Chapter 360: An Incomplete Path
[Fighter's Waiting Room]
Rama XIII looked at the television screen, his brow furrowed in thought. "Adam
rose, but then he collapsed again. Why?"
Ren Shiroki nodded. "That is the reality of a heavyweight boxer's strike."
He tapped his own chin with his fist. "After taking consecutive blows to the
head, Adam's brain was literally rattling inside his skull. Even though his
adrenaline and fighting spirit kept him conscious for a few extra seconds, his
vestibular system had already checked out. He lost all sense of balance."
"The lag caught up to him the moment he tried to take a step," Ren explained.
"It forced his body to shut down."
Gaolang added from the side, "Right now, Adam must feel 'Numb'."
"Numb?" Rama asked, curious.
"Imagine taking a steel pipe and slamming it against the concrete with
everything you have. Feel that vibration vibrating through your hands? That's
the sensation," Gaolang explained patiently. "When you're hit by a heavyweight
specialist of that caliber, that paralysis spreads through your entire nervous
system."
"Oho?" Rama smiled. "I see. It is a style of boxing completely different from
Gaolang's."
"He doesn't focus purely on 'Striking,' but on the 'Fist' and 'Evasion' as a
complete martial system. Strikes, lunges, kicks, clinches, throws, and
grapples—a comprehensive combat art. One could truly call it the Mohammad Alai
Style of Martial Arts."
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee... the rumors didn't do him justice."
On the screen, Alai Jr. raised his arms to acknowledge the thunderous cheers.
The ringside paramedics rushed out to load the unconscious Adam Dudley onto a
stretcher and hurry him toward the infirmary.
Soon, the Pit returned to a heavy silence. Only the fresh bloodstains on the
sand remained as proof of the war that had just occurred.
In the stands, the roar of the crowd never died down. They were still riding the
high of the first bout and were already salivating for the second.
"It's been a while since the [SOUL COMBATANT] stepped into the Pit!" "His
opponent is Okubo?! The King of Public MMA is here?!" "Ren Shiroki vs. Naoya
Okubo... Tokugawa-jiisan really knows how to book a main event!" "That old man
is a genius!"
Rama and Gaolang bid Ren farewell to take their seats in the VIP section. Fusui
Kure remained in the room to assist Ren, while the elder Mitarai stood by as his
official attendant.
Ren picked up rolls of athletic tape, beginning to wrap his wrists, knuckles,
and ankles. He moved with practiced ease, ensuring every turn of the bandage was
taut and secure.
Slap! Slap!
He patted his forearms to test the tension. Ren performed a deep torso twist,
then unleashed a series of snap-kicks and jabs. The whoosh-whoosh of his limbs
cutting the air was sharp and rhythmic. He was light, elastic, and brimming with
kinetic potential.
Fusui watched him with a small, knowing smile. "Ren-chin, you look like you're
having the time of your life."
Ren bared his teeth in a wide grin. "Because it's cool as hell!"
He held up his hands, spreading his fingers for Fusui and Mitarai to see.
"Look at this. The moment the bandages are on, my hands transform into tools of
the trade. Don't you think it looks amazing? Stripping down, wrapping up,
standing barefoot... facing another human being with nothing but your own body."
Ren slowly closed his hands into fists.
"Using every technique I've ever learned, wracking my brain to find the right
move, catching a flash of inspiration mid-clash... I don't know why, but every
time I think about it, my skin starts to itch. My muscles feel like they're on
fire."
"I just... I want to tear into the next process!"
[The Corridor]
Ren, Fusui, and Mitarai walked together toward the arena entrance. Ren kept
opening and closing his fists, looking pensive.
"I still feel like I'm far from the end of the road," Ren said, looking at his
companions. "I don't know if you'll get it, but my Masters have taught me so
much."
"Karate, Wrestling, Kenpo, Military CQC, Parkour, Muay Thai, Kickboxing..."
"I've worked hard to realize their teachings. I've learned [FRAME PUNISH] and
[LINKED TIMING]. I can throw a heavy punch and land a precise kick. But... it's
still just a collection of moves. It hasn't deepened into a 'Way' (Do) yet."
Mitarai chuckled softly. "Shiroki-san, even with the match seconds away, you're
still contemplating the philosophy of combat?"
Ren rubbed the back of his head. "Well, for me, this is like eating, sleeping,
or training. It's just part of the daily routine. Being a combatant is just...
what I am."
"Indeed it is," Mitarai bowed with a smile. "Shiroki-san, I wish you a glorious
battle."
"Yeah! Thanks!"
Ren waved a hand, parting ways with Fusui and Mitarai. He walked toward the
blinding light at the end of the tunnel.
The announcer's voice boomed: "Entering from the Blue Dragon Gate! The Hub
Owner! [SOUL COMBATANT]! REN SHIROKI!! HE HAS ARRIVED!!"
[The Stands]
Cosmo Imai was chatting with Arisa, discussing Ren's upcoming opponent.
"By the way, Arisa-chan, have you heard much about Naoya Okubo?"
Arisa nodded. "He's on variety shows all the time. He's a total star; a lot of
the girls at school are fans."
Cosmo nodded. "Exactly. Naoya Okubo is one of the strongest candidates currently
active in the public world."
As they spoke, Rama and Gaolang joined them in the section. Rama looked curious.
"What kind of variety shows?"
"Local Japanese entertainment, Your Highness," Arisa explained. "I don't think
they broadcast them in Thailand. But there was one interview that went viral."
"It was right after Okubo finished his contract with the world's largest MMA
organization, the 'UFC'."
"In the car on the way to the gym, Okubo told the crew: 'Man, it feels like
everyone is constantly looking for an excuse! Because of this or that, I can't
do this, I can't do that...'"
"'But I just want to say: No, wait. If you're supposed to do it, you just do it,
right?'"
"'Using messy excuses to mock someone who actually achieved something
great—saying you could have done it too if things were different—that's just
pathetic!'"
Arisa tapped her chin, trying to remember the end. "I think he said something
else at the very end of the interview?"
Cosmo finished the quote for her: "He said: 'To the guys who don't even try, who
just make excuses and have zero results to show for it—just shut up and watch!'"
"Oh, right!" Arisa chirped. "After that aired, it was a total sensation. A lot
of people on the internet hated him for it. But Okubo just ignored the noise and
went on to claim the heavyweight championship throne."
Rama XIII looked genuinely impressed. "Oho? He silenced the critics through pure
martial results? How refreshing! It seems his legacy is every bit the equal of
Gaolang's."
Gaolang crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on the White Tiger gate. "His combat
aura is even denser than it was during our practice session. He is a formidable
warrior."
[The White Tiger Gate]
Naoya Okubo finished his final checks, passing his friend and employer, Hisashi
Atami.
Atami smiled. "It looks like you're ready to have some fun."
"Of course! This is too damn interesting to pass up!"
Okubo cracked his neck and stepped out into the blinding glare of the
spotlights.
The announcer screamed: "The King of MMA! Making his debut in the no-rules,
underground arena! From the White Tiger Gate!"
"The King of Osaka!"
"Striking, Throwing, Locking, Throttling—the martial art of kings that uses
every tool in the human arsenal! This is Mixed Martial Arts!"
"The man who carries the core of the MMA world on his shoulders! [THE COMBAT
KING]!"
"His strikes are thunderous! His throws are one-hit kills! His locks are
inescapable! His chokes induce instant unconsciousness! A warrior with zero
blind spots!"
"Public MMA Record: 26 wins, 0 losses! Not a single opponent has ever survived
to see the final bell against him!!"
The announcer gripped the mic, his voice trembling with excitement as the two
men squared off in the center of the Pit.
"Height 187cm, Weight 103kg—[SOUL COMBATANT] REN SHIROKI!"
"VS!"
"Height 195cm, Weight 116kg—[THE COMBAT KING] NAOYA OKUBO!"
☆☆☆
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