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: The Butcher's Path
Scene 1: Shin Do-wan
Rank 11. Shin Do-wan. A name spoken with caution. Not for popularity. Not for flair. But because of what he did to people who challenged him.
Dislocated joints. Collapsed lungs. Broken femurs.
He wasn't feared for being brutal. He was feared because he never lost control doing it but that does not guarantee he won't lose control in his upcoming fights
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Scene 2: The Callout
Do-wan stood in the Baekho weight room, shirt off, back scarred, silently watching the heavy bag swing. Sweat glistened across his skin like oil.
He knew Joon-seo would come.
So he made the first move.
A note appeared in Joon-seo's shoe locker the next morning:
> "I don't like climbers who skip rungs. Rooftop. Thursday. Don't be late. — S.D."
Joon-seo read it, crumpled it, and walked to class without a word.
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: Watchers Gather
The rooftop wasn't empty. Four students from the Top 20 stood at the edge. Quiet. Still. They weren't there to cheer. They were there to measure.
Do-wan was already there, taping his wrists with surgical precision.
> "Joon-seo." "Do-wan."
No introductions. No nods. They both knew why they were there.
> [System Notification: Danger Level – High. Opponent has known kill-zone techniques.]
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Scene 3: The Fight Begins
Do-wan struck first. Low step. Hook to the body. Knee to the thigh.
> [Skill Used: Sambo]
[Skill Used: Street Fighting]
Joon-seo absorbed the impact. Blocked. Moved. Paced. Countered.
> [Skill Used: Boxing]
[Skill Used: Taekkyeon]
[Passive: Pain Resistance Lv.1 – Active]
Do-wan locked him in a body clinch. Tried to trip. Joon-seo used a shoulder roll to escape and land an uppercut that rattled the air.
Back and forth. Precision against pressure. Control vs feral technique.
A knee landed square into Joon-seo's side. He winced.
Do-wan smirked.
> "You bleed after all."
Joon-seo's breath steadied. He stepped back. Changed stance. Southpaw.
> [New Passive Activated: Combat Adjustment Lv.1]
He moved in. Swift. Silent. Calculated. Two body shots. One step in. Arm under the neck.
> [Skill Used: Jiu-jitsu]
Do-wan fought back. Tried to break the hold. Slipped. Slammed against concrete.
He didn't tap. He passed out.
Silence.
One of the spectators nodded slowly.
> "He's... not human."
> [Rank Achieved: 11th]
[Title Gained: Crusher of Limits]
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: Repercussions
The rooftop emptied. Whispers spread. Top 10 were no longer watching silently.
Back in his room, Joon-seo iced his ribs. His system buzzed.
> [Warning: Top 10 Intervention Highly Probable]
[Surveillance Flag: Seoul's Rank 3 has acknowledged your presence]
He stared at the message. Then closed it.
He wasn't climbing anymore. He was ascending.
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: Division Lines
Scene 1: Baekho Lounge
Kang Joon-min sat beside another figure — a girl with sharp eyes and black nails.
> "You said he was weak." Joon-min said
>"He was." said the girl with a soft yet chilling voice
> "Not anymore." Joon-min said arrogantly
From the hallway came heavy footsteps. A tall student with a scar above his eye and a white earpiece with piercings stepped into the room.
Rank 6. Name: Ha Myung-sik.
He stared at the wall. Then spoke.
> "Tell your brother…" "If he takes one more step—he's mine." With a chilling aura surrounding him
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