After Sol Mirek exited the arena, a 3D hologram of Yujiro Hanma materialized before his eyes along with a small menu panel. This was the analytical breakdown he activated after denying Yujiro access to his wrist earlier.
Now that Sol's matches for the day were complete, he could calmly choose which of Yujiro's abilities to evolve.
Please select the ability to evolve:Hanma Bloodline (upgradeable), Demon Back (upgradeable), Unlimited Fighting Techniques, Combat Instinct, Toxin Resistance
Sol selected Hanma Bloodline without hesitation. Most of Yujiro Hanma's incredible abilities stemmed from the Hanma Bloodline.
Ability: Hanma Bloodline (upgradeable)Evolution Condition: Defeat Yujiro Hanma (not yet achieved)Description: The purest form of Hanma Bloodline in existence, nearly fulfilling the theoretical maximum. Grants extraordinary body, near-limitless stamina, rapid regeneration. Once the host reaches secondary evolution, surpassing Yujiro Hanma and attaining 100% purity is possible.
Sol read the details with a half-smile. If he defeated Yujiro Hanma someday, he could unlock the complete purity of his bloodline — potentially creating a new apex variant.
With that thought in mind, he headed back to the fighters' lounge.
Inside, Baki Hanma was slumped against Kozue, spitting up another mouthful of fresh blood. His face was deathly pale.
"Are you alright?" Sol asked with genuine concern.
Baki forced a grin. "I'll never back down."
At that moment the arena broadcast boomed:
"Third match — the most formidable Poison Hand master, Just Yu, versus Neon champion Baki Hanma!"
"Fighters, please enter the arena!"
"I'm going," Baki said, standing shakily. Despite his weakened state, determination drove him forward. He bid farewell to Sol, Retsu Kaioh, and Kozue before dragging himself toward the ring.
Kozue burst into tears, her voice cracking. "Live! You have to live! Wuwuwu…" Her sobs shook her shoulders as she watched him go.
The announcer introduced both fighters.
"Fighter Baki Hanma, age seventeen, former classmate and close friend of Sol Mirek, both from Tokyo Den High School. Tonight we see how strong this Neon fighting king truly is!"
"His opponent is Just Yu, master of the feared Poison Fist. A single blow can poison an opponent's body until death!"
The bell rang, and the match began.
Baki shot forward, planting his right foot and advancing with resolve. His left leg lashed toward Just Yu.
But Just Yu didn't dodge. He brought both arms up to defend, absorbing the kick on his poisoned hand.
Poison Hand — struck.
Before long, a purple-tinged blister swelled grotesquely on Baki's foot from the venom.
Unfazed, Baki lifted his leg and began sucking the venom from his wound.
Just Yu watched without interrupting, his expression unreadable.
Spitting out poisoned blood, Baki managed a smirk. "Waiting for me? Gentle of you."
Just Yu remained rigid and silent. He had no intention of taking advantage of someone already harmed. With deliberate patience, he assumed a defensive stance, signaling Baki to continue.
The fight resumed with fierce intensity. Blow after blow was exchanged at close range, but Baki weakened rapidly due to the venom coursing through his system, while Just Yu's attacks became stormlike in ferocity.
Gradually, the purple blister on Just Yu's hand receded, indicating the poison had fully transferred into Baki's bloodstream.
At this point Baki's body was shrouded in a faint white mist. Blood leaked from his mouth, and with every remaining breath he tried to land a final punch.
Though he grazed Just Yu's shoulder, exhaustion overtook him and he collapsed unconscious.
Just Yu watched him fall, breathing steadily, then turned to leave the ring.
Just then Baki groaned, pushing himself up despite his poisoned condition. His purple-tinted skin began returning to normal.
"He's rising again!" Retsu Kaioh shouted, excitement crackling in his voice.
Yujiro Hanma, who had been watching silently from behind, finally spoke with a sinister grin.
"Brother Haiwang, your comrade revived him."
"In 1540, martial arts history recorded the introduction of Poison Fist to Neon. Seven volumes in total, and countless fighters perished under its influence."
"But Neon fighters are complicated. The true Poison Fist has not seven volumes, but twelve. The first seven are the Yin Hand, but the latter five make up the Yang Hand. When Yin and Yang combine, the complete Poison Fist manifests," Yujiro explained with cold precision.
"That Yang Hand can detoxify in rare cases, only when a victim was poisoned by an incomplete Yin Hand," Retsu Kaioh added.
"He's standing!" the announcer's voice crackled. "Baki Hanma rises again, having fought poison with poison!"
Baki spread his arms as though embracing sunrise itself. With toxins receding and his body light once more, he felt an unfamiliar exhilaration, as if he could leap across rooftops with ease.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he called out, reestablishing his fighting stance. "Let's begin."
Hope burned in his voice. If he continued growing at this pace, maybe he would one day catch up to Sol Mirek.
Just Yu inhaled deeply and resumed his attack, but this time Baki blocked him before the strikes could fully form. Without poison aiding him, Just Yu's power was halved.
Now the momentum had reversed.
Every one of Just Yu's strikes was neutralized by Baki's resilience, and Baki's counters grew sharper by the second.
BANG!
A powerful punch landed squarely on Just Yu's abdomen. The master of Poison Fist flew backward, skidding across the ground before rising to a fighting stance.
Though honored as a revered guardian of Neon, he refused to fall quietly. Even under pressure, he resolved to take more hits before defeat.
"Regardless of why," Baki said, breathing heavily, "if I stand here healthy now, it's thanks to you."
"Therefore I will defeat you with all my strength. That is my respect."
With a surge, Baki sprinted toward Just Yu.
Just Yu blocked, but Baki switched tactics mid-advance, delivering a crushing elbow to his chest.
Crack.
A rib broke under the impact.
Just Yu staggered, blood leaking at the corner of his mouth, but a gleam of fierce excitement lit his eyes.
"Good! That's more like it!"
Baki didn't relent. Three consecutive blows battered Just Yu's abdomen, and finally his body stiffened upright, consciousness fading though he did not fall.
"Ambulance!" Baki shouted victoriously, then exited the arena through the passage.
"The victor has been decided! Winner, Baki Hanma!" the announcer declared triumphantly.
The crowd erupted, applause thunderous in volume. Though Just Yu had lost, his resilience and willingness to fight without exploiting poison earned him immense respect.
In the fighters' lounge corridor…
"Kid, you're fascinating. Want to spar?" Yujiro Hanma's voice approached with wild red hair and fierce eyes blazing.
Sol met his gaze calmly. Their eyes locked, sparks flaring in silence.
"Not now," Sol said smoothly, playful confidence in his tone, "I'll let you taste defeat in the finals."
With that, he stepped past, leaving the corridor.
Yujiro watched Sol's retreating back and grinned with that signature sinister smirk.
"I'll be waiting."
Deciding to enjoy a moment to himself before his feast, Yujiro turned and walked toward Baki Hanma's lounge.