Vin Jin sat in the living room watching TV. Suddenly, Sujin and Sally walked in—Sally carrying Yenna in her arms—and stood directly in front of Vin Jin, blocking the screen.
Vin Jin made an exaggerated face. "What? The movie's at its climax!"
Sujin crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the floor. Vin Jin started to sweat. "What? I didn't do anything wrong today! I even washed my dishes tonight!"
Sujin sighed. "Look... I told you to search for Eli and the others, but you haven't gone out to look for them yet. On top of that, Seongji-hyung left quite a while ago and hasn't returned."
Sally chimed in. "Amy and Natalie haven't come back from school even though it's already night. Eli and Warren haven't returned either, even though they went to look for them more than two hours ago."
Yenna scolded too. "Guhgah!! Guhgah!! ಠಗಠ"
Vin Jin sighed. "They're all a bunch of brutes. Do we even have to worry about them?"
Sujin's tone sharpened. "Are you leaving, or should I go search for them myself?"
Vin Jin sighed again. "I'm leaving. I'm leaving." He got up and started toward the door as a single tear rolled down his cheek. He muttered under his breath, "My sweet Sujin... Sally has corrupted her."
Sujin closed the door behind Vin Jin, then approached Sally, who had sat down on the sofa with Yenna. She switched the channel to a cartoon, and Yenna immediately began watching with great interest. "Guh! Guh!!"
Sujin sat down beside her and started tickling Yenna. Yenna protested at first, but her complaints died down as the two girls became absorbed in the cartoon—even more than Yenna herself.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong!
Sujin turned toward the door. "Huh? Did they return? Let me check."
---
Seongji Yuk and Tom Lee stood face to face. Tom Lee laughed. "Hoho~ You look quite strong. Will you let me see your dangler?" With that, Tom Lee stripped off his clothes.
Seongji Yuk's face twisted in confusion. "What are you—"
But he couldn't finish his sentence. Tom Lee rushed at him like a wild beast. Seongji twisted his body, grabbed Tom Lee's clawing hand, and used Tom Lee's own momentum to slam him into the ground.
But Tom Lee was surprisingly agile. He twisted mid-air and wrapped his legs around Seongji's neck—a bizarre scene, like a large bear riding a lion. Tom Lee started clawing at Seongji's face, but Seongji snapped forward and slammed Tom Lee hard onto the road.
Tom Lee's face twisted into a bizarre grin. "You're making me more excited!"
Tom Lee rushed at Seongji again, dropping low and performing a sliding attack on his back. He reached out toward Seongji's ankles with his fists thrust forward. Seongji stepped back slightly and brought his leg down hard on Tom Lee, the blow landing on Tom Lee's shoulder and caving it in.
But Tom Lee only grinned wider. Before Seongji could react, Tom Lee grabbed his leg and began slamming him left and right into the ground.
Seongji quickly pinned Tom Lee's arm between his legs and twisted it. Tom Lee's arm was so thick it took a moment before he felt the pain.
Seongji broke free and continued his assault. He moved behind Tom Lee, grabbed him, lifted him overhead, and slammed him shoulders-and-back-first into the ground.
But Tom Lee broke free from Seongji's grip and leaped forward, getting behind him. Tom Lee grabbed Seongji and performed a backflip while still holding onto him, then extended his legs and kicked Seongji to the opposite side.
Seongji flipped mid-air and landed on his feet. So far, neither fighter had landed a decisive blow.
Tom Lee grinned. "It's getting late now. I guess I should get serious." He untied his hair, letting it fall loose.
Seongji also removed his jacket and tied it around his waist. "I have to get home quickly too. It'll soon be time to feed Yenna and tuck her into bed."
Seongji lunged forward with a heavy hook. Tom Lee somersaulted backward, landed on his hands, and used them to launch himself upward into the air. He came down at Seongji with his full strength.
Seongji performed a backflip, enhanced his legs with strength mastery, and kicked Tom Lee. Tom Lee flew back like a broken kite and crashed into a cart. Blood flowed down Tom Lee's head. "Huh? I see... You've surpassed the threshold? You're from the 1st generation? A king?"
Seongji approached Tom Lee. "I think there's no point in fighting further. Let's leave things as they are now."
Tom Lee's face became blank before twisting in pure anger. "You... Are you looking down on me? 1st Gen? Kings? They don't mean nothing to me!"
Tom Lee jumped and mounted on top of Seongji, delivering a barrage of claw slashes. Seongji used his right leg and snapped it forward—the kick connected with the back of Tom Lee's head. Tom Lee tossed Seongji aside.
Tom Lee quickly dashed at Seongji with a powerful strike using both hands. Seongji dashed forward in a daring instant, moving so fast it looked like a teleport, passing through Tom Lee's attack. Tom Lee was shocked. Before he could react, a punch connected with his jaw and sent him flying backward.
Tom crouched low, clawing at the ground to slow himself. "Hahaha! Not one, but two! Great. I wonder if you have more!"
He suddenly dropped to the ground and slid on his back, reaching his arms toward Seongji's ankles with his fists thrust forward.
Seongji lifted his leg just in time, and Tom Lee slid past. But Tom immediately twisted, planted his hands on the ground, and launched himself upward. He spun mid-air, bringing both fists down at Seongji's head.
Seongji crossed his arms above his head, blocking the strike. The impact sent tremors through his arms, but he held firm. Before Tom could recover, Seongji delivered a quick low kick to Tom's shins. Tom stumbled, and Seongji immediately followed with a spinning back kick aimed at his head.
But Tom ducked under it, rolling forward. He came up with a powerful dropkick that caught Seongji in the chest, sending him sliding back several feet.
Seongji steadied himself, then immediately moved forward. He delivered a low kick followed by a straight punch, forcing Tom to raise his guard.
Tom's face twisted into pure excitement. "YES! MORE!" He did a small hop and dropped down with his arms stretched forward, trying to claw at Seongji.
Seongji flipped backward to dodge, landing in a crouch. The moment his feet touched the ground, he launched himself upward with a powerful flip kick, his leg enhanced with strength mastery as it connected with Tom's jaw.
Tom was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth. But even as he flew through the air, he laughed. "HAHAHA! THAT'S IT! MONSTERS ARE EVERYWHERE NOW! AFTER THOSE THREE, I FOUND ANOTHER MONSTER!"
He twisted his body mid-flight and curled into a ball, spinning through the air directly at Seongji like a cannonball.
Seongji's eyes widened. He crossed his arms and blocked, but the force sent him skidding backward, his feet carving marks in the street. Tom bounced off and immediately rolled along the ground, charging at Seongji again.
Seongji jumped, clearing the spinning attack. While in the air, he extended his leg for a powerful roundhouse kick that caught Tom as he uncurled, connecting with his temple.
CRACK!
Tom's head snapped to the side, and he crashed into a parked car, denting the door. The car alarm started wailing.
For a moment, there was silence except for the alarm. Seongji landed in a fighting stance, breathing heavily.
Tom emerged from the wreckage, blood pouring down his face, his grin even wider. "LET ME SEE YOUR DANGLER!"
He suddenly leaped forward with incredible speed, closing the distance in an instant. Before Seongji could react, Tom was on him, climbing on top and slashing at his face and chest with both hands.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Seongji's face was cut multiple times, blood spurting. He grunted in pain but managed to snap his leg upward, kicking Tom in the back of the head.
Tom's head jerked forward, and Seongji grabbed him, moved behind him, lifted him up, and slammed him back-first into the ground.
The street cracked from the impact.
But Tom rolled with it, flipping backward. He landed on his hands and pushed himself upward into the air, hitting Seongji in the chin. Seongji was lifted off his feet.
While both were in the air, Tom reached out and grabbed Seongji around the chest. He swung his body hard, driving Seongji into the ground.
BOOM!
Seongji bounced but quickly rolled to his feet. His face was bloody, his shirt torn from Tom's claws. He wiped blood from his mouth. "You're... quite persistent."
"PERSISTENT?" Tom bellowed, his hair wild and flowing. "Hoho~ As long as you let me do my job, I won't persist!"
He delivered a double knee strike toward Seongji's face. Seongji blocked with his arms, but Tom followed with a kick to the chin that launched Seongji into the air.
As Seongji was airborne, Tom jumped after him. But Seongji twisted mid-air and grabbed Tom's leg. While they were both still in the air, Seongji wrapped his arm around Tom's body, dropped down, and drove Tom's spine into his shoulder before slamming him to the ground.
Both of them hit hard and rolled away from each other, coming up in fighting stances.
Tom suddenly kicked high at Seongji's head while balancing on one hand. Seongji ducked and delivered a low kick to Tom's supporting arm, followed by a downward punch to his head.
Tom's arm gave out and he crashed down. But he immediately rolled forward and came up spinning again, faster than before.
Seongji's eyes glowed faintly blue. He stood his ground and, at the last moment, delivered two flip kicks in quick succession. The first caught Tom mid-spin, stopping his momentum. The second hit harder, sending Tom flying high.
As Tom fell back down, Seongji jumped after him. He delivered a flying knee strike that connected with Tom's chest mid-air.
BOOM!
Tom was sent crashing down hard, creating a small crater in the street.
Dust filled the air. Seongji landed nearby in his fighting stance, waiting.
From the crater, laughter echoed. "HAHAHAHA! YOU'RE INCREDIBLE!"
Tom slowly stood up, his body battered, blood covering him.
He charged forward again, both fists raised high. Seongji moved in a blur, seeming to teleport past Tom's attack.
Tom's eyes widened in shock. Before he could turn, Seongji appeared beside him and threw a powerful straight punch that connected with Tom's jaw.
The impact shattered nearby windows. Tom was sent flying backward, crashing through a shop window.
Seongji lowered his fist, breathing hard.
Tom emerged from the shop, his eyes glowing green. He looked like a pure beast ready to tear apart anyone.
Seongji sighed. "He's a troublesome opponent... At this rate, the fight will drag on forever. I have to finish it quickly."