Chapter 3 – The Past Never Dies

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The underground arena was in chaos.

Students roared, money exchanged hands, and bets were settled.

Kang Jinhyuk stepped over the fallen opponent, sweat cooling on his skin. His first fight at Shinhwa Martial Arts High had ended in a statement—one that everyone in the school had heard loud and clear.

But he wasn’t done yet.

Baek Dohyun grinned from outside the cage. “Damn, newbie. You’re the real deal.”

Jinhyuk rolled his shoulders. “Was there ever a doubt?”

Dohyun laughed, clapping once. “Not bad, not bad. But that guy wasn’t Top 100. He was just trying to break into the rankings.”

Jinhyuk didn’t reply. The fight had been a warm-up. If anything, it told him one thing—he was still far from the top.

As he stepped out of the cage, the crowd parted. Some looked at him with admiration, others with wariness. In a school ruled by combat, reputation meant survival.

He was about to leave when a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Kang Jinhyuk.”

The energy in the room shifted. The students turned, their expressions stiffening. Even Dohyun’s grin faltered for a moment.

Jinhyuk turned.

A man stood at the entrance of the underground arena. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an instructor’s uniform. His black eyes locked onto Jinhyuk, unreadable.

Jinhyuk’s breath hitched. His body tensed on instinct.

It had been years, but he could never forget this man.

Han Daehyun.

His mentor. His first teacher.

The man who had found him when he was nothing but a scared, beaten child curled up in an alley, crying after being called a freak.

Jinhyuk swallowed.

For a second, he wasn’t in the underground arena anymore. He was back in that dark alley, his body aching from bruises, fists clenched around his knees.

And then—

A hand had reached out to him.

“You got knocked down. So what?”

A deep voice, firm but calm. The voice of the man who would teach him everything.

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That same man was standing before him now.

An instructor at Shinhwa.

“You've grown,” Daehyun said.

Jinhyuk’s fingers curled into fists. His voice was steady. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Daehyun studied him for a long moment before finally speaking. “Neither did I. But I should have known.”

The murmurs around them grew louder. The students weren’t stupid—they could feel the tension. Jinhyuk wasn’t just some new student.

Dohyun, ever the instigator, chuckled. “You two know each other?”

Daehyun ignored him. His gaze didn’t waver from Jinhyuk. “Follow me.”

It wasn’t a request.

Jinhyuk glanced at Dohyun, who just shrugged. “Better listen to the teacher, newbie.”

Jinhyuk exhaled sharply and followed.

The hallways of Shinhwa were eerily silent compared to the underground arena.

Daehyun walked ahead, his pace steady, his hands clasped behind his back. Jinhyuk followed, his mind racing.

Eventually, they reached a training hall—one of the many dojos on campus. The moment they stepped inside, Daehyun shut the doors behind them.

Silence.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then—

Daehyun sighed. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Jinhyuk.”

Jinhyuk crossed his arms. “Same here. I thought you vanished years ago.”

Daehyun’s lips twitched slightly. “I had my reasons.”

Jinhyuk scoffed. “Everyone does.”

Daehyun studied him, his sharp gaze tracing every scar, every hardened line on Jinhyuk’s face. “You’ve changed.”

Jinhyuk shrugged. “People do.”

“Not always for the better.”

Jinhyuk’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t come here to talk about the past.”

Daehyun raised a brow. “Didn’t you?”

Jinhyuk opened his mouth to argue, but Daehyun suddenly moved.

Fast.

Before Jinhyuk could react, Daehyun’s fist was inches from his face. Instinct screamed, and Jinhyuk twisted—just barely avoiding the strike.

But Daehyun was already moving again.

A kick. Low, precise. Jinhyuk barely managed to block it, the force sending him skidding backward.

“What the hell—?”

Daehyun didn’t let up.

Jinhyuk gritted his teeth. He had no choice.

He fought back.

His foot lashed out—a counter kick aimed at Daehyun’s ribs.

Blocked.

A punch.

Deflected.

Another strike—this time, he feinted, twisting his body at the last second to drive his elbow toward Daehyun’s jaw.

For a split second, he thought he had him.

Then—

Daehyun caught his wrist.

Jinhyuk’s eyes widened. Before he could react, Daehyun shifted his weight and—

SLAM.

Jinhyuk hit the mat hard.

Pain flared through his back, but he refused to stay down. He twisted, moving to get up—

Daehyun placed a foot on his chest.

It wasn’t crushing, but it was enough to hold him in place.

Jinhyuk froze.

Daehyun stared down at him, expression unreadable. Then, in a voice that was calm and sharp as steel, he said—

“You’re strong. Stronger than when I last saw you.”

Jinhyuk clenched his teeth. “Then why the hell did you just throw me?”

Daehyun’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because strength alone isn’t enough here.”

Jinhyuk’s breathing was heavy. He stayed still for a moment, processing the words.

Then, Daehyun removed his foot and stepped back, offering a hand.

Jinhyuk hesitated.

Then, reluctantly, he took it.

Daehyun pulled him up.

“You’re in Shinhwa now,” Daehyun said. “This isn’t the outside world. The rules here are different.”

Jinhyuk exhaled, brushing dust off his shirt. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

Daehyun crossed his arms. “Then you also know that if you want to survive, you’ll need more than just raw power.”

Jinhyuk looked at him. “And what do you suggest?”

Daehyun smirked. “You were always sharp. I’ll be blunt—I can’t help you like before. I’m an instructor, not your mentor.”

Jinhyuk’s fingers curled.

Daehyun continued, “But I can tell you this—if you want to climb, be ready. The moment you enter the rankings, you’re marked. The Top 100 will come for you.”

Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a grin. “Good.”

Daehyun sighed. “You’re still reckless.”

“Maybe.”

Daehyun shook his head, but there was something almost amused in his expression.

He turned toward the door. “Get stronger, Jinhyuk. Because the real monsters haven’t even noticed you yet.”

With that, he left.

Jinhyuk stood in the empty dojo, his heart still pounding.

He clenched his fists.

Han Daehyun was right.

The real fight was only beginning.

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End of Chapter 3