Chapter 80: End of the Collection Phase
"What?"
Kyara stared blankly, not understanding a word.
Soul Combat Dojo? What is that? An organization? A martial arts school?
Before Kyara could think further, Maruko clenched his fist and threw a punch.
Swish!
As a modified human test subject, Maruko's physical abilities far exceeded normal limits. Even a simple punch packed terrifying power.
But in Kyara's eyes, power meant nothing if it didn't connect.
He dodged sideways, easily avoiding the punch, even having the leisure to stroke his chin.
Just as Kyara was about to comment, Maruko suddenly followed up with a low kick aimed at Kyara's shin.
Tap!
Kyara immediately pushed off the ground, spinning his body, lifting his leg to avoid the kick, then turning into a back kick that slammed into Maruko's raised guard.
BANG!
Maruko stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.
"!"
Kyara raised an eyebrow, noticing the slight anomaly.
Their first exchange in the corridor had been his absolute victory, ending with him sending Maruko flying.
But in this second round, although Maruko was still raw, his movements were noticeably smoother. It wasn't as one-sided as before.
Furthermore...
Kyara glanced at his ankle. The fabric of his suit pants had been torn by Maruko's kick, leaving a red friction mark on his skin.
It was slight, but Kyara could feel it—Maruko's "force" was improving!
"Heh. Making progress. Did he realize it...?"
Kyara scanned the room.
Maruko, Shiraki Kei, the standoff between the men in black and the mercenaries, and the terrified debtors.
In Kyara's eyes, everything proved one simple fact—this world was full of "force."
The world revolved around "force"!
"Love and care" were just pretty words. Humans built social order through force.
Nobles, emperors, wealthy families... from ancient times to the present, those with dominion possessed powerful combat strength, unbreakable force.
People with extraordinary traits were driven by those traits to seek money, pursue violence, and exercise force. Whether righteous or evil, the ultimate means they exercised was still force!
That was why Kakerou gambles existed, why the Kengan Association existed, why the men in black faced off against mercenaries, and why Shiraki Kei could watch leisurely.
Force created the current situation!
In Kyara's view, the rumored "Abandoned Building Killer" Rodem had a fierce reputation and perhaps some force.
But a guy who only used force recklessly would be seen through instantly and easily defeated.
What was essential was the "resolve and courage" to use one's own force.
...
Kyara stared at Maruko, noting those childish yet determined eyes.
Years of combat allowed Kyara to easily see through the intentions of those who misused force, as he had in their first round.
But now, he couldn't quite read him.
With Maruko's child-like mind, could he really realize how to control his own force, like someone who had trained for years?
"Move! Maruko doesn't plan to kill you!"
Maruko gritted his teeth, his feet scraping against the floor.
"But if you try to stop Maruko, Maruko will kick you flying—"
"Maruko won't be responsible!"
BANG!
Maruko launched a side high kick. Kyara raised his arm, blocking with his palm.
With a dull thud, Kyara successfully blocked the kick, but Maruko's monstrous strength still split the skin on Kyara's palm, causing blood to flow instantly.
"Is that so? I see..."
Feeling the stinging pain in his palm, Kyara gradually realized.
Perhaps it was because Maruko's mind hadn't matured that he was purer. Combined with his contact with Kei, Baku, and the others, he was gradually accepting his own force.
Ah, not a bad seedling...
Just as Kyara stabilized his footing, facing Maruko's follow-up punch, he suddenly stepped forward.
The instant the fist hit his face, Kyara twisted his neck, dispersing most of the force, and slipped past Maruko.
...
Blood trickled from Kyara's nose into his mouth. He tasted the long-forgotten flavor of iron.
Been a while. So I can bleed too, huh...
"Haha! thrilling!"
Kyara leaned back, dodging Maruko's next punch, then grabbed his arm. Using Maruko's own momentum, he flipped the burly body over his shoulder.
BOOM!
Maruko was thrown by Kyara, smashing heavily into the ground.
But as Kyara expected, Maruko stood up quickly, his movements even smoother than before, improving rapidly.
"Ha, not bad!"
"But no matter who the opponent is, once they fight me, they become a ghost under my blade—"
Veins popped on Kyara's forehead as he let out a chilling growl.
"No matter who it is—I will be the executioner!"
Maruko and Kyara adjusted their breathing, charging forward with large strides, fists and feet aimed at each other's vitals.
However, in the next second—
"STOP!"
A young man's voice, tinged with anxiety and worry, suddenly blared from the broadcast speakers.
"?!"
Both Maruko and Kyara recognized the voice instantly. It was undoubtedly [Usogui] Madarame Baku.
Kyara wouldn't be distracted by such external factors, but Maruko was different.
Hearing Baku's voice, Maruko immediately stopped attacking, but his momentum carried him forward, running straight into Kyara.
Kyara was annoyed but unwilling to strike someone with no fighting spirit. He opened his arms, caught the charging Maruko in a bear hug, and tossed him aside.
"Idiot!"
Kyara scolded Maruko sharply. "There's a limit to trust! You'll get beaten to death sooner or later like that!"
Maruko looked blank. "But Big Brother wouldn't hurt me, right?"
"...!"
The more Kyara thought about it, the angrier he got. He looked up at the surveillance camera and shouted, "Usogui! You loser dog, are you trying to get your friend killed?!"
"Ah, not at all. I trust Kyara-san and Maruko very much. I believed you could stop in time."
Baku's voice was apologetic, finally sounding relieved. "Regardless, you are both my friends. I don't want you fighting to the death."
"Nice words," Kyara snorted, cracking his knuckles. "But don't forget, I'm employed by someone else right now. We are enemies."
Hearing this, Baku laughed. "Ah, regarding that, please look at the screen."
As he spoke, several monitors lowered from the ceiling of the lower hall, showing the live feed of the gamble in the upper reception hall.
"Phew, done. The equipment in the small broadcast room is complicated..."
Baku muttered, then informed Kyara, "Kyara-san, while you had me and Maruko pinned down here, our 'ally' already delivered the cards upstairs."
"...Hm?"
Everyone looked at the screen.
In the reception hall, a young man in old work clothes burst through the door, panting heavily, holding a thick stack of cards.
At the same time, Sadakuni's bald associate arrived right behind him, also holding a stack of cards.
But visibly, the young man had significantly more cards than the bald man.
"Um... excuse me..."
Feeling the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, the young man was nervous. "I'm Itou Kaiji. Which one is Akagi Shigeru? I was asked to deliver these cards!"
Akagi, sitting in his chair, raised a hand, took the cards from Kaiji, and thanked him.
Meanwhile, the bald man handed his cards to Sadakuni.
With Mekama gone, Yako Hikoichi was the sole Kakerou referee present, responsible for officiating the gamble.
He glanced at the cards in Sadakuni and Akagi's hands, smiling politely.
"Then, the card collection phase is over."
"In this gamble, whoever holds more cards has the greater chance of winning. Currently, Master Akagi has the advantage."
Hearing this, the bald man gritted his teeth, but Sadakuni acted indifferent.
"I don't care!"
Sadakuni's dead eyes stared fixedly at Akagi as he sneered, "Even if you have a temporary advantage, I won't lose. Let's begin!"
"..."
However, facing the overwhelming threat, Akagi merely smiled faintly.
He looked straight ahead. Despite being a middle-aged man, his eyes were clean and bright, possessing a purity different from Maruko's.
"No. You will lose."
Akagi smiled, stating it like a fact, savoring the words. "You will rack your brains, choose carefully, plan every step, calculate everything..."
"And then—you will lose."
That night, the people on the ship witnessed what it meant to be in the "Divine Realm."