Previously~
…
“What?” Ryu uttered surprised.
Gonzo’s expression remained completely unchanged as he stood before Ryu: “As I’ve said…
I am requesting a duel with you.”
Ryu stared at him for a moment, genuinely confused by the sudden request: “A duel…?
Wait-Why?”
“I heard of you from Kisame.” Gonzo replied calmly.
“Kisame?” Ryu immediately cut in, his expression shifting slightly.
Gonzo nodded: “Yes.
He told me that if I wanted to find a decent opponent, I should come to you.
And so I did.”
Ryu stared at the enormous man before him, taking a moment to process that information: ‘So Kisame’s been tellin’ people about me now…?
Great.’
He sighed, rubbing the side of his head: “Look, I’m not really sure about this…
Maybe some other time.
I don’t have the resources to fight anyone right about now.”
With that said, Ryu camly walked past him…
However, Gonzo didn’t move to stop him, though his voice followed from behind, he stated: “As expected…”
Ryu continued walking…
“Kisame is probably a coward, just like you are.”
Ryu…
stops…
A vein visibly bulged against his forehead as his hand slowly curled into a fist: ‘Did this guy seriously just…?’ He turned around, glaring at the monolith of a human: “Hey, Gonzo…”
Gonzo slowly looked toward him…
“Listen, and listen well.
I’m not the type of person to duck any fight.” Ryu stepped forward, his expression becoming irritated: “So, bring it!”
Gonzo’s lips curved slightly: “Hoo…
You have proven me wrong about one thing, at least.” He stepped forward as well, his enormous frame casting a shadow over Ryu: “Now…
Let’s see if Kisame was right about the worthy challenge part…”
The moment those words left his mouth, Ryu dashed forwards.
He immediately created distance between them, refusing to let Gonzo get close: ‘I’m damn sure I don’t want to get caught by this guy.
Judo combined with a body that massive is a nightmare.’
Ryu darted to the side before rushing in with a quick combination of punches, only for Gonzo to calmly shift his body around each strike.
Ryu followed with a kick, but Gonzo simply stepped back, barely avoiding it…
‘)ike I thought, he’s readin’ me…’ Seeing this, Ryu immediately changed his angle, throwing another strike before retreating again.
He couldn’t afford to stay within Gonzo’s range for too long.
One mistake and he’d probably end up being thrown across the ground.
Gonzo, however, seemed almost amused: “That’s dissapointing…
Your attacks, they tickle.”
Ryu’s eyes narrowed: “Just like Kisame’s.”
‘This guy…’ Ryu gritted his teeth, before suddenly feeling the atmosphere around Gonzo change.
The enormous youth disappeared from where he stood.
Ryu’s eyes widened: ‘What?!’
A sudden burst of force struck him in the chest.
THUD!!!!
Ryu was sent stumbling backward, his feet digging into the dirt as he struggled to remain upright.
For a moment, it felt as though every bone in his body had been rattled simultaneously.
Gonzo calmly lowered his hand: “Not bad!
You are quite firm.”
Ryu coughed, rubbing his chest as he stared at him.
“Your endurance is quite high, especially given your stature.”
‘This guy…
Then Ryu felt it.
That sensation of his ability awakening once more…
Something stirred deep within him, almost as though an invisible switch had been flipped…
‘Overcome…’ His eyes sharpened: ‘So he’s strong enough to trigger it.’ A pity Ryu had to learn that the hard way.
He suddenly vanished from Gonzo’s immediate range, accelerating around him with a burst of speed that forced the larger youth to turn his head.
‘Even if I’m not as physically capable as him…’ Ryu thought, moving around Gonzo’s side: ‘I’m faster.’
Whish~
Swish~
He darted past Gonzo again, striking from another angle before immediately retreating.
Gonzo remained still for a moment…
“Hmph…
If you believe yourself faster than me…” Gonzo’s eyes shifted: “…you are greatly mistaken.”
Ryu’s expression changed.
Gonzo…
disappeared!
“W-What-?”
A massive arm suddenly wrapped around Ryu from behind, locking around his body before he could react.
Ryu’s eyes widened as he struggled against the grip!
‘His strength is like a damn vice!’ He pulled against Gonzo’s arms with everything he had, but he could barely move a milimeter.
Gonzo looked down at him with mild curiosity: “Your strength is quite high for someone of your stature as well.” Ryu could only grit his teeth, desperately trying to pry Gonzo’s arms apart…
“Really.
You are quite the little anomaly.” Gonzo added, feeling Ryu’s struggle.
‘Shut up…!’ Ryu thought, continuing his attempts.
Ryu’s veins began to rise along his hands as he pushed even harder.
Gonzo noticed it immediately, thinking: ‘Interesting…’ The grip around Ryu remained firm, but Gonzo could literally feel something changing: ‘Am I imagining it…
or…
is his overall strength…
increasing?’
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
But it was there.
Gonzo’s eyes narrowed as Ryu continued struggling against him, his strength steadily rising as he desperately tried to escape: ‘He’s getting stronger while I’m holding him…?’
Ryu finally shifted his weight.
Gonzo reacted instantly.
But Ryu was already moving.
The enormous youth twisted his body, using Ryu’s momentum against him before throwing him into the dirt.
THUD!
Ryu hit the ground hard, coughing as the impact rattled his entire body.
Gonzo looked down at him: “You are fortunate we aren’t fighting on a pavement.
That impact would have ended things much sooner.”
‘No shit…’ Ryu thought.
He hought
Ryu slowly pushed himself up, breathing heavily.
‘His speed, his physical strength, and those damn techniques…
Everything about him is ridiculous.’ His body screamed at him to stop.
But that sensation was still there.
That same invisible pressure pushing against his limits: ‘No.’ Ryu wiped his mouth, and stood up once again: ‘I…
I don’t want to lose…’
Gonzo watched as Ryu came forward once more.
The fight continued.
Ryu was thrown repeatedly, each impact leaving him more battered than before, yet every time Gonzo expected him to stay down, Ryu somehow forced himself back onto his feet.
His movements gradually became sharper, his timing improving exponentially with every exchange, while the strength behind his attempts to escape Gonzo’s grips continued increasing…
Gonzo eventually caught him again, and sent him crashing down;
“You are certainly tough.” Gonzo looked down at him: “Not many would remain standing after taking that many throws.”
Ryu slowly rose once more, blood staining the corner of his mouth as he looked toward Gonzo: “I’ll get you…” Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
He wiped his mouth: “Even if it’s just once.”
Gonzo’s expression quickly became serious.
There was something about Ryu now when he uttered those words…
Like a cornered beast…
An oppressive feeling seemed to radiate from him despite his battered condition;
‘His spirit…
It is truly something to behold.’ Gonzo studied him carefully: ‘His mentality is what’s keeping him standing…
But, that isn’t the only thing.’
He remembered every time he’d thrown Ryu down.
Every time Ryu returned, he’d been slightly stronger.
Especially his grip: ‘His physical ability keeps increasing every time I bring him down…’
Gonzo couldn’t help but find it strange: ‘…It’s almost unnatural.’ He eventually stepped back, saying: “We have been at this for long enough, no?”
Ryu on the other hand, remained standing several meters away, breathing heavily…
Gonzo suddenly lowered his stance.
Ryu’s eyes widened: ‘H-He’s coming.’
Gonzo burst forward.
The sheer acceleration was greater than anything he’d shown before, his massive body crossing the distance between them almost instantly.
Ryu clenched his fists: ‘This is it!’
Gonzo drove forward, his shoulder crashing into Ryu’s chest with enough force to send him flying backward.
The impact causing minor fractures in his entire ribcage…
Vwoom!
Ryu’s body hit the ground hard, his vision briefly swimming from the impact…
Gonzo slowly stood over him, breathing calmly: “You are indeed someone worthy of praise.” He looked down at Ryu: “You are strong.”
Ryu coughed, but somehow managed to smile: “Yeah…
Thanks for the compliment.”
His hand suddenly shot forwards.
Gonzo’s eyes widened at the sudden incredible burst of speed.
Ryu had, grabbed him…?
‘W-What?’ Gonzo thought.
Even in his battered state, Ryu’s grip was absurdly strong.
Gonzo felt himself being pulled off balance before Ryu planted his feet firmly into the ground…
“You’re…
kidding…!” Gonzo said, shocked.
Ryu’s muscles strained as he pushed every remaining ounce of strength through his body…
With a desperate roar, he lifted Gonzo from the ground!
Gonzo’s eyes widened completely: ‘What?!
How is he-?!’
“RAAGHHHH!!!!” Ryu twisted his body, and slammed Gonzo into the dirt.
BLAAAM!!!!
‘Urgh!’ Gonzo immediately shifted his body to absorb most of the impact, rolling with the motion before coming to a stop…
“…” He sat there for a moment.
Then he laughed: “Haha…
Hahaha!”
Gonzo looked toward Ryu.
The boy was no longer moving.
He must have already passed out from exhaustion…
Gonzo slowly stood up, dusting himself off as his laughter continued: ‘Hm~ No wonder Kisame spoke of this litte fellow with such high praise…’ Ryu had someone used a hybrid combination of both Sseserium and Judo within that throw…
He looked down at Ryu with genuine amusement, and fascination…
‘He truly is a wonderful opponent.’ Gonzo crouched down and carefully lifted the unconscious Ryu into his arms: “Rest now…”
He began carrying him away from the area…
“…You’ve certainly earned it.”
.
.
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End