Instincts

Akira and Tom stood facing each other. Tom's face was twisted in anger, while Akira wore a bright smile.

"Kenta..." Eugene muttered to the man standing beside him as they observed the tension between the two. "You're the one who brought Akira here. Do you know what he's capable of?"

Kenta, hearing Eugene's words, turned to look at Akira, his thoughts drifting back to their first meeting.

Under the night sky, Kenta had been wandering the streets of Japan, which were filled with gangs. He was searching for candidates who could be useful for the second affiliate. But he soon stopped in his tracks when he encountered an unexpected scene.

'What happened here?' In the distance, he saw numerous lifeless bodies lying on the ground, blood staining the pavement.

In front of it all stood a tall figure with a red mohawk, the sides of his head shaved. He was shirtless, revealing an intimidating shark tattoo on his back. That was Akira. And standing across from him was an even taller man with a massive, muscular frame. The man wore a suit, his bald head covered with a snake tattoo. One of his eyes was scarred and replaced by a glass eye. This was Fujimori Yuuki, the Vice-President of the Kyungsunghwe Yakuza organization, followed by several of his men.

"You brat, do you have any idea what you've done?" Yuuki's voice was cold, contained with anger. He glared down at Akira, referencing the bodies on the ground.

"Killed a bunch of pigs, that's what." Akira replied with a smile, locking eyes with Yuuki. "You ugly fuck look really upset about losing a bunch of idiots. But don't worry..." His smile widened. "I'll send you to join them soon."

"You little-!" Yuuki's stoic expression cracked, anger boiling over. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had spoken to him like that, especially not some kid.

Without hesitation, Yuuki hurled a devastating punch at Akira, smashing his head into the ground and creating a large crater beneath him. He didn't stop there. He grabbed Akira's leg, lifting him up and slamming him left and right, with each impact deepening the pit.

"Yeah, boss, show that brat hell!"

"Kill that arrogant punk!"

Yuuki's underlings cheered him on as they watched their boss destroy the seemingly overconfident boy. But neither they nor Yuuki noticed something unusual about Akira.

'Is this the Yakuza?' Kenta thought, watching from a distance. "That guy doesn't stand a chance." He glanced at Akira, who was being repeatedly slammed into the ground. By now, anyone should have been dead from the onslaught, but the bald guy showed no signs of stopping, clearly showing his cruelty.

With a final, forceful slam, Yuuki embedded Akira deep in the crater, debris flying out.

"Brats these days are really foolish, acting however they want without knowing who they're up against." Yuuki said, looking down at what appeared to be Akira's lifeless body.

"Let's go." he ordered, turning his back to leave.

"Yes, sir." his underlings responded in unison.

Kenta, standing off to the side, muttered to himself, "It's better to leave now. Getting caught up with these guys won't do me any favors." He turned to leave, but something caught his eye.

He stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he turned back. The guy who should've been dead, was slowly getting to his feet.

"What a disappointment." A voice called out, stopping Yuuki and his men in their tracks. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

Yuuki turned around to see Akira standing there, rubbing his neck. But something was wrong. His body, his face, there wasn't a single bruise or scratch on him.

"What...?"

"Shouldn't this guy be dead?" The underlings muttered in shock. They had seen their boss violently slam Akira into the ground like a ragdoll. Anyone else would've been dead by now. But there he stood, alive and well.

'How is he still fine?' Yuuki thought, more shocked than anyone. He hadn't held back in the slightest, yet the kid stood there in perfect condition, as if nothing had happened.

"Don't be too shocked, idiot. You're just not on that level." Akira taunted, snapping them out of their shock and into anger.

"But baldy, before I start, I've got a question for you." Akira's smile twisted into something vicious, his eyes gleaming like a predator eyeing its prey. "What creature never backs down, even when it's dying?"

"Huh?" Yuuki blinked, confused by the question.

"You know, some people say it's the shark." Akira continued, his voice dropping as he tilted his head back slightly. "Top of the food chain. Teeth like knives. Always moving, always hunting." His grin widened, baring his teeth. "It's got no mercy. No conscience. It kills because that's all it knows."

Leaning in closer, his voice darkened. "But you see, the thing I like about sharks? It's their style…" He chuckled, the atmosphere around him shifting. "They don't stop. Even when they're injured, even when they're bleeding. Hell, even when they're dying, they'll still bite down. Keep ripping and tearing until either they die, or you do."

'The atmosphere... it changed.' Yuuki thought, his expression stunned as the air around grew heavy. Something was wrong.

"So you're screwed, baldy, because that description…" Akira's smile turned wicked. "Fits me perfectly."

Yuuki stared in disbelief. The ground beneath him began to morph into water, and before his eyes, a massive shark with blood red eyes appeared, staring him down.

'D-dangerous.' That was the only thought that filled Yuuki's mind as the shark loomed closer.

The shark lunged, jaws wide open, razor sharp teeth glinting, resembling the tattoo on Akira's back. Yuuki wanted to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He was trembling, cold sweat dripping down his face as fear gripped him.

[Image]

'I'm going to die.' Panic overtook Yuuki. In all his life, he had never felt this close to death. He had faced countless opponents before, assassins, military veterans, even special forces, and none of them made him feel anything other than indifference. But now, the sight of the shark about to devour him shook him to his core. He couldn't tell if this was reality or an illusion, but it all felt far too real. In truth, it was simply a manifestation of Akira's overwhelming bloodlust.

Instead of the shark, Akira appeared directly in front of Yuuki, his smile widening, his arms slightly open, fists clenched tightly.

Akira's arms became a blur, and in an instant, he unleashed a flurry of punches, striking Yuuki's upper and lower body simultaneously. But something was strange. The strikes were silent. No sound, no shockwaves, nothing. It was as if there was no motion or force behind Akira's attacks.

"Huh?" Yuuki snapped out of his daze, feeling the punches land on his body. They didn't hurt at all.

"You brat!" Yuuki roared, his earlier fear quickly replaced by rage. He should've expected the kid's attacks to be this weak, but the fact that Akira had made him feel fear was humiliating. Since when had he ever felt such shame?

"I'll tear you apar-" Yuuki began to move, ready to attack, but before he could finish his sentence, his knees buckled, and his upper body slumped forward.

'What?' His eyes widened in confusion as he found himself staring at the ground, kneeling. 'I can't move. No…' He tried to move, but it wasn't that he couldn't. 'I can't feel my body.' Panic surged through him as he realized he had lost all sensation in his limbs. This strange numbness terrified him.

"Wondering why you can't feel a thing, right?"

Akira's voice cut through his panicked thoughts. Hearing those words, Yuuki's fear intensified. The brat had done something to him.

"Normally, I don't bother with techniques." Akira continued, his tone playful as he looked at the slumped figure of Yuuki. "But since I came up with this one, I thought I'd give it a try, and it didn't disappoint." He smiled. "Basically, the reason the attacks felt weak is because it wasn't about strength. It's a vibratory blow. The strikes send a pulsing shock through the body, overloading the nerves and cutting off control of the affected limb, or, in your case, your whole body. To keep it simple..." Akira crouched down, lowering his head until he met Yuuki's eyes, which were wide with terror, his face drenched in sweat. Akira mockingly smiled, sticking out his tongue. "You're paralyzed for life."

"Now it's your turn." Akira stood up and turned his attention to Yuuki's men, all armed and visibly shaken. Their faces were a mix of fear and disbelief. They had watched their undefeated Vice-President fall to the ground after one blow, and now they didn't know what to do.

"So, are you gonna come at me, or should I come to you?" Akira taunted.

"You bastard!"

"Kill him!"

Their fear turned into anger, the only emotion they knew how to rely on. As Yakuza, they were cold blooded killers, and despite the shock, they quickly replaced their fear with fury, charging at Akira with their weapons.

"Heh, that's it. It'd be too boring if you lost your fighting spirit." Akira laughed.

The first man to attack was met with a punch to the neck, snapping it instantly and killing him on the spot.

Akira laughed again, grabbing the face of another man and throwing his head into the ground with full force, cracking it open as blood splattered everywhere.

He turned as he grabbed another by the neck and drove his fist into the man's chest. A fist shaped mark appeared on the skin, exploding the man's heart on impact.

"Die!" Another attacker lunged at Akira, seeing his arm occupied. The man swung a katana, aiming to slice off Akira's hand. But the blade stopped. The katana couldn't cut through Akira's skin.

'What?' The man stared in shock, looking from the unscathed arm to Akira's devilish grin.

'Monster.' That was his final thought before Akira delivered a devastating spinning kick to his face, snapping his neck in a full 360 degree rotation.

The slaughter continued. Akira tore through the group like a shark in a frenzy, each strike taking another life, one after the other.

"This is the best!" Akira screamed in madness. The sound of breaking bones, the desperate cries of his enemies, it was music to his ears. Blood sprayed across his body and face, and it made him feel more alive than ever.

The massacre lasted for five minutes.

"Phew." Akira exhaled, standing in the middle of the carnage, surrounded by blood and bodies.

"To think someone would be cowering in fear." Akira turned his gaze toward the last man standing, who was trembling uncontrollably, his body shaking like a leaf.

"You know, if these guys knew someone like you was in their ranks, they would've killed you first." Akira smirked as he approached the terrified man.

"You... you bastard."

The man stumbled backward, drawing a pistol and pointing it at Akira. This made Akira pause in his tracks.

"He-heheh, brat, I admit you're a monster, but this is your end."

The man's voice was shaky, nervous, but he was convinced he had won now that he had a gun in his hands.

"Hah?" Akira's expression shifted to one of utter disinterest as he glanced at the pistol. "So, you waited all this time just for this?" His tone was bored, and he stared at the gun with disdain. "Do you really think a toy like that will work on me?"

"You....you arrogant brat. Go to hell!"

The man pulled the trigger, but what happened next left him in shock. A hand appeared, gripping the gun's almost fully recoiled slide, preventing it from firing.

"You really are an idiot." came the mocking voice. The man's eyes widened as he looked up. Akira, who had been standing at a distance just moments ago, was now right in front of him.

Before he could even process what had happened, Akira drove a kick into his stomach, causing the man's eyes to bulge out, blood spurting from his mouth.

"Burning..." The man felt like his insides had been pierced. The light in his eyes slowly faded as he succumbed to darkness.

"That was fun." Akira said with a smile, casually releasing his grip on the gun's slide, allowing it to fire into the ground before breaking the weapon in half with ease.

"So, how was it, old man?" Akira turned around and walked toward Yuuki, who was still paralyzed. He stopped next to the fallen Vice-President. "Hearing the screams and cries of those idiots while I ripped them apart and you couldn't do a thing, did that make you sad?" He crouched down, lowering his head until he was face to face with Yuuki. The only thing Yuuki could do was glare at him with one blood filled eye, his fury visible. His body wouldn't even allow him to express his rage, but his eyes said it all.

"Hoo, scary." Akira laughed, standing up as he slowly lifted his leg, preparing for an axe kick. "Well, it was nice playing with you." With a sudden motion, he brought his leg crashing down onto Yuuki's head. The impact deformed Yuuki's skull, sinking it in, as blood sprayed violently from his eyes. His head was slammed into the ground with tremendous force, killing him instantly.

"Now then." Akira's expression shifted, becoming stoic. "You've been watching for a while now, what do you want?"

Kenta stood in shock, having witnessed everything. The guy he assumed was dead had stood up, completely unscathed. But that wasn't the most terrifying part. He watched as Akira tore through the Yakuza like a wild beast, hunting them down one by one, mercilessly slaughtering them. Each strike was lethal, and with every person he passed, another body hit the ground. 

"You've been watching for a while now, what do you want?"

"Huh?" Kenta snapped out of his daze as a voice came into his ears, realizing Akira was now facing him directly, his gaze was unsettling. The sudden attention made Kenta tense up.

'He's the one.' Kenta thought as he looked at Akira. "I have an offer for you."

"Hmm?" Akira raised his eyebrows. 'This guy's been watching the whole time, just to offer me something? Must be a good offer then.' He smiled slightly.

"What offer?"

"I saw the whole thing. And I want your strength. Come with me to Korea. If you agree, a large sum of money will be delivered to you," Kenta proposed as he cautiously approached. He knew he had to get straight to the point, he had no idea how unpredictable the man in front of him might be. One wrong move, and Akira could react violently.

"Money, you say?" Akira's face lit up with an excited smile, as though the only thing he heard was the mention of money.

"Yes, but only if you agree." Kenta began.

"Sure, let's go." Akira cut him off.

"Huh?" Kenta was caught off guard. Did he agree that quickly?

"Don't look so surprised. I'm doing this for the money, nothing else." Akira grinned.

"You trust me? What if I'm lying?" Kenta asked, stunned at how quickly Akira had agreed, without hesitation or even a single question.

"Lying?" Akira's eyes darkened, his smile widening. "Then I'll make sure your last breath is spent begging for a quicker death."

That's how their first meeting played out.

"I can't say I can evaluate him. But..." Kenta replied, still focused on Akira. "When Akira stands in front of me, it feels like that man is standing there instead."

"By that man, you mean..." Eugene already knew who Kenta was referring to, but he wanted to confirm it.

"Shiro Oni, Yamazaki Park Gun." Kenta continued with a grave expression. That man, he would never forgive or forget. The massacre of his clan and the humiliation he suffered that day, Kenta swore he'd kill Gun for it.

Even though Eugene had his doubts, he chose to believe Kenta. After all, Kenta was the one who had personally faced Gun and felt his strength firsthand.

'But it doesn't matter.' Eugene thought as he looked at the standoff between Akira and Tom. Today, he might finally witness both the strength of a fighting genius and Akira's power. It was a perfect situation for him to witness both their strengths.

"Kid, after I teach you a lesson, let's see your dangler." Tom said, his anger replaced with a creepy smile as he looked down at Akira.

With that, Tom unleashed a powerful downward swipe with his right hand, aiming to tear through Akira's clothes in one motion. A shockwave rippled through the air from the sheer force of the movement.

"Hohoo." Tom muttered in surprise as his hand was suddenly stopped halfway. Akira had gripped Tom's right wrist with his left hand, halting the strike completely.

"Hmm, not bad, kid," Tom said with a wide smile, veins bulging on his arm as he applied more force. "But stopping me won't be enou-"

Tom didn't get to finish his sentence. His eyes widened as his knees suddenly buckled, crashing into the floor and shattering it on impact.

The air went silent. Everyone stood in shock, witnessing the unbelievable sight. Tom, who had been standing tall just moments before, was now kneeling.

"Teach me a lesson? See my dangler?" Akira's cold gaze shifted down to Tom as he spoke with disgust. "Are you sick in the head old man?"

'What just happened?' Tom was frozen in place, stunned. 'How did he do that?' He realized an uncontrollable force had pressed him down to his knees, forcing him to kneel. The force felt strangely familiar, it was the same strength he tried using to overpower Akira's grip. Akira had turned his own power against him.

Tom recognized the technique, it's Aikido, but it wasn't quite the same. The kid infront of him had used the principle of redirecting force, but in a way far more refined and superior than traditional Aikido. In truth, Akira had simply used his perfect control over the force, effortlessly redirecting and manipulating it.

"But this position suits you, old man." Akira smirked.

His words snapped Tom out of his thoughts, and his expression quickly turned to anger.

"You!" Tom roared, furious at the humiliation. How dare this kid, this nobody, make a fool of him, The Fighting Genius, in front of everyone?

In a burst of rage, Tom motioned an upward motion with his right hand, hoisting Akira into the air and releasing his wrist from his grip.

'Heh, smart.' Akira thought. At least Tom was quick enough to realize that using force against him was pointless.

Tom then reached out, aiming to grab Akira's face, but Akira effortlessly adjusted mid air, leaning horizontally to avoid the hand. The breeze from the missed grab grazed his face. In one smooth motion, Akira countered with a right side kick to Tom's head, smashing it into the ground and forming a pit beneath.

"Heh." Akira chuckled, glancing down at his right leg where Tom's fingers had pierced through, blood steadily leaking from the wound. He had allowed it to happen. He could have easily hardened his skin to block the counter, but he didn't. The more injuries he sustained, the more his Perfect Regeneration could adapt and strengthen.

Tom instantly rose to his feet, his hair now loose, flying wildly around his face. His expression twisted into something feral.

With a wild, savage grin, Tom lunged forward, his right hand formed into a spear, aiming directly for Akira's midsection. But Akira, with ease, deflected the strike with his left leg, using it to leverage himself into a spinning right kick aimed at Tom's neck.

Before the kick could land, Tom reacted, biting down hard on Akira's ankle, halting the attack instantly. Without hesitation, his right hand shot out, forming another spear, this time targeting Akira's throat.

The attack hit its mark, Tom's hand spearing through Akira's throat with a heavy force. The onlookers were frozen in disbelief.

'No way… is Akira really dead?' Kenta stood in shock, his mind racing.

'I thought he was stronger than this.' Eugene, watching closely, let out a quiet sigh, his expression clouded with disappointment.

'He just died like that?' Jake, along with Sinu and the others, shared the same disbelief. 

But their thoughts were abruptly interrupted as they noticed something terrifying. Akira, with his throat pierced, was smiling. A maniacal grin stretched across his face, his eyes wild, as if the wound wasn't a tragedy but pure excitement.

'What?' Tom's expression shifted to shock. 'It's not going through?' He could feel his fingers still embedded in Akira's throat, but it was as if something was stopping him from pushing through any further. He had pierced Akira's throat, he was sure of it, but the sensation of thee force was suddenly gone.

"This is exciting." Akira's whispered in a low, guttural tone blood as blood trickled down his neck. He had allowed the attack to land intentionally, using his Perfect Regeneration to adapt and fortify his throat, reinforcing this vital area beyond any normal defense.

Akira gripped Tom's arm, the same one still lodged in his throat. Using it as leverage, he pulled himself forward in one swift motion, his body spinning as he aimed a vicious elbow strike at Tom's head, but Tom barely managed to dodge. The strike grazed his face from the top down, ripping through his suit and leaving a thin, bloody trail on his skin.

Seizing the opening, Tom quickly countered, thrusting his spear hand toward Akira's exposed side. But just before the strike could connect, Akira snatched Tom's wrist from behind mid strike with his left hand.

'He was able to react to that?' Tom widened his eyes in surprise, the precision was perfect as there was no way the kid should've been able to see it coming.

Without hesitation, Akira used the momentum to pull himself up, completing his spin as he came around following with a devastating punch straight to Tom's face. The impact was brutal, causing Tom to stagger violently, his feet sliding across the ground, digging deep pits into the floor as he was forced back. His body swayed backward, nearly toppling over as he fought to stay upright, blood spraying from his nose and mouth. His legs buckled momentarily, his vision spinning from the overwhelming impact.

"Come on now, we're just getting started. But do you really think relying on instincts will work against me?" Akira laughed, blood dripping from his throat as he casually walked forward.

Suddenly, Tom regaining his balance and focus, his face bleeding and twisted with fury. He dashed at Akira, closing the distance instantly, aiming a claw shaped right hand to tear Akira's head off, but Akira simply leaned back, dodging the strike effortlessly as it tore through the air, leaving shockwaves behind.

'When was the last time I felt this powerless?' Tom thought, frustration rising as he followed up with a flurry of attacks, claw swipes from every direction. From above, to the side, and even straight through the air, he lashed out. But every single one missed, Akira dodging without breaking a sweat.

'How is a second generation kid keeping up with me?' Tom screamed inwardly, gritting his teeth. He had never faced this much difficulty in a fight before. No opponent in the past had ever given him as hard of a time as this kid standing before him. It was absurd, an utter joke. A mere kid, giving him, the fighting genius, this much trouble?

"Old man, I told you, it's pointless." Akira's voice rang mockingly in Tom's ears.

'Shut up.' Tom growled inwardly, his rage building with each failed attack. His strikes grew more violent, more desperate, yet none of them found their mark.

Akira sidestepped a wild attack that cracked the floor beneath it. "When it comes to instincts..." Akira dodged another vicious strike aimed at his legs. "You just can't compete."

With that, Akira finally retaliated, driving a powerful punch into Tom's side. The blow connected with such force that it ripped the skin from the other side of Tom's body, blood spraying out. The impact sent Tom airborne, his body twisting in mid air.

Akira followed up instantly, his right leg bulging with power as he delivered a brutal kick to Tom's face, sending him spinning violently across the room. Tom smashed into a wall, a massive hole forming from the sheer force of the impact.

Akira walked calmly toward the rubble and smoke where Tom had crashed. His voice calm and almost educational. "You see, there's something you should understand about instincts, old man. Yours are like those of a wild beast, pure, raw, and reactive. You move before you think, guided by rage and survival. But that's the problem."

He stopped just short of the debris, eyeing the spot where Tom lay buried. "Instincts are fast, yes, but they're still a reaction. By the time your brain processes danger, there's a tiny delay, a fraction of a second where your body prepares itself. It's a reflex you can't fully control, no matter how strong your survival instincts are."

Akira glanced down at his own hands, flexing his fingers. "But me? My control is absolute. It's like this, I act before my body even knows there's something to react to. There's no hesitation, no delay. I don't just rely on instincts, I command them. My body moves not because it senses danger, but because I tell it to. I'm always one step ahead."

He smirked, continuing, "You're fast because your body fights to survive. I'm faster because I have no need for that struggle. Your instincts make you hesitate, even if it's just a fraction of a second. Mine? They're perfected, controlled, and sharper. That difference means everything in a fight."

Akira's eyes sharpened. "So when you act like a beast, it's predictable. Wild, but with a pattern. And I can read it every time." He tucked his hands in his pockets. "Control beats chaos. Every time."

Tom's growl came from the dust. "You brat, are you trying to educate me?" He stood, his body bruised and bloodied, right hand bulging with veins and muscle. The air around him had shifted, becoming more violent, more fierce.

"Awakening?" Akira was genuinely surprised. He didn't expect Tom to awaken in this situation, especially in a state of rage and desperation. Turns out Tom was pushing himself beyond his limits, at least the title fighting genius isn't for show. "But what of it?"

Without hesitation, Tom vanished from his spot, leaving deep pits in the ground as a shockwave exploded in his wake.

"Just how I like it." Akira said, excitement filled in his eyes as he saw Tom charging. He matched the challenge, rushing forward as well. They were face to face in an instant, their right fists aiming directly at each other. But just before the collision, Akira shifted his center of gravity, ready to try something new.

"Okay, that's enough."

A calm voice cut through the tension, stopping them both. Akira halted, still smiling, while Tom remained expressionless but clearly angry. They both turned toward Eugene, who was approaching with his hands behind his back, a polite smile on his face.

"I know you'll ask why I stopped you both." Eugene looked between them, first addressing Tom. "Mr. Tom, I'll agree to your request to let Big Deal go." He didn't want to sever ties with Tom, so it was better to avoid unnecessary conflict. Then, turning to Akira, he spoke carefully, choosing his words. "And Mr. Akira, why don't we leave it at that for today? I know it's sudden and disrespectful to interrupt a fight like this, especially when you've clearly shown your strength. But I kindly ask you to walk away from this, for today."

Eugene was cautious with Akira, not fully understanding his personality yet. But internally, he was thrilled. He'd seen enough. Even though the fight wasn't completed, Akira had managed to push back Tom, the monster Eugene had been wary of. It excited him, knowing that someone on Akira's level would be joining their faction.

"Sure, but only if the old man agrees to let it go." Akira said with a smile, eyes locking on Tom, who glared back at him hatefully.

"Hmph, lucky brat. Fine, I'll let it go for now." Tom grunted as he looked at the indifferently smiling Akira. It wasn't just for the sake of his relationship with Eugene, it was because of something he'd felt at the last second. Deep down, Tom's body had been trembling, though it wasn't visible. His survival instincts had kicked in. Just before Eugene's interruption, during that final charge, Tom had felt an overwhelming sense of danger crawling over him. If Eugene hadn't spoken up, something terrible would've happened, and Tom knew it.

Eugene turned to Tom, his eyes sharp. "And Mr. Tom, I'd like to have a word with you after this." Then, shifting his gaze to Jake and Sinu, he added. "Now, Big Deal, you can leave."

"Sinu-hyung, let's go." Jake said, and Sinu nodded, preparing to leave.

"Wait."

A voice cut through the air, causing everyone to turn.

"Daniel?" Jake questioned as he saw Daniel making his way toward Eugene.

"Hmm, Daniel Park?" Eugene narrowed his eyes. He hadn't accounted for Daniel, who had almost ruined his plans. But thanks to Akira, everything had gone smoothly. "What do you want?"

Daniel stopped in front of Eugene, his face grim. "I want you to..." He clenched his teeth, memories of that person flooding back. "I want you to give back Warren's body."

"What?" Eugene was confused. Did Daniel mean Warren Chae?

"I don't understa-"

"Warren is dead. The second affiliate's staff took his body somewhere." Daniel cut Eugene off, his eyes full of anger as he glared at Akira.

The room fell silent. Warren Chae's name wasn't unfamiliar to anyone there.

"Wait, Daniel Park, are you saying Warren Chae is dead?" Jake asked, stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He wasn't the only one shocked.

"Yes. Warren Chae died in the second affiliate, and that man killed him." Daniel's voice was grave as he pointed at Akira.

Everyone who knew Warren stared at Akira, wide eyed, as the smile on Akira's face grew.

Eugene, still processing the news, turned to Akira. "Mr. Akira, is this true?" He was aware of who Warren was, a key member of Hostel.

"Yeah, I killed that idiot." Akira replied, his smile widening as he met Daniel's gaze. "But what about it?" He stepped closer, looming over Daniel, bending slightly to match his eye level. "What are you gonna do about it, you midget?"

"Nothing. I just want Warren's body so we can give him a proper funeral." Daniel tried to maintain his composure, though he was nervous and angry inside. He knows that if he said otherwise Akira might kill him, after all he saw how cruel that man was.

"Nothing for now, huh?" Akira laughed, fully aware of what Daniel meant. "You're planning to come back with a bunch of idiots for revenge, right? How scary." he mocked.

"Well, I accept your request, Daniel Park." Eugene interrupted, cutting the tension. He wasn't too concerned, knowing that a little conflict like this wouldn't harm his broader plans. "Some staff will escort you to retrieve Warren's deceased body."

"Mr. Akira, could you unlock the exit for them?" Then, turning to Akira, Eugene asked.

"Nah, he's got it." Akira nodded towards the twisted metal doors.

Standing in front of the doors was a bald headed, huge framed muscular person, Jerry Kwon. His veins bulging on his head as he pushed the doors apart with all his strength. Slowly, they separated, and Jerry exhaled deeply, glancing briefly at Akira as if to take mental note of him.

Big Deal proceeded to leave, led by staff members.

When they reached the designated room, the staff stopped. "As requested, participant Warren Chae's body will be brought here." one of them said.

A minute later, the door opened, and they carried out Warren's lifeless body. As they laid him on the ground, the sight left everyone in shock.

"What the fuck?" Jake was the first to speak, staring at Warren's lifeless form, noticing his sunken chest. "That guy Akira did this?" His eyes darkened. Killing someone like this was excessive.

Sinu looked at Warren, his face showing a hint of pity. "He was just a kid." he muttered, feeling the weight of how young Warren had been, his life ending so tragically. His hatred for Akira only deepened.

'Damn it.' Jerry thought, remembering their time together, even as enemies. They were still friends. He clenched his fists, raging at Akira.

'I'm sorry, Warren...' Daniel's clenched fists were trembling, his head hung low as tears streamed down his face. He blamed himself. He couldn't protect anyone, only watch as Warren was killed, his friend.

"Daniel?" Jake noticed Daniel suddenly fainting, rushing forward to catch him mid fall.

"His emotions must have overwhelmed him." Sinu said quietly.

"Jerry, carry Warren's body." Jake ordered.

"Yes, boss." Jerry, with a dark expression, carefully lifted Warren's body in both arms.

"Let's go." Jake hoisted the unconscious Daniel onto his back, and they left. "Let's go to Hostel."

Back in the arena, "Ugh, I've switched bodies too many times today." Big Daniel groaned as he stood, clutching his head. Today had been nothing short of a disaster. The failure of their mission and Warren's death weighed heavily on him. He couldn't shake the image of Warren's dead body from his mind.

"Daniel Park, there you are."

A voice came from behind, and Daniel turned to see a figure approaching, Samuel Seo.

"You are?" Daniel asked.

"President Eugene is looking for you." Samuel said with a smile.

"Oh, is that so? I was just about to meet him."

"Then let's go."

They walked together until they reached the room where Eugene, two of his men, and Akira were waiting. Daniel explained everything that had happened to Eugene.

"So your mask was stolen by Jake, and that's how they got in?" Eugene asked, adjusting the tie of one of his men, which was the slender figure with a cap on his head. "And even Big Deal got involved?"

"Yes, that's right," Daniel replied. "I tried to stop them, but my skills were no match for Jake." His voice lowered in shame. "I don't have any excuses. I wanted to earn your trus-"

"Man, do you take us for idiots?"

Daniel was abruptly cut off by a voice he dreaded hearing. He turned to see Akira walking toward him.

"Did you forget how you barged into the arena, screaming that guys name and wanting to deal with me?" Akira stopped in front of Daniel. "And that look on your face back then... you wanted to kill me." Akira's tone became more mocking. "It's obvious you were crying because I killed that little bitch Warren Ch-" Akira paused. "Oh, there it is, that same look of anger from before." Daniel's face changed to one with rage as he glared at Akira.

"What's wrong? Did killing that little bi-"

Akira was cut off as a punch came flying toward his face. But he was faster, grabbing Daniel by the neck and slamming him into the ground.

"Do you really want to be next?" Akira asked with a sadistic smile, staring down at Daniel, who was desperately struggling to break free from his grip. But it was useless. Akira's hand was firmly locked around Daniel's neck, and within moments, Daniel passed out.

"Hey, big guy, catch." Akira said nonchalantly, tossing the unconscious Daniel to Mandeok, who easily caught him.

"Looks like we're all done here." Akira stretched, feeling satisfied after a long, yet enjoyable, day. "Hey, Eugene, got a car or something I can use to get home?"

"Yes, we have plenty of vehicles available. President Samuel will show you where to get one." Eugene replied, still focused on other matters. He gestured for Samuel to lead the way, and Samuel guided Akira to the vehicles.

Once Akira and Samuel were out of sight, Eugene looked around and signaled to his men. "Alright, let's go." His curiosity about Daniel was growing, and he was determined to find out more. Mandeok and the other figure with the cap followed closely behind.

Somewhere on the streets, Zack's voice rang out in frustration. "You bastard, why didn't you bring Daniel with you?" he shouted, holding the unconscious Sally in his arms.

"That's not my problem." a grim voice replied. It was Vin, his eyes wrapped in a cloth, covering the spot where one of his eyes used to be.

"You..." Zack growled, his anger rising, staring at Vin's bandaged face.

But Vin said nothing more. He turned and walked away, leaving Zack behind.

"That red haired bastard..." Vin muttered under his breath, his hand gripping the bandage where his eye once was, thinking of the one who took it from him. "I'll kill him." His voice was cold as he left Zack standing there.

=====

Mid fights but meh.