Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 188

With Otokojuku really bugged by the true identity of the mysterious Shoukaku, he himself is just being bugged by an army of bees in the midst of trying to take down Houketsu! Will his poison fists be enough against this poison master?

Chp. 188: One in a Thousand!

27.
Toramaru: He…he’s done it---!! He counterplotted with floating in the rapids and have completely taken Houketsu’s back---!
Togashi: He’s…a completely amazing guy; that man Shoukaku!! Now he’ll take the match at once~~~~!
Shoukaku: I’ll give you only one chance. If you frankly acknowledge your defeat, it’ll save just your life.
Houketsu: Fufu: who is intended on saying that? There isn’t a word for defeat for me.
Shoukaku: Well…so, it’s better that you die.

28.
Shoukaku: !!
Shoukaku: Nugu!!

29.
Houketsu: Wahhahaha: have you forgotten? I have this Souhougunken!! There’s no match facing this Hiougi of Hiougi---!!

30.
Houketsu: Go: Senkai Houjin!!
(TN: “Senkai Houjin” = “Rotating Bee-Array”)
Shoukaku: Mu!!

31.
Toramaru: D…damn!! He escaped his long-awaited chance thanks to those annoying bees---! A…and yet, wh…what is this----!! The bees have started to rotate in a spiral around the circumference of Shoukaku—
Togashi: Wi…with that, Shoukaku can’t escape from within that ring---!!
Houketsu: Fuffuffu: sting, sting, sting him to death----!! My anger will be repented in hell----!!

32.
Houketsu: Whatever you do, it’s all a matter of time. There’s no way you can protect your body from a swarm of a thousand poisonous bees.

33.
Togashi: Uoo!! Wh…what’s this come to: the situation has completely reversed---!
Toramaru: It…it will be as he said wi…with this: Shoukaku will eventually get tired and become prey to the bees----!!
Toramaru: Is…isn’t there something that can happen!! Doesn’t he have a secret plan, Momo---!?
Momotarou: Shoukaku has just one thing, if he can do it………………..!!
Toramaru: Wh…what---!! What is that---!
Momotarou: This should be perceived by Shoukaku too…………!! He’d be searching for it: the one in a thousand…………!!
Togashi: Huh………!! Th…the one in a thousand………!?

34.
Shoukaku: Where…………!? Where is it? These things don’t surpass merely soldier bees.
Shoukaku: From their special group living possessed by bees, I’m certain there should be somewhere one queen bee that commands this swarm……!! If I can discover just the queen bee…………!!
Shoukaku: UH!!
Togashi: Sho…Shoukaku---!!

35.
Shoukaku: Ku!!
Houketsu: Fufu: with that, you’re at a condition of being stung by your second poisonous bee. No matter how you’re a poison-fist user, you won’t live when stung by your third.
Houketsu: Well, it’s best to prepare well at this point of death. This is your end.
Shoukaku: N…no…!! It’s impossible to see through to just the queen bee from within these numbers……!

36.
Shoukaku: In that case, this is the only means I have left…………!!
Houketsu: !!
Toramaru: Wh…what is this smoke---!!
Togashi: It’s…smokescreen: Shoukaku is building a smokescreen----!!

37.
Houketsu: Fu: what use is a smokescreen in this situation!?
Houketsu: You can’t perplex me with that thing---!! I’ll continue my attack without rest---!!
Shoukaku: A queen bee is an absolute being to the soldier bees…………!! In this panic, I’m certain the soldier bee bodyguards should be running to their base so they can protect the queen bee!!
Shoukaku: SHE’LL BE THERE!!

38.
Shoukaku: I’VE FOUND HER!!
Toramaru: Wh…what exactly is wrong down there………………!? I…I don’t know at all what is occurring obstructed by this smokescreen!!
Houketsu: Fufu: even the smokescreen is clearing away.

39.
Houketsu: Go----!! Go about your terrible wicked mischief---!
Houketsu: ………!!
Toramaru: Wh…what’s happening!? The state of the bees is strange----!!
Togashi: Th…those things are flying around like…they’re searching for something without hearing his orders----!!

40.
Houketsu: Fu, right?
Houketsu: It seems you’ve taken down the queen bee who leads the swarm. That’s quite an idea.
Houketsu: But with how it’s come now, even that is too late. You now with the poison circulating through you can be properly finished off even without using the bees.
Houketsu: Die---!! Go to your death---!

41.
Shoukaku: HA!!

42.
Togashi: Th…this is dangerous: the greatest desperate crisis---!!
Toramaru: So…somehow he avoided the first blow, but Shoukaku doesn’t have left the power to fight anymore----!!
Momotarou: Wrong………!! The match is already decided with that blow now.
Toramaru: Huh……!?
Houketsu: Fu: you’re a completely tenacious guy. But there won’t be a next time: now is truly your end.
Shoukaku: The end is for you, Houketsu. You should look closely at the tip of your sword.
Houketsu: Hu~~~h!?

43.
Houketsu: Wh…what~~~!! Th…th…this is the queen bee~~~!
Shoukaku: Yes: you’ve killed it. Do you understand what that means?
Shoukaku: Their anger for killing their master is tremendous.
Houketsu: Ha!!

44.
Houketsu: Hi!!
Houketsu: Uoo~~~!!
Houketsu: Hii, st…stop---!! N…not me…I…I can’t be killed---!!
Shoukaku: The sadness of a brute…bees don’t think as such.

45.
Houketsu: GYAWAA~~~!!
Shoukaku: There won’t be a second chance for you. It wouldn’t have come to this if you had acknowledged defeat then.
Shoukaku: Your destiny was self-destruction after all.
Page: JIMETSU (SELF-DESTRUCTION)

TN: Sometimes I do wonder: am I falling into the trap as everyone else who seem to see this series? Do I think of it as just another fighting series with guys fighting other guys with cliched lines over and over? Is Otokojuku even worth my time anymore and shouldn't I just go with something more "modern" and "fresh" like what everyone wants me to do? I've been asking myself this a couple times as I see how the series has been going as of late...but there are a couple reasons why I keep going to the end. The first is a friend who is celebrating a birthday as I write this down. Just like me, he sees the genuine coolness of why Otokojuku is worth doing to the end. Yeah it's cliche and cheesy at times, but the hardcore characters, bizarre fighting styles and insane fights are what he loves about it...and what I do too. (and thus why this chapter is sort of dedicated to him)

On the other hand...the other reason...is just seeing chapters like this one. Sure the whole Houketsu/Shoukaku fight has been monumental but this chapter shows why Otokojuku stands out even compared to a lot of the more recent series out there. Shoukaku proved that you don't need to be stronger or more powerful than your enemy...you just need to use your mind and find a weakness to exploit in their strategy. Manipulating the battleground not just to find the queen bee but to have it specifically killed by Houketsu was a brilliant move, showing that even though he relies on his Poison Fist, he like many Otokojuku characters prefer to fight not just with their bodies but with their minds as well. It proves though one crucial factor: yes Otokojuku is an insane series filled with gimmicks, but it still is by and far one of the smartest fighting series in using the minds as well as the bodies to the fullest extent. And I guess that too...is why I keep going to the end.