r18novel Page 126
Page 126
But there was neither blood nor anything flying out.
That was nothing more than a lingering image left in the same place.
The real Yato had already used the explosive power of the [Storm Kick] to leap over Ohma and arrive behind him.
"—Flash Flower".
The feeling was as if he had turned into a phantom in an instant, passed through Wang Ma's body, and then solidified into a physical form. In that instant, his attack also remained on Wang Ma's body.
No one had time to react.
No one noticed what Yato had done.
All that could be seen was Wang Ma standing stiffly in place before slowly collapsing.
Yato, without looking back, walked out of the arena.
"Get a good night's sleep, and when you wake up, let the real you finish this unfinished second half with me."
(Two more chapters to go...emmmmmmmmmmmmmm, is this the price of eating too much at lunch?)
Chapter 163
"That old fox, Nogi Hideki, really knows how to scheme."
Watching the unconscious man being carried away by medical staff, followed closely by the representatives from Yamashita Trading Co., Ltd., Kaguya revealed a serious expression.
"By releasing fighters of this caliber to compete for a spot in the competition, even if the main force loses, there is still hope to win the final victory with the help of 'friendly forces' and appoint myself as the president of the Kengan Association."
"Not only that, but before it even started, they didn't forget to use it to gather intelligence on their opponents. Even if they lost, they would only lose some money, which wouldn't be a big deal for the Nogi Group. Fortunately, we were prepared... no, I should say it's amazing that you were able to handle such an opponent with such ease."
At this point, Kaguya couldn't help but glance at the young man drinking water beside her, and said in a strange tone:
“After my opponent took to the stage for the second time, his form changed drastically. I was worried that what I said to you before the match might have made you unwilling to go all out, which would have allowed your opponent to take advantage of the situation. Now it seems that I was worried for nothing.”
"You can't say that. That guy is pretty good. He doesn't have any obvious weaknesses, and his overall strength is firmly among the top-tier fighters." Yato put down the water bottle and added, "I mean when he's not injured."
"Indeed, even I, a layman, can see that his injuries haven't fully healed. Is the Nogi Group trying to get a fine? 150."
A look of displeasure flashed in Kaguya's eyes.
Kengan generally does not recommend that fighters with severe injuries participate in matches, especially if the fighter dies in such a situation. This would not only result in punishment from the Kengan Association, but also significantly damage the reputation of the corporation.
"Perhaps it's the fighter's own wish."
Yato said with a smile.
"...I can't appreciate this kind of spirit."
Kaguya rolled her eyes.
"I will decide whether to let you continue the competition based on my judgment. As a representative of the company, I have the right to forfeit. Even if you try to be stubborn, it won't work. Please remember this in future competitions."
"For a moment I couldn't tell if you were genuinely concerned about me or simply trying to scare me."
Yato shrugged.
Kaguya snorted lightly: "No, that's not it! This is a warning. I just hope you can win as easily as you do now every time. That way, as your partner, I'll have enough leverage to negotiate for more benefits."
"...Who told me to hold back before?"
Yato was somewhat speechless.
"This and that are two completely different things!"
"..."
Looking at the embarrassed Kaguya, Hayasaka Ai felt a pang of melancholy.
"Um, so just how strong are you now?"
Seemingly realizing her lapse in composure, Kaguya coughed lightly and changed the subject.
"Who knows? Reality isn't a game where you can tell how strong someone is just by their level."
Yato shrugged.
This perfunctory answer obviously failed to satisfy Kaguya's curiosity, but she had only asked casually.
"By the way, how many more games are there after today?"
"It's already confirmed that there will be four matches, and even if there are more, it won't exceed eight. After all, no matter how speculative a businessman is, he won't pass up an easy target to gnaw on a tough bone that has already knocked out many people's teeth."
"A maximum of eight games..."
Yato pondered for a moment.
Including the two matches already completed, the ideal scenario is to complete ten matches to acquire all the required attributes and a crystal.
The reward for completing the task is pitifully small.
But even a small mosquito is still meat, and this is only the first stage. The second stage will undoubtedly be related to the main tournament of Kengan Zemei, and the rewards will naturally increase with the difficulty.
"What's wrong? Do you have any special plans for the future?"
Kaguya asked casually.
"No, it's just that I feel like there's not enough time."
Even with exceptional martial arts skills, it would be impossible to master the essence of Kushinada-ryu Jujutsu in just over a month, let alone cultivate 'ki' and manage affairs at the Okutama deep mountain base.
While it's not to the point of being overwhelmed, it's certainly not an easy task either.
Fortunately, the latter can be commanded remotely, and with the help of the Narukami Group, a lot of trouble has been reduced. Yato basically only needs to make decisions, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to squeeze out time to participate in the Kengan tournament.
"Have you been practicing with your master during this time?"
Kaguya asked curiously.
"It's just a last-minute attempt to cram."
"Do you need me to help you take a long leave of absence?"
"...My sister will not agree."
"Hmm, that's true. Professor Hiratsuka won't allow students to take a long leave when they're about to graduate. I think you should just be honest with Professor Hiratsuka."
“Clergy would not agree to students participating in underground fighting competitions.”
"...Then I'm out of ideas. Wait, no..."
Kaguya suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"what happened?"
Yato was puzzled.
"A group of exchange students is coming to France soon, which is perfect. I've suggested you represent Shuchiin Academy on a return visit, but I'll actually arrange for another student to go... I think Shirogane Miyuki is quite suitable. It's settled then. Starting next week, you don't need to go to school anymore. Focus on your training and getting into shape. Or, I think we could just..."
"Wait! The match still needs to be played."
"You decide that yourself. While accumulating funds is important, the key is the main competition later on. I absolutely cannot accept the foolish thing of picking up the sesame seeds and losing the watermelon."
Kaguya's tone was filled with a powerful aura that seemed out of place for her petite frame.
"The school was able to help me with that, which was a huge help. Now I have plenty of time."
Yato breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's nothing. Allowing our own fighters to compete without any burden and providing them with ample assistance is what corporate groups should do. In fact, you should have told me sooner."
Kaguya said with dissatisfaction.
"It's the same now... because before this, I didn't know I would be this busy."
Yato expressed his innocence.
After all, before summoning Kushinada Mikumo, he never imagined that he would have another master to guide his cultivation.
"The money will be transferred to your account by Hayasaka. I will notify you a day in advance if there are any matches. Keep your phone on and don't overdo your training. I don't have a second fighter to fill in temporarily."
Kaguya gave him a worried reminder.
"...Are you playing the role of someone's mother?"
Yato's face darkened.
(I'm having writer's block, the transitions are so hard to write, I have the plot in my head but I can't put it into action. I've only managed three chapters today, the elimination rounds are coming up soon, I need to sort out the plot...)
Chapter 164
The next day, after school in the evening.
Yato arrives at Kushinada Mikumo's new residence.
The location isn't far; it's also in the port area.
But the environment was exceptionally luxurious. It was a duplex penthouse on the top floor of a luxury apartment building, complete with its own outdoor swimming pool, which completely shattered his impression of Kushina Mikumo as being as simple and austere as a hermit.
Most importantly, this house has absolutely nothing to do with him.
It was Kushinada Miku who obtained it herself after leaving the Okutama deep mountain base.
I don't know what methods they used.
When Yato first came here, he asked about this matter out of curiosity. The person in question said, "Since no one lives here anyway, I asked the owner of this place for temporary accommodation to use as a place to stay." After that, he never mentioned it again, but he gained a new understanding of his master's way of doing things.
By the outdoor swimming pool, Yato blindfolded himself, and a dozen or so fist-sized lead balls were divided into four parts, threaded with strings, the other ends of which were tied to his limbs.
It's like the handcuffs and leg irons often seen on criminals, except that these are small in size and numerous in number. With just a slight step, a large number of lead balls will collide with each other, producing a dense and dull metallic clanging sound.
It inevitably brings to mind a waste collector covered in aluminum cans.
"call……"
Because of the loss of vision, my attention is more focused than before.
Yato adjusted his breathing and unified his mind and body.
He attempted to let the 'qi' spread and extend throughout his body, reaching every corner and even the smallest hair. This was the method he had devised—the way to progress from hidden strength to transformed strength.
In fact, this is indeed the main process for one to further master 'qi', from the second stage of 'development' to the third stage of 'control'.
The more abundant it is, the more parts of the body can be controlled.
Just like exploring the horizon or developing underground resources, what needs to be done is to use 'qi' to bring it under control.
If one day, one can completely fill every part of the body with 'qi'.
By then, 'controlling oneself' will no longer be a pipe dream.
In martial arts terms, it would be like "breaking through the void (illusion) to see the divine."
The unimaginable physical abilities of master-level martial artists also stem from this.
While reaching the third stage, "Mastery," doesn't automatically make one a true expert-level martial artist, it is an essential step for them.
Ding-dong ding-dong...
Even though Yato remained completely still, the shot put began to wobble and rattle.
"...Ha, failed again."
Yato exhaled a breath of stale air, looked at the restless lead balls on his limbs, and his face was full of helplessness.
"Your muscle agility and explosive power are too strong. From the perspective of a martial arts practitioner, this is undoubtedly a weapon with excellent performance, but this kind of 'excessive activity' is also the most difficult thing to control."
In the swimming pool next to it.
Kushina Miyun sat cross-legged on the water, her eyes closed, and spoke slowly and deliberately.
She was naked except for a wet kimono, sitting peacefully and comfortably on the water. Moonlight shone down, reflecting her image on the water, the two blending perfectly, a reflection in the water and the moon in the mirror.
The water surface remained completely undisturbed by her presence. Even when a gentle breeze occasionally blew by, she would ripple and remain calm with the water. The whole process was perfectly normal... so normal that it felt completely natural, so normal that it was almost frightening.
"I thought my control was precise enough, but now it seems there's still a long way to go."
Despite saying that, Yato was not discouraged at all; on the contrary, he was in high spirits.
The training he is currently undergoing is one of the main courses of Kushinada-ryu Jujutsu—absolute control over the activation of the body.