"Mai Zenin eliminated," Masamichi Yaga announced calmly, observing the conclusion of the brawl.
"Wow, that girl is strong, Grandpa..." a young girl spoke in awe, looking down from the observation deck.
Maki, Miwa, and Mai's fight had just ended. Naobito Zenin grunted, taking a sip from his gourd.
"It's true; Maki is strong. She should be promoted to Grade 2 at least," Utahime Iori commented.
Naobito looked at Utahime, but before he could object, Satoru Gojo interjected, "I agree. We just watched Maki effortlessly dismantle both Mai and Miwa. No Grade 4 sorcerer can do that. Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, I'm sure you won't stand in the way of her promotion, right, Naobito?"
Naobito Zenin briefly frowned, then chuckled. "Yeah, I'll be sure to ponder this later..." he said, though his inner thought was clear: I am making sure she does not get that promotion.
The girl spoke again, "Oh, it looks like Tokyo Jujutsu High will win now, right? Grandpa, Kyoto Jujutsu High is already one person down..."
Gakuganji replied, "No. Mai was one of Kyoto High's weakest. Plus, Ren Sato isn't here, so it's technically a 4 vs. 4. Kyoto will still win."
"Nah, I don't think so," Gojo countered. "How much do you want to bet, old man? I think my students will take the win."
Gakuganji's eyes narrowed. "We have a Grade 1. Tokyo High has no one at that rank other than Ren Sato, and he is absent. How do you expect Tokyo High to win?"
"How much are you betting?" Gojo pulled out his wallet.
Gakuganji's grip on his walking stick tightened until the veins stood out on his hand. He glared back toward the balcony.
Gojo thought, Ha, it's funny how easy it is to rage-bait these old fools. Aoi Todo is strong; he is a Grade 1, and his Cursed Technique is troublesome. But even without Ren, there is still someone in Tokyo High no Grade 1 can defeat...
Just then...
The other side of the lakeside, a powerful gust of cursed energy wind slammed into Panda's face, pushing him back, nearly knocking him off balance. Before he could recover, a palm strike hit his face!
THUD!
Panda skidded several feet backward.
In front of him, Momo Nishimiya was perched on her broom, alongside Noritoshi Kamo, a tall young man with an "X" pattern over his right eye.
Noritoshi spoke, "Even with me using Blood Manipulation: Flowing Red Scale, you barely react to my strikes, huh? Fighting you is troublesome since you don't feel pain..."
"That's not true! I feel pain! I am a panda, you know?!" Panda retorted quickly.
Panda thought, 'This guy suddenly got stronger we have been in a hand to hand fight for a while now... Is that his jujutsu? He is doping! I didn't know blood manipulation could be used like that... And the girl flying is a problematic long-range support sorcerer.'
Noritoshi threw a red pack of his own blood at Panda and immediately shouted, "Blood Manipulation: Crimson Binding!"
The blood pack burst, instantly wrapping around Panda in a net, binding his hands and arms.
Bad! I can't move! I'm going to get jumped! Panda thought.
Noritoshi rushed forward, and Momo swooped down, blasting Panda with another gust of wind from her broom.
"He is a doll, right? No need to hold back; he can't die, can he?" Momo called out.
The wind hit Panda's head, knocking it down. Noritoshi was already in front of him, hands clapped together, pointing.
"Yeah, no need to hold back! Blood Manipulation: Convergence! Piercing Blood!"
The blood squeezed between Noritoshi's hands was ejected from his fingertips in a blindingly fast, thin beam. It pierced Panda's head.
BOOMMM!!!
SHHHKKK!!!!
Panda's body erupted from the combined force of Momo's wind gust and Noritoshi's piercing blood. The ground where Panda stood looked like a bomb had detonated...
"Phew, that was easier than expected. Now let's go help the others," Momo said.
Noritoshi remained still, staring at the dust until a voice emerged: "Ugh... So, just because I am a panda, you guys think you have the right to go all out, huh?"
Momo was visibly shocked. What? He survived that? I know his durability is strong, but this is insane! Noritoshi thought.
From the dust walked out Gorilla Mode: Panda!
"I'm kind of pissed off now," Panda growled.
Panda moved, swinging one of his massive gorilla-like hands at Noritoshi!
BANG!
Noritoshi was sent flying backward.
Momo shot upward, stunned, muttering, "What the hell is that?"
Panda thought 'Panda is not Panda! Panda is a cursed corpse! Normally, a Cursed Corpse only has one core as a heart, but I have three! The first is the everyday 'Panda Core', and then there is my big brother's core, the 'Gorilla Core', which I'm using now. In that last attack, my Panda Core was exhausted, and my third core, Big Sister's core, was also damaged. If I can't end the fight in this gorilla form, it's over...'
Momo dipped low, gliding on the ground with her broom, then shot up. "Wind Scythe!" A massive, cursed, energy-powered gust of wind shot at Panda.
Panda calmly raised his thick gorilla arms and blocked the gust: WOSSH!!
He huffed, "PUA," and jumped, trying to snatch Momo out of the air. Momo swiftly moved, flying higher. Panda landed.
I have to get to Noritoshi and take him out first. There's no point in fighting her; I'll be at a disadvantage, Panda decided, rushing toward where Noritoshi had crashed.
Noritoshi was coughing and bleeding against a tree. What was that? Out of nowhere his strike is stronger, but I'm sure I blocked it, so why does it feel like I still took the full force of the attack?
"Ha, so you noticed, right? This is Gorilla Mode's speciality! The Unblockable Drumbeat!" Panda announced.
Noritoshi quickly got up. If a strike like that hits my head or chest, I might not be able to get up again. My hand already feels like it's broken... I can't use Piercing Blood again... But Momo is here; I'll just keep my distance and attack from range.
And Panda thought, 'The power of Gorilla Mode really is bananas!' I'm sure I've at least cracked his arm; he won't be able to use his Piercing Blood effectively. His best bet is to stay at range, and with her in the sky, it would be troublesome to win a fight like that—but that's only if I let them fight like that!'
Panda lunged at Noritoshi.
Wosh!
Noritoshi moved out of the way just in time.
From behind, Momo flew down, throwing a gust of wind at Panda's back. Panda didn't move. He smashed both hands down on the ground, gripped the earth, and pulled. He did this quickly several times, flinging a massive amount of dirt and soil into the air. Momo's wind gust scattered the dirt into a thick cloud of dust. For a moment, Momo's vision was completely blocked.
Why would I fight them at range in an environment that complements them? I will simply distract her and take him out! Panda thought.
Noritoshi thought, 'Damn it! Some dust got in my eye! I have to keep moving. No, there's no point in moving. I have to get ready to attack the moment I see him; he is coming after me for sure! Noritoshi threw his arms up, ejecting all six remaining blood packs he carried. As they burst, blood poured out.'
"Slicing Exorcism!"
All the blood quickly formed into a single, massive wheel that began to rotate at high speeds. A big spinning blood wheel stood in front of Noritoshi as he scanned the dust.
Just then, Momo flew lower and threw another gust, clearing the dust away.
Panda was right behind Noritoshi, swinging his hands down in a haymaker!
Noritoshi lunged backward, launching the Slicing Exorcism at Panda.
Panda's fists and the blood wheel collided!
BANG!!!...
CLASH!!...
Panda held his ground, though one of his fists was slashed by the Slicing Exorcism. His other fist, however, grazed Noritoshi's shoulder. Noritoshi fell to the ground with a grunt.
"Ah, gosh darn it! How did you know I was coming to you? I was sure I'd be able to get you and then get her too. But, ugh, I guess now I can only take you down with me..." Panda muttered.
Panda began to fall forward onto Noritoshi.
"Hey! HEY! STOP! I GIVE UP! HEY!! AHH!" Noritoshi screamed.
Clap...
Panda fell to the ground but... Panda blinked he didn't fell down on Noritoshi...
"WHERE THE HELL IS THIS REN SATO!"