Demon Realm - Death Valley
Son Gohan lifted his head and sneered.
"So, new arrivals at last."
"Hahaha! So this is Death Valley? It doesn't look like much."
A young demon with a single horn on his forehead landed arrogantly, his voice full of disdain.
"Young master, please don't be careless."
Behind him stood a powerfully built veteran. His muscles were dense, his eyes sharp with killing intent. He radiated the aura of someone who had survived countless battles.
"I know, I know. Father already arranged everything. I'm just here to go through the motions. Besides, you're here with me, aren't you?"
The young demon waved his hand casually, utterly unconcerned.
"Tch."
Gohan hadn't expected even the Demon Realm's selection trials to have people who entered through connections.
Looks like whether human or demon, no one truly escaped favoritism and social maneuvering.
"Boy. Are you laughing at me?"
The young demon's expression darkened as he finally noticed Gohan.
"And if I am?" Gohan replied coldly.
"Shibata-dono. Kill him."
The young demon barked the order without hesitation.
"Yes, young master."
Heavy footsteps echoed as the veteran, Shibata, advanced step by step toward Gohan.
"You brought this on yourself."
"Come on. Let me see how impressive you people who enter through the back door really are."
Gohan crooked his finger in provocation.
He felt no real pressure from the man in front of him.
If he had to quantify it, the opponent was roughly on the level of early Frieza. Around two to three hundred million in power.
Meanwhile, Gohan's base power had already exceeded 120 billion.
There was no comparison.
"Arrogant!"
Shibata exploded forward like a released arrow, his massive body moving with shocking speed.
Clang!
His full-force elbow strike was casually caught by Gohan's palm.
Not only that, Gohan's body did not shift even a fraction.
Shibata's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's all?" Gohan tilted his head, looking down at him with open contempt.
Cold sweat poured down Shibata's face.
It felt like he had just struck the hardened body of a War Demon. Harder than steel.
A veteran of countless battles, Shibata understood instantly.
He was no match.
"Young master, run!"
After a brief hesitation, resolve flashed in his eyes. He chose to stake his life to buy time.
The horned youth was arrogant, but not stupid. Seeing the situation collapse, he immediately turned and fled at full speed.
"You think you're leaving?"
Gohan pressed Shibata's elbow downward.
Shibata stumbled forward.
Gohan's figure blurred.
Boom!
The fleeing demon youth was suddenly hurled back, smashing directly into Shibata just as he struggled to rise.
"You said you were just here for show. Why run?" Gohan mocked from the air.
The young demon wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression turning vicious.
"Shibata-dono, we can't escape. We fight."
"Yes, young master."
Slash!
The youth crossed his arms. From his elbows, two cold, gleaming blades extended outward.
Gohan's eyes flickered with interest.
"Oh? That's unexpected. Looks like you're not just a useless rich brat."
"You'd better think carefully."
Shibata shouted fiercely.
"Our young master is a genius of the Blade Demon Clan, already promised to the Blood Demon Clan. Making enemies of us won't end well for you."
Second Heaven
"Hahaha. Old Blood Demon, you're already reserving talent in advance?"
The War Demon Clan leader laughed mockingly.
"Hmph. Mind your own business," the Blood Demon Clan leader snorted.
Despite his harsh words, his heart was pounding. He prayed Gohan would spare the Blade Demon youth.
The Blade Demon Clan ranked among the top sub-clans under the Three Great Demon Clans.
Their members possessed the innate ability to transform limbs into blades.
The older they grew, the harder and sharper those blades became.
This young master was an exceptional prodigy.
Ordinary Blade Demons could only form blades on their forearms.
He, however, had manifested blades from his elbows.
Worse, the hardness and sharpness rivaled even that of the Blade Demon Clan head himself.
The Blade Demon Clan's weakness lay in their bodies. All their strength was concentrated into their blades, leaving their flesh relatively fragile.
The clan head had chosen the Blood Demon Clan deliberately.
Blood Demons were renowned for regeneration. As long as blood remained, they could revive.
Once the Blade Demons gained that trait, they could abandon defense entirely and endlessly sharpen their blades.
War Demons were undying bodies.
Blood Demons were immortal blood.
Two different paths. Two terrifying extremes.
Back to Death Valley
"Boy. I am Kurobane Ren, genius of the Blade Demon Clan."
The youth slammed his fists together, blades gleaming with killing intent.
"Do you really think I'm some pampered waste?"
"Once I snap those blades of yours, you'll shut up."
Gohan's voice was icy.
"Kurobane Ren. Distract him. The moment he slips, I'll cut him in half."
"Understood."
Shibata lunged forward.
In a single second, he unleashed hundreds of punches.
A storm of blows rained down on Gohan.
Gohan stood calmly, one hand behind his back, the other raised to block.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Metallic sounds rang out as fists struck his body.
Meanwhile, Kurobane Ren silently circled behind Gohan.
Shibata increased the tempo, trying desperately to disrupt Gohan's focus.
But Gohan had already sensed Ren's presence.
The corner of his mouth lifted.
He deliberately exposed an opening.
Shibata's blow sent him flying straight toward Ren's position.