Minsoo stood alone in the middle of an alley, his left hand in pocket, phone in his Right hand.
"Hum, okay, I understand, I'm nearby, but I got company by my side, Daniel I might arrive late and Zack's on his way, Vasco and Vin are together at the north side, Hum, okay bye."
He ended the call, exhaling, Daniel had already gotten the info about Hostel A, someone called "Big Daddy." Aka Olly Wang.
He pocketed his phone, raising his head.
In front of him, three figures stood.
A blond-haired boy with sharp, hawk-like eyes stood in front, his school uniform perfectly fitted, the red turtleneck beneath it making him look more like a fighter than a student.
Behind him, two others one with short black hair and a arrogance gaze, the other with yellow hair and a childish Face, hands into his pockets.
Minsoo tilted his head slightly "Sun of Ansan, leader of the Second Generation Ansan Public, Hudson Ahn."
The name made the blond boy's expression flicker, His eyes widened, just for a moment, before he recovered.
"I didn't know I was famous here." Hudson said.
Minsoo chuckled
Hudson's eyes studied Minsoo for a long second 'His presence… it's different, The only one I've felt this kind of pressure from was… From Master.' Hudson thought.
Minsoo broke the silence "Anyway, mind telling me why you and your boys jumped me."
Hudson didn't answer Instead, his sidekick
the black-haired one "We were paid," he said casually "Paid to beat you up."
"Paid?" Minsoo raised a brow.
"Yeah," the guy grinned "Don't take it personal man, It's just business."
Minsoo sighed, shaking his head.
Hudson slowly slid his left hand out of his pocket, The knuckles of that hand were scarred and rough the trademark of the "hard fist."
"I don't know who you are," Hudson said coldly "And I don't care how you know my name."
Hudson's left hand clenched tight, veins bulging.
---
NAME:|- HUDSON AHN
HEIGHT:|- 185 CM
STRENGTH:|- { MR+ }
SPEED:|- { LR+ }
POTENTIAL:|- { A+ } [AWAKENED]
INTELLIGENCE:|- { B+ }
ENDURANCE:|- { LR+ }
---
Then, in a blur, he stepped forward.
A left straight shot out like a bullet, fast and precise The sound cracked through Air.
Minsoo tilted his head slightly the punch grazed past his cheek He hadn't even looked at it.
Hudson's eyes widened "What-"
Before he could finish, Minsoo's knee shot upward.
CRACK!
It connected clean under Hudson's chin the impact sending blood spraying from his mouth as he staggered back.
The two underlings froze for a second then charged forward.
But to Minsoo, their movements were very slow.
The first swung a wild punch Minsoo ducked under it then twisted mid-motion, His leg spun wide in a graceful arc, a Capoeira kick to the man's jaw.
The second rushed in, Minsoo's other leg followed, spinning from the opposite direction, hitting the side of his face.
Both men's heads snapped to the side, their bodies twisting midair before hitting the ground, Their vision blurred instantly.
They didn't get back up.
Minsoo landed lightly on one foot, his movement fluid and balanced, straightening his back.
---
NAME:|- MINSOO-JI SEOP
HEIGHT:|- 185 CM
STRENGTH:|- { XXX- }
SPEED:|- { XXX- }
POTENTIAL:|- { SSS+++ } [AWAKENED]
INTELLIGENCE:|- { S }
ENDURANCE:|- { XXX- }
---
Hudson wiped the blood from his lip, He looked at his two men lying down, then back at Minsoo "You're strong, I like that."
Minsoo's expression stayed
They stood still for a moment, the wind rustling between them,Then as if a silent signal had passed between them, they moved.
Bang!
Their fists collided, Hudson's knuckles bled instantly from the impact.
Hudson's left fist trembling.
One, was a hard-fist brawler born from raw strength, The other, a fighter who mastered the flow and rhythm of techniques.
In this alley of Gangdong, Minsoo and Hudson Ahn faced each other, two prodigies from different regions.
Minsoo and Hudson stood only a few meters apart.
Hudson rolled his shoulders once, flexing his left fist "You're not some random guy after all."
Minsoo didn't reply.
"Let's see, how you hold up against my fists."
And then, Hudson moved.
A burst of power, his left fist shot forward like a cannonball.
BAM!
The first blow whistled through the air, Minsoo stepped slightly to the side, his wrist rotating, and with the grace of Aikido redirected the force with a fluid sweep The punch curved harmlessly past him, the momentum broken.
Hudson grunted, his body stumbling from the redirection But before he could recover, Minsoo countered a strike to the ribs.
Hudson felt the air leave his lungs.
He twisted his body, swinging his fist again a straight then a hook, the hard fist style in motion His punches were compact and fast, Each strike echoed with raw Strength.
Minsoo blocked with his forearm but the second Caught across the shoulder.
Hudson didn't stop, He followed up with another left, this time aiming for Minsoo's jaw,
Minsoo parried downward, using the momentum to pivot behind him, Aikido once more before delivering a devastating knee strike into Hudson's side.
Crack!
Hudson gasped, stumbling sideways.
Minsoo looked "You throw power, but you forget balance."
Hudson's teeth clenched, His blood dripped from his chin.
He charged again, faster this time His fists became a blur the signature of the hard fist technique, each blow sharper than the last.
Minsoo deflected the first with a Karate block, his forearm snapping out cleanly The second he sidestepped entirely But the third a short jab slipped through and struck his cheek.
Minsoo's head turned slightly from the impact, but his expression didn't change.
Hudson's breath grew heavier His arms ached, but his pride wouldn't let him stop, He went in again, driving another punch to Minsoo's chest.
It connected the power vibrating through the air.
Hudson exhaled, sweat dripping
But Minsoo didn't even get any damage for it "You done?"
Before Hudson could react, Minsoo stepped in.
The movement was so fast it barely registered His hand grabbed Hudson's wrist, twisted it down, and pulled Aikido's irimi-nage form, redirecting all force with precision, Hudson's balance was shattered, and Minsoo's knee slammed upward into his gut.
Hudson coughed blood, his eyes wide.
But Minsoo wasn't finished, He transitioned his stance shifting from Aikido's circular flow into Karate His punches came straight.
Bam!
right to the chest.
Crack!
elbow to the jaw.
Wham!
knee to the ribs.
Each strike landed brutally
Hudson stumbled backward, the world spinning, Every impact rattled through his bones Each hit felt stronger than the last.
His vision blurred, Hudson's body moved on instinct, swinging one last left hook desperate and wild.
Minsoo caught it with his palm, The impact cracked the air, but his grip was like iron.
Then, with one motion, he twisted Hudson's arm, stepped in close, and drove a Karate chop straight into his solar plexus.
Hudson's knees buckled, His body collapsed to the ground coughing, blood dripping.
He knelt there, panting heavily, the fight drained out of him.
Minsoo stood over him, He looked down at Hudson.
Minsoo said softly "Thanks for a warm up."
Hudson glared up.
Minsoo turned, sliding his hands back into his pockets, he walked past him
Hudson stayed on his knees, blood dripping onto the concrete, his body trembling from exhaustion and disbelief.
For the first time in years, he felt small again.
Then a faint memory of his Master's voice echoing in his head.
"There's always someone stronger, Hudson,
When you meet them, learn and adapt to it."
Hudson lowered his head.