"Are you looking down on me, boy?"
Though his words were rude, he was excited.
It wasn't because the threat to his life had disappeared, but because he felt Ryuji's qi.
Ryuji's aura felt strange to him. He clearly had a desire for power, yet he was not wholly consumed by it. There was an intense suppression within him, as if he were restraining something, some kind of power.
A reckless power, full of resentment and craving!
Just like how he suppressed the murderous urge of the Satsui no Hado, Ryuji was also suppressing his desire to use that power.
He gave up his sword not for other reasons, but because he wanted to grow stronger.
To fight him!
And to become even stronger in battle against him.
Akuma's fighting spirit instantly surged, not because Ryuji was strong enough, but because Ryuji, like him, fought to become stronger.
"Yeah, you weakling."
Sensing that fighting spirit, the corners of Ryuji's mouth uncontrollably turned upward. He tried to keep his own heart from boiling over, but couldn't help raising his hand and giving Akuma a thumbs-down gesture.
"Ryuji!"
Hanzo instinctively tried to stop him. He knew the reputation of the Satsui no Hado well.
Anyone who trained it inevitably became a murderer!
And gained immense power! Although Ryuji was strong, there was no need for him to fight someone like this.
But events did not bend to his thoughts.
"Good brat! I'll beat you into a coward!"
Akuma's eyes widened instantly. The power of Satsui no Hado completely covered his body as he shot toward Ryuji like lightning.
To Hanzo and Mai, his figure vanished in an instant. It wasn't an illusion, it was because Akuma had unleashed his ultimate technique at that very moment.
One Thousand Strikes in an Instant- Shun Goku Satsu!
Ryuji's eyes widened as well. His vision couldn't catch Akuma's movement, but his perception could.
Akuma's movements and variations were crystal clear in Ryuji's mind. He could even 'see' Akuma's next moves.
His fist slammed against Akuma's fist. As Akuma stared in astonishment, Ryuji grabbed his arm from an angle he never expected and hurled him away violently.
Akuma's body shot toward the mountain behind the Shiranui dojo like a meteor.
Ryuji tore off his shirt in one motion, revealing his well-defined muscles. He threw his gauntlet and pocket watch to Mai, then, under her worried gaze, blasted off after Akuma like a rocket.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
Akuma, who had been hurled away, smashed apart the trees that had snapped and pinned him down, staring at Ryuji charging toward him with blazing excitement.
He placed both hands at his waist, crimson lightning and violent qi gathering between his palms. The moment Ryuji entered range, he hurled it without hesitation.
The violent energy wave pierced through everything in its path. In the eyes of ordinary people, it wasn't even an energy wave, it was a beam of light!
Ryuji watched the incoming beam, raised his hand like a blade, and gathered violent qi into his hand. Black lightning coiled around his hand.
Slash!
A crescent-shaped wave shot out by Ryuji. Black lightning and crimson lightning collided instantly, producing a massive explosion and billowing smoke.
But Ryuji's advance was not hindered. The smoke could not obstruct his senses. He leapt high, his arm fully wrapped in black lightning. His aura and perception locked onto the gradually dispersing murderous intent. His will clashed against Akuma's surging battle spirit and slaughtering aura, and his own emotions rose higher and higher.
This was exactly what he wanted.
He could feel it, as his will climbed, the power inside his body also increased! At least three times stronger than his full power in the Kuroinu world.
His body's potential is indeed much greater than that.
Although his Observation Haki was ridiculously amplified in this world, allowing him to resonate perfectly with Akuma's fierce will and although this surging strength wouldn't remain after his emotions subsided, his potential had indeed increased significantly.
As long as he kept training, he could raise his normal state higher and higher. As long as he kept fighting passionate battles with strong opponents, this emotionally explosive state could easily become his norm.
As long as he made sure he didn't get killed or crippled in the process.
Sure enough! Fighting powerful warriors with overwhelming will was the fastest way to increase combat power.
Ryuji's expression gradually became uncontrollable. At this moment, there were no tits or ass in his head. The forbidden power within his body began spreading unconsciously, reinforcing his flesh, enhancing his strength.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
He laughed in a way he normally never would. The desire for destruction and slaughter grew increasingly intense. Even red energy similar to the Satsui no Hado began appearing on his body.
Yes! While resonating with Akuma's will, he had clearly perceived everything about the Satsui no Hado.
The blood energy inside him rapidly intertwined with the Satsui no Hado. Ryuji noticed it, but at this moment he didn't care at all. He stared intently at Akuma, power gathering relentlessly around him.
Right now, he only wanted to blow this bastard apart!
And when Akuma saw the red aura gradually emerging around Ryuji, what he felt was no longer mere joy, it was unprecedented exhilaration.
At this moment, he didn't care at all that someone had learned the Satsui no Hado. He only wanted Ryuji to be strong enough! So that he could smash Ryuji to pieces even more satisfyingly.
Akuma roared with laughter as he watched Ryuji burst out of the smoke. He planted his stance firmly, crimson lightning and violent qi coiling around his arms. The instant Ryuji reached him, he threw out his punch as well.
Surging brute force and violent energy collided head-on. The moment their fists met, a shockwave erupted, blew away surrounding earth and stone in a savage wave, blasting everything in the air apart. The Shiranui dojo began echoing with thunderous rumbling and even the few remaining windows shattered under the roar and shockwaves.
Looking at the smoke and shockwaves erupt where the two stood, and the storm stirred up by that single punch, Hanzo's mouth hung open in shock. He couldn't help but look at his granddaughter, Mai, only to see that she wore the same stunned expression, clearly having no idea what was happening.
"R-Ryuji… how did he become this strong?!"
Mai stared in disbelief at the scene before her. She remembered clearly that Ryuji's combat strength was much stronger than hers; he was a powerful fighter who had surpassed her by a considerable margin, someone at the level of a top-tier martial artist.
But… how could he be this strong?!
Is this really the Ryuji I know?!
~~~~~~~~~~
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