Gusion was stunned, then realized: With Ohma dead, the most awkward one was Nogi!
In the original story, Nogi only had the confidence to challenge the chairman because he had Ohma. But after issuing the challenge, his ace was gone—so awkward!
Since Tokita Ohma died on Gusion's first night in this world, the Nogi Group had time to adjust. Lacking time to test new fighters, they logically picked the reputable, powerful Kure clan.
But then, who would Yamashita Trading have as their fighter?
Wait!
Gusion remembered—the organization that originally funded Yamashita Kazuo's computer research was the Worm!
The Worm would want to investigate Ohma's death and sabotage the Kengan Association. Now that they've colluded with CEO Hayami of Toyo Electric, they'd want to infiltrate as many as possible.
So Yamashita Trading's fighter slot was a perfect opportunity.
"Karure, thanks. That was very useful intel. I need to check the lottery results."
Gusion kept this in mind, and with that, activated Shunpo and vanished.
...
In the luxurious venue, business titans gathered, watching the lottery machine to decide match pairings.
The method was the same as the original—draw lots, and the winner picked their position.
After Chairman Katahara explained the rules, no one objected. He then smiled and stepped up to write his fighter's name.
When he wrote "Fang of Metsudo" flamboyantly, everyone stayed calm, thinking about how to avoid him in the first round. But as he wrote the actual fighter's name, their expressions changed.
Because instead of the familiar Kanoh Agito, the name was:
Fang of Metsudo: Gusion!
The crowd erupted. No one expected that in this decisive tournament, Chairman Katahara would switch the Fang of Metsudo!
Everyone had seen Agito still by the chairman's side, so it wasn't that Agito had quit. Could it be that this new Fang of Metsudo, Gusion, was even stronger than the widely acknowledged monster Agito!?
The company CEO's faces all changed, sensing that something was off about this tournament.
If Katahara had found an even stronger fighter, how could they hope to win?
The most worried was Hayami Katsumasa, CEO of Toyo Electric—the head of the influential Hundred-men Group, second only to Katahara.
He'd seen this tournament as his chance. He'd brought in the muscle-monster Julius Reinhold from Germany, arranged for assassins to take out other fighters, and even colluded with the Worm.
He knew perfectly well what the Worm was and how dangerous it was. But all that was worth it to become chairman. If he still couldn't win, only ruin awaited him.
"Gusion..."
Hayami muttered, telling his assistant, "Go investigate this guy. Five minutes—I want everything on him."
Meanwhile, Yamashita Kazuo was sweating bullets. Weeks ago, he'd been an ordinary middle-aged salaryman, and now he was in a tournament that could decide Japan's economy.
He wasn't too shocked about the change in Fang of Metsudo—he didn't know how strong the original was. He just wanted to pick a good spot.
With his super-strong Fist Eye vision, he picked a good number and earned first pick, but in his panic, he didn't know where to choose. "If I pick wrong, Mr. Raian will kill me..."
Urged on by others and his nerves, he picked a spot furthest from the Fang of Metsudo—so he'd only face him in the semifinals.
Soon, all the company heads had picked their positions. The match list was finalized.
…
Elsewhere, Gusion inspected the Kengan Island arena, meeting some fighters checking out the venue.
BANG—BANG—BANG—!
Around a corridor corner, Gusion heard the sound of metal being pierced. Curious, he went to look—and what he saw made his blood boil.
A black-clad figure stood by the wall, repeatedly striking a section reinforced with steel for safety.
He wasn't particularly tall for a fighter—about 185 cm—but was very sturdy.
He stood in horse stance, using a spearhand to strike the wall. Stone chips flew, and the steel plate several centimeters thick was pierced, making that distinctive sound.
The man looked fifty or sixty, in his prime, with no hint of age. Every move radiated martial mastery.
He had a strong physique, but his piercing strikes weren't brute force—they were pure technique.
The Devil Lance—Kuroki Gensai!
Sensing Gusion's gaze, or perhaps something else, Kuroki stopped and turned to look at him.
He stared for a few seconds, then his calm eyes flashed with sharpness, an invisible aura making fighters at both ends of the corridor shiver.
But it lasted only an instant. The next moment, Kuroki's aura vanished. "Didn't expect to find such a strong youngster here. Impressive."
Gusion stared back, grinning. "You're the pinnacle of martial arts. I have a long way to go."
"Just a seeker on the path. There is no pinnacle in martial arts."
Kuroki shook his head and turned back to his training.
Gusion sighed. Kuroki's strength wasn't just talent—it was his tireless effort and martial heart. Even in middle age, he kept improving.
With the arrival of the Origin Seed, fighters like Kuroki benefited most. Even with no mountain to climb, they kept pushing, just to surpass themselves.
In the sequel, no matter how many monsters appeared, Kuroki was still one of the top fighters.
Other experts only started evolving after meeting Shen Wulong, but Kuroki never stopped advancing.
With the Origin Seed's influence, his physical abilities had improved greatly, and even Gusion couldn't gauge his martial level without fighting him.
If Kuroki is this strong, what about the ultimate boss, Shen Wulong? How much of a thrill will that be?
I'm looking forward to it.