was late afternoon.
Daniel had returned from school.
The shop was quiet — the calm before the storm.
Burn Knuckles were delivering their last orders of the day, and Brekdak was slicing vegetables with precision, humming under his breath
Daniel, in his original body, wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Finally…" he muttered. "Some peace…"
But peace doesn't last in the streets.
Suddenly, the back alley erupted in chaos.
Seung-Min's crew emerged from shadows, armed with bats and chains.
"This ends tonight, Daniel Park!" Seung-Min roared.
Daniel froze, heart racing.
I felt the tension from my second body.
You ready?" I whispered.
He nodded.
"Yeah. We end this… together."
Vasco immediately jumped into formation, flanked by the rest of Burn Knuckles.
"Purity of action!" he yelled.
"Protect the shop! Protect the people! Protect Daniel's mom!"
Brekdak stepped forward, massive and unyielding.
"You fight sloppy, you fail. Today, you fight right."
The alley became a battlefield.
Burn Knuckles used everything Brekdak had drilled into them:
Strategic positioning
Coordinated movement
Using the environment to their advantage
Delivering swift, non-lethal strikes
Seung-Min's gang charged recklessly.
They underestimated Burn Knuckles' discipline and teamwork.
Cries of surprise and frustration filled the alley as the gang was repelled back step by step.
Daniel's mother peeked from the shop window, covering her mouth in worry.
"Are they… okay?" she whispered.
"They're fine," I reassured her. "Better than fine."
The fight escalated, and Daniel's original body was forced to act.
He dodged a swing aimed at his mother.
He pushed a thug into a wall to protect a delivery crate.
He realized his body was slow, but his mind was fast.
I guided him subtly from my second body:
"Step left. Trap him against the railing."
"Don't block, use momentum."
"Feint and counter."
For the first time, Daniel's original body fought strategically, not just instinctively.
Seung-Min's expression shifted from mockery to disbelief.
You… you're thinking…" he stammered.
"Yes," Daniel said, breathless. "I'm not just hitting back. I'm protecting."
A calculated punch, a shove, and a kick to a kneeling thug sent the gang scattering further
From a nearby rooftop, a figure observed the chaos.
A hooded man spoke into a comm device:
"Seung-Min failed. He underestimated the target. Yes… Daniel Park."
Another voice, calm and measured:
"The boy is rising faster than expected.
Our contacts report the Burn Knuckles are unusually organized.
And he isn't alone."
The hooded man nodded.
"Prepare the network.
The Chairman wants a report.
It's time to see how far the son of Park Gapryong can rise."
This wasn't just about school gangs.
It wasn't about food delivery.
It was a testing ground for a larger network:
Hidden criminal syndicates
Corporate influence infiltrating schools
Underground martial arts factions
Daniel's father's connections, long concealed
The world Daniel was entering wasn't just school or neighborhood fights.
It was a layered battlefield.
The fight ended before sunset.
Seung-Min and his gang vanished, battered and humiliated.
Daniel's mother rushed out to hug her son.
"You… you fought… you protected us…"
Daniel smiled weakly, bruised but unbroken.
"I couldn't let them hurt you."
Vasco and Burn Knuckles saluted proudly.
Brekdak cleaned his knives, satisfied.
"Good fight.
You all moved well.
But remember — today was practice for what comes next."
I looked at Daniel.
Daniel nodded.
"I know… I feel it.
The world is bigger than I thought.
And stronger people are watching."
I felt it too.
The shadows that had been observing, calculating.
The networks forming.
The enemies that weren't visible yet.
Daniel's rise wasn't just about protecting his mom or the shop.
It was about surviving — and eventually mastering — the entire underground hierarchy.
That night, Daniel cleaned his cuts with Brekdak's help.
Vasco and Burn Knuckles were exhausted but gleaming with pride.
Outside, the black car that had once watched him from the rooftop returned.
The hooded figure stepped out.
"I've seen potential.
The Chairman will see it soon.
Prepare yourself… Daniel Park.
The world you're entering is far beyond schoolyard fights."
Daniel shivered, but he didn't run.
He gritted his teeth.
"I'll be ready."
And I knew — he meant it.
The first true layer of the underground had now taken notice.
Daniel woke up feeling like a truck hit him.
Every joint ached.
Every bruise pulsed.
His knuckles looked like they'd been sandpapered.
He sat up slowly.
"…This is what fighting really feels like…"
I spoke from the second body, stretching.
"It hurts.
But it means you stood your ground."
Daniel smiled weakly.
"It… feels kind of good though."
He wasn't proud of the violence.
But proud of himself for not running.
2. Business Stabilizes — Burn Knuckles Step Up
At the shop, Burn Knuckles were already working.
Vasco was sweeping the front with extreme seriousness.
"Our deliveries must be spotless!
No impurity in ANY corner!"
Jace checked the delivery routes.
"Three orders in fifteen minutes… we need better coordination."
Brekdak looked at them like a disappointed father.
"You fight better now.
But your hands are still sloppy.
Delivery requires precision.
Move with discipline."
The Burn Knuckles straightened like soldiers.
"Yes, master!"
Daniel's mom smiled brightly.
"Thank you, boys."
Vasco puffed out his chest, glowing with pride.
"We are your shield, ma'am!"
The business had customers again.
The reputation was improving.
The fight with Seung-Min made people view Daniel's family more respectfully.
Word spread:
That place? The boys there don't get messed with anymore."
"Burn Knuckles help there. They're good kids."
"Daniel Park… he's different now."
For once… life was moving upward.
Slowly, but steadily.
3. School Atmosphere Shifts
At school, things felt different.
People stepped aside when Daniel walked through the hallway.
Not in fear—but in respect, confusion, curiosity.
Jay watched from a distance, assessing Daniel's injuries.
Zoe waved aggressively, almost hitting someone with her notebook.
And for the first time, the bullies didn't target him.
Except one person.
Logan Lee.
He leaned against Daniel's locker, arms folded.
"You think you're hot stuff now?
Fighting Seung-Min's weaklings?"
Daniel froze.
Logan smirked.
He leaned against Daniel's locker, arms folded.
"You think you're hot stuff now?
Fighting Seung-Min's weaklings?"
Daniel froze.
Logan smirked.
"Relax.
I'm not going to beat you.
Not until you heal."
That was somehow worse.
Logan left without another word.
I exhaled.
"That one is trouble."
Daniel nodded, uneasy.
4. Zack's Turmoil
During lunch, Zack approached Daniel, hands in pockets.
He looked annoyed.
Uncomfortable.
Embarrassed.
"…hey."
Daniel blinked.
"Hey?"
Zack scratched the back of his head aggressively.
"You fought. That's good.
But…"
He clenched his fists.
"You should've told me.
I would've helped.
That's what friends do."
Daniel smiled.
"Zack… this was something I needed to face."
Zack glared at him.
"Doesn't matter!
Next time, I'm there.
No debate."
Daniel chuckled.
"Okay.
I'll rely on you."
Zack froze.
"…What?"
"You said we're friends.
So… I'll lean on you more."
Zack turned red.
D-don't say embarrassing stuff, idiot!"
He stormed off.
But Mira, who had overheard, smiled softly to herself.
Zack was changing too.
Just like Daniel.
5. Mira's Thoughts
After class, Mira approached Daniel.
She touched a bruise on his cheek with gentle fingers.
"You shouldn't fight… but… I'm glad you're okay."
Daniel blushed at her closeness.
"Mira… I… thank you."
She looked at him for a moment.
Like she was trying to understand him.
You feel different," she whispered.
"Like something inside you is stronger."
I froze.
Did she sense something?
Daniel laughed nervously.
"I'm just… trying harder now."
Mira nodded.
"I like the Daniel who tries.
He's brave."
She walked away before he could answer.
Daniel stood there, stunned.
I whispered:
"Slowly… people are noticing you."
He covered his face, embarrassed.
6. Seung-Min's Crew Regroups
Somewhere in an abandoned warehouse…
Seung-Min slammed his fist into a wall.
"HOW DID WE LOSE?!
To THAT loser?!"
His gang stayed silent.
Bandaged.
Bruised.
Demoralized.
One member spoke quietly:
"Burn Knuckles were… different.
They were too coordinated.
And Daniel wasn't the same."
Seung-Min's eyes were filled with rage.
"No.
No.
Daniel Park doesn't change like that."
He clenched his jaw.
We'll strike again.
Next time, we attack where it hurts most."
He smirked.
"His shop.
His friends.
Everything."
A dangerous aura filled the room.
The war wasn't over.
7. A Quiet Night… But Not Peaceful
Daniel sat outside the shop with me, cooling our bruises.
"Do you think… I can keep this up?" he asked softly.
I looked at him.
"You've changed more in a month than some people do in years.
You're growing.
But growth brings enemies."
He nodded.
"I know.
I can feel something else coming."
He wasn't wrong.
In the distance, a pair of eyes watched us from a rooftop.
Not Daniel's father's operative.
Not Seung-Min's spy.
Someone else.
Quiet.
Observant.
Dangerous.
And soon… they would step into the light.
But not yet.
I'll ask you before introducing them.
For now, they waited.
Studying Daniel Park.
Quiet.
Observant.
Dangerous.
And soon… they would step into the light.
But not yet.
I'll ask you before introducing them.
For now, they waited.
Studying Daniel Park.