The Old Kookje Gym was a relic, squatting in the shadow of abandoned smokestacks. Inside, the air was thick with mildew and the faint scent of stale beer. This was the hunting ground.
Min-Ji, huddled in a rusted delivery van two blocks away, spoke quietly into Jae-Hee's earpiece. "The E-Class group is in position. Dae-Jung confirms three Level 18 Apex lieutenants—their 'Territory Managers'—are playing cards in the third-floor office."
Jae-Hee was crouched beneath a broken loading dock, his Level 10 status a terrifyingly small defense against what awaited him. He activated [Observation]. The gym's structure overlaid with a weak blue grid. He focused on the office above: three pulsing red figures.
"Go," Jae-Hee whispered to himself.
A moment later, a cacophony erupted inside the building—not fighting, but pure, chaotic noise. The E-Class group, led by Dae-Jung, had overturned a shelf of weights, followed by the high-pitched shriek of a poorly connected fire alarm.
"Distraction successful," Min-Ji confirmed. "They are moving. Two are headed down the main staircase. One is checking the back door."
Jae-Hee darted inside. He ignored the two enforcers coming down, focusing on the lone target: Yong-Gyu, Level 18, checking the back exit.
Yong-Gyu cursed, kicking a cracked locker. "Idiots! Who let those F-Ranks—"
Jae-Hee, activating [XP Siphon] and bracing himself for the pain, burst from the shadows. His Agility 15 helped him close the distance in a blur, minimizing the time he was exposed. He used his newly acquired [Iron Fist] skill, channeling the minor strength buff into a concentrated attack on Yong-Gyu's temple.
The strike was weak for a Level 18, but the Critical Blow condition was met.
A vicious purple coil of energy ripped from Yong-Gyu, slamming into Jae-Hee.
XP SIPHON SUCCESSFUL!
XP GAINED: +60
NOTIFICATION JAE-HEE PARK HAS LEVELED UP!
LEVEL 10 -> 12
STRENGTH 16 -> 18
ENDURANCE 14 -> 16
AGILITY 15 -> 17
Yong-Gyu stumbled, dizzy and confused by the sudden power drain. Before he could recover, Jae-Hee was already moving. He didn't stay to fight; he ran toward the main staircase.
The two other lieutenants, Hyo-Jun (Level 18) and Chul-Min (Level 19), were now in the main gym hall. They were focused on the retreating sounds of the E-Class group.
"They went to the weight room!" Chul-Min yelled. "Split up! Crush those Level 2 bugs!"
Jae-Hee saw his opening. Chul-Min was moving to the right, Hyo-Jun to the left. Their backs were exposed to each other for a fleeting moment. Jae-Hee activated XP Siphon again.
He slammed his shoulder into Hyo-Jun's back, a move based purely on his increased Agility.
XP SIPHON SUCCESSFUL!
XP GAINED: +65
Jae-Hee felt the double damage immediately. It was like being hit by a baseball bat. He gasped, dropping to a knee, but his new Endurance 16 kept him conscious.
Hyo-Jun whirled around, enraged by the power loss, but Jae-Hee was already aiming for the final target: Chul-Min.
Chul-Min had stopped, bewildered by his partner's collapse. Jae-Hee rolled, using the momentum of his fall to spring up and deliver a low, focused kick to Chul-Min's kneecap. A perfect, painful critical hit.
XP SIPHON SUCCESSFUL!
XP GAINED: +70
NOTIFICATION JAE-HEE PARK HAS LEVELED UP!
LEVEL 12 -> 15
STRENGTH 18 -> 21
ENDURANCE 16 -> 19
AGILITY 17 -> 20
The floor swayed as the three lieutenants collapsed, not knocked out, but incapacitated by the crippling fatigue of stolen power.
Jae-Hee stood alone in the dark gym, panting, the taste of rust and blood in his mouth. He had done it.
"Jae-Hee, status!" Min-Ji's voice was strained.
"Successful," he rasped. "All targets siphoned. I'm... Level 15."
"The first runner just made it back to the school to report this," Min-Ji warned. "Get out of there now. This isn't just a fight anymore. This is war."