Chapter 125 Second Round— Inter-High VI

"Arrghhh!" Primal let out a scream as he charged at Satoshi with claws outstretched.

"You just never learn your lesson, do you?" Satoshi asked, causing another portal to appear. Because of that, Primal accidentally attacked Dreamsnatcher, knocking her unconscious. She didn't even know what hit her.

Whizzz!

A bullet then almost pierced Satoshi's skull but Ghast made a portal and caused the bullet to teleport right behind the one who shot it— Snipes. The bullet then hit him right on the knee cap, making him lose balance as he screamed in pain.

It didn't take long before Satoshi had already defeated every single candidate except for Primal who was still desperately fighting him. Primal just wouldn't give up, not even having a shred of sympathy to all his teammates who were already defeated. He continued to accelerate, his attacks becoming more and more precise than ever. Somehow, he was beginning to adjust to Satoshi's tempo. Even the portals that Satoshi set up are already expected by him.

"You still want to fight?" Satoshi asked.

"As long as I defeat you... hah, hah," Primal panted before charging at Satoshi. He twisted his body to avoid a portal and jumped a second time in mid-air just to dodge the two spires of flames that almost hit his legs. The Windfan was following him close as well but extending his claws to it was enough to make it flinch back. After all, Satoshi was careful that he wouldn't kill any of his familiars. They may have gotten stronger but they only have one life.

Once he reached Satoshi, Satoshi disappeared from where he was standing and then he received a kick in the gut and a punch on the face. Somehow, Satoshi had full control over his portals he can do multiple attacks with them. His power rivaled that of Primal as well.

After all, while Primal was getting stronger by the second, Satoshi was piling up with strength as well, thanks to Sera who continuously buffed him. As long as Primal didn't attack Sera, he wouldn't be able to defeat Satoshi.

"Hey, um, I think we should step back a little bit," Sassu suggested. Someone strong could detect another being who is much more formidable after all. Right now, she could tell that Satoshi had already surpassed Primal in terms of raw strength. Every blow they dealt against each other caused shock waves that blew at the audience. Their fight can already be considered a pro fight... or a pro villain versus a pro superhero fight. If it were a movie, this part would've been the climax.

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Midori asked. Even with his berserker skill activated, he could barely keep up with Satoshi and Primal's movements. They were disappearing and reappearing here and there and they don't even notice it. Both of them were in the zone and no one can stop them.

"I didn't want to use this but you leave me no choice," Primal said, getting something from his pocket. '

"Don't tell me— " Satoshi didn't even finish what he was saying.

Splash!!!

"... " Everyone was speechless, even the commentator who was supposed to say something just stared at the stage.

Everybody watched in horror as all of Satoshi's appendages were cut. Because of the recent distraction, Satoshi stopped short, giving Primal an opening which he used to cut off all of Satoshi's appendages. Blood gushed out from Satoshi's shoulders and half-cut thighs but he didn't scream. "Haah~ haah~ what do you think of me now, Satoshi? I'm stronger than you!"

"You cheater! You used a superpower booster. I thought the production of those was discontinued? Where did you get such a vile thing?" Satoshi gritted his teeth.

For the first time in his life, Satoshi showed great indignation and his face was twisted to an expression of pure anger. Why wouldn't he be angry at Primal? That very drug he injected into his body was something that his parents risked their lives in order to wholly get rid of it. That drug was the reason why the majority of people distrusted the superheroes before. And not only that, many lives were taken that day when the great war between heroes and villains was etched in history. Why wouldn't he be angry when that very liquid almost took his parents away from him?

And back then, he didn't even have a superpower in the first place. Had his parents died back then, he would've been left without some sort of attachment to them. He would've greatly regretted how powerless he was back then.

"Anything goes in this tournament. And it's not like they saw what I did. Look?" Primal said, extending his hands towards the audience.

"... "

"HEY! STOP THE FIGHT! STOP THE FIGHT!" The commentator screamed, making everyone panic.

Meanwhile, Primal's white fur started turning a bright red color as he grew twice his size. His power output and everything else increased by one hundred percent as well. He was already quick and precise before but now he was a monster— a monster incomparable to any superhero one has encountered.

"NO!" Satoshi screamed. "Everyone calm down!"

The commentator, upon hearing Satoshi scream while his appendages were gone, suddenly stopped short. he signaled at the cameramen to focus all cameras on Satoshi before he gave a speech.

"..."

However, Satoshi didn't speak. He just stayed lying down as if he was thinking about something. He swallowed his dry saliva. "I didn't want to show you my trump card but I guess I shou— aghk~"

STAB!

p Before Satoshi could act. Primal charged at him and stabbed him straight through the heart, causing him to shriek as blood came out of his mouth. He felt as if he was losing his grip on his life but Satoshi knew that it would take more than a stab to the heart to kill him. Everyone gasped in shock as Satoshi's life dwindled but no one dared make a move. The gravity of the situation made them unable to act. Even the USA candidates froze up as soon as they saw Satoshi's bloodied body limply lying down on the ground. In their minds, they constantly screamed at themselves to move and ask for help but nothing happened.

As for the viewers at home, they couldn't bear to watch such brutality that they closed their eyes in surprise. Even though they wanted to know what would happen next and the reason why the management hasn't disqualified Primal yet, they just had to close their eyes since they couldn't take it anymore.

At the same time, Tatsuki and Ayumu, who were now eating breakfast, suddenly flipped their tables. and headed outside. With Tatsuki's flight and superspeed skill, he grabbed onto his wife and flew straight towards Saitama Prefecture. They knew that it would take them at least a minute to get there but they were taking their chances. They also contacted the Nurse as soon as they took off.

...

With a weak moan, Satoshi whispered one of his familiar's names.

"Sera, you know what to do." He continued before the life disappeared from his eyes.

"oum~" Sera said with a determined face before she flew down and passed through Satoshi's chest.

Once again, Satoshi was enveloped in bright yellow light but this time, it was a couple more times stronger than the first time. The sound of sparkling diamonds could be heard from the background as Satoshi's limbs flew back and reattached themselves. However, the bright yellow glow didn't stop there.

It continued until Satoshi was fully standing. Meanwhile, Primal could tell that Satoshi was powering up even though he did everything he could to stop him from doing so. Because of that, desperation finally got the better of him and he started mercilessly hacking and slashing at Satoshi as if he were a pig for slaughter. However, his attacks just wouldn't connect.

"You shouldn't have forced me to use this," Satoshi muttered.

When the brightness dissipated, a few sparkles erupted around Satoshi's body before his new look was revealed. This time, Satoshi's hair turned clear white and his eyes were bright red as a phoenix's. He was wearing an elegant white overcoat with its collar up and inlaid with gold ornaments. His arms were wearing gloves as well and his right eye was fitted with a monocle that seemed to come as a set with the coat. On his head were three, no, four halos that floated as if they were different entities. Those halos, as mentioned before, determined the level of Sera and now she seemed to have increased in power.

Not only were Satoshi's appendages intact, there was also no sign of a stab in his heart. And adding to that, he felt as if unknown energy was welling up within him.

"Do you still want to continue?" Satoshi said, disappearing in an instant.

Now, it should be emphasized that Primal's reflexes and overall power output increased by a hundred percent, and yet he didn't see Satoshi's movements at all. He just disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared right behind him.