February 14, 2013, Thursday, 10:50 am, Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink...
The overcast sky had finally parted, allowing the sun to shine over Tokyo. Glass buildings gleamed as the city reflected its brilliance. But within the ice rink, the shift in atmosphere was far more dramatic. The tense, uncertain air was replaced with cheers and applause as the audience erupted in excitement.
Akato had won.
The triumphant cries of the crowd echoed through the rink, celebrating his victory in the brutal game of Ice Tag. The three rival coaches, Kenshiro Asuka, Arjun Rao, and Wei Zhao, joined in, applauding despite their usual competitive tension.
Asuka, overwhelmed with relief, cheerfully teared up.
"The threat to the rink is finally over!" Asuka declared, voice cracking with emotion.
Arjun and Wei exchanged glances, raising their brows at Asuka's oddly sentimental reaction. Still, neither mocked him; this was a rare, hard-earned moment of peace.
On the sidelines, Reika, Anaya, and Lian exhaled in unison, the weight of anxiety finally lifting off their shoulders. Their relief was palpable; their gazes locked onto the ice where Akato stood, victorious.
Nearby, Benikiba and Ino remained speechless. The sheer calculative precision of Akato's technique had left them stunned. He masterfully carved the ice surface with increased speed using the Broken Leg Sit Spin, creating a deceptive terrain that instantly tripped the hockey players when their skates made contact. It wasn't just skill, a level of strategic brilliance bordering on predatory.
In the stands, Miruko, Ichiro, and Hiroki sighed in relief. Their sensei, Elric or the incognito Akato, had again survived the impossible.
Just as the celebration peaked, a sudden thunderous tremor tore through the rink.
A deep, gut-wrenching impact sent shockwaves through the ice. The roar of cracking surfaces was deafening, and in an instant, several defeated hockey players were sent flying into the air like ragdolls.
The joy was crushed in seconds.
A monstrous figure slowly rose out of the thick, choking smoke that billowed from the rink. The Glutton had not been defeated.
A collective gasp rippled through the audience as horror replaced relief. Those who had thought it was over, who had let their guard down, now found themselves frozen in fear.
The infamous monster of the ice hockey community wasn't just standing. The Glutton was changing.
The fat beast's body was turning a deep crimson, veins bulging grotesquely beneath his thick, sweat-drenched skin. He heaved, drooling uncontrollably, his massive chest rising and falling in erratic bursts. A predatory hunger burned behind his glowing red eyes, an unnatural, twisted rage overtaking him.
Benikiba's sharp instincts screamed at her. This was no ordinary resurgence. He's spiked on something.
A guttural, inhuman roar tore from the Glutton's throat, a sound so primal it sent a deep chill down every spine in the arena. It wasn't just a cry of fury. It was the call of an apex predator.
Benikiba wasted no time. "Evacuate the audience, now!" she barked, snapping the stunned spectators into action.
The three rival coaches, Asuka, Arjun, and Wei, hurriedly gathered their students, Reika, Anaya, and Lian, preparing to flee. But even as they turned to escape, their eyes remained locked onto the towering, monstrous form of the Glutton.
For the first time, the coaches themselves hesitated. The monster before them... was far worse than before.
Benikiba swiftly urged them to move, shoving them toward the exits.
"Don't stop! Move! NOW!"
Miruko and the Muto twins, Ichiro and Hiroki, exchanged grim looks before reluctantly following suit. They wanted to stay, but even they knew this fight was beyond them.
As the evacuation unfolded, Ino stood still. He remained at the rink's edge, watching. The ordeal before him was far from over, and something told him it would only worsen.
One of the fallen hockey players groaned, pushing himself off the cracked ice. Onizuka, his vision still spinning, barely managed to regain his senses, only for his breath to catch in his throat as his eyes locked onto the Glutton. Something was wrong.
The monstrous titan was trembling, his entire body swelling unnaturally as his veins pulsed beneath his deepening red skin. Thick saliva dripped from his gaping maw, pooling onto the ice and sizzling upon impact. His breaths were ragged and feral, his pupils dilated into nothing but hunger and rage.
Onizuka staggered to his feet, instincts screaming at him.
"Hey! Get a hold of yourself! Stand down!"
His barked command was met with deafening silence. The Glutton did not listen.
Instead, he lurched forward, his massive bulk growing even heavier, the ice beneath him groaning in protest. His skates, reinforced for his size, shattered beneath his weight, sending metal fragments skidding across the rink.
Then, without warning, the Glutton moved. The tremor of his monstrous stomp sent shockwaves across the ice as he charged toward Akato.
Akato's body tensed. His instincts, honed by experience, screamed at him to react.
Then, Glutton vanished. It happened instantly, a blink too short for the normal eye to register. The beast was barreling toward him one second; the next, he was gone.
Akato's senses flared. Behind, a roar of displaced air tore through the space just as Akato twisted his body, barely catching a glimpse of the Glutton's massive arm raised high, poised to slam down with the force of a hammer.
Akato leapt.
BOOM!
The Glutton's strike met the ice with a monstrous impact. The force didn't just crack the surface; it obliterated it. Shards of ice exploded outward, and the ground beneath gave way, splitting into jagged, uneven ridges.
Akato, mid-air, landed precariously as his skates struggled for balance on the unstable ice.
A shadow loomed over him. With a flash of movement, Akato barely had time to react before a sickening rip echoed in the air. His right sleeve was torn clean off.
The cold bit at his exposed skin as the Glutton's massive hand barely missed grabbing hold of him. Then, he attacked again.
The Glutton's onslaught was relentless. A flurry of devastating swings, grabs, and crushing blows turned the ice into a battlefield. Each attack carried enough raw power to kill.
Akato dodged, weaving through the rampage with swift, calculated steps. But the smoke and debris from the destroyed ice had thickened, reducing visibility. Akato found an opening. He used the cover to his advantage, disappearing into the mist.
The Glutton paused, sniffing the air like a wild beast. His heavy breaths rumbled like an engine, his patience wearing thin. Meanwhile, hidden within the smoke, Akato moved swiftly.
With a sharp hiss of frustration, he ripped off the remains of his torn sleeve, feeling the fabric between his fingers. It was more than just clothing; it was a treasure. A gift from one of my teachers… Jisoo Hwang.
His eyes darkened. His breath steadied. His irritation turned to purpose.
The Glutton had gone too far. Akato removed his skates and stepped onto the ice barefoot. The biting cold against his soles barely registered. His anger burned hotter.
His focus sharpened, "You really did it now."
His body lowered into stance. He was not playing around anymore. This rampaging monster had just made his final mistake. Akato was going to dismantle him.
Beyond the swirling smoke, Onizuka groaned, his body aching from the initial blast that had sent him sprawling. Every muscle screamed in protest as he struggled to push himself upright, his knees wobbling beneath him. His head pounded, and the world spun momentarily before his vision cleared just in time to see the chaos unfolding before him.
The Glutton had lost control.
"So that's it…" Onizuka thought.
A sharp smirk curled onto Onizuka's lips as he entered the scene. The destruction, the terror, and the sheer ruckus were far beyond what he had intended.
The fat beast had outlived his usefulness.
By now, there was no salvaging the situation. The damage to public property, the threat to civilians, the absolute insanity, it was only a matter of time before authorities got involved. And when they did, the Glutton would take the fall for all of it as a scapegoat. The perfect fool to pin everything on.
Onizuka huffed, wiping the trickle of blood from the corner of his lips.
"Well… he was a damn good distraction, at least."
His eyes flicked toward the ice rink, where the titanic brute continued his rampage. A hungry gleam flickered in his gaze as he imagined the inevitable.
"At the very least…" His smirk widened. "I'll get to watch that meddling bastard Akato get smashed to bits."
As the thick veil of smoke began to clear, the Glutton stood motionless, his massive, red-hued form heaving with deep, guttural breaths. His bloodshot eyes twitched, scanning for any sign of movement.
Then Akato emerged.
The moment Onizuka laid eyes on him, a twisted sense of satisfaction crept across his face.
"Finally, the interloper is done for." Onizuka continued.
By all logic, Akato should have been crippled or, better yet, dead. No one could outmaneuver the Glutton forever. If the relentless beast hadn't pulverized him, then the fractured ice, the raw force of impact, or sheer exhaustion should have finished the job.
And yet Onizuka's smirk faltered.
Akato stood tall. But it wasn't just that. The calculated precision in how he moved was the quiet, methodical intent behind every motion. Without hesitation, Akato gripped the fabric of his torn attire and, with a sharp pull, removed it completely without damaging it.
The air grew heavy. The moment Akato's bare torso was revealed, the arena fell into an eerie hush.
Scars were shown. Countless battle-worn scars marred Akato's body, etched into his skin like a map of past wars. Jagged, deep, old, new, each one told a story, a testament of survival from battles fought and won.
Onizuka's eyes widened in horrified realization. Akato wasn't just some fancy skater. He wasn't just some street punk with quick reflexes. This man was a warrior, no, a perfected killing machine.
A cold sweat dripped down Onizuka's temple. His mind raced, piecing together the truth from the evidence before him. His gaze locked onto a single marking on Akato's shoulder, a scarred-over military tattoo, then it hit him like a freight train.
A military insignia signified membership in a highly classified elite unit, the United States Special Operations.
Onizuka's stomach twisted. The realization was instant and terrifying.
This was not a normal fight. This was never just some skilled skater taking on a thug. Onizuka had messed with the wrong damn person.
And now, not only would Akato survive, but the Glutton was about to be destroyed.
The battle between beast and warrior was set.
Akato stepped forward, barefoot on the ice, completely unfazed by the biting cold beneath his soles. Each step was deliberate, measured not just the movement of a fighter but of a predator sizing up its prey.
The Glutton loomed before him, his hulking, red-tinted frame heaving with bestial rage. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, thick saliva dripping from his parted lips, his hunger only growing.
Far from the frontlines, Benikiba arrived near Ino's position, but she wasn't alone. Asuka, Arjun, and Wei followed their expressions, a mix of shock and apprehension.
Before the fight could escalate further, the three rival coaches spoke up.
"Take us with you," Arjun said firmly. His usual charismatic tone had a rare serious edge to it.
Wei crossed his arms, eyes fixed on the two combatants below. "You clearly have experience in battle," he noted, his voice laced with caution. "It's safer with you than waiting like helpless bystanders."
Benikiba narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced by their reasoning. She wasn't a damn tour guide. But looking at their faces and determination, she knew they weren't asking for permission. They're going, whether I like it or not…
With an exasperated sigh, Benikiba relented. "Fine. But don't slow me down."
Before moving, the three coaches turned back to their students. Reika, Anaya, and Lian stood in uncertainty, concern written all over their young faces.
"Stay put," Asuka instructed, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with a stern gaze. "No matter what happens, do NOT follow."
The students hesitated but ultimately nodded. They knew better than to argue when their coaches spoke with that tone.
Meanwhile, Ichiro and Hiroki followed the evacuation. It didn't take long for them to realize something was off.
Ichiro furrowed his brows. "Where's Miruko?"
Hiroki scanned the area, and his jaw tightened. "Tch. Gone. Figures."
At that moment, hidden in a peculiar vantage point, Miruko crouched low, watching the battle unfold.
Her sharp gaze was locked onto Akato's movements, analyzing every shift in his stance, every twitch of his muscles. She wasn't just watching; she was learning.
Then, a sudden rustle behind her. Miruko's head snapped around, and her eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Reika stood there. The skating prodigy had disobeyed her teacher's orders.
Miruko's first instinct was to scold her, but before she could speak, Reika answered first. "I want to see how the fight goes."
Her voice was calm and determined. There was no fear in her eyes, only pure curiosity and admiration.
Miruko sighed, rubbing her temples. "Damn it… stubborn kid."
She had no choice now. With a reluctant nod, Miruko shifted her focus back to the battlefield, letting Reika stay beside her.
The fight was about to begin.
Akato stood tall, facing down the towering behemoth that was the Glutton. The frigid air between them crackled with intensity, the weight of the battle settling upon the ice.
His voice was calm, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"You've caused enough trouble."
His words carried no anger, only finality. His gaze sharpened as he looked upon the monstrous brute, his mind flickering back to the shredded fabric that once covered his arm.
"And you had the nerve to damage something precious to me."
His fingers flexed at his sides, knuckles cracking.
"I guess that means…," he exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air, "It's Show Time!"
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the Glutton's chest. Steam rose from his skin, thick and hazy, like a boiler about to explode. His veins pulsed wildly, and his breath ragged with something beyond mere rage. Then, he roared. But this time… something changed.
His already massive frame swelled even further, his bulk thickening with unnatural muscle growth despite his round gut. His fingers curled into clawed appendages, and his nails darkened into something sharpened and jagged.
Then, the final grotesque addition. With a sickening CRACK, a pair of massive tusks erupted from Glutton's lower jaw, curving upward like a raging beast. His once-thin hair thickened, growing into a coarse, fur-like texture that covered his back and arms.
His face twisted, elongating slightly, not into a full snout, but into something inhuman, monstrous… boar-like.
A stunned silence rippled through the spectators. The coaches stood frozen. Their trained eyes had seen strength, had witnessed champions… but this? This was something else entirely.
Benikiba and Ino tensed, their battle instincts flaring. They felt the energy shift.
"That's not just physical mutation," Benikiba muttered, eyes narrowing.
Ino's fists clenched. "His cursed energy just surged; this transformation is curse-like in nature."
They exchanged a glance, both coming to the same grim conclusion. "The Glutton had become a First-Grade curse user."
The Glutton had become something far beyond human.
In the distance, Onizuka's smirk had long since faded. His hands trembled as realization sank in he had gone too far.
"Damn it…" his pupils shrank as he stared at his creation. "I overdosed him."
Meanwhile, at their hidden vantage point, Miruko and Reika felt a cold chill not from the ice but from the sheer monstrous presence before them.
"He's not even human anymore," Miruko murmured, her expression grim.
Reika, though clearly disturbed, couldn't tear her eyes away. She had previously watched people perform superhuman feats, but this was something else entirely.
And then Akato spoke again. His tone was utterly unimpressed. "Damn. You look like a red orc from a video game."
The Glutton snapped. A deafening roar shook the rink, his body surging forward with unstoppable force. His first attack, a massive horizontal swing, tore through the ice with a violent whoosh.
However, Akato was already gone despite being barefoot on ice, and his movements were flawless. He weaved through the rampaging attacks, dodging effortlessly, his control over his balance so precise that he never once lost his footing.
But the Glutton didn't stop. He swung, stomped, lunged, each attack faster, stronger, more mindless than before. His sense of reason was gone; his humanity was stripped away.
Yet Akato remained untouched. Then, amid the chaos, he moved in.
With a burst of speed, he closed the gap, his fingers curled into precise formations.
A barrage of rapid, pinpoint strikes followed with the Phoenix Eye Fist.
Each strike landed against the beast's flesh, targeting specific points along his massive frame.
At first, the pattern seemed random until Wei's eyes widened in realization. "Wait… he's not just hitting blindly."
Benikiba, Ino, Arjun, and Asuka all turned their attention to Wei as he watched Akato's technique unfold.
Wei continued, "He's not striking pressure points."
His breath hitched as another flurry of strikes connected, each with brutal precision.
"He's hitting the bones."
Their eyes widened.
"Every strike is chipping away at his skeletal structure…!"
The Glutton's body shuddered involuntarily, not from pain but from micro-fractures forming within.
But Wei's expression darkened. "There's a problem."
The others tensed.
"Even with Phoenix Eye Fist, the damage won't be enough." Wei's voice was grim. "Not against this monster. His transformation probably reinforced his skin, muscle, bones..."
But Benikiba and Ino's sharp gazes picked up something else before he could finish. Their expressions shifted.
Ino smirked, "That man's insane."
Benikiba's lips curled into a knowing grin. "He's using cursed energy."
Each impact, each precisely placed strike, wasn't just using the raw technique.
Akato was forcing cursed energy into every blow. Not only was he breaking the bones, he was amplifying the damage exponentially.
Glutton's downfall wasn't inevitable anymore. It had already begun.
Akato's assault was merciless, methodical, and precise.
He systematically dismantled the Glutton's entire skeletal structure with each calculated strike.
The Phoenix Eye Fist targeted the smaller, delicate bones, sending sharp fractures radiating through the beast's frame. Simultaneous elbow strikes hammered against the shoulder blades, weakening their stability. Roundhouse kicks slammed into the hip bones, causing subtle shifts in alignment that left the Glutton's movements sluggish and unstable.
It wasn't until his foundation began to betray him that the Glutton realized something was wrong.
His body didn't feel right.
"Why… why does everything feel off?"
Panic flickered in his bloodshot eyes. Then instinct took over.
With a roar of desperation, the Glutton charged forward, throwing every ounce of his monstrous strength into a final, blind attack.
He dug his claws deep into the ice, grinding against the slippery surface to gain traction. His massive body hurtled forward like a rampaging bull.
But Akato was already waiting.
Just before impact, Akato countered. In a seamless motion, he locked his arm around the Glutton's neck, catching him in a Guillotine Choke.
The sheer abruptness of the move stopped the beast's charge cold.
For a brief, almost surreal moment, neither combatant moved. The Glutton, his massive bulk trembling with brute strength, tried to press Akato forward, but he did not budge.
He stood firm despite being barefoot on the ice and the treacherous, slippery terrain. His stance defied physics, his body as unyielding as a fortress.
The spectators could only stare in awe.
"How…?" someone muttered under their breath.
None of the rival coaches could comprehend how Akato was holding his ground.
Benikiba and Ino, however, saw it clearly.
"He's locked himself into position," Benikiba observed, narrowing her eyes. "He's anchoring his body, keeping his center of gravity completely unshakable."
Ino smirked. "The monster's the one stuck now."
As the final pieces of his plan fell into place, Akato's eyes gleamed with unwavering determination.
The Glutton had already lost.
Akato forced the beast backward with a powerful shove, then went for the final, devastating phase, Target: The Skull.
His elbows smashed against the jawline, stunning the Glutton further.
A series of hard, calculated jabs battered critical points around the skull, sending waves of concussive force deep into the cranium.
Then, with the finishing touch, Akato launched both hands forward with a sharp pivot, his fingers curled into a Leopard's Paw stance, his double thumbs snapping into place.
The strike connected cleanly with the Glutton's lower jaw. A sickening pop echoed across the ice.
The beast staggered back, his breath ragged. Then he saw his own jaw, hanging and unhinged.
A guttural, choked snarl rattled from his throat as fury overtook reason.
With nothing left but animalistic rage, the Glutton lunged once more.
Akato was already ahead. Effortlessly pivoting, he sidestepped the attack and, in one swift motion, executed a perfect matador maneuver.
The Glutton charged past him right into disaster.
With the full force of his uncontrollable momentum, the beast smashed through the ice rink's barrier and slammed headfirst into a metal support column.
The impact rang out like a church bell. A painful, metallic clang reverberated through the air, sharp and piercing.
The spectators winced in unison, a collective grimace spreading through the crowd.
Asuka and Ino, watching the disoriented beast stumble, instinctively pointed and said, "Oof. That's gotta hurt."
The Glutton staggered, walking awkwardly, his brain struggling to recalibrate after the devastating blow.
Akato didn't give him the chance. He stepped forward, not running or rushing, before the lumbering brute.
The Glutton shook his head violently, his hazy vision clearing just enough to lock eyes with Akato.
The Glutton snapped. Summoning every last ounce of power in his broken frame, he reared back for the final killing blow.
But Akato was already a step ahead. With the smallest movement, he closed the distance. Then, he struck.
The impact sent shockwaves through the Glutton's body, but it wasn't just a normal punch.
This was different. This was something beyond brute force.
A single, compact, explosive burst of energy was delivered just inches away. Akato called it "Dragon Shot." It was a simple yet powerful one-inch punch.
The moment the strike landed, the effect was instantaneous.
The shockwave traveled through the Glutton's entire body, slamming into the fractured bones.
Every last one, they all snapped in unison.
CRACK.
The Glutton collapsed, not fell, and not stumbled.
He dropped his entire frame, caving in as the structural integrity of his skeleton failed completely.
A final burst of dust and smoke erupted from the impact, covering the scene in a thick, blinding mist.
For a few seconds, there was nothing but silence. Then, the dust settled.
And there was only a human where the monstrous, rampaging Glutton once stood.
The transformation had reverted. The beast was gone.
What remained was just an unconscious, obese man, broken, defeated.
The arena erupted. A mixture of awe, disbelief, and sheer astonishment swept through the crowd.
The infamous monster, the terror of innocent children, had been taken down by one man.
One man who wasn't even supposed to be part of their world.
Among the stunned onlookers, Onizuka's breath hitched. His entire body went cold.
This was impossible. The Glutton had been enhanced far beyond normal human limits, yet he was beaten by someone who wasn't even part of the Jujutsu world.
Onizuka's hands trembled. "Who the hell is this guy…?"
Despite the Glutton's crushing defeat, the damage had already been done.
The steel support column he had rammed into groaned ominously, its structure compromised beyond repair.
Then it gave way. A horrifying creak echoed through the rink as the weakened beam collapsed, sending a cascade of debris tumbling down in a specific direction.
A shriek of terror tore through the air.
"AHHH!!!" Reika's scream.
Every head in the arena snapped toward the sound.
Benikiba, Ino, Asuka, Arjun, and Wei all turned, eyes widening as they spotted Reika and Miruko frozen at their hidden vantage point. They had been watching the battle the entire time.
"Damn it!" Benikiba's instincts screamed, but the realization was brutal; they didn't have time to reach them.
The debris was falling too fast.
It was too late; the impact hit. A violent crash exploded upon impact, hurling dust and smoke into the air.
The force of the collapse shook the entire ice rink, sending smaller fragments skidding across the floor.
For a single, agonizing moment, silence took hold.
Asuka's breath hitched, his face drained of color. His student Reika…
Was she...?
The others stood motionless, a grim tension gripping their chests.
Then, the dust settled. Through the fading smoke, a figure emerged. Standing tall, shirtless, and unwavering was Akato.
His back bore the full weight of the fallen debris, his powerful frame holding it up like an unbreakable pillar, and beneath him, shielded, unharmed, were Miruko and Reika.
A collective exhale of relief rippled through the arena. The kids were safe.
Asuka, nearly collapsing from the weight of his own fear, let out a choked laugh. "Holy hell…"
Benikiba, Ino, and the others rushed forward, instincts overriding any lingering shock.
Akato, completely unfazed, shifted his gaze toward them. Then, in a tone bordering on dry humor, he muttered, "Can one of you grown-ups hurry up and drag these brats away?"
A beat of silence fell. Everyone except Onizuka shook their heads.
"Of course, even after all this… he still talks like that." Ino fought to himself.
Still, they didn't waste time and immediately moved to pull Reika and Miruko to safety.
As the kids were removed from danger, Akato shifted his weight and leaped, pushing off the crushing debris with effortless power. The wreckage that had threatened to bury them moments ago all now lay in ruins beneath him as if it had never been a threat, to begin with.
The sheer display of strength and composure left the spectators in stunned silence.
Then, Asuka finally spoke. "What the hell are you?" His voice wasn't mocking or sarcastic; it was genuine, disbelieving.
Besides Benikiba, Miruko, and Ino, who had already seen too much to be surprised, everyone else wondered the same thing. Just what was this man?
Akato, still calm despite everything, simply let out a sigh of relief before offering a casual, unreadable gesture.
Meanwhile, only one person still remained, Onizuka. Something gnawed at his mind, something that didn't add up. His gaze locked onto Akato's physique, body movement, and the sheer power behind every motion. A flood of unprocessed questions filled his thoughts. How did this man do any of this? How did he fight like that? Move like that? How did he defy logic itself?
But his mind wasn't strong enough to process it all. He could only stare. As the last bits of debris settled, so did the air. The natural calm returned. The battle was over; the action had ended.