Kengan liner

Ken and his fighter Himuro were standing in a luxurious hallway, they were standing a few feet away from Kaneda who'd requested something that neither of them could've predicted

Ken:wh-what?

Himuro:Kaneda...are you being serious right now?

Ken looked like he'd just heard a bad joke but Kaneda was completely serious about the situation

Kaneda:ohoh, no, no! that wasn't my intention at all. I'll ask one more time Mr.Himuro. Would you kindly give me your position as representative fighter?

Ken:h-hang on! What're you talking about, Kaneda? I can't swap fighters even if I wanted to at this point.

Despite the panicked state of the businessman, Kaneda remained calm and smiling

Kaneda:oh but you can, there were two things the chairman said that caught my attention. The first being that "representative fighters will be registered upon our arrival at the land of battle".

Ken:huh?

Himuro crossed his arms, he liked Kaneda but at this moment he was holding back the urge to rip his head off

Kaneda:to put that another way, he might as well have been saying "you're free to substitute representative fighters until our arrival at our destination".

Ken:No No No! Because didn't he also say that fights between representative fighters are forbidden onboard?!

Kaneda laughed earnestly

Kaneda:you need to listen to peoples words more closely, Mr.Ohya. The chairman only forbid fights between other fighters. In this case "fighter" refers to the provisional representative of the 32 competing corporations, so I'd say...Sekibayashi and Yu were to try and have a rematch at this moment it'd be against the rules. But any other fights such as between Himuro and myself are entirely acceptable as I am an outsider.

He pointed down the hall

Kaneda:as proof, just look over there.

Ken looked back and saw two guards standing in front of a door watching them but they hadn't budged an inch despite being well within earshot

Kaneda:I'm openly contriving to start a personal fight but the bodyguards show no signs of stopping me. That kind of attitude tells me that fights between non competitors are entirely acceptable.

Ken:hehe...w-well I'll be damned...I never thought there'd be such a big loophole in the tournaments rules.

Kaneda smirked

Kaneda:Yes. This "loophole" is simply too unnatural, the Kengan Association would never overlook a rule as porous as a sieve as this one. That would mean it was a loophole opened intentionally, but to what end? It's almost as if...he's trying to test us.

There was a short pause

Himuro:are you done talking?

He snapped the cufflinks on his wrists as he stepped forward

Ken:wa-wait Himuro!

Himuro:don't worry Mr.Ohya.

Himuro started rotating his left arm as the fabric on his shirt stretched making it nearly possible to see the definition in his well toned back throjgh the fabric

Himuro:I won't hurt your friend.

He ceased stretching as he looked towards his much smaller adversary who stood before him as casually as could be

Himuro:this'll be over in no time.

Kaneda didn't flinch under Himuro's freighting gaze and seemed more amused then anything

Kaneda:oh my, how scary.

Kaneda:*he's not bluffing, he's deadly serious.*

He clapped his hands together as Himuro continued walking closer

Kaneda:alright then, let's get right to it then. Winner becomes the representative so there'll be no hard feeling-

Himuro threw a left jab that connected straight to kaneda's mouth which knocked the smaller "fighter" off balance

Himuro:don't flatter yourself, you and I aren't even close to matched.

Kaneda:*he's fast! And not only that...*

Kaneda found his foot before falling down but clutched his face, his nose was bleeding profusely and the skin around his mouth was already turning red, as Kaneda recovered he saw Himuro in a fighting stance with his right arm forward and his left arm kept back

Kaneda:*he's also a southpaw.*

Himuro ripped off his bow tie using his left hand

Himuro:one minute. If you can withstand my attacks for one minute I'll give you the title of representative.

Kaneda stopped clutching his face as he smirked again as Himuro discarded the ripped tie

Kaneda:*He's got no openings, I guess he's not a representative fighting for nothing...*

Kaneda:that's very kind of you.

Himuro altered his stance to be more open, he was going to attack again shortly

Himuro:but I won't pull any punches so you'd best dodge them well.

Kaneda wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve

Kaneda:*it's alright, I just have to keep an eye out for his left hand while I analyze him-*

Himuro threw a right straight which found its mark on kaneda's cheek

Kaneda:*his off hand?!*

Himuro threw a left hook to kaneda's ribs, a right straight to his cheek again followed by a left straight to chest and finishing with a right high kick to kaneda's head

Kaneda stumped back after the brutal combo and despite taking a beating had managed to keep upright

Kaneda started struggling to catch his breath and bear with the pain as he raised his guard as quickly as he could but Himuro was simply hopping in place where he'd ended his previous assault

Kaneda:*I was wrong! He's not a south paw...*

He finally caught his breath

Kaneda:Himuro...you practice Jeet Kune Do, don't you?

Himuro stopped hopping out of surprise

Himuro:huh?

Jeet Kune Do, the martial art created by the late Bruce Lee, a modern martial art based off Chinese wushu which stresses tactics without form. It utilizes a stance with the dominant arm and leg forward as well as unique trapping techniques. The average sparring match in Jeet Kune Do lasts a mere six seconds. It allows for all sorts of prohibited moves such as eye gouges, attacks to the groin and kicking joints. It regards "Brief Battles" as its essential secret. It is strictly banned in most fighting sports and is believed no one other than Bruce Lee himself can truly master it.

Himuro:*my center of gravity must've been what tipped him off...never thought he'd learn I use Jeet Kune Do from the traits of my techniques. I guess he does have a keen eye after all.

He started hopping again as he regained his composure after the brief disruption

Himuro:I'll admit you've got an eye for this, so go ahead and give it all you've got. Feel free to surrender when you can't take it anymore.

Kaneda weakly smirked as he put his fists up with his forearms protecting his face and Himuro started hoping back and fourth, flirting with the idea of jumping in but every time he did Kaneda would back up

Himuro faked lunging in again as Kaneda backed up once again

Himuro:*what is this? Does he plan to run away for the whole minute...? FAT CHANCE! I'M GONNA EXPOSE YOUR LIMITS RIGHT HERE AND NOW!*

He leapt in as he pulled his left fist back

Himuro:YOUR TOO SOFT!

Kaneda braced himself as Himuro threw a left hook followed by a right jab but his guard remained strong as Himuro threw another right jab followed by a left straight which was followed by Himuro throwing a right vertical fist straight to the abdomen

Kaneda stumbled back as Himuro kept advancing throwing a left hammer fist to kaneda's shoulder and following it with a right cross which Kaneda barely managed to block as he stumbled back again to try and make distance

Ken:Whoa Whoa! Take it easy Himuro!

He weakly reached out to before stopping himself, Himuro was dead set on the fight and no one present would be able to stop him

Ken:*I-I should've warned Kaneda! He's totally on the defense! He's barely getting by as it is for now but...Himuro is no pushover.*

To someone like Ken, himuro's blows were a blur as he laid the smackdown on the seemingly helpless Kaneda, the next blow to find its mark was himuro's left straight to kaneda's face which nearly caused the smaller fighter to fall back

What stopped kaneda's fall was Himuro grabbing his head and then slamming his left knee into kaneda's stomach which created a hairline fracture in the base of one of kaneda's ribs

Ken:*he landed such a brutal attack dead on!*

Kaneda coughed up a large amount of vile as Himuro let go as he opponent dropped to the floor

Himuro lowered his guard as Kaneda began coughing and gasping for air on his hands and knees

Himuro:do you get it now Kaneda? The Kengan Matches aren't just games, you should-

Kaneda started slowly getting up as he clenched his fists

Himuro:*what? Is this guy serious, he wants more of this beatdown?*

Kaneda lunged in as Himuro threw a right straight from a neutral stance but the blow missed as Kaneda landed a right straight to himuro's cheek

Himuro stumbled back, less so from being hurt and more because he's been surprised Kaneda had managed to hit him

Ken:Kaneda...

Himuro:*...what's this?*

Kaneda was still gasping for breath but had a weak smile from his ability to hit Himuro

Ken:*Hit Him?!?!*

Kaneda:hehe...looks like I finally hit...the bullseye.

Himuro wiped a small trickle of blood from his nose using his thumb

Himuro:*what the hell, how did he hit me?*

Kaneda:what do you think? I'm not so bad, am I?

He started rubbing the back of his head

Kaneda:so how about it, ready to give me the representative position yet?

Himuro gritted his teeth as he lunged in and threw a right jab which Kaneda barely sidestepped to dodge

Kaneda:Wh-Whoa!

Himuro managed to grab Kaneda by the hair with his extended hand

Himuro:*DON'T GET COCKY JUST CAUSE YOU LANDED A FLUKE HIT ON ME!*

He brought back his left knee as he shoved Kaneda downward

Himuro:*PLAYTIME IS OVER! I'LL KNOCK YOU OUT IN ONE BLOW!*

He thrust his knee forward towards kaneda's face as the smaller fighter threw a close uppercut as he twisted his body, with Himuro being knocked off balance and altering his stance Kaneda was able to dodge the blow and created a hairline fracture on himuro's jaw

Himuro didn't appear very damaged but still dropped to one knee after getting his bell rung by an uppercut he never saw coming

Kaneda:I'm...gong to ask... again...

He raised his bloody fist as he continued trying to catch his breath, the blood was more from himself then Himuro however

Kaneda:will you give me...your position of representative fighter?

Himuro looked up at Kaneda slightly dazed to the point it looked like he was seeing three Kaneda's instead of one

Himuro:*wh-what the hell? He's got me on the ropes, how?!*

Ryo Himuro, age 25, martial art Jeet Kune Do. Ever since winning the position of Ginokuniya Bookstores main fighter, he has won four Kengan Matches with overwhelming strength. Only four wins to his career and he was already listed among the most powerful fighters.

Himuro took a deep breath as he stood upright again

Himuro:*I know I'm strong. Whoever I face I beat to a bloody pulp. That's why I'm strong, so why...*

He looked at Kaneda again as his vision returned to normal, Kaneda placed his hands on his knees as he chuckled awkwardly

Kaneda:ahh...ahh, do you wanna take five?

Himuro:*WHY DOES THIS GOOFY SON OF A BITCH SEEM SO...!*

Despite seeming harmless and carefree, Himuro could see kaneda's aura almost like that of a feral jungle cat

Himuro stood upright as he relaxed his shoulders

Ken:huh?

Himuro:guess I've got no choice but to admit it.

Ken:*He's broken his stance! Nice!*

Himuro tilted his head to the left and then to the right as his neck cracked

Himuro:I admit you are strong.

Kaneda instinctively raised his guard in response to the change in pressure around Himuro

Himuro lunged in as he threw a left jab which Kaneda tried to sway away but he mistimed it and took the blow to the face as Himuro threw a right cross to kaneda's head and followed it with a left hook to the ribs

What is the most powerful weapon in Jeet Kune Do? The joint attacks? Blows to the groin? No. The answer is...the fastest and shortest combinations!

Himuro threw a left hook which Kaneda managed to barely sway back out of the way of as Kaneda threw another uppercut as Himuro dragged him left arm back and slammed his elbow against kaneda's jaw causing his uppercut to miss as Himuro threw a right straight to kaneda's face

A vertical fist "striking at minimum distance" allows for shocking hand speed. Whereas a boxers punch in-tales a strike, a twist and pulling back, Jeet Kune Do nearly strikes and pulls back for greater speed. In boxing however middleweights are typically considered the fastest with a striking speed of of 10 milliseconds. However, Himuro's initial velocity is an astounding 15 milliseconds! And furthermore he can defend while attacking!

Kaneda threw a right straight as Himuro did the same but during his opening lunge, Himuro used his forearm to divert kaneda's strike as his fist continued onward to slam into kaneda's cheek

Kaneda stumbled back and dropped to one knee

He can immediately switch to offense by economizing motion through simultaneously partying and punching, he is able to make his opponents experience his fists as being several times faster then they actually are.

With Kaneda on the ground again Himuro didn't lower his guard this time as he took short quick breaths to recover

Himuro:*I hope you learned your lesson, when I get serious I have no blind spots.*

Kaneda weakly tried to stand back up as Himuro closed the distance and lunged his right hand forward with his index and middle finger extended

Kaneda jerked his head up as Himuro's fingers gored just beneath his right eye

Kaneda:*A Biu Jee?! He's really trying to kill me!!*

Ken:that's enough Himuro! Kaneda's gonna die if you go any further!

Himuro threw a right high kick to kaneda's stomach and the impact of his heel caused severe damage to kaneda's internal organs as he coughed up blood

Just before Kaneda lost balance Himuro threw a right straight aimed right at Kaneda's head

Himuro:it's over!

Kaneda's head jerked with the blow to his face as Himuro grinned

Himuro:*perfect, that felt soli-*

While twisting with Himuro's blow, Kaneda grasped his opponents wrist while placing his other hand on Himuro's shoulder, Himuro knew he was about to get pinned

Himuro:*wh-what? Ka-Kaneda...? H-How did he...?*

While he was falling he caught a glance to see Kaneda's face, he'd just barely crept open his eyes with a bloody smile on his face

Kaneda:thank you very much Mr.Himuro. Now I win.

Kaneda slammed him to the ground while applying pressure to the back of the elbow and snapped he bone right out of place which was loud enough for even Ken to easily hear

Ken:*h-he broke it!!!!*

Kaneda let go of Himuro and backed away, Himuro sat up quickly grasping his arm in pain and rage

Himuro:*my timing was perfect, how?!*

Kaneda:my, that certainly looks painful.

Himuro looked up furiously at his bloody opponent who looked like he was in even worse shape

Kaneda:so what will it be Mr.Himuro, Would you like to continue?

Meanwhile in the VIP section of the ship, president Katahara found himself sitting at a coffee table drinking tea, standing across from him was Fang who had a bloody nose but no other bruises or cuts visible on his body

Katahara:I take it that she accepted my invitation judging by how you've been bloodied.

Agito used to fist to wipe away the blood as it smeared against his upper lip as he looked at his fist, Agito grunted in acknowledgment

Agito:she's grown even slower.

Katahara laughed in amusement

Katahara:Bahahaha! And she could still bloody your nose, she never changes, that little minx! Always with the violent greetings.

Agito remained stoic in the face of the presidents amusement but he quickly got himself under control

Katahara:but we can't blame her, even when you first met she was already past her prime but even now, if there were to be an all female division to the tournament there's only one other person I could think of who might be able to hold a candle to her current self.

He took a small sip of his tea as he placed the cup back onto the glass tabletop

Katahara:and that would have to be Erioh's great granddaughter, and she's enough of a monster on her own.

Elsewhere on the ship, Jiang was looking at herself in a bathroom mirror, her nose was broken and bleeding along with having a large bruise on her right cheek but despite that she looked unfazed as she grabbed her broken nose and set it back in place without even flinching

Jiang turned on the faucet and cupped her hands together to splash cold water on his face as her pupils vanished from her eyes as her crazed smile returned

Male voice:sucker punching Fang? You're even crazier than I remember.

She looked towards the doorway unfazed to see Horio standing in the doorway with a towel over his shoulder

Jiang leaned against the sink

Jiang:oh please, it wasn't a sucker punch...more like...hmm...the Shengli handshake.

Her nonchalant attitude and calm voice didn't surprise the Kure family member

Horio:a broken nose is getting off lucky if you ask me.

He tossed her the towel as it flew into her face, Jiang applied pressure as she dried her face and then dropped it on the sink as her face started to resemble a normal person again and not look so threatening

Jiang:Xiexie.

Horio:as your friend can I please make a suggestion? Don't go making any big waves, People still aren't happy about your old hobby and they've likely not forgotten about it either.

Jiang:...

She pushed against the sink as she started walking towards the door with her footsteps echoing across the tile floor

Jiang:nah.

Horio stepped out of the way as Jiang stepped out into the hallway without stopping to turn to Horio

Jiang:Horio, there's only one person in the world who'll dictate my actions.

She looked over her shoulder with her signature smile

Jiang:and that's me.

She turned and continued walking down the hall leaving Horio alone, he sighed at her decision

Horio:oh well, I guess I shouldn't expect anything else...

He adjusted his collar

Horio:not from our Chinese God of War.

Back at the fight, Himuro stood up barely fighting through the pain of having his elbow dislocated

Kaneda:it looks like your elbow is dislocated, this fight is as good as over so why don't we just wrap this up.

Himuro started gritting his teeth as he clenched his left fist

Himuro:I still have my left arm!

Ken:that's enough Himuro! Not even you can win with one good arm!

The two fighters lunged in at each other as Kaneda ducked under a left hook Himuro threw moments later and then Kaneda threw a right cross to Kaneda's ribs

Himuro threw a left straight towards Kaneda's face as the smaller fighter used his right arm to sway the blow to his right as he threw a left uppercut to Himuro's jaw creating a large bone fracture

Himuro was staggered but not giving up as he was about to pull his arm back again, Kaneda threw a left high kick straight to Himuro's right elbow which shattered the Radius bone in Himuro's arm

Ken:*he attacked the broken arm!*

Himuro's face clearly showed the pain he was feeling as Kaneda leaned to the left as Himuro threw a left straight and missed

Ken:*but still, what's happening?! All of a sudden, Himuro's attacks aren't hitting Kaneda at all! He might only have one arm but he's still moving at astounding speed!*

Kaneda threw a right jab to Himuro's throat as his opponent stumbled back, Kaneda raised his right arm to defend his side as Himuro threw a left high kick which Kaneda blocked

Ken:*wh-what?! How's he moving like that? He's reacting to Himuro's moves faster than he can throw them! Wait no...he's not moving faster, it's like he's moving before Himuro! It's like he's seeing them even before they're being thrown! Is it possible that...*

Kaneda watched as Himuro closed he gap again

Kaneda:*two seconds to a liver blow. Move back a step and a half.*

He moved back as he'd told himself in his head as Himuro missed his left cross to the ribs

Kaneda:*and once again I slip by successfully.*

Ken:*I knew it! Kaneda Suekichi is predicting Himuro's movements! But is it even possible? I've seen it done in martial arts demonstrations...but Kaneda is actually putting it into practice. So that means...Kaneda has also reached the domain of these superhumans!*

Himuro stepped back as he kept his guard up, trying desperately to catch his breath, his mouth was bloody from the repeated attacks from Kaneda who was looking better now that he'd stopped taking direct hits from such a strong fighter

Kaneda:haha, you seem to be in a lot of pain Mr.Himuro. I guess all those missed shots are tiring you out. Why don't we just end this here? It took me a while but I finally managed to read you.

Kaneda opened his right eye, if only slightly

Kaneda:you're in checkmate.

Himuro gritted his teeth in frustration but his pride as a fighter wouldn't let him back down

Kaneda:I really hate to see you struggling in vein, why don't you be a good sport and resi-

Himuro:Cut the shit!

Kaneda:huh?

Himuro:give up?! There's no self respecting fighter here who'd just give up! You're crazy to think otherwise!

Kaneda's shoulders dropped

Kaneda:I see...so that's your resolve then.

Himuro dragged his foot back as he prepared to lunge in once more

Kaneda:*Mr.Himuro, I admire your tenacity and your desire for victory...but this is checkmate.*

Kaneda had already predicted Himuro's next strike and the victor would be decided in an instant. But the victor of their match would come from outside interference.

As Himuro was about to lunge in a wave of murderous intent slammed down on everyone in that hallway like the weight of the ocean that caused both fighters to freeze

Kaneda:*wh-what is...?*

A bead of sweat rolled down his chin as he noticed Himuro was just as frozen as he was

Ken heard light footsteps against the carpet behind him as the sound of clapping began to fill the sudden silence

Ken shakily looked over his shoulder to see Jiang walked towards them with a small small

Jiang:Ni Hao.

She walked past Ken like he was completely invisible

Ken:*th-that woman...is she...?

Ken looked like he'd seen a ghost as Jiang walked over towards the bloody fighters

Jiang:say, that was a good fight.

Her voice was totally calm but that seemed to only add to the rising anxiety inside Kaneda and Himuro

Jiang:but this is long past over boys, don't you say?

She tilted her head to the right towards Himuro who noticeably gulped under the pressure of her gaze

Jiang walked over toward Himuro and looked up at him, she was only 5'4 so standing next to Himuro at 5'11 made her look quite small

Jiang:give up?

Himuro noticeably flinched at her question as he slowly began adapting to her murderous presence

Himuro:...wh-what?

Jiang:heh, I'm mean, it's pretty obvious. You lost.

Himuro gritted his bloody teeth

Himuro:I don't know who you are but...that...that's not for you to decide.

Jiang's sinister smile returned as her pupils vanished again

Jiang:is it now?

Ken:if...if she's who I think then...

Himuro:get lost lady, before I send you flying. This is personal.

He raised his fist to resume his fight with Kaneda

Jiang placed her hand over Himuro's and began to lower it

Jiang:no that won't be happening, you're just too weak to fight someone like him, you don't have the eyes for it.

Himuro looked flabbergasted at being called weak, especially when compared to someone as frail as Kaneda

Himuro:*what did she say...me...? Weak...?*

A large vein started bulging from his forehead as his temper flared, Himuro pulled back his left fist

Himuro:DIE!!!!

Jiang:*East Hemisphere.*

Ken:wait Himuro! Don't do it!!

As Himuro threw a left straight, Jiang used her the back of her right hand to push it away from her head as she pulled back her left hand, by the way she pulled back her ring and pinky finger it looked almost like a finger gun

Jiang:*Crimson Lotus.*

She slammed her left hand into Himuro's chest which sent him crashing into the wall behind him and he became imbedded in the wall

Ken and Kaneda were both shocked to see Himuro sent flying several feet and become lodged in the wall, Himuro's eyes were rolled back and he was foaming at the mouth having been knocked completely unconscious

Jiang slowly exhaled as she exited the striking stance

Jiang:Xiexie.

She turned towards Kaneda and walked up alongside him as he remained frozen

Jiang:you win, congrats. Don't die in the tournament.

She patted him on the shoulder as she put her hands in her pockets and began walking away

Kaneda quickly turned around to watch her leave

Kaneda:*what kind of monster...is that thing?*

Ken quickly moved to Himuro and started repeatedly shouting his name but he wasn't regaining consciousness

Ken:HIMURO! H-HIMURO!!

The buttons on Himuro's shirt broke open revealing his bare chest, it had already started bruising which clearly illuminated his ribcage with the bruising pattern

Ken:mother of...

He covered his mouth in shock

Ken:*in the 32 years I've been a member of the Kengan Association, Himuro was the most promising by far...but he completely lost to a total stranger, and now I can't even tell if he's breathing...*

A small smirk crossed his face at the prospect of how well Kaneda could do in the tournament if he'd beaten Himuro

Ken:*origin, race, background, those don't matter at all in the Kengan matches, in the matches strength is absolute! The only source of justice! And this man has overwhelming strength.*

He looked at Kaneda who was still looking in the direction Jiang had left in

Ken:*but what's so wrong with that?!*

Ken:Kaneda...

Kaneda perked up as he looked towards the manager

Ken:how would you like to be our fighter?

A smirk crossed Kaneda's face, with 26 hours remaining in their voyage, he'd secured a spot in the tournament

Meanwhile in the main hall, Reiichi was sitting next to his sibling in the parka jacket when he looked over and saw an empty seat

Reiichi:hey, where'd Raian go?

Hollis heard him from across the table and started looking around confused as well

Hollis:he was just here, wasn't he?

Meanwhile on the opposite side of the room, (y/n) was sitting at a table resting his head in his hand while Kazuo, Akiyama and Lihito were all eating quietly at the table

Lihito wasn't as well versed in table manners as normal people like Kazuo and Akiyama but leaps and bounds better then (y/n) but it was still enough to annoy Akiyama

Akiyama:*they have no manners at all.*

An empty soda can hit (y/n) in the back of the head followed by it falling and rattling on the ground

(Y/n) grunted as he looked down at the empty can

Akiyama:did that person just throw that at you?

(Y/n) started to stand up as he turned around spotting Raian Kure standing a few feet away with a massive grin and his hands in his pockets

Lihito stopped eating as he looked at the two standing competitors

Lihito:isn't that guy...a member of the Kure clan?

Raian started laughing

Raian:long time, punk ass. Still a pushover?

Kazuo:um excuse me but...that's very rude, you shouldn't be throwing things at someone even if you are acquainted.

Akiyama:*what does a member of the Kure clan want with (y/n)? He might know (y/n) but it's likely one sided.*

She noticed (y/n)'s fists were clenched and shaking with a large vein bulging from the backside of his hand

(Y/n):Kure...

He lunged forward as Raian stepped out of the way and (y/n) slammed his fist down breaking a large wooden display table clean in half as a mix of glass and food trays slammed to the ground

(Y/n) removed his fist from the destroyed table as he turned towards Raian again who was smirking confidently

(Y/n):RAIAN!!!!!

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To be continued

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