The two now stood directly facing each other.

Hino smiled at him like a madman who had just escaped from an asylum.

Kawao, on the other hand, looked confused, still not understanding what had just happened to Fetu.

Then, suddenly, Hino kicked him in the chin, sending him into the air.

The kick itself had almost knocked him unconscious, but what followed was a punch that he barely managed to block.

Nevertheless, he flew far away, but managed to land safely on another rooftop.

He slowly caught his breath.

‘What happened to him?’

Before he knew it, Hino was in front of him again.

He kicked at his chin once more, but this time Kawao managed to dodge.

‘I have to focus now!’

He managed to dodge the following attacks well.

But he found no opening in his defense.

“Do you plan to look for an opening all day?”

Kawao got goosebumps.

Suddenly, Hino moved many times faster and unleashed a relentless series of punches and kicks.

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He was airborne again.

But this time, he was struck downwards.

After crashing through several walls, he landed in a street.

People scattered in panic and began to scream.

“Pah! Humans. Like flies, only more annoying!” Hino remarked as he landed slowly in front of him.

“What’s wrong with you? Just a moment ago, you seemed so big and strong. Where has that strength gone? Are you still looking for a way to escape?”

“And what if I am?” Kawao replied.

Slowly, he got back on his feet.

“I thought I had defeated you and then you turn into some monster that almost kills me. You know I can’t use this technique for long! Why should I fight an uncertain battle until I might die?”

Hino looked at him, bored.

Suddenly, he vanished.

In the next moment, Kawao spat blood.

Hino’s fingernails had extended and dug into his side.

He felt an overwhelming heat radiating from them.

Hino withdrew his nails, splattering blood on the surrounding buildings.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, kid! I could kill you anytime! You’re not fighting to escape, you’re fighting to survive. The rules are simple. You kill me and survive or I kill you and survive. If you still don’t understand that, then maybe you don’t care much about living!”

Kawao’s legs began to tremble.

‘Am I going to die here?’ he wondered.

He blacked out for a moment.

Suddenly, he was floating in complete darkness.

“You will not die here!” a voice declared to him.

He recognized it.

It was the same voice he had heard on Isulon when he had nearly died fighting the tank.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I told you to take care of your body! Instead, you keep pushing it to the limit… Well, I guess this isn’t your fault. You tried to escape at first, but he was too cautious. And now a fire spirit has taken over his body. I don’t think you realize how dangerous the situation is right now!… I have no other choice. I’ll get you out of here! But after that, you’ll have to figure out how to put your body back together!”

“Wait, what?”

But before he could protest, he grew tired and fell asleep.

Hino moved in for the next attack.

He intended to decapitate him with a strike.

But unexpectedly, Kawao dodged and landed a kick to his face.

Hino stepped back a few steps.

He smiled again.

“Looks like you’re finally taking this seriously.”

Kawao’s pupils turned white, and he began to behave more like a wild animal.

“It’s really been a long time. Maybe 50 years? Since I last saw someone who mastered the ‘Rage of Survival’!”