BOOOOOOM!!
The instant Kairo and Oko collided again, the entire training court shook violently. A pillar of dust shot into the sky as countless cracks raced across the stone floor.
The spectators instinctively stepped back.
Tyouro's eyes widened.
"H-Holy... are they really students?"
Dracula let out a low whistle.
"Those two are monsters."
Even Kimimaru, who rarely showed emotion, narrowed his eyes as the shockwaves continued to spread.
Inside the cloud of dust—
CLANG!!
Black Spartan clashed against Oko's gauntlet once more.
Kairo immediately followed with another slash.
Then another.
And another.
His attacks flowed together like a raging river, each strike faster than the last.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Oko blocked every single one effortlessly.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Good."
"Your swordsmanship has improved."
"But..."
"You still hesitate."
Oko suddenly stepped inside Kairo's range.
Before Kairo could react—
BANG!!
A heavy punch crashed into his ribs.
His entire body folded from the impact.
Air escaped his lungs.
Before he could regain his balance—
Another punch landed.
Then another.
Then another.
The barrage refused to stop.
"Millions Punch."
There was no roar.
No flashy aura.
Only endless fists.
Oko's arms blurred into countless afterimages.
Every punch carried enough force to crack stone.
Every strike landed with terrifying precision.
His fists came from every direction.
Above.
Below.
Left.
Right.
Behind.
There wasn't a single opening.
It was less like martial arts...
...and more like standing in the middle of a violent storm.
BANG!!
BANG!!
BANG!!
Blood splashed across the shattered arena as Kairo was driven backward.
His arms were beginning to lose feeling.
His breathing became ragged.
Yet Oko never slowed down.
Shougo quietly watched the exchange.
His expression remained calm.
But Griffin noticed his eyes.
"...You're worried."
Shougo sighed softly.
"I'm letting him learn."
"But if Oko loses control..."
"I'll stop the fight."
Griffin nodded.
"Oko knows his limits."
"...Hopefully."
Kairo blocked another punch with Black Spartan.
The impact numbed both of his hands.
"Too fast..."
"He's becoming faster every second..."
Before he could think—
A fist slammed into his jaw.
CRACK!!
His vision blurred.
Another punch struck his stomach.
Then his shoulder.
Then his back.
His body felt as though it would collapse at any moment.
Yura silently clenched her fists.
"...Stand up."
Kimimaru glanced at her.
"You believe he'll win?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"I believe..."
"...he won't give up."
Tyouro slammed both hands onto the arena railing.
"KAIRO!!"
"GET UP!!"
Dracula laughed nervously.
"If I took even half those punches..."
"I'd already be unconscious."
Yuki remained silent.
Though deep inside...
Even she had begun respecting Kairo.
Oko continued attacking without mercy.
His breathing hadn't even changed.
"Do you understand now?"
"This..."
"...is why I defeated everyone."
He smiled faintly.
"I defeated Yura."
"I defeated Reji."
"I defeated Dracula."
"I defeated Aka."
"I defeated Chihiro."
"I defeated dozens of students who thought talent alone was enough."
His fists continued raining down.
"Because none of them could survive this."
BOOOOM!!
A final punch launched Kairo across the arena.
He crashed through several broken pillars before finally skidding to a stop.
Silence.
Dust slowly settled.
"...Is it over?"
One of Griffin's students whispered.
Shougo never answered.
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
"...No."
A hand slowly pressed against the broken ground.
Kairo forced himself onto one knee.
Blood dripped from his forehead.
His breathing trembled.
Every muscle screamed in agony.
His vision doubled.
His arms refused to listen.
"...I..."
"...can't lose..."
He slowly looked toward Oko.
"I finally found..."
"...people who believe in me."
"If I fall here..."
"...I'll just become the old Kairo again."
Shougo smiled almost imperceptibly.
"Good."
"Keep moving."
Oko stared at him.
Then laughed.
"You still want more?"
"...Good."
"Then I'll crush that determination too."
He disappeared once again.
Millions Punch erupted for a second time.
This time...
It was even faster.
The spectators couldn't even see Oko anymore.
Only countless impacts echoed across the battlefield.
BANG!!
BANG!!
BANG!!
Kairo couldn't defend.
He couldn't counter.
Every punch landed before he could even raise Black Spartan.
His body was sent flying again and again.
The arena floor continued breaking apart beneath him.
"I can't keep up..."
"He's too fast..."
"No..."
"Think."
His thoughts slowed.
The world around him became strangely quiet.
The sounds of the crowd disappeared.
The explosions vanished.
Only Oko remained.
His breathing.
His footsteps.
The movement of his shoulders.
The rotation of his hips.
The tightening of his muscles before every strike.
Everything became unbelievably clear.
Shougo's eyes widened for the first time.
"..."
Griffin looked at him.
"What?"
Shougo spoke quietly.
"He's changing."
Another punch flew toward Kairo's face.
This time—
He saw it.
Not the fist.
The movement before the fist.
His body reacted instinctively.
His head shifted slightly.
The punch missed.
Oko's eyes widened.
"What?"
A second punch followed.
Kairo leaned back.
It missed again.
Then a third.
A fourth.
A fifth.
One after another—
Kairo dodged them with the smallest possible movements.
Not because he had become faster.
Because he had begun seeing the battle differently.
Yura's eyes widened.
"...He's reading everything."
Kimimaru quietly nodded.
"...His combat instincts evolved."
Even Griffin couldn't hide his surprise.
"In the middle of battle..."
"...He's awakening."
Kairo slowly raised Black Spartan.
His exhausted eyes no longer showed fear.
Only absolute focus.
His breathing steadied.
His heartbeat slowed.
The chaotic battlefield seemed to disappear from his senses.
Only Oko existed before him.
Oko smiled wider than ever.
"...Now that's interesting."
Kairo tightened his grip on Black Spartan.
"I finally understand..."
"...I don't need to chase your speed."
"I only need to understand you."
A faint white aura began flowing around his body, subtle but unmistakable.
It wasn't a transformation.
It wasn't raw power.
It was something far more dangerous—
A combat instinct sharpened beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Watching from afar, Shougo smiled to himself.
"Good..."
"Your real training..."
"...starts now."