort.
Watching the three fall into silence and struggle, Kamakura Taro revealed a satisfied smile.
Destroying a person's belief is far more interesting than destroying his body.
Serizawa's angry roar, Genji's bellow, and Urushibara Ryo's urgent shouts from nearby all became more distant and blurry, as if separated by a thick pane of glass.
Narumi Taiga felt his body becoming lighter and colder, with only the burning agony in his abdomen piercingly clear, reminding him of the reality unfolding.
His consciousness began to drift, and past events flashed through his mind like a rapidly spinning lantern.
He thought of himself back then, desperate to join Housen, one of "The Three Heavens." To become stronger, he fought day after day in the streets and alleys, trained frantically in the training grounds, covered in scars, just to be worthy of that white special attack uniform.
Then, he got in. And he met that man—the only man he ever recognized and revered as a god throughout his life.
"The Legend of Housen," "The Strongest in Housen History"—Bitou Makio.
Brother Makio possessed overwhelming strength; his fists were so powerful they drove all opponents to despair, but he had far more than just his fists.
He spoke little, yet he possessed a unique charismatic personality and deep loyalty.
He took great care of junior members, even once paying out of his own pocket for the medical expenses of Suzuran members injured in conflicts.
Hayashida Megumi, the "monster" from Suzuran, also admitted, "Brother Makio often looked after me."
This kind of "benevolence" that transcended factional rivalry shocked the young Narumi at the time and set a benchmark for him.
Brother Makio always insisted on "decisive frontal combat."
Even when Housen had a numerical advantage under his command, they never resorted to dirty tricks, relying on their legitimate strength and impressive magnanimity.
Housen reached its true peak then, not only achieving complete suppression of Suzuran but also providing spiritual leadership.
But Narumi later learned that Brother Makio was actually lazy by nature and initially just wanted to graduate peacefully.
It was the tide of the times, the complex and intertwined "bonds" between Suzuran and Housen, that pushed him into that position and made him shoulder that responsibility.
Suddenly, Yuwen's system of "Full-Time Student Faction" and "fixed-time system," those strange regulations where bookworms and thugs coexisted peacefully, inexplicably flashed through Narumi's mind.
"Heh... that guy... perhaps... this path you're on... Brother Makio... already vaguely saw it... it's just that back then... he didn't have the chance to realize it..."
He also thought of his parents, neighbors, relatives, and friends.
When they learned he had joined Housen, notorious for thugs, their complex expressions mixed with disappointment, fear, and contempt... "Heh heh..." He just sneered inwardly at the time, then responded with fiercer fights and more frequent injuries, just to become stronger than other thugs, to climb to a higher position, to prove to everyone—
Prove what? Prove that thugs weren't what they thought?
And then what?
He succeeded.
He defeated all opponents, reached the peak of Housen, and stood at the pinnacle of the so-called thug world.
But what exactly was this peak?
Benevolence... Housen's pride... the bonds of brothers... after graduation, would these really just become labels for the yakuza to screen enforcers?
Could they only become "quality grassroots supplies" in the mouths of people like the Silver Dragon Society?
Did Brother Makio, at some point, like him now, ponder and get confused by this question?
Did he choose such a benevolent path precisely because he saw through the end of violence and needed something else to define "strength"?
The continuous loss of temperature and strength in his abdomen took away his last bit of energy.
Narumi Taiga's scattered gaze looked at the hazy sky, his lips moving, muttering to himself, his voice so weak as to be almost inaudible, yet it exhausted his last belief:
"So... what exactly is a thug...?"
"The passion we spill... the peak we pursue... the pride we protect... what... is the meaning...?"
Before he finished speaking, the last glimmer of light in his eyes completely vanished, and the hand he had raised as if to grasp something fell limply onto the cold ground.
Blood slowly spread beneath him, like a wilting, heavy flower.
The pinnacle of Housen—Narumi Taiga—fell.
A bald man in a white special attack uniform rushed in from the rooftop entrance; he was also a member of the Silver Dragon Society, looking slightly nervous.
Silver Dragon Society Member: "Kamakura-kun! That guy named Yuwen... he's bringing people and heading up!"
Kamakura Taro heard this and coldly glanced at Washio Gota, who was still trembling and disoriented from the killing; he clearly couldn't count on him for now.
He frowned, looked at Genji, Serizawa, and Urushibara Ryo lying on the ground, and temporarily suppressed the urge to execute them immediately.
"...Forget it, let them live a little longer. Perfect, we'll solve the biggest problem all at once."
A sinister smile appeared on his face as he ordered his subordinates: "Prepare the 'gift'. When he pushes the door open, give him a 'surprise'."
A subordinate immediately took out an inconspicuous burlap sack, filled with the prepared white powder, and stood in the best position by the door.
The other subordinates quickly stepped forward, firmly holding down Genji and Serizawa, who were struggling and cursing, and gagged them with cloth strips. Urushibara Ryo, however, just stared at them coldly, without much resistance, as if conserving his strength.
Onizuka Goriki stood with his arms crossed, watching the setup at the door, and for the first time, a hint of interest appeared on his face:
"Oh? Is that the punk who's given us so much trouble? I hope he's not as disappointing as these guys on the ground."
...The heavy iron door was suddenly pushed open a crack.
The Silver Dragon Society member by the door immediately threw the bag of powder he held forcefully into the room!
A white cloud of powder instantly spread out.
"Cough! What the hell is this?!"
Yuwen, Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, and Ogiri Rikiya's muffled grunts and sounds of falling... a brief silence... several Silver Dragon Society members quickly dragged the unconscious Yuwen, Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, and Ogiri Rikiya onto the rooftop and threw them to the ground.
Onizuka Goriki looked down at the unconscious Yuwen and scoffed in disappointment:
"Hmph, looks like he's just a punk with a bit of brute force, not knowing his place. He couldn't even avoid such a simple trap, I can't feel any 'strong' aura from him. Boring."
Once released, Genji and Serizawa ripped off the gags from their mouths. Seeing Yuwen taken down in such a way, they immediately erupted in furious shouts.
Genji's eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled to get up: "You bastards...! Do you only know how to use such despicable methods?! If you've got guts, let me go and fight fair and square! Animals!"
Serizawa Tamao even laughed in anger, his voice chillingly cold and filled with killing intent: "Haha... Hahaha... Good, very good! Silver Dragon Society scum..."
Kamakura Taro watched their impotent rage and smiled sinisterly:
"Fair and square? Hahahaha! In the world of the yakuza, there's only winner takes all, where's the fairness? The process isn't important, the outcome is everything! Now, the strongest ones are all here, like fish on a chopping board..."
Just then, the unconscious Yuwen floated in the abyss of his consciousness.
He vaguely heard Genji and Serizawa's angry and unwilling roars, and Kamakura Taro's triumphant words.
These sounds were like faint flickers in the darkness, stimulating his gradually recovering consciousness.
(A strong sense of unwillingness and anger burned in his chest like a raging fire: "Damn it... I absolutely cannot fall like this... System—add points!")
[Host: Yuwen]
■ Attribute Panel ■
Strength: 12 → 13 (Strength surging, power like a gushing spring → Bones roaring, transforming)
Agility: 12 → 13 (Moves like a startled swan, accompanied by swift wind → Body like flowing lightning, transforming)
Constitution: 12 → 13 (Robust physique, significant recovery → Blood and qi like a tiger, transforming)
Intelligence: 11 (Grey lock)
Charm: 12 (Unique temperament, eye-catching)
A vast and potent surge of cool energy erupted from deep within his body, instantly rushing through his limbs and bones!
The intense dizziness that had been eroding his consciousness, the feeling of powerlessness binding his body, and the burning sting in his eyes, all vanished abruptly like dust swept away by a gale!
He clearly felt that—
Every muscle fiber seemed to be re-forged by an invisible force, becoming tougher and more explosive;
Power condensed and roared deep within his muscles, as if something was breaking out of its cocoon;
Every bone segment emitted a subtle yet solid hum, its load-bearing structure and density quietly increasing, as if it could support a thousand pounds of pressure;
His body seemed lighter;
The surging power not only rapidly returned but also flowed with an unprecedented fullness, as if a waking tiger lay dormant within him, its energy inexhaustible;
The most astonishing was the recovery ability—he could even faintly perceive the tiniest injuries within his body being rapidly repaired by some powerful vital force, his metabolism faster than normal.
With each breath, his breathing became deep and powerful. One inhale seemed to draw in energy, one exhale seemed to expel all fatigue and impurities completely.
A powerful sense of confidence, like "invulnerable to all poisons, endless energy," naturally emerged.
However, compared to the qualitative leap, the complete transformation, when breaking from 10 to 11, this current improvement was more like an accumulation and consolidation of "quantity."
Although he was indeed stronger, it did not bring the shocking sensation of crossing a new realm.
'What the hell is "transforming"?!'
But now was not the time to ponder this.
He didn't get up immediately, but instead secretly opened his eyes slightly, quickly observing the situation on the rooftop:
Although Serizawa and Genji were severely injured, they could still curse, clearly still having some strength;
Urushibara Ryo leaned silently against the wall, his face still expressionless, but his gaze was fixed intently on a spot not far away;
Yuwen followed his gaze—Narumi Taiga lay quietly on the ground, a short blade still stuck in his abdomen, a dazzling patch of crimson beneath him... Seeing this scene, Yuwen's anger was instantly ignited.
Washio Gota hid to the side, looking at Narumi's body and his own blood-stained hands, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Katagiri Satoshi, Mitsuhashi Takashi, and Ogiri Rikiya lay unconscious nearby.
Kamakura Taro seemed to feel victory was assured, and said with a sinister smile: "...Once you're dealt with, Housen and Suzuran will both be under control. Although there were some minor twists, isn't this outcome good? Hahahahaha!"
However, the situation instantly changed dramatically.
Yuwen suddenly erupted like a lurking tiger, locking onto the triumphant Kamakura Taro, and charged at him!
However, a figure as tall as a mountain suddenly blocked his path like an iron wall! It was Onizuka Goriki!
Onizuka Goriki twisted his neck, making cracking sounds, and for the first time, a truly interested expression appeared on his usually calm face, a smile full of oppressive force spreading across his lips:
"Heh... Now this is getting interesting! To be able to break free from the 'Sleeping Beauty' effect so quickly? Kid, you're much stronger than those wastes lying on the ground!"
Kamakura Taro was indeed startled by this sudden turn of events, but seeing Onizuka Goriki make his move, he instantly calmed down.
Although he didn't understand why the carefully prepared 'Sleeping Beauty' had failed, he quickly reasoned that it would just take a little more effort.
He looked at Onizuka Goriki, who was one of the top powerhouses in their combat division. His true terror, most importantly, was that he wasn't just like these thugs who only knew how to throw punches.
Yuwen had originally intended to use his all-attributes, which had just risen to 13 points, to quickly deal with this troublesome big guy with overwhelming force and go straight for the main culprit.
But as soon as they clashed, his heart sank abruptly.
This guy is even stronger than Serizawa and Genji!
His strength and speed are surprisingly no less than his at this moment!
More importantly, his combat skills completely exceeded Yuwen's scope of understanding!
Those were killing techniques forged through countless real battles, even life-and-death struggles—efficient, concise, and vicious, with every move aimed directly at vital points, carrying a strong scent of blood.
Yuwen's Mastery · Martial Arts, which had already reached the green level, for the first time encountered an opponent he couldn't easily crush. Instead, he found himself somewhat overwhelmed by the opponent's seasoned experience and uncanny moves, feeling immense pressure!
"Hey! Yuwen! Be careful!" Serizawa Tamao shouted anxiously, having personally experienced the terrifying strength of that tall man. "That bastard's punches are ridiculously heavy! Don't go head-to-head with him!"
Takiya Genji, nearby, struggled to prop himself up, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, fixed intently on the battle.
Yuwen, while struggling to cope with Onizuka Goriki's storm-like offensive, tried to find an opportunity to get close to Kamakura Taro, but was relentlessly entanglement by Onizuka Goriki, unable to break through.
Other Silver Dragon Society members wanted to help, but Onizuka Goriki stopped them with a glance. "He is my prey."
Onizuka Goriki calmly deflected Yuwen's attacks while sneeringly commenting:
"Not bad. He's more than a little stronger than those two Suzuran brats on the ground, but that's all. Schoolyard brawls are, after all, just a child's game."
Kamakura Taro stood in a safe spot, leisurely adjusting his sleeves, and said with a tone full of sarcasm:
"See? This is what you call a thug. All you have is ridiculous passion and childish stories of loyalty, thinking you can solve everything with your fists. Little do you know, in the face of true power and methods, your so-called pride is vulnerable. The yakuza path is the road to true power and order, and you are just weeds by the roadside, unnoticed."
Onizuka Goriki continued to press Yuwen like a cat playing with a mouse, adding coldly, his words as heavy as his fists:
"Passion? Loyalty? Those things are meaningless in a true life-and-death struggle. Being a thug is ultimately a child's game; the yakuza is the reality of the world. Here, there is only the law of the jungle, only absolute power and obedience. What you believe in is ridiculously fragile."
Yuwen took a heavy elbow strike from Onizuka Goriki head-on, feeling a dull pain in his chest, but the [Berserker] talent transformed this pain into a more surging power coursing through his body.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, an unyielding flame burning in his eyes, and roared:
"A schoolyard game? Yes! But even if it's a game, we play it more seriously than you! More honorably than you! This path we've chosen, its value, is not for you to deny!"
Yuwen was knocked back again, but his steps were unusually firm:
"Hahaha! That's right! Our passion might be impulsive, our loyalty might be naive! But it's precisely these things that make us 'human'!"
"One person's passion might be weak, one person's loyalty might be naive! But when everyone's beliefs converge, miracles can be created!"
"Well said!" Serizawa, hearing this, laughed loudly despite his injuries, cheering hoarsely, "That's it! Yuwen! Let these rats in the gutter see what crow's pride is!"
Genji also snorted heavily, his eyes sharply locked on Onizuka Goriki, as if searching for his weakness: "Don't lose... bastard!"
Onizuka Goriki's offensive slowed slightly, his contempt even greater: "Pointless bravado! Like a fool trying to stop a tank with a bamboo pole. You simply don't understand the true rules by which this world operates."
Kamakura Taro sighed, as if regretting: "Pathetic. When your important companions fall one by one before you, when your so-called beliefs are crushed by reality, you will understand that the rules of the yakuza are the eternal truth. thugs? Nothing more than useless people huddling together for warmth."
Yuwen felt the power and pain constantly accumulating within him due to the [Berserker] talent. His voice was hoarse from the fight, yet exceptionally clear, overriding all the mockery:
"Since the yakuza in your mouths... only has cold power and dirty rules left..."
He abruptly parried Onizuka Goriki's heavy punch, and a tangible light seemed to burn in his eyes.
"Since you think the passion and loyalty of thugs are so worthless..."
He took a deep breath and made a declaration that shook the rooftop:
"Then let us—with this passion you despise! With this loyalty you mock!—personally change all of this! Break your rotten rules! Create our era!"
Before his words finished, Yuwen's eyes blazed with red light!
The stacking effect of [Berserker] had finally reached a critical point!
He suddenly let out a deafening roar. The strength that had been at a stalemate with Onizuka Goriki suddenly erupted, and he threw a punch that seemed to burst the air!
Onizuka Goriki's blocking arm was violently shaken aside by an incredible force, and he stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance!
The composed expression on his face vanished for the first time, replaced by a trace of shock and disbelief: "What?! This power...?!"
Shame and anger instantly replaced the shock! He had actually been forced back by a student he looked down upon, a mere brat!
Serizawa Tamao burst into loud, wild laughter, tears almost streaming down his face:
"Hahaha! Good! Well said! Change it! Yuwen! Include my share too!"
Takiya Genji's clenched fists turned white from effort. He suddenly looked up, towards Yuwen, and roared with an unprecedented volume: "Then change it for you to see! Don't die, bastard!"
Yuwen seized this opportunity and charged fiercely towards Kamakura Taro again!
Kamakura Taro's face changed at the sight, and he hastily shouted: "Stop him!"
Several Silver Dragon Society thugs bravely rushed forward, trying to block him.
"Mr. Onizuka! Stop playing around! Finish him quickly!" Kamakura Taro was truly starting to panic.
"Get out of the way!" Yuwen roared, almost crushing the few blocking thugs, instantly sending them flying!
Just as his fingers were about to touch Kamakura Taro's collar—
An incredibly sharp cold gleam suddenly flashed, heading straight for his throat!
An alarm bell rang in Yuwen's heart, and he leaped back abruptly, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.
He steadied himself and looked closely.
He saw that Onizuka Goriki, at some unknown point, had drawn the weapon that had been wrapped in long cloth—it was a Japanese sword gleaming with cold light.
He held the sword with a furious expression, killing intent enveloping Yuwen as if it were tangible.
He had actually been forced to use a weapon by a thug, which was a great humiliation to him!
"Brat..." Onizuka Goriki's voice was terrifyingly low, filled with cold killing intent, "You... have truly angered me. I will chop you... and your ridiculous passion... into pieces!"
Just as Yuwen and Onizuka Goriki were locked in a fierce confrontation, and everyone's attention was drawn to this duel and passionate declaration—
No one noticed that in the corner of the rooftop, Narumi Taiga, lying in a pool of blood and presumed dead by everyone, the flow of blood around his silent "corpse" seemed to slow slightly.
Immediately after, his hand, weakly splayed out and stained with his own blood, his index finger twitched ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.
No light flashed, no aura fluctuated.
It was merely a faint response of nerve endings to a powerful will to live, the last stubborn spark of a tenacious life force erupting from seemingly completely extinguished ashes.
No one noticed.
Death seemed to loosen its embrace slightly, but only for a moment.
Narumi Taiga lay on the cold ground, his consciousness drifting in an endless darkness, the sensation in his body slowly being stripped away. Only the icy pain in his abdomen and his gradually cooling blood reminded him of life's fleeting nature.
In his ears, the sounds of fighting and roaring in the distance became blurred, as if separated by a thick curtain of water.
But some words, exceptionally clear, penetrated this barrier and slammed into his gradually quieting heart:
"An academy-style game? That's right! But even if it's a game, we play it more seriously than you! More honorably than you! The value of this path we've chosen is not for you to deny!"
"Hahaha! Exactly! Our passion might be impulsive, our loyalty might be naive! But it's precisely these things that keep us 'human'!"
"Since the yakuza in your mouths… only has cold power and dirty rules left…"
"Then let us—with this passion you look down on! With this loyalty you mock! Personally change all of this! Break your rotten rules! Create our era!"
These words, like giant stones cast into still water, stirred up huge waves in his heart.
"Passion… loyalty… thug… so… these things… in the eyes of others… are they so… dazzling?… Is what we chose… really… just a ridiculous game?… No…"
"Change everything… break the rules… create… our era… Yuwen… you bastard… but… why… does my blood… feel… a little warm again…"
At the same time, Yuwen was caught in an unprecedented bitter struggle!
The katana in Onizuka Goriki's hand transformed into One by one .
The moment Onizuka Goriki paused slightly, startled by Narumi Taiga's sudden voice!
Yuwen's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam—an opportunity!
He completely abandoned defense, pouring all his strength and will into his legs, like a moth to a flame, charging recklessly towards Narumi's direction!
"Idiot!" Onizuka Goriki reacted incredibly fast, roaring in anger, his long blade drawing a cold arc as it precisely slashed Yuwen's back!
Sss—!
The sharp blade cut through flesh, and blood splattered!
But Yuwen only shuddered violently, letting out a muffled groan, his speed not decreasing in the slightest!
He even used the force of the slash to lunge forward!
His eyes were fixed on Narumi, the burning will in his gaze seemingly able to pierce through all obstacles!
Pain? It was already overshadowed by something more important!
Narumi Taiga lay on the ground, his vision blurry, but he could feel that unyielding determination rushing towards him.
He didn't even twitch an eyelid at Washio Gota, who was also charging madly with a twisted expression.
All his attention was on the figure who was coming for him, bathed in blood.
"Wait for me, Narumi! Your blade! Your will! I will inherit it! Your battle is not over yet!"
Onizuka Goriki and Kamakura Taro were furious at the sight!
"Stop him! Kill him!" Kamakura Taro shrieked in exasperation.
Onizuka Goriki's face was ashen, his eyes boiling with murderous intent: "You're courting death! Stop!"
Several Silver Dragon Society thugs lunged forward to block him, and Onizuka Goriki also strode to catch up, his blade flashing again, adding several more bone-deep wounds to Yuwen's body!
But Yuwen seemed to feel no pain; his body might be bleeding, but his will was like the hardest rock, and nothing could shake his resolve to rush towards his goal!
Each step was taken in his own blood, each step more resolute!
Narumi watched the blood-soaked figure with incredibly bright eyes getting closer and closer, and with his last ounce of strength, he very faintly... nodded.
His eyes were filled with complex emotions—astonishment, relief, and an unspeakable... entrustment.
"...To think... for a guy... like me... he would go this far... Yuwen..."
"...They're really... a bunch of... incorrigible... idiots... But... why... does it feel... not bad..."
Just as Onizuka Goriki was about to catch up to Yuwen again and deliver a fatal blow!
A dark figure, like a ghost, suddenly slammed into him from the side!
It was Urushibara Ryo, who had been silent, conserving his last strength!
"Ugh!" Onizuka Goriki was caught off guard and staggered from the reckless collision; although he quickly regained his balance, his pursuit was interrupted.
He flew into a rage, backhanding a heavy punch to Urushibara Ryo's abdomen, followed by several more vicious blows!
Urushibara Ryo was hit so hard he spat blood, but his cold eyes remained fixed on Onizuka Goriki, even using his last strength to spit a mouthful of blood mixed with saliva fiercely onto Onizuka Goriki's face!
He didn't say a word, but all the disdain and defiance were in this silent act!
Until he could no longer stand and collapsed.
"Damn it! I'm going to fight you to the death!" Serizawa roared, dragging his broken body forward and clinging tightly to one of Onizuka Goriki's legs!
"You're not getting past!" Genji also lunged forward at the same time, grabbing the other leg!
They used their bodies to buy Yuwen that last, precious moment!
Onizuka Goriki was thoroughly enraged by Urushibara Ryo's sneak attack and Genji and Serizawa's desperate, sticky entanglement, especially the blood-stained spit on his face, which made the veins bulge on his forehead, and his murderous intent instantly soared to its peak!
He suddenly raised the Japanese sword in his hand, pointing the tip at Urushibara Ryo, who was sprawled on the ground, already unconscious, his eyes flashing with an undisguised, ferocious desire to tear him apart!
Immediately after, he sharply looked down at Genji and Serizawa, who were still clinging to his legs; even though they were spitting blood non-stop from the beating, the fire in their eyes had not diminished in the slightest, which further fueled his fury, and he shifted his blade, ready to strike at their arms or even their heads!
"A bunch of annoying flies... Die!"
However, in the very last moment before the blade fell, the corner of his eye caught Kamakura Taro not far away, and the latter's slight head shake, a warning in his gaze.
"Tsk!" He spat in extreme displeasure, forcefully stopping the downward swing of his blade.
His pent-up murderous intent had nowhere to vent, finally turning into even more brutal punches and kicks, heavily striking Genji and Serizawa's bodies!
Onizuka Goriki was abnormally furious, punching, kicking, and even using the hilt of his sword to strike them hard on their backs and shoulders!
"Get out of the way! You annoying insects!" But the two seemed welded to his legs, no matter how much they were hit, spitting blood non-stop, they absolutely would not let go!
Serizawa laughed, spitting blood: "Haha... Yuwen! Hurry up! Don't let me... take this beating for nothing!"
Genji's face was pressed and rubbed against the ground, yet he still roared: "From now on... it's up to you! You must... win!"
Their bond, at this moment, transformed into the most solid barrier!
When Onizuka Goriki finally broke free from these two "shackles" and furiously rushed to Yuwen's side—
He saw Yuwen already kneeling on one knee beside Narumi, one hand firmly gripping the hilt of the short sword plunged into Narumi's abdomen!
Yuwen lowered his head, his face a mix of blood and sweat; he looked at Narumi and said in a deep voice:
"Narumi... this blade... I'm borrowing it! For both of us!"
Narumi looked at Yuwen, who was so close, and the scattered light in his eyes seemed to gather into a last spark; he said with extreme difficulty, in an almost inaudible whisper:
"...Heh... Arrogant... crow... Then... let me... see... your... era..."
After speaking, he seemed to have settled his last concern, and the last bit of strength in his body seemed to completely dissipate.
Yuwen could clearly feel Narumi's body temperature rapidly fading beneath his hand, turning cold... The man who was once as powerful as a lion king was reaching the end of his life.
Narumi Taiga:
'In the very end... the one standing by my side... is actually a Suzuran crow...? How... ironic... But...'
Before his consciousness completely sank into darkness, his last thought drifted far away:
'...Housen... my... brothers... The road ahead... seems... not... lonely anymore...'
Onizuka Goriki walked with a ferocious expression towards Yuwen, who was kneeling on one knee, looking at this thug, covered in blood, who could barely stand upright, his eyes filled with extreme contempt and mockery.
Onizuka Goriki: "Hmph... A dying struggle! So what if you get that rusty piece of metal? thugs are thugs after all! Do you think taking a blade will change the fact that you're all useless? How utterly ridiculous!"
He stopped wasting words, raising his Japanese sword with both hands, with the momentum of splitting mountains and breaking peaks, and with a sharp whoosh, he fiercely brought it down on Yuwen! Roaring:
"Fall completely! Useless trash! This is the destined end for you thugs—crawling on the ground, looking up at the strong!"
Just at this critical moment!
Yuwen silently chanted in his heart: "System! Exchange!"
The next second, time seemed to freeze for an instant.
No one saw what happened!
Yuwen's arm, gripping the blood-stained short knife, seemed to vanish for a split second!
A silver flash, more dazzling, faster, and imbued with all will and belief than Onizuka Goriki's blade light, suddenly appeared like a supernova explosion!
It struck later but arrived first!
Swish—!
An extremely subtle cutting sound rang out.
Onizuka Goriki's forward momentum suddenly stiffened!
His Japanese sword, accompanied by a crisp snapping sound, clattered to the ground, its front half broken off.
The ferocity and disdain on his face instantly froze, replaced by an extreme bewilderment, blankness, and disbelief.
He instinctively raised his hand to touch his throat, his fingertips meeting a faint yet incredibly deep line of blood.
"Uh... gu..." He tried to speak, but could only force out some indistinct bloody foam.
His eyes, once filled with oppression and cruelty, were now wide open, staring fixedly at Yuwen, filled with horror and incomprehension.
He seemed to want to question, to roar, to understand what had happened in that instant, but life was rapidly draining from the wound in his throat, and all his questions and unwillingness turned into futile struggles.
His massive body swayed, then crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Yuwen was panting heavily, struggling to keep himself from collapsing.
He looked at Onizuka Goriki, whose pupils were dilated on the ground, and raised the still-dripping short knife in his hand, his voice hoarse but exceptionally clear as he said:
"Do you see...? This strike... is heavy!... This is Narumi Taiga's will! It is Housen's pride! It is our unyielding belief!"
"It carries Narumi's entrustment, Serizawa, Genji, and Urushibara's persistence! This weight, your yakuza cannot bear!"
On the rooftop, there was a deathly silence.
Only Yuwen's heavy breathing remained, and the soft drip of blood from the short knife.
After that strike, like a meteor streaking through darkness, imbued with all belief and bonds, the entire rooftop fell into an eerie silence.
The light of Yuwen's strike seemed to not only sever Onizuka Goriki's blade and life but also, in an instant, dispel the oppressive despair that permeated the rooftop, bringing a sense of almost sacred shock.
It was not merely a physical strike, but the materialization of will, passion, and the bonds of all comrades, united as one!
Washio Gota, who had just charged at Narumi and was kicked away by Yuwen, was clutching his stomach, writhing in pain on the ground and groaning. When he saw the terrifying Onizuka Goriki actually have his blade broken and be instantly killed by that Suzuran Crow, the pain on his face was instantly replaced by extreme fear and collapse.
"No... impossible... monsters... they're all monsters..." He mumbled incoherently, his body trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind, his mind completely shattered, even losing control of his bladder.
Kamakura Taro's composed and smug smile of having everything under control completely froze and shattered!
His pupils contracted violently, and his mouth unconsciously opened slightly, completely unable to comprehend what was happening before his eyes!
"No... this can't be... Onizuka... he... was actually..." He instinctively took a step back, his face filled with panic and disbelief, his worldview seemingly subjected to a huge shock.
His greatest reliance, just like that, was gone?
Serizawa Tamao, though collapsed on the ground, first froze for a second upon seeing this brilliant strike, then burst into a hoarse yet exhilarating, wild laugh, even laughing until tears came to his eyes:
"Haha... Hahahaha! Well done! Yuwen! Do you see?! You bastards! This is the power of our Suzuran!"
Takiya Genji coughed up a mouthful of blood, but his eyes, swollen almost shut, gleamed with incredibly sharp and relieved light. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out a voice from his throat:
"...Well done... just like that... kill all... the troublesome guys!"
And Yuwen, after unleashing this strike that surpassed his own limits and carried too much, felt all his mental and physical strength instantly drained!
His brain buzzed, his vision flickered with black, his body swayed, almost collapsing immediately.
But he gritted his teeth, supporting himself with the short knife, his gaze like a beast locking onto its prey, fixed on the pale-faced Kamakura Taro!
'I must deal with this guy first... otherwise he will definitely...'
The reason he initially rushed at him, wanting to take him out first, was precisely because he worried that such a person would threaten him with Genji and Serizawa.
Sure enough—
Kamakura Taro reacted from his shock, an extreme sinister ruthlessness flashing across his face: "Grab those useless guys on the ground!"
Just as Yuwen gritted his teeth, preparing to charge over—
Several Silver Dragon Society subordinates approached, but were stubbornly blocked by three swaying figures, as if they could fall apart at any moment!
It was Katagiri Satoshi, Mitsuhashi Takashi, and Ogiri Rikiya!
They had struggled to regain consciousness at some point, forcing themselves to stand up with strong willpower. Although their steps were unsteady and their bodies trembled, they still firmly guarded their comrades!
Katagiri Satoshi was expressionless, but his eyes were as firm as a rock, and his voice was low: "Silver Dragon Society... don't even think... about touching them."
Mitsuhashi Takashi, though grinning, had an unusually serious look in his eyes: "Oh dear... taking advantage of others is not good, you know? Bullying people who can't move will bring bad karma~"
Ogiri Rikiya was gasping for breath. As a Housen member, he now stood alongside the Suzuran members, glaring at Kamakura Taro:
"What... what do you take us Housen... what do you take Big Brother Narumi... what do you take all of us for?! Don't even think... about doing as you please anymore!"
Kamakura Taro looked at these three guys who couldn't even stand steadily, and laughed in anger, his face full of scorn and mockery:
"Heh... heheh... what a touching drama! Just you three half-dead wastes? You want to act like heroes too? Crush them for me!"
However, before his words even finished—
"And... me!"
"...And me!"
"...Hmph."
Three even weaker voices, yet containing astonishing willpower, rang out almost simultaneously from behind Katagiri and the others!
Serizawa Tamao, Takiya Genji, and even Urushibara Ryo, these three who should have been completely incapacitated, incredibly, with unimaginable perseverance, their faces covered in blood, their features distorted by pain, their eyes swollen almost shut, still leaned on each other, struggling, little by little... standing up again!
Each of them seemed to have crawled back from the edge of hell, their appearance ferocious and terrifying, but the fire in their eyes was more intense than ever!
Serizawa spat blood foam but laughed loudly: "Hahaha... scum of the yakuza!"
Genji's voice was so hoarse it was almost broken, yet it carried an undeniable resolve: "Our battle... isn't over yet... as long as one person is still standing..."
Urushibara Ryo said nothing, only stared fixedly at Kamakura Taro with his ice-cold, murderous eyes, as if flaying him with his gaze.
At this moment, Katagiri, Mitsuhashi, Ogiri, Serizawa, Genji, Urushibara... these thug youths from different factions, once opposed to each other, stood up again in desperation to protect their comrades and uphold their respective beliefs!
They built an unyielding wall of flesh and blood with their broken bodies!
The light of belief had never been so dazzling!