"Struggle is the liberation of strength! This isn't about restraint or finesse—this is raw power!"
Yujiro's right fist, tearing through the air with a sonic boom, slammed toward Sol Mirek. The strike seemed to rip the very space around them.
"Come on, let's see the limits of the strongest creature on Earth!" Sol pulled back his own fist, channeling all his energy into a single point.
The moment their fists collided, time seemed to freeze. Then a terrifying wave of force erupted outward.
"Boom!"
The deafening explosion sent a visible shockwave across the arena. The ground around them cracked in every direction, dust billowed, and gravel flew. Spectators stumbled and swayed from the blast; those in the front rows were knocked down, yet no one left. All eyes were locked on the center of the arena.
"Even if I die, it's worth witnessing this match! This… this is beyond anything humans can achieve!" The host gripped the railing desperately, barely holding his ground. He would finish commentating this cataclysmic fight, no matter the cost.
As the dust cleared, only Sol remained standing. His body was flushed red, white mist rising from him. Sunlight illuminated the scene through a massive hole in the arena where Yujiro had vanished.
The circular stone tower had been punched clean through.
The audience was silent, stunned. Mouths agape, eyes wide.
"Punched through? The tower… actually punched through?" Doppo Orochi muttered, shocked. He had been ready to provide Sol with first aid. Not only had Sol survived, but he had obliterated part of the arena. Yujiro hadn't been killed by that strike, had he?
Baki's pupils contracted, sweat rolling down his forehead. "This… this power is inhuman!"
Even the usually composed Retsu Kaioh was cheering like a child, waving his arms with excitement.
Kaioh Kaku laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Now you see why I changed the rules! If I hadn't, Sol might have killed me outright. This kid doesn't even know his own strength."
Ron Shobun leaned against the wall, trying to act calm, though his legs betrayed him. "Sol… Sol Mirek is incredible. Where did they find a monster like this?"
Kaku Shunshei's laughter trembled with fear. "Hahaha, good thing I'm not fighting him—or I'd be the one flying through the air!"
The host finally steadied himself, microphone trembling. "Unbelievable! Sol's strike punched through the circular stone tower! This… this is a miracle!"
Spectators who had been knocked over got back to their feet, cheering so loudly it nearly shook the venue.
"Ultimate weapon! Ultimate weapon!"
"One against five! One against five!"
"Is this the pinnacle of martial skill? Sol, I want your children! Even if I'm a man, love transcends all!"
[Hanma Bloodline (upgradable) evolution conditions met!]
[Begin evolution?]
Sol ignored the notification, instead turning to the Japan-America Alliance Team's passage.
"Oliva, come on. This should end it," he said, activating his Demon Back, striking the same pose from his devastating blow.
Oliva stepped into the arena, hesitation written across his face. He, the freest man alive, now felt fear. His legs weighed a ton, his throat tight with dread.
"I…" His voice trembled as he instinctively stepped back.
"Afraid, even you?" Sol teased impatiently. He just wanted to finish this fight and return to the One-Punch Man world.
Whispers spread through the stands.
"Oliva is backing down!"
"The freest man alive… afraid?"
"The deterrent of the ultimate weapon is terrifying. We swear, as long as nuclear weapons aren't involved, we won't deploy Sol!"
"Unbelievable! Oliva seems terrified of Sol! This is unprecedented!"
In the Japan-America Alliance prep zone, everyone understood Oliva's reaction.
Baki sighed. "I don't blame him. Anyone would be scared facing a monster like that."
Doppo Orochi nodded. "Oliva just ran into Sol at his limit of patience. One punch from him… and it could be over."
Oliva's hands trembled as he stared at the massive hole Sol had created. The destructive power radiating from him chilled Oliva to the bone. For the first time, he doubted his own strength.
"I… surrender." The words barely escaped his teeth, almost too quiet to hear.
"What?" the host shouted.
"Oliva surrendered? Before the fight even began?"
The audience erupted in shock and awe. They had wanted to see the ultimate weapon in full, but Oliva couldn't face Sol.
Sol lowered his stance, the white mist fading from his body. He walked over and patted Oliva lightly.
"Go check on Yujiro," he said.
Oliva lowered his head, fists clenched, humiliated yet relieved. As the freest man alive, he never imagined surrendering. But he knew the truth: stepping into the arena meant certain death. He had to live—for his beloved, paralyzed and bedridden—he could not afford to die.
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100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters
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