Eli dodged a Worker's punch and grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply. "These guys...are like insects."
The Worker's elbow bent the wrong way with a crack. Before the man could scream, Eli drove his baton into his ribs. The Worker dropped, gasping. Two more Workers rushed in from the sides. Eli redirected the first one's punch past his shoulder, using the momentum to spin him into the second Worker. They collided and stumbled. Eli swung his baton in a wide arc, cracking it across both their jaws. They dropped together. "Catching and wiping them..."
Another Worker rushed from behind. Eli spun, redirecting the incoming fist past his shoulder, and slammed his palm into the man's chin. The Worker's head snapped back, and he crashed through a wooden table, splitting it in half. "Out of the streets..."
Eli stayed light on his feet, breathing steady. Three Workers charged at once, one swinging a metal pipe at his head. Eli raised his baton to block. The pipe hit the baton with a clang, but Eli shifted his stance, letting the force slide off. He grabbed the pipe-wielder's arm, twisted it, and used him as a shield. The other two Workers' punches hit their ally instead. Eli shoved the pipe-wielder into them, then swept low with his baton, cracking all three across their knees. They collapsed in a heap. "Today... The Workers–"
He stepped over them and jabbed his baton into another Worker's stomach. The man doubled over and fell. "Will end."
Warren blocked a kick with his forearm, then closed the distance fast. "I wonder..."
He grabbed the Worker's collar and drove his knee into the man's liver. The Worker buckled. Warren followed with a short elbow to the temple. The Worker went limp and fell. Three more Workers surrounded him. Warren exploded forward, throwing a straight punch that caught the first Worker square in the nose. Blood sprayed. The Worker dropped. Warren pivoted, catching the second Worker's punch and twisting his arm behind his back. He drove the Worker face-first into the concrete wall, cracking it. The third Worker swung wildly. Warren ducked under it and delivered two quick body shots, then an uppercut. The Worker's feet left the ground before he crashed down. "Did Olly reach Jake?"
Another Worker charged with a bat. Warren sidestepped, caught the bat mid-swing, and yanked it forward. The Worker stumbled. Warren twisted the bat free and swung it hard across two Workers rushing from behind. The bat connected with both their heads. One went through a window, shattering the glass. The other crumpled to the ground. Warren tossed the bat aside. "If we miss this opportunity, wiping out the Workers will be..."
A Worker tried to tackle him. Warren dropped his weight, caught the man's arm, and rolled him over his hip. The Worker slammed into the concrete floor, cracking it. Two more Workers jumped at him. Warren pinned the first with a knee to the chest and punched down twice. The Worker's head bounced off the ground and he stopped moving. Warren rolled sideways, catching the second Worker's leg and twisting it. The Worker screamed and went down. Warren stood up, breathing hard. "Nearly impossible!"
"Amazing. I can't say I didn't expect a betrayal from you guys," Taegon Wi said as he arrived at the scene. A nunchuck hung around his neck.
Taegon Wi was one of the four executives at the Workers' third affiliate, which had been destroyed. He clapped his hands. "Now you're just like when you beat me." He pulled the nunchuck from his neck and spun it. "If you still have strength left, how about we go for a round?"
Eli looked at him emotionlessly.
Taegon smirked and stepped forward, spinning his nunchuck faster. "Come on, Eli. Show me what—"
Eli was already moving. He closed the distance in two steps. Taegon's eyes widened. He swung the nunchuck down. Eli's hand shot up, catching the chain between the sticks mid-swing. He yanked hard. Taegon stumbled forward. Eli drove his baton straight into Taegon's solar plexus.
The impact sent a shockwave through Taegon's body. His eyes bulged. Spit flew from his mouth. Eli pulled the baton back and kicked Taegon in the chest. Taegon flew backward, crashing through a metal shelf. The shelf collapsed on top of him with a loud crash. Taegon didn't get up. He lay there, coughing blood.
Eli looked down at him. "Sorry, you weren't a match for me before, and now even less."
Warren called out to him. "Eli, everyone here has been taken care of. Where should we go next? Should we head to Big Deal Street?"
Eli closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Vasco of Burn Knuckles should have already reached there. I want to see Eugene."
---
Manager Kim blocked Johan's kick with his forearm and countered with a straight punch. Johan weaved to the side, dodging it by inches. Samuel rushed in from the left, swinging a wild hook with brass knuckles. Manager Kim shifted his weight, letting the punch pass, then drove his elbow into Samuel's ribs. Samuel grunted and swung again. Manager Kim ducked under it.
Johan came in fast with a copied elbow strike. Manager Kim barely raised his guard in time. The elbow connected with his forearm, pushing him back a step. Samuel followed up immediately, throwing a heavy cross. Manager Kim slipped it and kicked Samuel's thigh. Samuel stumbled but stayed up.
"You two work together, but your timing is off," Manager Kim said, blocking another strike from Johan.
Johan threw a combination—jab, cross, low kick. Manager Kim blocked the jab, slipped the cross, and checked the kick. Samuel charged from behind with a tackle. Manager Kim sidestepped at the last second. Samuel crashed into Johan. They both stumbled.
"Damn it, Samuel! Watch where you're going!" Johan snapped.
"Shut up! He's too fast!" Samuel shot back.
Manager Kim used that moment to close in on Samuel. He threw a straight punch at Samuel's face. Samuel raised his brass knuckles to block, but the force pushed him back several feet. Johan rushed in and threw a spinning back kick. Manager Kim caught Johan's leg mid-spin and shoved him away. Johan slid across the concrete.
Samuel roared and charged again, throwing wild punches. Manager Kim blocked the first two, then slipped the third and drove his knee into Samuel's stomach. Samuel doubled over but grabbed Manager Kim's leg. Johan saw the opening and rushed in with a flying knee. Manager Kim twisted his body, using Samuel as a shield. Johan's knee crashed into Samuel's shoulder instead.
"Get off me!" Samuel shoved Johan away.
Manager Kim pulled his leg free and kicked Samuel in the chest. Samuel flew backward and smashed against the bridge fence. Splinters scattered everywhere. He groaned and slowly got back up.
Johan stood before Manager Kim, breathing hard. "Samuel, stop getting in my way!"
"Shut up! I don't take orders from you!" Samuel charged again.
Manager Kim shook his head. "You two really don't work well together."
Johan threw a low kick. Manager Kim checked it. Samuel came in with a hook. Manager Kim ducked and swept Samuel's legs. Samuel fell hard on his back. Johan followed with a downward punch. Manager Kim rolled aside. The punch cracked the concrete where he'd been standing.
Manager Kim sprang to his feet and threw a palm strike at Johan's chest. Johan twisted, taking the hit on his shoulder. The impact still sent him stumbling. Samuel got up and rushed in again, throwing a combination with his brass knuckles. Manager Kim blocked and parried, then caught Samuel's wrist mid-punch. He twisted it hard and drove his elbow into Samuel's face. Samuel's head snapped back, blood spraying from his nose.
Johan moved in immediately, throwing a copied version of Manager Kim's elbow strike. Manager Kim barely blocked it. Johan pressed forward with a flurry of strikes—punches, elbows, knees. Manager Kim blocked most of them, but a few slipped through, hitting his arms and shoulders. Samuel recovered and joined in, throwing heavy punches from the side.
Now they were attacking together. Manager Kim blocked Johan's straight punch, then ducked under Samuel's hook. He swept low, but both jumped over it. Johan landed first and threw a kick at Manager Kim's head. Manager Kim raised his arm to block. The kick connected hard, pushing him back.
Samuel charged in with a straight punch. Manager Kim slipped it and countered with a palm strike to Samuel's chest. Samuel grunted but stayed up. Johan came in from behind with a low kick. The kick slammed into Manager Kim's thigh. Manager Kim grunted and spun around, throwing an elbow at Johan. Johan blocked it with both arms.
"Finally getting the hang of it," Manager Kim muttered.
Johan and Samuel attacked together again. Johan threw a jab. Samuel threw a hook. Manager Kim blocked Johan's jab but had to lean back to avoid Samuel's hook. Johan immediately followed with a low kick. Manager Kim lifted his leg to check it, but Samuel used that moment to grab Manager Kim's arm and pull him off balance.
Manager Kim twisted free and kicked Samuel in the knee. Samuel buckled. Johan threw a straight punch at Manager Kim's face. Manager Kim slipped it and drove his fist into Johan's ribs. Johan gasped and backed off.
Samuel recovered and threw a wild haymaker. Manager Kim caught his wrist and twisted. Samuel's arm bent at an awkward angle. His face twisted in pain. Manager Kim followed with a knee to Samuel's stomach. Samuel doubled over. But before Manager Kim could finish, Johan rushed in with a flying kick. Manager Kim had to let go of Samuel and block the kick.
Johan landed and immediately threw another combination. Manager Kim blocked and countered with a straight punch. Johan weaved to the side. Samuel, still doubled over, suddenly lunged forward and tackled Manager Kim around the waist. Manager Kim's feet left the ground. Samuel drove him backward into a car. The car dented from the impact.
"Got you!" Samuel shouted.
Johan rushed in and threw a heavy punch at Manager Kim's face. Manager Kim turned his head at the last second. The punch hit the car behind him, crumpling the metal. Manager Kim drove both elbows down into Samuel's back. Samuel grunted and loosened his grip. Manager Kim shoved him away and kicked Johan in the chest. Johan slid back several feet.
Manager Kim stepped away from the car, breathing harder now. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead. "You two are finally working together. But it's still not enough."
Samuel wiped blood from his mouth. "We'll see about that."
Johan didn't say anything. He just watched Manager Kim carefully.
They rushed in together again. Johan threw a low kick. Samuel threw a high punch. Manager Kim blocked the kick with his shin and slipped the punch. But Johan immediately followed with a copied palm strike. Manager Kim barely raised his guard in time. The strike pushed him back a step. Samuel charged in with a tackle. Manager Kim sidestepped, but Samuel grabbed his arm as he passed. Johan used that moment to throw a heavy cross. Manager Kim couldn't dodge with Samuel holding him. The punch connected with his jaw. His head snapped to the side.
Manager Kim twisted his arm free and elbowed Samuel in the face. Samuel let go, stumbling back. Manager Kim spat blood and looked at Johan. "He's growing every moment."
Johan rushed in again. He threw a combination—jab, cross, elbow. Manager Kim blocked the jab and cross, but the elbow slipped through and hit his shoulder. Johan pressed forward, throwing faster now. Samuel recovered and joined in from the side, throwing heavy punches. Manager Kim blocked and parried, moving between them, but they were coordinating better now.
Johan threw a straight kick. Manager Kim blocked it with both arms. The impact pushed him back. Samuel immediately rushed in and grabbed Manager Kim's jacket with both hands. He tried to throw him. Manager Kim dropped his weight and broke Samuel's grip with a sharp headbutt. Samuel's nose crunched. Blood poured down his face.
But Samuel didn't let go completely. He held on with one hand, keeping Manager Kim in place. Johan saw the opening and rushed in with a flying knee. Manager Kim twisted his body at the last second. The knee grazed his ribs instead of hitting clean. But the impact still made him grunt in pain.
Manager Kim drove his elbow into Samuel's throat. Samuel gagged and let go, stumbling backward. Manager Kim turned to Johan and threw a one-inch punch. Johan tried to block, but he was too close. The punch exploded into his chest. Johan's eyes went wide. He flew backward and crashed through a car window. Metal twisted and glass shattered. Johan coughed and slowly got up.
Samuel charged again, roaring. He threw a flurry of wild punches. Manager Kim blocked the first few, then slipped inside Samuel's guard. He was an inch away from Samuel's chest now. Samuel's eyes widened. Manager Kim planted his fist against Samuel's chest and released.
The one-inch punch exploded through Samuel's body. His eyes bulged. Spit flew from his mouth. The impact sent him flying backward. Samuel crashed through the bridge fence, breaking it into pieces, and fell directly into the river underneath.
Johan stood up slowly, breathing hard. He looked at the broken fence, then back at Manager Kim. Now it was just the two of them.
Manager Kim rolled his shoulders. "Do you think you can still handle me?"
Johan didn't respond. He just took his stance—Manager Kim's CQC stance, copied perfectly. Then he rushed in.
Johan threw a straight punch. Manager Kim blocked it and countered with his own. Johan slipped it and threw a low kick. Manager Kim checked it. They exchanged rapidly—punches, kicks, elbows. Johan was copying every movement, every counter, getting faster and more precise with each exchange.
Manager Kim threw a palm strike. Johan blocked it and countered with the exact same strike. Manager Kim blocked and swept Johan's leg. Johan jumped over the sweep and threw a downward punch. Manager Kim sidestepped. The punch cracked the concrete.
They separated for a moment, both breathing hard. Manager Kim's chest was bruised. Johan's face was swollen, blood dripping from his mouth.
"You're different," Manager Kim said. "But it's certainly not enough."
Johan rushed in again. He threw a combination—jab, cross, elbow, knee. Manager Kim blocked the jab and cross, ducked under the elbow, and caught the knee. He twisted Johan's leg and threw him. Johan crashed into the bridge fence. It broke off. Johan rolled and sprang back to his feet.
Manager Kim closed the gap and threw a straight punch at Johan's face. Johan blocked it with his forearm, then countered with his own straight. Manager Kim slipped to the side and drove his knee into Johan's ribs. Johan gasped but immediately grabbed Manager Kim's leg. He twisted hard. Manager Kim hopped on one leg, keeping his balance, then kicked Johan in the face with his free foot. Johan let go and staggered back.
Johan wiped blood from his face. His breathing was getting heavier. Manager Kim stood steady, barely winded despite the bruises covering his body.
Johan rushed in again, throwing everything he had. Punches, kicks, elbows, knees—all copied from Manager Kim's CQC. Manager Kim blocked and parried.
Manager Kim caught Johan's wrist mid-punch and pulled him forward. He drove his elbow into Johan's jaw. Johan's head snapped to the side. Manager Kim followed with a palm strike to Johan's chest. Johan slid back several feet, his shoes scraping the concrete.
Johan stumbled, barely keeping his balance. His vision was blurring. He couldn't keep up anymore. Manager Kim was too experienced. Every move Johan copied, Manager Kim had already seen it coming.
Johan's mind raced. He needed something Manager Kim hadn't seen. Something he couldn't predict.
Then he remembered. The technique he'd copied from Baki Hanma. Goutaijutsu. He'd only seen it once, and he wasn't sure he could pull it off. But he had no other choice.
Johan took a deep breath and shifted his stance. His whole body tensed in a way Manager Kim hadn't seen before. Every muscle in his body tightened, preparing for the move.
Manager Kim noticed the change immediately. His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"
Johan didn't answer. He rushed forward and threw a straight punch. But this time, at the moment of impact, his entire body stiffened. His joints locked. His fist drove forward with the weight of his whole body behind it.
Manager Kim raised his guard, but he knew immediately it wouldn't be enough. The punch crashed through his defense. The impact was massive. Manager Kim's arms bent inward from the force. The punch connected with his chest. The shockwave rippled through his body. Manager Kim's feet left the ground. He flew backward and smashed through a car. Metal exploded outward. Dust filled the air.
But at the exact same moment, Manager Kim had thrown his own punch. Even while being hit, he'd driven his fist into Johan's face with everything he had left. Johan's head snapped back violently. His body went limp mid-step. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Manager Kim crawled out of the rubble, coughing violently. Blood dripped from his mouth. His chest was badly bruised, ribs possibly cracked. He looked down at Johan's unconscious body.
Manager Kim shook his head slowly, wincing from the pain. "Johan... I have never seen a monstrous talent like his. But can he really replace Baki Hanma? I don't know."