The bodyguards were stunned. Though they were all outstanding fighters, they didn't understand what had just happened.
Why could Gusion's slim frame so easily block the Fang's powerful attack? Even a superhuman like Wakatsuki Takeshi couldn't do that.
Why did the Fang retreat and take up a defensive stance before the fight, while Gusion said he was strong?
Why didn't Gusion follow up after knocking the Fang away? Wasn't this a golden chance to defeat a legend?
They had too many questions but couldn't voice them, only watching the two men in the center of the room.
A mysterious man versus the unbeaten legend of the Fang—who would win?
"Your perception and learning ability are much better than Raian's..."
Gusion sighed.
"Oh, Raian is the Kure clan's genius. He's probably their strongest now."
Erioh was indeed old, and Raian was currently the strongest, though still not at Erioh's peak.
"I haven't asked your name yet," Kanoh Agito spoke to Gusion for the first time.
"How rude of me. My name is Gusion Paxley," he replied, taking up a martial stance.
"Come, show me your martial arts!"
The Fang of Metsudo was known throughout the Kengan world for two stances. One was formless, fighting by pure instinct, not bound to techniques. The other, martial, a fusion of multiple martial arts, allowed him to use pre-initiative to predict and counter opponents' moves.
Hearing this, Kanoh Agito switched to martial, removing the expression from his face.
He took small steps to close the distance, and in the suffocating atmosphere, finally stood before Gusion.
The next instant, a storm of attacks erupted—a flurry of combined martial arts, including Niko Style.
With his muscle power, every punch would disable an average fighter. Yet, strangely, despite the blinding speed, he couldn't touch Gusion at all.
"Unbelievable! Kanoh can't even touch him! Who is this Gusion guy?!"
Omori Masamichi, one of the guards, exclaimed. He wasn't just a bodyguard, but the previous Fang, who'd retired from the Kengan matches out of boredom, and Kanoh was his successor.
He could tell Kanoh wasn't holding back or swinging wildly. Every punch was precise and powerful, yet he couldn't touch Gusion.
He knew Kanoh had reached the pre-initiative realm, able to predict opponents' moves before they happened and counter them—a level few ever reached. Kanoh was a true genius.
Yet, despite this, Kanoh couldn't land a single hit on Gusion. It was absurd!
Was this Gusion even human?
When Kanoh's heavy punch was dodged, Gusion caught his arm, redirected the force downward, and used the reaction to jump, kneeing Kanoh in the chin.
Bang—!
With a dull thud, Kanoh's head snapped back, and Gusion's elbow slammed down on the back of his neck.
After two heavy blows, Kanoh's massive body collapsed.
To Gusion's surprise, Kanoh stood up again, blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
"Oh? I didn't hold back much—did you use Niko Style's indestructibility?"
Kanoh's eyes changed.
"You know Niko Style!?"
"Heard a few things."
Gusion grinned.
"Not done yet?"
Kanoh instantly took his stance again. As the Fang, he could not lose!
Even if the man before him was beyond comprehension, he had to climb, struggle, and evolve in a crisis to live up to his lord's expectations.
"Not bad..."
Seeing Kanoh's determination despite his injuries, Gusion praised him.
"...I feel your conviction. It's worthy of being called a martial artist."
The next moment, he used a flash step, vanishing from view.
Bang—!
When his figure reappeared, Kanoh's body had already fallen.
Gusion slowly withdrew his knife-hand and looked at Metsudo.
"Old man, am I qualified now?"
Metsudo laughed.
"I should ask you—do you think he is qualified?"
Gusion knew he meant Kanoh. After a moment, he said:
"He's strong, but needs to grow."
He was being honest. This generation's Fang, Kanoh Agito, was strong—both in stats and skills. His perception was sharp, realizing Gusion's threat as soon as he prepared to move.
Gusion could overwhelm Kanoh for two reasons: his stats were higher, and his technique superior.
But Kanoh was a clear growth-type fighter. In the original, he improved noticeably in every match in the tournament, and though he ultimately lost to Kuroki Gensai, he learned much from him.
Even more absurd, later in the story he met The Connector and evolved rapidly after seeing an even higher peak.
So the Kanoh he fought today was the weakest version. If he'd entered this world later, he might find Kanoh even more interesting.
For now, after sparring for several days, Raian might even have a better chance against this Kanoh.
But that could change, since Kanoh's learning ability was so strong—after fighting Gusion, he would already have leveled up, making a fight with Raian unpredictable.
"Needs to grow, huh... Seems I've done something unnecessary."
Metsudo sighed. He'd asked a friend to invite Kuroki Gensai just to teach Kanoh a lesson, but Kanoh had lost in a private spar before the tournament even started.
He looked at Gusion.
"From today, you're the new Fang of Metsudo, though I doubt you care much about the title."
"Yeah, I just want a competitor's ID."
Gusion replied honestly.
"So, just to get into the tournament, you've already beaten the champion? Your logic is amusing."
Metsudo laughed.
"So, you're helping me win—what do you want in return?"
"The chairman is a wise man, so I'll be direct. I'll serve as your fighter and help you win, and I can train Kanoh. As for who you want as the new chairman after the tournament, that's none of my business."
Gusion said plainly.
Metsudo narrowed his eyes.
"Strange. You don't look that smart but can guess my intentions... Fine, it's interesting enough. Tell me your request."
"Nothing major, just want to use the chairman's authority to investigate something. Don't worry, it won't trouble you."
As he spoke, Gusion repeated the request he'd given Erioh.
He figured with the combined power of the Kure clan and Metsudo, he could quickly narrow down the Origin Seed's scope, and then search and collect them one by one.
Once this was done, the rest of his stay in this world would be easy.
"An interesting request. I guess you asked Erioh for the same thing? What is it you're looking for?"
Metsudo asked curiously.
"The future."
Gusion replied with a vague smile.
Metsudo pondered but didn't press further, looking at the just-awakened Kanoh Agito.
"Kanoh, for the next while, Mr. Gusion will be your teacher."