I Reincarnated as an S-Class Constellation

Chapter 132 of 150

Chapter 132

Chapter 132. Fight to the Death (2)

─ Kang Yujin finally closed the distance!

─ He broke through that endless barrage and got in!

─ This is where the real fight starts!

─ Saionji Keito may have the advantage at long range with Gandiva and his Astras, but not up close!

─ Go, Kang Yujin!

Comments cheering for Kang Yujin flooded Constellation Tube.

It wasn’t as though absolutely no Constellations supported Keito, but the overwhelming majority were cheering for Kang Yujin, so those comments were quickly buried.

It can’t be helped!

Number 49 clenched his fist, thinking it was only natural.

Keito’s sudden betrayal was difficult even for the Constellations to understand.

Even the Constellations who had supported him until now seemed shaken after learning the truth he had been hiding.

Of course they’re going to cheer for Lord Kang Yujin!

Kang Yujin had been struck down by Keito’s attack.

Then, thanks to Jegal Geum’s sacrifice, he had risen again.

He had torn through enemy territory with unstoppable momentum, charged straight back at Keito, and finally reached close combat.

Who else were they supposed to cheer for in a situation like this?

He inherited Jegal Geum’s internal energy too! His resolve is clear! There’s no way he loses here!

Excited, Number 49 manipulated the camera.

The remotely controlled camera was transmitting Kang Yujin’s charge toward Keito directly to Constellation Tube.

Kang Yujin and Keito might be the ones fighting, but the reason the Constellations could enjoy the battle in such vivid, dynamic footage was entirely thanks to Number 49’s camera work.

All right, Lord Kang Yujin! Beat Saionji Keito down in the most spectacular way possible! I’ll make sure it looks incredible!

Thinking that, Number 49 swung the camera toward Keito.

But the moment he did...

Number 49 could only suck in a breath.

Even in this situation, Keito’s cold expression had not changed in the slightest.

Even as Kang Yujin approached, Keito felt no particular sense of danger.

"..."

He still held his Constellation Armament, Gandiva, in his hand.

Gandiva was a long-range weapon used to fire arrows and Astras.

Common sense said he should put it away before entering close combat.

But Gandiva was a divine bow with overwhelming durability, one that could not be broken no matter what attack struck it.

Its natural elasticity also allowed it to function as an impact weapon.

That was why Keito used Gandiva in close combat as both offense and defense.

Bang!

Kang Yujin’s attack finally came.

Keito blocked the fist with Gandiva.

The bow flexed and dispersed the force.

In the end, Kang Yujin failed to deal any damage.

At the next instant, Keito thrust out his empty left hand.

Thud!

This time, Kang Yujin blocked the attack with his forearm.

The sensation through Keito’s hand told him that Kang Yujin’s defense had improved since their last fight.

Internal energy.

Keito knew it as a technique used by Contractors from China and other parts of the continent.

Apparently, Kang Yujin had learned to use internal energy freely in the short time since they last fought.

But...

Keito also had techniques for strengthening his body.

As the former successor of an esoteric religious organization and the Contractor of the Indian Constellation Arjuna, Keito possessed Skills related to ‘chakras.’

He drew out greater power by activating the energy centers located throughout his body.

"...!"

Keito activated the chakras across his entire body and attacked.

His legs grew light.

His fists grew heavy.

Moving rapidly, he poured out a series of crushing blows.

Kang Yujin raised his guard.

Thunderous impacts rang out one after another, as though heaven and earth themselves were shaking.

Kang Yujin’s body jolted with every strike.

But this still wasn’t Keito’s full power.

“HAAH!”

Keito shouted and drew even more power from his chakras.

Feeling the energy spin through his body, he pulled one fist back.

Then he drove in a devastating blow.

BOOOOM!

The sound was far too violent to have come from a simple punch.

The sky and earth seemed to tremble together.

Keito’s attack broke through Kang Yujin’s defense.

It pierced the [Protective Aura] created by internal energy.

For the first time, Kang Yujin, who had refused to give ground until now, was pushed backward.

“HAAH!”

Keito did not stop to savor it.

He surged forward and continued attacking.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

Four...

Under Keito’s relentless barrage, Kang Yujin was forced entirely onto the defensive.

Every blow pushed him farther back.

Then Keito finished the combination by driving a punch into Kang Yujin’s abdomen.

THUD!

Kang Yujin’s body lifted into the air with the heavy impact.

So this is all.

Keito began considering how he should finish Kang Yujin off.

Then he saw Kang Yujin’s eyes flash while his body was still airborne.

"...?!"

Keito moved on instinct.

He punched toward Kang Yujin in midair.

But incredibly, Kang Yujin kicked off that fist and used it to stabilize himself in the air.

Was he always this skilled?

Keito was caught off guard.

BOOM!

A spinning kick exploded through the air.

Keito blocked with Gandiva, but the impact was strong enough to make his hands go numb.

He still had this much power left?

Unexpected.

But considering Kang Yujin was a Vessel just like him, perhaps this much potential was only natural.

Keito accepted that and tried to counterattack.

But...

THUD!

Kang Yujin had already moved to his flank and struck with a heavy blow.

Keito barely blocked with his forearm, but sharp pain throbbed through it.

When did he...?!

He had completely lost track of Kang Yujin’s movement.

The instant Keito felt shaken by that realization, Kang Yujin disappeared again.

Here!

There was no need to follow with his eyes.

No need to think.

Keito moved instinctively.

If it were Kang Yujin, he would enter from this angle.

Keito twisted his body sideways.

Just as expected, Kang Yujin was there with his fist drawn back.

"...!"

Keito had predicted where the attack would come from.

But he had not predicted how much power it would carry.

The massive blow completely shattered his defense.

And in that instant...

Keito realized something.

Kang Yujin had not been fighting at full strength either.

BOOM!

Watching Keito crash into the wall, Kang Yujin stood where he was for a moment and caught his breath.

His whole body ached from enduring Keito’s assault.

Then he had forced out a heavy counterattack on top of that.

Naturally, it had placed a tremendous burden on his body.

But...

I can do more.

He could feel it himself.

What he had thought was his full power until now...

had not actually been his limit.

Believing he could draw out even more strength, Kang Yujin clenched his fist.

Then he charged.

Keito was already getting back to his feet and preparing to counterattack.

The brief gap between them was enough for him to raise Gandiva and use an Astra.

A fierce attack surged toward Kang Yujin.

But Kang Yujin’s fist was already moving.

BOOM!

The Astra shattered against his internal-energy-infused fist.

An Astra weakened for rapid fire was no longer a threat to him.

Kang Yujin continued charging and threw another punch.

Keito once again used Gandiva as a shield.

But a bow was still a bow.

No matter how legendary it was, there were limits to using it as armor.

Kang Yujin forced the bow aside and drove his fist in.

The blow struck Keito’s left arm.

At last, Gandiva slipped from his hand.

"...!"

Keito immediately switched to fighting with both hands.

His techniques became more varied.

But losing his defensive weapon meant Kang Yujin’s strikes were now landing directly on Keito’s body.

“Keito...!”

THUD! THUD! BOOM!

Body collided with body.

Each impact shook the surroundings.

Every exchange accumulated damage across Kang Yujin’s body.

The same was true for Keito.

A close-quarters fight between two Vessels with superhuman bodies inflicted damage neither side could ignore.

Kang Yujin knew that.

He still didn’t stop.

Their first clash had begun with a fistfight meant to test one another.

Somehow, Kang Yujin felt their true conclusion should also be decided this way.

And he believed Keito felt the same.

─ They’re both insane!

─ What kind of exchange is this?!

─ Seeing them fight like this, their physical specs really are almost equal!

─ Kang Yujin inherited Jegal Geum’s internal energy, but Saionji Keito is enhancing himself with chakra. This won’t be easy.

─ No, but...

[S-rank Constellation ‘Dragon-Slaying Immortal’ sponsors 10,000,000 Origin Power.]

[Comment: Kang Yujin will win.]

─ Exactly!

─ Kang Yujin has the advantage right now!

Every muscle and bone in Kang Yujin’s body screamed in pain.

But with every attack he landed, his certainty grew.

I can win this fight.

Their raw physical specs were nearly identical.

Then what about everything else?

Keito was enhancing his body through some unknown technique, but in that regard Kang Yujin believed he had the advantage now that he possessed Jegal Geum’s internal energy.

No matter how extraordinary Keito was, he couldn’t simply surpass internal energy accumulated over ten years.

In terms of technique, however, Keito was ahead.

He had more real combat experience.

He had probably encountered far more varied techniques as well.

That was why, in pure combat ability, it was still difficult to determine a clear superior.

But what about something else?

"..."

Kang Yujin stared at Keito.

The two of them were fighting one-on-one.

No one else interfered.

Even their Constellations were not intervening.

But Kang Yujin did not believe he was fighting alone.

Jegal Geum had given him his internal energy at the cost of his life.

In a way...

Kang Yujin was fighting together with Jegal Geum.

And Kang Yujin had only made it this far to fight Keito one-on-one because his allies had taken care of the other enemies.

And above all...

He was watching from high above.

What about Keito?

Keito was simply fighting alone.

He had coldly struck down even Yuuki Hina, someone who deeply cared about him.

Of course, Keito had subordinates who respected him.

He was probably receiving support from his own Constellation as well.

But Keito didn’t seem aware of any of that.

To Keito...

only Keito existed.

Did that mean Kang Yujin had the advantage simply because he wasn’t alone while Keito was?

No.

This wasn’t some childish theory about friendship.

There was only one difference that mattered.

“HAAH...!”

Kang Yujin stamped down hard and thrust himself forward.

He swung his left arm, maximizing its striking power with [Fa Jin].

But Keito had perfectly read the trajectory.

Shhk!

An unpleasant sound.

Pain erupted near Kang Yujin’s left elbow.

Keito’s Spear Hand had stabbed through the tear in Kang Yujin’s protective suit left by the earlier Astra.

The wound was deep.

His left arm was probably useless now.

And that was exactly what Kang Yujin had wanted.

"...?!"

Keito’s eyes widened.

His hand, buried in Kang Yujin’s arm, wouldn’t come free.

Kang Yujin had swollen his muscles with internal energy, clamping tightly around Keito’s fingertips.

Of course, if Keito truly wanted, he could rip through Kang Yujin’s arm muscles and pull his hand free.

But the situation was so unexpected that it created a momentary opening.

That instant was what Kang Yujin had been waiting for.