"Chief Superintendent, regarding next week's competition, I hope you can guide our training," a senior officer in a dark blue uniform said, pushing the door open.
"No one becomes strong instantly just by being guided; Judo isn't that simple," Chief Superintendent Matsumoto replied without looking up, flipping through a mountain of case files. His focus remained on capturing the five escaped death row inmates.
After speaking, he left the office, heading to the restroom. As he relieved himself, his mind replayed the heinous acts of the death row inmate Spike. Determined, he muttered under his breath, "Spike..."
"Hey, hey, are you looking for me?"
Matsumoto froze. A giant man, over two meters tall, appeared beside him.
"S-Spike…" he stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "W-why… why are you here?"
"It's just a restroom, anyone can use it, right?" Spike said casually. A plastic bag appeared in his hand, steam rising from it. "Steamed buns. Still warm, got them from a convenience store," he offered.
Before Matsumoto could comprehend how Spike had escaped detention, the world spun, and he fainted.
An alarm blared through the Tokyo Police Department, red lights flashing. Two officers stared at a wall, shattered with web-like cracks, as if a giant had smashed through.
"When did this happen?!" one officer shouted.
"We didn't hear a thing!"
"Contact headquarters, now!" They watched in terror, sweat beading on their foreheads.
Suddenly, large hands pressed onto their shoulders. "You're too reckless, entering someone's room without permission."
---
Inside the Shinshinkai dojo, students knelt in silence, tense with anticipation.
In the center, Sol Mirek faced a muscular man with a long braid—Retsu Kaioh, a legendary martial artist renowned for his peerless skill and past fights against Baki in the Underground Tournament.
"Bow to each other. Assume your stance. Begin!"
A student struck the drum, its reverberation cutting through the dojo.
In an instant, Sol was in front of Retsu Kaioh, his right fist tearing through the air, aimed at the throat.
"So fast!" Retsu Kaioh's eyes widened. He leaned back, the fist grazing his arm and drawing blood.
Katsumi Orochi, observing, wanted to comment but held back. Sol's strike was pure instinct, fueled by combat intuition—no form, no technique, yet terrifyingly effective.
The dojo held its breath. Every movement Sol made was precise, lethal, stripped of any unnecessary flourish.
Retsu Kaioh steadied himself, adopting the Praying Mantis Fist stance, muscles coiled like drawn bows.
Bang! The two clashed again, fists and feet echoing through the hall.
Retsu Kaioh's strikes were sophisticated and powerful, each movement steeped in martial mastery. Sol, relying on extraordinary reaction speed and Combat Intuition, avoided attacks with minimal motion, countering with maximum efficiency.
Sol didn't employ Shinshin Karate; instinct and raw ability guided him.
"This guy… he's learning during combat!" Retsu Kaioh realized, eyes narrowing as he noticed Sol adapting. Moves that were initially crude began to reflect the subtlety of Praying Mantis Fist.
Katsumi Orochi observed silently. He understood that modern Shinshinkai Karate, while strong, couldn't match the depth of ancient martial arts. Sol's instinctual style, unbound by rules, demonstrated an extraordinary talent that even he had rarely seen.
The battle intensified. Retsu Kaioh's forearms swept like mantis claws, the air whistling sharply. Sol's intuition flared, and he leaned back, narrowly evading a deadly strike.
"Sol, watch out!" Retsu Kaioh growled, his leg whipping toward Sol's waist. Sol sidestepped, his right hand forming a palm-knife motion, striking toward Retsu Kaioh's throat.
Bang! Both retreated, measuring each other. Retsu Kaioh touched the red mark on his throat, astonishment in his eyes.
"I… lost." He exhaled, admiration flickering in his gaze. "Your talent… it's incredible."
"In just minutes, you've grasped the essence of Praying Mantis Fist," Retsu Kaioh continued, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Your reactions, intuition, and physique… you are a true combat genius."
The dojo was silent, stunned by the display. Katsumi Orochi was the first to recover, clapping vigorously.
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"
The students awoke from their awe, erupting into cheers and applause, the air electric with excitement.
____
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