'It's actually him.' Kang Chan thought as he looked at the person in front of him, someone he recognized. He didn't expect to meet someone of that caliber here, a high caliber at that.
Which was none other than Shiro Oni. Yamazaki, Park Gun.
'And as for this…' He looked at the system prompt.
[Task: Force The Lunatic To Take A Step Back]
'Is this a death wish, or an opportunity?' Kang Chan wasn't sure if he should go through with the task. He wasn't scared or nervous, but to die here, just three days into this world, after all the training he went through, was it worth it?
Knowing Gun's personality, he could safely get out of here without any confrontation. But if he's here looking for trouble deliberately, Kang Chan didn't know how Gun would react, after all that guy could be both, violent and non-violent. If he took the task, in which he should do so, considering the rewards, he should take note of one thing, and that is to show Gun something unexpected from himself. Otherwise, he'd be planted here today.
While Kang Chan was in his own thoughts, Gun was also looking at him.
'What's a kid doing here?' He thought, observing Kang Chan. Just from the height and build alone, Gun mistook him for a kid.
'Is he camping or something?' Gun noted the lit campfire, the bag next to it, and the snacks. That's what it looked like, but he was confused about as to why anyone would camp in a place like this.
"Yeah, I'm the owner of this place." Gun confirmed Kang Chan's previous words, tucking his hands into his pockets. He looked at him and continued, "So, who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"Kang Chan. And as for what I'm doing here?" Kang Chan introduced himself calmly, tilting his head up to meet Gun's eyes, which were hidden behind shades. "Just training."
'Training?' Gun frowned, looking at the kid in front of him. Judging by his weight, which seemed to be around 50 kg, with barely any muscle or fat, Gun didn't see how he could train in a place like this, where the conditions didn't meet any his standards. But it didn't matter.
"If you're done, beat it then, kid." Gun said in a calm tone.
"Kid? I'm seventeen, old man." Kang Chan retorted.
"Ha?" Gun's face twitched slightly at being called an old man. "I'm only old enough to be your senior if you're seventeen. But even if you are, you're still a kid in my eyes." He started walking towards Kang Chan, passing by him. Kang Chan remained expressionless as Gun continued, "So right now, I'm telling you to leave." He added as he continued walking towards the firepit, standing infront of it.
"Not doing it." Kang Chan replied after a moment as he took his decision on what he needed to do.
"Huh?" Gun, who had heard that, glanced back at Kang Chan, who had his back toward him. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that…" Kang Chan turned around to look at Gun. "I'm not leaving."
"Kid." Gun turned back around, his face stoic as he spoke. "I'm not going to repeat myself. Beat it."
Even though there wasn't a change in Gun's expression or tone, a subtle shift in the atmosphere was felt.
"And I'm not going to change my answer," Kang Chan said. Even though the situation seemed to be escalating, he didn't want to defuse it.
"If you want me to leave this place," Kang Chan continued, looking at Gun calmly. "You'll have to make me, old man."
Silence was what responded to Kang Chan as both stood still.
"I, for once, am being nice, but you're here wanting to cause trouble," Gun said, breaking the silence as he started walking toward Kang Chan slowly. "If you don't want to leave, fine." The air became suffocating as he uttered his next words. "Then stay here forever."
"Stay here forever?" Kang Chan looked stoically at the approaching Gun. Even though he felt the pressure, he stayed calm.
"I refuse that as well." He said as Gun slowly closed the distance. "Old man."
With that, Kang Chan suddenly acted. He took a step forward himself as Gun was now right infront of him. He lifted his right leg up in a vertical axis, striking Gun's chin, but..
"What's this?" Gun spoke. The attack didn't even make his head budge. It didn't faze him at all. He looked down at Kang Chan, who was still in the position of having his leg extended.
The next second, Kang Chan shifted his left foot that he was balanced on to the left, initiating a recoil that traveled through his body, striking a side kick at Gun's face with a thudding impact.
But as Kang Chan expected..
"Are you actually trying?" Gun's voice sounded as Kang Chan's leg remained pressed against his face. Gun's expression was stoic, rigid in place, completely unaffected by the follow-up attack.
But there was one thing that was different.
'Kind of creepy,' Kang Chan thought as he looked up at Gun's face, or more precisely, his eyes, which were now revealed. His kick had knocked off Gun's shades.
In the Lookism manhwa, people said Gun's eyes looked cool and badass since they were uncommon and special. But seeing them in person, in reality, was different. The sclera was completely pitch black, the irises and pupils were white, giving off a faint hue. A soul-absorbing vibe.
Then, Kang Chan was about to distance himself away, but he was a second too late as Gun grabbed his leg.
'Shit.' He cursed in his heart as he felt himself being lifted up.
"If that's all you have." Gun lifted Kang Chan by the leg. "Then you'll be buried here." Bringing it back down, slamming Kang Chan onto the ground as a loud impact reverberated through the surroundings, cracks spreading out on the floor beneath him.
"Arghh." Kang Chan groaned, his eyes reflexively widening as the breath was knocked out of him. 'Damn it!' He gritted his teeth as he felt the pain coursing through his upper body. His vision blurred for a second but quickly refocused.
Just one slam almost rendered him unconscious.
Kang Chan pushed himself up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was rough, but his eyes remained calm. He steadied himself, ignoring the pain rattling through his body.
"That's all I have, you say?" He spoke calmly, looking at the indifferent Gun. "Trust me, you have yet to see what I can do, old man."
"Hmm." Gun frowned at those words. He didn't think the kid had anything left to show. He had already seen enough to gauge his capabilities, and so far, he was just wasting his time. But it didn't hurt to see why the kid could utter such words. Maybe he had a surprise in store. Still, Gun didn't have high hopes.
"Phew." Taking a deep breath, Kang Chan's vision sharpened, seemingly trying to visualize something as red bullseye marks flickered onto Gun's body, highlighting possible attack points.
Without hesitation, he moved. His left leg shot out first, aiming low at Gun's shin, but Gun didn't budge. Kang Chan pivoted instantly, switching to his right and snapping a high kick toward Gun's temple. Gun raised his right hand and blocked it with ease. Kang Chan didn't stop, twisting his body to transition seamlessly, shifting his weight and rotating into another low kick aimed at Gun's knee.
"Flexible, but not enough." Gun commented calmly as he blocked the attack, deflecting it effortlessly. He noted the kid's high flexibility, but the attack wasn't enough.
Gun remained in place, his left hand still tucked in his pocket, while his right rested at his side. Kang Chan adjusted, weaving his attacks together, transitioning from high to low with rapid fluidity. A quick feint with his left foot made it seem like he was going low, but he instantly redirected his right leg upward into a sharp roundhouse aimed at Gun's jaw. Gun merely tilted his head back, making it miss by inches.
Kang Chan feigned another low kick but snapped his knee up at the last second, trying to catch Gun off guard. Gun's hand flicked, slapping it away. A spinning back kick followed, but Gun leaned slightly to the side, dodging it without moving his feet. Kang Chan landed, twisted into another feint, then launched a snap kick at Gun's midsection. The instant his foot extended, Gun's right leg shot out in return, a straight kick driving into Kang Chan's stomach.
The impact was instant.
Kang Chan felt the air leave his lungs as his body was sent flying. He crashed onto the ground, rolling several feet before stopping. Coughing, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His arms trembled as he forced himself up, each movement sending sharp pain through his ribs. Gun was already walking toward him, hands in his pockets, eyes watching.
Kang Chan swayed but stood. His breathing was ragged, but his face didn't change. Blood dripped from his lips as he stared at Gun, unmoving.
"Still getting up?" Gun raised an eyebrow, not expecting the kid to rise up again. Judging by his constitution, he wasn't built to endure an attack, especially not one from his own. Even so, the kid was forcing himself, pushing his body to endure.
Kang Chan didn't respond. He stepped forward instead. Gun didn't stop him.
'Then let me see how much you can take.' The next moment, Gun blurred as he was the one to take the initiative. Kang Chan's eyes slightly widened, not expecting Gun to be the first one to move, he wasn't able to react at all, but by the time he did, a fist was already driving into his stomach. He barely had time to brace before he was sent flying, crashing down again, this time harder. His ribs cracked from the impact. Pain exploded through his body.
"Ughh." Kang Chan groaned, his face slightly scrunched from the pain coursing through him.
'My ribs... broken.' His right hand moved slowly over the spot where he felt the most pain. Even a simple graze sent a sharp stinging sensation through him, like a knife piercing straight through.
'Ridiculous.' He thought as he looked up at Gun, who was slowly walking toward him, as if taking a casual stroll. Even though Kang Chan expected something like this, it still felt ridiculous. Gun had only taken action twice, yet he was already seriously injured. And this was just Gun toying with him. More than that, this was the Gun from the beginning of Lookism, not his later, stronger self, yet it still felt like facing a complete monster.
Truly ridiculous.
Kang Chan slightly gritted his teeth as he got up. His body felt like it was tearing apart, his vision blurred, signaling that his body was at its limit. But he couldn't stay down. He didn't want to.
He knew he could do it. Not through strength, his strength currently wouldn't move Gun at all.
That's why he had the system. With it, there had to be a way to accomplish the task. He also wanted to find out if he could push past his limits, to evolve. Stopping now would be a stupid thing to do.
Gun stopped in place.
Kang Chan's legs wobbled as he slowly forced himself up, his vision fogging over. He could barely breathe properly, yet his body moved on his own will. His eyes remained calm.
"You're still moving? Impressive." Gun exhaled, looking at him with something close to amusement.
'Not bad, he was able to tank the hit.' Gun observed as the kid slowly struggled to push himself up. 'No, to be more precise... he endured it.'
Gun hadn't expected the kid to stand again. He thought the punch would keep him down. Clearly, it didn't. And judging from the way he landed, the kid had broken a few ribs. But there was one thing he couldn't understand.
"Say, you can already see the gap between us..." Gun spoke, watching the kid barely holding on as he continued. "So, why are you still persistent on continuing?"
He didn't understand why the kid doesn't want to stay down. From his perspective, the answer was obvious, the kid's body didn't want to move anymore. It was already at its limit. Any more strain could send him into shock, or worse, cardiac arrest. And yet, he didn't seem willing to stop, forcing his broken body to move.
"Just because I want to. Nothing more, nothing less." Kang Chan replied, slowly trying to regulate his breathing, letting the healing effect work on him, even though it was minimal.
But Kang Chan's words seemed to trigger something, as a system prompt suddenly popped up.
[Achievement Unlocked: Iron Will]
[An Item has been Rewarded.]
'Achievement?' Kang Chan eyed the prompt. He hadn't expected there to be achievements to unlock, let alone rewards for them.
"Because you want to? A weird one, aren't you?" Gun replied with a frown. The kid was strange. There was nothing to gain from this, only further injury.
'Could it be... he's like me?' Gun briefly considered if the kid was like him, someone who enjoyed fighting, but he dismissed the thought quickly. Looking into into the kids pitch black eyes, there was no desire for battle. Just plain indifference.
"Nothing weird here other than your eyes." Kang Chan replied calmly, shifting his stance slightly.
He was now hurt, his body was in pain, but his mind wasn't clouded. He had to think. He had to start analyzing not his approach but Gun's as well, his movements, his stance, his reaction speed, everything. Taking a single breath, Kang Chan ran through the possibilities. He calculated where Gun would move, which attack would come first, because it was now clear that Gun wasn't going to stay on the defensive.
He was now fully on guard as he didn't take the initiative, because he needed to be fully prepared and ready to act seconds before Gun takes his next action.
'A punch.' Kang Chan shifted slightly to the left, a fist brushing past his head.
'He dodged?' Gun's eyes flashed with surprise. His attack should have landed, but he quickly realized something, the kid had moved before the punch even launched.
'He predicted me.' A smirk tugged at Gun's lips. Interesting. The kid had more to offer than he initially thought. But it still wasn't enough.
Gun followed up with a sharp left punch aimed at Kang Chan's face. But once again, the boy twisted his body, bending backward in a seamless arc. His extreme flexibility allowed him to evade the strike by mere inches.
Every movement had to be preemptive, if Kang Chan reacted even a fraction of a second too late, the fight would be over. He needed to be seconds ahead.
Gun followed up with a powerful punch aimed at Kang Chan's face, who was already bent backward. His body arched even further, nearly forming a ninety-degree angle. But in an instant, he twisted to the side in a swift forward motion, dodging the punch by a hair. At the same time, he countered, his right leg, initially going horizontal, shot upward into a straight vertical axis. With a sharp twist of his right leg, his kick transitioned from a side strike to a piercing thrust aimed directly at Gun's throat. Using his left foot as a pivot, he shifted it to the side, generating a recoil that amplified the speed of his attack.
A loud thud echoed as the top of Kang Chan's foot struck Gun's throat with precise force.
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Then, Gun's voice broke through.
"Not bad."
There was no pain in his tone. No struggle. Just amusement.
Kang Chan's attack had landed, yet Gun stood unfazed, his eyes locked onto him with interest.
Kang Chan didn't react. He simply observed with calmness and an expressionless face, even when the pain was surging through his body. He didn't flinch. He didn't hesitate. He only observed.
"It seems I have to re-evaluate you." Gun chuckled.
Before Kang Chan could process those words, he widened his eyes as he felt his vision spun, he was upside down, mid-air.
"You're not nothing." Gun's voice reached him just before a crushing knee drove into his midsection, sending him hurtling through the air into the distance..
"You're definitely something." He added with a huge smile.
Kang Chan crashed hard onto the ground.
"Cough..." A mouthful of blood erupted from his mouth, his breath ragged. Sweat dripped from his face, his whole body trembling, but his eyes remained eerily calm.
'What a tank,' Kang Chan thought, glancing up at Gun, who approached with a smirk with a look of genuine interest. His kicks had been ineffective so far. Every strike had either been blocked, ignored, or tanked with ease.
His last attack, could potentially have put anyone down considering it targeted a vital area of the human body, but it was different with Gun. He didn't dodge as he didn't need to, because all that was what Kang Chan felt, is like striking a steel wall, a body without weaknesses.
Gun was really surprised by the kid. From beginning till now he could tell that he was using a simple high and low kick, but the way he executed them was far from ordinary. His control over his body was exceptional, seamless, fluid, and precise. It wasn't just about power, it was about efficiency.
"Most fighters rely on sheer force or speed to overpower their opponents." Gun continued as he stopped infront of Kang Chan, his smirk widening. "But you? You maximize every single movement. Your extraordinary flexibility lets you shift angles mid-attack, altering your strikes in a way that makes them unpredictable. Even though your form is simple, the variations make it feel like you're using an entirely different technique every time."
"It's almost like you're playing with your opponent, baiting them, misleading them." He tilted his head slightly, watching Kang Chan with an amused expression. "It takes talent to execute that kind of adaptability, but even more than that... it takes instinct."
"Now I'm curious." Gun chuckled, placing his hands in his pockets. "Did you develop that on your own, or did someone teach you?"
Kang Chan already knew the answer. His ability to seamlessly transition between techniques wasn't just due to the system, it was his own experience, his own adaptability. He had turned a single, basic kicking technique into an arsenal of variations.
But it wasn't just technique. It was control.
Gun was right. Fluidity was key. The ability to link attacks effortlessly, without unnecessary pauses, was what set apart an elite fighter from an ordinary one. Every strike had to flow into the next, maintaining pressure and limiting openings for a counterattack. That smoothness wasn't just a preference, it's like what he thought before, it was for maximizing both efficiency and effectiveness.
Breaking his thoughts as he tremblingly stood up, trying to ignore the pain as much as possible. He wasn't done yet, the task is still not done.
"Someone teaching me? I wish." Breathing heavily, he eyed Gun who stood infront of him.
"Heh." Gun chuckled hearing those words. "You have talent." He added, the kid seems to be the master of his own-self.
Following those words, without warning, Gun moved again, but Kang Chan was already moving, even though they are having a simple exchange of words, his guard never went down.
But as Kang Chan was moving, he widened his eyes as his legs buckled, his body refused to move as he willed to.
'Shit.' He cursed in his heart as a loud thud sounded.
A loud thud rang out as he dropped to one knee.
"You seem to be at your limit." Gun remarked, his voice calm yet edged with playfulness.
Kang Chan was down on one knee, his breath rapid but his body tense. Gun's fist had been halted, stopped by Kang Chan's left elbow, his left fist was positioned on his right hand, pressed against it for support. The force sent vibrations through his arm, but he held steady.
"But don't fall yet, or it would be disappointing." Gun chuckled as the next moment, he exerted more strength, pushing through the block with ease. Kang Chan tried to push back but failed completely, his elbow buckled, and before he could react..
A crack sounded.
His left arm twisted at an unnatural angle as Gun's fist tore through his guard, sending him crashing into the ground with a hard impact, that cracked the floor beneath.
'How many times am I going to get slammed like this?' Kang Chan grit his teeth, feeling the impact shake his entire body. His vision blurred, but his mind refused to shut down.
Gun stood over him, waiting.
Coughing up blood, Kang Chan forced himself to focus. His body screamed for him to stop, but he refused. His task wasn't done.
Slowly, shakily, he rose. His legs trembled, on the verge of collapse. His upper body bent slightly forward, his left arm hanging limply at his side, broken beyond use.
And yet, he stood.
"Your body is in no condition to continue." Gun said, his hands in his pockets. "Stay down."
"Stay down?" Kang Chan asked weakly, his eyes locking onto Gun. "You're trying to kill me here."
"I changed my mind. You have talent." Gun admitted. As someone who valued talent, he'd rather see it grow than be wasted. Though the kid's potential wasn't at the level of the other kids he had encountered, there was something there.
"And besides." Gun continued with a smirk. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have gotten up after my first hit."
"Annoying." Kang Chan muttered, his eyelids heavy, blood running down from his mouth onto his lower lip down to his chin.
"I'm not stopping her-" He took a step forward but suddenly froze as his body suddenly jolted. His eyes widened, and his knees buckled. Dropping to the ground, he planted his right hand for support as he vomited a cupful of blood, his body convulsing violently.
'I took too much damage.' Kang Chan realized, his face drenched in sweat. The pain seared through him like fire, his body finally giving in to the punishment it had endured.
"I told you to stay down. Your body isn't stable enough to continue." Gun observed. "If you push any further, you'll die."
Gun could see it clearly, if the kid kept going, he'd get himself killed. His body was already weak to begin with, and the sheer amount of damage he had taken should have kept him down. But the kid kept pushing, completely disregarding his own condition. If he continued, his body might go into shock, or his heart could give out.
Kang Chan blinked slowly, his expression unreadable. Then, in a flat, almost detached voice, he spoke.
"Then I'll die when my body stops moving."
Gun's eyes slightly widened, caught off guard. He hadn't expected that response from the kid.
Anyone could talk big, anyone could claim to be fearless, but this was different as he doesn't see any of that. After all, the eyes on their own, and the kid's eyes are doing just that.
Those dark, pitch-black eyes, like a black hole, showed nothing but emptiness. And yet, within them, something gleamed, something eerily familiar.
Madness.
This kid seem to disregard his own survival. As long as his body could move, he would keep going. No matter how broken he was, he wouldn't stop. He didn't care about pain, injuries, or even death. He would only stop when his body physically failed him, when he could no longer breathe. When he died.
"People call me insane… have yet meet you." Gun chuckled, studying him. He had been called crazy more times than he could count, and he never denied it. He embraced it.
But there was a difference.
Gun should be insane. He was born into it. His bloodline, his upbringing, his entire world was steeped in violence. He had been raised by maniacs, by people whose cruelty knew no limits. His madness was expected.
But Kang Chan?
By all appearances, he was just a normal high schooler. Someone who should have lived a normal life, with a normal way of thinking. He shouldn't have been anything like Gun.
Yet, in those eyes, Gun saw something he had only witnessed in a handful of people from his clan.
True madness.
This kid's mindset wasn't just reckless. It was borderline suicidal, yet terrifyingly calm. A contradiction that only deepened Gun's curiosity.
"Your name is Kang Chan, right?" Gun recalled the name from their first exchange. He grinned, eyes gleaming with intrigue. "I acknowledge you."
How could he not?
Even though Kang Chan's talent wasn't enough, his mindset alone could take him far.
In life, sometimes, recklessness was necessary.
"Then come." Gun's smile widened, his own insanity reflecting in his gaze. "If you die, it's on you."
At that moment, a system prompt appeared before Kang Chan's hazy vision.
[Title Unlocked: Madman]
[Effect: Even with broken bones or critical injuries, the user keeps moving as long as they remain conscious.]
Kang Chan's eyes widened briefly before a strange sensation spread through his body. The weight pressing down on him seemed to lift. The dizziness clouding his vision disappeared. The pain was still there, but suddenly, he felt… capable again.
It wasn't as if his body had magically healed. The pain was very real. But Kang Chan didn't need to ignore it, he had the iron will to endure it.
He exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his mouth as he steadied himself.
Without a second to waste, he moved, dashing toward Gun, his left arm still limp at his side.
Gun, unfazed, switched tactics. Using only one hand, he executed an Aikido throw, flipping Kang Chan mid-air once again before striking him with a precise kick, sending him crashing onto the ground.
Blood spilled from Kang Chan's mouth as he forced himself up again, his injuries screaming at him to stop, but his body still moving under the influence of the "Madman" title. His willpower alone kept him from passing out.
Gun approached.
Kang Chan's face remained calm, but his body was nearing its breaking point. He could feel every broken bone, every torn muscle. Yet, his focus didn't waver.
Then, suddenly, Kang Chan lunged forward, grabbing Gun's wrist.
"What are you doing?" Gun arched a brow, but didn't stop him to see what he was up to.
Before seeing nothing happened, Gun slammed Kang Chan to the ground once again. He coughed violently, but his grip didn't loosen. The second time he tried, Gun threw him off effortlessly. But on the third attempt, something changed.
But on the third attempt, something changed.
With a sharp movement, Kang Chan twisted Gun's wrist and shifted his body weight, using Gun's own momentum against him. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough, Gun's body lifted slightly off the ground as he was flipped mid-air.
Gun's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Kang Chan immediately followed up, aiming a kick at Gun's head. Gun, still mid-air but not completely upside down, reacted with ease. He raised an arm, blocking the kick with perfect timing, before twisting his body in mid-air and landing cleanly on his feet.
"Did you just copy me?" Gun asked as his feet touched the ground while he looked at Kang Chan, his lips curling into an amused smirk.
Kang Chan remained silent.
Gun's smirk widened. "No, you didn't." He observed Kang Chan's bloodied, form, his eyelids heavy, his left arm limp at his side. "But you tried to."
Gun's amusement didn't fade. The Aikido move wasn't perfectly executed. It was incomplete, a rough imitation at best. But the fact that kid was able to pull of something like that was even more impressive.
Kang Chan remained standing, his entire body sore and in pain. But he hadn't completed his task yet.
He still had to make Gun step back.
[Talent Unlocked: Imperfect Copy]
Kang Chan ignored the system prompt and dashed forward without hesitation, his left arm hanging uselessly at his side. His right leg snapped up in a sharp kick aimed at Gun's temple. Gun shifted slightly, dodging the strike with minimal effort before countering with a straight punch to Kang Chan's face. The impact landed clean, yet instead of being knocked back, Kang Chan used the force to rotate mid-air, twisting his hips to unleash another kick.
Gun's smile widened as the kick connected with his side, but his counterattack came just as fast. His fist slammed into Kang Chan's face again, followed immediately by a right kick. The strike feinted to the side before shifting mid-motion, crashing into Kang Chan's already battered left shoulder.
A sickening crack echoed through the air as Kang Chan's body slammed into the ground, the impact shattering the floor beneath him and sending small debris flying. The force rattled through his bones, blood spilling from his mouth as he coughed violently. His left shoulder was now completely dislocated, adding to the already broken arm he had sustained.
"I guess this is where it ends." Gun took a step back, surveying Kang Chan's motionless form. With a sigh, he turned away, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He was already reaching for one when he suddenly froze.
Gun turned back, eyes slightly widening at what he saw.
Kang Chan was standing.
His posture was steady. His face was blank. His body, despite being wrecked beyond reason, was still functioning.
"He stood up?" Gun muttered, momentarily stunned. His words slipped out unconsciously. It was completely unexpected. He had landed a clean hit, a devastating type of kick meant to put Kang Chan down for good. Yet here he was.
How?
A second ago, the kid was barely staying on his feet. Now, he stood as if none of it mattered, as if the previous struggle had been nothing but an act.
Kang Chan didn't respond. He simply rushed in again, unleashing a flurry of kicks.
Each strike was met with a precise counter, Gun blocking and retaliating seamlessly. Blood splattered with every exchange, Kang Chan's skin growing even paler. His body was a mess, blood constantly leaking from his mouth, proof of how severely damaged he was internally. His breathing was ragged, yet his attacks didn't stop. His legs moved automatically, his kicks seemingly growing sharper.
'This kid…' Gun's gaze narrowed.
Gun's gaze narrowed as he began to notice a change, even though it was subtle, to his eyes it was as clear as day.
He began to notice something, even though it was subtle, to his eyes it was as clear as day. An undeniable change. The kicks weren't just random. They were refining. Adjusting mid-fight.
A smirk formed on Gun's lips.
"You're adapting… even in the middle of this?" He chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Is this your talent?"
He wasn't sure what to make of Kang Chan anymore. At first, he thought the kid had nothing but that reckless mindset that was borderline suicidal. Then came that flawed imitation of his own move, something he dismissed as either luck or instinct, and not to mention his abnormal like resilience.
But now?
Now, the kid was learning.
Gun could see a faint improvement in the kid's kicks, they were becoming sharper than the last, showing that the kid can adapt mid-battle, but he still wasn't sure.
All in all, Gun couldn't give a clear evaluation just yet, but something told him this kid was going to give him a memory he'd never forget.
"You're really full of surprises." Gun let out an amused chuckle.
From the beginning up till now, Kang Chan had done nothing but exceed his expectations. It made him wonder, just what kind of potential was locked inside this kid's body?
Gun had high hopes for a few other kids his age, ones with exceptional talent, kids he believed could grow strong enough to kill him someday.
But right now, those kids in his mind felt overshadowed by the kid.
Because unlike them, the boy in front of him was unpredictable.
But for now…
"It's still not enough."
Gun muttered those words as he shifted his stance, ready to put an **end** to this. He launched a punch, stronger than any of his previous ones, though only slightly so, aimed straight at Kang Chan's face who wasn't able to dodge or react as it was too fast to see.
The punch connected cleanly, the force sending him flying across the area. His body crashed into a heap of metal scraps, the impact scattering debris and scraps everywhere.
Gun exhaled as he walked toward the wreckage, cigarette now lit between his fingers.
"That should do it." He took a slow drag, fully expecting the fight to be over. And yet, for some reason, he didn't turn away.
Something kept him still.
He didn't know why. He wasn't expecting the kid to stand again, yet he found himself waiting.
And then-
Kang Chan stirred.
Slowly, he pushed himself up.
Gun's expression remained calm. But inside, something shifted.
'Why am I not surprised?'
Even he didn't know. He had expected Kang Chan to stay down, but deep inside… had he also expected him to rise again?
Gun wasn't sure. Though, that punch wasn't his hardest, just slightly stronger. Meant to finish things. Yet Kang Chan was still moving, and then, Gun noticed something else.
Something entirely different. The air had shifted.
Gun narrowed his eyes. There was an odd sensation, an unfamiliar pressure.
Kang Chan's eyes looked… different.
Dazed. Unfocused. As if lost in a world of their own. Seemingly giving off a dethatched feeling. Yet at the same time, his face was relaxed, very relaxed and calm as blood poured from his mouth, his face bloodied and bruised up.
Gun took a step forward wanting to see what was different and threw a side kick aimed at Kang Chan's head. A speed that should be too fast to see for the kid, but the expected result of it landing didn't happen, instead Kang Chan leaned back effortlessly, dodging the strike. Gun's brows furrowed slightly. He went to test further as he followed with a punch, but Kang Chan sidestepped it just as easily. Another punch, another dodge. Each strike Gun threw was avoided, but not in the way Kang Chan had predicted his movements before. This was different.
'He's not predicting me…' Gun's thoughts raced. His attacks shouldn't be visible to Kang Chan at this speed. 'Then how-?' He couldn't understand, what was happening at the moment, why was the kid able to dodge his attacks with such a relaxed kind of ease. Just what was going on?
"Just what the hell are you feeling right now?" Gun muttered as he looked at Kang Chan who was moving effortlessly, dodging each strike with fluidity, clearly in a state of his own.
"I feel so light." Kang Chan's mind was blank. He wasn't thinking. He wasn't calculating. He simply felt weightless, as if he had let go of something that had always been holding him back. His body no longer felt bound by tension, pain, or hesitation, it moved like water, flowing naturally, effortlessly.
For the first time, his mind wasn't burdened by thoughts of survival or strategy. It was fluid, unrestricted, as if every unnecessary thought had melted away, leaving only instinct behind. He could feel everything, the subtle shift in air, the rhythm of Gun's movements, the weight of his own limbs as they moved with perfect clarity. His perception expanded, not through conscious effort, but through an intuitive understanding of his body and the fight itself.
"I'm free."
Kang Chan gleamed, not in joy, but in something deeper, realization. It was as if he had been shackled all this time, weighed down by hesitation and conscious effort. Now, in this state, there was nothing left to hold him back. He wasn't thinking about what to do next or reacting to Gun's attacks, he was simply moving, existing in the moment, seemingly unbound by limitations.
There was no doubt. No hesitation.
For the first time in his life, Kang Chan truly felt free.
'Wow, it's a great idea.' Kang Chan suddenly thought, his eyes unfocused. 'Should I try that?' He asked himself as looked at Gun who was aiming a punch. 'Yeah, let's try that.' He seemed to agree with himself on something.
At that moment, Gun decided to increase his speed as he struck a punch towards Kang Chan's face in which appeared almost inches away from him.
'It seems this is how far you go-' Gun concluded seeing his fist just inches away from Kang Chan's face. He was really surprised just now on what that kid achieved or tapped into but it seems it was momentarily. But the result he concluded didn't happen, instead Gun widened his eyes as he felt something hit his shoulder making him arm stagnant, stopping his attack from continuing, but he didn't get to think as the next second
Gun's fist stopped. His punch, which should have connected cleanly, had been halted by something he couldn't understand. His eyes widened slightly as his body instinctively moved back, but before he could fully react, another strike landed cleanly against his ribs. The force wasn't heavy, or anything it didn't affect him at all as it wasn't enough, but the fact that it had landed at all made his mind race.
'What was that just now?' Gun thought, regaining his stance. He felt that something was off. He didn't hesitate, immediately launching another punch aimed at Kang Chan's face.
The same thing happened.
His arm was halted mid-motion. It wasn't a direct block, nor was it a parry, it was something else. And before he could follow through, another hit landed, but he remained completely rigid in place. Gun's sharp eyes narrowed further as he took in every detail, his thoughts moving quickly.
'Third time should make it clear.'
He stepped in again, this time watching closely. As he threw another punch, he focused on Kang Chan's lower body. Then he saw it. Kang Chan's foot shifted just before Gun's punch extended fully. The moment the attack neared, the foot subtly adjusted, and in that instant, Gun felt his own force redirected.
'This kid... he's reversing the flow of force?'
Gun became stunned at what he saw, but his smile widened almost reaching his ears as his white teeth became visible as he fully realized what was happening. Kang Chan wasn't blocking or dodging conventionally. He was moving at the exact moment or to be more precise, before the attack reached its peak, forcing a recoil effect that momentarily stagnated the force of the punch. And in that fraction of a second, Kang Chan was able counter.
'This isn't prediction. It's instinct. He's using micro-movements to throw off the momentum of the attack, and before the body can adjust, he strikes back.' Gun's smile widened even more, his face was plastered with an insane expression.
"You're the best, Kang Chan." He laughed out loud.
He had never seen something like this before. A technique created purely out of necessity, out of survival. Most fighters relied on skill, strength, or reflex. But Kang Chan was doing something else entirely, he was stripping combat to its most fundamental level, rewriting the rules in real-time.
"I take back what I thought." Gun grinned as he looked at Kang Chan, who seemed completely unaware of what he was doing. "Your talent isn't weak. In fact, it might be one of the best, if not the best, I've ever seen."
Gun had encountered many individuals with extraordinary talent. But not one of them came close to this.
'No… this kid isn't limited to just one kind of talent.'
Gun was certain, absolutely certain, that Kang Chan had multiple talents, and time would only reveal them further.
An all-for-one type of person.
'Just what kind of monster will you grow into?' Gun thought with excitement. For the first time, he was truly looking forward to someone's growth, a monster that could surpass even other monsters. A freak of nature.
Gun's excitement peaked. He launched another attack, but this time, he predicted the response. As Kang Chan's right leg moved in for a kick, Gun shifted his punch downward, aiming to slam his fist into the incoming kick.
'It's over.' Gun thought as his fist neared its target. He was going to end it now.
But then, it happened.
The moment Gun's fist connected with Kang Chan's leg, an uncontrollable force rebounded. His own arm was flung back, his muscles momentarily thrown off balance. This time, his eyes widened in genuine shock.
'Impossible... Did I just get overpowered?'
His gaze snapped to his arm, which had been flung back involuntarily. He couldn't believe it, him, getting overpowered? But it had happened, there was no doubt it just happened.
'This...'
He looked down just in time to see Kang Chan's kick driving straight into his midsection. A loud thud echoed through the area, followed by a sharp crack.
Kang Chan's leg broke on impact. Immediately after, his body gave out, collapsing onto the ground. His eyes rolled back as his vision turned dark, rendering him unconscious in an instant. His body had completely shut down.
Gun, still standing, exhaled slowly, lowering his arm. He looked down at Kang Chan's unmoving form. Then, his eyes flickered to the ground beneath his feet. A noticeable skid mark trailed back a few steps from where he stood.
'I… got pushed back.'
A slow grin spread across his face. He crouched down, gripping the back of Kang Chan's shirt before hoisting him up.
"You really are one of a kind." Gun muttered, still smiling as he carried Kang Chan back toward the campfire, leaving behind the fading system prompts where Kang Chan had fallen.
[You Leveled Up!]
[Talent Unlocked: Creator]
[Achievement Reward Used!]
[Stat Increase: Luck +10 (5 → 15)]
[Task Completed:]
[Reward Issued.]