The start

"Why am I in this situation?"

That was the only thought running through Dowan Ha's mind as he stood in the center of the dimly lit room. People surrounded him, standing at a distance, and directly in front of him, a few feet away, stood Sehun Kang.

From the moment he received the system, to taking down those two guys at karaoke night, to meeting the girl Si-Yeon, who brought him to this shabby place, everything led up to this moment. Now, he was about to fight Sehun Kang for the position of a representative of the Boramae-Dong gang, a position he never wanted in the first place. The chain of events had been overwhelming.

'But there's no choice.' Dowan thought nervously. The mess from that karaoke night had dragged him into this situation. Knocking out two guys who were somehow tied to this gang had made him a target. Now, he had to fight. If he refused or lost, he would be disposed of. His only way out was to win and secure the position, which would at least keep him alive for now.

"As stated, the fight will continue until one side either declares defeat or becomes incapacitated." Seokjin, a man with neatly combed hair, a suit, and glasses, announced from the podium. His calm voice cut through the tension. "If Dowan Ha wins, he will be assigned the role of leader of Boramae-Dong. But..." Seokjin paused, looking directly at Dowan. "If Dowan Ha loses, he will be disposed of here."

"Don't resent me too much, Si-Yeon." Sehun Kang said, glancing at the girl standing behind him. "You getting caught by me was your own doing."

Sehun turned his focus back to Dowan and took a step forward. "Now, leave Boramae-Dong to me."

'Calm down.' Dowan reminded himself as he took a deep breath, watching Sehun approach. 'I still have the skill the system gave me.' He recalled how the skill, Falcon Drop, had knocked out that huge guy at karaoke. If he could just land it again, he was sure it would finish off Sehun.

"Now!" he thought, seeing Sehun step into range. Dowan prepared to launch his attack, but-

"Stop."

A voice suddenly rang out, stopping both Dowan and Sehun in their tracks. The room, which had been buzzing with murmurs, fell silent as everyone turned to see who had spoken. A tall, muscular man with gray hair and a black trench coat walked forward. He wore a green sweater underneath and black pants.

"Is that Eunseong?"

"Yeah, why is the leader stepping in?"

The whispers among the crowd revealed the identity of the newcomer, Eunseong, the leader of Boramae-Dong, who rarely involved himself in meetings.

Even Si-Yeon seemed surprised by Eunseong's interference.

'Why did everyone go quiet?' Dowan thought in a panic. The moment this guy spoke, the entire room stilled. Whoever he was, he clearly had a commanding presence.

"It's an unusual situation." Eunseong said, his expression unreadable as he looked at Dowan, who was starting to break out in a cold sweat. "That's why I'll be taking over this test myself."

"Sehun Kang." Eunseong said, turning to Sehun, who flinched. "Step back."

Sehun didn't dare protest. Without a word, he obediently backed away, not willing to challenge Eunseong which was a stupid thing if he did so.

'What the hell?' Dowan was stunned. He had expected Sehun to at least argue or resist, given his personality. But in front of this man, Sehun didn't dare utter a word. 'I'm screwed.'

"Dowan Ha." Eunseong called, and Dowan snapped to attention. "Show me what you've got, but I warn you..." Eunseong's eyes darkened, and the entire room seemed to feel the suffocating pressure of his gaze. "If you don't impress me, I'll kill you."

The silence was absolute. No one dared move or speak, as if the air itself had frozen. This was the first time anyone had seen Eunseong act like this.

'Damn.' Sehun thought, trembling as sweat soaked through his clothes. The pressure from Eunseong was unbearable, like a predator ready to kill. Sehun knew better than to cross this man, but the overwhelming dread made him feel like prey facing an unbeatable predator.

'Eunseong...' Si-Yeon sighed, though she remained calm. She was the only one unaffected by the pressure, knowing Eunseong had deliberately spared her. She had seen him like this before, back when he first took the leader position of the Boramae-Dong gang, determined to restore it to its former glory after what that person did before leaving. Just thinking of this person made her feel happy and sad.

'He'll kill me?!' Dowan's heart was racing, his body trembling uncontrollably under the intense pressure focused on him. 'He's serious!' He glanced at Eunseong, whose cold, emotionless eyes sent a clear message. Life or death meant nothing to this man.

'Calm down.' Dowan screamed internally, trying to steady himself, but his body refused to listen. 'He wants to see my skills.' Dowan thought, piecing together what Eunseong had said. 'If I'm going to die...' His expression hardened, and his eyes filled with determination, which caught even Eunseong off guard. 'I'll die trying.'

Without wasting any more time, Dowan activated his Falcon Drop. He leaped into the air, bringing his right leg down in an axe kick aimed directly at Eunseong's head.

A loud impact echoed through the room as the attack connected. Dowan felt a momentary surge of relief, but that relief quickly turned to disbelief.

'What?' Dowan was stunned. Eunseong had caught his kick with one hand, his face completely calm. 'He stopped it?'

"Not enough." Eunseong said, his voice steady, before slamming Dowan to the ground. The floor cracked beneath the force of the impact.

"Ugh..." Dowan groaned in agony, his back screaming in pain. 'This hurts like hell.' he thought, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the pain. It was far worse than anything he'd ever experienced, even compared to all the times he'd been bullied. This was on a different level. He wanted to scream, but the breath had been knocked out of him.

"Are you done?" Eunseong asked, looking down at Dowan, who was spasming on the ground. "If so, I'll send you on your wa-" He stopped mid sentence, noticing Dowan struggling to get back up. Slowly, painfully, Dowan limped back to his feet.

"Yeah, that's right." Eunseong said, his gaze locking onto Dowan's determined eyes. "What kind of person just sits by and waits for his death?" But then, in a blink, Eunseong vanished and reappeared directly in front of Dowan, whose eyes widened at the impossible speed. "But... No matter how many times you get up, the result won't change." Eunseong drove a punch straight into Dowan's stomach, lifting him off the ground as the air was knocked out of him. Dowan's mouth and eyes went wide in shock, but it didn't end there. Eunseong grabbed him by the neck and slammed him back down to the floor, following up with a relentless flurry of punches.

'It hurts.' Dowan's mind screamed as each blow to his face felt like getting hit by a truck. There seemed to be no end to it. 'I-I'm going to die.'

"Holy shit!"

"Has Eunseong lost it?"

The murmurs from the onlookers filled the room, shocked at how brutal Eunseong was being. Dowan couldn't even fight back. Why was Eunseong acting this way?

'Is this for real?' Sehun watched in disbelief, seeing how merciless Eunseong was being. To say he was going too far was an understatement. 'Is Eunseong really planning to kill him?' The situation looked like someone was trying to end another person's life, it was seriously grim.

"Eunseong, stop!" Si-Yeon shouted, stepping forward. At this rate, Dowan was going to die. But before she could get any closer, a hand stretched out in front of her, stopping her.

"Move, Sehun." Si-Yeon said sternly, her eyes fixed on Sehun, who was blocking her path.

"Don't..." Sehun said quietly, his expression tense as he looked at Eunseong. "Not right now." His fists clenched as he continued. "Something's off with him. There has to be a reason behind what he's doing."

Si-Yeon paused, considering his words. 'I shouldn't have brought Dowan here.' she thought, guilt washing over her. If she had known Eunseong would react like this, she never would have dragged Dowan into this mess. 'Eunseong, I hope you have a good reason for this.' she thought bitterly. If not, she'd have to confront him about this later.

After several more brutal punches, Eunseong finally stopped. Dowan was a wreck,his face swollen, bloodied, and bruised, lying motionless on the ground.

"Is this all you've got?" Eunseong asked coldly, as if the savage beating he had just delivered was nothing. He glanced down at Dowan, who appeared unconscious, though his words hinted that he was waiting for something.

The room was filled with a single question. 'Is he dead?'

"It seems like that's all you can take-" Eunseong started to say, but he cut himself off, eyes widening in surprise. Something had caught his attention, something that he waited for to happen, something that left everyone in the room speechless.

That something took him back to a memory.

Flashback

"Eunseong, what's with the sudden question?"

"Just curious, I guess."

On a rooftop above a school, Eunseong stood looking out over the view. Next to him sat a young man with striking red and black hair, black eyes, and a short-sleeved school blazer. He wore brown pants and sports shoes, casually sucking on a lollipop as his legs dangled over the edge. This was the peak, James Lee.

"What makes a person strong, huh?" James chuckled at the question, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "Well, there are a lot of things that make someone strong." he began, his voice thoughtful. "But if I had to pick just one..." He paused, a small smile forming on his lips. "It would be talent." James snickered. "Yeah, talent. It defines your potential, doesn't it? The more talent you have, the farther you can go. You're stronger, smarter, better suited for greatness."

Eunseong remained silent, listening closely as James continued.

"But." James added, his tone shifting into something more playful. "That's not always the case." His eyes glinted knowingly. "You see, talent isn't everything."

Eunseong's brow furrowed, but he stayed quiet, sensing that James wasn't finished.

"There are people out there, people with no talent." James said, the lollipop still in his mouth. "People who weren't born with any remarkable skills or gifts. And yet, sometimes they surpass the talented. Do you know why?"

Eunseong stayed still, waiting for the answer.

"Because of spirit." James said firmly, removing the lollipop from his mouth, his smile widening. "You can break a talented person. Their spirit isn't always as strong as their skill. But the talentless? Those who've fought for every inch of progress? They're different. Their spirit is unshakable." James leaned forward, staring out at the skyline as a cool breeze tousled his hair. "They're the ones with fangs in their heart, clinging to something deep inside that you can't take from them, no matter how hard you try. It's a drive to keep going, to change themselves, no matter how many times they're knocked down."

"You see, they don't know when to quit. You can break their bones, take everything from them, but they'll still keep crawling forward. They're the ones who pull off miracles because they've been forged through struggle, while the talented have had it easy. That's the difference." James leaned back, looking up at the sky as his expression softened. "In the end, spirit is what makes a person truly strong. Talent can take you far, sure. But if your spirit's weak, it won't mean a thing. The talentless, with their unbreakable spirit, they'll find a way to overcome. They won't stop. And you can never break their will."

James turned to Eunseong with a soft smile. "So if you ask me, strength isn't just about talent. It's about how far your spirit can take you. Because even the most talented will fall when they're up against someone with that kind of heart."

Flashback End

"No... way."

"He's still standing?"

"Is this guy for real?"

The room was filled with astonishment as they watched Dowan, shaking but on his feet. Blood dripped from his bruised and swollen face, but his eyes, they were sharp, filled with seriousness as he looked straight at Eunseong. Eunseong's face remained blank, but there was clear surprise and even a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"I have to admit, you surprised me." Eunseong said, walking towards Dowan and stopping a few feet away, towering over him. "But..." His eyes dropped to Dowan's legs, noting the trembling in them. "It looks like you can't move anymore."

"So, you can only make it this fa-" Eunseong started, watching Dowan collapse forward. But his eyes widened in shock when he noticed Dowan's right hand mere inches from his stomach, poised like a striking palm.

As he looked at Dowan's approaching attack his mind once again drifted. Another conversation, one that seemed all too relevant now.

"You know." James began thoughtfully. "there's another interesting type of person, aside from those who are talented or talentless."

Eunseong's curiosity piqued. He waited for James to explain further.

"And that is..." James paused, a smile forming at the corner of his lips. "The person who doesn't know their own talent and potential." Eunseong's eyes widened slightly, and James chuckled before continuing. "These people are something else. They're filled with untapped potential, but here's the funny part... they have no clue about it themselves. They go through life, completely unaware of the power they carry inside."

James had a raised eyevrow with a slight grin as he continued. "But here's the real kicker." He leaned in, lowering his voice like he was revealing a secret. "When that talent finally shows itself, when they tap into it for the first time, it's like a storm brewing out of nowhere. A force of nature that can shake everything around them. It's that element of surprise, the raw, untapped potential suddenly unleashed, that catches people off guard. Even the strong are left scrambling, trying to figure out where all that power came from." James leaned back, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "If they ever awaken that hidden part of themselves, trust me, they're better as an ally than an enemy. Once they realize what they're truly capable of, they can change the entire game."

He gave Eunseong a meaningful glance before adding, "These people don't just become strong, they become unpredictable. Dangerous, even. Because the limits they once thought they had? They start breaking through them. And that makes them a force you don't want to underestimate." James' smile widened as he finished. "So it's not just about having or lacking talent. Sometimes, the most dangerous people are the ones who never knew how powerful they were... until the right moment. And when that moment comes, well... on my part, I like to watch how they progress, after all it's fun to see it with your own eyes."

Back to the present

"Oh my god."

"He actually pushed him back?!"

"What the hell just happened?"

"Did Dowan really do that?"

The room buzzed with disbelief. Dowan, whom everyone had dismissed as a nobody, had just pushed back Eunseong, the strongest in the room. Eunseong had slid back a few feet, knocked off balance by a guy everyone had written off as a loser. Could a loser do that?

'He really pushed Eunseong back?' Si-Yeon was stunned. She never imagined Dowan could pull something like that, especially against Eunseong who she knows how capable he is.

'Well, damn.' Sehun felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead, taken aback by the scene unfolding before him. Dowan's strike hadn't hurt Eunseong, but it had been powerful enough to force him back. That alone was enough to show just how strong the blow was. 'This guy... he's different.' Sehun thought, staring at Dowan. He even wondered if he could take that hit head on.

'Damn it, it still wasn't enough?' Dowan cursed inwardly, panting heavily as he braced his hands on his knees just to stay upright. His attack hadn't worked. That had been his passive skill from the system, the one with a 1% chance of landing a critical hit that ignored defense. 'It was supposed to ignore his defense, but all I did was make him slide back.' Eunseong's strength must have been immense to withstand the hit like that.

'So you're that kind of person.' Eunseong thought as he observed Dowan. He had to admit, he hadn't expected such an attack. 'What James said... it's true.' Dowan, someone who appeared weak, had managed to shock him, the strong one. 'Someone who doesn't even realize their own potential, huh?' He had doubted James at first, but now he realized what a fool he had been to doubt that man, even though he hates him now for what he had done, he learned a lot from him.

Without warning, Eunseong began walking toward Dowan once again, his steps slow but deliberate. Dowan flinched, his body trembling.

'Shit, shit, I can barely stand.' Dowan's heart raced in panic. His stamina was completely drained, and he could do nothing but watch as Eunseong approached, stopping right in front of him, towering over him. 'Is this it for me?'

"Congratulations, Dowan Ha." Eunseong suddenly announced loudly, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. "You are now officially the representative of the Boramae-Dong gang."

"Huh?" Dowan's eyes went wide in disbelief. 'Is he serious?' He had fully expected Eunseong to finish him off, or at least beat him into unconsciousness. But now, this?

"Hehe... thanks, I guess?" Dowan stammered, his voice shaky. Should he feel relieved that he had just been saved?

"Does anyone here have any complaints?" Eunseong asked, his gaze sweeping the room. Not a single member dared to speak up. After all, if Eunseong had made the decision, no one was going to challenge it.

"Then, for today, the meeting is over." Eunseong finally announced.