The underground arena was louder than before.
Lights flickered on the stone ceiling. Students filled the hidden gym, shouting, laughing, betting money. Some wore uniforms. Others wore black jackets with gold symbols—fighters from other schools.
Jin Haru stood near the wall with Baek Jinho. His heart beat fast. He had never seen so many strong people in one place. Some boys had scars. Some girls wore gloves and thick pads. The air smelled like sweat and blood.
"This place… it's like a mini world," Haru said.
Jinho nodded. "Yeah. Only the strong stay here."
Suddenly, a man in a red coat walked onto the center stage. He had slicked-back hair and a deep voice.
"Next match!" the man shouted. "The newcomer—Jin Haru—versus our black belt champion—Kim Doyun!"
The crowd cheered.
"Haru?!" Jinho said. "They're serious?! That guy's a taekwondo monster!"
Haru looked at the ring. A tall boy with short blond hair stepped up. He stretched his legs like a pro athlete. His eyes were sharp, like a hawk.
"REI," Haru whispered in his mind. "Can I copy taekwondo?"
REI's voice echoed softly.
"Warning: Kim Doyun's technique level is 4 stars. Your current limit allows only 50% copying unless unconscious. Your chance of winning is 11.3%."
"Great," Haru muttered. "Really helpful."
Jinho grabbed his arm. "You don't have to do this. Just say no."
But Haru shook his head. He walked toward the ring, ignoring the noise.
Inside, the red mat felt soft under his feet. The crowd went silent as the announcer raised his hand.
"Start!"
Doyun moved first. A fast roundhouse kick came at Haru's head. Haru ducked.
Too fast!
Another kick—this one low. Haru blocked it, but his arms shook. Doyun smiled.
"You've got guts," Doyun said. "Let's see how long you last."
Haru watched closely. Each move, each shift of the foot—he tried to remember them.
He copied a side-kick and tried to use it.
Doyun blocked it easily.
Not enough power.
REI spoke again.
"Copy rate: 48%. Execution power: weak. Be careful."
Doyun didn't wait. He rushed in, punching and kicking. Haru dodged some, blocked others, but his body was slower.
A spinning kick hit Haru's side. He flew back and hit the mat hard.
"Ah—!"
The crowd gasped.
Jinho stood up. "Stop the fight!"
Blood dripped from Haru's lip.
But he stood up again.
His legs were shaking. Arms bruised. Eyes foggy.
I came here to live a normal life… but I'm still fighting.
He smiled bitterly.
"Come," he whispered.
Doyun raised an eyebrow.
"Fine."
He dashed forward—faster than before. Haru tried to copy another move, a triple-kick he had just seen.
He did the first kick.
Then the second.
But his leg froze on the third.
Too advanced!
Doyun's kick slammed into Haru's chest.
Everything turned black.
---
A soft beep echoed in his ears.
"Warning: Brain overload. Emergency Combat Mode activating."
Blue light flickered in Haru's eyes.
He stood.
The crowd went quiet.
REI's voice changed.
"Entering semi-unconscious state. Muscle memory engaged."
Doyun blinked. "What…?"
Haru moved.
Fast.
His body twisted, kicked, ducked, punched—all with perfect timing. Like a machine.
Doyun couldn't keep up.
Three seconds later, he was on the ground.
The crowd exploded.
"He beat him!"
"What was that?!"
"His eyes—did you see them?!"
Cold Girl stood near the back, arms crossed.
He's dangerous, she thought. Too dangerous to be normal.
---
Later, in the locker room, Haru washed the blood from his face.
Jinho ran in. "Are you okay?!"
Haru looked into the mirror.
His eyes were normal again.
But inside… something was not.
"I didn't control that," Haru said softly. "Something else did."
Jinho said nothing.
Outside, the announcer was shouting the next match.
But everyone was still whispering about one thing:
"The boy with glowing blue eyes."