Chapter 115: Oops, I Didn't Hold Back Enough
The moment his consciousness faded, Gouketsu felt like he was sinking into the dark depths of an endless sea. All he could feel was cold and silence.
Is this death...?
In his blurred consciousness, a young man appeared before his eyes. Muscular, radiating confidence, wearing a clean martial arts gi. Gouketsu felt an inexplicable familiarity.
Who is he? Why is he in my memories?
It took a full second or two for Gouketsu to remember. That man was him—or rather, the human self that his current monster form had forgotten.
Once, Gouketsu was the champion of the Super Fight tournament, enjoying limitless glory, hailed by many as the number one martial artist of the younger generation.
Back then, he was supremely confident in his strength, believing he could continue climbing the peaks of martial arts to become even stronger.
Until that day. He met the legendary monster, the creature that still made him shudder.
A colossal body, a terrifying face resembling a dragon or serpent, and cold eyes devoid of any human emotion.
Monster King Orochi.
Yet, even facing such a terrifying monster, even as every cell in his body trembled, the human Gouketsu still unleashed his signature move.
That day, Gouketsu felt his own weakness.
His proud ultimate move was effortlessly blocked by a single tentacle. His body, honed through years of martial arts training, couldn't withstand a casual slap from the monster and was instantly brought to the brink of death.
When the pulsing monster cell fell into the dirt before him, Gouketsu wavered.
He didn't waver in his martial arts conviction, but in his identity as a human.
Can humans really defeat such terrifying monsters? Can humans really reach the pinnacle of martial arts? Can humans truly avoid extinction in the face of such creatures?
Harboring these doubts, Gouketsu ultimately chose to swallow the pulsating monster cell, abandoning his humanity.
He didn't want to die. He would rather discard his human identity than face death. Only by living could he continue to climb; death meant nothingness.
But King's appearance made this Dragon-level Executive, who had forsaken his humanity, realize for the first time that humans could be this strong.
Perhaps... my choice back then was wrong...
With that thought, all the monster cells in Gouketsu's body lost their vitality, and his consciousness faded completely.
Witnessing a Dragon-level Executive like Gouketsu explode in a single punch, Gale Wind, who was flickering through the air, was dumbfounded.
Doubt rose in Gale Wind's heart.
If this guy really is human... then didn't we, who abandoned our human bodies to become monsters just for speed, act like total idiots?
But there was no time to think. Seeing King's gaze turn toward him, Gale Wind felt every monster cell in his body screaming, urging him to run.
Without hesitation, Gale Wind flicked his wrist. He threw his razor-sharp blade, turning it into a streak of light aiming for King's face.
He himself turned and ran, unleashing all his secret ninja techniques. His body became a blur, vanishing instantly.
Nothing matters more than survival!
His partner, Hellfire Flame, had already been punched into a headless corpse. If he didn't run, he would follow in his footsteps.
Throwing my weapon as a distraction and combining it with my ultimate speed... my survival ability is maxed out!
[Monsterification] — Full Power! [Twenty Flash Burial] — Full Power!
Dense green patterns spread across Gale Wind's skin. His body transformed rapidly, becoming grotesque, but his speed skyrocketed again.
His legs moved in a bizarre rhythm. His incredible speed created twenty afterimages running forward in mid-air simultaneously, making it impossible to distinguish the real body.
In this state, Gale Wind was confident that not even Monster King Orochi could catch him, nor could King, the Strongest Man on Earth!
Unfortunately, ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh.
Hearing the piercing sonic boom behind him, Gale Wind turned his head and saw the most terrifying sight imaginable.
A figure wreathed in blue steam was sprinting at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye. In a blink, he was right beside him.
King threw a single punch. The space in front of him twisted layer by layer, instantly blowing up all of Gale Wind's clones on the left side.
Holy sht!*
Gale Wind was scared out of his wits. Disregarding the strain on his body, he forcibly burst with even greater speed. Even if he tore every muscle in his body afterward, he didn't care.
But the most despairing scene played out right before his eyes.
Facing Gale Wind's ultimate speed, King didn't even run seriously. He used psychokinesis to float in mid-air, assuming a lazy, side-lying posture, like a predator toying with its weak prey.
"Stopping on your own?"
Are you kidding me?!
Gale Wind's eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. His mental state was on the verge of collapse. But no matter how desperately he increased his speed, King followed him like a ghost, inseparable.
Ten seconds later, seeing Gale Wind about to reach the surface, King shook his head helplessly.
"A pity. If your speed increased another few dozen times, maybe I really wouldn't be able to catch you."
"As a thank-you gift for playing tag with me for so long, I'll treat you to a punch."
Saying this, King flashed directly in front of Gale Wind and threw a plain, ordinary punch.
"NO!!!"
Gale Wind's eyes bulged. He quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest, trying to block King's fist.
The moment they made contact, force violent to the extreme surged from his arms into his entire body.
This Dragon-level monster known for his speed didn't even have time to react before he exploded into a sky-full of blood mist.
King floated in mid-air, a faint green psychic barrier surrounding him, blocking the drifting blood mist.
Looking at the spot where Gale Wind had been obliterated, King sighed with emotion.
"Really now. Haven't bullied noobs in so long... Oops, I didn't hold back enough."
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