Taehun, with a smile on his face, stepped forward and propelled himself ahead, striking Min Kang's chest with the sole of his foot.
Min Kang staggered back, gasping for air, but clenched his teeth and rushed toward Taehun, throwing a straight punch at his face. Taehun barely leaned aside and immediately countered, driving the instep of his foot into Min Kang's solar plexus.
Min Kang doubled over in pain.
Without giving him time to react, Taehun threw a low kick, his shin crashing into the opponent's thigh. The impact made Min Kang lose balance and tilt to one side.
Taehun did not wait.
He spun quickly and lifted his leg, his heel connecting cleanly with Min Kang's jaw, sending him to the ground.
The announcer was about to declare the victory when Min Kang, with great effort, managed to stand back up.
"Wait… I haven't lost yet," he said, panting.
He lowered his center of gravity and went for a desperate clinch, trying to grab Taehun to stop his kicks. However, Taehun reacted with a knee strike that shut down the attempt.
Even so, Min Kang knew it wouldn't work.
It was just a feint.
Enduring the pain, he threw a low kick straight at Taehun's thigh.
Taehun frowned, not expecting that attack.
He lifted his other leg, fully extending it, and struck Min Kang's shoulder with his heel. Then he spun on his axis and landed another kick directly to the solar plexus.
Min Kang rolled across the ground… and did not get back up.
The crowd burst into applause, acknowledging Min Kang's effort despite the defeat.
"Victory for Taehun Seong!" the announcer declared.
Taehun returned to his spot with a confident smile.
Then the announcer raised his voice once more.
"Next match! Mincheol Choi vs Byeoto Nam! Karate versus Taekwondo! Who will be the winner?"
The referee gave the signal.
Mincheol Choi stood firm in a classic defensive stance, feet planted solidly, arms ready.
Byeoto launched a straight kick.
Mincheol raised his forearm to block it, but as he did, he frowned.
The impact traveled through his arm like a heavy vibration. It wasn't just a fast kick, it was quite powerful.
Without wasting time, Mincheol responded with a straight punch to the torso. Byeoto stepped back half a step, but Mincheol immediately closed the distance and, in that opening, threw a short elbow strike.
Byeoto stopped it with an open hand.
But it was a mistake.
Mincheol clenched his fist, letting the knuckle of his index finger protrude, and struck directly at the ribs.
The pain was sharp and dry. Byeoto quickly retreated, clutching his side.
I didn't think this guy was so fast, and on top of that, that technique… it hurts more than it looks.
He exhaled slowly.
Do I usually fail to dodge blows like that? Am I thinking too much about that move?
He advanced again and threw a straight punch at Mincheol's face. Mincheol raised his guard.
But it was a feint.
Byeoto dropped the attack, aiming for the lead foot, and struck it hard. Mincheol clenched his teeth, but didn't give up and countered with a double punch.
But Byeoto stepped in with his heel and pressed against Mincheol's chest, cutting off the attack. Then he retracted his leg, rotated his hips, and threw a lateral arc kick to the face.
The strike landed.
Mincheol staggered back several steps, but kept his balance thanks to his solid base.
Byeoto took a breath.
Then he changed his stance. He placed his right leg back and lowered his center of gravity.
In the stands
"What the hell is that guy doing…?" Taehun muttered, frowning. "This idiot isn't attacking like he usually does."
He said it because he knew Byeoto's strength, and although the opponent seemed quite tough, he was still not a real rival.
Dowoon was also watching, confused.
"T-that stance… I don't recognize it…"
Byeoto compressed the muscles in his right thigh and calf. His abdomen tightened completely. Veins slightly surfaced on his skin, while beads of sweat formed on his face.
This should be enough, right? I compressed it quite a bit.
He took a step.
He lifted his right leg.
The instep shot toward Mincheol at high speed.
Mincheol crossed his arms to receive the impact.
…Nothing.
What…?
Byeoto's leg was no longer there.
Mincheol saw the trajectory veer off in another direction and concluded that it had missed. He took advantage of the opening and threw a low kick to the thigh.
Byeoto lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Mincheol advanced and lifted his leg, aiming to crush him with his heel.
But Byeoto planted his hands on the ground, raised his torso, and launched a double ascending kick straight at his opponent's torso.
Mincheol stumbled back sharply.
Byeoto stood up with a frown.
It didn't come out… it didn't come out again.
If I keep forcing it like this… I'm not going to get anywhere. And if this match drags on, it could be dangerous.
Mincheol noticed.
He saw the frustration on his face and thought he was already at his limit. So it was time to finish this.
He lunged forward and aimed a straight punch at the solar plexus.
But Byeoto didn't retreat.
Instead, he performed a sweep.
Mincheol's legs lifted off the ground.
Before he could react, Byeoto jumped and brought his heel down directly onto his face.
The impact echoed dryly.
Mincheol lay motionless.
The referee intervened immediately.
"Victory for Byeoto Nam!"
The crowd reacted with surprise. It wasn't an elegant finish… but it was decisive.
Taehun clicked his tongue.
"That idiot…" he said under his breath. "What the hell is he doing?"
Dowoon said, relieved.
"But at least he won…"
Byeoto took a step back, breathing calmly, but inside…
There's still something missing.
As he returned to his place, several competitors watched him.
Apparently not as a threat.
But as someone who won… barely.
.....
When Byeoto came back up, Taehun, arms crossed, spoke.
"Hey, what the hell are you thinking so hard about?"
Byeoto sat down while drinking water. Then he set the bottle aside and sighed.
"It's a technique."
"A technique?" Taehun repeated.
"Yeah, a technique. But I lack practice. I haven't been able to perform it properly. It's been quite a while already… I guess I'm a bit frustrated," Byeoto replied as he shrugged.
Dowoon stepped in.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll manage it."
Taehun clicked his tongue.
"Worry about that later. I want to beat you in the final, and at this rate you won't make it."
Byeoto smiled calmly.
"Relax, I'll make sure I get there. But… are you quite sure you'll get there?"
He took another sip of water as he continued.
"That karate guy wasn't as weak as he looked, so I think the others aren't either."
Taehun frowned and replied arrogantly.
"Doesn't matter. We just have to destroy them."
Byeoto sighed as he set the bottle down. He glanced sideways at Dowoon and thought suspiciously.
Wait… can't this guy copy? Could he be capable of copying that attack?
He smiled bitterly. Now he understood what Taehun had felt before, but he wouldn't be childish enough to get angry over it.
Dowoon, noticing the look, asked nervously.
"Is something wrong?"
Byeoto narrowed his eyes and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Did you notice anything in what I did?"
Dowoon looked confused.
"I don't know what you mean…"
Byeoto looked at him suspiciously. He thought he might be lying, but it was normal, maybe he didn't want to ruin anything.
He was about to say it was fine when Taehun spoke.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to watch the last match? Looks like the crowd really likes him… it's pissing me off."
The two looked at each other and stood up to watch.
The referee announced.
"Tae Shin vs Dogyu Na!"
When he said the latter name, the crowd in the stands cheered loudly. There were even girls holding signs, clearly excited.
Byeoto said to Dowoon.
"You said earlier that he was talented, but isn't this a bit over the top?"
Dowoon nodded.
"In fact, that wasn't all. He's won a lot, and they say he's a natural fighter. To be a grappler you have to learn many disciplines, and he currently represents Brazilian jiu jitsu. On top of that, he has incredible strength for his age and is quite rough when he fights. Sometimes he's even broken or dislocated bones. That's why they gave him the nickname Lazy Reaper."
Taehun let out a small laugh.
"Wasn't there a better nickname?"
The two looked at him and said mockingly.
"But don't you have the nickname 'genius of the spin'?"
Taehun blushed.
"Do you want to die?"
Then he coughed and said grandly.
"But at least I have one. You don't. Hahaha!"
When he looked at the two of them, he noticed they weren't paying attention to him. Both were focused on the match.
Veins stood out on Taehun's face.
"Tch…"
And finally, he also turned to watch the fight.
With that, the announcer declared.
"Kickboxing versus Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!"
Dogyu Na adjusted his topknot while moving his joints in a relaxed manner, calmly observing his opponent. Tae Shin had a serious expression, though he looked somewhat nervous, with his guard up.
Dogyu approached with a lazy smile.
"Come on, man. You're too tense," he said, not losing that carefree smile.
He lowered his center of gravity.
Tae Shin advanced immediately with a flurry of punches. The first missed when Dogyu calmly tilted his head. The second was deflected with a brief movement of his hand. On the third, everything changed.
Dogyu caught his opponent's wrist and violently pulled him into his own center, breaking his balance. At the same instant, his other arm wrapped around Tae Shin's torso, squeezing tightly and blocking any attempt to escape. His opponent's body was completely trapped, with his arm and torso immobilized.
Then Dogyu bent his legs and loaded his hips.
He lifted him up in one motion.
The backward throw was brutal. The impact of the body hitting the ground echoed throughout the venue. But Dogyu didn't stop, rolling with the motion and ending up on top of his opponent, still maintaining control of the trapped arm. In that transition, he twisted Tae Shin's shoulder and wrist at an impossible angle.
The pressure increased second by second.
In the end, Tae Shin tapped out.
Dogyu stood up calmly.
"It was a good fight," he said.
It wasn't clear whether he meant it mockingly or respectfully, his expression never changed. He waved to the crowd in a friendly manner while the referee gave him the victory, then walked away.
The stands erupted in cheers, chanting his name nonstop.
Dowoon swallowed as he watched the fighting area.
"That was pretty brutal…" he murmured. "I don't think I could last long against him."
Taehun had a deep frown, arms crossed firmly.
"He's strong," he admitted, "but that only makes it better."
Even so, he was much more serious. After all, he's not an idiot. If he faces him, he would be careful.
Byeoto, who was still looking at the mat, spoke with genuine curiosity.
"Do this guy's fights always end that fast?"
It wasn't a naive question. Byeoto knew the basics of jiu jitsu and grappling, but seeing it live was different. He had never witnessed something like that so closely before. He also had never fought someone like that, but seeing it up close now only made it clear how extremely complicated an opponent Dogyu would be.
Dowoon nodded.
"Yes… fighters like Dogyu usually win fast. The slightest mistake means losing."
He paused and then added, surprised.
"But even so… how long did that fight last? It didn't even reach two minutes."
Byeoto nodded in silence.
Meanwhile, Taehun remained seated with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He was waiting for the announcement to know who his opponent would be.
Then the announcer's voice echoed throughout the venue once again.
"With this, we conclude the first part of the youth tournament! Congratulations to the competitors who advanced!"
He made a dramatic pause.
"The next matches will take place in two days. And now, let's see the matchups!"
The screen lit up once more.
Joo Woo vs Mary Kim.
Taehun Seong vs Seojun Kang.
Byeoto Nam vs Dogyu Na.
Dowoon Lee vs Seungwoo Lee.
A murmur spread through the stands.
Taehun slowly opened his eyes when he saw his name.
Byeoto also lifted his gaze, focusing especially on his own matchup. He didn't think he would face that guy so soon.
"Wow…" Dowoon murmured.
Soon after, the crowd began to leave. The venue gradually grew quieter.
The three of them walked together toward the exit, quieter than usual.
Until Dowoon broke the silence.
"Uh… do you want to play something?"
Taehun stopped dead.
"Play?"
Without warning, he grabbed him by the shirt and began dragging him along.
"There's no time for that. We need to get stronger. Especially you."
Byeoto looked at them and nodded.
"He's right. We can't get careless. If the others are like that grappler… it won't be easy at all."
Taehun clicked his tongue.
"Oh, so now you're taking it seriously?"
He glanced sideways.
"I hope you don't keep messing around with that fictional move you want to make."
Byeoto let out a brief laugh… but then his expression turned serious.
"Relax. I'll take it seriously."
He paused and added calmly.
"Besides… maybe this is for the best. Facing strong guys might be the only way to really improve."
As they walked, Byeoto thought that even if he still couldn't complete that technique, fighting opponents like Dogyu might take him further. He might even get the chance to help him finish his move. And if not, at least he would be able to draw out his maximum.
Maybe… that was the only way to make it a reality.
With that thought, the figures of the three gradually faded into the crowd leaving the venue.
The tournament had only just begun.