Katsumi Orochi was the first to recover from the shock. He clapped his hands sharply, a wide grin on his face.
"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful."
The sound snapped the Shinshinkai members out of their daze. Applause erupted across the dojo, cheers following soon after. The air instantly boiled with excitement.
Sol Mirek relaxed his stance and offered a respectful cupped fist. "Senior Retsu's Mantis Boxing taught me a lot."
Katsumi strode forward and patted Sol on the shoulder, admiration clear in his eyes. "Your talent is unbelievable."
Retsu Kaioh nodded slowly, his gaze sharp and evaluative. The more he looked at Sol, the more pleased he became.
"Sol Mirek," Retsu said, extending his hand, "if there is a chance, I would like to invite you to participate in the Great Raitai Tournament."
His eyes gleamed with expectation.
"The tournament gathers the strongest martial artists in the world."
Retsu was confident. The young man before him possessed the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with fighters like Baki, perhaps even surpass him.
Sol felt a stir of excitement. This was exactly what he wanted. A stage where different martial paths collided, especially techniques like Kaioh Kaku's Energy Dissipation. If he could grasp that skill, even overwhelming force could be neutralized with finesse.
"The honor would be mine," Sol said with an easy smile, firmly shaking Retsu's hand.
After their sparring session concluded, Sol glanced at his system panel. The evolution progress of Fighting Genius had already climbed to sixty seven percent.
"Sol," Retsu said warmly, "would you like to eat together?"
"I know a very authentic restaurant nearby."
Sol nodded. He did feel a trace of nostalgia for familiar flavors.
The two left the Shinshinkai dojo together. Katsumi stayed behind, needing to continue instructing his students.
As they departed, a massive figure slowly stepped out from the shadows.
The man stood over two meters tall. His face was aged, his long hair streaked with gray. It was Dorian, one of the escaped death row inmates.
His eyes locked onto Sol's retreating back.
A man who had survived countless battles possessed an almost animal sense for danger. And from that slender young man, Dorian felt death itself.
His narrowed eyes darkened as his rough fingers brushed the scar on his chin.
"That kid isn't simple," he muttered.
He had come to the Shinshinkai to challenge Doppo Orochi, seeking defeat itself. He never expected to stumble upon another hidden monster.
"But not yet."
A twisted smile crept across his face as he melted back into the darkness. He would deal with the so called Martial God first. After that, he would return.
Far away, Sol paused.
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning the empty street. Nothing was there, yet his brow furrowed slightly.
Someone had been watching him. His combat intuition was rarely wrong.
A memory surfaced. At this point, Dorian should already be making his move against Doppo Orochi. Since Doppo was absent, the target would naturally shift to Katsumi.
"What's wrong?" Retsu asked, noticing Sol's expression.
"Nothing," Sol replied lightly. "I forgot something in the dojo."
"I'll be right back."
Without waiting for a response, Sol turned and sprinted back toward the Shinshinkai hall.
Seeing his urgency, Retsu simply sat down cross legged, resting his hands on his knees as he waited calmly.
Inside the dojo, a deep voice echoed.
"May I see Doppo Orochi?"
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
A towering man stood there, his massive frame nearly filling the doorway. Dorian's presence alone pressed down on the students like a physical weight.
His gaze swept across the room.
"I want to see Doppo Orochi."
"No matter your reason," Katsumi Orochi said as he stepped forward, fearless despite the difference in size, "you follow dojo rules."
Dorian paused.
"My apologies."
He bent down, removed his boots, then suddenly hurled them straight at Katsumi's face.
Instinctively, Katsumi caught them.
That instant was enough.
Dorian's high kick snapped upward, smashing into Katsumi's chin. The impact sent him flying backward. He flipped through the air, barely managing to regain his footing.
"Sorry. Are you alright?" Dorian said calmly.
He was already kneeling in front of Katsumi, patting his shoulder as if nothing had happened.
Katsumi froze, his mind lagging behind the absurd shift.
Before he could react, Dorian's fingers shot forward like fangs, plunging into Katsumi's eyes.
A scream tore through the dojo.
Dorian ripped the black belt from Katsumi's waist and looped it around his neck, pulling tight.
Katsumi's vision darkened as he struggled, but Dorian's grip only tightened.
The students hesitated, frozen by Dorian's murderous stare.
Bored, Dorian finally released him.
Grabbing Katsumi by the legs, his muscles bulged as he swung him like a weapon.
The impact shook the dojo.
Wood splintered. Dust exploded outward.
Katsumi's body crashed into the wall and embedded itself deep within the broken boards, unconscious.
"Teacher Katsumi!"
The students rushed forward.
Dorian turned away, smiling faintly.
"If his father is Doppo Orochi," he said, "then this just got interesting."
He took a step toward the exit.
Bang.
A figure stood at the dojo entrance.
Dorian stopped.
Cold sweat formed across his forehead.
A calm voice followed.
"Do you really think you're walking out of here unharmed?"
"Get back to the center of the dojo."