Chapter 1 War Intentions and the Opening of Hostilities

The will to fight suddenly intensified, and the battle began.

On the martial arts stage, Souther blurred, transforming into a wisp of phantom as he gracefully moved.

Within the universe of *Hokuto Shinken* (Fist of the North Star), Souther's overall abilities ranked among the top three; his strength, speed, technique, and intellect were all extraordinary.

In contrast to Hokuto Shinken's method of destruction, which worked "from the inside out," Nanto Seiken (South Star Holy Fist) employed ultra-high-speed strikes to cut opponents, a "yang" style of assassination that directly attacked from the outside.

Therefore, Souther's greatest strength was his speed.

"Take this! Gokusei Juji Ken (Polar Star Cross Fist)!" In the blink of an eye, Souther was already behind Kanetake, unleashing a barrage of attacks with his fists like a whirlwind.

But his fists... all struck empty air.

"Nani?" Souther was shocked to see his attacks miss. "This kid can actually keep up with me?"

In truth... he was wrong. Kanetake wasn't "keeping up" with him; he was "faster" than him.

At that moment, Kanetake had already dodged the attack and circled around behind his opponent. "Hiyah!"

This good boy from the forest didn't have any ultimate techniques. His attack was just a basic straight punch from karate, but...

"Gah..." Souther took the punch to his back, cried out in agony, and collapsed to his knees.

The power contained in that punch was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life; it was as if it hadn't been delivered by a human. As he spat out a mouthful of blood, he couldn't help but think, "This kid... his punching power is even stronger than Raoh's..."

"I won!" Facing his opponent kneeling on the ground, Kanetake had no intention of finishing him off. He simply made a fist with a solemn expression and stated this.

After all, he was a character from a gag manga; he was excessively kind and naive... How could an opponent like the Holy Emperor admit defeat so easily?

"Ha... ha..." A few seconds later, Souther caught his breath. With a roll, he returned to Kanetake's side. "What are you talking about! It's only just begun!"

Kanetake's eyes followed his opponent. Seeing that the other was about to attack again, he turned to defend.

"I won't be careless this time!" Souther raised his hands, and his fighting spirit surged. "Nanto Baku Sei Ha (South Star Exploding Star Wave)!"

The ultimate technique of Nanto, the fist wind howled through the arena.

The killing intent surged, piercing through the air.

Kanetake stood with his feet apart, his soles gripping the ground (he almost never wore shoes or socks), and raised his arms in front of him in a defensive posture.

*Shhhshhshh*

The cross-shaped fist wind advanced like a flying hawk.

Kanetake's arms were struck, and blood blossomed like falling snow.

But even after taking this attack, Kanetake didn't take a single step back, remaining firmly rooted in place.

"This kid..." An unnamed fire ignited within Souther's heart. In an instant, another ultimate move arose. "Ho-oh Koto Koken (Phoenix Cry Sky Ripping Fist)!"

This technique was a continuous state skill similar to the Ling Shi Ju Shen Shu (Spirit Consciousness Convergence Technique). Although the effect wasn't as significant as the Spirit Consciousness Convergence Technique, the advantage was... there were no side effects, and it didn't require sacrificing one's own health to use.

The reason why the Holy Emperor would use this move was self-evident: he had realized that... in terms of physical ability alone, Kanetake was above him.

"Prepare yourself!" Souther leaped up and kicked down at his opponent at an angle. "Tensho Gunsei Kyaku (Heaven Soaring Star Cluster Kick)!"

Naturally, Kanetake was prepared, or he wouldn't have stood on this stage... Facing Souther's killing move, his expression sharpened, and he turned and delivered a Shen Long Bai Wei (Godly Dragon Swings Tail – a rising spinning kick), meeting his opponent's Nanto ultimate technique leg-on-leg.

"Achah!" Kanetake's moves didn't have any cool names; he would only shout out strange interjections to coordinate his breathing when attacking.

*Bang*

The two moves collided, creating a sound of exploding fighting spirit.

The result... was!

"Ugh!" Souther, who had attacked from above, was instead forced back into the sky by a massive force.

The technique containing his fighting spirit was scattered by Kanetake's pure power and turned into nothingness. His body was also surging with blood and qi, creating the sensation of internal injuries.

...

"This is completely ruining my worldview..." Qi Sha muttered as he watched the scene from below the martial arts stage. "Is this what they call using strength to overcome all techniques..."

"When strength and speed break through to a certain realm, the concept of 'fighting' undergoes a revolutionary change..." Feng Bujue continued. "At that point... refined 'techniques' become 'redundant actions.' It's like two people who can destroy a star with one punch fighting each other; the key to victory is simply who's fist connects with the opponent's body faster and with a shorter distance..."

"Uh... Brother Jue," Xiao Tan said, "You said earlier that Kanetake's combat power was comparable to Little Goku when he was five years old, so what's his strength now?"

"Although he looks very strong now, he's only thirteen in the setting... As for his strength..." Feng Bujue thoughtfully replied, "He can shatter an entire building with one kick, destroy metal objects as easily as crumpling paper, run on water or walls if he's serious, change the course of a typhoon by grabbing Loki and spinning around in an open space, and separate the ocean in a short period of time when he gets angry..."

"What's with the last two..." Hua Jian's expression was truly spectacular.

Qi Sha replied with a pained expression, "Although I don't know who that Loki is... I feel a bit sorry for him..."

At the same second...

"Achhoo..." Loki sneezed on the other side of the martial arts stage.

"What's wrong? Do you have a cold?" Sidor turned to look at him.

"Hehe... it's nothing." Loki closed his eyes, revealing his signature obnoxious expression. "Some lovely girl must be thinking of me again, that must be it... Hahahaha..." He crossed his arms and laughed with his head raised.

"I'm ashamed to know someone like you..." Sidor shook his head with a hand on his forehead.

...

Returning our attention to the stage, Souther landed on the ground after seven or eight seconds.

When he stood still, his legs were still trembling. This wasn't just because he had fallen from a great height, but also because of his earlier leg-on-leg clash with Kanetake.

"This kid... is he a monster..." Souther's heart was filled with shock. He, someone wearing shin guards and augmented with fighting spirit, had clashed legs with a kid who was barefoot and relying entirely on brute force, and he was completely outmatched. This was simply too damaging to his pride.

"Give up, you've already lost!" Kanetake pointed at Souther while maintaining his "tall and serious" demeanor.

"Hehe... hehehehe..." Souther laughed coldly, then roared, "Who do you think you're talking to!" He stood up proudly. "An emperor never runs!"

As his roar faded, his figure moved, and Souther charged toward Kanetake once more.

"It's useless no matter how many times you come!" Kanetake stared ahead, his eyes taking in every move his opponent made.

"Look at that!" Suddenly, Souther, who was running, pointed behind Kanetake and shouted.

"Ah?" Kanetake paused upon hearing this, turning his head to look behind him with a blank expression.

"Idiot! Don't fall for such an obvious trick!" Loki shouted from below the stage.

"He's lying to you! Kanetake! Don't be fooled!" Sidor also yelled to remind him.

"Eh?" Kanetake was still a bit dazed and didn't immediately react.

"Hahahaha... Big idiot!" Souther grinned malevolently as he arrived in front of Kanetake. "Even with monstrous strength, an idiot is still an idiot!"

Before he could finish speaking, he unleashed his strongest technique...

Souther's figure spread out, his whole body adopting a cross-shaped stance, and a golden fighting spirit erupted from him, shooting straight into the sky.

And Kanetake... by this point, had barely managed to turn his head back. Forget about dodging, he didn't even have time to raise his hand to block.

"Nanto Ho-oh Ken Ougi (South Star Phoenix Fist Secret Technique) – Tensho Juji Ho (Heaven Soaring Cross Phoenix)!" Souther shouted the name of his technique as he launched his attack.

Caught off guard, Kanetake was struck by his opponent's secret technique at close range...

A second later, the two figures passed each other. Souther withdrew his technique, and Kanetake collapsed to the ground.

"That's so despicable! You bastard!" Sidor roared from below the stage.

Loki also said, "We'll never let you get away with this!"

"Hehe... hahahaha..." Souther laughed loudly. "A bunch of nobodies... daring to challenge an emperor?"

They thought that they had won, but... "Ugh..." Two seconds later, a groan came from behind him.

"Hm?" Souther turned around and saw that Kanetake hadn't died or lost consciousness. He was just too injured to stand up. "He's still not dead?" He muttered as he turned back and walked toward Kanetake. "Hmph... You little brat who dared to make a fool of the Emperor, let me send you on your last journey."

"Ka... Kanetake! Quickly give up! You'll be killed!" Sidor quickly reminded him when he saw this.

"Gi... giving... giving up... means..." Kanetake said with difficulty, "Everyone... won't be able to... go back to... how things... *guh*..."

Before Kanetake could finish speaking, Souther's foot landed heavily on his lower back, and the intense pain caused him to cry out in agony.

"That's right... How could I let you give up?" Souther sneered. "I want you to die!"

"Damn it! You despicable bastard!" Loki couldn't resist wanting to rush onto the stage, but unfortunately, the barrier around the stage was impassable until the martial arts demonstration ended. And with Loki's strength, he wasn't strong enough to force his way through the barrier...

...

"In the end... is this how it ends..." Looking at the developments on the stage, all of Qi Sha's displeasure was revealed on his face.

"It's really too despicable!" Xiao Tan added.

Hua Jian also said, "What kind of emperor is he? He's just a despicable scoundrel."

"Hmph... You guys are too naive." Feng Bujue laughed coldly. "Souther's methods are beyond reproach. He's simply exploiting his opponent's weaknesses to break through. Look... Kanetake himself doesn't have a single complaint."

He was right. Kanetake, who was being trampled by Souther on the stage, didn't give up or curse. He was just silently enduring the attacks... enduring the consequences of his carelessness.

"Objectively speaking, this match is fair. The loser should look for the reason within himself first." Feng Bujue said, "Even if Kanetake loses in the end, he can't blame anyone else. He can only blame himself for being too innocent and falling for such an obvious trick."

"Even if you say that..." Qi Sha muttered.

"It's impossible for our mindsets to change to be as detached as yours all of a sudden..." Hua Jian continued.

Xiao Tan then said, "Brother Jue, can't you think of some way... to help Kanetake?"

"Think of a way?" Feng Bujue looked at Xiao Tan. "Do you think I'm a god? Look..." He gestured around with his eyes. "So many righteous experts are all glaring at the stage with righteous indignation. If there was a way, they would have already acted, why would it be my turn?"

"Hmm... okay..." Xiao Tan said with slight disappointment.

Hua Jian and Qi Sha's expressions also darkened upon hearing this.

"Hehe..." Seeing their expressions, Feng Bujue smiled. "I'm just kidding."

"Huh?" The three were immediately stunned. "You really have a way?"

...

"Hmph... It's about time... to finish you off." Souther stomped on Kanetake for a while. When the latter was almost dead, he said with satisfaction, "Let's cut off your head... as the end." As he said this, he raised his right hand.

"No!" "Kanetake! Wake up!" Sidor and Loki's grief-stricken cries could no longer help their close friend.

At this critical moment of life and death, suddenly...

From a distance, a violent shout suddenly erupted.

"Kanetake! Beat that guy, and I'll treat you to beef hot pot!"

*Chi*

As the voice fell, Souther's final blow had already been unleashed, but... his fist wind only split the ground. Kanetake, who had been under his feet... had vanished in the blink of an eye.

"What?" Souther's expression suddenly changed. "He can still move?"

*Rumble Rumble Rumble*

The next second, the entire earth began to shake.

An invisible pressure leaked through the stage barrier, affecting everyone at the scene.

And Souther, who was on the stage, was already being pressed to the point where he was about to kneel.

The once-invincible Holy Emperor now felt his legs weaken. A fear originating from his biological instincts enveloped him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat in an instant.

He could already feel it... a tall figure had stood behind him, and had locked onto him with beast-like eyes.

*Denden-den~ denden-den-denden~ denden-den~ den-den-denden* (ps: This BGM is called *Oniisan wa Seigi no Shisha* – Big Brother is a Messenger of Justice)

On the martial arts stage, imposing BGM suddenly began playing...

No one saw how the resurrected Kanetake had arrived behind Souther. All they knew was that... the Holy Emperor was probably in deep trouble.

"You..." Souther suddenly turned his head to look at his opponent.

At this time, Kanetake's eyes shone with a blazing white light. His whole body was burning with an invisible power, as if he was an indestructible and unmatched humanoid weapon. His aura alone was enough to make people want to give up.

"How... how can this be..." Souther muttered. "What is this power coming from this good-for-nothing..."

"Oh—Beef Hot Pot!!!" This was the first and only line that Kanetake uttered after powering up.

"Holy crap..." These two words were Souther's most authentic inner thoughts at this moment.

*Bang*

One punch, just one punch, and the Holy Emperor was defeated...

As the saying goes... all martial arts under heaven originate from Shoryuken (Rising Dragon Fist). Kanetake used a Shoryuken to instantly kill Souther... The latter was sent flying into the sky, straight into the clouds, breaking through the barrier, and transforming into a star...

"The martial arts demonstration is over."

"The winner is Kanetake Guha. The loser is Souther."