The meeting was over.
Eun-ak dismissed his team, leaving the classroom behind. He needed some air. After all that had happened today — climbing from the bottom to the top, forming a team, and ranking the first-year leaders — his mind felt heavy.
He found himself on the rooftop, the breeze brushing softly against his face. The sky above was painted with warm hues of orange as the sun began to set.
Taking a deep breath, Eun-ak pulled out the new Gold Card he had earned from the side quest.
[Gold Card]
Ability: Can lower the stats of the opponent for 1 minute.
A small smile crept onto his lips.
"This will help," he whispered.
But there was one more card left to check — the Unknown Card he had received after defeating all the first-year leaders.
His heart pounded a little harder as he tapped the card in his system window.
[Unknown Card] – Unlocked: [Middlemist Red Card]
Ability: Can check the stats of opponents.
Eun-ak's eyes widened slightly.
"A Middlemist Red Card?"
It was rare. Extremely rare. Being able to see his opponent's stats could change everything — he could plan his moves better, exploit weaknesses, and avoid being caught off guard.
"Two rare cards... in one day."
He exhaled deeply, feeling the rush of excitement in his chest.
This fight with Ha-jun... I might actually stand a chance.
As he was about to open the Training Portal to squeeze in some more practice before the big fight, something shifted.
His sixth sense tingled.
A strange sensation crawled down his spine. His muscles tensed as if his body sensed danger before his mind could.
Slowly, he turned around — and stopped.
A tall guy stood there.
He was about 1.82 meters tall, with silver hair, sharp green eyes, and a perfectly built physique. He stood casually, hands in his pockets, but there was something unsettling about him.
Eun-ak's eyes narrowed slightly. Who... is he?
The guy stared back. No words. No introduction.
And then... he ran.
Fast.
Too fast.
Before Eun-ak could even react, the guy blurred past him. His instincts screamed at him to launch a punch, but it was too late.
A second later, the guy was already beside him — standing calmly at Eun-ak's right side.
His left hand casually rested on Eun-ak's shoulder, his arm draped from the shoulder to the neck in a friendly way.
It wasn't friendly.
It was a warning.
Eun-ak's heart pounded. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his cool.
"I'm a big fan of yours," the guy said casually, as if they were old friends.
Eun-ak blinked. "Fan...?"
"Yeah," the guy grinned. "I heard you took down all the first-year leaders in a single day. Not bad. Especially since, well..."
He chuckled lightly.
"Just the other day, you got your ass kicked by Yejun."
A chill ran down Eun-ak's spine.
He knows...
His body tensed slightly.
This guy wasn't normal. He was dangerous. And he clearly had doubts about Eun-ak.
But then, just as suddenly as the tension rose... it disappeared.
The guy's expression changed. In a split second, his smile widened. "Anyway... I was wondering," he said, his tone playful. "Can I join your team?"
Eun-ak blinked in surprise.
"Join... my team?"
"Yeah."
The words hung in the air.
Something felt... wrong.
Why would a guy this strong want to join him?
What was his motive?
Eun-ak wasn't stupid. He could feel the weight of this guy's presence. If he refused... this might be his last fight.
He forced a smile, keeping his tone light. "Why do you want to join?"
For a second, the guy's expression darkened. His eyes sharpened.
Disastrous.
Eun-ak's heart skipped a beat.
Then, just as quickly as it came, the darkness was gone. The guy grinned playfully. "Nothing. Just for fun."
Eun-ak exhaled slowly.
He couldn't figure this guy out. He wasn't sure if he was joking, testing him, or genuinely interested. But one thing was certain — rejecting him wasn't an option.
"Alright," Eun-ak said calmly. "You can join."
The guy smiled wider.
After a brief pause, Eun-ak continued. "By the way... I'm fighting Ha-jun today. At the ground near H-Mall. If you want to come, you can."
The guy's expression didn't change. "Sure. I'll be there."
As Eun-ak turned to leave, the guy stayed behind, watching him silently.
Once Eun-ak disappeared down the stairs, the guy pulled out his phone. His playful smile was gone. His expression hardened.
He dialed a number.
The call connected.
"...Yeah. I found him."
The day passed slowly.
By the time school ended, Eun-ak and his team made their way to the ground near H-Mall, where the underground fights were held.
The place was packed.
Cheering. Shouting. The roar of the crowd filled the air, vibrating through the ground. People gathered around the ring, excited for the upcoming match.
And there he was — Ha-jun.
Tall, muscular, with white-pinkish hair, standing confidently in the center of the ring. He was calm, but his eyes were sharp. He had been waiting for this.
But what shocked Eun-ak the most wasn't Ha-jun.
It was Ha-eun.
She was in the crowd.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw who her brother was about to fight.
"Eun-ak...?" she whispered.
She couldn't believe it.
Eun-ak... was going to fight Ha-jun.
The crowd grew louder as the tension in the air thickened.
Ha-jun glanced at Eun-ak and smiled.
"I knew something was off about you," he said calmly. "And I knew this day would come. So... I'm prepared."
Eun-ak didn't say a word.
He stared back, his expression dense with intensity.
The ring referee stepped forward.
The crowd roared.
Eun-ak took a deep breath.
This is it.
The referee raised his hand.
"Fighters... ready?"
A pause.
"...START!"