"Why is everyone here so huge..." I couldn't help but say as I looked at the people around me, especially those closest to the arena. Right now, the Raitai tournament was taking place here, held once every century... at least, that's what I had learned from others.
Grotesquely massive muscles, tall stature, arrogant expressions on many faces. And when I say huge, I mean truly huge muscles, bulging under their clothes like arcs of steel.
In the center of the arena stood a massive man with red hair flowing down his back. He was calm and confident, a smile of superiority on his face, along with the clear desire to punch someone. It was some kind of tournament, with a huge crowd watching from the stands... and many of them were in excellent shape.
"It's like a world on steroids... why the hell are even the girls this jacked?" I muttered, glancing at a couple of female spectators.
Opposite the redhead stood another massive man, glaring at him. I had arrived right at the beginning of the tournament, and now the fight between these two was about to begin.
"Hm, you new here?" some guy standing to my side gave me a once-over. I had teleported here after remembering the anime Baki and his father, who was considered the strongest fighter in the world. After teleporting, I ended up in some room, hearing the roar of the crowd... I was at arena level, near one of the entrances. And there stood some buff guy.
Though, to be fair, this wasn't exactly fair. I was a superhuman with magic, and he had no such advantages. Though people here were superhuman too... just not to that extent. But the world is cruel, what can you do. And honestly, I just had the idea.
"Yeah, new... wanted to see this Hanma guy. Watch his fights, then challenge him." I said with a smile.
"You?" the man snorted, almost laughing. "Kid, if you want to live, don't even think about it. You're not even worth his pinky finger. One puff and you're gone. Haha, damn, kids these days..." he shook his head.
"Well, confidence is what matters, right?" I grinned.
"What matters is strength and skill. With just confidence, you'll walk straight into your grave," he replied.
"Hey, I might surprise you. I'm not that simple, you know." I grinned even wider, drawing attention from a few others nearby.
"Confidence is good, but you must learn to control your impulses," an old man said in a strong voice as he rolled past us in a wheelchair, apparently heading to watch the fight as well.
"You are young and clearly know little about martial arts... yet you believe in yourself. More than that, you're certain. Is that pride or foolishness? The history of martial arts is far deeper than you can even imagine..."
"Hm, I'd say I just want to... try?" I answered, not entirely sure myself.
"For what? What is your goal?" he asked, lowering his head slightly so his glasses slid down his nose, letting him look directly at me.
"...Just because. I don't really have a goal. Lately, I don't have any goal at all... I just drift from place to place like some restless spirit. I have so many possibilities, I understand that perfectly, but it's like... I'm afraid to move forward. Heh."
"Fear of the unknown is natural. But we are in an arena of martial arts, and here people communicate through them. I am Kaku Kaioh, and I know what I'm talking about. Do you desire power?"
"Power? I... it's too easy for me to get it, so I don't think about it much. What's the point of great strength? There will always be someone stronger..."
"But one can always strive for something greater. My old ears ache hearing such words about power, especially from a foolish youth... believe me, your strength is nothing before true Power and mastery of technique. I gave everything for it. And it consumed me... but it was beautiful. And yet I overcame myself to understand the true meaning of martial arts... in technique."
At that moment, the fight in the arena began... or rather, it ended almost instantly. Yujiro Hanma practically tore his opponent's face off and threw him toward the judges who had previously been testing a Japanese martial artist...
"How weak he is, ruled by the impulses of his body..." the old man shook his head.
But he had a point.
Without a goal or something to strive for, I was just... existing. That's all.
But how do you find your goal? Again, power of the gods? I don't see myself in that. Maybe as a means, but not the end. Conquering worlds? Doesn't really appeal to me either...
"Ah, damn life, why is it so hard to find a purpose and make up your mind?" I muttered aloud again and, sighing, stepped forward. The muscular guy tried to stop me, but simply couldn't. Literally. I walked like a battering ram, dragging him along until he let go.
"Hey, big guy. Let's go PvP, one on one." I shouted, and suddenly everything went quiet. Even the crowd fell silent.
"Ha... Ha-ha... Hahaha." the massive man laughed. If I didn't have my powers, I would have definitely been intimidated... he looked dangerous, and there was something terrifying about him. "You? Are you sure you want this?" he examined my body closely.
"Why not... I'm thinking about my purpose in life. Maybe this fight will help... or maybe not." I shrugged.
At that moment, the judges began protesting, saying this couldn't be allowed, but the redhead clapped his hands once, and they all fell silent.
"He came out himself. Why not?"
"Hey, Hanma Yujiro, fight me!" another muscular guy stepped forward, clearly seeking revenge judging by the way he looked at the faceless body.
"Hey, man, shut it. I'm having a full-blown existential crisis mixed with an identity crisis, and you're here with your revenge?" I said, genuinely annoyed.
"Uh..." he blinked, confused.
"And your guy, whoever he is to you, is fine. Look, he's even standing..." I glanced at the injured man, who really had managed to get up, holding his face together with a bloody cloth. But I quickly teleported next to him, grabbed his shoulder, and gently dropped him to the ground. "Let's fix you up..." I pulled out a medium healing potion and poured it into his mouth, then tossed him like a ragdoll back to the other guy. His face was already almost restored.
"If we're done with revenge..." I looked at the redhead, who was now grinning like a predator.
"What was that just now? Seems you're not so simple..." Hanma grinned wider.
"Oh, teleportation. Nothing special. Come on, show me your strength... how strong are you? Wait, can you destroy a skyscraper? Or a city? No... I think you can cause earthquakes..." I tried to recall his feats.
His eyes flashed, and he rushed at me with incredible speed. Really fast. With my spider-sense, I could react, but without it... that hit would have ended me. If i would without my powers i mean.
"Nope..." I casually blocked his punch with my palm. The moment his fist hit, his eyes widened. "Damn, you're actually strong..." The impact sent wind blasting outward, cracks forming beneath my feet.
"Grrh, this is gonna be fun!" he roared and kicked upward, but I simply jumped aside.
"Nice flexibility..." I commented. "By the way, I just realized I don't really know how to fight." I blinked.
At that moment, he struck me square in the chest, sending me flying across the arena and crashing into the wall, leaving a crater. No damage negation like in Overlord, so inertia still applied... though I didn't take actual damage.
"Maybe if I didn't have all this power, I'd feel something. But I'm more into thinking right now... tell me, why do you want strength?" I asked calmly, climbing out of the hole.
"What kind of stupid question is that?! To fight and become stronger!" he roared, grinning widely. His muscles seemed to grow even larger, tearing his shirt apart, making him look like a demon from the depths.
"And what's the point?" I asked, genuinely confused.
He didn't answer.
Another powerful charge. The arena shook. A punch breaking the sound barrier, a deafening crack, a face filled with anticipation and rage.
And it all collided with me.
An unfair guy who knew nothing about real battles, training, or struggle. My power just appeared one day, capable of making a mockery of people who trained for years, decades, centuries.
I started to understand something...
"Why me?" I asked, ignoring his blows as he struck harder and harder. "People with power often like to destroy, to ignore the weak... just like the S.C.P. in my world. Or other organizations like it..."
"Shut up and fight!" he shouted.
And got punched.
A punch that sent him flying despite all his strength, his muscles, his will. The ring didn't just amplify my strength, it placed me in a completely different league. Not Hulk level, but still... powerful enough.
"Argh!" another roar, and he was struck again by my poorly executed blow as I appeared beside him. He tried to grab my arm and use some technique, but... overwhelming strength made it impossible. "Impossible!"
"The impossible is possible... maybe I should create my own organization, one that saves worlds? Help those manipulated by groups like that... those who are weak and desperate. Those who lost something important." I muttered, occasionally hitting him. Not hard, but enough to leave his face covered in blood.
"I may not be a savior, but because of what happened to me... I don't want others to go through that if they don't deserve it. Heh, I thought I wasn't into this kind of thing... but no, I'm still human. Alright, thanks for the fight." My final punch sent him flying dozens of meters into the air.
I opened a portal beneath me and fell through.
"Son, I'm so proud of you... be yourself, sweetheart, and you'll succeed." I heard my mother's voice again.
"As long as I don't lose my mind..." I muttered, hearing that familiar, loving voice once more.
How do you even create an organization? You need people who know how... and most importantly, people who truly believe in the idea.
Interdimensional Rescue Organization... or Interworld Police? Guardians of Space? Dimensional Overseers... Yeah, I still need to think about the final goal. But at least now... I have a direction.