Transcendence

"In a place like Blackfield, there's only one end. And now... you're standing in it."

After these words, the air around began to shift. Not just the air, but even the area seemed to distort around Hyun-Woo.

'This man...' Tom was stunned as he looked at Hyun-Woo, radiating an aura of extreme sharpness unlike anything he had ever felt. He didn't know how to explain this sensation, but one thing was clear: his instincts were screaming at him, warning him not to underestimate the man standing before him. To let his guard down, even for a second, would not end well for him.

"Hohoo, quite the sharp aura you've got there." Tom chuckled, but his narrowed eyes revealed the seriousness in his expression. Tom had lived and survived on his own by trusting his instincts, and doubting them now would be absurd. The truth was clear, this man was dangerous.

"A fight it is then." Tom said, proceeding to untie his hair, letting it fall loose. A few strands fell over his face, giving him a wild, untamed look. "Then I won't hold back at all."

The air around Tom seemed to shift as well, his wild and predatory aura clashing with Hyun-Woo's sharp presence. "And I'll say this..." Tom smiled wildly, locking eyes with Hyun-Woo, who remained calm and deadly. "If you're aiming to kill me, then you'll have to bring that kid."

With that, Tom moved into action. He slightly bent his legs, bringing his arms to a ninety-degree angle on either side. The suit covering his upper body tore apart, revealing his muscular, scarred torso.

Tom lunged forward, his fist aimed directly at Hyun-Woo's head, using the full momentum of his charge, doubling it's speed and force from his first move. Hyun-Woo calmly sidestepped, his movements precise and efficient, narrowly avoiding the punch. His footwork shifted subtly as he ducked under Tom's follow-up elbow strike. 

'Huh? Where did h-' Tom's eyes widened as Hyun-Woo suddenly disappeared from view. However, his instincts flared, and he spun instantly, launching a quick claw swipe aimed at Hyun-Woo's neck. Hyun-Woo stepped back just enough for the attack to graze past him, the air shifting from the force.

Tom paused, his movements halting. His eyes focused on Hyun-Woo, who stood straight, his expression calm but deadly serious. Then, Tom felt a sharp, stinging pain on his back. A slash mark, dripping with blood, was clearly visible.

'I couldn't even sense him.' At the moment Hyun-Woo dodged Tom's follow-up elbow, he had vanished from sight. What unnerved Tom the most was how his instincts, normally razor-sharp, had failed to detect any trace of Hyun-Woo's presence. Normally, he could sense anyone attempting a sneak attack, but now, it was as though his opponent had completely slipped into the shadows.

"By bringing that kid, you mean the boss?" Hyun-Woo asked, his tone calm, but his gaze ice-cold as it locked onto Tom. "Just those words could cost you dearly. Not only do you insist on becoming an obstacle to the boss, but you dare disrespect him. Then be ready for what's about to come."

Hyun-Woo shifted into position, his body angled slightly to the side to present a smaller target. His right hand gripped the dagger in a forward hold, the blade angled downward across his torso, primed for both swift slashes and precise thrusts. His left hand hovered at chest height, open and ready to intercept or redirect an attack, its placement a calculated measure of distance and control. His left foot pointed forward while his right foot angled back, forming a stable but flexible base, knees slightly bent to keep his movements fluid. His head tilted just slightly downward, chin tucked, with his eyes locked on Tom, calculating every subtle motion. 

'Dangerous.' Tom's thoughts echoed his instincts as he observed Hyun-Woo's new stance. The aura around him shifted again, exuding a quiet but undeniable lethality.

This stance was Hyun-Woo's signature, the Phantom Guard Stance. In the unforgiving landscapes of Blackfield, Hyun-Woo had forged his own martial art through relentless trial and error, carrying five techniques. Each technique had been born out of desperate situations where survival meant surpassing human limits. In the face of constant death, Hyun-Woo had turned fear into a weapon, honing his mind and body to outlast both man and nature.

These techniques became the foundation of his martial art, which he named Aether Stride.

What Hyun-Woo did to escape Tom's senses, was use an Aether Stride technique, Void-Step Evasion. A movement technique that creates the illusion of teleportation. By combining his predictive calculations with precise footwork and timing, he evades attacks in a way that seems supernatural. This was honed in the Blackfield were he used his environment and terrain to his advantage by blending with them together. As an opponent closes in, Hyun-Woo appears to vanish, reappearing behind them with a decisive strike.

Using Void-Step Evasion, he repositioned himself to Tom's blind spot, slashing his dagger upward and leaving a cut across Tom's back.

"Hell is the only option you'll be facing tonight."

Following Hyun-Woo's words, Tom acted. He dashed forward, leaving deep footprints in the ground, launching a forward kick aimed at Hyun-Woo's ribs.

Hyun-Woo sidestepped to the right at the exact angle to avoid the attack while slicing his dagger across Tom's exposed thigh, but Tom didn't stop here as he twisted his upper body to the right with unnatural flexibility following up with an unexpected backhand right claw swipe at Hyun-Woo head who was beside him, but Hyun-Woo as if anticipating Tom's next move leaned slightly backwards evading the attack by a hairs graze in which he proceeded to step forward and slash across Tom's chest whose upper body was exposed to Hyun-Woo, but Tom quickly reacted and lunged back with his left leg taking his distance evading Hyun-Woo's slash by mere inches. 

'That was dangero-' Tom's thought froze as a cold sensation spread across his chest. His eyes widened as he looked down to see a slash mark across his chest, blood seeping from the wound. 'His attack reached?' He was stunned. He was certain he had evaded Hyun-Woo's slash. So how had the wound appeared?

'What the hell is happening?' Tom stared at the wound, his frustration growing. From the beginning, he had been on the losing end of this battle. He glared up at Hyun-Woo, cold sweat running down his forehead. Despite his best efforts, it felt as though he was dancing in the palm of Hyun-Woo's hand.

This is the second technique being Probability Weaving. Hyun-Woo's visual prowess enables him to calculate and predict all potential actions of an opponent within milliseconds. He visualizes a "web of possibilities," where each thread represents a potential move and counter. His body moves preemptively, ensuring he is always one step ahead. In combat, he might dodge a strike before it's fully initiated or place an attack in a seemingly impossible spot, exploiting the most unexpected trajectory.

When Tom dodged the first slash, Hyun-Woo's second strike followed seamlessly, targeting precisely where Tom would move. The calculated maneuver ensured his attack landed.

'Who is this man?' Tom's eyes narrowed, locking onto Hyun-Woo's unsettlingly calm gaze. This unfamiliar sensation for him. No, not entirely unfamiliar, this was the second time he had felt this way. That same feeling of helplessness creeping over him.

In just this brief exchange, Tom found himself unable to comprehend Hyun-Woo's approach. He had already sustained wounds, not fatal, but significant enough to demonstrate the clear disadvantage he faced. His attacks, which few could even avoid, were effortlessly evaded. He realized that no matter how powerful one's strikes were, they were meaningless if they couldn't connect.

Yet despite the overwhelming gap, Tom could do nothing but persist.

Tom lunged again, this time with a wild barrage of strikes, claws, punches, and spear-hands aimed at every vital point, which each strike generating a shockwave that rippled through the air. Each attack was evaded with minimal effort, Hyun-Woo ducking under swings, stepping around thrusts, and deflecting strikes with his dagger. He created openings to counter, slashing across Tom's arm and shoulder while staying out of reach. 

'My attacks aren't landing at all.' Tom gritted his teeth in anger, frustration boiling over. No matter how hard he tried, each strike was effortlessly dodged, and worse, countered with precision. Fresh wounds etched themselves onto his body, his instincts barely managing to keep him on his feet.

His frustration deepened as he glanced at Hyun-Woo. The man stood calm and composed, almost detached, while Tom poured every ounce of strength into his attacks. It was infuriating. No matter what he did, it was as if Hyun-Woo could see straight through him, his movements predictable, his efforts reduced to nothing more than futile gestures.

This was also because of Hyun-Woo's third technique, Noise Isolation. By focusing his hearing on specific frequencies, Hyun-Woo compresses surrounding noise, isolating the opponent's movements. He listens for muscle contractions, the swish of fabric, or subtle shifts in the ground beneath his opponent's feet. In the chaotic Blackfield, Hyun-Woo moves with eerie precision, reacting to sounds others can't detect, like anticipating a sniper shot from the slightest mechanical click.

Hyun-Woo focused solely on the sound of Tom's footsteps and the tension in his muscles, as it was easy for him predict each pattern Tom took, rendering his attacks completely evadable.

'Damn it.' Frustrated, Tom roared and launched another powerful spear-hand aimed at Hyun-Woo's chest. Hyun-Woo intercepted the attack with his left hand, redirecting it downward using Tom's own momentum throwing him slightly off-balance, and Hyun-Woo stepped in close, his dagger slicing a line across Tom's shoulder before he retreated to reset his stance.

'He can also do that?' Tom analyzed Hyun-Woo's movements. Redirecting an opponent's force against them required mastery of timing and precision. While techniques like Aikido employed similar principles, Hyun-Woo's execution was on a different level. The precision needed to flow with an attack and counter simultaneously was beyond ordinary comprehension.

And it's true as it was related to Hyun-Woo's fourth technique, Momentum Redirection. Hyun-Woo's style involves exploiting the energy of his opponent's movements. He redirects attacks with minimal effort, using the opponent's force against them. This technique is mainly used for the opponent's with immense physical strength like in the case of Tom where he lunges with brute strength, and Hyun-Woo redirects, deflecting his energy into a debilitating counter-strike.

Both men faced each other again as they took their distance. Tom, breathing heavily but grinned, he doesn't why he's grinning but he felt he had to. He studied Hyun-Woo carefully. The shallow cuts across his chest and arms stung, but his instincts kept him sharp. He knew Hyun-Woo was faster and more precise, but brute force wasn't the only card he could play. Gritting his teeth, he made his move, stepping forward with a brutal claw strike aimed at Hyun-Woo's face.

Hyun-Woo sidestepped, his dagger flashing as it deflected the attack and left another shallow slash across Tom's shoulder. Tom didn't falter. He followed up with a left knee strike, forcing Hyun-Woo to pivot and shift his weight to evade. Tom pressed forward, his right hand launching a spear-hand thrust directly at Hyun-Woo's throat, but Hyun-Woo twisted at the last moment, letting the strike pass by while guiding it off-course with his left hand.

'This is my chance.' Tom thought, calculating his next move. Anticipating that Hyun-Woo would once again use his own momentum against himself, as this was the only chance he has to be able to take him down with his next move. As the momentum carried Tom forward, he used it to spring upward, twisting his body mid-air with a feral roar. He landed several feet behind Hyun-Woo, lunging forward instantly, his right hand poised like a spear aimed directly at the back of Hyun-Woo's neck. The speed of the attack created a shockwave, the air slicing apart from the force. Victory seemed within reach.

But the expected result never came. Tom's strike did not pierce Hyun-Woo's neck.

'Huh?!' Tom's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw his own deadly attack fail to hit its target. The strike was dodged.

Without needing to look, Hyun-Woo ducked low at the precise moment Tom's spear-hand shot forward. The strike missed by millimeters, grazing the edge of his hair. In a fluid motion, Hyun-Woo spun, his right leg sweeping upward in a sharp kick to Tom's exposed ribs. The impact sent a dull thud reverberating through the air as Tom staggered back, his balance disrupted.

Not letting up, Hyun-Woo surged forward, his dagger slashing horizontally. Tom barely managed to raise his left arm to block, but the force of the strike pushed him further back. Hyun-Woo didn't stop as he stepped in closer, using the momentum to drive his knee into Tom's stomach, forcing the larger man to gasp for air, blood spilled out.

'His strength.' Pain flared in Tom's stomach, catching him off guard. He hadn't anticipated it. He hadn't expected the man in front of him to possess such power, power that could break through his body. Tom's physical structure wasn't ordinary. His resilience and durability were abnormal, capable of withstanding heavy strikes without even flinching. Yet, the man before him had inflicted real damage, something Tom hadn't thought possible. He had assumed Hyun-Woo's strength lay solely in his speed and precision. He was wrong. It was now clear that he wasn't up against an ordinary opponent. Tom was positive, he was facing someone with the experience and danger of a military veteran, far deadlier than any mercenary he had encountered through his work with his White Tiger Job Center as even his members, who were mercenaries, weren't on the level of the man he's facing.

Tom's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but Hyun-Woo's precision left no openings. Another slash from the dagger traced across Tom's chest vertically, marking over the previous slash mark, and as he stumbled backward, Hyun-Woo flipped the blade into a reverse grip, aiming directly for Tom's throat.

At the last moment, Tom's instincts flared with danger making him drop low, using his raw strength to launch a powerful upward right punch aimed at Hyun-Woo's chin. Hyun-Woo twisted his body mid-motion, avoiding the strike by inches, and delivered a devastating elbow to the back of Tom's head, sending him sprawling forward.

Tom managed to roll to his feet, blood dripping from a fresh cut that formed across his forehead. He wiped it away with his hand, his grin more feral than ever as even when the situation was dangerous and deadly for him, while Hyun-Woo stood calm and unscathed, his dagger steady, his breathing controlled.

'And even that failed.' The thought resonated in Tom's mind. His attempt to finish Hyun-Woo earlier with a precise strike from behind had not only failed but had been completely nullified. The memory of it replayed in his mind, his disbelief growing. How had he dodged it? That question echoed over and over. Tom couldn't understand. He was confident that even if he had been in Hyun-Woo's place, his own instincts wouldn't have allowed him to evade such an attack without suffering severe injuries. Yet, Hyun-Woo had dodged it effortlessly, as if it were nothing more than a light breeze.

'What kind of monster am I fighting?' From the start, Tom had been at a disadvantage. Every move he made had been countered, every attack punished, and now, his body was bloodied and riddled with wounds. And this… this uncanny ability to evade attacks from behind without even looking, this was something else entirely. It was strange, terrifying even.

This was the final and most crucial technique of Hyun-Woo's Aether Stride, Spectral Sensing. Hyun-Woo's mastery of spatial awareness allows him to "feel" opponents through subtle changes in the environment, such as air pressure, vibrations, and even the faintest shifts in temperature. His brain processes these inputs like an advanced radar, constructing a 360° mental map of his surroundings. When an enemy attempts a sneak attack, Hyun-Woo instinctively sidesteps or counters without turning, making it seem as if he has eyes in the back of his head.

In Blackfield, survival demanded constant vigilance. Danger came from all directions, behind, above, below, or concealed within the environment. Camouflaged enemies lurked in the trees, bushes, or shadows. There was no such thing as "clear territory." Every step carried the risk of death. Hyun-Woo had adapted to this relentless danger, his mind operating under ceaseless pressure, evolving day by day until it forged Spectral Sensing. It was his tool for survival and dominance in a region where hesitation meant death.

'This can't go on.' Tom grimaced. He knew the tide of this fight wouldn't change if things continued as they were. Every move he made was countered, every attack met with precision. 'Looks like I have no choice but to rely on that.' His stance shifted dramatically, his body slouching forward, legs bent low, arms hanging loosely at his sides. His head tilted downward, casting his face in shadow. Smoke seeped from his lips, and the air around him grew oppressive, wild, and primal.

"Hmm." Hyun-Woo's sharp gaze caught the transformation. The change in Tom was unmistakable. The air reeked of something feral, as if a beast had awakened. Yet, Hyun-Woo's expression remained calm and cold.

Without warning, Tom moved. His body launched forward with explosive force, leaving cracks in the ground beneath his feet as he closed the distance in an instant. A shockwave rippled behind him, his speed blinding. His right arm swung wide, his claw-like hand cutting through the air with enough force to displace it audibly.

Hyun-Woo took a single step back, the strike missing his face by mere millimeters as he evaded cleanly. The sheer force of Tom's attack struck the ground, shattering it and creating a shallow crater. Dust and debris flew outward as the air pressure brushed against Hyun-Woo's face.

Hyun-Woo moved to counter immediately, his dagger poised to exploit the opening. He lunged forward, aiming a precise reverse slash at Tom's exposed flank. But as the blade neared its mark, Tom's body reacted. Without so much as a glance, he spun sharply, his movements too fluid to be entirely human, and lashed out with a side kick aimed at Hyun-Woo's temple.

Hyun-Woo ducked just in time, the kick narrowly grazing overhead. As Tom's leg passed, Hyun-Woo twisted his dagger hand to pierce upward toward Tom's outstretched leg in a counterstrike. The blade was a fraction of an inch from landing when Tom's body moved again, seemingly on its own. His momentum shifted instantly, spinning back around to deliver a spear-hand thrust aimed directly at Hyun-Woo's throat.

Hyun-Woo tilted his head to the side, the deadly thrust passing by harmlessly. Wasting no time, Hyun-Woo pivoted on his back foot, transitioning his dagger into a downward slash aimed at Tom's neck. The strike was so precise that it would have ended the fight instantly. Yet, as the blade neared, Tom's body arched backward unnaturally, bending at an angle that would have seemed impossible for a man his size.

Hyun-Woo adapted seamlessly, twisting his wrist mid-slash to turn the motion into a downward pierce, aiming to drive the blade straight into Tom's head. But Tom, using his hand as a base, flipped backward with extraordinary speed and flexibility, the dagger narrowly missing its target as he transitioned into a mid-air spin. As he completed his flip, Tom's knee shot upward, targeting the back of Hyun-Woo's head with incredible force.

Hyun-Woo moved almost instantly, turning around as he stepped back just far enough to dodge the knee strike. Evading the blow that targeted his skull by mere inches, and Tom landed fluidly on his feet, with the same crouched stance, his wild aura unabated. 

'I see.' Hyun-Woo analyzed from this brief exchange that Tom had surrendered to his instincts, abandoning conscious control and letting his body move on sensory reflexes alone. How did Hyun-Woo know this? After all,

"You don't think you're the only one with instincts, do you?" Hyun-Woo growled. He adjusted his stance, the air around him shifting once again. Smoke began to curl from his lips, his entire body radiating an aura of raw, unbridled lethality. This was not just Hyun-Woo, this was the God of Blackfield, a man forged in death and war. The oppressive aura emanating from him was so suffocating that even Tom, no stranger to life-or-death combat, felt his instincts flare in warning.

For a brief second, neither man moved, their auras clashing invisibly in the charged air. Then they both exploded into action.

Tom lunged forward with a feral roar, his right hand slashing downward in a claw aimed at Hyun-Woo's chest. Hyun-Woo pivoted smoothly, evading by the narrowest margin. His counterattack came instantly, a precise thrust of his dagger aimed at Tom's ribs. Tom twisted his body unnaturally, his instincts guiding him to avoid the blade by mere inches, his counterstrike already in motion. A brutal spear-hand shot toward Hyun-Woo's face, forcing him to sway back at the last possible moment, the edge of Tom's strike grazing the air just before his nose.

Their movements defied logic. Each attack and counterattack occurred in fractions of a second, as if they were in a battle beyond conscious thought. Tom's feral, unrelenting strikes came from unpredictable angles, each blow radiating lethal intent. Hyun-Woo matched him with precision, his body reacting fluidly, his dagger weaving through the storm of attacks to carve shallow wounds across Tom's arms and torso.

But something shifted in Hyun-Woo. In the midst of the chaotic exchange, he chose to change his approach. He began to allow Tom's strikes to come closer, closer than they ever should have.

A claw slash passed mere millimeters from his throat. A spear-hand brushed his ribs, just shy of piercing him. Hyun-Woo's movements became impossibly refined, his evasion so precise that each near-miss seemed deliberate. He was no longer merely dodging, he was inviting danger, aiming for something. His mind shifted to the words of someone.

*Flashback*

"Heh, how to get stronger?"

A chuckle echoed through the VIP room of the club. The voice came from a young man lounging on a large couch. His ruffled, spiked red hair and amber eyes gave him an intense look. He wore a track jacket with fur-lined cuffs, a white t-shirt underneath, jeans, and boots. A bottle of whiskey hung loosely in his left hand, while his right arm was wrapped around a woman, his hand fondling her breasts. This was Mikoto.

His words were aimed at the person sitting on the opposite side of the room, on a long couch. The man, with small spiked black hair and piercing black eyes, wore a black leather jacket over a black blazer, paired with black pants and boots. This was Hyun-Woo.

"A stupid question, but I'll give you an answer, considering your situation." Mikoto said with a grin, bringing the whiskey bottle to his lips. He took a swig, savoring the burn before continuing. "It's death. You probably know it well, considering how you've lived."

Hyun-Woo listened intently, his eyes never leaving Mikoto.

"But here's the thing." Mikoto said with a wide, wild smile. "You're not really embracing death how you're supposed to. You fight it, try to escape it, that's not the way. You need to feel it, let it consume you. Make it your friend. Invite it in." Mikoto's grin grew manic, his eyes gleaming with a crazed light. "In your situation, that's the only way you can overcome everything. And become someone you never thought you could be."

*Flashback end*

'Feel it...' He thought, his focus razor-sharp. 'Feel the reaper's scythe... let death linger... let it consume you.'

The air between them grew thicker with each exchange. Hyun-Woo's breathing slowed, his heart rate steady despite the storm of attacks. Tom's strikes grew wilder, faster, but his hits still failed to land. For Hyun-Woo, this was no longer about defeating Tom. This was about surpassing his own limits, breaking through the wall that loomed within himself, a wall he couldn't overcome in the past.

Tom snarled, his instincts screaming for him to press harder. His ferocity peaked as he launched a spinning roundhouse kick aimed directly at Hyun-Woo's head. Hyun-Woo didn't dodge fully, instead, he shifted back just enough for the kick to skim past his hair. The sheer force whipped the air around him, but he remained calm, his dagger poised.

Each near-miss sent a shiver down Hyun-Woo's spine, a brush with death that only heightened his focus. Then it happened. In the middle of Tom's relentless assault, something clicked within Hyun-Woo. His movements became impossibly smooth, his presence transforming into something otherworldly.

Tom, in the midst of launching another strike, froze for the briefest of moments. His instincts screamed louder than ever before, not to fight, but to flee. His eyes widened as he stumbled back, creating a large distance between himself and Hyun-Woo. Blood dripped freely from his numerous wounds, his breaths ragged, his feral aura diminishing.

Yet, it wasn't the pain that drove him to retreat, it was fear. A primal, uncontrollable fear.

'What in the world..' Tom's instincts, honed by years of survival, now screamed an undeniable truth. This man whose currently standing before him... this thing... is no longer human.

Hyun-Woo stood motionless, smoke stopped escaping his lips, his dagger held loosely at his side. His eyes, calm and cold, fixed on Tom. The air around him seemed to bend, seemingly defying logic itself. At this moment, Hyun-Woo had transcended, transcended human limitation. He was no longer bound by the limitations of the human body or mind.

Hyun-Woo stood in silence, his aura calm yet suffocating. The overwhelming presence he radiated moments ago seemed to dissipate, replaced by something far more unnerving, a void. He tightened his grip on the dagger, the blade reflecting a dull gleam of light. His voice broke the silence, low and deliberate.

"This is the end for you." He said, his tone devoid of emotion, carrying an eerie finality.

Tom narrowed his eyes, his instincts once again flaring, urging him to stay alert. But as he stared at Hyun-Woo, something impossible began to unfold. Hyun-Woo's form started to waver, the edges of his body blending into the environment. His figure became translucent, then transparent, until he vanished completely, leaving nothing but empty space where he had stood.

"What the hell..." Tom muttered, his eyes wide with shock, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes darted around, but there was nothing, no trace of Hyun-Woo. His feral instincts screamed at him to find his opponent, yet even they faltered in the face of something so unnatural.

'He's gone... No, this isn't normal. This isn't human.'

Before Tom could process further, a sharp pain erupted across his chest. His eyes widened as shallow cuts appeared simultaneously on his torso, arms, and back. Blood seeped from dozens of wounds, none of which he had seen coming. His body tensed as his mind struggled to comprehend the invisible assault.

"What is this...?" Tom growled, his voice laced with both anger and fear. He spun around, trying to track any movement, but there was nothing. It was as if the air itself had turned against him.

"You feel it now, don't you? The weight of your end." Hyun-Woo's voice broke through the silence again, calm yet suffused with a deadly certainty. 

Tom's gaze snapped forward. Hyun-Woo had reappeared, standing in the same place as before, the dagger resting lightly at his side, dripping with fresh blood. The coldness in his expression was more unsettling than the attack itself.

"You rely on instincts. But instincts alone can't protect you from the inevitable." Hyun-Woo said, his tone steady. "What you face now isn't just me. It's everything around you. The air, the shadows, the ground, you're fighting something beyond human limits."

Tom's body trembled slightly, not from exhaustion, but from the unknown. For the second time in years, he felt fear, a deep, primal fear of something he couldn't understand or fight.

Hyun-Woo stepped forward, his presence as dominating as ever, though his movements were calm. "I'll call this, Phantom Stride." He said, referring to his newly transcended art. "It's not about using the environment, it's about becoming the environment."

Tom gritted his teeth, forcing himself to steady his breathing. But his instincts screamed louder than ever, warning him that the next move Hyun-Woo made would decide everything.

"So, your end is inevitable." Hyun-Woo said as he approached Tom slowly who took a step back in response. The psychological pressure of something unreal just overwhelmed his mind, knowing he's up against someone who can't be labeled as a human anymore enhanced his fear.

Just as Hyun-Woo prepared to act, a voice cut through the tension.

"Stop."

Hyun-Woo turned slightly, his cold gaze landing on Yeonwoo, who stood nearby with a nervous expression. His attention shifted briefly to the car, where the driver glanced away anxiously, clearly avoiding Hyun-Woo's gaze. The driver had been unable to stop Yeonwoo from exiting, knowing her status was not something he could afford to offend.

"Miss Yeonwoo, why are you interfering?" Hyun-Woo asked, his tone measured but firm.

"Please, stop." Yeonwoo pleaded. This fight couldn't go on any longer. Internally, she was shocked by Hyun-Woo's capabilities. At first, she had seen him as a calm, composed businessman. But now, that image was shattered. This man was far from ordinary. To reduce Tom, a fighter of such skill and brutality, to such a bloodied state without so much as a scratch on himself. It was almost unbelievable. Yeonwoo, as a member of the Fist Gang, understood just how capable Tom was. And yet, here he was, overpowered effortlessly.

"I can't do that." Hyun-Woo replied, turning his attention back to Tom. "Even though I respect you as the Miss, this is one thing I can't do for you. The man in front of me is an enemy, a nuisance trying to interfere with the boss. He cannot be allowed to continue, especially considering his attempted involvement with you."

"I understand that." Yeonwoo said softly, her hands clenched tightly, her head bowed. She knew exactly what Hyun-Woo meant. She belonged to Mikoto now. Hyun-Woo wouldn't relent just because of her. "But please… just this once." She pleaded, fear evident in her voice, not for Tom, but for herself and Yong.

"Miss Yeonwoo." Hyun-Woo's voice was steady, making Yeonwoo lift her head to meet his gaze. "Tell me why I should stop." He needed to hear a valid reason. If it was merely concern for Tom, the fight would continue. But if she could give him a compelling argument, he would listen.

"I'm afraid." Yeonwoo admitted, her voice trembling as she bit her lip. She hesitated, then continued. "I'm afraid of what Mikoto will do." The mention of Mikoto's name sent a shiver through her body. She feared his reaction if he discovered someone had attempted to take her away. Knowing how Mikoto thought, her situation could easily spiral into something far worse.

Hyun-Woo remained silent, observing her carefully. The tension in the air grew heavier.

"Just this once." He finally said, breaking the silence. Yeonwoo's eyes widened in relief as Hyun-Woo swiped his dagger in the air, flinging off the blood before sliding it back into its holster on his pants.

"And you." Hyun-Woo said, looking at Tom, who stared back with unease. "You lived to see another day, so let me make myself clear." His eyes turned cold, piercing through Tom. "You are now my first target. My sources will be everywhere. Every move you make, every step you take, will be monitored. If I see the slightest hint of your actions connecting to Miss Yeonwoo..." He continued, his gaze growing colder, the atmosphere dropping to a chilling level, "I'll personally ensure you regret being left alive. And when I come for you..." Hyun-Woo's eyes seemed to glow with an unnatural red. "Your death won't be painless. You'll beg for it, and even then, I won't grant it easily."

"Miss Yeonwoo, let's go." Hyun-Woo said as he turned and began walking toward the car. Yeonwoo nodded, breathing a sigh of relief, though she couldn't shake the fear that lingered from Hyun-Woo's words. It was terrifying to witness how easily he spoke, like a trained killer. It was clear the people under Mikoto were far from ordinary, Hyun-Woo was proof of that.

Hyun-Woo and Yeonwoo walked back to the car and got in, driving off, leaving Tom standing alone on the quiet night road. Tom stood there shaken, replaying the events in his mind, especially the fight.

"Miss Yeonwoo, may I ask who that man is?" Hyun-Woo asked from the passenger seat as the car moved. He needed to know who Tom was so he could begin his research and have his team monitor him around the clock.

"His name is Tom Lee. He's from the Fist Gang," Yeonwoo replied without hesitation. She knew there was no reason to hide it; withholding information wouldn't bring any benefits.

Yong, seated next to her, cast wary glances at Hyun-Woo from the back seat. The fight earlier had shaken him. It was unlike anything he had ever witnessed. Even from inside the car, the sheer strength of their blows was palpable, the shockwaves causing tremors. But beyond fear, Yong felt a deep frustration brewing. He realized that, as he was now, he couldn't protect his mother if someone like Hyun-Woo wanted to harm her. The harsh truth burned within him, he wasn't strong enough. But instead of despair, this realization fueled his resolve. His eyes hardened with determination as a silent vow formed within him, he would become stronger, strong enough to protect his mother no matter what.

'Tom Lee, huh?' Hyun-Woo thought silently. The name sounded familiar. He was sure this was the same Tom that Mikoto had mentioned, a leader of the White Tiger Job Center, whose members had been surveilling Yeonwoo's house. Now, Hyun-Woo questioned if letting Tom go had been the right decision, knowing the boss already had him marked as a target.

"Hyun-Woo, right?" Yeonwoo's voice broke through his thoughts.

"What is it, Miss?" Hyun-Woo asked, not turning to look back at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Can you, by any chance, not tell Mikoto about what just occurred?" Yeonwoo asked hesitantly, her expression filled with hope. She wanted to avoid further trouble tonight.

"I apologize, but that's practically impossible." Hyun-Woo replied calmly, making Yeonwoo's heart sink. He understood her concerns, but her request was something he simply couldn't grant.

"Is it because of him?" Yeonwoo asked quietly, referring to Mikoto.

"Miss, it's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't." Hyun-Woo explained in an even tone. "Lying would do no good. Loyalty and trust are paramount when it comes to my boss. Besides, you need to understand one thing..." Hyun-Woo turned his head slightly, giving Yeonwoo a side glance from the front seat. "Lies never work on Sir Mikoto." He added, his words carrying a warning.

Yeonwoo fell silent. She knew Hyun-Woo was right. Lying or hiding anything wouldn't help her. Considering Hyun-Woo's earlier warning, she didn't doubt his words at all. She was certain Mikoto was capable of far worse.

Yeonwoo sighed, glancing at Yong, who was staring out the window, lost in thought. She hoped this night would end without further complications.

Some time later, they arrived at a private estate. The car approached massive steel gates, which opened automatically to reveal a sprawling mansion. The vehicle moved forward, stopping in front of the grand entrance. Hyun-Woo stepped out first.

Yeonwoo's breath hitched as she exited the vehicle, her eyes drawn to the grand estate before her. Towering steel gates led to a mansion bathed in soft golden lights, accentuating its architectural brilliance. Intricate designs adorned the marble walls, immaculate gardens surrounded the property, and a central fountain sparkled under the moonlight. Yong, standing beside her, couldn't hide his awe as his eyes darted around, absorbing the splendor.

Hyun-Woo retrieved the suitcase from the trunk, his movements calm and deliberate. The black jeep drove off to join a line of identical vehicles parked nearby. Without a word, Hyun-Woo strode toward the entrance, motioning for Yeonwoo and Yong to follow.

As they approached the grand double doors, Yeonwoo's nerves intensified. This was it, the start of her life under Mikoto's roof. She struggled to steady her breathing, her unease growing with each step. Just as they reached the doors, Hyun-Woo turned to her, his expression serious.

"Brace yourself for Sir Mikoto's reaction." Hyun-Woo said in a low voice, his gaze steady. "Don't worry, there will be no harm. Just… brace yourself momentarily."

His words sent a shiver down her spine, but before she could respond, Hyun-Woo pressed the doorbell. Moments later, the doors opened, revealing a maid who greeted Hyun-Woo with a polite bow.

"Sir." The maid said respectfully, her eyes briefly flicking to Yeonwoo and Yong before returning to Hyun-Woo.

"These are their belongings." Hyun-Woo stated, handing over the suitcase. The maid accepted it without question, stepping aside to let them in. "Sir Mikoto is waiting in the salon." She informed them before disappearing deeper into the mansion.

The trio stepped into the grand foyer, its sheer luxury leaving Yeonwoo momentarily breathless. High ceilings adorned with elaborate chandeliers, polished marble floors, and walls lined with priceless art made the space feel almost surreal. Yong's wide-eyed gaze darted around, taking in every detail as they followed Hyun-Woo through a long corridor.

The air grew heavier with each step. When they finally reached the salon, Yeonwoo's breath caught again. Slouched on a large leather couch was Mikoto. His towering 220 cm frame seemed to dominate the room effortlessly. His ruffled, spiked red hair and piercing amber eyes gave him a wild presence. Dressed in a black T-shirt that emphasized his muscular build, along with black sports pants and sandals, he appeared relaxed. Yet, the tension in the room betrayed the illusion of ease.

"Sir, we're here." Hyun-Woo said firmly.

"Yeah, I can see that." Mikoto replied, his gaze flicking briefly to Hyun-Woo before settling on Yeonwoo. Her heart pounded as his piercing eyes lingered on her. Then his attention shifted to Yong, who tensed despite his curiosity under Mikoto's scrutiny.

"So, explain why you're late." Mikoto said calmly, his amber eyes locking onto Hyun-Woo.

"Sir, while we were on our way, someone stopped us, and I got into an altercation with him," Hyun-Woo explained without hesitation. "The person who stopped us was named Tom Lee. He's from the Fist Gang, and there's no doubt it's the same Tom you told me about."

Silence followed. Yeonwoo, standing rigid, felt a chill crawl down her spine. Hyun-Woo's earlier warning flashed through her mind, amplifying her fear of what might happen next.

"His aim?" Mikoto finally asked, his voice breaking the silence with an edge that sent shivers through Yeonwoo.

"To take Miss Yeonwoo away." Hyun-Woo replied.

Mikoto exhaled deeply and stood, stepping closer but stopping a short distance away. Yeonwoo's knees felt weak, cold sweat forming on her brow. With his hands in his pockets, he tilted his head slightly downward, his face partially obscured by shadows.

"This is the second time, huh?" he muttered, his voice low but audible, nearly making Yeonwoo's heart stop.

And then it began. The air around Mikoto seemed to distort, an illusory red aura emanating from him, pulsating with raw power. Vibrations rippled through the room, shaking the walls and floor. Yeonwoo's eyes widened in horror as an oppressive, sinister pressure weighed down on her. The malice in the air was suffocating, clouding her thoughts.

Yong instinctively stepped in front of her. Though his body trembled and cold sweat soaked his frame, his resolve held firm as he stared at Mikoto. His instincts screamed at him to flee, but he stood his ground, determined to protect his mother.

Just as abruptly as it had appeared, the pressure vanished. The red aura dissipated, leaving the room in an eerie silence. Mikoto's gaze returned to its calm state.

'Since that's the case, I'll talk to Charles about this matter. There's something else I need to handle with him anyway.' Mikoto thought. He felt a brief surge of anger but reminded himself of his upcoming meeting with Charles, where he could address the issue of Tom Lee.

"By the way." Mikoto said, breaking the stillness. "How does he look?" Mikoto wanted to determine if he recognized the man, considering his connection to the Fist Gang.

"He has a huge, muscular frame, middle-aged, with slightly long black hair." Hyun-Woo described.

'Hmm... Is it that guy?' Mikoto pondered. He recalled a figure from six years ago, a man whose description matched Hyun-Woo's words.

But Mikoto dismissed the thought. Whether it was the same man or not didn't matter. What mattered was what to do with him.

"Then, Hyun-Woo." Mikoto said, his voice calm as he blankly stared at him. "You know what you have to do."

"Yes, Sir." Hyun-Woo replied firmly. By tonight, Tom Lee would be under the team's radar, and every piece of information about him would be extracted.

"And it seems you overcame your wall in that fight." Mikoto said, analyzing Hyun-Woo. "Congratulations on achieving something few can."

"It's because of your words, Sir. Thank you," Hyun-Woo said, bowing. Mikoto's words had driven him to transcend his human limitations. Still, he knew this was only the beginning.

"Well, you can leave now." Mikoto said. Hyun-Woo nodded, turning toward the exit. The doors shut behind him, leaving the room in quiet stillness.

"Now then." Mikoto said, his gaze shifting to Yeonwoo, who grew nervous as they were now alone. He looked down at Yong, who stood protectively in front of her. Yeonwoo tensed as Mikoto addressed him.

"You should know that you're my son." Mikoto said. Yong looked back at him and nodded, acknowledging the words. "So from now on, your last names will change from Kim to Suoh. You'll be Yeonwoo Suoh." he said, turning to Yeonwoo, who widened her eyes slightly at the sudden announcement, "And you'll be Yong Suoh." He concluded, looking back at Yong.

"That's it for now." Mikoto said, glancing at both of them. They said nothing, neither rejecting his announcement. "Now, I suggest you go take a shower." He added as two maids entered the salon. "These two will lead you to your rooms. All necessities are provided, so you don't need to worry about clothes or anything else. If you need anything, just ask the maids, and they'll prepare it for you. That's all." Mikoto finished, turning to leave. He headed toward the mansion's backyard to relax.

'Is it that simple?' Yeonwoo thought, stunned. She had expected something more, perhaps some harsh action, but he had only spoken and left. A sense of relief washed over her. Her hope for a peaceful night remained intact, and she wondered if perhaps Yong and she could enjoy their lives under Mikoto's roof. She prayed nothing bad would happen.

In Japan, Yamazaki Clan

"Sir, we've located Somi Park." A voice reported from a figure in business attire inside a traditional household. The words were directed to a middle-aged man standing with his back turned. His slicked-back black hair, sclera-black eyes with white pupils and irises, and glasses gave him an unsettling air. Dressed in a black kimono, he held a sashed katana. This man was Shintaro Yamazaki.

"Then gather everyone." Shintaro ordered. "The task is to bring Somi Park back."

"Understood." The man replied, departing to gather the others.

"Breaking clan rules cannot go unpunished." Shintaro muttered, exiting the room.

Later, a group stood before the gates of another traditional household.

"Huh? Who are those bastards?"

Two men guarding the gates noticed the approaching group.

"Hey, you fuckers-"

"Who the hell-"

Their words were cut off as their heads flew into the air. Two figures in business attire wiped their blood-drenched katanas before proceeding, the group following behind.

'So this is where you've been, huh?' Shintaro thought as he led the group. He surveyed the area that was illuminated by the moon's light, certain this was where Somi was hiding.

"Hmm." Shintaro murmured, stopping. The group halted as well. Ahead, a lone figure stood at the entrance of the traditional house's stairs leading to its porch. She had black hair tied into a bun, black eyes, and wore a black kimono. Her expression was calm and unreadable.

"To think you'd be here." Shintaro said, his gaze fixed on the figure. "Somi Park."

"Why are you here?" Somi asked, her tone calm despite already suspecting the reason.

"After my brother's death, I became the clan head." Shintaro began, his tone cold. "As the rules dictate, everything left behind belongs to the new head. That includes you, Somi Park. But..." His gaze sharpened. "You disappeared after my brother's death. Not only that, but you violated the rules, abandoning your status as a Yamazaki by leaving." He glanced at her left hand, noting the missing pinky. "So you broke the rules."

"But I will overlook that if you agree to one thing." Shintaro continued, his eyes never leaving Somi. "And that is to come back with me to the clan."

"I refuse." Somi replied calmly, without a hint of hesitation.

"You refuse, huh?" Shintaro muttered. "Unfortunately, refusal is not an option." His gaze sharpened as he spoke.

"Go." Shintaro commanded. Two figures from the group emerged, stepping forward toward Somi.

"When you become a Yamazaki, you cannot leave the clan, and you cannot change your status, no matter what." Shintaro continued as his men approached Somi. They ascended the stairs, stopping just before her. Despite their intimidating presence, Somi's expression remained calm.

"That's a rule you can neither break nor escape." Shintaro concluded.

"Apologies, but our task is to take you away, even by force." Une of the men said, looking down at Somi. "So, it's better if you don't resist, it will make this easier for the both of us." Both men raised their hands, intending to seize her.

Before they could move further, a loud simultaneous crack echoed through the air.

Shintaro narrowed his eyes as a new figure emerged.

'Huh? Why am I facing that way?'

This was the shared thought of the two men as their vision suddenly shifted from Somi to their comrades behind them, an upside-down perspective, before plunging into darkness.

Both men's heads were now grotesquely twisted, their necks shattered, causing their heads to dangle unnaturally against their backs.

"So you are the Yamazaki pests Mother mentioned."

A calm voice broke the silence as a tall 17 year old young man stood before Somi. The young man had shoulder-length dark red hair, black sclera, and piercing dark red pupils and irises. He wore a black kimono that revealed his extremely developed musculature. Holding the two men by the collars of their shirts, he let their lifeless bodies hang limply, their neck bones completely destroyed and twisted making their heads dangle by the skin. This was Suoh Akaya.

"I was about to pay you a visit before heading to Korea." Akaya said flatly, his gaze shifting to the group below, who stood frozen in stunned silence from the sudden scene. "But it seems you've come to our door instead."

"So first, tell me, for attempting to lay a hand on my mother…" Akaya's head tilted slightly upward as his eyes bore into the group. His dark red pupils and irises seemed to glow, with deep intensity, casting an eerie crimson hue that made the air around him feel heavier as he continued. "Are you prepared for the hell that's about to come?"

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Should I make a discord server for whatever reason? Or nah.