The air was filled with tension as Liam stood face to face with the leader of the hostile group. The leader's smirk was infuriating, and Liam couldn't hold back any longer. He lunged forward, aiming his fist straight at the leader's face, but as soon as he made his move, the group surrounding them sprang into action and closed in on Liam from all sides.
Liam realized his mistake almost instantly. He had attacked first, giving the enemy the justification they needed to retaliate in full force. But it didn't matter now; the fight was on, and there was no turning back.
The first punch came from his left, but Liam dodged it swiftly. His reflexes were honed from countless battles. He countered with a swift jab to the attacker's ribs, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone under his knuckles.
Another assailant lunged at him from the right, but Liam blocked the blow with his forearm and delivered a powerful uppercut that sent the man sprawling.
The fight was intense, and Liam was in his element. He dodged, punched, blocked, and attacked with precision and ferocity. Every strike he landed sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins, fueling his relentless onslaught. He took hits too, feeling the sting of fists connecting with his body, but he gave back twice as hard.
Joon Ho and Joon Seok joined the fray, their movements synchronized with Liam's. They fought with the same unyielding determination, their fists and feet a blur of motion as they took on the enemy. The sound of flesh meeting flesh filled the air, punctuated by grunts of pain and exertion.
"Let's fucking go!"
Hye Rin was about to join the fight, but Soo Min grabbed her hand and shook her head vigorously. Soo Min, the youngest at just thirteen, was easily scared and overwhelmed by the violence. Hye Rin hesitated for a moment, then decided to stay by Soo Min's side, and protect her from the chaos.
Liam, meanwhile, had a clear strategy in mind. He knew that if he took out the leader, the rest of the group would likely falter and retreat. He shouted to the Joon brothers, "Make a way for me! I need to get to the leader!"
Joon Ho and Joon Seok nodded, and got to work. They fought with renewed vigor, and created a path through the enemy ranks for Liam to follow. Liam moved swiftly, his eyes locked onto the leader, who was smirking and looking straight at Liam.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," the leader taunted, and raised his fists in a defensive stance.
Liam didn't waste time on words. He launched himself at the leader, his fists flying in a flurry of strikes. The leader blocked and countered, his skills matching Liam's in both speed and precision. The two fought like monsters, their blows landing with brutal force.
Liam took a hit to the jaw that sent stars dancing in his vision, but he shook it off and retaliated with a powerful kick to the leader's midsection. The leader doubled over, gasping for breath, but he recovered quickly, and lashed out with a series of rapid punches that Liam barely managed to dodge.
Liam's body ached from the countless blows he had taken, but he refused to give in. He knew that victory was within his grasp, and he was determined to see it through to the end.
With a final, desperate surge of energy, Liam launched a devastating combo of punches and kicks that caught the leader off guard. The leader stumbled back, his defenses crumbling under the relentless assault. Liam saw his opening and took it, delivering a knockout blow that sent the leader crashing to the ground, unconscious.
As the leader fell, the rest of the group hesitated, their resolve faltering without their leader's guidance. Liam stood tall, his chest heaving with exertion, and shouted, "Anyone else want a piece of this?"
The group exchanged uncertain glances, then slowly began to back away. They carried the leader and ran away.
"Heh!" Liam watched them go with a grim smile of satisfaction on his face.
Liam and the Joon brothers were bruised up after the intense fight. As they caught their breath, Liam looked over at Hye Rin. Her face was filled with concern and sadness, and it was clear she felt helpless for not being able to help in the fight. She didn't say it out loud, but Liam could see it in her eyes.
He had been in a similar situation countless times in the real world, feeling helpless and useless. But he knew that sometimes, the best help wasn't always about fighting. He thought for a moment, pondering how to say it, and somehow, the words came out.
"Rin, you did a great job protecting Soo Min," Liam said in a sincere voice. "It's because of you that Joon brothers and I could focus entirely on the fight. You played a crucial role."
Joon Ho and Joon Seok nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Rin. You kept Soo Min safe, and that's no small feat," Joon Ho added.
Rin's face flushed a little at the compliment from Liam, but her expression remained gloomy. She appreciated the words, but the weight of her perceived failure still hung heavy on her shoulders.
"Let's eat before another group of assholes come."
They ate their food in silence for a while, the tension slowly easing.
Joon Ho and Joon Seok turned to Soo Min, their voices filled with encouragement. "Soo Min, you'll be able to reach the first stage tomorrow if you work hard," Joon Seok said, patting her on the back.
Soo Min nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. But Rin's face grew even gloomier.
Liam immediately noticed the change in her demeanor but didn't say a thing. He knew that pushing the issue wouldn't help, so he let it be.
After they finished eating, they gathered their things and left the valley together. The walk back was quiet, each lost in their own thoughts. Liam couldn't help but glance at Rin from time to time, seeing the weight of her worries etched on her face. He wished he could do more to ease her burden, but for now, all he could do was be there for her.