In the arena, the two confronting figures readied themselves for battle.
Vest Vegetarian Faction raised his arms. Settled into his boxing stance. His face brimmed with eagerness—the hunger of a predator scenting prey.
Flame of Impure Ardor drew his twin blades slowly. The slender steel shimmered with cold light under the setting sun's dying glow. A slight flick of his wrist—
Scorching aura erupted.
Ninja Art!
Fire Release—
"Blazing Blade"!!
*WHOOSH—! *
Orange-red flames, alive, instantly licked and wrapped around the blades. Firelight flickered across his already stern face, making it even more sinister.
"Very well." Flame of Impure Ardor's eyes flashed with killing intent. "Let your head be my welcoming gift to the new organization."
"Hmph! Big words!"
Vest Vegetarian Faction's gaze sharpened. A low roar escaped his throat. He pushed off with explosive power—concrete beneath him cracked.
Like a cannonball, he transformed into afterimages. Repeatedly teleporting between unfinished buildings. In an instant—he reached the rooftop. Aimed directly for Flame of Impure Ardor at the helipad's edge.
Throughout his high-speed movement, his taut vest emitted faint fabric-friction sounds. As if accumulating strength.
Jack's dynamic vision—far surpassing ordinary humans—caught every detail. His eyebrow lifted slightly.
Vest Sage's theories. "Drawing strength from the vest." "Different fabrics, different sweat-absorbing abilities, different muscle stimulation." Completely unscientific.
The outrageous part? He and his Vest Gang not only believe it—they actually gain strength from it. Far exceeding ordinary human limits. Through psychological suggestion alone.
So this "idealistic" power—it's not just for Monsters and their distorted mutations. Even unmutated humans can benefit.
Jack's eyes lit up.
The "Strongest Man on Earth Development Plan" has serious potential. King might actually train to become the strongest man people believe he is. Maybe even break through his limits—master that legendary "Purgatorial Unrivaled Blazing Wave Cannon."
(King, somewhere distant: ACHOO—! What's going on? I feel like scoundrels are trying to harm me again! (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞)
The battle on the rooftop had already begun.
"Eat my 'Veggie Iron Fist'!"
Mid-air, Vest Vegetarian Faction shouted his move name with full passion and confidence. His right fist clenched. Bulging muscles swelled further. The punch—accompanied by a tearing WHOOSH—slammed forward.
Pure physical explosion. Like his earlier erratic jumps and climbs, it fully displayed A-Class Hero strength.
The punch wind hit Flame of Impure Ardor's face. He frowned—then charged forward against the powerful blow. Twin blades crossed. Flames surged.
Fire Release—
"Flame Blade Cross Slash"!
"Hiss—so hot!!"
The scorching flame slash came head-on. Vest Vegetarian Faction's expression shifted. He ducked—nimble—dodged—then smoothly shifted his momentum. Punched toward Flame of Impure Ardor's left temple.
*CLANG—!!! *
The raised flaming longblade caught the incoming fist. Metal screamed against metal. Scorching heatwave erupted.
Flame of Impure Ardor flew backward—ten meters—but flipped mid-air and landed steadily.
Vest Vegetarian Faction gritted his teeth. Shook his hand. Expression of relieved realization.
"Good thing the vest stimulated my sweat glands at the crucial moment! A layer of sweat coated my fist just in time for defense." He nodded, convinced. "Otherwise, I would have been burned!"
Jack: …
Do you even believe this ridiculous explanation yourself?
"Interesting. Your body's durability is good."
Flame of Impure Ardor snorted coldly. His figure flickered—ghost-like—instantly closing the distance.
He dodged Vest Vegetarian Faction's powerful double-handed hammer strike (interlaced fingers, full force). His twin blades transformed into two fire dragons. Slicing toward ribs and neck from impossible angles.
Fire Release—
"Dance of the Flame Dragon"!
The two figures closed. Tangled.
In an instant—the rooftop became a storm of flashing blades and sparks. Thudding fists. Sharp whistles of flaming steel cutting air. Rising and falling. Incredibly perilous.
"Veggie Slam!"
Bulging muscles rippled. Vest Vegetarian Faction twisted his waist—unleashed a swift cannon punch, leveraging full rotational force.
Flame of Impure Ardor flew backward again. He landed lightly. A disdainful sneer curled his lips.
"A-Class Hero. Nothing more than this."
"Damn it!"
The scorching flame flow dissipated. Vest Vegetarian Faction stood revealed—breathing heavily. His proud, tight-fitting vest now hung in tatters. Large and small tears. Burn marks everywhere. Arms and body bled profusely—shallow and deep wounds crisscrossing his skin.
"Game over."
"What…?!"
Vest Vegetarian Faction's face paled. Horror flickered in his eyes.
Flame of Impure Ardor's aura shifted. Astonishing speed erupted—far exceeding his previous level. His figure flickered. Vanished.
A blur. That was all Vest Vegetarian Faction registered.
Flame of Impure Ardor had already—like a phantom—broken through the distance. His right leg, burning with scorching flames capable of melting metal, descended like a battle-axe.
Ninja Art! Taijutsu Secret—
"Flame Blade Leg"!
"Damn it—how is he so fast?!"
The A-Class Hero's dynamic vision and nerve reaction speed couldn't keep up. Couldn't track. Couldn't respond.
Terrifying killing intent transformed into a shadow of death. Enveloped him completely.
Only now did Vest Vegetarian Faction understand.
The intense battle—the seemingly even match, the back-and-forth exchange—had been nothing but this S-Class fugitive toying with him.
His muscles, beneath the tattered vest, instinctively tensed. Wanted to dodge. Wanted to block. But his body was stiff. Heavy. Filled with lead.
Not good.
Despair flickered.
The vest is severely damaged. I can't draw enough strength. Speed and reaction can't keep up with his attack.
I'm SCREWED!!!
Jack observed the scene with clinical detachment.
The outcome was determined from the start.
Vest Vegetarian Faction wasn't lacking as an A-Class Hero. Fighting will? Good. Physical quality? Respectable.
But assassins from the Ninja Village were simply more skilled at killing. And Flame of Impure Ardor was a Demon-level powerhouse—comparable to an S-Class Hero.
Ninjas might struggle against Monsters with tough hides, thick skin, abnormal regeneration. But human infighting?
Piece of cake.
*BOOM—! *
Just as Vest Vegetarian Faction's head was about to part company with his shoulders—
A blurry black shadow. Moving at speeds almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Suddenly—violently—inserted itself between the two combatants.
From the side.
A dull thud echoed across the rooftop. A violent, unparalleled airwave—carrying dust—swept wildly in all directions.
"Pfft—!!!"
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