No one could understand what Younger Toguro felt right now.
From the moment Charles set his stance, he'd felt a constant pressure. He knew exactly what it was: a martial artist's instinctive reaction upon facing an opponent far stronger than himself.
So he opened up forty percent of his power right away, yet that feeling didn't fade.
Then he released sixty percent, but his muscles still stayed taut under that pressure.
All he could do was keep raising his muscle release while throwing punches, as if he could smash every shackle with his fists.
Charles's footwork flowed, driving his body out of the path of Toguro's rampaging attacks.
Though he'd once been a martial artist, Younger Toguro had taken the path of overwhelming force. Every blow of his carried massive kinetic energy from his muscles—that meant astonishing speed and power.
Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Charles, a Dragonslayer who had taken dragonslaying magic to its limit. In raw physique, Charles was no weaker than Toguro.
With a roar, Toguro raised a fist and slammed it down.
As his muscle release climbed to eighty percent, his appearance grew even more fearsome.
The muscles on his shoulders jutted out like heavy armor, and distinct bands of muscle swelled beneath the skin.
He'd also realized that Charles not only matched him in base speed and strength—his technique was on a shocking level.
Since his straight-ahead attacks couldn't land, he'd simply expand the area—leave the opponent nowhere to dodge!
That punch kicked up a gale in the empty room, shattering the entire floor.
But even as he swung, Toguro felt no impact—and that pressure only intensified.
Sure enough, Charles had one hand pressed on Toguro's just-slammed arm, and his leg snapped up into Toguro's face.
Toguro's sunglasses exploded into shards, exposing his wide eyes, and he went flying.
There was a crisp crack—his cervical vertebrae snapped, and the muscles of his face were completely warped.
He paid it no mind, stood up, and wrenched his dislocated head back into place.
"You know… you're not serious at all."
Toguro pressed his lips together, his tone full of displeasure. "Your attitude is pure play, not a fight. You're not taking me as an opponent, are you?"
A faint smile tugged at Charles's mouth. "You don't start at a hundred percent against others either, do you?"
Toguro froze, then said, "Fair point. If I can't make you go all out, that's on me. I've never been serious against those far weaker than me."
His facial muscles twisted into a grin that could only be called feral.
"Then I'll make you get serious."
He exploded with speed, appearing in front of Charles like a teleport.
But in the same instant, Charles turned his head toward where Toguro appeared—just that look made Toguro recoil.
Clapping a hand to his chest, he felt his heart hammering.
He could feel Charles's seriousness—he hadn't expected mere presence to nearly choke him.
Before he could steady himself, Charles was already on him.
No Death Star blazing overhead, but Charles unleashed a classic barrage.
A succession of dull thuds rang across Toguro's body—Charles's fists were landing in a rapid string.
Toguro's body shuddered violently, knuckle-marks blooming across his torso.
He stepped back, grinding the already-ruined floor underfoot, and finally found an opening to counter with a punch.
The blow even blasted an air cannon. Charles slipped it, but the opposite wall blew apart.
At least it forced Charles back and bought Toguro a breath.
Charles glanced at the ragged hem of his shirt where the air blast had grazed it. "Doing that on sheer flesh alone—that's praiseworthy."
Toguro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth; the fist marks on his body had already begun to fade.
"Am I supposed to be happy about that?" There was no trace of joy in his voice.
They locked eyes—and charged.
Just then, the ground between them split open, and five snake-like things burst out, lunging at Charles.
A crimson blur flashed—Stella, wreathed in flame, appeared in front of Charles and snatched the lunging things out of the air.
Both Charles and Toguro halted. Charles barely reacted, but Toguro's face showed clear displeasure.
"Brother. What are you doing?"
Elder Toguro frowned; one arm morphed into a broad blade, and he chopped off his other arm.
He wasn't disposing of evidence like some thug—those parts were already burning. If he didn't sever them, the fire would spread further.
The Toguro Brothers' abilities were similar—perfect control over their bodies. Unlike his younger brother, Elder Toguro's power was extreme transformation and regeneration.
He usually transformed into powerful weapons or sturdy armor to support Younger Toguro in battle, maximizing his brother's strength.
Just now, he'd reshaped his arm and tunneled it underground to extend out at a distance—what stabbed at Charles were his fingers.
Unfortunately, Stella had kept her eyes on him the whole time. Not only did the ambush fail, he lost part of his body for the trouble.
Faced with his brother's reproach, Elder Toguro bristled.
Anyone could see Younger Toguro had been at a decisive disadvantage; he'd intervened for his sake.
But Younger Toguro had no patience for his brother's feelings. He could barely restrain his fury.
He'd long known his brother wasn't like him, but he hadn't expected him to be blind to his wish.
What he wanted was a battle, yes—but a battle where he could fight to his heart's content and end everything. This man yearned for a worthy opponent who could defeat him and draw a line under the path he'd chosen.
He'd thought there could be no such opponent in the Human World. That was why he'd gone along with Sakyo's plan to open a gate to the Demon World—to seek one there.
But Charles's appearance made him feel this might be the chance to fulfill that wish.
And Elder Toguro's interference had spoiled the fight.
Just then, Younger Toguro also glanced at Sakyo on the nearby screen. The look in Sakyo's eyes cooled him down, and he remembered the past he still hadn't settled.
Charles also noticed Sakyo's lips moving slightly.
"Not the stage you want yet."
Something like that. Charles understood this fight would have to stop here.
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