A muscular girl is presented to the passionate world of crossover anime.

Actually, Pico wasn't quite sure if the person in front of him was female. Although Hanon was beautiful, she didn't meet the standards of beauty in Pico's time. She was too thin and frail. There was a big difference in physiology between ancient and modern people, and it was even hard to say whether there was reproductive isolation. Hanon in Pico's eyes... was actually quite strange.

Pike saw a "red river" as if he had encountered it once before. It was too hot at the time, and he wanted to drink some "red water" to quench his thirst. Unexpectedly, the seemingly calm "red water" was extremely dangerous and "poisoned" Pike, making him recover for a long time. He was unable to hunt wild beasts for a while and could only rely on wild fruits to fill his stomach.

Pi didn't know what "red water" was; modern people call it "magma"...

But Pi knew that the small female in front of him was like the quiet "red water," seemingly flowing slowly, but beneath the calm surface was a deadly heat. If he took another step forward, he might be injured or even die!

The two faced off like that, one second, two seconds, three seconds... Suddenly, Pike lunged forward! Uh, he fell down.

Behind him was Dr. Payne, holding a syringe: "I don't know what's going on, but you've managed to keep Pike completely focused, but he's too dangerous when he's hungry. It's better for him to get some sleep."

"I have no objection." Hanon's eyes softened considerably: "Doctor, you're quite bold too~ I admire you."

Author's Note: Kanon's appearance in Pikachu's eyes will undergo several more changes; this is just a preview~

Section 743, Chapter 735: The Glory of the Warrior

When Lie Haiwang slowly awoke, the first thing he saw was a large bouquet of flowers. The fragrance of the flowers, mixed with the smell of medicine, wafted into his nostrils. Against the backdrop of white sheets, the flowers' vibrant colors were even more striking.

Retsukai knew he was in a hospital room.

My gaze shifted, and there stood Huayin next to the flowers. Even without makeup, she was more beautiful than the flowers, standing by the window admiring the scenery.

A sound came from the hospital bed, and without turning her head, Huayin knew it was Lie Haiwang: "You're awake."

"Ye Haihuang..." Lie Haiwang fell silent. He was severely injured, but his mind was not confused. The memories before he lost consciousness, every move he made in his fight with Pike... were all in Lie Haiwang's mind.

He had many questions to ask.

The first question: "How long was I unconscious?"

“It’s been a day and a half, from dinner the day before yesterday until now. Speaking of which, it’s almost lunchtime. How’s your appetite? I’ll go order takeout.”

"No, thank you..." The second question: "How is Pike?"

"Thankfully, he can eat and sleep well. He originally wanted to eat you, but Dr. Payne gave him an injection. No wonder he's a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry; the sedative he concocted is incredibly potent! Even someone as strong as skin couldn't withstand one injection. I'm thinking of getting some over there."

"...Thank you, Ye Haihuang."

"Huh? Why are you thanking me?"

“You said Pike wanted to eat me, but I’m not dead and all my limbs are intact. Obviously, he was stopped. Among the people present, neither Dr. Hao nor Adam could have done that, and Mr. Tokugawa and the two foreign elders were even less likely to. The only explanation is you, Ye Haihuang.”

"Oh, actually there are other people on the scene who could do that, like Hina. Hey, you don't know Hina? Actually, it could also be Ultraman who wandered in... cough cough, okay, it was indeed me, but I just distracted Pico so that he would get injected by the doctor."

Retsu Kaioh was already quite used to his routine with Kanon. When this sea emperor started to ramble on and on, all he had to do was put on a serious face and stare at her intently, and she would steer the conversation back on track.

However, Retsu Kaioh didn't realize that half of his face was swollen up. What serious expression? It was his big, blinking eyes, which seemed to be filled with tears, that moved Kanon!

Looking at Retsukai's face and limbs wrapped in bandages, Hana sighed softly, her attitude becoming more serious: "Don't take this defeat to heart. Although you lost, you performed exceptionally well, especially at the last moment. Even when there was no room for maneuver, you still subconsciously used 'force absorption,' which prevented Pike from smashing your head with a punch... Brother Retsu, I witnessed your battle, and your martial arts skills have improved even further!"

"Yes, that's right..." King Liehai knew that his martial arts had improved, but there was still a hurdle in his heart.

The third question: "Ye Haihuang, do you think I'm shameless?"

"Huh? Why do you ask that?"

"I was so focused on challenging Pike, I couldn't stop thinking about him, even when you reminded me to stop several times during the fight, I stubbornly continued. But at the very last moment, what I thought of was...escape. Now, lying in this hospital bed, I know deep down I'm grateful! Thank goodness Dr. Hao was here, thank goodness you came, Ye Haihuang, thank goodness my 'energy dissipation' has improved...I really wanted to live! But before challenging Pike, I clearly told Mr. Tokugawa that if I lost, I would let Pike eat me...I was despicable, utterly shameless!"

Hanon grinned. It was obvious that Retsukai-oh had suffered a blow from defeat. His upright character had caused him to develop inner demons, which would pose a great problem for his future martial arts training if not resolved... But she wasn't a psychologist, so she really didn't have much to say.

"Hey, Retsu, are you in pain?" Before Hanon could answer, another familiar voice suddenly came from the doorway. The two looked towards the door at the same time and saw that it was Shibukawa Goki and Adam, the master and apprentice.

The old martial saint piled up the gifts he had brought for visiting the sick man, chuckled, and walked to the bedside of the Sea King, tapping the cast on the Sea King's leg: "Does it hurt? Is it alright if I tap like this?"

Retsukai shook his head: "It's nothing."

Unexpectedly, Shibukawa retorted angrily, "Nonsense! I heard Adam describe your injury; your leg bone is protruding, and you just got a cast. It will definitely hurt a lot if I hit you like this!"

The old man, Shibukawa, sat down by the bedside, his expression turning peaceful and solemn: "But you weren't defeated by the excruciating pain in your leg. Instead, you faced it calmly. Retsukai-oh, you are a man of steel, a hero, and a role model for us martial artists!" Shibukawa gave Retsukai-oh a thumbs-up, then continued, "For someone as strong as you to suffer from inner turmoil and guilt is itself a kind of greatness. To feel pain means you're not numb; to realize the problem means there's still room for improvement. I can foresee that Retsukai-oh will become even stronger in the future, both physically and mentally."

"Teacher Shechuan..." Old ginger is spicier. Shechuan's words really helped Liehaiwang resolve his inner conflict, which moved him deeply. His throat felt dry, and he couldn't speak for a moment.

Shibukawa patted the back of his hand: "No need to say anything. Now, just feel this pain, be proud of it, and then run towards the future!"

The group visited Retsu Kaioh for a while longer. Retsu Kaioh was exhausted after being seriously injured, and with a nurse coming in to change his dressings, Hanon, Adam, and Shibukawa left the ward to let Retsu Kaioh rest. The three of them then went to a restaurant for lunch.

"So Pi is indeed a super powerful fighter~" Shibukawa asked while eating.

Hanon nodded: "He is indeed very strong. Adam has seen his performance and should have already told you about it."

"Indeed, but hearing is believing; you have to experience it for yourself to believe it." Shibukawa Takeki's expression was complicated. He put down his chopsticks, looked out the window at the sky, and seemed to be deep in thought.

Hua Yin suddenly remembered that, according to the results of the previous martial artists' "speed race," it would be Queen Liehai's turn to challenge Pike: "Are you... going to challenge Pike?"

Shibukawa abruptly withdrew his gaze, staring at Hanon for a long time without answering.

Kanon felt uneasy under his gaze: "Shibukawa-sensei, what's wrong with you...?"

“Sigh…” Shibukawa sighed deeply, “There’s no need for a challenge. I’ve already fought Pike, and I can’t beat him.”

"Huh?" Hanon exclaimed in surprise, then looked at Adam beside her, who also looked horrified: "Master, I've been with you these past two days, and I haven't seen you fight that Fvcking ape-man?"

Hanon, after her initial surprise, seemed to understand: "Is that the so-called highest level of 'Aikido'? You must have seen something terrifying, sir?"

Author's Note: This chapter was completed with considerable effort.

Section 744, Chapter 736: The Zoo

"Well, it's nothing special." Shibukawa laughed heartily as he said this, "It was just a zoo."

"A zoo?"

"Yes," the old martial saint said in a serious tone, "There are kittens, puppies, mice, foals, and even pandas... Hahaha, it makes one's childlike heart overflow, and one doesn't want to go inside."

Adam was drinking water when he heard this and spat it out: "Master, is this why you took me to the zoo before coming to the hospital?"

"...You're joking, old man." Hana also gave a wry smile.

It's not hard to imagine that Shibukawa's claim of seeing a "zoo" is probably true, but for the old martial saint to admit defeat, he probably saw prehistoric behemoths and ancient creatures—the scene must have been terrifying...

"I'm taking my disciple to the zoo at my own expense. You, kid, even though you're American, should know how to be grateful, right?" Shibukawa said with a smile and a scolding tone. His gaze behind his glasses softened a bit. "I just realized that I've devoted my life to martial arts and rarely spent time with my family, so I wanted to relax a bit."

Shibukawa Goki was a man of strong character, and he would never admit to seeing something so terrifying. In reality, it was true that he lamented that he had devoted his life to martial arts and spent little time with his family, but the cause of this lament was not that he was moved by the small animals, but rather that he felt genuine fear when faced with the martial arts illusion of ferocious beasts filling the world.

A kitten? A saber-toothed tiger!

A puppy? A Steppenwolf, perhaps!

A little mouse? It's a Tyrannosaurus Rex...

A little pony? It's a hoofed beast...

Oh, the giant panda is true. I heard that this national treasure of China was quite fierce in ancient times, and Chiyou even rode it in battle.

Shibukawa Goki had already realized that if he went any further, he would be met with a fierce battle: Aikido versus endless primal wildness. What awaited him was exhaustion from the battle and eventual being devoured by the beasts.

In truth, ever since the old martial saint reached the pinnacle of Aikido, every time an illusion appeared, the outcome was never good. The only correct choice was to leave immediately; only by not fighting could one avoid defeat. Therefore, yesterday afternoon, after lingering for a long time in front of the Tokyo Dome's underground arena, Shibukawa Goki ultimately chose not to step inside, acknowledging his defeat.

"Tch, I really wish I hadn't mastered this realm. Life would be safer, but I would also lose a lot of fun." The struggle that the old martial saint felt was no less than that of the sea king. The words he had just used to comfort the sea king were actually mostly his own thoughts of comforting himself.

Although Mr. Shibukawa had some regrets, people only cherish the beauty of life more when they realize that their lives are threatened. Just like taking a walk in the zoo with his disciples and enjoying the joy of family life, or having a meal with Kanon at this moment and encouraging the younger generation to make progress: "I can't beat Pike. Even if I gain a little advantage, it won't help. In the end, I will definitely be defeated or even die... Let's leave the opportunity to you young people."

There were only three people at the table: Shibukawa Goki, Kanon, and Adam. Everyone knew Adam's level; he was strong, but not as strong as Shibukawa Goki or Retsu Kaioh. Expecting him to deal with Pi was wishful thinking. The old martial saint's meaning was very clear.

"Who? Me?" Hanon blinked and pointed to herself.

"Of course it's you. That day when everyone was having a racing competition, after Retsu Kaioh and me, it was you and Kaeya."

"Ah, well..." Hanon scratched her head. She had been feeling complicated lately because of the superpower thing. She was only a little curious about Pike and had no intention of going all out in the fight. This time, Retsu Kaioh hadn't suffered any irreversible damage. He wasn't dead or crippled, so there was no reason for Hanon to be so angry as to take action.

Moreover, Pike is incredibly strong and doesn't understand the "rules of the game" in modern society. Once they clash, it will be a fight to the death, and it will be difficult for Kanon to escape unscathed. Ever since the elimination rounds, Kuroki has said that Kanon is a "master of victory and defeat" rather than a "seeker of the Way." Why would he inexplicably send her to fight Pike to the death? That's ridiculous.

Shibukawa Takeki also noticed Kanon's reluctance. The old man, with his rich life experience, naturally understood Kanon's thoughts: "Hehe, if you don't want to fight, that's fine. No one will force you~"

"Well, I actually have no intention of competing with Piccolo. I told everyone that before when we were fighting for the right to fight Piccolo at the US military base."

“Sigh, back then when everyone saw you at the US military base, they all thought you were joking. Nobody believed you really didn’t want to fight.”

"...Don't try to guess what other people are thinking with your own petty thoughts!"

Things were cleared up, and the three of them prepared to continue their lunch, but their meal was interrupted again.

That person was someone I knew.

"Hello, all three of you." Katsumi Oji walked over and greeted them politely.

"Brother Katsumi? What brings you here!" I always run into acquaintances when I go out for a meal. Is Kanon just too well-connected?

“I came to visit the Sea King, but he had already gone to bed. The nurse said that you guys went out for a meal, so I asked the disciples of the Divine Heart Society to help me look for him.”

Sigh, so what if you have a million disciples? Don't use your numerical advantage so casually!

Of course, Kanon and the others didn't mind. They pulled up a chair next to them and said, "Since you're here, let's sit down and have a simple meal together."

Katsumi didn't stand on ceremony and sat down to eat. Martial artists have big appetites. Even women like Kanon and the elderly like Takeki Shibukawa eat far more than ordinary people. Moreover, there were tall men like Katsumi and Adam at the table. The dishes were piled up high, attracting the attention of the restaurant staff and other diners.

"Burp—" Now that they had eaten and drunk their fill, there were four of them, and they sat down at the table to start chatting again.

“I come from the Tokyo Dome, that ‘zoo’,” Katsumi suddenly blurted out.

"What?" The remaining three raised their eyebrows. Could it be that Katsumi had also heard what Shibukawa Goki had said before? Or had he also reached a very high level of Aikido, and was able to foresee danger and see the same illusions as Shibukawa Goki?

"It's chaotic over there... Why are you all looking at me?"

"It's alright, please continue. Is things in disarray on Mr. Tokugawa's side?"

"Yes, things are in chaos." Katsumi took a sip of tea. "I heard that after Retsukai-oh was defeated by Pike, Shibukawa-sensei was also seen loitering near the Tokyo Dome?"

Shechuan nodded firmly: "Yes."