Air buzzed with anticipation as the crowd gathered around the ground near H-Mall. Shouts and cheers echoed from every corner, with hundreds of students, gang members, and locals eager to witness the fight between two powerhouses — Eun-ak and Ha-jun.
Eun-ak stood in the center of the ring, his breath steady but his heart pounding. Before the fight could begin, he quickly pulled out his Middlemist Red Card.
[Middlemist Red Card]
Ability: Can check the stats of opponents.
A translucent blue screen appeared before him, revealing Ha-jun's stats.
Ha-jun's Stats:
Strength: SSS+
Speed: SS
Potential: SSS+
Intelligence: S+
Endurance: X+
Eun-ak's eyes widened in shock. Ha-jun's stats were beyond anything he had imagined. Even the top first-year leaders didn't come close to this. His muscles tensed as he checked his own stats.
Eun-ak's Stats:
Strength: SS+
Speed: AA+
Potential: A+
Intelligence: S
Endurance: AA+
The difference was staggering. His heart sank for a brief second — but only for a second. He clenched his fists, reminding himself that stats weren't everything. He still had his two most powerful Gold Cards.
[ Gold Card ]
Ability: Raises the stats of the user for 3 minutes.
His body surged with energy. His veins pulsed with power as his stats elevated.
Eun-ak's Boosted Stats:
Strength: SSS
Speed: S
Potential: AA+
Intelligence: S
Endurance: S+
Without wasting time, Eun-ak used his second Gold Card.
[Gold Card ]
Ability: Lowers the stats of the opponent for 1 minute.
Ha-jun's stats adjusted before his eyes.
Ha-jun's Lowered Stats:
Strength: SSS
Speed: S+
Potential: SSS
Intelligence: S+
Endurance: X
Even after the debuff, Ha-jun remained terrifyingly strong. Eun-ak exhaled, calming his mind. He had prepared for this moment. He had to believe in his training.
The referee stepped into the ring, raising his hand.
"Fight!"
The instant the fight began, Ha-jun vanished.
No — not vanished. He was just that fast.
Eun-ak barely had time to register movement before a devastating jab slammed into his ribs. The force of the impact cracked bones instantly. A gasp escaped his lips as he staggered back, his vision blurring.
Ha-jun didn't stop there. He moved like a blur, dribbling and weaving with the skill of a seasoned boxer. His punches came in rapid succession — each hit like a bullet piercing flesh. He struck Eun-ak in the stomach, the ribs, the face.
BAM!
Eun-ak was launched across the ring. His back slammed against the concrete wall with a deafening CRACK! The ground trembled from the impact, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
But he refused to fall. Blood dripped from his lips as he stumbled forward, forcing his legs to move.
"I'm… not done yet," he growled.
With a roar, he lunged forward, delivering a powerful punch aimed at Ha-jun's face. This time, it connected. The crowd gasped as Ha-jun's head snapped to the side. But when he turned back, there wasn't even a scratch.
Eun-ak barely had a second to recover before Ha-jun countered.
BOOM!
Another punch. This time, Eun-ak flew through two walls, crashing onto the ground with enough force to leave a small crater. Dust and debris rained down as he coughed violently.
But he stood again. His breathing was heavy. His vision blurred. His entire body screamed in agony.
He launched a desperate kick toward Ha-jun's ribs. The impact was solid, but it was like kicking steel. Ha-jun barely flinched.
"You're stubborn," Ha-jun said, shaking his head. "But this is over."
He stepped forward, his fists tightening. The aura around him pulsed with raw power — a monster in human form. The crowd could feel it. The intensity was suffocating.
Eun-ak's legs trembled, his breath shallow. Blood trickled down his forehead and onto the ground below. His time was running out. His cards were wearing off.
Ha-jun raised his fist for the final blow. "Good fight."
Just as Ha-jun's punch was about to land, a hand caught his wrist mid-air. The shockwave from the force rippled through the ground, cracking the concrete beneath them.
The crowd fell silent.
It was the silver-haired guy — the one Eun-ak had met on the rooftop.
Ha-jun's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
The guy smiled playfully, but his grip tightened. Ha-jun's muscles tensed as if struggling against an unmovable wall. The air around them shifted.
"You were about to kill him," the silver-haired guy said, his voice calm but carrying a terrifying weight. "That's enough."
Ha-jun yanked his arm back, but for the first time, there was hesitation in his movements. He flexed his hand, frowning. "You… You're not normal."
The guy's smile widened. "Neither are you."
He turned to the crowd. "This match is over. Eun-ak has lost."
The finality in his voice left no room for argument. There was an overwhelming density to his tone — as if the world itself had to obey.
Ha-jun's expression darkened. He looked at his hand, flexing his fingers once more. "Tch." He clicked his tongue, then turned and walked away.
Ha-eun followed him, glancing back at Eun-ak with concern. The crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring in confusion.
Only a few people remained — Eun-ak's group, the silver-haired guy, and the silence.
Eun-ak lay on the ground, his body broken and trembling. His breathing was shallow. The weight of defeat hung heavy in the air.
The mysterious guy knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did well."
Eun-ak didn't respond. His eyes stared up at the sky, reflecting nothing but misery.
The fight was over.
And he had lost.