The second bandit stepped forward reluctantly, spear in hand. His eyes flicked to the corpse of his comrade, then to Jin Mu-Won, who stood bloodied but smiling faintly.
"You're no cripple," the man muttered, tightening his grip. "But you're no warrior either. Let's end this."
The spear thrust like lightning.
Jin barely dodged, the tip slicing his shoulder open. Blood sprayed, his knees buckling — yet instead of retreating, he lunged inward, forcing the fight into close quarters.
The bandit cursed, yanking his spear back, but the shaft tangled against the trees. Jin slammed his elbow into the man's ribs, grabbed the weapon with both hands, and wrenched it aside.
Pain exploded in his side as the bandit's knee struck him. Jin coughed blood, his vision swimming.
If I trade blows, I'll lose…
A cold clarity settled over him. He twisted his body, letting the spear's tip stab into his already wounded shoulder. The bandit's eyes widened — the boy had taken the strike on purpose.
Jin's free hand darted like a snake, seizing the bandit's wrist. With a savage yank, he dragged the man forward and headbutted him square in the mouth.
Crack. Teeth shattered.
The bandit howled. Jin wrenched the spear free from his own shoulder with a grunt of agony and, in one desperate motion, drove it clean through the man's chest.
The body convulsed, then collapsed with a dull thud.
Jin staggered back, coughing, his clothes soaked in blood — half his own, half his enemies'. His entire body screamed, but his eyes glowed with a predator's madness.
Two men dead. He was still standing.
Across the clearing, the leader finally moved. He clapped slowly, his eyes gleaming with something between amusement and wariness.
"Impressive," he said. "A boy half-dead, yet you kill like you've been doing it for years. You fight dirty, ruthless… like a cornered wolf. Tell me—" He tilted his head. "—is it instinct? Or training?"
Jin Mu-Won grinned weakly, blood dripping from his chin.
"Neither," he rasped. "It's hunger. Wolves kill because they must. I kill because I refuse to die."
The leader's smile faded. For the first time, he felt a flicker of unease.
This boy was dangerous not because of strength… but because of what burned in his eyes: a will that even death could not snuff out.
He unsheathed his blade with a hiss of steel.
"Then let's see if that hunger of yours can survive me."