Deep down, Jason told himself, his free hand suddenly pushed against his chin.
This push left no room for hesitation.
When his teeth touched the stretched-out tongue, it was... bitten off!
The tongue fell onto the bed, blood pouring out.
In the wake of the pain, Jason’s eyes suddenly cleared.
He fiercely tried to loosen the hand holding the gourd.
But the hand holding the gourd wouldn’t respond.
Without hesitation, Jason’s free hand snapped it.
The bones in his wrist broke, and the gourd fell straight onto the bed.
Then, looking at the gourd, Jason, without his tongue and with a broken wrist, still filled with longing from the bottom of his heart.
With every heartbeat, Jason’s longing increased by a bit.
And the remainder of his rationality was driven away bit by bit.
Jason lifted his hand and smashed it against his left chest.
Continuous, unceasing strikes.
Pounding until flesh was mangled.
Pounding until bones fractured and tendons snapped.
Pounding until the heart shattered.
Pounding until there was no sign of life.
Afterwards, life surged forth again.
Awakening, Jason escaped from the bed like he was electrocuted, leaning against the door, gasping for breath.
Jason was drenched in sweat as if he had just been hauled out of water, droplets falling to the floor.
At this moment, Jason was more exhausted than he would be after a genuine battle with death.
Battling hunger is never an easy task.
Jason held considerable authority on this matter.
Ever since awakening his [Predator] talent, he was almost always battling hunger.
From being completely unable to resist at first.
To later being able to resist a little.
To being able to resist most of the time as long as he didn’t start eating.
What Jason experienced and endured was definitely beyond anyone’s imagination.
And to resist after starting to eat, like just now?
The price he just paid was all too clear.
However, that was just the beginning.
Jason stood behind the door, and it took a full five minutes for him to completely calm down.
He approached the bed bit by bit with caution.
As though there was some great danger there.
A distance that normally would take a single leap, Jason moved for a full minute.
Just when he was close to the bed and the hunger in his heart was about to surge again, Jason returned to the doorway and began to gasp for breath.
After doing this ten times, Jason finally calmed down.
But this was just merely approaching.
By the time he could pick up the gourd, night had completely fallen.
How many attempts he tried in between?
Jason couldn’t remember.
All he knew was that he was somewhat successful.
Pulling out a string tied to the gourd, Jason hung it at his waist, then stepped out the door.
Outside, Hanakaiin Haru had been waiting for a while.
Seeing Jason emerge, Hanakaiin Haru stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Lord Jason, what happened?"
"Slept in," Jason replied casually.
Facing such a dismissive answer, Hanakaiin Haru didn’t press further.
He didn’t want to damage the good relationship between them over some minor matter.
"Oh, shall we set off then?" Hanakaiin Haru asked.
"Fine," Jason nodded.
"Let’s go! Let’s go!"
The carefree Sagaraso had already started cheering.
The Monk from Tongshou Temple along with Ryosuke and Urashima, who were also coming along, carried a hint of anticipation.
Of course, Hui Lijing had also been notified by phone.
However, just as everyone was leaving Tongshou Temple, a servant of Hanakaiin Haru came running in a panic.
"It’s terrible, Lord Hanakaiin Haru, your invitation to the ’King of Fighters Tournament’ has been revoked!"