[ SIDE QUEST ]
Objective: Defeat Taehoon Seong.
Reward: [1 DIAMOND CARD]
Taehoon Seong stood in a bladed stance, his lead leg flickering with high-velocity feints. I mirrored him, my weight shifted for an immediate pivot.
Taehoon moved first.
He launched a 540° kick, the rotation a blur. I ducked. Before his foot even touched the ground, he transitioned into a 720° kick. The heel whistled over my head.
I stepped in and drove a side kick into his hip.
THUD.
Taehoon didn't retreat. He used the impact to spin, launching a jump spinning hook kick. I raised my arm and caught his calf mid-air. My grip locked on his ankle and the back of his knee. I pivoted my hips and slammed him into the concrete.
BANG.
Taehoon hit the ground, rolled with the impact, and came up instantly with an axe kick. I stepped aside. The heel smashed into the asphalt, cracking the surface.
I launched a tornado kick. My shoe buried itself into his ribs.
CRACK.
Taehoon stumbled, his breathing breaking into a ragged wheeze. I was faster.
He tried a back kick to create distance. I parried the leg and drove a knee strike straight into his solar plexus.
Taehoon's eyes rolled back for a split second.
Desperation flashed across his face. He threw a wild hook kick. I caught his ankle again, yanked him forward to kill the range, and pressed my open palm against his sternum.
Fa Jin.
I focused the weight of my entire body through the vibration.
"That technique… it's the same," Ryu muttered, his voice barely audible over the ringing in everyone's ears. "How can there be something so overpowered?"
BOOM.
The shockwave bypassed skin and muscle. The vibration traveled through bone and struck the organs directly.
Taehoon was launched backward.
He slammed into a brick wall ten feet away.
CRUNCH.
He slid down to the floor. His shirt was untouched. A second later, his head snapped forward. A thick spray of dark blood erupted from his mouth, splattering across the pavement. Blood began leaking from his nose and the corners of his eyes.
Taehoon tried to inhale, but his chest wouldn't move. The internal tremor had locked his diaphragm. His body began twitching rhythmically as his motor functions failed.
I straightened my jacket and adjusted my cuffs.
"It's over."
I turned and walked away.
I sat back in my chair and made a small clicking motion in the air, careful to do it while everyone's attention was fixed on Taehoon.
A card materialized before my eyes.
[ DIAMOND CARD — BUFF TYPE ]
[ BEAST MODE: BLACK PANTHER ]
Allows the user to borrow the instincts of the night's most lethal predator, removing all human limiters on killing intent and physical reaction for five minutes.
'…You've got to be kidding me.
Even Suhyeon had a card like this—but I couldn't remember which animal it was. Still, Black Jaguar?
That sounded absurdly strong.
It reminded me of the animal instincts shown in Lookism. Whether it worked the same way or had its own rules didn't matter right now.
One thing was clear—
This card was dangerous.
And… insanely cool.'
I turned my back on the fallen prodigy and addressed the rest of the crew. Ryu and the six recruits were still staring at the wall where Taehoon lay.
"That's enough for today," I said. "The headquarters is still under redevelopment. Ryu, take the others and head back. We'll reconvene once the legal work for this site is finalized. Go for now."
No one argued.
They bowed—much deeper than they had earlier—and filed out of the factory. The skepticism in their eyes was gone, replaced by a cold, unmistakable respect.
Once the larger group was gone, only the core remained: Seohee, Seojun, and Dowoon.
Dowoon had already rushed to Taehoon's side, propping him up and wiping the blood from his face. Despite Taehoon's earlier hostility, Dowoon looked genuinely worried.
I walked over, my boots echoing against the concrete.
Taehoon's eyes were starting to focus again. The paralysis from the Fa Jin was fading, replaced by deep, internal pain.
"So," I said, looking down at him, "are you going to stand by your word like a man, or not?"
Taehoon coughed. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at Dowoon, then back at me.
"I… I'll be in your crew," he wheezed.
Seojun stepped forward, helping Dowoon lift Taehoon into a sitting position.
"Our Crew name is Constellation," Seojun said calmly. "And you need to understand something. This wasn't a kidnapping. Dowoon is here because he chose to be."
Dowoon nodded. "He's right. No one forced me. It was a misunderstanding. I'm staying with Choyun because I want to get stronger. I want to be useful."
Taehoon leaned his head back against the wall, eyes closing.
"Stronger… yeah." He opened them again and frowned at Dowoon. "Then why didn't you come to the dojo yesterday? My old man nearly lost his mind. And what's with my hair—did you see it?"
"Yesterday was… complicated," Dowoon replied, glancing at me. "And thanks! You look good in it, but you don't really need to dye them ."
Dowoon explained everything that had happened the day before.
Taehoon's eyes widened as he processed the story—and the fact that Dowoon's father had allowed all of this.
"Your father actually approved this?" Taehoon asked.
"He did," Dowoon answered.
Suddenly System screen appears again
[ SIDE QUEST: JOIN THE DOJO ]
Reward: Platinum Card ×1
So now it wants me to train under him.
…Fine. That's profitable either way.
I crossed my arms and looked at the two of them.
"Can you tell me about this dojo you're talking about."
Taehoon took a shallow breath. "It's my father's place. He teaches Taekwondo."
"Can I also join ?" I asked.
Taehoon let out a short laugh that turned into a wince. "You want to learn? After what you just did to me? Fine. My dad won't care as long as you pay. But don't expect him to be easy , he don't teach anyone."
"I wouldn't dream of it," I replied.
I called Alfred.
"Bring a four-seater to the factory. "
Ten minutes later, the Bentley arrived.
We loaded up—me in front, Seohee, Seojun, Dowoon, and a badly injured Taehoon in the back.
Dowoon tried to apply basic first aid but he rejected.
"Taehoon," I said, glancing back, "where's the dojo?"
He gave the location.
The car rolled into a quiet street and stopped in front of a modest traditional building. A wooden sign hung above the entrance.
Hayan Taekwondo.
"We're here," Taehoon muttered.
I stared at the sign.
This was the home of a legend , A legend equal to Top fighters of lookism like Gun park or James Lee.