S Chapter 15

“If you win this round, the prize money is a whopping 180 million won. You know, right? That’s really amazing. I wonder if I’m going to lose all my money! Ah… Rookie, take it easy on me. I need to make a living too.”

As Gosinji whined into the microphone, the audience cheered. They shouted U-dam’s name and bought even more betting tickets. Shin Jukyeong snorted at the ridiculous display.

‘They’re just putting on an act, but they talk a good game.’

No matter how good he was at fighting, he was still a high school student. His skill level probably wouldn’t even qualify him as a clumsy amateur, so if the fighter chosen by the fight club management lost? That made no sense. They were probably just faking it and letting him win for a while. That way, the pot would grow larger.

Then, once they reached a certain target amount, they’d hire a professional, someone the challenger could never beat, to win. The management would then pocket all the accumulated betting money. That’s how this business worked. Adding words like ‘rookie,’ ‘prospect,’ and ‘newcomer’ was just to incite the crowd.

“And the opponent for this round isss!”

Flash! Flash! The electronic display flickered wildly. Shin Jukyeong fixed his gaze on it. And when the name appeared, gasps, not quite groans, erupted from the surroundings.

“How can he win against that…?”

Someone mumbled.

Seok Chang-hyeon

The name appeared on the electronic display. Shin Jukyeong knew him. He was a former professional mixed martial arts fighter, notorious for his rowdy reputation. A piece of trash who, until recently, wore his criminal record for drunk driving and assault like a medal. He was so crazy that he often dared to throw punches even at awakened individuals. He always boasted, ‘I’ll show you how an ordinary person can take down an awakened individual!’

‘These scumbags…’

Even at the bottom, there should be a certain line they wouldn’t cross. But this? It was like throwing a baby rabbit into a hyena’s cage after it had been starved for a month.

“Whoa, whoa~ Don’t get too angry! Huh? Our rookie can do it! If you bet, you have to believe, folks! What’s so scary about Seok Chang-hyeon? He’s a washed-up old man, isn’t he~?”

Sure enough, Gosinji gestured for the jeering audience to calm down. At his sudden taunt, Seok Chang-hyeon raised a hand, threatening him.

“You motherfucker.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

The atmosphere instantly froze. From an outsider’s perspective, it was so real that one might misunderstand their relationship as truly bad.

‘These scammers are really putting on a show.’

The reason for bringing in a brute like Seok Chang-hyeon was obvious. His cruelty and violence were blatantly vulgar, needing no explanation. Coupled with his showmanship that could overwhelm an audience, they’d want to put on a provocative show to make people forget the despair of losing money.

‘By horribly brutalizing the opponent…’

They were precisely targeting the needs of the madmen gathered here. That way, whether they lost money or not, they would come back to enjoy the show.

Especially, the more distinct the difference between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of being crushed, the hotter the reaction would be. The prettier and sturdier the target, the better. And wasn’t there a perfect example right before their eyes? Yes, that was it. Yang U-dam. Shin Jukyeong’s brother.

“The countdown begins now! Alright~ One, twoo-!”

U-dam and Seok Chang-hyeon took their fighting stances. The physical difference was clear from the start. Seok Chang-hyeon’s muscles were terrifyingly large. Yang U-dam was excellent for a high school student, but… well. Should he be described as relatively slender? To evaluate him more coldly, he wasn’t even in the same comparison category.

However, Shin Jukyeong’s assessment was different.

‘He’s on drugs.’

One look and he could tell. Shin Jukyeong shook his head and turned away. Change of plans. There was no other way. He couldn’t reveal his presence with his brother watching with wide, blue eyes.

“Fight!”

Instead…

‘Dirty play isn’t my hobby. But they crossed the line first.’

Shin Jukyeong stared at the steel cage. Specifically, at his brother, who was cornered.

Alright, step aside. The PvP Veteran is coming through.

Crash!

“Ah… I don’t know if I should really go all out on this one.”

Seok Chang-hyeon said, scratching the back of his head. His face was full of a sneering, mocking smile. U-dam, on the other hand, was panting heavily. It was a moment that clearly showed the weight class difference between the two.

“Ptooey!”

U-dam staggered up. Looking like he’d been thoroughly beaten, he grinned fiercely. The boy was truly handsome. But was he only outstanding in looks? Yang U-dam was even more remarkable inside.

“Yeah. Your punches feel like cotton.”

He stood firm, covered in blood. Not an ounce of spirit lost. In fact, his blood-stained teeth, baring a grin, were almost bizarre.

“You brat…”

Seok Chang-hyeon snorted at the blatant provocation. The audience was equally unenthusiastic. In a way, it was too boring a game. Perhaps that’s why cold reactions erupted from various places. Seok Chang-hyeon subtly glanced at Gosinji and exchanged a sign. Permission to move to the highlight had been given.

“Hey, kid. I have a favorite game, and it’s turning good-looking faces like yours into pig snouts. The more horribly distorted they get, the more thrilling it is.”

A declaration of intent to humiliate him thoroughly. Given his half-mad eyes and insane track record, he was the kind of person who would easily do it. Therefore, most would typically get scared and tuck their tails.

However, unfortunately, U-dam was not a person who fell into the category of ‘ordinary.’ He instead shrugged his shoulders and let out a small laugh.

“Why, are you upset that you’re the only one with a pig snout? Do kids not play with you because you’re ugly? It’s okay. It’s not your fault your face is fucked up. It’s your mom and dad’s fault.”

Then, as he cackled and retorted, Seok Chang-hyeon twitched an eyebrow, warning him.

“Your face is going to be shredded today.”

“Oink oink?”

“You bastard…!”

“Haha!”

Outwardly, he seemed relaxed and confident, but the reality was different. U-dam was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he fainted at any moment. He was at risk of becoming a regular at a plastic surgery clinic. But there was no turning back.

Finally, U-dam swallowed hard and prepared for the attack, just as Seok Chang-hyeon lunged forward.

“Aargh!”

A scream erupted.

“Eek!”

Another one.

Was that handsome face really crushed? Did it really lead to such a gruesome development? If you wanted an answer, it was half true and half false.

First. The face was indeed crushed. But it wasn’t the handsome one.

Second. It did lead to a gruesome development. But it wasn’t the scene everyone had expected.

So what was it then? A, sitting in the audience, would tell you. She stared blankly at the massive body floating in mid-air.

“Wow, how did that happen…?”

She blinked slowly.

“W-what is this…?”

Mr. B, her boyfriend next to her, also mumbled. After a brief silence, the floating body crashed to the floor, and only then did the audience erupt. It was truly an underdog’s rebellion. A Sixth SensX-level twist!

“W-w-woooow!”

“Insane!!”

A huge roar erupted. The layers of excited voices created an eerie thrill. And rightly so. Yang U-dam had knocked out Seok Chang-hyeon.

Even to someone ignorant of martial arts, it was an incredibly clean uppercut kick. A miraculous skill that made one question if he was truly a high school student. The intensity that stimulated the viewers stood out. For a brief moment, they saw an unapproachable ferocity from the messed-up boy, so the cheers continued unabated. It was only natural. It was a dramatic victory that added stimulation to stimulation.

But the most surprised among them was Yang U-dam himself.

‘What was that just now?’

His expression was strange. It was definitely not the look of someone savoring victory.

“…”

U-dam cast his gaze towards the fallen Seok Chang-hyeon. He had knocked out that giant with just one kick? He had such explosive power within him?

Nonsense. U-dam wasn’t stupid. He clenched and unclenched his tingling fist.

‘It definitely… wasn’t me.’

His gaze quickly swept through the audience. He felt like he had to. Even though he thought it was a ridiculous idea, his eyes moved busily. He couldn’t explain it in words, but… it was true. It was clear. It wasn’t him who had crushed Seok Chang-hyeon.

‘Who on earth…’

Who, when, where, what, how, why. Even with the journalistic six questions, there was no answer to be found.

“Ha…!”

U-dam’s face twisted.

‘Who are you?’

If they could take over his body, reading his thoughts would be child’s play, he thought, sharpening his guard. Well, there was no reply.

‘…I’ll definitely find you.’

His heart pounded as if he had run a hundred-meter dash.

His biggest reason for frequenting the fight club in the first place. It was because he pursued strength. He also needed money, but more than that, he thirsted for primal strength. To live a free world without a leash, he needed power that no one could suppress.

He had met and seen countless strong individuals so far. He had won, and he had lost. But this was the first time he had been so deeply impressed. He would never forget it again. The strength that had dominated his entire body.

Yes, it was truly overwhelming.

‘Did you hear? I’ll definitely find you.’

It was the beginning of a fierce obsession.