The first punch came in fast. Jun-Hyuk managed to deflect just in time. The gym erupted into a frenzy as students scrambled to place their bets. Jun-Hyuk blocked out the noise, focusing solely on the man in front of him. He could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on him, the pressure mounting with every second.
[Mission Reminder: Defeat and take over Baekho’s Golden Claw Betting Ring. Completion = 70 points.]
The system’s notification blinked in the corner of his vision, a small but potent reminder of what was at stake. He’d never faced an opponent like Dae-Hyun before, but he wasn’t the same person he’d been just days ago. After all, he had now faced monsters much stronger than anyone in this room could even imagine.
Dae-Hyun moved fast, a blur of speed that caught Jun-Hyuk off guard. The older boy’s fist shot out like a cannonball, aimed directly at Jun-Hyuk’s face. But Jun-Hyuk’s body reacted before his mind could catch up, his enhanced agility kicking in. He sidestepped the punch with inches to spare, the air displaced by the force brushing against his cheek.
The crowd gasped in surprise, and Dae-Hyun’s eyes narrowed. “Not bad.”
Jun-Hyuk didn’t respond. Instead, he closed the distance between them, his movements fluid and precise. His first strike—a low kick aimed at Dae-Hyun’s knee—connected with a satisfying thud, but Dae-Hyun barely flinched. He countered with a sweeping hook that Jun-Hyuk ducked under, his instincts screaming at him to stay on the move.
The fight became a blur of motion. Dae-Hyun’s strikes were heavy and relentless, each one powerful enough to end the match if it landed cleanly. But Jun-Hyuk’s agility and reflexes kept him just out of reach, his movements almost dance-like as he weaved around the attacks.
[Skill Activated: Taekwondo – Level 10]
Jun-Hyuk felt a surge of confidence as his training kicked in. He dropped low, spinning into a sweeping kick that caught Dae-Hyun’s ankle. This time, the older boy stumbled, his balance momentarily thrown off.
Seizing the opportunity, Jun-Hyuk followed up with a high kick aimed at Dae-Hyun’s jaw. The crowd roared as the kick connected, the impact echoing through the gym. Dae-Hyun staggered back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“You’ve got some bite after all,” Dae-Hyun growled, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. His smirk returned, more feral than before. “But it’s gonna take more than that to take me down.”
Jun-Hyuk didn’t bother with a reply. His muscles tensed, coiled like a spring, ready to strike again. He had been about to deliver another kick when a better idea flickered into his mind—a way to finish this with style. Why not end it the same way he took down the wolf-moth?
A faint, almost mischievous smile curved his lips as he surged forward with a sudden burst of speed. His aggressive advance caught Dae-Hyun off guard; the slight widening of his opponent’s eyes betrayed his surprise. But that was nothing compared to the shock that followed.
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Jun-Hyuk slammed his palm into Dae-Hyun’s chest with a sharp, decisive motion. A low, fiery glow pulsed from his fingertips, a fragment of the flaming energy he usually reserved for his blade. The force ignited in an instant, sending Dae-Hyun hurtling backward as though a storm had erupted inside him.
A raw, guttural yell tore from Dae-Hyun’s throat as he hit the ground with a heavy thud. He tried to push himself up, arms trembling under his weight, but his legs refused to cooperate. His movements were frantic yet futile, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Jun-Hyuk stood over him, steady and unshaken, the faint traces of energy still shimmering around his fingers. The fight was over. The outcome was clear. Dae-Hyun had lost, and Jun-Hyuk had claimed victory.
Jun-Hyuk straightened, rolling his shoulders back as his gaze swept over the crowd of students, now frozen in tense silence. Just days ago, he never would have dared to imagine himself saying what came next.
“This betting ring now belongs to Cheongmyeong,” he declared, his voice cutting through the still air with authority. “From now on, you’ll report to me—Seo Jun-Hyuk. If anyone has a problem with that,” he paused, letting the weight of his words settle, “you’re welcome to settle it with me in the ring. We’ll let our fists do the talking.”
The familiar blue light of the system window glimmered in front of him.
[Mission passed +70 points. Total points= 80][Congratulations on completing your first official mission and taking over the Golden Claw Betting Ring. However the strongest cannot report to anyone. Therefore your second mission is to form your own crew, separate from Cheongmyeong.]
[Recruit your former bully Choi-Seok to join your crew for 50 points]
Jun-Hyuk blinked at the glowing system window, his eyes narrowing as he reread the message. Once, twice.
A faint twitch pulled at his brow, the kind of irritation that simmered just beneath the surface.
Seriously? he thought, the words practically echoing in his mind. Take over the betting ring, and now this?
He leaned back slightly, his arms crossing over his chest as he stared at the screen, disbelief mingling with annoyance. "Separate from Cheongmyeong? Form my own crew? What am I, some kind of gang lord now?" he muttered under his breath.
And then there was the kicker. He gritted his teeth as his eyes flicked to the next line.
Recruit Choi-Seok? His jaw tightened. Of all people, the system wanted him to bring that guy—his former tormentor, the smug bastard who made his life miserable—not just into his crew, but as a key step in this insane mission.
Jun-Hyuk let out a slow, exasperated breath. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered. He almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it all sounded, but the system wasn’t exactly known for giving him a choice.
Fine, he thought grudgingly, but if this backfires, I’m blaming you, system.
But that would have to wait until tomorrow. For now, it was time to head home, catch some much-needed sleep... and, of course, dive back into the next world. He could only hope it wouldn’t throw any more nightmarish horrors his way. Then again, hope and reality rarely see eye to eye. And something told him this wasn’t going to be one of those rare times.