Chapter 4

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Kweon Kang stirred from his slumber. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he realized with a start that he had fallen asleep while training.

Shaking off the grogginess, he rose to his feet, a sense of urgency coursing through him. Today was the day of the recruitment, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

"Today will be the recruitment," he muttered to himself, the words a solemn reminder of the task ahead. The details of the event were still fresh in his memory, burned into his mind like a brand.

With a sense of urgency, Kweon Kang sprang into action, realizing that he had overslept and it was already 7:00 am, and he couldn't afford to waste a single moment.

Hurriedly, he gathered his belongings and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. Splashing cold water on his face, he shook off the remnants of sleep and focused on the task at hand.

 he dressed in his school uniform and grabbed his backpack, making sure to pack everything he would need for the day ahead. As he glanced at the clock, he knew that he would need to hurry if he wanted to make it to school on time.

Racing out the door, he quickened his pace, determined to make up for lost time. With each step, he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through him.

As he finally reached the school gates, panting slightly from the exertion, he checked his watch and breathed a sigh of relief. Despite waking up late, he still managed to arrive just in time for the start of the school day.

For the next few hours, Kweon Kang immersed himself in the routine of school life, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the impending recruitment. 

As the final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of class hours, Kweon Kang wasted no time in making his way toward the designated area for the recruitment. With each step, his heart pounded in anticipation, the weight of the moment heavy on his shoulders.

As he approached the old gymnasium, he could see a crowd of students gathering outside, their faces set in determined expressions. The air was charged with nervous energy, a palpable sense of excitement mingled with apprehension.

As I arrived at the designated area, I couldn't help but notice the sea of first-year students gathered around, each one looking determined and ready for whatever lay ahead. There must have been at least twenty of us, maybe even more, all eager to prove ourselves in the recruitment process.

Suddenly, a tall man with imposing features stepped forward, commanding the attention of the crowd. His casual demeanor belied an underlying air of intimidation as he addressed us.

"Welcome, first batch," he began, his voice carrying authority. "The recruitment will begin shortly."

My heart raced with anticipation as I listened to his words. The mechanics of the recruitment were simple, yet the stakes couldn't be higher.

"The only rule," he continued, his voice taking on a serious tone, "is to fight with each other. Only ten people will be selected."

As his words faded into the tense silence, a sudden shift occurred. Like a wave crashing upon the shore, the students turned to face each other, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. Without hesitation, the atmosphere erupted into a chaotic flurry of movement and sound.

Fists flew, shouts echoed, and bodies collided in a frenzy of competition. It was a whirlwind of motion as students grappled with one another, each vying for dominance in the heated melee.

In the heat of the moment, I saw the man rushing towards me with a determined look in his eyes, his intent clear. Without hesitation, I instinctively assessed his movements and anticipated his attack.

As he closed the distance between us, his fist cocked back ready to strike, I made a split-second decision. With a swift motion, I sidestepped his punch, ducking low to avoid his blow. At the same time, I reached out and grabbed hold of his outstretched leg, using his momentum against him.

With a grunt of effort, I twisted his leg and brought him crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. The impact reverberated through the air as he hit the floor, momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Seizing the opportunity, I wasted no time in pressing my advantage. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, I lunged forward, pinning him to the ground before he had a chance to recover.

As the man gasped in surprise at the impact of being knocked to the ground, I quickly released my hold on him and sprang back, putting some distance between us. Amid the chaotic recruitment, I knew that staying in one place for too long could make me an easy target for others who might seize the opportunity to take me down.

With a wary eye on the surrounding melee, I scanned the crowd for any signs of imminent danger. Bodies clashed and grappled in a frenzied dance of combat, but for the moment, no one seemed to be targeting me directly.

Taking a moment to catch my breath and assess the situation, I remained on high alert, ready to react at a moment's notice. The recruitment was far from over, and I knew that I couldn't afford to let my guard down for even a second.

As I scanned the chaotic scene unfolding around me, my attention was suddenly drawn to a hulking figure charging towards me

As the bulk man lunged at me with his massive body, his fist aimed directly at my face, I knew I had to act fast. With a glance around at the chaos unfolding around us, I spotted an opportunity to turn the tables in my favor.

Reacting instinctively, I kicked up a cloud of dust from the ground, obscuring his vision and creating a momentary blindspot. As he stumbled forward, disoriented by the sudden obstruction, I seized the opportunity to close the distance between us.

With a swift motion, I grabbed hold of him, feeling the weight of his bulk in my grasp. At that moment, I remembered the Gold card I had acquired, the Additional Strength card that promised to triple my body weight.

Without hesitation, I activated the card, feeling a surge of power coursing through my veins as my body suddenly tripled in weight, from 75 kilograms to a staggering 225 kilograms. With newfound strength and determination, I tightened my grip on the bulk man, grappling him tightly as I prepared to unleash my next move.

With a mighty effort, I heaved him off his feet, the force of my enhanced strength propelling him through the air. With a loud thud, he crashed to the ground, the impact reverberating through the air as dust and debris scattered around us.

As the dust settled and the chaos of the recruitment began to subside, I glanced around and noticed that only a handful of us remained standing amidst the aftermath of the intense battle. The air was thick with tension and exhaustion, and I could see the weariness etched on the faces of my fellow competitors.

Some of them were panting heavily, their chests heaving as they struggled to catch their breath after the brutal ordeal. Others were nursing bruises and injuries, evidence of the fierce combat that had unfolded in the old gymnasium.

The voice echoed through the old gymnasium, cutting through the lingering tension like a beacon of reassurance. It was the same voice that had addressed us at the beginning of the recruitment, now filled with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

"Congratulations," the man's voice rang out, carrying a tone of genuine admiration and respect. "You have proven yourselves worthy of selection."

"As a member of the West GangBuk High Crew, we'll need to take a picture of your I.D. and run a background check."

His words echoed in my ears, a confirmation of my newfound status as a member of West GangBuk High. 

Nodding eagerly, I stepped forward along with my fellow recruits, eager to complete the final steps of the induction process. The man motioned for us to gather around as he produced a camera, preparing to capture our images for our official IDs.

With the photo-taking complete, the man informed us that there would be a background check to ensure our membership eligibility. It was a standard procedure, but one that filled me with a sense of validation. 

"Listen up, all ten of you need to be back at the same area tonight around 10:00 pm," he stated firmly.

As the ten of us left the gym after his lengthy speech, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. Tonight's gathering at 10:00 pm would mark the beginning of my journey as a member of West GangBuk High, and I was eager to see what lay ahead.