"A true ruler is not content with mere allegiance; he demands unwavering obedience and unbreakable unity. For a king's authority extends not just to his allies, but over the very rules that bind his world."
— Lee Sejong
The air at Hanseong Academy felt different today. Word had spread through the school corridors that Sejong, the new leader of King's Court, was taking unprecedented steps to secure his territory. No one quite knew what to expect, but the students sensed a shift—a change in power that hadn't existed before.
As Sejong walked through each classroom, students whispered amongst themselves, casting wary glances at him and his crew.
"Is that… Sejong? The new head of King's Court?" a student murmured, eyes wide.
"I heard he's only in seventh grade! How is he acting so… fierce?" another replied.
With each classroom he entered, Sejong's presence sent a wave of tension through the students. He spoke with authority, commanding attention, and even those who had dismissed him before as "just a seventh-grader" could see the cold determination in his eyes.
"From today on, anyone who has an issue with Hanseong students brings that issue to me," Sejong declared, his voice steady and absolute. "We are Hanseong's shield. We are Hanseong's strength. And as your king, I'll make sure no one messes with us."
The students exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
"Did he just call himself a king?"
"He's serious. I can feel it… I've never seen him like this before."
Sejong let his words sink in before continuing. "If there's trouble from other schools, if anyone dares to cross us—you come to King's Court. We'll handle it." He cast a sharp glance around the room. "But understand this too: if you're with us, you follow our rules. If you're against us…"
He let the threat hang in the air, but the glint in his eye made his meaning clear.
As Sejong moved through the classrooms, the respect, admiration, and fear he inspired grew. Finally, he reached the ninth-grade class where two students waited—students who had been singled out by Chungsu Academy, a school infamous for its power and for its ruthless leader, Baek Jae-sun. Chungsu's inner circle, known as the "Iron Talons," was notorious for using intimidation to keep smaller schools under control.
The ninth-grade girl hesitantly looked up at Sejong, a nervous tremor in her voice as she spoke. "Sejong… some boys from Chungsu Academy have been bothering me. They think they can do whatever they want because no one from Hanseong stands up to them."
Beside her, a boy chimed in. "They robbed me last week. Chungsu students don't think Hanseong students are worth respecting, and… well, they're usually right." He glanced nervously at Sejong, gauging his reaction.
Sejong's eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as he absorbed their words. "Chungsu Academy, you said?" he asked, voice low. Minho, standing beside him, nodded in confirmation.
"They're a big school," Minho added quietly. "Their leader, Baek Jae-sun, is ruthless. The Iron Talons have been harassing smaller schools for years, and no one's dared to stand up to them."
Sejong let out a slow breath, his mouth curling into a hint of a smile. "Looks like it's time we changed that." He turned to the two students, his voice firm. "You're coming with us. Today, we're going to pay Chungsu Academy a little visit."
He glanced back at Minho. "Gather everyone in King's Court. Today, we're sending a message."
An hour later, nearly ninety members of King's Court stood assembled outside Hanseong's gates. The air was thick with anticipation, and even the veteran members looked at each other in awe, curious—and slightly nervous—about what Sejong had planned.
Sejong looked over his assembled followers, his face unreadable. "Today isn't just about standing up for ourselves. It's about showing everyone that Hanseong Academy doesn't bow down to anyone. King's Court stands above all, and we're done tolerating anyone who thinks otherwise."
With that, he turned and led the march toward Chungsu Academy. They walked in unison, a sea of determined faces unified under Sejong's command. Passersby on the streets looked on in awe, whispering as they noticed the mass of students moving with single-minded purpose.
"Is that… King's Court?" one onlooker whispered, eyes wide with shock.
"I didn't know Hanseong had a student leader like that."
"Who is that kid in the front? He looks too young to be leading all of them."
"He may be young, but look at the way they're following him. I'd say he's earned their respect."
When they reached the gates of Chungsu Academy, a student in a blue and gold uniform stepped forward to block their path. He sneered at Sejong, clearly unimpressed by the seventh-grader leading the crowd. "Who do you think you are, trying to waltz into Chungsu like you own the place?"
Sejong's response was swift. He grabbed the student by the collar, yanking him forward as he brought his knee up, smashing it into the boy's face with a force that sent him crumpling to the ground, unconscious. A collective gasp swept through the crowd as everyone stared, stunned by Sejong's brutal efficiency.
"He… he just knocked him out with one move," a Chungsu student whispered, eyes wide.
"Who is this kid?" another murmured, shrinking back. "He doesn't even look scared."
Sejong stood over the fallen student, his gaze sweeping over the Chungsu crowd. "Anyone else want to get in my way?" he asked, his voice low and taunting.
Then, from the crowd, a tall figure emerged, flanked by members of the Iron Talons. Baek Jae-sun, Chungsu Academy's infamous leader, exuded a cold authority that rivaled Sejong's own. He was backed by over 150 loyal members of the Iron Talons, each one standing firm in support of their leader.
"That's… Baek Jae-sun," a Hanseong student muttered, a mixture of awe and fear in their voice. "I heard he's as ruthless as they come."
Jae-sun's eyes narrowed as he looked at Sejong with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "What's the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "You think you can just march into Chungsu and start a fight?"
Sejong didn't flinch. He met Jae-sun's gaze with a steady, unyielding smirk. "I'm here for some of your students. Seems like they've got a habit of causing problems for mine, so I'm here to teach them a lesson."
Jae-sun scoffed, the corners of his mouth twisting in a sneer. "You really think you, a seventh-grader, can handle the Iron Talons?"
Sejong glanced back at the two Hanseong students who had been harassed. "Don't be afraid," he told them, his tone reassuring. "Point out the ones who caused you trouble."
The two students hesitated before pointing out a group of Chungsu students lurking near the back. Without missing a beat, Sejong started toward them, his movements slow and deliberate, exuding confidence. But before he could deliver the first blow, Jae-sun stepped forward, blocking his path.
"That's enough," Jae-sun said, his tone laced with threat. "I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not letting you lay a finger on my students."
Sejong tilted his head, sizing Jae-sun up with a dangerous smirk. "Fine. Here's the deal: you let me handle this my way, and this ends here. But if you get in my way…" His voice dropped, dark and promising. "Then it's you and me."
Jae-sun's expression turned grim, his body tensing. "You think you're stronger than me?"
Without another word, Sejong swung his fist. Jae-sun blocked it with ease, but the impact left a flicker of surprise on his face—Sejong was far stronger than he'd anticipated. The crowd murmured in shock as the two locked eyes, a silent challenge passing between them.
"I've never seen Jae-sun actually look… serious," a Chungsu student whispered to her friend, both watching with wide eyes.
The fight escalated, each blow landing with more intensity as Sejong and Jae-sun pushed each other to their limits. The crowd held their breath, the tension palpable as Sejong moved with precision and ferocity, every punch and kick driven by a deep-seated anger.
Finally, Sejong landed a powerful uppercut, sending Jae-sun staggering back. Breathing heavily, Jae-sun looked up at Sejong, his face bruised, his confidence visibly shaken.
Sejong took a step closer, his voice cold and commanding. "This is your last warning. The Iron Talons are done harassing Hanseong students. If I hear of anything like this again, I'll make sure you remember this day—and this pain."
Jae-sun glared, too proud to respond, but the message was clear. With one last, defiant look, Sejong turned to his followers, his voice carrying a final command.
"Let's go home. Our business here is done."
The students from Hanseong walked away, their heads held high, leaving the members of Chungsu and the Iron Talons in stunned silence. As they retreated, the whispers of onlookers echoed behind them.
"Did you see that? He actually beat Baek Jae-sun…"
"Hanseong's King's Court might just be unstoppable."