The silence in the old hallway was heavy. Jin leaned his back against the damp wall and grabbed the water bottle he had left in a corner before the fight. The liquid slid down his throat like he was drinking life itself.
His breathing was still ragged, arms heavy, cuts burning on his face. He wiped the blood from his eyebrow and stared at his hand, stained with dried blood.
"One down… four to go."
Leon appeared at the other end of the hallway, walking calmly like the chaos didn't mean a thing to him.
"The next one's already isolated. Sung-Min 'Cobra', the guy who loves using his legs."
Jin cracked his neck and gave a crooked smile.
"Let's see if he can take a fall."
Leon flashed that cold smirk of his — the one he wore when everything was going according to plan.
"He's at the old gym. Pretending to train at night. The others are busy dealing with the mess I stirred up. Just get in there and tear him apart."
Jin rolled his shoulders, his joints protesting. The first fight had taken a toll, but he was only getting started.
The night was far from over.
---
The school's old gym was poorly lit, with a few flickering lamps. The air stank of old wood and sweat.
Sung-Min was there, lying on the floor, stretching his long, flexible legs. He wore a sleeveless shirt and sweatpants, and when he spotted Jin coming in, a mocking smile spread across his face.
"So the freshman puppy came to get me?" Sung-Min taunted, getting up with an annoying ease. "Listen up, kid. You should be grateful I even let you breathe in the same school as me."
Jin ignored the words. He knew guys like this loved to talk trash to throw you off. But he'd taken enough hits tonight to stop falling for that.
"Let's just see if you can handle it," Jin shot back, stopping a few meters away and raising his guard.
Sung-Min laughed, moving his legs with quick, flashy kicks.
"Then come on, tough guy."
Without warning, Sung-Min dashed forward, spinning his body into a high kick aimed for Jin's head. He was fast — faster than Dae-Seok. But Jin was ready for it. He ducked just in time, feeling the sharp wind cut over him.
Before he could counter, Sung-Min followed up with a spinning kick to the midsection. Jin crossed his arms and felt the solid impact, his feet sliding slightly on the wooden floor.
The bastard was strong and quick.
Jin stepped back, but Sung-Min didn't let up. Kicks flew in from all angles — high, low, spinning, front kicks. It was like fighting a human kicking machine. Jin took two shots to the chest and one to the ribs before spotting an opening.
When Sung-Min tried a spinning sidekick, Jin didn't retreat — he advanced. He let the blow graze his shoulder and, using the veteran's rotation, grabbed his leg mid-air.
Sung-Min's face instantly changed.
"You son of a—"
No time. Jin yanked the leg down and drove a punch into Sung-Min's gut. The guy dropped to his knees, but still tried to kick with the other leg.
Too damn quick.
Jin took a step back, dodging it, then countered with a sharp sidekick to the chest, slamming Sung-Min against the wall.
The dude scrambled back up fast, that cocky grin wiped from his face.
"You're gonna regret that," he snarled, spinning again.
This time, Jin didn't wait. As Sung-Min raised his leg for another kick, Jin slid low, sweeping out the supporting leg. Sung-Min lost balance, and Jin shot up fast, slamming a straight punch into his jaw. The veteran stumbled.
Jin's blood was boiling. That dark side of him — the one inherited from his father — started to surface. He moved like a predator, grabbing Sung-Min's leg again and twisting, throwing him down hard.
Before the guy could react, Jin locked in a precise leg lock, twisting it slowly.
Sung-Min's eyes filled with panic.
Jin grinned, teeth stained with blood.
"You like kicking so much, huh?" he whispered, tightening the hold. "Let's see how you do it without a leg."
Then, with one vicious twist, a sharp crack filled the gym.
CRAACK.
Sung-Min screamed before passing out from the pain.
Jin let go of the limp leg, breathing hard, that sinister look still in his eyes.
Leon appeared at the gym entrance, wearing that same satisfied smirk.
"Two down."
Jin wiped the sweat from his face.
"Who's next?"
Leon gestured for him to follow.
The night wasn't over yet.