Chapter 7- Beyond the s.h.i.+jima Style

“Ho~ you got a nice place here.”

“Right? Though I never thought I would bring anyone here.”

Wewere talking about Alback Mountain, the secluded area where I always trained.

Normally no one but me came to this place, but today there was another visitor.

We each prepared ourselves as we exchanged small talk, neither of us making eye contact.

At first glance this place may have seemed peaceful, but in actuality, the atmosphere was like a swollen balloon, filled with danger ready to burst at the slightest shock.

I waited and waited and waited.. For the first time in thirty years, I could finally meet fist to fist with my rival.

I linked my arms and stretched my muscles. Chester struck his fists at imaginary enemies. Our warm-up methods were almost symbolic of soft and hard martial arts.

I didn’t want to admit it, but at that moment, I was most likely thinking the same thing as Chester.

I wanted to fight already. For these last 12 years I had hidden my power and dedicated myself to training.

It was extremely vexing. But now, I could fight to my heart’s content with an opponent that was evenly matched with me in my previous life.

Any heart that wouldn’t be moved by this could be fed to the dogs. My heart, which had been silent for the last 50 years, trembled. The only thing on my mind at the time was my excitement for the battle.

“Isn’t it about time already? The sun is going to set.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

In the end, he was just as raring to go. In which case, it made perfect sense that our thoughts would be the same.

I took a s.h.i.+jima stance, ‘Flowing Stream’. It was a pillar stance that emphasized defense. After contemplating its form for countless years, it melds into the mind and permeates the body to form an armament based on the principles of martial arts.

On the other hand, Chester relaxed and lowered his left fist to waist-level. It was a stance that reeked of offense.

Having had spent a long time battling against him, I could tell. That was also another pillar stance.

Pillar against pillar. A pure battle with no tricks—I couldn’t get enough. It was almost enough to make me drool.

Words were unnecessary. I wanted to fight as soon as possible.

“s.h.i.+jima style ‘former’ master, Slava s.h.i.+jima—Ready.”

“Founder of the Prime fighting style, Chester Prime—Ready.”

Oddly, when I introduced myself with the name from my previous life, a strong smile appeared on Chester’s face.

He must have been bored. Before he becomes senile from the emptiness of everyday life, I will send him off.

After naming myself to start the battle, we stood without moving.

Both held a seamless tranquility. However, we were both aware that the fight had begun.

There was less movement than before, but both of us were beside themselves with happiness. That tension that seemed like you would get your faced smashed if you let your guard down for even one second… it had been a long time since we last tasted it .

–Silence. A deep silence prevailed, even the wind was still. Perhaps the wild monster sensed something abnormal in that place. No signs of life could be felt in the area.

The only one—no, the only two exceptions were us.

Chester and I faced off releasing fighting spirit enough to neutralize the killing intent that made even the surrounding monsters run off.

…Hmm. Surprising him a little wouldn’t hurt.

The silence that seemed as if though it would last an eternity was suddenly broken.

The one to make the first move was I, who had the defensive stance.

For just a moment,–it was really just a moment–Chester showed some surprise. Sensing that moment, I instantly dashed forward.

I crossed five meters in a single step.

Having have caught off guard, Chester’s face showed a bitter expression. However, that also lasted for but a moment.

Chester, who had a toothy grin all the while, moved his relaxed left fist. It was a speed born from being relaxed to the extreme. His left arm moved at an incredible speed without ignoring s.p.a.ce; it vanished at that absurd speed.

Just like a snake lying in the shadows, an attack that concealed its shape with its speed a.s.saulted me.

If I took it head-on, it would bite through even my bones. It was a bite fierce enough to make one think that even poison would have been kinder. However, I conceded the first move and, having had predicted the snake-like movements, met his approaching hand with my own.

I did not let him have the first move in vain. I made sure to take full advantage of the momentum of that iron plate like arm.

The skin on the back of my hand was cut to the base. Even a well-made razor wouldn’t leave such a mark.

I felt a small pang of pain, but it was a small price to pay in order to borrow that momentum. I used my blocking right hand to control the direction of his strength.

However, this old man just had to lift his arm. In using the strategy of moving from the defensive stance, I had to make use of that opening—if my body had been a little bigger, he wouldn’t have had a chance to dodge.

Now then, originally I would have loved to smash that grinning face into a different expression, but… I felt a little uneasy trying to use such a big move with just that much. I curved my hand slightly.

In doing so, the direction of that powerful momentum s.h.i.+fted. It now pointed towards the heavens. The fierce, lightning fast whip was deflected with an ounce of force and rose towards the sky.

“Ge-”

Chester leaked a small grunt. On his brow there was a layer of sweat.

Well of course he would. That left hand pointed towards the sky, that defenseless body, it was practically asking for a fierce attack. I would be troubled if he did not panic.

I left my right hand just like that and begun to ama.s.s magic power into my left hand. Now then, just how effective would this be against him as he was now?

s.h.i.+jima style palm thrust, ‘fierce’—I gathered the bursting magic power into the palm of my hand and struck out!

From this position, even someone like Chester would have his hands full just trying to nullify the power.

Chester jumped straight back but, the palm of my hand struck home on his flank.

The old man’s body flew parallel to ground as if though he had been rammed by a raging bull.

If he were a normal martial artist, there was no doubt that from the resistance I felt in my hand, he would be dead; however, he was the man that brought together all of the martial artists underground.

It would be one thing if he had taken a direct hit but, having had jumped back, I am sure it only served to wake him up.

“It looks like you haven’t lost your edge.”

“Nonsense. I haven’t even had breakfast.”

He smiled, even as he had blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

It was because we had both recognized each other’s strength that we could have small talk like that.

Aah. This is fun. Was fighting always this fun?

It was as though I had eaten a small helping of the world’s finest food. I couldn’t stop it. There was no way I could stop it.

Before we noticed it, both Chester and I were smiling hard enough to cramp our cheeks.

We no longer needed any words. The second time, we both attacked at the same time.

It was frustrating to admit it but, if he didn’t let his guard down, Chester was strong.

That supple whip-like left arm was troublesome. From a completely relaxed state he could, in an instant, go from zero to max speed.

Not only that, his snake-like movements were crafty, and he could control them at will. The destructive power was enough to smash trough steel.

Having had been blessed by heaven with a long reach, his area of attack was incredible. Even my past self was burnt by that range of attack. To my current self, with the body of a child, the distance felt absurdly wide.

However, I did acquire more maneuverability to make up for this. Of course, it did not change the fact that I was still at a disadvantage, but that was something I had known from the start.

To beat him as he was, I needed the resolve to step through the gates of h.e.l.l.

That old geezer was aware of his own strong points since long ago. He will obviously make the best of his reach in the fight.

It is frustrating to simply admit his strength, but he came up with a plan beyond outstanding.

By the time that he entered into my range of attack, I was completely enveloped by his range.

…Just like a fierce snake striking, he aimed precisely at my temple. I tried to defend against it by meeting it with my own arm. Had I not aimed to block it from the start, I most likely would have been unable to guard against it.

I had to at least keep my stance. If I collapsed, it would all be over. Taking a hit to the vitals was even more out of the question.

In a second, I made the resolve to take a hit. It’s coming, it’s coming, here it is!

“~Ugh!”

It was much faster and heavier than I expected. The shock was like being whipped with a lead rope.

Maintaining my defensive stance, I left a trail on the ground as I slid back.

It was heavy. It was far too heavy. Taking it head-on was impossible. I pursed my lips at my rival who had improved more than I expected.

This d.a.m.n geezer. What kind of fight does he think this is?

I somehow managed to hold my stance. Chester began to run in pursuit.

Don’t underestimate me. My stance was a s.h.i.+jima defense stance.

Chester’s fist was aimed directly at my face. If I took a blow like that to the face, forget about dying–seeing my head fly off wouldn’t be strange. Against such a strike, I used my hands.

Don’t look down on the s.h.i.+jima style once it has devoted itself to defense! Rather than saying anything, this time swept my arm downwards.

Naturally, my body followed after my arm moved by the momentum and headed towards the ground. I used that orbit to place my knee.

With every ounce the same strength as his fist, I sunk my knee into Chester’s face.

I could feel his nose being crushed under my knee. However, even as he had my knee in his face, he caught me with his right hand.

As soon as I thought ‘dammit’, a fist sunk into my stomach. I vomited blood even as I was blown away like a small pebble. The distance between us was forcefully widened.

“Hwugh…Kuku, This is fun, isn’t it Chester?”

“Bu thead did. Deth id da betht. ” ‘You said it. This is the best.’

Chester and I laughed while we straightened our broken noses and vomited the reaming blood in our throats respectively.

Chester had so much blood on his face that you could not tell what he looked like originally but his smile was so pure that it one amazed that it came from an old man.

As for me, my face did not have much blood on it, but my internal organs throbbed painfully. That counterattack clearly wasn’t half-hearted, even in the midst of an attack.

We were both absurd. I dodged Chester’s attack. However, Chester completely ignored my counterattack and continued with his own attack.

And as result, I ended up taking more damage. I wanted to cry.

And to think that, even so, I still found this fun—I couldn’t even think anything else, other than that my brain was rotten.

Well, that’s how it is. That’s exactly what a brat that couldn’t give up on being the strongest is like.

Chester had straightened his crooked nose. I spat out the clotted blood and got my breathing under control.

In that case, there was no problem. Now then, let’s continue.

Distance was irrelevant. In an instant, Chester put me in his striking distance and unleashed his fist, polished to the point of perfection.

I took his fist and countered by trying to twist it past its limit.

At this rate, it’s going to break—Chester must have thought as much. Once again, he used his remaining right arm and drove his fist into my nose. Didn’t this senile fool feel any pain? Back away a little, I’m telling you that’s against the rules, isn’t it?!

However, this time I did not back down either. I took a single step forward just as Chester’s left fist was straight ahead as if to push into it.

A distinct cracking resounded. Chester’s fist made direct contact with his own arm.

It was definitely broken! My faced was dyed with delight at having have broken my opponent’s greatest weapon. However, it was stained with anguish the next moment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught his knee driving into my stomach. Immediately after, I was a.s.saulted by h.e.l.lish pain. I couldn’t endure and collapsed onto the ground in a puddle of b.l.o.o.d.y vomit and bodily fluids.

But, had that been his fist instead of his knee, I would have been finished.

Even if my body was ruled by pain, my mind was oddly calm. But, even so, my brain did not allow my body tranquility.

When I saw Chester’s foot about to trample on me, almost as though I forgot about the pain, I took my hand away from my abdomen and grabbed Chester’s leg.

He did his utmost to avoid getting toppled but, having lifted one foot, he was left balancing on only one leg.

Almost as if though he were begging for it, I tumbled Chester.

The silence lasted for less than an instant. Whilst grimacing in pain, we both stood and took our distance.

“Haa- Haa- How about it? Shouldn’t you be close to your limit?”

“Shut it. Khak… Isn’t that you…? You idiot, treat the elderly better. Hitting me without holding back.”

Elbow and Stomach, both he and I were holding our heavily damaged bodies.

The pain was no problem, but we were both at out of stamina.

That question that reflected out desire, we answered it with our actions.

Our next exchange was likely to be the last. Even if we didn’t say it, we knew.

“Let’s go…!”

“Come!”

Offense and defense. At the contrasting signals, the two shadows crossed.

The damage was roughly the same. However, I understood my own advantage.

Since I neutralized his greatest weapon, his left arm, the only courses of action open to him were to either to use kicks or his right arm!

On the other hand, I had injured my stomach, but if it was only pain, it wouldn’t be a hindrance. If it was purely damage, though, I was worse off. However, the last one to remain standing is the winner. I had no intention of letting my knees touch the ground until I had been declared the victor.

With my awareness heightened to its limit, an instant turned into an eternity.

I could see, amidst the world that appeared to flow slowly around me, the Prime fighting style had absolute confidence in its fists. As expected, his last move will be his right fist!

However, that was within my expectations. If it was an attack that I had see through, I could return it with ‘Shadow Leaf’!

In preparation for the counterattack, I took the flowing water stance.

His right fist swinging in an arc–

Did not graze me.

Impossible! A feint rotation?!

I had a stance to catch his arm with both of mine; Chester’s right arm pa.s.sed just before my hands.

It was unthinkable for this man to misjudge the distance…A feint at this point?!

In that case, a kick or maybe a roundhouse—it can’t be.

If it wasn’t his right fist, what was coming? Having have missed the mark, my mind lapsed for a second at having lost the bet.

…By the time I realized it, it was already too late. The left fist of the Prime fighting style that had even been compared to a swordsman’s sword.

There was no way that this man wouldn’t use it in this situation.

With his broken left fist…!

…Ah, dammit. It was frustrating.

Within the slowly flowing world, right before my mind went blank, I certainly felt that guy’s left arm touching my jaw.

The backhand blow from his broken left hand smashed right into my jaw.