Chapter 191: After All, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist is About to go Extinct
The Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo.
Ever since City Z was annihilated, Bang's original dojo had been unavoidable collateral damage; the entire mountain peak had been leveled.
To appease this titan of the martial arts world, the Hero Association had rapidly reconstructed a brand-new dojo on a similar peak just outside the ruins of City Z.
On a side note, according to a later report by Metal Knight, he had supposedly deployed thirty Dragon-level robots to support the Great War, but they were all reportedly destroyed by a "streak of black light" before they could even reach the battlefield.
The S-Class heroes had... varying attitudes toward that particular claim. As for the Hero Association, they had no choice but to nod and accept Metal Knight's explanation. After all, he was one of the few technical geniuses the Association had; they had to keep him happy, no matter how much they had to grit their teeth.
................
High atop the clouds, the massive dojo currently felt desolate, lacking the lively atmosphere it once held.
An elderly man, his body wrapped in numerous bandages, lay on a lounge chair in the courtyard, his aged, cloudy eyes staring blankly at the azure sky.
In Bang's mind, the images of that Great War continued to replay in an endless loop.
The moment that entity known as GOD descended... although his appearance was domineering and alien, Bang had felt a strange tremor in his heart the moment he saw him.
It was as if he were looking at someone he knew.
Thinking of the entity's physical build, Bang fell into a heavy silence, his expression darkening with sorrow.
Why... why did that thing look so much like Garou...? But he was clearly the 'GOD' that tried to end the world...
That feeling had haunted Bang ever since that day.
Consequently, after the war ended, Bang had spent his time searching for any scrap of news regarding Garou.
A person like him—an incredibly talented top disciple—should have left some kind of footprint in society. Yet, for some reason, it was as if Garou had vanished from the face of the Earth.
Lately, Bang's unease had reached a peak. Garou had seemingly evaporated into thin air; not a single trace of his existence could be found.
Don't panic.
Maybe he just went to a distant city...
Bang tried to comfort himself, but he knew better than anyone that such wishful thinking was rarely the reality.
His thoughts drifted back to the day everything went wrong.
Back then, Bang had actually noticed the darkness in Garou's heart long ago. He simply believed that with enough care and guidance, he could steer the boy back toward the right path.
He never expected that Garou would eventually choose to brutalize every other student in the dojo before defecting, all to pursue his twisted ideal.
Because of that incident, the other disciples—fearing Garou's eventual return and revenge—had quit one by one. It also ensured that no new recruits dared to join the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist school.
Since then, the dojo had withered away, leaving only Charanko—the one disciple who possessed absolutely zero talent for the arts.
The memories turned into bitter fragments. Bang let out a long, heavy sigh. His aged but usually upright frame seemed to slouch with the weight of his regrets.
Just then, the sound of steady footsteps echoed from the "Skyward Stairs" nearby.
The newcomer's gait was incredibly stable. The rhythm of each step was perfectly measured, giving off the aura of someone with deep internal reserves—calm, confident, and unyielding.
Hm?
Bang opened his eyes curiously and looked toward the stairs.
Who would come all the way up here...? And judging by that footwork... this is no ordinary person.
Could it be a Dojo Challenger?!
It wasn't a strange thought for Bang. In the martial arts world, he was a living legend, and there were countless warriors who wanted to make a name for themselves by defeating him.
"I suppose it's time to loosen up these old bones. These bandages were making my shoulders a bit stiff anyway."
Bang stood up slowly, popping his joints. A series of crisp, rhythmic cracks echoed from his skeleton.
Just as he prepared to greet this unknown "guest," a voice—one he knew better than his own—pierced his ears.
"Oi, oi, oi. The old man's still got some spirit left in him, I see. I just get back and you're already looking for a fight?"
That voice... Garou?!
Bang's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. But before the person even came into view, he saw that signature, split white hair.
Garou strode into the courtyard with a confident, steady gait. He looked around the small yard and let out a snort of nostalgia.
"Looks the same as when I left, old man. I see your taste hasn't improved at all."
Bang raised an eyebrow, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart. He countered with a teasing jab:
"Oh? If it isn't the 'Top Disciple' who shouted about becoming Absolute Evil, beat up all my students, and ran away. What brings the 'Great Master' back to my humble dojo?"
Garou... why is he back?
Bang's mind was a whirlwind of questions. He deliberately used a provocative tone to test Garou's reaction. He truly wanted to know why this wayward apprentice had returned.
If this were the Garou of old, with his arrogant and explosive temper, he would have snapped back with a furious retort instantly.
But the Garou standing there now was different.
Hearing Bang's words, he didn't get angry. Instead, he let out a rare, genuine smile, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
"Why am I back? Old man... it's a bit embarrassing to say, but..."
Garou paused, taking a deep breath as if organizing his thoughts. His fists tightened for a moment before he continued:
"Old man... no, Master Bang... are you still willing to take me in? I want to come back and study the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. After all... it's on the verge of going extinct, isn't it?"