(Saturday, September 24, 2020 – 4:56 PM)
Dojin wasted no time. The moment he finished introducing himself, he lunged forward, his movements wild but purposeful. He didn't have the refined techniques of a trained martial artist, but what he lacked in discipline, he made up for in sheer unpredictability. His fists came fast, not in any proper form, but like a brawler who had spent years surviving by any means necessary.
Jin, however, had already seen this type before.
'No technique, just instincts. He's like a stray dog that learned how to fight by getting kicked too many times.'
Dojin's first move was a feint. His right hand shot toward Jin's face, only to suddenly drop as he kicked over a fallen chair, sending it flying toward Jin's legs. At the same time, his left fist came in a wide hook toward Jin's jaw.
Jin didn't even blink.
With a slight pivot of his foot, he sidestepped just enough for the chair to scrape past him, missing his shin by inches. His arm snapped up, intercepting Dojin's left fist mid-swing before twisting the wrist slightly. Dojin's entire body jolted from the sudden counter-pressure, forcing him to recoil.
"Tch!" Dojin clicked his tongue, stepping back and shaking his wrist.
'He reacts way too fast,' Dojin thought with his mind racing. 'I can't hit him with basic tricks…'
Jin exhaled through his nose, his body relaxed. He wasn't even treating this as a real fight yet. "You done?"
Dojin grinned, then suddenly grabbed a desk and shoved it forward. The metal legs scraped against the floor, screeching loudly. It was an obvious attempt to limit Jin's movement, forcing him to step back.
But Jin didn't step back.
Instead, he placed his foot firmly against the desk as it was being pushed and used the momentum to vault over it. Mid-air, his leg extended, aiming directly for Dojin's head.
'Shit!' Dojin barely ducked in time, Jin's kick grazing his hair.
Jin landed smoothly, his feet barely making a sound. "You're slow." he muttered, dusting off his clothes.
Dojin wiped his mouth, eyes narrowing. "You act like you've already won."
"I have."
That did it. Dojin rushed in again, this time weaving between overturned chairs, using them as cover to mask his movement. He grabbed a loose pen off a desk and flicked it toward Jin's eyes, then immediately followed up with a low tackle.
Jin tilted his head slightly, letting the pen whizz past his ear, before sidestepping once more. But this time, Dojin anticipated it, swinging a textbook toward Jin's ribs like a club.
Jin caught the book mid-air.
Before Dojin could react, Jin pulled him forward with his grip on the book, slamming his forehead directly into Dojin's nose. A dull crunch echoed through the classroom as Dojin stumbled backward with his vision blurring.
'The hell…? He countered every single move like it was nothing…'
Jin watched him with a neutral gaze. "You're relying too much on cheap tricks. Against a weaker opponent, that might work, but against someone better?" He shook his head. "It's useless."
Dojin growled, wiping the blood dripping from his nose. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes were still sharp. "You're underestimating me too much, Jin."
Jin arched a brow. "Am I?"
Dojin suddenly sprinted to the side, knocking over a stack of books onto the floor. The moment Jin's eyes flicked toward the movement, Dojin grabbed the edge of a chair and spun in a low arc, using it as a shield while closing the distance.
'Better. He's adapting.'
But it still wasn't enough.
Jin ducked under the chair swing, planting a palm against the wooden seat mid-motion. With a smooth pivot, he twisted Dojin's grip, forcing him to let go before kicking the chair into his stomach.
Dojin grunted, stumbling back as Jin casually walked forward.
"You're thinking too much about how to trick me instead of how to win." Jin said, almost lazily. "That's why you'll never land a hit."
Dojin wiped his mouth again, his chest rising and falling rapidly. 'I can't touch him. No matter what I do, he's always a step ahead.'
Jin gave him a moment, then sighed. "Alright, I've had my fun. Let's wrap this up."
Before Dojin could even register the words, Jin was already in front of him.
'Fast!'
Jin's elbow drove into his sternum with the force of a sledgehammer, knocking the wind out of him instantly. Dojin's body folded forward, his knees buckling. But Jin didn't let him fall. He grabbed Dojin by the collar, lifting him slightly before sending a precise knee into his liver.
Dojin's entire body convulsed, his breath hitching as a sharp pain shot through his side. His arms twitched, trying to move, but his body wasn't responding.
Jin lowered him slightly, then turned his grip into a firm hold before twisting his entire frame. Dojin's feet left the ground as Jin spun him mid-air and slammed him onto a desk with a loud crash.
The classroom fell silent.
Jin straightened up, adjusting his sleeves as he looked down at Dojin, who was groaning in pain, barely able to move.
"You've got good instincts." Jin admitted, rolling his shoulders. "But instincts alone won't save you against someone who knows how to fight."
Dojin coughed, looking up at Jin through blurry vision. He wanted to say something, anything, but his body wasn't cooperating.
Jin exhaled and turned toward the door. "I'll give you credit for lasting this long, though." He glanced over his shoulder. "Not bad, Dojin."
Then, without another word, he walked out of the classroom, leaving Dojin lying among the wreckage of their fight.
....
(Saturday, November 4, 2020 – 12:45 PM)
Days passed, and the fights never stopped.
More and more inmates began challenging Jin and Gun, eager to test their strength against the two monsters that had quickly risen to the top of the prison hierarchy. Some came alone, others in groups, but the result was always the same. Jin and Gun stood victorious, their challengers left groaning on the ground, some with broken noses, others clutching their ribs in pain.
Jin barely paid attention to most of the fights. They weren't interesting. It was just one weakling after another throwing themselves at him, hoping numbers would make a difference.
They never did.
After defeating Dojin, Jin hadn't encountered another true area boss. Only fodder. Some of them were skilled, but they weren't even close to a real challenge. At most, they were a warm-up before lunch.
One morning, as Jin was heading toward the bathroom, he stopped just outside the door when he heard a loud slam inside.
"Turn around and don't even wipe." a voice sneered.
Jin froze with eyes widening slightly.
Then, without a word, he turned around and walked the other way.
'Oh hell nah.'
By the time lunch came around, he had already put the incident far out of his mind. There were some things even he wouldn't get involved in.
As usual, he sat near Gun, who was eating quietly. Today, Jin had managed to get his hands on some lasagna. It was amazing what good food you could get when you could rob anyone in the prison.
Jin took a bite, savoring the flavor, before glancing at Gun. "Teach me your cool Karate."
Gun didn't respond. He just continued eating, as if Jin hadn't spoken at all.
Jin chewed thoughtfully before swallowing, then leaned back slightly. "If you don't teach me, I'll challenge you."
That got a reaction.
Gun slowly placed his chopsticks down and turned his head toward Jin. His cold, reverse-colored eyes locked onto him.
Jin stopped chewing mid-bite before shaking his head. "After I finish my food, of course."
Gun nodded once, then returned to his meal.
Jin nodded slightly before taking another bite. The fight could wait.
----
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