Chapter 148: Procedure Time

The brawl opens with Karma declaring he intends to kill Korosensei and Nagisa firing back that he means to save him, an exchange that ends with Nagisa kicked away. Korosensei narrates that Nagisa, armed with a spare blade, is poised to spring the nekodamashi distraction but cannot yet find his opening. The two trade slashes until Nagisa slips a downward stab and kicks Karma's grounded knife clear. When Nagisa leaps in to cut him, Karma answers with a headbutt that knocks the weapon loose, then drives an elbow into his face and a series of knees into his gut, vowing to wear him down before finishing him calmly.

Nagisa's return blows land without effect, and the watching class realizes Karma is absorbing them on purpose. Korosensei explains the split in styles: Karma is a combat assassin who savors the whole process, while Nagisa is a pure assassin fixated on the one strike that ends everything. Karma then drops an axe kick that appears to lay Nagisa out. Before the finishing move can come, Nagisa unleashes the nekodamashi, and Karma bites down on his own tongue to shake off the stun.

The chapter closes mid-motion, with Nagisa drawing his second knife and lunging as Karma inwardly resolves to break him and claim the win. It runs in Volume 17 between Stage Time and Time for the Results.