Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 30

On the first barrier of their insane climb up Mt. Fuji, the hard-punching J heads for a burning pool of sulphur where he faces Raiden of the Gougakuren Sanmenken...but will his fists be enough to handle his mustached opponent?

Chp. 30: Sulphur-Barrier Death Match

66.
Fuukai: This is one of the three great sulphur springs of Japan: Fuji Shakugokusen. It is here at the “Shakumyakuiou-kan”, the 1st Evil of Otokojuku’s ultimate-level specialty “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu” that we will fight. Everyone else will steadily prop their balls; it will be unforgivable if you move even a single step from there!!
(TN: “Fuji Shakugokusen” = “Fuji’s Burning Prison Spring”)

67.
Fuukai: Please watch!
Rabbit: Pi—
Togashi: ……………!!

68.
Date: Fufufu, interesting…………
Fuukai: As you’ve seen, this is a sulphur spring with manganese acidity, possessing a burn of a thousand degrees……there will be no difficulty in that if you fall in.
Rinkai: And your foothold for this fight will only be the numberless rocks that projected out there……………
Fuukai: That’s the Shakumyakuiou-kan. Now, cross over the bridge to Sanzu!!
(TN: “Sanzu” is in reference to the “Sanzu river”, the river in Japanese Buddhism that the dead must cross to reach the afterlife similar to the River Styx in Greco-Roman mythology)

69.
Togashi: Be careful, J.
J: Fufufu, don’t worry. Now you should steadily hold on to your ball.
Togashi: Of course. With his Mach Punch, this guy isn’t suitable to face him.

70.
Fuukai: START---!!
Togashi: Wh…what’s with that stance?

71.
First-Years: Th…that’s………!!
Shura Oshou: Fuohhoho, these are Lifespan Candles. These things will let us in this world know the state of those fighting on Fuji now.
First-Years: Li…Lifespan Candles……!?
Top Box: OTOKOJUKU: Tsurugi Momotarou / Togashi Genji / J / Toramaru Ryuuji
Bottom box: GOUGAKUREN: Date Omito / Raiden / Hien / Gekkou
Shura Oshou: See, only the flames on the wicks of J on Otokojuku’s side and Raiden on Gougakuren’s side are flickering.
Shura Oshou: Thus, those two are fighting now.
Shura Oshou: Thus, when their flames disappear, they run out of lifespan…in short, they die. Fuohhoho, well then, so then, a person’s life is transient like these candles.
Matsuo: Wh…what…………!!

72.
J: Haa---!!

73.
(No dialogue)

74.
Togashi: Wh…what’s with that guy? Comparing bodies, his is light like a monkey.
Toramaru: J is worried about his legs too and can’t hit him with his punches.
Momotarou: ………………………!!
J: Fufufu, well then, you could do that for a bit. However, you’re only running. That’s not the match.
Raiden: Well, your words are soft.

75.
J: Uh!!
Raiden: DAIOUJOU-RYUU: HOUKAKUKEN!!
(TN: First of all, Raiden’s style is “Daioujou-ryuu”, which based on my translation of previous chapter of his forehead, is “Peaceful Death-style”. As for his attack: “Houkakuken” = “Male Crane Fist”, with the “hou” in reference to a male phoenix)

76.
J: !!
Togashi: J--!!
Toramaru: Th…that guy prepared a dosu in the tip of his shoe.

77.
J: Ugu!!
Date: Fufufu, Houkakuken, which pushes as it pulls and pulls as it pushes, advancing forwards like a wave! Raiden, you use such technique as usual…………!!

78.
J: Uuh……!!
J: ……………!!

79.
Raiden: DAIOUJOU-RYUU: KAKUSOKU KAIKEN!!
(TN: “Kakusoku Kaiken” = “Crane-Leg Rotating Fist”)
J: ……………………!!
Togashi: Oh…no…………!! What is this guy? His footwork isn’t normal.
Momotarou: And the techniques he’s throwing, he goes in, hits, and out. Everything is fighting with their distances. At this rate, whoever doesn’t catch the other will be killed.

80.
Date: Fufufu, and he’s still in that fighting pose. Raiden, we have to go further still. Don’t have fun with him forever; finish him off quickly.
Raiden: As you please.
Matsuo: L…look, the flame on J’s Lifespan Candle is sh…shrinking…!!
Onihige: At…at this rate, it…will disappear---!!

81.
Raiden: For a peaceful death---!!
(TN: I don’t know if Raiden was getting another technique ready or not so I translated it)
Togashi: J!!
J: Fufufu, I’ve been waiting for this. I’ve only been killing until now, but this time I can end it with a thrust.
Raiden: Wh…what……!?

82.
J: !!
Date: ………Hm—m!!
Raiden: You idiot………!! You didn’t avoid it and squarely caught it in your chest……………!!
J: Fufufu, it’s useless. No matter how much you struggle, it won’t come out. It’s in chest muscle, the part with the strongest contraction power in the human body…with that, you can’t run away anymore.

83.
J: Fufufu, ahead of me awaits hell. You must win the “Kyoura Daiyon Kyousatsu”!!
J: MY NAME IS J, FIRST-YEAR OF OTOKOJUKU!! THIS IS MY FINAL MACH PUNCH IN THIS WORLD---!!
Matsuo: It…disappeared from J’s Lifeline’s Candle----!!
Onihige: J has died---!!

TN: Yes...J is the man. No sane person would think up a means to use their fists by literally letting their opponent stab them in the chest (and potentially their heart) just so they can get in a powerful direct blow. But considering that Raiden would get away if he didn't sacrifice himself, he had no other choice. With that said about J and his abilities, let me also say that Raiden impressed me as well in his major fight of this arc for Date's side. I guess some could say that they could see a more agile fighter as a compliment to make J's fight more difficult, but the usage of his footwork and acrobatics with his light build (snicker...they called him a monkey...) combined with the "dosu in the shoe" bit (Rosa Klebb would be so proud) and his "Daioujou-ryuu" style made him a fun and formidable opponent for J to face. But of course with J's death, the matches are only going to get harder...let alone this leaves Otokojuku with three to push the Houkongyoku up the mountain, which will probably make things more difficult next time!