Chapter 7 – Crimson Souls (3)
The morning sky of Seoul was still pale blue, but in that narrow alley, nine members of Crimson Souls had already surrounded Ji Hoon. Their breathing was ragged, faces twisted with anger.
Crimson Souls Member 1: "Beat him! Don't let him breathe!"
In unison, punches and kicks came flying from every direction—toward his head, stomach, and legs.
But something changed.
Ji Hoon, who had been cornered, suddenly lowered his head. When he lifted his face again, his eyes were filled with a trembling dark aura. The air around him seemed to tense up.
"What… is this?" thought one of the members, cold sweat running down his temple.
The Fight Begins
The first punch shot toward Ji Hoon's face.
Slow motion: the fist nearly touched Ji Hoon's cheek, but he tilted his head just slightly. In a split second, Ji Hoon's elbow rose—an upper elbow strike, pure Muay Thai.
Crack!
The attacker was thrown aside, teeth scattering as he collapsed instantly.
Another member swung a sharp kick. Ji Hoon leapt back half a step, then his leg shot forward—a straight Taekwondo side kick to the solar plexus.
Crimson Souls Member 2: "Uuughk!!"
He was lifted off the ground and crashed violently onto the pavement.
Unreadable
A third enemy tried unleashing a fast boxing combination. Ji Hoon greeted it with a faint smile. He deflected each punch with sharp parries, then suddenly spun his body—capoeira spin kick.
Ji Hoon's shoe smashed into his opponent's temple.
Crimson Souls Member 3 (thinking): "What… is this?! His techniques keep changing! I can't read his moves at all!"
He collapsed before he could even finish his combination.
Deadly Blend
Four charged at once, trying to pin Ji Hoon from every side. Ji Hoon dropped low, then swept forward with a silat-style leg sweep.
Brakkk!
Two enemies toppled over, crashing to the ground. Ji Hoon didn't stop—his knee drove into one man's chest, while his hand whipped back into a kungfu backfist against another's face.
All in one flow. Swift. Brutal. Perfect.
Crimson Souls Member 4 (panicked thought): "This isn't human…! No high school fighter can move like this!"
Only three remained. They trembled, bodies stiff, breath caught in their throats.
Member 6: "I-Is he a monster?"
Member 7: "N-No way… even Tae Joon hyung… maybe—"
Member 8 (shouting desperately): "Shut up!! We'll finish him together!!"
They all charged at once.
Ji Hoon ducked, eyes flashing sharp light. He moved forward like a shadow.
Right hand—one-inch punch to the first man's chest. The body flew back like a ragdoll.
Left knee—flying knee straight into the second's nose. Blood burst into the air.
Right elbow—smash elbow into the last man's shoulder, followed by a vertical axe kick down onto his neck.
> Thud!
All of them crumpled, screaming in agony.
Silence
Within seconds, nine Crimson Souls members were down. Their bodies battered, faces bloodied, some unconscious.
Ji Hoon stood in the center. His breath was heavy, his eyes slowly returning to normal. He stared at his trembling hands.
Ji Hoon (panicked monologue):
"W-What did I just do? Why are they all down? Why can't I remember each movement? Am I… a monster?"
"Why?"
"How is this possible?"
He backed away until his spine hit the wall. His face was pale.
But one thing he realized—he was already late for class.
Dash to the Gate
Ji Hoon bolted. The school gate was about to close. The mustached old guard was already pushing the massive iron doors shut.
Ji Hoon slipped through with blinding speed. The gust of wind he left behind blew the guard's hair backward.
Gate Guard (wide-eyed, then grinning):
"Wew! That kid… he runs just like me back in the day. Fast as a cheetah on steroids!"
Classroom
Ji Hoon arrived before the slow-walking teacher. As he entered, all eyes turned to him. His face was slightly sweaty, uniform rumpled, a small cut on his temple—but somehow it made him look even more striking.
The girls immediately blushed and squealed:
"Kyaaa… why does he look hotter when he's sweaty like that?"
"Oh my god, his face… like an actor fresh from an action scene."
"My heart's racing… am I falling in love?"
The teacher muttered as he walked in:
"Lucky you weren't late, Ji Hoon. If I weren't such a slow walker, you'd be punished already."
In class, Ji Hoon sat down. Eyes were still glued to him.
Jae Hwan merely glanced, scoffing.
Jung Min Ji peeked secretly, then quickly looked away.
Han Shi Woo, the introverted cold student, gave a faint smile from behind his bangs.
Ji Hoon rubbed his temple. "Why is everyone staring at me like that…?"
Break Time
During recess, classmates crowded around Ji Hoon.
Friend 1: "Ji Hoon! What happened to your wound?"
Ji Hoon: "A-ah… I fell this morning."
Friend 2: "Fell? Looks more like you got punched by a whole class haha!"
Friend 3: "Be honest, you got into a fight, didn't you?"
The class erupted with laughter. Jae Hwan joined in, acting smug:
Jae Hwan: "If you need a fight buddy, call me bro! Don't forget I'm not just boxing—I do wrestling too!"
Friend 4: "Wrestling? Yeah right."
"So this is what it feels like… to have friends. Back then, no one ever worried about me like this." Ji Hoon smiled faintly at the joking crowd around him.
The room filled with laughter, warm and lively. Ji Hoon smiled awkwardly. From afar, Han Shi Woo watched again, smiling faintly—as if hiding something.
School Rooftop – Crimson Souls
Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Tae Joon heard the report from his battered subordinates.
Henchman: "Hyung… he's not human… he's a monster! His techniques—"
Tae Joon (furious, kicking him): "Pathetic trash! That's just because you're weak!! Don't you dare compare that wimp to me!!"
Do Han, Crimson Souls' number two, grabbed his arm.
Do Han: "Don't be reckless. You're the leader. Let Chae Min handle him first."
Chae Min, number three, folded his arms with a sly smile.
Chae Min: "Tomorrow… I'll face him."
Tae Joon looked up at the sky, smirking darkly.
"Fine. But I'll make sure… Ji Hoon regrets this, before Silent Guardian interferes."
Four hours later. Ji Hoon asked to go to the restroom.
Chae Min, noticing, raised his hand to excuse himself as well.
In the hallway, he trailed Ji Hoon silently.
Ji Hoon entered the restroom. Chae Min leaned against the wall, arms crossed, waiting.
When Ji Hoon exited the stall, he was startled to see someone standing there.
Ji Hoon (surprised): "Eh—you waiting for the stall? There's another one over there…"
Chae Min: "Relax. I just want to talk. Tomorrow, during break, come to the rooftop. I have something important to tell you."
Ji Hoon: "Eh? What's your name? And for what?"
Chae Min (faint smile): "My name's Chae Min. Remember it well. Tomorrow… don't forget."
He walked away, leaving Ji Hoon puzzled.
Ji Hoon (thinking): "What does he want from me…? Why so suddenly? But it sounds important… what could it be?"
The Field – Psychology Class
Out on the sports field, the Silent Guardian gang gathered for P.E.
Yoon Ki Hyun, Silent Guardian's number two, overheard gossip about Ji Hoon.
Student 1: "Did you hear? The new kid's the next target of Crimson Souls."
Student 2: "I heard tomorrow he'll fight Chae Min on the rooftop!"
Yoon Ki Hyun kept his face blank, staring straight ahead. But in his mind, he had already noted the name: Park Ji Hoon.
The next day.
Ji Hoon climbed to the school rooftop. There, Chae Min was already waiting, smoking as he sat on the concrete ledge.
Chae Min: "So you came. Good. Because there's only one thing I'll do."
He stood, grabbed a nearby flowerpot, and suddenly rushed forward to smash it into Ji Hoon's head.
Ji Hoon: "W-Wait, what are you doing?!"
CRASH!!!
To Be Continued…?