Chapter IV
In a construction lot, where a new building was going up, a three story residence, the concentrate outer structure and metal girders were already up, Ranma and Ryoga faced off. Ranma knew Ryoga had perfected his Breaking Point Technique, but could it be adapted with the Hellfire Technique for an even deadlier one? Knowing Ryoga, it was possible.
But Ranma didn't want to take even the tiniest chance of Ryoga touching him with it.
Standing with a cockiness that he was known for, Ranma planted his hands on his hips, as Ryoga readied himself. Ryoga had one finger in the air. It was proven the Bakusai Tenketsu was harmless on humans, but the directionality of the effects of the technique was dangerous. When he used it, Ryoga received more damage than his opponent.
But Ranma knew Ryoga was stubborn. He'd use it anyway.
It was then Ranma suddenly realized the foolhardiness of his decision to challenge Ryoga. What if the fool actually, even accidentally, could master the Hellfire Technique? Ranma didn't want any crushed bones. He was a martial artist. He didn't want to be severely injured.
But a challenge was a challenge.
"Ready, Ranma? Here I come!"
Ryoga charged at Ranma. Ranma easily dogged Ryoga's attack, the Bakusai Tenketsu and pieces of rock and concrete left around the site flew in every direction, even in Ryoga's face. Ryoga had toughened himself up with training, so they didn't hurt him—much. But each attack, the fool kept getting more debris launched into his face, while Ranma remained unharmed.
"You challenged me, Ranma!" Ryoga chided. "So stop running away!"
"I don't know what the Hellfire Technique consists of—yet," Ranma said. "All you're showing me is the Breaking Point. You don't know how to do it, d'ya?"
Ryoga stopped and took a couple of deeps breaths, his face scratched up from debris. "Well, no…but I saw it. The doctor at the village gave me a demonstration and it destroyed some bog debris on a patient's knee. Just let me touch you, Ranma. I know I can perfect it."
Ranma laughed short, flipped, and jumped up to high ground. Ryoga approached him. Ranma balanced himself on a six floor thin, round, concrete pillar. Relaxed, knowing Ryoga had been bluffing he even knew the technique, Ranma slipped his hands in his pockets.
"This was waste of time," he said. "And now I'm going to get yelled at by Akane. She might not give me back the cure cream that Shampoo gave me. She can be vindictive!"
Ryoga cocked his head. "What cure cream?"
"Oh, some scheme Shampoo fell for again," Ranma said. "Some salesman said a special cream can cure the Jusenyko curse like that waterproof soap. We both know how that ended."
"A cure? And you kept it to yourself?"
"I told ya! It's a scam! And the instructions are so vague, it's hardly worth the effort."
"Then give it to me. I'll make the effort! I want to be rid of this curse! The curse you gave me!"
"I didn't give you nuthin' You fell into Jusenyko just like I did. It's your fault you followed me. A quest for vengeance and all that crap!"
"Give it to me, Ranma! Or, so help me, I'll make it my goal in life to perfect the Hellfire Technique and come back and crush every bone in your body!"
"What's this about the Hellfire Technique?"
Ranma and Ryoga turned to see Brimstone standing at the construction site entrance. His fiery red hair was his most prominent feature, but also clashed with his black priest's attire.
"I recognize you," Brimstone said, pointing, "You're Ryoga Hibiki. You stayed at my village for few weeks and helped my uncle with his medical duties."
Ryoga nodded.
"I'm sorry to tell you, but he passed away a week ago," Brimstone said, "that's why I'm here. He enjoyed the simple life, a quiet life, and simple medicine. I came to town to learn from others, better medicine techniques to help save my village. You said something about the Hellfire Technique? It's used mainly as a healing agent, but it can be used to harm another."
"I knew it," Ryoga said. "Can you show it to me?"
"Didn't you just hear me? It's a healing agent, not something to use to harm someone. It can be used as a defensive technique, however."
"Can you show it to me again?" Ryoga asked.
Brimstone looked hesitate. "Do you mean you want a demonstration?"
Ryoga nodded.
Ranma's eyes widened. "But you're a priest? You've taken an oath not to do harm. How the hell—I mean, heck—do you know such a dangerous technique? Even for defence?"
"Because my uncle was a martial artist in his younger days. He learned it from someone else who enjoyed hurting others, a terrible man. My uncle turned it into a medical technique, using a very mild version of it. He once hurt someone badly with it and promised never to use for evil again. But the Hellfire Technique was developed to hurt and maim."
"Once again, you're a priest."
"I'm a man of the cloth, but I still need to defend myself. The Hellfire Technique can used to hurt your opponent in as little as a single move. You can disable a person by setting fire to their insides, hence Hellfire. The nerves of person are set ablaze, literally exploding from within. The concussive blast blows bone and cartilage out of the body, causing maximum damage. That's if you want to hurt someone badly. Otherwise, medicinally, you use the ability to turn hardbound substances into a clay like material, so it can easily be shattered and removed."
"Just like what your uncle showed me with the peet bog material that hardened around one of the villager's knees," Ryoga said.
"Then don't teach that idiot! He's nuts!" Ranma rebuked.
"Unless you know what you're doing, you can't inflict maximum damage," Brimstone said. "My uncle showed you the technique one time, Ryoga. But let me show you the full force of the technique. And you two can be my opponents."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Ranma and Ryoga both said in unison.
"Okay, now you're the one whose nuts, pal!" Ranma said alone.
Brimstone smirked and then attacked. He was not like any priest Ranma had known. Brimstone's hand touched the pillar Ranma stood on, blowing it to pieces. Ranma jumped seconds before the impact. Ranma flipped and landed next to Ryoga.
"What the hell?" Ranma cursed. The attack was similar to the Bakusai Tenketsu.
Ryoga went into an attack of his own using a small version of Shishi Hōkōdan, so not to damage the building going up. But Brimstone fired a fiery blast from his hands, after bringing them together, and sent out a line of fire at Ryoga. Ryoga jumped out of the way.
Ranma already had had enough. He attacked Brimstone using martial artists, but Brimstone seemed to be an expert judge of Ranma's movements. Even lightning fast, Ranma was momentarily outmatched. But Ranma knew this was typical, he had no idea of Brimstone's capabilities. And Brimstone went to touch him with what could only be The Hellfire Technique.
Ranma delivered a kick, stopping the touch to his shoulder, and then flipped back to higher ground. He landed on the second lever of the building structure. He touched his left shoulder. For some reason, he could feel it warmth, as if his nerves were about to lit up and explode. Luckily, he had stopped it in time.
"Hey, pal!" Ranma addressed Brimstone. "What gives? We ain't your enemies! And what about that fire from your hands?"
Brimstone turned over his hands. Inside his sleeves were two small hoses with small triggers. "A little weapon I have to protect myself from thieves," he said. "They response to my hand movements and can fire a blast of fire. They are attached to small containers of nitroglycerin wrapped around my arms, the Hellfire Technique is too powerful to use on a regular basis."
"Then cut it out," Ranma said. "That technique is much too dangerous to teach anyone!"
Brimstone pointed to Ryoga. "But I have a score to settle with you, Ryoga Hibiki," he said. "And if you're associated with Hibiki, Ranma, then you are my enemies. He stole our most valuable treasure! This medical conference is just a means to end. Ryoga mentioned he often went to the Tendo Dojo to see someone. Well, now his treasure will be mine!"
Ranma looked at Ryoga. "What the hell did you do, Ryoga?"
"He murdered my uncle, our village treasure," Brimstone answered instead. "And now he's going to pay with his life for his crime!"
To be continued...
