In a blinding instant, Shinji found himself engulfed by a furious barrage of counterattacks, each blow landing with deliberate intent and unerring precision. These devastating impacts sent the devil-man reeling back several feet, yet it was a trial he seemed capable of enduring. His formidable physique and inherent enhanced durability proved pivotal in his resistance to the relentless damage. As he swiftly regained his footing, he snorted, a crimson spray escaping his nostrils, before a faint silver aura briefly enveloped his form, his body miraculously mending itself.
"Well, damn," he rasped, a menacing grin still etched upon his features as he wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve.
"You certainly pack one hell of a punch; that's for damn sure." To have been dismissed was one thing, but to now confront such profound adversity, teetering on the precipice of death itself, his eyes widened with the stark realization that he was utterly outmatched. Despite this grim assessment, a thrill coursed through him; his adrenaline surged, energy coursing through his veins, igniting an almost perverse excitement.
Mazu: "Again…"
Mazu commanded, his voice carrying the weight of a seasoned mentor guiding a promising, if unruly, pupil. His demeanor exuded a humble confidence, an unshakeable certainty in his own power. Shinji, though still smarting, offered a defiant smirk; surrender was not yet an option. This only solidified his resolve to push beyond his current limits in his pursuit of victory. A direct assault, he now understood, would prove utterly futile. Lacking the means to accurately gauge Mazu's true capabilities, the precise disparity in their raw speed and power remained elusive, yet it was undeniably clear that Mazu held the distinct advantage.
"Nah… I'm beat," he conceded, a soft chuckle escaping him as he readily embraced his defeat. Shinji's grin remained, not one of disappointment, but of a frank acknowledgment that his abilities had been thoroughly outmatched. His opponent had effortlessly countered his last rush attack, yet his decision to withdraw wasn't born of fear. In truth, his motivation was entirely self-centered. "You know, I'm actually quite hungry," he remarked, just as an aggressive growl emanated from his stomach. He then casually interlocked his fingers behind his head, letting his palms rest against his neck in a gesture of relaxed surrender.
"Besides, fighting means I'll just have to get creative and go all out, and it's kinda hard to do that on an empty stomach."
Shinji let out a menacing laugh, though it wasn't aimed at mocking Mazu. The aggressive aura that had surrounded him moments before swiftly dissipated, but this didn't mean his guard was down. With a simple, almost imperceptible hand gesture, a small cloud of gray smoke swirled around his palm before vanishing, revealing a bag of
"Sweet Heat BBQ" chips. His eyes, usually sharp and focused, now sparkled with a mix of greed and gluttony. It was just a simple snack, yet to Shinji, every single bite was a moment to be savored – a symphony of salty, sweet, and a sharp, spicy sting. His mouth watered at the mere sight of the bag, which he clutched to his chest like a cherished stuffed animal, his eyes wide with pure joy. For a brief moment, he completely zoned out, entering his own imaginary space field, filled with massive bundles and giant, floating "Sweet Heat BBQ" chips. As he tore open the bag, the aroma only deepened his euphoric state. Shinji was, without a doubt, unbelievably obsessed with this humble bag of chips.
*NOM*
The moment he took that first bite, an astonishing surge of ki erupted from him, violently shattering the ground beneath his feet. His aura blared wildly, engulfing him entirely in a blinding crimson light
*NOM NOM NOM*
Despite Shinji stuffing his face, the crowd looked on in utter confusion, staring in complete silence. They couldn't quite tell if this was some bizarre battle of entertainment or if the "devil kid" had simply gotten bored and decided he was done participating.A random voice from the crowd broke the quiet, "Boooooo!! What the hell is this kid doing? He's going to..."His sentence was abruptly cut short. He felt as if he'd just stared death right in the face.Shinji had stopped eating.The sheer force of Shinji's glare, directed at the heckler, was enough to make the fellow in the crowd collapse to his knees – a weak, incompetent individual who clearly understood nothing about the profound battle between two true warriors. As prideful and obnoxious as Shinji was, he wasn't afraid to admit defeat, though fortunately, this wasn't one of those times. He grinned, turning his attention back to Mazu, his sharp teeth still gleaming. With a quick, sudden burst of flames, he incinerated the chip bag into ashes. He tried once more to get a read on Mazu, squinting his eyes, but still, he sensed absolutely nothing. This genuinely puzzled him. He crossed his arms, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, you're definitely not..." He expressed his feeling that Mazu was strange, that something was clearly off about him. He couldn't sense a single thing emanating from him, as if he were a ghost or even a dead body. "So what the hell are you??"Shinji pondered this human's existence, a situation he'd never encountered before – a human whose ki he couldn't sense. He had so many questions.

Max Power Level: 9,000
Current Power Level: 8,500