The dust of battle had barely settled when the reality of the night struck the city. The Gwangseong Quartet, feared as the unchallenged rulers of the high school underworld, lay broken. Their foot soldiers had been scattered, their businesses burned to the ground, and their aura of invincibility shattered by middle schoolers—by the Union, led by a boy no one had expected.
Word spread like wildfire through alleyways, internet cafés, and dark corners where gangs gathered.
"Did you hear? The Quartet got crushed."
"No way… by a bunch of middle school punks?"
"Not punks. By him. That kid. Daniel Park."
The name carried weight now. It was no longer a whisper but a statement that demanded attention.
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The Union's Celebration
Back in the Union's stronghold, Daniel convened his executives. The air was thick with both adrenaline and reverence. Many bore bruises and cuts from the surprise night raids, but their spirits were higher than ever.
"We struck first. We burned their networks before they even raised a hand against us," one executive laughed, his voice hoarse from the night's chaos.
Another added, "We proved the Union isn't just another school faction. We're a force that no one can ignore."
At the head of the table sat Daniel, calm as ever. His cold, sharp eyes swept across the room. Unlike his men, he showed no excitement—only calculation. He wasn't celebrating. He was already planning the next move.
"You all did well," Daniel finally said, his tone even, commanding silence. "Tonight, the Union proved it can stand against high school kings. But this is just the beginning. If we stop here, someone else will rise. If we move forward, then we decide who rules."
His words struck like a hammer. A boy of barely his first year in middle school, speaking with the poise of a warlord.
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The Aftermath of the Quartet
Meanwhile, in the ruins of the Gwangseong Quartet's headquarters, the surviving foot soldiers nursed broken ribs and shattered pride. Rumors flew that the four brothers were hospitalized, their reputations in tatters.
"Those middle schoolers… they're monsters."
"No. It's not the Union. It's him. That Daniel kid fought like a demon."
The balance of power in the province was shifting, and everyone knew it.
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The City Reacts
The fall of the Quartet didn't just shake the high schools. It sent ripples through the entire delinquent hierarchy of the province.
High school factions watched in unease—if a kid could topple the Quartet, who was next?
Even the regional kings whispered, some dismissing him, others wary.
And above all, in smoke-filled offices and luxurious penthouses, older men—politicians, businessmen, even the hidden powers of the underworld—took note. For the first time, Daniel Park's name brushed against their lips.
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Daniel's Reflection
That night, alone in his room, Daniel sat by the window, the city's lights stretching before him like prey waiting to be hunted. His knuckles were bruised, his muscles ached, but his mind was sharper than ever.
"They'll come for me now," he muttered to himself, a faint, ruthless smile tugging at his lips. "Good. Let them."
The Union was no longer just a school gang. It was an empire in its infancy, and Daniel Park—the boy who fought like he'd lived a hundred lives—was its undisputed emperor.
The war for total dominance had only begun.
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