Concrete shattered everywhere, blood covered the ground in streaks.
And in the center of it all, Hyunjin and Gun kept destroying each other.
Hyunjin rushed forward like a mad beast.
No restraint.
BAM!!
His fist crashed into Gun's cheek.
Blood exploded outward.
Gun's head twisted violently But before he could fully recover.
Hyunjin's knee slammed upward.
BAM!
Gun staggered.
Another punch.
Another elbow.
Another kick.
Hyunjin's style had become even more monstrous now.
One moment he fought like a street brawler, the next like a trained killer.
Every movement evolved mid-combat and every exchange made him more dangerous.
BAM!!
A brutal spinning strike smashed into Gun's face.
Blood sprayed across the pavement.
Gun slid backward.
Face bruised, lip split open.
Blood dripping everywhere.
Yet, he was smiling.
That insane smile.
Wider than before.
Daniel couldn't even breathe properly anymore "This is insane.."
Zack's fists trembled "How are they still Human.."
Johan stared silently, he understood something terrifying.
Hyunjin appeared in front of Gun again.
A monstrous punch heading straight for his face
But, Gun changed.
Completely.
The atmosphere around him became calmer.
More controlled.
Then
He stepped sideways slightly.
Minimal movement.
Precise.
His hand redirected Hyunjin's arm effortlessly.
SWOSH!
Aikido.
Before Hyunjin could react, Gun twisted his balance completely.
Then
BAM!!
A devastating counterstrike buried itself into Hyunjin's ribs.
The sound alone made everyone flinch.
Hyunjin's body shook violently.
Gun didn't stop.
He lowered himself, ultra-low stance, legs spread wide.
His hands behind his back.
The legendary stance, Kiba-dachi.
Gun stood like an immovable tree, his feet rooted into the ground itself.
Every muscle tightened perfectly.
Every rotation of his hips generated monstrous force.
Gun smiled through the blood on his face "Come."
Hyunjin attacked instantly.
A barrage of strikes, fast enough to blur
But Gun absorbed them all.
THUD!!
THUD!!
THUD!!
Every hit landed, Yet Gun barely moved.
Like punching steel, because he was using Endurance Mastery.
Then
Gun countered.
A short punch.
BAM!!
Hyunjin's ribs shattered.
Blood burst from his mouth.
His eyes widened
But he still try to attack mid counter.
Gun rotated his hips once more
Another counter.
BAM!!!
Hyunjin's arm bent unnaturally.
Bones cracked.
Pain shot through his body.
Yet, he adapted.
But adaptation had a price, Hyunjin's body was reaching its limit.
His muscles tearing apart from the punishment.
His bones cracking from impacts he barely survived.
Yet he kept Adapting.
Like a monster forcing growth through pain.
Gun stepped in again.
Another rooted counter.
BAM!!!
A direct blow to Hyunjin's torso.
The shockwave erupted outward violently.
Hyunjin coughed blood instantly.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Then, his legs finally gave out.
THUD.
Hyunjin dropped to one knee.
Blood poured from his mouth.
One arm hanging slightly broken.
Ribs cracked.
Breathing unstable.
The entire lot fell silent.
Everyone stared.
Even Gun's smile faded slightly.
Because despite all that damage, Hyunjin was still trying to stand.
Gun looked down at him, blood dripping from his own face.
Then smiled again "You really are a monster."
Hyunjin breathed heavily.
Blood falling onto the pavement.
Then, slowly a grin appeared on his face again.
Even now, even after everything.
He was smiling, which made everyone watching feel cold down their spine.
Blood dripped steadily onto pavement.
Hyunjin slowly stood up, his body trembling slightly.
Cracked ribs.
Broken bones.
One arm barely functioning.
Blood covered his face and chest.
SPIT.
A large mouthful of blood hit the ground.
Hyunjin wiped his mouth slowly.
Breathing rough now.
For the first time since the fight started, he realized it.
Gun was still holding back.
Hyunjin smiled.
Gun watched him, a devilish grin spread across his face again.
"You."
"You're the successor I want the most now." Everyone froze hearing that.
Johan's eyes widened.
Gun looked genuinely excited.
Interested, obsessed even.
He stepped closer slowly "At first I thought you were just another talented fighter."
A small laugh escaped him "But now I see it."
His eyes hardened "Adaptation."
Gun noticed it during the fight.
Every exchange, technique, impact.
Hyunjin adapting.
"I've met adaptation-type fighters before."
"But yours is different." His grin widened wider "Completely different."
"You don't just adapt, you evolve with it"
Gun looked at Hyunjin's broken body.
Then sighed "What a shame."
"Your body can't keep up with your growth."
Hyunjin lowered his stance again.
Despite everything.
Despite the pain.
He still wanted more.
He rushed forward.
Again.
Hyunjin ignored everything.
The pain.
The broken ribs.
The blood loss.
Even though his movements slowed.
Even though his strikes had lost power.
He still charged forward desperately.
Because inside his head
Only one thought existed.
Evolve.
More.
Higher.
Further.
He wanted to break past his limits.
Wanted to reach a level beyond what he was now.
Even if his body shattered doing it.
Gun calmly dodged the first punch.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Minimal movement.
Hyunjin kept attacking wildly.
Again.
Again.
Again.
But Gun countered every time.
THUD!!
CRACK!!
BAM!!
Each counter heavier than before.
Hyunjin's body shook violently from every impact.
But he still moved forward.
Gun's eyes narrowed "Insane."
Gun finally released more of his strength.
Gun stepped in.
One punch.
Simple and direct.
BAM!!
The impact shattered the ground beneath Hyunjin instantly.
His eyes lost focus for a second.
Then, his body dropped.
Both knees crashing onto the pavement.
THUD.
Blood poured endlessly from his mouth.
His arms loosened.
Vasco stepped forward immediately "HYUNJIN!"
But, a hand stopped him.
Zack.
"Don't." Zack stared at Hyunjin.
Gun looked down at Hyunjin, then smiled.
The smile was genuine respect.
"Get stronger, I'll look forward to fighting you again." He turned around "Ganbare."
Walking away calmly.
He never expected to find someone like Hyunjin.
Behind him
Hyunjin smiled.
Even after losing, he was smiling.
Then his vision finally darkened.
And he collapsed forward unconscious.
THUD.
"HYUNJIN!!" Daniel, Zack, and Vasco immediately ran toward him.
The trio surrounded him quickly.
Daniel's hands trembled slightly seeing the damage.
Vasco clenched his fists hard "That monster.."
Zack stayed quiet.
But his eyes never left Gun's disappearing figure.
Then back toward Hyunjin.
And only one thought remained in everyone's mind.
The world they knew was far bigger than they imagined.
-----
[A/N: This is the first official arc in my story.]