Path to Strength

Join my discord!

https://discord.gg/QZHCyfxhty (New Link!)

If you are interested in supporting me and reading the chapters in advance, here is my p@treon!

[email protected]/TheJiujitsuGuy

You can also search for: "BaritsuSupremacy" to find it on the platform.

I hope you enjoy the reading!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Since Pickle's arrival, not much could truly surprise Tokugawa, but finding a wounded and unconscious Jack was certainly unexpected.

Sensing a premonition, he decided to check on Pickle to see how he was doing. His intuition seemed accurate when he found the stadium floor stained with blood, with Jack lying amidst the chaotic scene.

Tokugawa was a sharp man, and he knew how to deduce things from what he observed. So, it wasn't hard for him to understand that a confrontation had taken place here, likely to decide who would face Pickle…

But who could have defeated Jack? Could it have been Baki?

No, Tokugawa doubted it. Baki would have asked personally if that were the case.

But then, who?

"…"

Simply wondering wouldn't help; he could find out once and for all. Moving toward the elevator that led to the underground arena, he quickly reached the stands…

Only to find a familiar figure in the arena, the one responsible for brutalizing Jack to the point of knocking him out—something very few could claim to have done.

Yuji Shinakawa, the king of the Kengan Association, the winner of the Annihilation Tournament, and the one considered by all fighters in the Tokyo Dome as Baki's rival as the strongest young man alive.

Face-to-face with Pickle, the young fighter didn't appear intimidated by the beast that was Pickle. In fact, his confident smile conveyed quite the opposite.

Tokugawa observed this with astonishment. He knew Yuji was strong, but facing Pickle? That wasn't something just anyone strong could do…

But maybe that thought stemmed from his own bias. Tokugawa wouldn't deny having favorites, as he wanted Baki to be the one to defeat Pickle. It was no secret that the ogre's son had a desire to face Pickle.

So, if Tokugawa felt a bit uncomfortable about this, when Baki found out, he'd probably be furious.

But…

Despite his favoritism, Tokugawa was an avid fight lover, so he couldn't stop his excitement for what was about to happen.

He was thrilled to know the outcome of this battle!

"You're a bit late, Tokugawa!"

!

Tokugawa was startled when a voice came from behind him, and turning to find the source, he was surprised to see Katahara Metsudo and Erioh Kure walking towards him.

"What? What are you doing here?" Tokugawa was confused since he hadn't invited them.

"Isn't it obvious? We're here to witness what's about to happen," Katahara declared with a laugh.

Erioh nodded at this, his dark eyes resting on the arena as he showed little expression. "The boy is representing the Kure clan. As the patriarch, I couldn't miss this."

"Besides, did you think the boy would come without telling anyone? Yuji isn't like that…"

Tokugawa widened his eyes at this, turning to the stands as he began to notice numerous people arriving.

"The boy loves to put on a show!"

With more and more people arriving, Tokugawa saw numerous Kengan Association businessmen, members of the Kure clan, and especially many fighters from the association. He immediately recognized some prominent figures like Kanoh Agito and Kaolan Wongsawat.

"I didn't expect this." Tokugawa scratched his head, feeling a bit weary. It seemed he wouldn't be watching the show alone.

Not far from where the old men were, Yuji's girlfriends were gathered along with Mokichi and Kou.

Though worried, they had confidence in Yuji's strength. As they had done many times before, they cheered for him to return safely.

"Go, Yuji!" Karura shouted in support, with Elena and Senju beside her, smiling at her enthusiasm and then joining in.

Kou, nearby, waved a small flag in support, while Mokichi chuckled at his cute gesture.

Like any crowd, discussions about who would win were unstoppable, but although they knew Pickle was likely a true monster, they still had confidence in the king of Kengan matches.

"Seems like everyone's here."

Back with Tokugawa, the three elders turned when a female voice spoke.

"Oh, Miss Hiyama, it seems you've arrived," Katahara greeted the current president of the Kengan Association, quickly noting Nogi Hideki right behind her. "And with your vice president, I see."

"In the end, you still secured a position, Nogi." Erioh raised an eyebrow at the vice president.

"That was a surprise to me, too." Nogi said, adjusting his tie as he walked to the edge of the stands to watch the fight.

Ding! Ding!

Tokugawa blinked when he felt his phone vibrate, and pulling it out, he answered immediately.

"Yes?"

"Is that the old man Tokugawa?"

Tokugawa's eyes widened as he recognized Baki's voice on the other end, his lips pressing into a nervous smile as he turned to the arena, seeing Yuji take a stance while Pickle began revealing his fangs.

"Baki… Let me guess, you want to fight Pickle."

"I—Wait, how did you guess—"

"I'm afraid you're a bit too late, Baki."

In the arena, Yuji planted his feet firmly on the ground as Pickle's intent exploded from his body, the prehistoric man's sharp canines revealed as he took a step forward.

Yuji smiled at this, and feeling sweat drip down his face, he clenched his fists tightly in anticipation.

"Baki, let me tell you what exactly is happening…"

!

Without hesitation, Pickle shot toward Yuji like a bullet, his massive body flying toward his target as his arms opened, intending to grab him.

"You got passed up, Baki!!"

Boom!

But as soon as Pickle reached his mark, a powerful punch struck his jaw with enough force to push him aside, his massive feet landing firmly on the ground to prevent him from stumbling.

Pickle was surprised for a moment, but his face soon filled with rage as he turned and attacked with his sharp nails, his expression filling with confusion as he felt only the resistance of the wind.

Looking down, he couldn't react as a kick pushed his face up, his stomach immediately struck with such force that it knocked him on his back.

Such force, and with such swift strikes! Pickle couldn't understand. First, the two small creatures from before, and now another small, seemingly fragile creature was hitting him with a power that exceeded the beasts Pickle was used to preying upon.

How could this be possible?

"…?" Pickle stood up, his eyes resting on the man in front of him, who remained standing confidently.

But in the end, that didn't matter. Pickle only needed to know one thing: if he lost, he would be preyed upon.

Knowing that was more than enough.

!

Yuji widened his eyes as Pickle propelled himself forward, and raising his guard, gritted his teeth as a fist struck his arms with such force that it dragged his feet several meters.

'Damn…' He smiled nervously as he felt his arms tremble. The veins in his body were swollen, but his skin, despite being hot, showed no change in color. 'Even with [Removal], his blows are still too dangerous. I can't afford to get hit.'

*Growl!

Seeing Pickle charging at him again, Yuji narrowed his eyes and skillfully avoided a powerful fist that caused a "whir" in the air, his hand clenching as he placed his fist inches from Pickle's chest.

Boom!

[Dragon Shot Lv. 342] >>> [Dragon Shot Lv. 343].

Pickle's eyes widened as intense pain erupted from his chest, his mouth opening as an animalistic scream of pain escaped his throat, his arm swinging and hitting Yuji with enough force to push him back.

'Pickle…' Stopping his momentum, Yuji looked at a wounded Pickle with narrowed eyes. 'I'm not going to hold back. My goal is to win; I have no intention of competing with you…

I'll use every part of my body and every technique at my disposal.'

Pickle clutched his chest in irritation, and turning to face Yuji, he gritted his teeth as a powerful kick hit his nose, blood spurting from his nostrils as his head was pushed back.

The blow was strong, creating a shockwave that rippled through the arena, surprising most of the spectators and making the fighters realize what Yuji was doing.

"He's using the same attacks that karateka used against Pickle," Kanoh noted, and Kaolan nodded in agreement. "This isn't a battle of strength; Yuji's making that clear…"

"This is a battle between eras…" Kaolan concluded. "Prehistoric era versus Modern era."

The two fighters smiled at this.

"The methods used to hunt enormous beasts of the Jurassic period against the skills humans have cultivated over millennia…

This is going to be truly exciting."