Not a detective

Page 90

That is [skill].

Yes, as a researcher, Ibuki Ren couldn't possibly have mastered any fighting skills. It was just obvious; he could only throw punches and smash things randomly.

The concept of "skill" was originally created for the purpose of achieving victory against overwhelming odds.

Although even the simplest wild punch is terrifying under absolute power, he was facing Asakawa Riku.

Over the past ten years, Asakawa Riku has done more than just physical training; the boxing techniques, combat skills, fighting styles, and judo that he has absorbed and mastered are still flowing in his blood.

Even the "accumulation of four thousand years of Chinese civilization" has never been forgotten.

Normally, he would use absolute power to toy with, suppress, or even instantly kill his opponents, but now the situation has completely reversed!

The part about his so-called "skills" has been buried for a long time.

...There's no need to take it out; I always think that way.

Now that the opportunity had finally arrived, Asakawa Riku felt both ashamed and excited about his lack of familiarity with certain aspects of the subject.

He was incredibly excited... Now was the chance to prove the skills he had never had a chance to show before. Only this monster could withstand it; right in front of him was the perfect punching bag!

If it succeeds, this might be the turning point for transformation, the chance to leap over the dragon gate!

"bring it on!"

With a roar, Ibuki Ren unleashed a massive demon that shattered the floor as it charged forward, its momentum as unstoppable as a chariot capable of crushing everything in its path.

Such a powerful punch was caught by Asakawa Riku with one hand. Now that he was serious, he finally had the qualifications to compete with the demon in strength.

He used his internal energy to neutralize the force, and at the same time raised his left hand and slammed it hard into the face of the evil spirit.

Ibuki Ren's defense was terrifying. Even when Asakawa Riku got serious, he only managed to take half a step back before being forced to charge forward against the momentum.

A headbutt landed squarely on Asakawa Riku's face, causing him to lean back and nearly fall over.

"Okay!"

Riku Asakawa managed to stabilize his center of gravity at an incredible angle in mid-air, leaping across with one foot and landing on his back foot, completing a spectacular reversal.

He did something no one dared to do: without retreating or showing fear, he leaped up and slammed his head heavily into the other man's forehead!

It was as if the air around them had stopped as the war drums reached their highest point.

Shake it open at the same time!

"...It doesn't hurt or itch at all."

Ibuki Ren grinned maliciously. He was stronger and recovered from the dizziness faster. He took a step forward and launched a powerful punch.

Asakawa Riku instantly saw through this intention, ducked down, and delivered a jabbing punch to the demon's abdomen.

But the punch had no effect whatsoever, as if it were an unshakeable mountain.

"It's so hard."

"Of course!" Ibuki Ren did not retreat, but instead raised her hand again, and Asakawa Riku could only dodge the other punch.

He took a half step back and then landed a series of straight punches to the head!

Still not down... Ibuki Ren raised a strange smile and threw another punch, tearing through the air.

Although there are no special techniques involved, Asakawa Riku can dodge this kind of hook punch countless times with just simple prediction, but the pressure he puts on people is very real.

Ibuki Ren can regenerate the body of a demon without limit, but Asakawa Riku will suffer serious injury if he is hit even once.

Therefore, the offensive routes were constantly compressed.

"Are you just going to keep hiding, Asakawa Riku! Aren't you supposed to be having a manly battle? Come and face me head-on!"

Ibuki Ren suddenly changed his strategy. He bent down and ran, taking long strides, and burst out with astonishing speed as he rushed over.

Given the disparity in strength, being tackled and dragged to the ground would be the end of him, and Asakawa Riku knew this very well, so he immediately jumped.

"Let's talk after you catch me."

Asakawa Riku had almost forgotten his elegant movements, but now his memories slowly returned. He performed a beautiful side somersault, grazing the demon's body as he flipped over.

The demon's body was probably three meters tall, yet it could jump and change positions like it was dancing on a trampoline.

But he knew he couldn't let his guard down yet. Because of the position change, he had to turn his back to his opponent, and the distance between them was quite dangerous. Meanwhile, Ibuki Ren had already turned around.

—That ferocious face, that terrifying peripheral vision.

Asakawa Riku did not stand up rashly, but continued to roll backward to create distance.

Sure enough, the next second Ibuki Ren's spinning whip punch missed. If Asakawa Riku's finger flick was an air bullet, this was practically an air cannonball.

With a loud crash, some kind of light and shadow tore apart before my eyes.

"Hahaha, what an exhilarating way to exercise! I wish I had met you sooner, Asakawa Riku. You really gave me a great time."

Ren Ibuki's expression grew increasingly satisfied. He spread his hands and burst into laughter: "So this is what fighting is all about. It seems there's still so much for me to learn."

Asakawa Riku was about to say something in response, his expression suddenly turned serious:

"...!"

The demon in front of him changed its "posture." Ibuki Ren suddenly adopted a boxing stance, placing her hands in front of her as she slowly approached step by step.

With his chest tucked in and abdomen drawn in, head covered and ribs protected, and center of gravity stable, he moved forward step by step, just like a boxer in a ring. The way he struck this pose with such a massive physique was even more bizarre.

The moment he got close, he threw a jab.

Asakawa Riku anticipated this and instinctively tried to dodge, but by the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.

That jab was just a feint. Ibuki Ren used the momentum of her mind to dodge, and the moment Asakawa Riku bent down, she thrust her knee into his abdomen!

"Well……!"

Asakawa Riku's pupils widened in surprise. He leaped into the air and was met with a straight punch mid-air.

He was launched like a cannonball, crashing heavily against the wall, raising dust, and then slowly sliding down with a loud bang.

When he stood up again, he covered the blood he had coughed up, his expression bitter.

"...You've learned it."

Asakawa Riku felt a chill run down his spine. Although his injuries were not serious, he was deeply shocked by the sight of the giant monster before him.

Yes, he was careless. Normally, he shouldn't have been unable to dodge such a simple feint.

But he didn't expect that Ibuki Ren, who had just been able to throw rough punches and sprint, had suddenly mastered something like a "skill".

Although he was still quite inexperienced... Asakawa Riku realized that his opponent was not only satisfied with physical strength, but was rapidly learning the depth of technique.

In this way, his only chance of victory will also be trampled and crushed.

"Yes, everyone says I'm a genius."

Ibuki Ren gave him no chance to catch his breath and charged at him again.

Winter of the Demons: Chapter Forty-One - Flowing Clouds and Water

Asakawa Riku regained his footing, his eyes frighteningly calm.

Just as Ibuki Ren charged forward, he unleashed a terrifying speed, changing course the instant he made contact, disappearing and reappearing.

The next second, before Ibuki Ren could even react to where he had gone, she was hit hard in the abdomen.

"Show me how to do it."

Even though Ibuki Ren has begun to gradually master the skills, she is still a complete beginner in front of this person!

Asakawa Riku leaped into the air, delivering a double kick that struck Ibuki Ren in the stomach. Ibuki Ren raised her hands to block in front of her eyes, but misjudged the direction and was sent flying!

...With human strength, we can shake the evil spirits.

His all-out attack, which disregarded his center of gravity, proved that his power was not entirely ineffective against Ibuki Ren.

"……Well!"

Ren Ibuki never expected it to be this bad. His massive body had such great momentum that it knocked over a row of tables, chairs, and equipment behind him, leaving the floor in a mess.

Only by using such a risky tactic can real damage be inflicted.

Asakawa Riku knew that such strenuous activity was also taking a toll on him, but he did not stop.

He knew he had to maintain a high-intensity pursuit and not let Ibuki Ren recover, so he immediately went up and threw a straight punch at Ibuki Ren, who was kneeling on the ground.

Ren Ibuki was in excruciating abdominal pain. He couldn't figure out how Riku Asakawa had managed to penetrate his skin's defenses, and for a moment he couldn't stand up, so he could only cross his arms in defense.

But Asakawa Riku's move turned out to be a feint.

"Is that the only extent?"

He sneered, instantly withdrew his fist, and instead leaped high into the air, stomping one foot on Ibuki Ren's head.

Using the momentum, he leaped again, flipped over, and swept his leg out with another kick.

A second headshot to the right leg!

Its movements are as graceful as a crane's, but it is actually more ferocious than an eagle's, and its two pecking strikes hit the vital points.

He remembered that when he attacked the other party's eyes earlier, it caused substantial damage, indicating that it was an effective target area; otherwise, two sharp horns wouldn't have grown to protect the skull.

At this moment, Asakawa Riku's attack did indeed cause Ibuki Ren great pain, and he kept turning his head and roaring.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!!"

It's not over yet.

When facing a demon with regenerative abilities, you must force your opponent into a dead end in one fell swoop, without allowing them to catch their breath.

Taking advantage of the dizziness from the two headshots, Asakawa Riku landed and turned back, lunging forward. He pinned Ibuki Ren's body from behind, his arms encircling her neck.

Although the demon's body was enormous, his muscles and physique were equally impressive, and he managed to forcefully complete a rear-naked choke.

Simple punches and kicks might be useless against the opponent, as the evil spirit can recover from any injury. So he thought of using "locking techniques" to end this deadly fight.

Just trap him!

"It's time to end!!"

Asakawa Riku roared and clung tightly to Ibuki Ren's back, but Ibuki Ren held back in silence, slowly raising her fist.

He kept punching Riku Asakawa's head!

Logically, a person who is naked and choked should have difficulty breathing and would not have the strength to resist. However, Ibuki Ren's terrifying physical function, with her eyes already turning white, still instinctively resisted.

This is the power of the [Divine Poison], which has completely transformed his body, surpassing the level of a human.

He was holding onto Asakawa Riku's arm with one hand, while simultaneously pounding Asakawa Riku's head with the other. It was unbelievable...

"Uh……!"

boom! boom! boom!

It was as if they were beating a doll, one blow after another. Watching from the side, Shinonome Suetsuki took a deep breath, and Chizuko's eyes welled up with tears.

Because of this resistance, Asakawa Riku continued to endure terrifying blows. His assisting hand was not properly secured behind his head, and his feet were not properly hooked, so the rear naked choke was not complete.

This gave Ibuki Ren an opportunity; he bent his knees, slowly stood up, and then leaned backward—

Hit the ground!

Asakawa Riku became the one who took the fall...!

Blood welled up in my throat again, and the metallic taste spread across my tongue.

Asakawa Riku gritted his teeth and refused to give up.

He was still holding her neck tightly, but it wasn't until the second time she stood up and slammed her to the ground that she finally realized the danger and broke free of the lock.

The back slam was the first time someone had managed to break his naked choke using this method. If it were done again, Asakawa Riku might faint on the spot.

But actually, things weren't easy for Ibuki Ren either.

"Ahem...!"

The moment the oxygen rushed into his throat, he gasped for breath greedily, and his expression gradually returned to normal.

...It seems that even the body of a demon needs to breathe. If the naked chokehold had been completed just now, there might have been a chance to suffocate and strangle it.

Asakawa Riku felt the injury on his back, he raised his feet, pushed off with his back to block, and retreated, rolling several times to create distance.

The two finally separated after their struggle...