Next day.
Hyunjin lay sprawled across the couch, one arm hanging off the side, fingers barely at the floor.
His eyes were half-lidded "Three weeks.."
"In just three weeks I've already crossed paths with almost everyone at J-High." Faces flashed through his mind one by one.
The trio, Jay, Jace, Zoe, Mira even Jiho.
Hyunjin's eyes narrowed slightly "Jiho" He shifted on the couch, finally turning his head toward the ceiling.
"I met him but that guy's walking down a dangerous path."
"He's got potential though."
"I'll keep him away from that mess one way or another."
Silence filled the room again.
Hyunjin exhaled and dragged his arm over his face "I'm bored out of my mind."
He sat up halfway, running a hand through his hair, frustration finally showing through the calm mask he usually wore "Training's pointless right now."
"What's the point when I've already hit my limit?" His gaze narrowed "Until I evolve there's nothing more to gain."
His jaw tightened "Still." He clenched his fist, veins faintly visible under his skin "After everything I pushed through no Endurance Mastery?"
A low scoff "Guess my ceiling's higher than I thought."
Hyunjin stood up abruptly "Whatever." He grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair, shrugging it on with a smooth.
"Sitting around won't change anything." He rolled his shoulders once, loosening up "Might as well move."
The door opened open "I'll head to Vasco's place."
----
(Six days later)
Thousands of voices roared, hungry for violence.
Lights flickered above the steel cage and the canvas below was layered with dark stain.
The same place where Hyunjin once got crushed by Geon.
Now he stood outside the ring black jacket, black shirt, black jeans.
Watching.
Inside the cage, Geon moved.
Nah, he toyed.
His opponent staggered, barely able to stand, every swing missed.
Hyunjin frowned "Weak ass, he really thought he could beat Geon?"
Geon sighed, almost bored then he stepped forward.
A single punch straight to the gut.
The man collapsed instantly, body folding like it lost its bones.
Silence.
"The winner is- GEON! THE CHAMPION!"
The crowd exploded.
The commentator, sweating with excitement, raised his mic again "ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE THE CHAMPION, STEP FORWARD!"
A step.
The spotlight shifted.
Hyunjin walked into the light.
Calm.
The crowd murmured instantly, some recognized him.
"WAIT ISN'T THAT?"
"THAT'S THE KID FROM BEFORE!"
"The ONE WHO GOT DESTROYED!"
Geon's eyes widened "You.."
His voice lowered "What have you become? You've changed in just a month."
Hyunjin smiled faintly "Just a little training."
Geon frowned "Don't joke with me."
"Who trained you? Who is your master."
Hyunjin tilted his head slightly then chuckle "I don't have one I did this myself."
Geon's expression shifted "Impressive."
His eyes gleamed faintly red "You've gotten stronger I can feel it."
Hyunjin shrugged "You could say that."
He removed his jacket the fabric jacket dropped to the ground.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
His frame wasn't just muscles it was refined.
"You see that?" someone whispered.
"He's hot."
Geon stepped forward, taking his stance.
Hyunjin didn't.
He just stood there eyes locked.
"LET'S BEGIN!" The bell rang.
Nothing happened.
No movement.
A standoff.
Geon exhaled "I hope you can push me to my limits."
His voice grew serious "Because after the First Generation no one has."
Hyunjin's smile widened "Hope to?"
Then he vanished.
Geon's eyes widened, too late.
Hyunjin was already in the air, fist crashed into Geon's jaw.
The punch sound like a gunshot.
Blood sprayed, Geon's body lifted slightly before crashing back.
The crowd went silent.
Geon steadied himself, wiping blood from his mouth "What have you become?"
Hyunjin stepped forward "I'm not what happened to me, I'm what I chose to become, Geon."
Then, Geon laughed "I see."
He straightened up fully "I underestimated you, that was my mistake."
His aura ignited.
Blue.
Then red.
Then green.
Hyunjin's eyes narrowed "Three masteries."
Geon smiled "I've fought monsters people beyond reason."
"The kings of the First Generation." His voice lowered "But their time ended to early."
A grin spread across his face "because of the legend of that era."
He looked directly at Hyunjin "Now show me."
His aura flared violently "What you've become."
Geon's aura burned blue, red.
Hyunjin stepped forward.
They moved at the same time.
The distance between them vanished.
BOOM.
Fist met fist.
The impact cracked through the cage like thunder, the floor beneath them splintered slightly, dust into the air.
Neither moved.
Their knuckles pressed against each other, muscles tensed, veins rising.
Then Geon twisted his arm, redirecting the clash, stepping in, elbow drove toward Hyunjin's ribs.
Hyunjin turned with it.
The elbow grazed still enough to send a dull shock through his side but he didn't back off.
Instead, he stepped closer.
His shoulder slammed into Geon's chest.
THUD.
Geon slid half a step back.
Geon's eyes narrowed, Good.
He swung again this time faster.
A hook aimed at Hyunjin's temple.
Hyunjin ducked.
The punch tore through the air above him
and Hyunjin answered instantly, a straight punch.
Geon blocked.
But the force still drove into his guard, his arms shuddering from the impact.
Geon retaliated three strikes in rapid succession.
Body, Jaw, Neck.
Hyunjin blocked the first but the second slipped through
CRACK.
His head snapped to the side.
The third, he caught it.
Mid-motion his hand clamped around Geon's wrist.
For a moment, stillness.
Then Hyunjin smiled wider "Now this is fun."
He yanked Geon forward and drove his knee upward.
Geon twisted mid-pull.
The knee slammed into his side instead of his chin but the impact still heavy.
THOOM.
Geon's body shifted but instead of retreating, he stepped in.
Through the pain, punch exploded into Hyunjin's stomach.
Deep.
Hyunjin's body bent slightly air forced from his lungs
but then he laughed "That's it." His eyes lit up.
Geon's expression changed 'This wasn't the same boy.'
Hyunjin grabbed Geon's shoulder pulled himself forward and slammed his forehead into Geon's face.
CRACK.
Both of them staggered half a step.
Blood, Geon's nose was bleeding.
And Hyunjin's brow.
Neither cared.
They went again.
Faster and harder.
Blow after blow, Impact after impact there was no hesitation.
Geon's mastery surged his speed spiked.
A blur of strikes crashed toward Hyunjin.
But Hyunjin didn't retreat he welcomed it.
Taking hits, redirecting others.
Answering every strike with one of his own.
A punch to Geon's ribs
Thne counter to Hyunjin's jaw
A kick
Blocked
Returned
Each exchange louder than the last.
The cage rattled violently now.
The crowd had gone from screaming to watching in stunned silence.
Because this wasn't a one-sided fight anymore.
This was a collision between beasts.
Hyunjin wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand.
Still smiling, breathing heavier now
but excited "You weren't lying." He tilted his head slightly "You're strong."
Geon exhaled rolling his shoulder as his aura flared again "And you're insane."
Then,
They both grinned.
And launched at each other again.