At school, the atmosphere was increasingly out of control. Several gangs gathered in the corners of the yard, cigarette smoke filling the air. Even worse, some openly used drugs without fear of being caught.
This chaotic scene seemed to have become the norm. Teachers who passed by merely glanced without daring to intervene. Seung Min walked casually alongside Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, and Jae Hoon, his expression indifferent.
"This place is getting crazier," Dae Hyun muttered, shaking his head.
Lee So Mi, walking behind them with Yoon Ha Rin, frowned. "Why isn't anyone doing anything about this?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Who would dare? It's like they're untouchable here," Jin Ho replied, occasionally glancing at the laughing gang members.
Elsewhere on the field, Do Jin, who had just recovered from being knocked out the previous day, glared at Seung Min, vengeance burning in his eyes. For him, yesterday's fight was far from over.
But Seung Min ignored him. He pulled the hood of his jacket—gifted by his grandfather—further over his head. The writing on the back of the jacket, the same one Lee So Mi wore, still caught the attention of many. It bore the symbol of a notorious Gangnam gang that had once been feared by many.
"Let's go in. Looks like the real drama's just getting started," Jae Hoon said casually.
They headed toward the classroom, unfazed by the chaos around them. But one thing was certain—this day wouldn't end peacefully.
Seung Min was shocked when he saw someone familiar stepping onto the school grounds. His eyes widened, and he unconsciously murmured, "Noona..."
Nina Park—the woman who had long disappeared from the school—had returned, her aura unchanged: firm and commanding. Without hesitation, she grabbed Seung Min's hand, pulling him aside, away from the crowd.
"Hae Jin," Nina spoke softly yet firmly, "I've come back to this school. A much bigger crime is about to be revealed. This isn't over."
Seung Min could only stare at her, still taken aback by her sudden appearance. Meanwhile, news of Nina Park's return put the principal and vice principal under immense pressure. Tension filled the teachers' office; they knew her arrival wasn't without reason.
Nina gazed deeply into Seung Min's eyes and gave a faint smile. "Just like I promised... I'll help you. I want to make you proud, Hae Jin. You've done so much, even using Seung Min's body to aid him. Don't worry—everything will soon come to light."
Seung Min sighed, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The battle they faced ran far deeper than he had ever imagined—and now, the dangerous game had only just begun.
Seung Min took a deep breath and spoke, his voice steady yet filled with concern. "I'm relieved to see you back, Noona... but you have to be careful. Our second mission must succeed."
Nina Park's expression softened, though her eyes retained their sharp focus. "I know the risks, Hae Jin," she replied calmly, "but we don't have the luxury of failure. Too much is at stake."
Seung Min clenched his fists, determination burning in his gaze. "This time... we'll finish what we started."
Nina nodded, the weight of their shared past and the impending danger hanging heavily between them. The real battle was only beginning.
Elsewhere, at the police station, Seung Min's uncle sat back, sipping his warm coffee. He casually walked over to the other detectives, offering a faint smile. "Any updates on that case?" he asked lightly, though the sharpness in his gaze revealed his seriousness.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Jin Seok sat in his car, his fingers rhythmically tapping the steering wheel. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, patiently waiting. Soon, Min Joon approached the car sluggishly, opening the door with visible reluctance.
Without wasting a second, Jin Seok picked up his phone and dialed Shin Kyung. "Handle the players competing for the ranks," he said curtly, his tone laced with authority.
Settling into his seat, Min Joon glanced at his phone as a notification popped up. The screen displayed the Death Card logo in bold colors. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he muttered, "So... Seung Min is the Joker now, huh?" His gaze sharpened, voice calm yet filled with challenge. "Are you planning to fight to reclaim your position as King? Because this time... I'm the Joker."
Tension thickened in the air. The battle for the top rank had just begun, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Jin Seok's gaze hardened as he spoke into the phone, "I'll handle some of my subordinates who've been in the game since the beginning. If I can get the Ace within a week," he paused, a confident smirk spreading across his face, "climbing back to the King position will be easy."
Min Joon glanced sideways at him, raising an eyebrow. "You sound pretty sure of yourself," he muttered, locking his phone screen.
Jin Seok chuckled. "Confidence isn't enough in this game—it's about strategy and timing." His tone turned cold. "And I don't plan on wasting either."
The tension in the car was palpable, the weight of the Death Card competition looming over them. Jin Seok's ambition to reclaim the King title wasn't just personal—it was a calculated move in a larger, deadlier game.
That morning, the classroom buzzed with whispers and chatter. Seung Min, Dae Hyun, Jae Hoon, and Jin Ho sat at their desks, half-listening to the conversations around them.
"I heard that if we follow the rules of the game, we can get into university easily," one student said enthusiastically.
"Seriously? No tests, no exams, and no classes?" another chimed in, eyes gleaming at the thought of an easy way out.
Jae Hoon scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "This isn't just about being easy. There's something off about all this."
Dae Hyun nodded. "Yeah. It sounds way too good to be true."
Jin Ho, usually calm, scanned the room with a sharp gaze. "This game is more than just school rules. They're hiding something."
Seung Min stared straight ahead, his mind racing. He knew that whatever this system offered, it came with a steep price. And that price might be more than just grades or their future—it could be their very lives at stake.
On the other side, in Nina Park's office
Though many regarded her as just an ordinary teacher, Nina Park sat at her desk with a look of unwavering determination. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on a folder filled with confidential documents about the school and the mysterious game that had taken hold of the students' lives.
Her thoughts drifted to Hae Jin—the soul that had transmigrated into Seung Min's body. "He's risking everything," she thought, clenching her fist. "I promised to help him, and I won't back down."
Her gaze shifted to an old photograph on her desk—one of herself, her younger brother Hae Jin, and someone who was no longer alive. Her expression softened momentarily before hardening once more. "This school is far more dangerous than it seems. If I don't act now, it won't just be Seung Min in danger... everyone could be at risk."
Taking a deep breath, Nina stood up, grabbed her coat, and whispered, "Hang in there, Hae Jin. I'll make sure we get through this. Together."
In the classroom, Jin Seok engaged in a fight with his classmate and subordinate named Han Ji Won.
Jin Seok's strength was undeniable—his mastery of the forbidden liberal arts technique rivaled that of Seung Min. Without wasting time, he moved with calculated precision. His first punch struck Ji Won's ribs, causing him to stumble backward, gasping for air. Before Ji Won could regain his balance, Jin Seok's second blow landed cleanly on his jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.
The classroom fell silent for a moment before the notification echoed from Jin Seok's phone—his rank had increased. A smirk crept across his face as he glanced at the screen. "Just as planned," he muttered under his breath.
On the other side, in Seung Min's classroom, this time it was Dae Hyun's turn to fight against a young man named Kang Woo Jin.
The match began with intense energy that quickly heated up. Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok sat casually at their desks, enjoying the fight as if it were everyday entertainment. Other students cheered, fueling the fiery atmosphere.
However, unlike them, Jin Ho and Jae Hoon looked tense. They knew Dae Hyun wasn't as skilled as Seung Min when it came to fighting. Although Dae Hyun had courage, his mastery of techniques was still unstable.
Dae Hyun tried to dodge Woo Jin's quick strikes, but a kick hit his arm, forcing him to step back. "Tch... he's fast," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Jin Ho clenched the edge of the desk in worry. "He needs to focus... or else—"
Bam! A punch from Woo Jin nearly connected with Dae Hyun's face, but at the last second, Dae Hyun ducked and countered with a punch to Woo Jin's stomach. While it wasn't as powerful as Seung Min's strikes, it was enough to make Woo Jin cough and stumble back.
Jae Hoon sighed in relief. "Come on, Dae Hyun... don't lose."
Seung Min remained silent, his sharp eyes analyzing Dae Hyun's every move. "He needs to find his own rhythm... or he won't last much longer."
On the school rooftop, Jin Seok stood with his shirt completely unbuttoned, his chest rising and falling from the recent fight. The afternoon breeze played with his sweat-dampened hair as he held an old, worn-out photo in his hand—a snapshot from middle school of him and Seung Min. His gaze lingered on it, memories flooding back like ghosts refusing to fade. "Times change... but some things just won't be forgotten," he muttered under his breath.
Not far away, Min Joon leaned against the rooftop railing, his face twisted in frustration. "Why does it always have to be him?" he grumbled, kicking an empty can across the floor, the clattering echoing in the quiet.
Shin Kyung sat casually on a rusted metal chair, eyes fixed on the sky as if detached from everything happening around him. But the atmosphere shifted when Han Ji Won arrived, followed by Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok, each step exuding intensity.
Lowering the photo, Jin Seok's sharp gaze fixed on Do Jin. "How was the fight in your class?" he asked in a flat tone.
Do Jin scoffed, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Dae Hyun... he ranked up. He's the new Joker."
A faint smirk curved on Jin Seok's lips. "Interesting. That makes things more entertaining." Pausing for a moment, his voice grew serious. "This time, the system's different. The one holding the Joker rank creates their own game... and Seung Min will be in my crew."
Han Ji Won raised an eyebrow. "So anyone who ranks up to Ace automatically leaves the Joker crew and joins the Ace crew?"
"Exactly," Jin Seok confirmed. "The higher you climb, the heavier the burden."
Meanwhile, back in the classroom, Dae Hyun slumped into his seat, breathing heavily after the intense match. On the floor, Kang Woo Jin grimaced, clutching his abdomen where Dae Hyun's final blow had landed hard.
Jae Hoon patted Dae Hyun's back. "You're insane... but nice job."
Dae Hyun managed a tired grin. "Almost gave up... but I remembered our bet. No way I was gonna lose."
Jin Ho shook his head, though pride flickered in his eyes. Seung Min, sitting quietly in the corner, glanced at Dae Hyun briefly. "This game... it's just the beginning. The real storm is yet to come."
From Cheongdam, the scene shifted to another part of Gangnam—inside the luxurious mansion of Yoo Sang Hyuk, Seung Min's grandfather. The grand house exuded power and old money, every corner reflecting the authority of its owner. In his private office, lined with shelves of ancient books and family heirlooms, Yoo Sang Hyuk sat behind a polished mahogany desk, sipping tea with calm composure.
The silence was broken as the door creaked open. One of his subordinates stepped in, wearing a jacket strikingly similar to the one Seung Min often wore—a symbol that didn't go unnoticed. Bowing respectfully, the man reported, "Chairman, the gang associated with Lee Joo Hyuk's company is nothing compared to ours. Their influence won't be a problem."
Yoo Sang Hyuk placed his teacup down, his gaze sharp. "Don't underestimate anyone," he said, voice calm yet carrying undeniable authority. "Lee Joo Hyuk may seem weak, but desperation breeds dangerous choices."
The subordinate nodded, tension palpable. "Understood, sir. We'll maintain surveillance."
Leaning back, Yoo Sang Hyuk's expression darkened. "This city... everyone's playing their little games. But as long as I stand, no one touches my family." His gaze drifted toward a framed photograph on his desk—a picture of Seung Min and Lee So Mi as children, standing beside him. His jaw tightened. "Seung Min... stay sharp. You've been thrown into deep waters, but I know you're my grandson. Sink or swim—it's in your blood to survive."
🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids