"Hahaha, you're a fatherless loser."
"Your dad probably left because of you."
Mocking laughter echoed in an empty park. Three ten-year-old kids stood in front of a six-year-old boy, laughing at him. But this six-year-old was different from most kids his age. He was just as tall as the older boys, with short, messy black hair, intense amber eyes, and a t-shirt that showed off his surprisingly developed arms that wasn't normal for his age. He wore black pants and sports shoes. His name was Yong Kim.
"Even your mother woul-"
The taunt was cut short as Yong's fist slammed into the side of the boy's face, sending him crashing headfirst into the ground. The impact left a crack in the pavement and a faint shockwave rippling outward, leaving the boy unconscious and likely with a concussion.
"Huh?"
The two other boys stood frozen, staring in shock at their friend lying on the ground. The side of his face bore a deep fist mark, his teeth completely shattered.
"You bastards."
A cold voice brought their attention back to Yong, who was glaring at them with pure rage, making them break into a nervous sweat.
"You can insult me all you want, but…" Veins popped along Yong's forehead, his eyes narrowing at the two boys who instinctively took a step back. "If you mention my mother again, I'll make sure you don't have any teeth left to speak with."
"M-monster-"
"H-help-"
The two boys were shaking from the fury radiating off the boy they'd mocked. It was hard to believe this was a six-year-old, to them, he seemed like a monster right now. Before either of them could finish, Yong launched himself forward. His knee slammed into the first boy's mouth, sending teeth flying and blood spurting. Without stopping, he twisted his body in mid-air and grabbed the other boy by the back of his head, driving his face down into the pavement. The second boy's nose and teeth shattered on impact, leaving a new crack in the ground as he fell unconscious beside his friend.
"Even though she told me not to get into fights, these guys deserved it." Yong muttered as he looked down at the three older kids sprawled on the ground. His mother had always told him to walk away and ignore the insults, but he couldn't just stand by when they brought her into it. They needed to learn a lesson.
"You brat! Did you do this to my little brother?"
A voice suddenly came from behind Yong. Turning around, he saw someone towering over him, a fifteen-year-old middle schooler with short black hair, a chubby face, and tattoos on his arms, which were exposed by his rolled-up sleeves. His face was twisted in anger as he looked at Yong standing over his unconscious brother.
"You're dead, kid-"
The middle schooler didn't get to finish. Yong's fist slammed into his stomach, making him double over, eyes bulging, mouth open, his breath knocked out completely.
'W-what… it hurts!' The middle schooler thought, his face twisted in pain. He was used to ruling over his middle school, winning every fight, and tanking whatever came at him, whether against fists or weapons. But now, a little kid had made him feel pain he'd never experienced before. His last thought, before falling unconscious, was, 'Monster…'
"Idiot." Yong scoffed, looking at the unconscious middle schooler. Did that guy really think his fat rolls would protect him? His confidence was ridiculous.
"Oh, damn, I'm late!" Yong suddenly realized he was supposed to be home ten minutes ago. Without wasting any more time, he sprinted off toward his house.
When he arrived, he quickly went inside, entering a medium-sized family home. He called out as he shut the door.
"Mom, I'm back!" Yong said, slipping off his shoes at the entrance and hurrying toward the kitchen. "Sorry, I'm late," he added, knowing he might've worried her.
"It's okay, dear."
A soft, feminine voice replied. His mother, a tall, beautiful woman with neck-length black hair and warm black eyes, was preparing dinner. She wore an apron that outlined her hourglass figure, which included a noticeably large bust. It was Yeonwoo Kim.
She turned around to smile at him, but her smile turned into a frown as she noticed something on his cheek.
"Yong, did you get into a fight again?" she asked, looking at the stain on his face.
"W-what?" Yong stammered, instantly nervous. "N-no, why would you think that?"
"Then why is there blood on your cheek?" Yeonwoo sighed. His reaction, even without the obvious bloodstain, was enough of a giveaway.
"Huh?" Yong was taken aback. He brushed a hand over his cheek, glancing down to see it stained with blood. 'Shoot, how did that get there?' He thought he'd been careful to avoid a mess this time, but clearly, it hadn't worked.
"Yong, why are you getting into fights again?" Yeonwoo said with a hint of sadness. "Didn't I tell you to just walk away?" She knew the cause; ever since the neighborhood kids found out that Yong didn't have a father, they'd been mocking him, pushing him into fights. She had even received complaints from parents about how ruthlessly her son could fight.
"But, Mom…" Yong trailed off, realizing there was no hiding the truth. "I did ignore them, but this time they decided to bring you into it." He couldn't stand anyone disrespecting his mother.
"Thank you, sweetie." Yeonwoo gave him a warm smile, grateful for his protective nature. "But, Yong, promise me you won't fight anymore. It's okay if they insult me; words don't mean anything." She knew how much Yong cared about her, and it warmed her heart. But his constant fighting worried her; he didn't think about his own safety, and she was afraid something might happen to him if this continued.
Yong hesitated, looking down.
"I… I can't." After a moment, he admitted, his head slightly bowed, fists clenched. "I can't promise that. I'm sorry." He knew this wouldn't be the end of it. No matter how much he tried to hold back his anger, it would eventually burst out. He couldn't make a promise to his mother that he was sure he'd break.
"Fine," Yeonwoo said with a sigh, not wanting to force him. She could only hope he wouldn't end up in danger. "Now, go shower. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Okay." Yong's face brightened, grateful for his mother's understanding. She chuckled at the change in his expression.
"Ring!"
The doorbell suddenly rang, drawing both of their attention.
'Hmm, who could it be?' Yeonwoo wondered, surprised by the unexpected visitor. 'Could it be the parents of those kids?' Considering Yong had been in a fight, the parents might have come to complain.
"Yong, stay here while I see who it is." Yeonwoo instructed. Yong nodded, watching as she headed down the hallway to the front door.
"Can I help you-" Yeonwoo began as she opened the door, but her words stopped. She had to tilt her head up because of the man's height. Her eyes widened, pupils narrowing to pinpoints as she took in his face. He was someone she considered a nightmare, a figure that sometimes popped up in her mind, filling her with anxiety, the sight of him made her heart pound, but her son's presence usually calmed her.
The man stood there, his red hair spiked and ruffled, with two strands hanging down. His amber eyes fixed on her, sending chills down her spine. He wore a leather jacket over a white sweater, along with black pants and shoes.
"It seems you remember me." His calm voice was enough to make her break into a cold sweat, her body shivering. "How've you been?"
She couldn't respond, her body frozen in place as she stared up at his expressionless face. This man was nothing short of the devil to her. Her mind flashed back to a memory she thought she had buried.
*Flashback – Six Years Ago*
It was late at night in Seoul, and the streets were nearly empty.
A woman walked alone down the sidewalk. She wore a tight black dress that outlined her curves, her large bust, and a coat with white leopard patterns draped over her shoulders. Her neck-length black hair complemented her black eyes. Ruby earrings and a necklace added a touch of elegance. This woman was Yeonwoo Kim.
As she walked, she bumped into someone headed in the opposite direction.
"Sorry." Yeonwoo apologized, glancing up to see who she had run into. She was surprised to see that she had to tilt her head up. The man was nearly 200 cm tall. He was a young man with striking red hair and amber eyes. He wore a jacket with fur around the collar, a white t-shirt underneath, and black jeans and shoes. Her gaze lingered briefly before she turned to continue walking, but something felt wrong, she could feel his gaze fixed on her back.
"Apology not accepted." A chuckle sounded behind her, and then a hand gripped her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. She spun around to see the young man smiling slyly, looking directly into her eyes.
"What are you doing?" Yeonwoo frowned, trying to pull her hand away, but his grip held her in place with ease.
"Now, now, there's no need to get upset." He said, amused by her attempts to break free. "Let's start with introductions. The name's Suoh Mikoto. Japanese. And you?"
"Let go!" Yeonwoo snapped, narrowing her eyes at Mikoto, refusing to introduce herself.
"I'll let go if you tell me your name." Mikoto replied with a smile.
"Yeonwoo Kim." she finally replied after a moment of hesitation, wanting to get rid of him. "Now, let go."
"Yeonwoo Kim, huh? Nice name." Mikoto complimented her, but his grip remained firm on her wrist.
"Why aren't you letting go?" Yeonwoo asked, frustrated by his persistence.
"As I said, apology not accepted." He replied with a chuckle.
"Then what do you want?" Yeonwoo demanded, still unable to understand his intentions.
"How about you apologize with something else?" His smile widened, and his eyes trailed over her body.
"You-" Yeonwoo felt disgusted as his gaze lingered on her. But before she could finish, he acted.
Mikoto clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening as he picked her up with ease. Moving swiftly, he dashed into a narrow alley on the other side of the street, finding a wide, secluded area before tossing her onto the ground.
"What do you think you're doing?" Yeonwoo demanded, her voice laced with fear as she looked up at him.
"Isn't it obvious?" Mikoto replied, kneeling between her legs. He grabbed both her wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head. "We're going to have some fun." His laugh sounded demonic in her ears.
He was about to rip her dress when he noticed her phone vibrating beside her, messages flashing on the screen.
"Hmm?" He glanced at it and realized it had been recording and sending out a message. "Heh, I didn't even notice your phone was out, calling for help." He said, looking back at Yeonwoo, who was trembling beneath him. His smile twisted into something more menacing. "But trust me, no one's coming to help you." He laughed, placing his fingers on the edge of her dress, ready to tear it. "So stay put, and enjoy it, not that I mind if you struggle."
Just then, he sensed a shadow looming over him. He paused, turning around to see someone standing behind him. The figure was massive. A tall, muscular man with a bald head and several scars. His face was shadowed, but his presence was intimidating. He wore a black business suit.
"Who are you-" Mikoto began, but a fist interrupted him, slamming into his face and sending him flying across the alley. He crashed into a wall with a thunderous impact, leaving a massive crater and a shockwave rippling outward. Mikoto slumped, motionless, in the broken wall.
"Baekho?" Yeonwoo gasped, surprised to see him and grateful that he'd found her so quickly.
"Are you alright?" Baekho asked, extending an arm, which Yeonwoo took as she got back to her feet. "I saw your messages, good thing I was nearby."
"Yes, thank you." She said, her relief evident. "I didn't expect to get into a situation like this."
"People these days are pathetic." Baekho scoffed, turning his gaze to the slumped figure in the wall. "And People like him don't deserve mercy." His tone made it clear he hadn't held back in his punch.
Yeonwoo nodded in agreement, knowing that if she hadn't messaged Baekho, the night could have ended much differently.
"Let's go, the others are waiting," Baekho said, starting to walk with Yeonwoo by his side.
"Man, that was quite a punch."
A voice stopped them in their tracks. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they turned back to the wall. Mikoto, who they thought was out cold or possibly dead, was slowly pulling himself up from the rubble, using his hands to steady himself. He straightened, standing back up with a smirk.
"But to just walk away like that?" Mikoto grinned, noting Baekho's shocked expression. "You don't think that's enough to keep me down, do you, Baldy?"
'How is he able to stand after that?' Baekho thought, stunned by the young man who stood before him, smiling as if nothing had happened. Baekho had delivered his punch at full strength. A blow even his past opponents couldn't withstand head-on, often opting to evade instead. And yet, this young man took it cleanly, directly, and was still standing. It was unbelievable.
'He's… fine?' Yeonwoo thought, equally shocked. She had watched the young man get flung into the wall by Baekho's punch, a strike she knew could kill. Yet he seemed to have shrugged it off with unsettling ease.
"Yeonwoo, stand back." Baekho raised an arm in front of her, his expression grave as he sized up the young man. This kid wasn't normal.
Yeonwoo obeyed, backing away, understanding from Baekho's serious look that he was taking this fight earnestly.
"There's no need to hold back, then." Baekho said, stepping toward Mikoto and removing his tie, letting it drop to the ground. "This fight will be over in one round." He admitted the young man's resilience was impressive, but he believed that was the extent of it. He didn't see this kid as a real match. "Get ready, kid." he warned Mikoto.
Meanwhile…
"They're late, aren't they?"
Inside a restaurant-style room, a middle-aged man leaned back in a chair, a curious look on his face as he relaxed, toothpick in hand. He had slicked-back black hair and sharp black eyes, his slim but muscular body clad in a leather jacket over a red blazer, black pants, and polished shoes. This was Gapryong Kim.
His question was directed at Jinyeong Park, who stood beside him. Jinyeong had black hair and black eyes, and his clothes, a jacket with no hood over a black sweater and pants marked with white leopard prints, giving him a stylish but rough look.
"I don't know. They should've been here already." Jinyeong said. Baekho and Yeonwoo were supposed to arrive by now, but they were nowhere to be seen.
"Maybe I should call them-" Jinyeong began, reaching into his pocket for his phone. Just as he was about to dial Yeonwoo, a string of messages appeared on his screen.
"Hm… it's Yeonwoo." Jinyeong muttered, noticing the messages were from her. He opened them, and his eyes widened.
"What's wrong?" Gapryong asked, seeing the change in Jinyeong's expression.
"Yeonwoo… she's in trouble." Jinyeong replied gravely, reading her texts pleading for help.
"In trouble?" Gapryong's eyes narrowed, but before he could say more..
"I'll go." Jinyeong interrupted, dashing out of the room, leaving Gapryong alone. Gapryong remained seated, unfazed, trusting that Jinyeong would handle whatever situation lay ahead.
Elsewhere…
"Baekho? This… can't be…" Yeonwoo stood frozen in shock, her phone in hand, her eyes wide as she stared into the distance. Baekho was on the ground now, slumped against a wall that was completely cratered from the impact, the damage spreading outward like spiderwebs and threatening to bring the building down. But the most shocking part was Baekho himself. His mouth bled heavily, and his arms and legs were twisted at unnatural angles.
Everything had happened in an instant. She'd barely registered the loud crash before a devastating shockwave hit, rippling through the air. Instinctively, she had shielded her face, and when she reopened her eyes, both Baekho and the young man were nowhere to be seen. Then, a low chuckle drifted toward her ears, sending chills down her spine as she turned to see what lay in the distance.
Baekho sat against the wall, broken and bleeding, his head hanging down. The sight was so unreal, she could barely accept it, no matter how much she wanted to deny it. The Sword of Gapryong, defeated so easily by a young man who looked barely eighteen. Who was the Sword of Gapryong? He was a man who had fought alongside Gapryong in every war, battling monsters who ruled the streets or enemies from a greater power. And now, here he was, defeated at the hands of a young man. This wasn't supposed to be possible. Yet here it was, this terrifying scene, too real to deny. She felt panic rising as her only hope of safety lay in ruin.
"You can't even control your own strength. How pathetic." Mikoto scoffed, looking down at Baekho's unconscious form. "All this muscle, just for show." He found it absurd that anyone had ever lost to this man. The punch Baekho had thrown had only shown him how poorly Baekho wielded his own strength.
"That's what you get for cock-blocking me, old man." Mikoto laughed, still frustrated by the ruined mood. "Now then…" He turned back to Yeonwoo, who shivered under his gaze. His smile stretched into something sinister, and his eyes narrowed, making her heart pound with dread. His arousal only seemed to grow as he looked her over. "Are you ready, my little kitten?"
"But you know? This makes me sad." His expression was calm, but there was a touch of sorrow in his voice as he vanished and then reappeared instantly in front of her. Her eyes widened, but she couldn't move, her heart hammering with nerves, and a cold sweat covered her skin.
"Still trying to get help?" Mikoto taunted as he lifted her phone next to his face. She felt her hand empty, realizing only now he had taken it from her. "But listen up… Since you're my target today-" he murmured as he shattered the phone with a quick squeeze, his eyes gleaming with crazed lust. Yeonwoo felt a wave of dizziness as her stomach churned, her anxiety spiking sharply. "No one is coming to save you. I'll be enjoying this thoroughly."
Meanwhile, Jinyeong sprinted down the streets, his eyes fixed on his phone, tracing Yeonwoo's last known location.
"Almost there-" He panted, but suddenly the location trace cut off.
"What happened?" He frowned, trying to redial, worry tightening in his chest as the call failed to go through.
'It must be in one of these alleys.' He told himself, recalling that her location had been close and narrow, likely a backstreet. He scanned the alleyways nearby and began searching, hope and dread mingling as he thought, 'Please… be okay.'
Back with Mikoto.
"Heheh, this is gonna be fun." Mikoto sadistically laughed. He was kneeling between Yeonwoo's legs, while she lay on the floor with her arms tied up together behind her back by a strip of fabric torn from her dress.
"Umffhh." Yeonwoo muffled out as her mouth was also covered by a fabric that wrapped around her head. Her wide eyes filled with tears as she stared back at him. She wanted to struggle, trying to wiggle away from that devil, but couldn't.
"Hey, you know if you struggle it'll get worse for you?" Mikoto said, smiling as he looked at her frightened face as she tried to move away. "After all, your resistance only gets me more excited." His smile grew wider, his tongue hanging out, causing Yeonwoo to look on in horror.
"Let's start, shall we?" Mikoto started, stretching out his hand and placing two fingers on the part of her dress covering her chest. Yeonwoo watched in terror as he wasted no time, swiping downward and ripping the upper part of her dress open. The tearing fabric echoed through the area.
"Damn, you're tits are really big." Mikoto laughed looking at her bare chest. Her breasts were firm, well-shaped, and with soft pink nipples. Mikoto seemed exhilarated by the sight, his eyes shining as he took in her fearful expression.
'NO! No! STOP!' Yeonwoo tried to speak but only muffled noises came out. She looked in complete horror, her dress being tore apart from above, revealing her bear cleavage to this disgusting man. She doesn't want this. 'Someone help!' Tears fell from her eyes as her pleads went unheard. She looked at the young man, the devil laughing, enjoying her suffering, her body was getting cold, fear completely gripped her knowing she isn't able to resist.
"So soft, just to my liking." Mikoto snickered, his hands suddenly cupping her breasts as he fondled them. Yeonwoo let out a muffled cry, shutting one eye as she felt his hands on her. The sensation filled her with disgust. "Nice, reaction." Mikoto chuckled, looking at her response. "Well, hot about this." He leaned down, taking her nipple into his mouth, and bit down, sucking on it. This drew another muffled scream from her, making her tilt her head back, gritting her teeth from the tingling sensation that spread out.
"Heh, you're really sensitive." Mikoto observed, enjoying her involuntary responses as she squirmed. Though she loathed it, a terrible thought haunted her, that her own body might start to betray. She doesn't want to feel anything good from this bastard. "I can't wait any longer." He said, feeling himself grow hard as he started unbuckling his pants. The sounds of his zipper, and belt flapping made Yeonwoo look over at him, her eyes trailing down, widening as he lowered his jeans which made her panicked, her resistance becoming more but it was futile. She could only watch in sheer panic, the young man pull his pants down.
'What is that?' Something huge and long was outlined from his boxers that made her pupils shrink seeing the absurdity of the size.
"What, impressed?" Mikoto laughed noticing her reaction, making Yeonwoo look at him hatefully, her eyes tearful. "That look on your face just makes me more exited." He said, licking his lips.
"Let's begin shall we?" Mikoto announced, sliding down his boxer. An 18 inch, swollen behemoth that was waiting to be unleashed finally revealed itself, slapping against Yeonwoo's stomach.
'No it can't be!' Yeonwoo screamed in her mind as she looked at the swollen, twitching organ that was now on her stomach, its tip reaching her cleavage. 'Why is it so big?!' She panicked, the sheer size of it made her body tremble, the veins surrounding it intimidating her even more.
"Don't stare too much, you'll make me embarrassed." Mikoto chuckled, his voice coming across like a devil's whisper into Yeonwoo's ears. She looked up, meeting his taunting smile, filled with pleasure at her reaction.
'This bastard!' She could only glare hatefully, but her anger was just to hide the nervousness and fear that gripped her heart.
"I hope you won't break too soon." Mikoto sneered as he slid her dress up, exposing her bottom half. Yeonwoo's heart raced at his actions. "Black panties, huh?" Mikoto smiled deviously seeing the black panties that covered her sacred area making her face flush in humiliation and nervousness. Wasting no time, Mikoto slid her panties down, ignoring her muffled screams, leaving her completely exposed.
"Wow, what a sight." Mikoto grinned, his eyes almost becoming slits as he licked his lips, admiring her pink private areas that were in full view.
"It's time." Mikoto said as he slightly bent upwards so there is enough space for him to align his tip against her folds, making Yeonwoo shiver and muffle out pleads. Her previous angry face, was now replaced by a look of pure panic and terror as she looked below her to see the massive shaft of the young man, against her private folds, ready to pierce it. Her heart pounded through her chest, feeling sweat forming from nervousness as she knew what was about to happen. Her eyes looked up at him, who was his devilish smile bearing down on her.
"Here I... Go!" Following Mikoto's words. In one brutal motion, he thrusted forward, burrying his entire length deep in Yeonwoo. A distinct bulge appeared on her skin, marking the size and depth of his intrusion.
''Uuuumfff." Yeonwoo's body reacted with a delayed shock. Her head tilted back, her eyes wide with shock as she muffled screams through her lips. 'It... Hurts!' She felt the excruciating pain from something so large invading her insides, crushing her from within. 'It's over.' She thought with dispair, her eyes dulling as tears streamed down her face. Her innocence is gone, she was deflowered in the most humiliating and cruelest way. Never would she have expected that her first time would be like this. The reality devistated her.
"Damn, you're tight." Mikoto sneered, laughing as he felt the tightness of her insides, clamping onto his shaft increasing his pleasure. "But I didn't expect you to be a virgin." He noted, glancing down at the blood trailing from her. "With a body like that, I didn't think your hymen would still be intact, haha." Mikoto laughed mockingly.
'I-I'm not... a... whore.. you scum.' Yeonwoo thought weakly, knowing what that bastard's words meant. Her head tilting forward, her face scrunched from the pain as she difficultly looked at her deformed lower body where his thing was lodged deeply.
"But hey, be grateful that I'm the one who made you a woman, and not a random loser, hahah." Mikoto laughed, as he gave her no chance to adjust, pulling back half his length, the blood on it visible, before ramming forward again making Yeonwoo how in pain.
'It's too much!' Yeonwoo felt the pain double as Mikoto re-thrusted, the sensation felt as if her skin was tearing. Tears fell faster from the overwhelming pain.
"Don't break too soon, after all I want to enjoy this too." Mikoto said, beginning a relentless thrusting motion that made Yeonwoo's body jolt with every movement. Each thrust caused a massive bulge to appear and dissapear on her stomach, making her muffled moans a blend of pain and pleasure.
"This is the best." Mikoto said with exitement as he continued thrusting, there was something about this bitch that made him want more of her, he just can't get enough of her pained face and tight insides that clamped around his dick threatning to suck him dry.
'I'm really getting raped.' Yeonwoo thought, her tears streaming non stop from both pain and dispair. She felt hatred rise within her, resentment and fear for the man enjoying her suddering, knowing she couldn't resist. 'Stop feeling good, you sick scum.' She cursed inwardly, looking up at the deprived and insane face of Mikoto as he continued to thrust in and out of her. She didn't want him to feel good off her, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her only response was to rest her against the floor and gaze up at the night sky, her eyes tearful and blurry. Her mouth instinctively muffled out moans with each thrust os the massive shaft her body took, being used as an object for someone's else pleasure. 'Please.... Just let it end.' She hoped that this torture would soon end so that devil of a man can leave her alone as she knew this would be a night that would haunt her foreever.
After 30 minutes..
"Tch, you actually broke so soon?" Mikoto clicked his tongue in disappointment, watching the nearly unresponsive Yeonwoo, her eyes now hollow as she stared blankly at the sky.
"What a letdown you are." Mikoto muttered, glancing at her with frustration. He pulled back, removing his shaft from her pussy as in which fluids of a mix off white and red dripped down from her entrance. He reached down behind her back removing the fabric that tied around her arms, and removed the fabric from around her head that covered her mouth.
"I was just getting started." Mikoto stood up as he pulled his pants back up clearly done since he broke the woman. "But, hey." He added with a smirk, looking at the broken Yeonwoo. "You did pretty well for a first timer, Yeonwoo-san."
"Well, it was fun. See ya. Hehe." Mikoto laughed as he looked at the seemingly soulless Yeonwoo, satisfied as he took in her defeated form one last time, before he turned around around and left the area.
Meanwhile...
"Pant, pant." Jinyeong was panting as he ran, his steps quick and frantic. He wasn't tired, just anxious. It had been more than thirty minutes since he started searching, combing through every alley, and still, there was no sign of her. He was beginning to worry something terrible might have happened, especially since Yeonwoo's phone wasn't dialing.
"Please work." He muttered, trying to trace her phone's location again. But once again, there was no signal. Just as he was about to lose hope, a familiar name popped up on his screen, showing his location.
"Baekho?" Jinyeong's eyes widened in surprise. "Could it be that he's with her?" A wave of relief washed over him. After all, they were both late, so it made sense that Baekho might be with Yeonwoo.
He immediately started running in the direction of Baekho's location.
A minute later, he reached a narrow alleyway, weaving through it until he emerged into a wide, secluded area.
"Is that… Yeonwoo?" Jinyeong's gaze focused on a figure sitting on the ground in the distance, cloaked in the familiar white leopard-patterned coat. He hurried toward her, but with every step he took, a growing sense of unease weighed on his heart.
"Yeonwoo, are you okay?" he called out, coming to a stop beside her. She sat with her head bowed, unmoving. A tense silence filled the air, making him uneasy.
"Yeonwoo, can you hear me?" Jinyeong crouched slightly, reaching out a hand toward her shoulder. But the second his hand made contact, she flinched, recoiling with a scream.
"Don't touch me!" Yeonwoo's voice shook, her scream sending a jolt of shock through him.
"W-What?" Jinyeong stammered, stunned by her reaction. Why was she acting like this? A sudden dread gripped his chest. Something must have happened.
"Yeonwoo, it's me, Jinyeong." He said, trying to reassure her as he took a step forward.
"No! Stay away from me!" Yeonwoo's voice cracked as she shouted again, lifting her head to look at him. Jinyeong's eyes widened, his heart sinking. Her expression was a mixture of fear, panic, and despair. Her eyes seemed dead inside, and she was shedding silent tears. "Don't come any closer!"
Jinyeong took a shaky step back, confusion and fear etched into his face. He couldn't understand what had happened to her to make her act this way.
'What the-' His thoughts stopped abruptly as his eyes drifted to her clothes. The coat draped over her covered most of her torn dress, but a faint trail of blood was visible on her thighs. His mind began to reel, connecting the clues before him. 'Did someone-' For her to react like this and for him to notice her torn dress and the blood on her thighs, the worst possible scenario came to mind. His heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead, his body trembling as he considered the possibility of what she had endured.
"Pant, pant." He panted heavily, the weight of the situation pressing on him, his mind churning with the grim possibility of what had happened to Yeonwoo. But there was more to take in…
'Huh?' His gaze shifted to the side, spotting another figure slumped in the distance. A familiar one. Baekho sat against the wall, his arms and legs twisted at unnatural angles, bone visible beneath the skin. The wall behind him was cratered from the impact. "Baekho?" Jinyeong's voice barely escaped his throat. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Baekho, in this state? That Baekho? Anger flared as he clenched his fists, his gaze returning to Yeonwoo, who was shivering, slight whimpers escaping her lips. Who could have done this? Fear and fury rose in his chest.
Three Days Later:
In a hospital room filled with heavy silence, five people were gathered around a hospital bed.
Jinyeong sat slouched in a chair, his head bent, face hidden from view. Gapryong stood by the window, gazing out, his thoughts unreadable.
Two men also stood nearby. One, tall and slim, middle-aged man, had neatly combed black hair and glasses perched on his nose. He wore a long-sleeved dress shirt and old-fashioned striped pants that rose high over his shirt. His name is Charles Choi.
The other man was also middle-aged but tall and muscular, with long black hair that reached below his neck. He wore a green trench coat and black pants, with a small hat on his head. His expression was somber and intense. His name is Tom Lee.
On the hospital bed lay Baekho, still and quiet.
"It seems the enemy is strong this time." A voice broke the silence, it was Charles, hands in his back pockets.
"Shut up, you bastard." Jinyeong's voice was low and grave, anger simmering beneath. He was furious that this four-eyes was complementing whoever had done this, especially with the haunting image of Yeonwoo's broken expression still etched in his mind.
Charles frowned but wore a faint smile. "There's no need to be angry. We can only blame the misfortune that Yeonwoo and Baekho endured."
"You jerk! You want to die?" Jinyeong snapped, springing to his feet, bloodshot eyes glaring at Charles, who remained unperturbed.
"Jinyeong, calm down." Gapryong said, turning from the window. Jinyeong slumped back in his chair, casting a dark glance at Charles, who only shrugged.
"Charles is right." Gapryong's tone was stoic. "What happened yesterday was indeed a misfortune for both of them, but…" His face was expressionless, but his eyes turned deadly. "It was because of someone specific that this misfortune happened." Jinyeong had called him urgently, reporting that he had taken Baekho and Yeonwoo to the hospital. The news had stunned Gapryong, but what he'd learned afterward, about Baekho's injuries and the unforgivable crime committed against Yeonwoo had been even worse.
"Baekho, can you tell us what happened?" Gapryong's gaze shifted to Baekho.
Baekho's face was somber as he lay on the bed, silent before he spoke. "Jinyeong, I'm sorry." His voice was low but audible to everyone in the room. "I failed to protect Yeonwoo." His fists clenched, veins bulging, his bloodshot eyes filled with anger and shame. He felt he needed to apologize to Jinyeong first before he says anything. He had failed to protect someone close to him. And to think the horrible act against Yeonwoo had happened right next to him. It was something he would never forgive himself for.
A heavy silence followed his words. Then he continued.
"As for who did this…" Baekho's face darkened as he recalled a red-haired young man who had given him an eerie, unsettling feeling. "It was a red-haired kid who couldn't have been older than eighteen." He clenched his fists, remembering the strange yet dangerous young man who had taken him down so effortlessly. One second he'd been walking towards the kid, and the next, something hard had slammed into his face, launching him into the wall. When he'd managed to open his eyes, the kid had already appeared a few feet away, his body was bent forward, his head up, with amber eyes that seemed to glow, wild red hair, and a crazed smile following the next second, almost in an instant. Baekho had felt intense blows all around his body and lost consciousness.
When they heard Baekho's words, everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"A kid put you in this state?" Charles asked, surprised. The idea of a kid doing that to Baekho? It was almost unbelievable. Baekho, after all, wasn't far behind Gapryong in strength. For a kid to reach such a level?
Even Jinyeong was stunned. The idea of a kid capable of this was absurd.
"How did the fight go?" Gapryong asked, his gaze narrowing. If Baekho's words were true, then this kid posed a huge threat given his strength at such a young age.
"It wasn't a fight." Baekho said slowly, his words drawing frowns from everyone except Gapryong, whose expression grew serious. "It was more like a one-sided battle. It only took two hits to put me down."
Silence fell over the room as his words sank in.
It was already hard to believe that a kid could do this, and now Baekho was saying he'd been taken down with just two hits. No one could take down Baekho with only two hits, no one. And yet, despite how unbelievable it seemed, they knew it had happened.
Just then, the door opened, and a nurse stepped in holding a document.
"Excuse me, are you the people with Miss Yeonwoo?"
"Yes, we are." Jinyeong said, standing as he heard Yeonwoo's name. "Is something wrong? How is she?"
"Miss Yeonwoo is physically fine," The nurse said, causing Jinyeong and the others to sigh in relief.
"But her mental health is unstable." She added after a moment.
"What do you mean?" Jinyeong asked. He had an idea, given how she'd acted, but he wanted to know the extent of it.
"You're aware of her situation and what happened to her, correct?" The nurse asked. A heavy silence followed, the atmosphere turning somber. "I'll take that as a yes," she said, recognizing that no one wanted to discuss it.
"It appears Miss Yeonwoo is suffering from severe PTSD." the nurse continued.
"How severe is it?" This time, it was Gapryong who asked. After what Jinyeong had described, he was deeply worried about Yeonwoo's fear and how she seemed to withdraw from anyone who came near her.
The nurse took a deep breath, glancing at her notes. "Her PTSD is quite severe. She exhibits extreme hypervigilance, constantly on guard, easily startled by even the slightest noise. She also has severe avoidance behaviors. From what we've observed, she isolates herself and avoids any situation or conversation that might remind her of what happened. Physical proximity to others, and even harmless touches triggers intense panic responses."
The nurse paused, gauging the room's reactions which was a mix of sadness and anger. "She's experiencing regular flashbacks and night terrors, too. It's as if her mind is replaying the trauma over and over. These episodes can be so vivid and overwhelming that she becomes unresponsive to her surroundings until it passes. And when she is conscious, she's often dealing with persistent, intense anxiety."
The nurse's voice softened, compassion and pettiness evident in her tone. "In short, this is not just a matter of fear or sadness. Her condition is severe enough to impact her daily functioning and could require long-term treatment."
"Thank you." Gapryong said quietly, his voice just loud enough for the nurse to hear. She nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving them in silence.
Gapryong turned back to the window, gazing outside.
After a long moment of silence, he spoke.
"No one should blame themselves for what happened."
Gapryong's voice was firm.
"My words are for both of you, Baekho and Jinyeong." He looked at them, understanding the mental toll they were under. Baekho blamed himself for not being able to protect Yeonwoo, and Jinyeong blamed himself for not being there when she was in danger. But nothing they could do now would change what had happened. They could only move forward. Dwelling on the past would keep them down.
"Baekho, tell me more about the kid's appearance." Gapryong said. They would push forward, but they wouldn't forget. Revenge would come.
"He's tall, maybe around 200 cm, with red hair and amber eyes," Baekho replied without hesitation. He knew Gapryong well enough to know he wouldn't let something like this go unpunished. Not when it involved someone under his protection.
Gapryong's gaze hardened. "For now, the Fist Gang has one mission." He began, his voice carrying a dark resolve. "To find and hunt down this kid, no. This monster responsible for what he did." He wouldn't let this go. The kid responsible would face the Fist Gang, and judging by Baekho's words, he might be the strongest opponent they'd ever had to face, but he won't back down. This would be a war.