The final fighter lunged at Jin, his eyes wild with desperation, a predator backed into a corner. The metallic clang of his bat reverberated through the air as it descended with deadly intent. Jin, however, was no prey. He ducked with a speed that defied logic, the bat slicing through empty space.
Before the thug could recover, Jin's fist crashed into his gut with a bone-crunching force, the sickening sound of ribs breaking echoing across the gym. The guy flew backward, slamming into the ground with a dull thud, blood spraying from his lips as he lay unmoving.
Jin's breaths came slow and steady, his chest rising and falling with deliberate rhythm. Yet his body screamed in protest muscles aflame, veins alight with exhaustion. But he didn't falter. Not when there were nineteen others that refused to fall, their eyes burning with a mix of fear and rage, circling him like wolves.
Jin didn't wait for them to strike. He lunged forward, a whirlwind of fists and fury. One thug charged, wielding a crowbar, but Jin ducked low, twisting his body into a brutal uppercut. The guys's jaw snapped audibly as he collapsed, his weapon clattering uselessly to the floor.
Another came from Jin's left, knife glinting under the harsh overhead light. Jin caught his wrist mid-swing, twisting it sharply until the blade fell from his grip. Without hesitation, Jin drove his knee into the thug's stomach, lifting him off his feet before slamming him to the ground.
The others hesitated now, their confidence eroding as Jin cut through their ranks like a storm. Blood smeared the gym floor, the metallic tang of it thick in the air.
But then, amidst the chaos, Levi stirred. His head hung low, blood dripping from his split lip onto his shirt. The chair creaked beneath him as his fingers dug into the wood, a low growl escaping his throat. His grandfather's words rang in his ears like a curse: "Violence is not the way, Levi."
Levi clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. He couldn't listen anymore. Not when his friend was bleeding, breaking himself for his sake. Not when every fiber of his being screamed for release.
The chains binding Levi snapped with a deafening crack, the sound reverberating through the room like a gunshot. The sudden noise drew every eye, including Jin's, whose gaze flicked to Levi with a mixture of relief and confusion.
Levi stood, his body battered but his resolve unyielding. His eyes were dark, burning with a fury Jin had never seen before. He rolled his shoulders, the tension in his body unfurling like a coiled spring.
The first thug to approach him didn't even have time to raise his bat. Levi moved faster than a blink, his fist colliding with the man's temple. There was no scream just the dull crunch of bone giving way as the thug's body crumpled to the floor.
Another came from behind, a chain whistling through the air. Levi caught it mid-swing, wrapping it around his attacker's throat with a savage pull. The man clawed at the chain, choking, his eyes bulging as Levi slammed him into the ground with unrelenting force.
Jin watched, stunned. This wasn't the Levi he knew the quiet, restrained man who avoided conflict at all costs. This was something else, something raw and unrestrained. Levi moved like a predator, each strike calculated, every motion a death sentence.
One by one, the thugs fell. Levi's fists were relentless, shattering noses, crushing windpipes, and breaking limbs with clinical precision. Blood sprayed across the gym like macabre art, painting the walls and floor in violent strokes. Screams echoed, but they were fleeting, silenced as quickly as they began.
A thug swung a crowbar at Levi's head, but he ducked, spinning into a kick that snapped the man's knee backward with a sickening crack. The man howled, collapsing as Levi stepped over him without a second glance.
Then, the final few thugs regrouped, desperation overtaking their fear. They charged together, their movements frenzied. Levi's lips curled into a grim smile.
He met them head-on, his body a blur of motion. A knee to one man's chest sent him flying backward, ribs shattered. An elbow strike to another's throat silenced his scream before it could fully form. A third thug managed to land a punch on Levi's cheek, but the young man didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed the man's arm, twisting it until the bone snapped, the sound sharp and sickening.
Jin could only stand there, blood dripping from his own wounds as he watched Levi dismantle the remaining attackers with ruthless efficiency. Each movement was precise, devoid of wasted energy. It was beautiful in a brutal, horrifying way.
Finally, the last thug fell, his body crumpling to the floor like a discarded doll. The gym was silent now, save for the shallow gasps of the defeated and the steady rhythm of Levi's breathing.
Levi stood amidst the carnage, blood dripping from his fists, his chest heaving. His eyes met Jin's, and for a moment, neither spoke.
Jin limped toward him, his hand resting on Levi's shoulder. "Where the hell was that hiding?" he muttered, half in awe, half in exhaustion.
Levi didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept across the ruined gym, the bodies sprawled across the floor, the blood that stained his hands. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hollow.
"It was never about hiding," he said. "I just hoped I'd never need to fight."
Jin nodded, too tired to argue. Together, they turned toward the exit, stepping over the wreckage of the fight. But Levi's mind lingered, his thoughts returning to his grandfather's words.
"Violence isn't the way."
Levi clenched his fists again, his knuckles still slick with blood.
I will fight to keep peace.
The incident at the gymnasium spread like wildfire. By the next day, it was all anyone could talk about. Whispers echoed in the halls of the school, growing louder as Jin and Levi walked past.
"Did you hear about the fight?"
"They say Levi broke free from chains!"
"Jin beat twenty guys single-handedly."
"No way, Levi was the one who finished them all!"
"You mean Levi the loser, and Jin too?.."
Jin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as they walked toward their homeroom. "You'd think they'd let it go after one day."
Levi chuckled beside him, his usual bruises fading. "Can you blame them? You kind of stole the show back there."
"You mean we stole the show," Jin corrected, shooting him a sidelong glance. "Pretty sure breaking out of chains and taking down a dozen guys counts as 'show-stealing.'"
Levi shrugged nonchalantly, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Guess we're even then."
As they entered the classroom, the chatter quieted, only to be replaced by a wave of awkward stares. Jin could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him, but Levi seemed unfazed, strolling to his desk as if nothing had happened.
"Jin! Levi!"
Their classmate Hana waved them over, her usual bubbly energy enough to break the tension in the room. "Is it true? Did you really fight a whole gang? Are you secret martial arts masters or something?"
"So you know my name now.. huh?...," Levi said with a smirk, dropping his bag onto his desk.
Jin rolled his eyes. "Don't be dramatic."
"Forget about the past,we can be friends now?" Hana leaned closer, eyes wide. "You two are basically legends now. Even the seniors are talking about it!"
Jin groaned, slumping into his seat. "Great. Just what I needed more attention."
Levi, however, seemed oddly comfortable with the newfound spotlight. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, as if he belonged in the center of everyone's gaze.
"Let them talk," he said, his tone light. "It's not every day you get to be the hero."
Jin shot him a look. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Maybe a little," Levi admitted, grinning.
Lunch was always the best part of the day, and today was no exception. Jin and Levi sat under the sprawling oak tree behind the school, a quiet spot away from the prying eyes of their classmates. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Jin bit into his sandwich, savoring the peace and quiet. "Finally, a moment to breathe."
Levi leaned against the tree trunk, his lunch untouched." Isn't this good, you know all the attention"
"Yeah, well, popularity isn't exactly my thing," Jin muttered. "I just want to get through school without any drama."
Levi smirked. "Too late for that now. You're officially the guy who took down twenty thugs."
"We took them down," Jin corrected again, though his tone was softer this time. He glanced at Levi, who seemed unusually introspective. "What about you? You okay with all this attention?"
Levi's smile faltered, just for a moment. "I don't mind it. It's... different."
"Different how?"
Levi hesitated, then shrugged. "I guess... it's nice to be known for something good for once."
Jin frowned, sensing there was more to Levi's words, but he didn't press. Instead, he let the silence settle between them, the gentle rustling of leaves filling the air.
The following week was surprisingly uneventful. Despite the lingering buzz of their gymnasium fight, Jin and Levi managed to slip back into the routine of school life.