Chapter 36: Bongcheon Dong 1/?

The construction site loomed before us, an eerie silhouette against the dim glow of the city lights. The hollow structure was incomplete, surrounded by scaffolding and piles of materials. Shadows danced across the ground floor, where Bongcheon-dong's members gathered, their loud voices bouncing off the steel beams.

Without hesitation, I walked forward. My pace was steady, my eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring the bullies that quickly noticed our intrusion. Dowan followed closely, a grim determination etched on his face. Se-Hoon trailed slightly behind, his eyes darting around, gauging the area. Yu, as usual, walked without a care, his hands shoved in his pockets.

The bullies on the ground floor froze as they saw us. There were about thirty-four of them, and it didn't take long for a group of five to step forward. Armed with iron bats, crowbars, and other crude weapons, they rushed toward me.

"Hey, who the hell are you?! Think you can just-"

Before the first one could finish his sentence, I shifted slightly, stepping forward with precise speed. My fist snapped out, striking the leader square in the solar plexus. He crumpled instantly, his weapon clattering to the ground as his breath escaped in a sharp gasp.

The second swung an iron bat toward my head. I ducked under it with a fluid motion, closing the gap between us. My hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. A quick twist and a sharp knee to his ribs sent him sprawling onto the concrete, clutching his side in pain.

The remaining three hesitated, but only for a moment. They charged together, one swinging a crowbar, another aiming a kick, and the last lunging with a pipe. I sidestepped the crowbar and jabbed my elbow into his throat, sending him staggering back. I caught the kick mid-air, yanking the attacker off balance before driving my palm into his chest. He flew backward, crashing into a stack of wooden pallets.

The final attacker swung the pipe with desperation. I leaned back, letting the weapon whiff past my nose. My fist shot forward in retaliation, a sharp jab to his jaw that left him unconscious before he hit the ground.

Dowan and Se-Hoon moved in next, engaging the remaining bullies. Dowan gripped a wooden bat he had brought along, his stance confident. With each swing, he sent bullies reeling. His movements were fluid, a testament to the improvement he had made over the past weeks. The weapon mastery skill he had earned was on full display as he expertly deflected an iron pipe with his bat before striking his opponent's shin and sending him down.

Se-Hoon, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of brute force. His punches were wild yet powerful, each landing with a sickening crack against his opponents. One bully aimed a crowbar at his head, but Se-Hoon tanked the hit with his shoulder and retaliated with a devastating uppercut that sent the attacker airborne. Another tried to grab him from behind, but Se-Hoon spun around and delivered a knee to the gut, followed by a swift roundhouse kick that left his opponent unconscious.

Amid the chaos, Yu remained motionless, watching the scene unfold with his usual disinterest. Three bullies, emboldened by his lack of action, approached him cautiously. Their confidence grew as they realized he wasn't moving, and they raised their weapons to attack.

But then they froze. Their eyes widened in terror as an overwhelming illusion took hold of their minds. They saw themselves being ripped apart, massive holes puncturing their bodies as though a phantom blow had torn through them. They trembled, their grips on their weapons faltering as cold sweat dripped down their faces.

Yu tilted his head slightly, his expression bored. Before the bullies could react, his body moved in a blur. A kick struck the first one's knee, sending him crumpling to the ground. The second found himself airborne, Yu's palm having hit his chest with such force that he was launched into the air. The third, too stunned to move, felt a sharp jab to his side that left him limp and unable to stand. Yu straightened his posture, brushing off imaginary dust from his hands before shoving them back into his pockets.

The rest of the bullies began to rally, forming small groups to target each of us. The room became a cacophony of shouts, grunts, and the metallic clang of weapons hitting the floor.

Dowan spun his bat, deflecting a strike from an iron pipe before smashing it into the ribs of his attacker. He followed up with a downward swing, the bat cracking against another bully's shoulder. He moved with confidence, taking on multiple opponents at once and using their weapons against them.

Se-Hoon barreled through his opponents like a bulldozer. One unlucky bully tried to land a hit on him with a wrench but was met with a thunderous headbutt. Se-Hoon then grabbed another by the collar, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him into the concrete. His raw strength was on full display, his hits sending opponents flying or leaving them writhing on the ground.

Meanwhile, I moved with precision, incapacitating opponents with minimal effort. I targeted weak points, knees, joints, and ribs, ensuring each hit left my enemies unable to continue. One lunged at me with a knife, but I sidestepped effortlessly and struck the nerve cluster in his shoulder, making him drop the weapon with a cry of pain. Another came at me with a bat, but I caught it mid-swing, twisted it from his grasp, and used it to knock him unconscious.

The floor was soon littered with groaning bodies, their weapons scattered. I motioned for the others to follow as I made my way toward the stairs. Dowan and Se-Hoon fell in line, their expressions serious. Yu, as always, looked unbothered, his hands in his pockets as he walked alongside us.

As we ascended the stairs, I glanced at the carnage we left behind. Thirty-four men, all defeated. I didn't feel any satisfaction, only a grim determination. This was just the beginning.

I glanced at Yu. "Did you watch closely?"

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah."

"Good." I said, my tone firm. "Learn everything you can. Tonight is just the start."

....

The three-story skeletal structure of the construction site was bathed in the dim glow of the city, the air heavy with tension. As we climbed to the top, the echoes of our footsteps mixed with the faint groans of the defeated below. The moonlight cut sharp angles through the exposed beams, casting long shadows. Standing at the center of the open space, waiting for us, were Bongcheon-dong's leaders.

Ji Baek stood to the side, his smirk wavering as his eyes darted between us. Beside him was Cho Il Seok, his hulking frame almost unnaturally still, his cold stare piercing. Finally, at the center stood Seokyoung Jeong, dressed sharply as ever, his calm demeanor belying the deadly aura he carried. At his side stood his towering right-hand man, clad in black, a gold chain gleaming against his slightly tanned skin.

Seok's lips curved into a sly smile as we stepped into view. "So, we finally meet." he said, his voice smooth, yet carrying a hint of menace.

I returned his gaze with a faint smile, nodding slightly. "Indeed."

----

1216 words.

Stooooneeeesss!

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