Chapter 1

Mihono Suoh, the newly appointed CEO of Suoh Steelworks, paced nervously in her office. Her young face was etched with worry, and dark rings encircled her worried eyes. She was no stranger to stress, but the burden of her father's legacy had thrust her into a position she never expected. Her moderately-sized bosom rose and fell with each anxious breath, and a despairing expression lingered on her face.

Her life had taken an unexpected turn when her father, the previous CEO of Suoh Steelworks, passed away suddenly. In accordance with his will, she had been thrust into the role of CEO. However, her inauguration had coincided with the onset of the century's worst global financial crisis, and Suoh Steelworks bore the brunt of the recession.

Mihono had heard whispers of the Kengan matches from her father. She considered it as a possible solution to her company's financial woes, but there was a glaring problem – she needed a fighter. She had no experience in gambling or participating in such high-stakes matches. The thought of it being the final blow to her company made her groan in despair as she slumped onto her office sofa, questioning the cruelty of life.

Suddenly, the commotion outside her office door shattered her thoughts. Security guards were yelling at someone, refusing them entry to her floor. The sounds of struggle and fighting followed, along with pleas for backup.

"Sir, I'm afraid you can't go in there," one of the guards insisted, his voice quivering with a hint of fear.

The response was a menacing growl, "I don't think you understand. I'm going in."

Panic surged through Mihono as she wondered if this was some sort of hitman sent to eliminate her. She let out a fearful yelp as one of her security guards was hurled through her office door.

In walked a towering figure, a man with dark tousled hair, clad in baggy pants, slippers, and a simple tank top that barely contained his bulging muscles. His physique was imposing, his muscles rippling as he moved. But what stood out the most was his staggering height – a formidable 7 feet tall. The young man held one guard by the head as if they were a mere toy, while the other was casually stashed in his pocket.

Each step he took caused the entire floor to shake. His presence was emitting pressure that Mihono couldn't tell if she was hallucinating or he was actually growing.

The remaining security guards attempted to form a defensive barrier between Mihono and the intruder, who had now entered her office. They brandished their batons and Tasers, their faces etched with determination.

The imposing figure, Shilin Lingshisan, regarded them with an almost amused expression. "You guys sure you want these fade?" he remarked casually.

One of the guards, sweat beading on his forehead, shouted, "Identify yourself! What's your business here?"

Shilin Lingshisan's deep voice resonated through the room. "Name's Shilin Lingshisan, seventeen and single. I'm here to talk to the CEO."

Mihono couldn't help but gape at the sheer presence of the man before her. "S-seventeen?" She thought while wondering what on earth were his parents feeding him to make him this tall and big. She hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "I-I'm the CEO. What do you want?"

The imposing figure lowered the guard he was holding and tossed him aside with casual ease. He turned his attention to Mihono, his dark eyes meeting hers. "I heard you might need a fighter," he said, his voice surprisingly calm despite the chaos that had just unfolded.

Mihono blinked, her initial fear giving way to curiosity. "You're here to fight for me?"

Shilin Lingshisan chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "Well, that depends. Are you willing to bet it all on me?"

Mihono's shock was palpable. She struggled to find her words, torn between fear and curiosity. She couldn't help but blurt out, "But you're only seventeen?"

Shilin Lingshisan nodded, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Age is just a number," he replied, his deep voice resonating in the room. "Besides I'm not leaving until you say yes anyway."

Mihono glanced at her bewildered guards, then back at Shilin. She couldn't deny the air of menace that surrounded him, but there was something intriguing about his presence. "I... I'm listening," she said tentatively.

Shilin's smile widened, revealing a glint of confidence. "Let's discuss how I can help you turn the tide for Suoh Steelworks."

***

Shilin Lingshisan, his imposing figure dominating his Suzuki GSX-1300R motorcycle, sped through the streets with the wind in his face. He wore a Yaujta helmet model adorned with lights on the sides, giving him a formidable and mysterious appearance. The roar of the engine filled the air as he headed straight for an abandoned park, where destiny awaited.

Upon his arrival, Shilin's eyes scanned the scene, and he couldn't help but crack a smile. As he swung a leg over his bike and stood up, a creaking sound echoed through the desolate park. It was as if the the bike could barely hold his weight.

Mihono Suoh, accompanied by her guards, awaited him. Shilin approached her with measured steps, his smile never leaving his face. It was a smile that held both friendliness and an underlying edge.

Mihono Suoh approached him, a mixture of relief and trepidation in her eyes. "Shilin, you made it," she said, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety.

Shilin's response was a friendly nod, though his eyes held a glint of determination. "Of course, boss. I'm here to fight."

Mihono wasted no time and informed Shilin about his opponent, her voice tinged with a hint of worry. "Shilin, you'll be facing Kawabu Tokiseki," she began, her tone cautious. "He's suspected of being a cheating fighter, but we couldn't find any proof."

Shilin quirked an eyebrow, his expression unwavering. "Cheating, huh?" He paused for a moment, his eyes locked onto Mihono's. "I'll keep my guard up. Don't worry."

Then, Shilin got to the point, his voice low and filled with anticipation. "So, how much are you betting on me?"

Mihono's reply was swift, her resolve evident. "I'm betting $3 million on your victory."

A grin spread across Shilin's face, his dark eyes narrowing as he chuckled softly. "A wise choice," he murmured, his voice carrying a dangerous undertone. "I won't disappoint you, Miss Suoh."

Shilin couldn't help but chuckle, his grin taking on an almost predatory quality. As he chuckled, his pupils seemed to vanish into dark voids, an unsettling transformation. "Tonight," he muttered to himself, "will be a feast."

The sudden change in Shilin's demeanor sent a shiver down the spines of Mihono and her guards. It was as if they were cornered prey, helpless before a relentless predator.

Arriving at his designated corner in the arena, Shilin wasted no time. He handed over his jacket and Yaujta helmet to Suoh's guards, his voice stern and his warning clear. "Don't damage my merchandise," he warned, his gaze filled with an unspoken threat, "or I'll break your bones."

Meanwhile, in the crowd, a mix of the CEO and other wealthy investors watched in shock and awe as Shilin's colossal figure and bulging muscles came into view. Murmurs of speculation filled the air, with some wondering if he was doping himself with performance-enhancing drugs.

"Is that guy for real?"

"He's gotta be on something, right? No one's that big naturally."

"Look at the size of that guy!"

"He's like a mountain!"

"Do you think he's on steroids?"

"That's some serious performance-enhancing drugs."

"Is that guy even human?"

"How is this even fair?"

As the anticipation in the crowd grew, Mihono approached Shilin once more, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Shilin, are you sure about this?"

Shilin flashed her a confident grin, his eyes glinting with bloodlust. "Don't worry, I've got this."

As for Mihono Suoh, she stood there, silently praying that she had made the right decision, her eyes fixed on Shilin's muscular back, her fate intertwined with the mysterious fighter she had pinned her hopes on.

***

On the opposite side of the ring, Shilin's gaze locked onto his opponent for the night, Kawabu Tokiseki. Kawabu had the physique befitting a fighter, clad only in a pair of boxers with tapes tightly wound around his wrists and ankles. The two fighters sized each other up, a tense atmosphere enveloping the arena.

Kawabu, with a wicked grin on his face, made a slit-throat sign in a mocking gesture toward Shilin. It was a provocative move, an attempt to unnerve his imposing adversary. But it had an unintended consequence.

Shilin's bloodlust surged, emanating from him like a force of nature. The entire arena shook, prompting gasps and startled expressions from the spectators. To the uninitiated, it might have felt like an earthquake, but the referees, Mihono, and Kawabu understood it for what it truly was – raw, unadulterated killing intent.

Kawabu's once-confident smile faded into a frown, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He had underestimated his opponent. Shilin was no ordinary fighter.

As the two combatants closed the distance between them, Kawabu began analyzing his opponent's strengths and weaknesses. He noted that Shilin's towering height and formidable size granted him greater reach and strength, but it also meant he might be susceptible to exhaustion and attacks if he could evade those powerful blows.

A sly smirk crept onto Kawabu's face as he spotted something hidden within the tapes wrapped around his wrists – needles. He had a plan forming in his mind.

The referees approached, explaining the rules to the fighters. "Anything goes in this match," one of them declared, a solemn reminder of the brutal nature of the Kengan matches. They turned to Shilin and Kawabu. "Are you both ready?"

Kawabu couldn't resist one last taunt. "You're way over your head, big guy."

Shilin's response was unexpected. He simply ruffled Kawabu's head as if he were a mischievous child, his grin never faltering. The gesture was laden with an air of playful confidence, leaving both his opponent and the audience baffled. Shilin had just shown that he had more than one side to him, and Kawabu couldn't help but wonder what he was truly up against.

The crowd, watching this interaction, couldn't contain their reactions.

"He treated him like... like a kid!"

"Is he underestimating him?"

"I've never seen Kawabu treated like this before!"

"He's not taking this seriously, is he?"

Kawabu, however, saw through the act. He perceived Shilin's mocking smile as if he were a child looking at a toy. It infuriated him, an insult that cut deeper than any words could. Kawabu's anger simmered beneath his facade, and he knew he had to prove that he was not to be underestimated.

The referee eyed the two fighters, his gaze unwavering, before bringing down his hand with a resounding shout, "Begin!"

The moment the fight started, Kawabu Tokiseki sprang into action, launching a barrage of wild punches. The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement mounting as they witnessed the frenzied exchange. Kawabu's strategy was clear – close the gap and limit Shilin's options by getting in close.

Normally, rushing in without a plan could be suicidal, but when facing an opponent with a significant reach advantage like Shilin, there were limited options. One had to advance and shorten the gap to minimize the opponent's ability to strike effectively. With Shilin's towering height and imposing size, this approach put him at a severe disadvantage. If Kawabu got too close, Shilin wouldn't be able to utilize his full strength.

The spectators in the crowd couldn't contain their excitement, their voices rising in a chorus of excitement.

"Look at that speed!"

"Kawabu's going all out from the start!"

"Look at Kawabu go! Put 10 million on Kawabu!"

"Newbie better watch out. Kawabu's on the attack!"

"He's going all in!"

However, amidst the excitement, some in the crowd began to voice their doubts.

"Is he just rushing in without a plan?"

"Could he be underestimating his opponent?"

That was exactly what Kawabu had in mind. However, what he hadn't accounted for was Shilin's remarkable instincts and intuition. As Kawabu continued to throw punches, Shilin evaded each attack with uncanny ease. He didn't counter, nor did he retaliate. It became increasingly clear to everyone watching that Shilin wasn't fighting Kawabu; he was playing with him.

"What's that guy doing? Why isn't he fighting back?"

"Is he toying with Kawabu?"

"This guy is on a different level!"

"We came here for a fight not a dance fight!"

But why hadn't Shilin attacked yet? Was it because he saw Kawabu as weak? Did he look down on his opponent? The answer was none of the above. Shilin had a different motive – he was putting on a show.

Kawabu, though aware of what was happening, found himself trapped. He had foolishly allowed his pride as a fighter to push him into a situation where he had no choice but to keep going. If he stopped, he would lose the upper hand, and Shilin knew it. 

Meanwhile, Mihono watched in awe, her heart pounding with excitement. She couldn't contain her cheers as she rooted for her fighter. The spectacle before her made her giddy, "That's it, Shilin! Keep going!" she shouted, her voice filled with enthusiasm. As the fight continued, she couldn't resist increasing her bets, the thrill of the battle consuming her.

Mihono leaned in closer to her guards and whispered, "Do you think Shilin knows what he's doing?"

One of the guards replied, "I'm not sure, but he seems confident on what his doing."

Kawabu, struggling to catch his breath, muttered to himself, "This guy... he's making a fool out of me." The realization of Shilin's strategy gnawed at his pride as a fighter. He knew he had to change tactics, or he would be played like a puppet in Shilin's hands. "He's playing with me like a damn toy."

Back in the fight, Kawabu's stamina was depleting rapidly, and frustration was building within him. He growled and yelled at Shilin, "Fight me like a man!"

Shilin blinked, as if taken aback by the request, before a savage grin spread across his face. It was a wicked, predatory expression that sent chills down Kawabu's spine. Shilin was ready to unleash the beast within, and the true battle was about to begin.

Kengan Ashura OST - Clash

Shilin's widened smile sent shockwaves through those who were close enough to witness it. Kawabu, being the closest, could only stare in utter shock as he focused on Shilin's teeth, particularly his canines. They were unusually large, almost primate-like in size, and they seemed to be growing more pronounced with each passing second. Shilin's muscles bulged, his shirt unable to contain his expanding form as it began to tear apart at the seams.

The sudden transformation left the spectators near Shilin in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the spectacle unfolding before them. It was a surreal and terrifying sight.

"He's not human!"

"What kind of fighter is this?"

"This is unreal!"

Shilin, with his now-pronounced canines on full display, made a daring gesture, beckoning Kawabu with a challenging grin. "Bring it."

Kawabu, though terrified, couldn't back down now. He let out a war cry and charged at Shilin. It wasn't the giant's size that terrified him, nor was it the inevitable loss he felt looming over him. It was something more primal, something that stirred in the depths of his fighter's instincts.

Kawabu knew he had already lost the moment Shilin switched to the offensive. It was the insatiable hunger for violence emanating from Shilin, a predator who had awakened due to an ignorant prey. Kawabu had no choice but to attack, like an animal desperate to survive.

But what Shilin did next took everyone by surprise. Instead of a powerful punch or a devastating kick, Shilin employed Aikido techniques with expert precision. He tossed Kawabu into the air, and to the astonishment of the crowd, he landed gracefully on his feet.

"Did you see that move?"

"Shilin's not playing around anymore!"

"What just happened?"

As Kawabu tried to regain his bearings, Shilin leaned in close, whispering to him with a sinister grin, "You dropped something." With lightning speed, Shilin revealed what he had hidden within his massive fist.

Kawabu's eyes widened in sheer horror. It was the needles he had concealed earlier, now firmly in Shilin's grasp. Panic surged through him as he realized the dire predicament he was in.

Before he could react, Shilin delivered a brutal hammer fist directly to Kawabu's skull. The force of the blow was overwhelming, and Kawabu's world went dark as he crumpled to the ground.

Shilin, seemingly unfazed, stealthily disposed of the needles as the referee announced his victory to the shocked and awed crowd. It was a display of power and cunning that left everyone in the arena in awe of the enigmatic fighter known as Shilin Lingshisan.

The spectators were left in a state of disbelief, their voices hushed as they struggled to process what they had just witnessed.

"Did you see that?  Kawabu had needles hidden!"

"That Shilin guy is a monster!"

"Did you see those teeth?"

"Shilin is on another level!"

"Kawabu got what he deserved!"

Meanwhile, Mihono watched the spectacle unfold with unbridled excitement. "Yes! That's my fighter! You did it!" Her heart raced, and she couldn't contain her joy as her fighter, Shilin, dominated the match. The realization that she had not only made the right choice but also won her bet filled her with glee. She turned to one of her guards, excitement in her voice. "We did it! We won!"

The guard nodded, sharing in her excitement as they watched Shilin's victorious and imposing figure standing tall in the ring.

In the midst of the chaos, Kawabu's corner rushed to tend to their fallen fighter. The realization of defeat weighed heavily on them, and they could only watch as Shilin's hand was raised in victory.

Shilin, his savage grin still in place, left the ring with an air of confidence and power, leaving behind a crowd that would remember his name for a long time to come.