"Gurrr—!"
"You cannot defeat me!"
Max, now in his hulking werewolf form, took two heavy steps forward. His blood-red bestial pupils glared coldly at Sai as he let out a low, guttural growl.
SWISH—!
Instantly, Werewolf Max kicked off the ground and exploded forward, turning into a black blur. In the blink of an eye, he was in Sai's face. His razor-sharp claws tore through the air, creating a whistling, piercing gale as he swung downward with savage force.
Night Secret Art: Night Claw!
BOOM—!
The ring shuddered as a massive shockwave kicked up a pillar of dust. Max's claw shattered the stone floor, carving out a crater half a meter deep.
A short distance away, Sai crouched on the ground, sweat dripping from his brow. His heart hammered against his ribs. Such speed... I almost couldn't react!
"You missed, hm? Let's see how many times you can stay lucky," Max said, watching Sai. A glint of bloodlust flashed in his crimson eyes. His voice, once calm and elegant, was now laced with cruel, primal hunger. "You only have to fail once, and then I'll tear you to shreds!"
"This guy..." Sai frowned, his suspicion growing. "His personality has completely flipped!"
Before, he had been a man of few words with the bearing of a traditional aristocrat. Now, he was a slaughter-crazed maniac. The transformation was total.
As they spoke, Max lunged again, reaching Sai with terrifying velocity. This time, he swung his Obsidian Scepter like a club, aiming to crush Sai where he stood.
Startled, Sai hoisted his bladed polearm to parry.
CLANG—!
A piercing metallic screech rang out. The raw power of the collision rippled through the air, sending out a visible shockwave. Sai felt a massive jolt run through his entire body; the webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open. He was forced back over a dozen steps, his feet carving deep furrows into the stone until the very tread of his boots was imprinted in the floor.
"What monstrous strength!"
Sai gasped, struggling to steady his churning blood. He hadn't expected the physical boost of the transformation to be this significant.
"Isn't the fist-style of the Kano Country unique? Come on then! Show me more!"
"AWOOOOOOO—!"
Max threw his head back and howled, the sound vibrating through the entire arena.
"Bastard!"
Infuriated, Sai gripped his bladed polearm and charged.
"Watch how I butcher you! Night Secret Art: Black Hammer!!!"
Crazed killing intent flared in Max's red eyes. Wielding the two-meter scepter in a single hand like a dark Anubis, he brought it crashing down toward Sai.
BOOM—!
The scepter, gleaming with a dark metallic luster, struck the floor. The impact shattered the stone into fine powder, creating a crater several meters wide. The entire ring rocked violently, causing the surrounding waters to churn and froth.
Sai, however, had already leaped high into the air. As he descended, he delivered a precision kick to Max's head.
THUD—!
Concentric air ripples exploded from the point of impact, and Max was sent tumbling backward. The Obsidian Scepter spun through the air before hitting the ground with a heavy clang. Max skidded over a dozen meters, plowing a shallow trench into the ring before coming to a halt.
Max shook his head to clear his head and stood up. His blood-red eyes were now burning with pure rage. He glared at Sai, spitting out each word: "I... will... tear... you... apart! ROAR—!"
BOOM—!
Max vanished, leaving only a cracked footprint where he had stood a millisecond before.
"Such incredible physical prowess... wait, no!"
Before Sai could finish his thought, his vision blurred. Max was already in front of him.
CLANG—!
Five dagger-like wolf claws struck the shaft of the bladed polearm with a deafening crack. The resulting air pressure turned into a violent whirlwind that swept outward, leaving fine cracks across the floor in its wake.
"Get out!"
Max roared, exerting sudden, explosive force. The existing pressure pushing Sai back doubled instantly, shattering Sai's defensive stance and sending him flying.
Sai tumbled across the ground, eventually settling into a crouch, a trail of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
"It's not over yet!"
Max stepped off, his speed so great he seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only the fading echo of his voice.
"Where is he? Where?! Where?!"
Sai scrambled to his feet, scanning the area, but Max was moving too fast for his senses to track.
SPLURT—!
A spray of blood erupted.
"Ngh—!"
Sai groaned. Five jagged gashes had appeared across his chest, looking as though they had been carved by a wild beast.
"Dammit! Almost had him!" Sai gritted his teeth. He had sensed Max just a moment too late, catching the blow instead of countering it.
"I'm going to rip you open!"
Max's taunting voice drifted through the air, a ghost without a body.
CLANG—!
Suddenly, another metallic clash rang out. Sparks flew in mid-air as Sai was jolted back several paces, five deep notches now marred the handle of his weapon.
"We can't see him! Max is moving too fast for the naked eye!" Gatz shouted with feverish passion. "With his ability active, Max's power has skyrocketed! Even Sai, the Leader of the Happo Navy, is stuck on the defensive! This is terrifying!"
"Kill him, Max!"
"Don't back down, Sai! Take that monster out!"
"Go! Fight! Kill!"
The crowd was in a frenzy, screaming for their favorites.
Suddenly, Gatz pointed to a different section of the ring. "Look! The battle between the Funk Brothers and Boo is drifting toward Max and Sai! Are they going to be sucked into the main event?!"
"Rah-Rah-Rah Rampage! Rah-Rah-Rah...!"
The fused Funk Brothers, with Kelly in control, rained a barrage of punches down on Boo. Boo couldn't take the hits head-on and was forced to retreat, trying to find an opening.
SHUCK—!
Suddenly, a gust of wind tore past Kelly. For a split second, it seemed as if a shadow was hidden within the gale.
"AARRGGHH—!"
Kelly let out a blood-curdling scream as his chest was suddenly ripped open. Five long, deep gashes appeared, and blood began to pour out in torrents.
Stunned, Boo reacted instinctively, swinging his axe and burying it into the center of Kelly's chest. The Haki-infused blade bit deep into the existing wounds, knocking Kelly to the ground and widening the gashes even further.
In that moment of distraction, Max appeared behind Boo. His wolf claws, coated in Armament Haki, were raised high, ready to end him.
"Stay away from my brother!"
"Kiryu Kirikugi: Wujiaogen Heel!!!"
Seeing the danger, Sai let out a thunderous roar. He leaped into the air, focusing every ounce of his strength into a single point. His right leg came down like a massive executioner's axe, aimed squarely at Max below.
"Then let's end this in one go!"
Max spun around, his muscles bulging as his blood-red eyes locked onto the descending threat. Ten sharp claws extended, turning pitch-black and metallic in an instant.
Night Secret Esoteric: Night King!
The wolf claws struck out, generating razor-sharp air blades that sliced through the atmosphere.
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion rocked the entire Corrida Colosseum. Concentric shockwaves surged outward, causing the Fighting Fish in the water to dive for the depths in terror.
RUMBLE—!
A terrifying gale erupted from the collision. Boo, being the closest, was immediately swept off his feet and sent flying out of the ring.
He wasn't the only one. The shockwave effectively cleared the stage. Even the spectators in the stands had to brace themselves against the wind to avoid being blown away.
CRACK... SNAP... CRUNCH—!
With a final shattering sound, the ring gave way. Cracks spider-webbed across the entire surface, turning it into a fractured mess of stone.
"GET OUT!"
Max bellowed, a surge of overwhelming power erupting from his core.
BOOM—!
Sai gasped as he was hit by the full force. He coughed up blood and was sent hurtling backward like a cannonball, crashing violently into the spectator stands.
As the dust settled, a massive hole several meters wide was visible in the seating area. Sai lay deep within the rubble, eyes rolled back and covered in blood.
"He's... OUT OF BOUNDS!"
Gatz raised his mic, screaming at the top of his lungs: "The winner is, Horkheimer Max!"