underground fights.

Houro Tomari moved calmly as the excitement of the fight began to settle. They received numerous congratulations for the victory, though Togo Tomari remained perplexed. They had won, yet their fighter lay unconscious, kneeling, with his arm in an awkward position and a bone protruding from his forearm. His breath was shallow.

Houro only nodded in acknowledgment. Yami had sent one of its direct members—perhaps the disciple of a super master—there was no other explanation for such a young fighter showing so much power. Kei had fought two battles as part of a more precise trial period. In the first, Kei had fought like a true warrior, with shattered bones, bruises, and a completely wrecked left arm, the bone out of place. Yet he endured the pain and defeated a true heavyweight competitor.

The stretcher arrived, and an elderly doctor, in his fifties and equipped with the latest technology from the world's top companies, swiftly adjusted Kei's arm with a yank, eliciting a groan of pain from the unconscious boy. Bandages, a quick plaster cast, antibiotics, and some painkillers were administered.

All of this took place in a makeshift ambulance. Meanwhile, various company heads said their goodbyes to the last remaining attendees, and the previous tumult faded away.

-It was a good fight. Jun grew as a fighter,- commented Shikane, a former Kengan match participant. A fully capable man, he knew the risks of battle and understood the reality of these contests. He had nothing to reproach Jun for, who had given it his all. He had pummeled the boy like a ragdoll, but Kei had shown remarkable tenacity—a formidable opponent with cards uncommon for someone so young.

-Hahaha, it's embarrassing to hear people talk about me when I'm still in the room,- Jun said, receiving emergency medical treatment. His ribs burned, and a massive bruise marked his chest like a grotesque badge. The doctor injected a special serum provided by the Kengan Association to accelerate recovery.

Despite the diagnosis, Kei Kazama awoke ten minutes later, groggy and with a throbbing headache, as he had grown accustomed to the beatings.

-You guys are too noisy,- the boy muttered, sitting up on the stretcher and noticing Houro—and, of course, Jun Sekibayashi, smiling.

-You broke my left arm,-" Kei commented, displeased."-Hahaha, but you won the fight, young Kazama. Now I can only ask for a rematch. I need that rematch,- Sekibayashi said, the fever of losing evident, even though he was one of the calmest fighters in the Kengan arena. His pride was on the line.

The doctor was nervous but whispered a few words to Houro, who nodded with a slight heaviness.

-Don't believe this fool. I know a doctor who can have me as good as new in five minutes. He's a bit odd, but I'm sure he'll treat me—though I don't have the money for the medical bill,- Kei said with a grin.

-Young man, you need surgery,- the doctor responded gravely. He hated dealing with Kengan fighters for these reasons.

-Who could fix that bone?- asked Houro. Yami had connections, and it was possible that Kei only needed one of those contacts to fix what modern science couldn't, in a more traditional way.

-Akisame Kotetsu, a master of philosophy, art, calligraphy, and, of course, martial arts. He's possibly one of the most powerful and terrifying individuals in the martial arts world,- Kei replied.

Houro believed Kei's words without further hesitation, and the limousine set off in that direction. Houro's assistant, Hedy Walker, a British woman with extensive business expertise, was already making arrangements. Kei exchanged phone numbers with Jun and rested during the ride, falling into a deep sleep, and ignoring the conversation between his two new bosses. The sight of young Togo still caused a hint of surprise in Kei, but he knew these people paid well—the envelope filled with bills, a million yen per fight, was all the assurance he needed.

Hedy returned a few minutes later, confirming the medical appointment. Even in Yami, it was doubtful there was a better doctor than Akisame, or Ma Kensei, who had mastered all remedies of Chinese medicine. As dusk approached, Houro greeted a man with lightning-shaped eyebrows. He accepted the generous payment with a promise of future recommendations, particularly if he could heal Manami Ushitare, who was set to be replaced due to a leg injury. If the doctor could fix him, Houro would be deeply grateful.

-Ten days, Mr. Togo. I'll be ready to fight, don't doubt it. In five days, I'll be as good as new,- Kei said confidently as he stepped out of the car, much to Akisame's surprise. Usually, fighters avoided being treated by Akisame, but here was a boy bringing in clients while admiring his medical prowess, despite once threatening to kill his disciple. Bold and arrogant.

-I'll be in your care,-Kei added.

Akisame sighed as he quickly assessed Kei's body. Muttering to himself, he pressed on Kei's shoulder, yanking his arm back into place with force. The pain was enough to make Kei gasp, but Akisame followed with a series of swift procedures that restored full mobility to Kei's hand before reapplying the cast.

-Two days with no intense training or fighting. Your body is too weak,- Akisame warned. Ma Kensei then began acupuncture treatments to improve blood flow and relieve Kei's damaged joints. The two masters worked with the grace of true artists.

-Thank you for the treatment,- Kei said, feeling some relief. All he needed now was plenty of food and rest to fully recover for the days ahead. Both masters eyed the boy with interest, seeing in him a duality that hinted at something surprising.

They agreed not to mention anything to Kenichi for now. The boy was still too green to understand the depths of the underground world, and with Ryuto still unconscious, Kei might just become Kenichi's true rival.

***

Three days passed, and while Kei's recovery was progressing, his bones still needed time to fully heal. A visit to Doctor Akibahara was necessary, where the doctor administered calcium treatments, provided a strict diet, and recommended five days of rest. Kei's body continued to mend, reaching a new peak that he hadn't crossed before. His strength grew, almost like a power-up. His martial arts, mind, and body achieved a newfound harmony forged between life and death.

He resumed his daily routine, with Takemoto at his side, helping to improve his foundations, while James Shiba refined his boxing technique, sparring with Shogo. This time, something unexpected occurred—Ikki Takeda showed up, asking for instruction from Shiba. The request infuriated Shiba, who felt he already had enough disciples and needed to focus on the two youngsters under his care.

-I think you should teach him. He's talented and committed. He won't give up,- Kei said, stopping Shiba, who had been teaching him the complete Frog Style and how to improve the speed of his punches to unimaginable levels. Shogo, on the other hand, struggled with speed, focusing more on increasing his punching power.

-I know. Test him. Give him three tasks that you consider impossible. I'm sure he'll be willing to meet them. Test his resolve,- Kei suggested. -Something truly challenging.-

James stroked his beard thoughtfully. Kei and Shogo knew better than anyone that despite Shiba's tough heart and rough attitude, he had a soft side. He wouldn't turn Takeda away.

...