Path to Strength

Yuji Shinakawa.

"So you're going to fight this guy?" Akira asked incredulously as he pointed at my laptop screen with a startled expression.

One of Mokichi Robinson's fights was playing on the screen, and I couldn't help but sigh in defeat as I listened to Akira begin to explain about why I would probably be destroyed during my fight.

"Just looking at his moves, I can tell that my jiujitsu is light years away from this guy! He's not even here, but I can still feel his oppressive energy just by looking through this screen! I can still fight you for a few minutes in a ground fight, but against this guy, in seconds I would be destroyed! You need to dis-" He kept talking, to the point where I started to get frustrated, and I simply disconnected his presence from my senses.

It's not that I don't agree with his words, after all, Mokichi is a mountain I can't climb in my current state, but hearing this when I'm about to face him is not the best motivation.

My eyes turned to the notebook on my desk, and I couldn't help but divert my thoughts to the subject that was the technology of this world. Incredibly, modern devices such as smartphones and notebooks do exist, but they are priced considerably high, with rich people, or those at the top of the middle class, being the only ones able to afford them. I heard about this from Tomari, who gave me a brand new notebook, with only a few videos of Mokichi's fights that she was able to obtain. This made me extremely grateful, and made me respect her moderately, after all, fighting with only vague memories of your opponent who is far superior to you would be complete idiocy.

Tomari knew this, and wasted no time in gathering information to help me.

"Although I don't agree with some of this idiot's words, I have to agree that fighting this guy is dangerous. Just watching his movements, I realize that he is on a completely different level. Even Mikey didn't pass a feeling like this guy does." This time, it was Osanai's turn to speak.

Akira, who received approval in his words, couldn't help but nod in agreement, only for a few seconds later, he stared at Osanai angrily. "Who are you calling an idiot?!"

I ignored them both and took a deep breath, letting the oxygen circulate through my blood for a few seconds, before slowly releasing it. I repeated the process for a few seconds, until I felt satisfied. I want to win, but the chances of that happening are minimal, or realistically, impossible. Winning would be great because it would provide me with a lot of money as a Tomari fighter, and I could improve my training, and even travel to train abroad. In world mixed with various works, I know that there are various ways to become powerful, and with my system, all these methods can be facilitated.

To become strong so that I can live with tranquility in the future, this is my current goal. In my former life, this was also my goal. It is not an extraordinary goal, much less a noble one, but it is a dream that I will try my best to make come true.

I know that there are many ways to live quietly, but fighting is something that I love, and if I can use combat to complete my goals, then I will do so.

Even if I have to lose several times in the process, I will continue on this road.

"It's already done, I can't go back anymore." I spoke with authority, this shutting up the two, who looked at me with uncertainty. "I will fight this man, and you two are not capable of changing that."

I slowly get up and sit on the edge of my bed, putting my hands together while resting them on my chin. I may not be strong enough, but many times in my old life I was forced to fight people bigger than me, and guess what? I won! I put every opponent stronger than me down, and that was something I liked to be proud of.

In the face of these opponents, I never backed down, never bowed my head and allowed them to dominate me. This is who I am, and this world will be no different. It doesn't matter if I have to destroy my muscles for it, or lose every limb of my body....

"I will win."

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Abandoned building, Kengan combat arena.

16:30

Togo Tomari

Mokichi Robinson, as hard as it is to admit, is a monster in the world of Kengan fighting. Maybe not as strong as the Fangs of Metsudo, or the Wild Tiger, but still strong enough that most fighters don't become a problem for him. That leaves me with uncertainty for this fight. A 15-year-old kid fighting a fighter with 30 years of experience, hearing it this way, seems crazy.

Yuji Shinakawa is definitely strong, and a fighting prodigy, but this alone would not give me enough confidence to choose him as my fighter. In two years, the annihilation tournament will finally happen, and I can't possibly have a weak fighter representing me.

What made me choose the boy, was my own fighter, Hong Xiao-Hu, recommending him after watching his fight against the Senju girl. In his condition, he wouldn't be able to fight for at least a few months, and while I was running after a competent fighter, Hong suddenly showed an interest in the boy while we were watching some underground fights.

Flashback.

"This kid." As we watched some fights on TV, Hong, who was standing behind my couch, suddenly pointed at the screen, specifically at the teenager who had just won one of the underground fights we watched.

Confused, I couldn't help but look at my fighter with curiosity. "What about him? He just looks like a catty brat who's good at fighting."

Hong, who heard this with a tired look on his face, shook his head in disapproval as he began. "This kid's potential... Just by looking at him, I can see that he is a little monster. In a few years, he can become one of the big names in the world of fighters. It may sound like exaggeration, but my senses rarely deceive me... This boy has some of the greatest potential I've ever seen."

I remained silent, genuinely reflecting on the words spoken by Hong. If this was indeed true, could this boy surpass Hong in a few years? If so, maybe it would be profitable in the long run, but she needed immediate results, she didn't have much time until her fight, after all.

"Do you think I should put him in his place?" I asked sincerely. I wasn't the best person to find out if someone was strong, but Hong was the right person for it, and I wouldn't question his words in this matter.

"Who knows? Maybe he's your best choice, after all, I can't fight with broken arms."

I snort at his response, and just turn my gaze to the boy on the screen with interest. One of the greatest potentials, huh?

Present.

I turn my eyes to Yuji. The boy was only wearing shorts with my company logo on them, his small but hard muscles showing for all to see. There was no such thing as a dressing room for him to get ready, so we could just wait amidst the cheering of the idiot businessmen who wanted the fight to start immediately.

I put my gaze on Yuji one last time before joining the crowd. I hope Hong is right, because if he is, this kid definitely won't let me down. Maybe he won't win, and that will upset me, but if he shows me an amazing performance, he will be one of the only people I will dedicate myself to helping grow.

Hong believes in his potential, and as my long-time fighter, I believe I can trust him in this matter...

Kid, don't let me down.

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Yuji Shinakawa

My preparation to face Mokichi was intense, so to speak. I spent hours and hours training, polishing my techniques and body so that I would look my best for the fight. Doing this for two weeks proved not to be a complete waste of time, as I felt more in tune with my movements.

Punches, kicks, grabs, and footwork all felt more natural to me, and if that was any indication, I was probably about to break through to another level in my martial arts.

It would have been great if I could do this before the fight, but here I am.

"Finish that brat, Mokichi!"

"Do your best, kid!"

My eyes turned to Mokichi. The blond man was wearing an outfit I know as Jujutsugi, a garment worn by Jiujitsu practitioners. The only distinguishing feature of this outfit was the lack of a sash, which made sense, after all, no one wanted to be grabbed by the sash tied around their waist.

My eyes continued to wander around the man, stopping on his face as I stared at him intensely. Now that I am face to face with him, I realize how monstrous this man is. His muscles are dense, powerful like the muscles of a lion, and his attitude is calm, as a priest should be, but his aura?

His aura, though pure, shows power, strength acquired through years of experience and training.

My old life self would never compare to this man, even if he trained for decades.

"That's great." I couldn't help but say. The hairs on my body were shivering, and I couldn't stop a smile from appearing on my face.

As oppressive as the man in front of me may be, I'm not afraid, no... I'm fucking excited! It may sound crazy, but I'm dying to test my strength fighting this man! At this moment, losing or winning doesn't matter anymore... Just the act of being able to face him is more than enough for me.

I cracked a wide smile, starting to bounce as I began to shape my posture.

"Fighters! Get ready!" The fight judge began.

In this arena, this man is sure to give me a fight where I can use everything I've got! So, the least I can do for him, is to make his blood boil a little!

"Ready?!"

Mokichi, who was just looking at me with clenched eyes and a gentle smile on his face, finally moved, quickly spreading his legs apart and putting his fists in front of his face.

There was no need for words, we know what is about to happen, and we are not against it. So, Mister Mokichi...!

"Fight!"

We will fight until we are satisfied!

Boom!