"What if you lose?"
Hearing Yamcha's question, Garou froze for a moment before glaring at him fiercely. He pointed at himself with his thumb and said word by word:
"I will never lose."
Yamcha tilted his head. "So if you lose, you're planning to cheat?"
Their argument was starting to attract attention, and soon, a group of fellow disciples gathered around, eager to watch the drama unfold.
"Hmph!"
Garou snorted coldly. He took a deep breath, scanning the crowd before seemingly making a firm decision.
"If I lose…
I'll leave this place."
"No need. That means nothing to me."
Yamcha shook his head, speaking in a peculiar tone—neither fast nor slow.
"Then what do you want?"
"If you lose…"
Yamcha's eyes casually drifted to a section of the stone wall near Garou's feet. He pointed at a random corner and said, "If you lose, break off that piece of stone for me."
"A stone? Are you looking down on me?"
Garou glanced at the stone wall beneath him, his expression darkening as if he wanted to devour Yamcha alive. He felt insulted.
'This cheating bastard! Do you really think you've already won?'
"Are you accepting or not? If not, I'm leaving."
Garou's expression flickered, but since he had nothing to lose, he answered firmly, "Fine!"
'I'll make you understand how strong I am!'
The next moment, his entire body tensed, muscles tightening as he entered battle mode. It was as if flames were burning around him.
He was going to teach this so-called chief disciple—who only got the title through cheating—a lesson.
His eyes swept over Yamcha, searching for the best opening to strike.
'So many weak points all over his body. He's just some rich idiot—completely unfit for martial arts. This time, victory is mine!'
With that thought, Garou was ready to pounce, already envisioning his victory.
"Wait!"
"This isn't the place for a match."
Yamcha's words interrupted him, and without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away. He didn't even seem worried about a sneak attack.
Would Garou attack from behind?
No, he wouldn't. He was too proud to win that way.
Every challenger before had been defeated by him in a fair fight.
"If we're going to fight, we do it in the dojo."
His tone was calm, as if Garou wasn't challenging his position, but merely engaging in a friendly spar.
Garou hesitated for a moment, but then, almost unconsciously, followed Yamcha.
'Why am I listening to him?'
By the time he snapped out of it, they had already reached the dojo.
'Whatever. Since I'm here, I'll just win and take the chief disciple title. After that, he'll listen to me!'
He reassured himself with that thought.
The other disciples, eager for a show, followed as well. Though many disliked Garou, they disliked Yamcha—the cheater—even more.
Since the two were fighting, no matter who lost, it wouldn't be their loss.
Inside the dojo, Garou raised three fingers, his arrogance even stronger than before.
"Three moves. I'll defeat you in three moves."
As he made his victory declaration, he took up the stance of Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist.
"Wait."
Before he could attack, Yamcha interrupted again.
"What now?"
Garou's battle aura wavered again. His eyes showed clear impatience and frustration.
"Before sparring, we must bow to our opponent. Master Bang taught us that."
"Ah—right!"
At the mention of Bang, Garou immediately changed. He obediently bowed to Yamcha, who returned the gesture.
'Damn it! Why am I listening to him again?!'
'Next time, no matter what, I'll attack even if he interrupts me!'
He made a silent vow.
In battle, momentum was key. Strike while the iron is hot—hesitate, and the fire cools.
After being interrupted twice, Garou had lost some of his initial energy.
But Yamcha wasn't doing this to weaken his momentum—he was doing it to weaken his hostility.
Hostility was a form of battle aura, and Garou had far too much of it. Especially when someone insulted Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist or Master Bang, his attacks became ruthless and deadly.
This extreme mindset was dangerous. If left unchecked, he would eventually harm his fellow disciples—and even innocent people.
Martial arts wasn't just about strength—it was about discipline, too.
As chief disciple, it was Yamcha's responsibility to correct his junior's mindset.
And the best way to do that?
Beat him up.
If one beating didn't work, then two would do the trick.
As soon as they finished bowing, Hungry Wolf launched his attack—he had reached his limit.
He wasn't called the strongest villain of One Punch Man for nothing. His martial arts talent was monstrous.
Even after just a few months of training, his Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist was already formidable. His speed and strength had reached terrifying levels.
His technique even had a resemblance to Yamcha's Wolf Fang Fist from when he was 12 years old—before he got the Superpower Training Box a year ago.
That was a huge compliment.
Twelve-year-old Yamcha had already been stronger than his Dragon Ball counterpart at sixteen. For Garou to reach that level after only a few months of training—his talent was undeniable.
"Flowing Water Rock Shattering Fist!"
Like an arrow released from a bow, Garou shot toward Yamcha.
To the watching disciples, he was just a blur. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Yamcha.
Fast—unbelievably fast!
Other disciples who had trained just as long as him couldn't even useFlowing Water Rock Shattering Fist properly, but Hungry Wolf had already mastered it.
Not all people were born equal.
Without hesitation, he launched a flurry of attacks at Yamcha—wild, relentless, like a raging storm.
His fists seemed random, like a desperate brawler's swings.
But they weren't.
Every strike was aimed at Yamcha's joints and vital points—each spot targeted at least eight times. His speed was so extreme that it seemed like he had eight arms.
This reminded Yamcha of an old martial artist from the Dragon Ball world.
A fighter who appeared only twice in the 22nd and 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament.
Someone whose reputation was far greater than his actual skill.
Eight-Handed Fist—King Chappa.
'Do you see this, Master Bang? This is my growth! I should be your chief disciple!'
(End of Chapter)