Minsik Choi pressed his lower back as he slowly rose to his feet. "Ah, youth. You've been suspicious from the start. You should know you'll be eliminated if you step out again. Are you saying you like her?"
Sally's face flushed crimson as she began to stammer, "Wh-What?! That was in the past!! Warren is now–"
But Warren cut her off. "Yeah. It's a crush. I've been counting. 1,194 days, to be exact."
Sally froze. "What are you saying... You told me back then that you didn't like..."
Warren's expression was steady. "Because I would've regretted it if I'd been honest then. But now I've decided I won't live with regrets anymore. I'm sorry—I wanted to tell you somewhere better than this. I don't care about the quest. There's a saying: a man never goes back on his word. Once I say it, I'll stand by it."
The memory of middle school flickered through both Warren and Sally's minds. Warren had said back then, "I'll protect you." And since that day, he'd never left her side—always there, always watching over her. Whether Sally realized it or not, Warren had been her guardian angel. No, not like a guardian angel—Warren was her guardian angel.
Warren pulled off his t-shirt and draped it over Sally's face, shielding her eyes. "There's no reward for this. My lifelong quest is to protect you."
With that, Warren took his fighting stance.
Minsik Choi smiled, his mouth glinting with gold teeth. "Hey, kid. They call you Gangdong Invincible because you've fought over a thousand times? You think that makes you invincible?"
Without warning, Minsik tossed his glasses aside and cracked Warren across the jaw. "Invincible, huh? Interesting." He followed with a brutal punch to the midsection. "You know, way back when I was still young, I used to talk like that too." Minsik threw an uppercut that snapped Warren's head back. "But in our generation, even an errand boy fought over a thousand times." He grabbed Warren by the throat and slammed him into the wall, shattering it. Then he yanked Warren up by his hair and drove a fist into his face, sending him crashing through another wall.
Sally rushed forward, pounding her fists against Minsik's back. "Stop! What are you doing?! Why are you hitting him?!"
But Minsik didn't even flinch. He turned and grabbed Sally by the wrists, opening his mouth to speak—
A fist connected with his jaw.
His head snapped sideways. A gold tooth shattered and flew.
Warren stood tall in front of Sally, blood streaming down his face. "I'm not invincible because I'm strong. I'm GANGDONG'S MIGHTY WARREN CHAE BECAUSE I NEVER FALL!!"
Minsik threw a punch, but Warren twisted his body and dodged. In an instant, Warren unleashed a barrage of strikes that sent Minsik flying backward. Warren leaped into the air, tucking one leg as he hung suspended for a heartbeat, then spun diagonally downward like a drill, his extended leg crashing into Minsik.
Minsik rushed in again, but shock flashed across his face as he felt the danger radiating from Warren. Warren had shifted into a CQC stance. The moment Minsik entered his range, he was bombarded by devastating blows.
Minsik collapsed and didn't get up.
Sally threw herself at Warren, tears streaming down her face. The crowd erupted in cheers.
Neko watched them and muttered quietly, "I... I have someone like that too."
According to the rules, Warren and Sally should have been eliminated, but the VIPs refused to allow it and caused an uproar. Seeing this, Neko had no choice but to let them stay.
---
The next game was about to begin. Eight players remained: Little Daniel and his team, Li Maeng-Ho, Kurosawa Akira, and a man named Megami Kenta.
Little Daniel turned to Warren. "You all right, Gangdong Lover?"
Warren nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Jung Gu Crusher."
The nickname referred to how Little Daniel had literally crushed Minsik Choi's groin in the previous round.
Warren glanced at their opponents, thinking to himself, "The damage I took... I didn't think I'd have this much energy left. Is it because of Baki-hyung's training?"
As Little Daniel stepped forward, Akira ambushed him with a flurry of punches, knocking him to the ground. In every match, there was always a spy from the Workers tasked with sabotaging the participants. This time, it was Akira.
Little Daniel looked up at him. "You're the Workers' spy...?"
Akira smirked. "Heh. Doesn't matter if you know now."
Suddenly, a straight punch came at Akira. He blocked it. Then rapid punches flashed toward him. Akira weaved through them effortlessly. "Boxing? You think you can hit me with just this?"
At some point, his back touched the wall.
Zack muttered, "Hey, redhead. Could you just shut up and fight?"
Just then, a punch shot toward Zack's midsection. As it was about to connect, Warren blocked it. Warren's gaze shifted to the last participant, Megami Kenta.
Vin Jin started to approach, but a large figure with a mohawk blocked his path. "Hey, kid. You can't interrupt them."
Vin Jin chuckled. "Is that so?" He removed his sunglasses and began tying his hair back. "I need to check if you're strong enough to stop me. Or I'll make you throw up for the rest of the night."
---
Akira lunged forward with a downward hammer punch aimed at Zack's skull. Zack weaved sideways, the fist missing by inches, and immediately countered with a quick jab to Akira's body.
Akira didn't even flinch. He grabbed Zack by the back of the head and punched his face three times in rapid succession, then shoved him down hard.
Zack hit the ground, blood dripping from his nose. "Damn..."
"That all you got, boxer?" Akira mocked. He grabbed Zack's head and kneed him in the face, then shoved him to the other side and kneed him again.
Zack staggered backward, his vision swimming.
Akira didn't give him a chance to recover. He rushed forward with a lunging punch aimed at Zack's midsection. The strike connected hard, and Zack doubled over, gasping.
Before Zack could react, Akira delivered a high hook that caught him on the temple. Zack's head snapped sideways, and he stumbled.
"Come on! Is this really your best?" Akira laughed. He followed with a combination—jab, hook, overhead punch. Each strike drove Zack further back.
Zack tried to guard, but the overhead punch broke through and slammed into his shoulder.
"Gah!"
Akira pressed his advantage, delivering two right hooks that forced Zack to guard high, then suddenly dropped low with a punch to the ribs. Zack doubled over. An uppercut snapped his head back.
Zack stumbled backward, spitting blood. His body was already covered in bruises.
---
Akira cracked his neck, grinning. "You know what? I'll give you credit for lasting this long. But this ends now."
He bent low and rushed forward. His movement was so fast Zack barely saw him coming. Akira delivered a shoulder tackle that sent Zack flying backward.
Zack crashed into the wall, coughing up blood.
"Not done yet!" Akira shouted. He somersaulted forward and kicked down with his heel, catching Zack in the shoulder as he tried to stand.
Zack collapsed again.
The crowd cheered for Akira.
Akira walked over slowly, confidently. "What happened to all that talk, huh? 'Shut up and fight'?" He grabbed Zack by the collar and lifted him up. "Pathetic."
He threw Zack across the arena. Zack's body bounced once, twice, before sliding to a stop.
But Zack pushed himself up on shaking arms. Blood poured from his mouth and nose. His left eye was swollen shut. But he was still conscious.
"Not... done..." Zack muttered.
Akira's expression darkened. "Still got fight in you? Fine. I'll break you completely."
He charged forward and delivered a fast uppercut. Zack tried to dodge, but he was too slow. The punch caught him in the chin, lifting him off his feet.
Akira immediately followed with a straight lunging punch while Zack was still airborne. The impact sent Zack flying even higher.
Then Akira rushed forward and delivered a powerful overhead punch that drove Zack straight into the ground.
The floor cracked beneath him.
Zack lay there, barely moving.
"Get up," Akira said coldly. "I'm not done yet."
Zack's fingers twitched. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up on one arm.
"You... talk... too much..." Zack coughed.
Akira's eye twitched. "What did you say?"
Zack stood fully now, swaying on his feet. His body was broken, battered, bleeding—but his eyes still burned with determination.
"I said... you talk too much."
He suddenly lunged forward, catching Akira off guard. Zack delivered a quick jab to Akira's body. The spy grunted, surprised.
Zack followed with a cross punch that snapped Akira's head sideways, then a strong downward hook that sent him spinning.
The crowd erupted.
"ZACK!"
Akira caught himself before hitting the ground, but shock registered on his face. "You... how do you still have strength?!"
Zack wiped blood from his mouth. His expression was dark, consumed by self-hatred and despair. "Why do you keep hitting me? Do you think I'm weak?"
---
Akira's expression turned serious. "Fine. No more playing around."
He waved his leading arm upward, and steam began rising from his forearm. His body heated up, muscles swelling.
"What the—?" Zack muttered.
Akira charged forward with incredible speed, delivering three projectile-like strikes in rapid succession. Each one hit Zack in the chest, sending him staggering back.
"Gah!"
But Akira wasn't done. He fired five more strikes, each faster than the last. Zack tried to block, but the attacks were too quick. Each hit drove him further back until his back was against the wall.
"Damn it!" Zack growled.
He suddenly grabbed Akira's shoulders and shoved him across, switching their positions. As he released him, Zack delivered a powerful hook to Akira's jaw.
Akira's head snapped sideways, but he recovered quickly. He turned his back to Zack for just a moment, charging up, then spun around and thrust forward with a devastating straight punch.
The punch connected with Zack's chest, sending him flying backward through a wall.
Zack pushed himself out of the rubble, his body screaming in pain. But he wasn't done. Not yet.
He dashed forward with everything he had and delivered a straight punch. Akira blocked it easily.
Zack immediately followed with another dash, this time aiming low with a straight punch targeting Akira's legs. Akira jumped back, avoiding it.
But Zack was already moving. He dashed again, delivering a low uppercut with his opposite fist. The punch caught Akira in the ribs, and the spy grunted.
"Got you," Zack muttered.
He slid forward and delivered another uppercut with his leading fist. Akira tried to block, but Zack's attack broke through his guard and caught him in the chin.
Akira staggered backward.
Zack didn't let up. He dashed forward and delivered a downward hook. Akira tried to crouch and block, but the hook broke through and slammed into his head.
For the first time, Akira dropped to one knee.
The crowd went wild.
"He's doing it!"
"ZACK! ZACK! ZACK!"
But Akira pushed himself up, his face twisted in fury. "You... you little...!"
He suddenly lunged back, then delivered a devastating gut punch. Zack's eyes widened as the air was driven from his lungs.
"Gah...!"
Akira followed immediately with a hook to Zack's chest that sent him flying backward. As Zack staggered, Akira grabbed him and switched sides, then delivered another hook.
Zack crashed to the ground, coughing up blood.
"Stay down!" Akira shouted.
But Zack refused. He grabbed Akira's leg and pulled himself up, using the spy's own body for support.
"No... not yet..." Zack muttered.
He delivered a crouching punch to Akira's leg. The strike connected, and as Akira stumbled, Zack stepped forward and stomped down hard on his feet.
Akira couldn't move.
Zack immediately hit him with a body punch that drove the air from Akira's lungs, followed by an uppercut that lifted him off his feet. As Akira rose, Zack spun his entire body and delivered a hook punch that sent the airborne spy spinning.
But before Akira could hit the ground, Zack caught him mid-air. He grabbed Akira by the shoulders and pulled him close, then delivered a vicious uppercut directly to his gut. The blow lifted Akira several feet into the air.
And as Akira began to descend, Zack pivoted and unleashed a devastating hook to his face.
Akira crashed into the wall.
---
But Akira wasn't done. He pushed himself out of the wall, blood pouring from his mouth. His body was shaking, but his eyes were still filled with determination.
"I'm... better..." Akira muttered. "I can't... lose to someone like you..."
He suddenly dashed backward, dodging Zack's incoming punch, and countered with a fast, powerful strike that hit Zack before he could react.
Zack was knocked down hard.
"See that?!" Akira shouted. "That's the difference between us!"
He bent low again and rushed forward. Zack tried to stand, but Akira was too fast. He delivered another shoulder tackle that sent Zack flying.
Zack hit the ground hard, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
He pushed himself up. His entire body was trembling. He could barely see out of his left eye. His ribs were probably broken. But he was still standing.
"I'm not... done yet..."
Akira stared at him in disbelief. "Why? Why do you keep getting up?!"
Zack wiped blood from his mouth and grinned. "I want to become strong. They're all growing stronger. Why should I accept defeat to someone like you?!"
He suddenly launched himself forward into the air with a rising uppercut. The punch was so fast Akira barely had time to react. It caught him square in the jaw, lifting him completely off the ground.
Zack landed and immediately grabbed Akira, switching their positions again, and delivered another devastating hook to his chest.
Akira staggered, but Zack grabbed him by the back of the head. He punched Akira's face three times rapidly, then shoved him down hard.
Akira hit the ground, coughing.
Zack grabbed him again, this time by the head, and kneed him in the face. He shoved Akira to the other side and kneed him again.
Akira's nose broke, blood spraying everywhere.
But the spy still wouldn't stay down. He pushed himself up and charged, bent low in that wide stance again—but Zack was ready this time.
As Akira went for the shoulder tackle, Zack sidestepped and grabbed him. He delivered a powerful hook to Akira's jaw, switching their positions once more.
Then Zack dashed forward, delivering a straight punch. He followed immediately with another dash and another straight punch. Then another. Then another. Five savage straight punches in total, each one driving Akira further back.
Akira's guard finally broke.
Zack slid forward and delivered a powerful uppercut that sent Akira flying into the air.
As Akira hung there, suspended, Zack turned his back and began charging. His fists heated up, steam rising from his forearms. His entire body glowed red with intensity.
He spun around and delivered a devastating straight punch.
But Akira, even in mid-air, managed to block it. The impact still sent him flying backward, but he caught himself on the wall.
"I won't... lose..." Akira muttered.
He waved his arm upward again. More steam arose from his forearms. His body heated up even more.
He charged forward with blinding speed and delivered three rapid strikes. Zack blocked two but took one to the ribs.
Then Akira unleashed five more strikes in rapid succession, each one hitting Zack and pushing him back.
Zack's back hit the wall.
"Got you now!" Akira shouted.
He bent low and rushed forward in that wide stance, preparing to deliver the final shoulder tackle.
But Zack suddenly pushed off the wall, launching himself forward. He delivered a straight punch that caught Akira mid-rush.
Both fighters collided in mid-air.
For a moment, everything seemed to stop.
Then Zack twisted his body, grabbed Akira, and delivered one final, devastating downward hook that drove Akira straight into the ground.
The impact created a crater in the floor.
Akira's body went limp.
Zack landed on his feet, swaying. He stood there for a moment, his body steaming, blood dripping from countless wounds.
Then, slowly, his legs gave out. He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"ZAAAAAAACK!!!"
The crowd exploded with cheers so loud the entire building shook.
"ZACK! ZACK! ZACK!"
From across the arena, buried in the crater, Akira's hand twitched once, then fell still.