"Reckoning"

The next morning, Seung Min, Jin Ho, Lee So Mi, Dae Hyun, and Jae Hoon walked casually through the school hallway. Their indifferent attitude, however, caught the attention of many students around them. Whispering voices filled the air, but none of them paid any attention.

Miss Park approached them with a slightly annoyed expression. "Kids, walk a little faster. The bell is about to ring," she said while glancing at her watch.

They gave small nods before finally entering the school. Lee So Mi parted ways to go to her own class, while Seung Min and the others stepped into theirs.

Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was lively and noisy as usual. However, this time, Seung Min seemed more cheerful than on previous days. He even smiled slightly while talking with Jin Ho and Dae Hyun.

As they walked to their seats, Ho Joon was already sitting casually on Seung Min's desk, as if waiting for him. A friendly smile was on his face as he tried to appear familiar. "Yo, Seung Min! Sit here for a bit, I want to talk."

Jae Hoon, noticing this, immediately showed an annoyed and uncomfortable expression. Dae Hyun raised an eyebrow and muttered under his breath, "Whoa… What's going on here?" while holding back a chuckle.

Jin Ho, who had been silent, slowly adjusted his glasses. His gaze sharpened, as if he were analyzing Ho Joon more closely than before.

As Seung Min started talking to Ho Joon, the atmosphere in the classroom suddenly shifted. A crowd of students gathered in the corner, each pulling out their phones with tense expressions.

Notifications popped up on their screens almost simultaneously.

"Ace Seung Min vs. Do Young! The battle begins! This is Seung Min's chance to rank up!"

Whispers filled the room. Some students looked excited, while others anxiously awaited the outcome.

It didn't take long before Do Young appeared. He walked casually toward Seung Min, confidence written all over his face.

"Finally, I get to see how strong you really are," he said in a challenging tone.

Seung Min remained silent, not responding immediately. Doubt flickered in his eyes. He had never truly wanted this—to fight for status in this crazy game.

But before he could step back, Ho Joon threw an arm around his shoulders and pulled him forward. His wide grin was full of enthusiasm.

"Come on, buddy. This is fun! You can let out all your emotions here," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

Seung Min took a deep breath, then lifted his head. His eyes slowly sharpened. If this had already begun, then he had no other choice.

The game had begun.

Seung Min and Do Young stood face-to-face in the middle of the schoolyard, surrounded by students eagerly watching. Do Young wasted no time—once the starting whistle blew, he lunged forward with impressive speed.

"Fast," Seung Min muttered in his mind.

Do Young launched the first attack, a swift punch aimed at Seung Min's face. Seung Min barely dodged, stepping back, but Do Young didn't stop. He spun and delivered a kick toward Seung Min's waist.

Bugh!

The kick connected, pushing Seung Min back a few steps. Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Come on, Seung Min! Don't just defend!" Dae Hyun shouted from the sidelines.

Jin Ho, standing beside him, observed the fight with sharp eyes behind his glasses. Meanwhile, Ho Joon grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Seung Min exhaled deeply, clenching his fists tighter. If he kept defending like this, he would lose.

"Alright," he murmured.

Then, without warning, Seung Min shot forward with a speed that shocked everyone.

Seung Min shot forward with incredible speed.

Do Young barely had time to react before Seung Min swung a lightning-fast punch straight to his cheek.

"Bugh!"

Do Young was sent flying to the side, crashing onto the ground without even getting the chance to stand up again. The entire schoolyard fell into stunned silence before an eruption of voices filled the air.

"No way! Do Young passed out from just one punch?!"

"Seung Min… is that strong?"

Eyes widened in disbelief. Even among the crowd, those who had once underestimated Seung Min now looked at him differently—some with admiration, others with fear.

Ho Joon, who had been watching casually before, narrowed his eyes, observing Seung Min more closely.

"He's strong… far stronger than I expected," he murmured to himself.

On the students' phone screens, notifications flooded in.

[Ace Seung Min has won the match against Ace Do Young!]

[Seung Min's rank has increased from Ace to "Grand Ace"!]

The crowd grew even louder. Everyone knew that the title "Grand Ace" wasn't just an ordinary rank—it meant Seung Min had now entered the elite class of fighters in the school.

While the others were caught up in the excitement, Seung Min simply let out a deep sigh and looked at his own hand.

"Just one punch…?" he thought.

Something inside him felt different. Stronger. Faster. More lethal.

And he didn't know whether it was a blessing—

—or a curse.

Meanwhile, Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok stood on the upper floor of the school building, watching the fight from afar.

Do Jin smirked slightly, leaning against the railing. "So, he finally reached the Grand Ace level… Well, I expected this," he muttered casually.

Tae Hwan let out a deep sigh, crossing his arms. "Seung Min was never just an ordinary guy. After defeating us, it was obvious he'd keep rising."

Ki Seok glanced at his phone screen, reading the notification of Seung Min's victory. "He's improving faster than we thought. All we can do now is watch."

Meanwhile, behind the school building, Min Joon stood alone, taking a deep drag from his cigarette. White smoke drifted into the darkening evening sky.

There was no look of surprise on his face—

as if Seung Min's victory was something he had already predicted.

"You're climbing higher and higher, Seung Min... But how long can you last?" he thought, flicking the cigarette to the ground and crushing it under his foot.

Without another word, Min Joon turned and walked away—

as if Seung Min's victory was nothing more than a small piece of a much bigger game.

Meanwhile, Jin Seok sat comfortably in an exclusive lounge, enjoying a glass of cold drink. Across from him, Shin Kyung leaned back on the sofa with a blank expression, his sharp eyes fixed on his phone screen.

Jin Seok glanced at him briefly before speaking. "Haven't you already ranked up? Even surpassing Do Jin and his crew?"

Shin Kyung didn't respond immediately. He closed his phone, then looked at Jin Seok with a faint smile. "That's true. But ranking isn't everything, is it?"

Jin Seok let out a small chuckle. "Of course not. But still, with your position now, you should be able to do much more."

Shin Kyung shrugged. "I'm in no rush. I prefer to observe this game from a distance for now."

Jin Seok stared at him, as if trying to read his thoughts. "So, you just want to watch? Or do you have something else in mind?"

Shin Kyung rested his head against the sofa, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm just waiting for the right moment. After all, the real battle has only just begun."

Jin Seok smirked. "You always have an interesting way of thinking, Shin Kyung."

The two exchanged silent glances, as if understanding that the game they were playing was far from over.

Inside the classroom, the atmosphere had returned to normal after the previous fight. Seung Min sat at his desk, gazing out the window with a relaxed expression. However, Jae Hoon and Dae Hyun couldn't sit still. They eagerly approached Seung Min, while Jin Ho remained in his seat, still engrossed in his book.

"Seung Min," Jae Hoon started, "teach us that liberal martial arts technique you used earlier."

Dae Hyun nodded quickly. "Yeah! You took down Do Young with just one punch! That was insane!"

Seung Min turned to them, raising an eyebrow. "Liberal martial arts, huh?" He leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Do you really think this is something you can learn in a day?"

Jae Hoon shrugged. "At least let us try. We want to know how to fight like that."

Dae Hyun pounded his chest. "Exactly! We can't keep relying on you every time there's trouble!"

Jin Ho, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. "I'm curious too. The technique you used wasn't ordinary martial arts. It was incredibly efficient, with no wasted movement."

Seung Min looked at the three of them and let out a quiet sigh. "Alright. I can teach you some basics… but remember, this isn't just about strength. You have to understand how to read your opponent's movements and use energy efficiently."

Jae Hoon and Dae Hyun exchanged a high-five, full of excitement, while Jin Ho simply gave a small smile. They knew that learning from Seung Min wouldn't be easy, but this was an opportunity they couldn't afford to miss.

Across the room, Ho Joon leaned against the window, listening to their conversation with a sharp gaze.

"Liberal martial arts…? Seung Min…? Where did he learn that?" he wondered.

His eyes narrowed as he observed Seung Min more closely. The technique Seung Min had used earlier wasn't something that could be mastered in a short time. It was a fighting style without rigid rules—flexible and highly effective in real combat.

"If he has truly mastered it, that means he's no ordinary person…"

Ho Joon leaned back deeper into his chair, his fingers tapping against the desk in a slow rhythm. The longer he watched Seung Min, the more questions surfaced in his mind.

"I need to find out more about him."

His expression grew serious. Seung Min wasn't just another student who had suddenly risen in rank. There was something deeper behind it—and Ho Joon was determined to uncover the truth.

As the sun began to set, Min Joon sat inside an abandoned building, staring blankly at the dusty floor. Smoke from his cigarette curled into the cold air, his mind wandering elsewhere.

Outside, Seung Min walked alone, leaving his friends behind. His sharp eyes followed Ho Joon, who was wearing a mysterious black jacket—just like the person who had been watching him from a rooftop before.

Not long after, Ho Joon entered the abandoned building and approached Min Joon.

"You're pretty stupid for sitting here alone, Min Joon," Ho Joon said coldly.

Min Joon glanced at him briefly. "What do you want?"

Ho Joon smirked before replying, "I betrayed you, and I'm here to finish you off."

Min Joon frowned, but before he could react, Ho Joon continued, "I'm going to avenge my mother. My mother's death… it's all because of Lee Joo Hyun."

Min Joon remained silent, trying to process Ho Joon's words.

"You know… I deliberately sacrificed Seung Min's parents to bring down Lee Joo Hyun's family," Ho Joon added, his voice dripping with hatred.

Min Joon clenched his fists but remained calm. "So you just used them as bait?"

Ho Joon sneered. "What do I care? As long as I get my revenge."

Without warning, Ho Joon moved swiftly. In an instant, Min Joon was knocked to the floor. Ho Joon grabbed a crowbar nearby, its tip gleaming under the dim light.

Outside the building, Shin Kyung and his men were watching. He picked up his phone and called Jin Seok. "Something's off. I think Min Joon is about to be taken out."

Meanwhile, inside the building, Min Joon, still sprawled on the ground, watched as Ho Joon raised the crowbar, ready to strike.

"Enough!"

Jin Seok's voice echoed through the room. He ran inside, breathless. "Ho Joon! If this is about your mother's death, it wasn't my father, Lee Joo Hyun, who killed her!"

Ho Joon froze for a moment, then glared at Jin Seok with pure rage. "Bullshit!"

Jin Seok shook his head quickly. "It was your own father who killed your mother, Ho Joon! If you need proof, I can show you!"

Ho Joon gritted his teeth. "I don't care!" He lifted the crowbar once again.

Suddenly—

A figure leaped from the shadows, moving with an unusual combat technique. A powerful kick struck Ho Joon, sending him crashing into the wall. He groaned in pain.

As he opened his eyes, someone was standing in front of him.

Seung Min.

Lowering his hoodie, Seung Min gazed at Ho Joon with cold eyes. "I already know everything."

Ho Joon was silent, trying to grasp the situation.

Seung Min stepped closer, his voice calm yet menacing. "You're so predictable, Ho Joon."

Ho Joon could only stare at him, breathing heavily, his body slumped against the wall.

Jin Seok approached, his eyes sharp as he looked at Ho Joon. "And one more thing—it wasn't just Seung Min's father you sacrificed. It turns out, Jin Ho's father was also killed because of your father."

Min Joon turned to Jin Seok, shocked. "What do you mean?"

Jin Seok took a deep breath before speaking. "Before I came here, I forced my father to tell me the truth. He said he only ordered your father, Ho Joon, to warn Jin Ho's father… not to kill him."

Seung Min narrowed his eyes. "So, it was all part of a plan?"

Jin Seok nodded. "Most likely, it was all done to sabotage my father's experiment… or maybe something even bigger is happening."

He continued, "My father found out Jin Ho's father was dead only after your father, Ho Joon, called and admitted to killing him. He did it out of personal revenge—because Jin Ho's father was a detective investigating your mother's murder."

Ho Joon glared at Jin Seok, his eyes burning with fury. "Lee Joo Hyun is still guilty! He bribed Jin Ho's father!"

Jin Seok shook his head. "Yes, because my father was trying to cover up your father's crimes, Ho Joon! And now, your real father is missing. So who's supposed to take responsibility? My father?"

Tension filled the air.

Moments later, footsteps echoed from outside.

Jae Hoon, Lee So Mi, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho arrived earlier than expected.

Jin Ho stood at the entrance, having heard everything.

His eyes widened, his expression filled with shock.

"So… my father was killed by Ho Joon's father?"

Shin Kyung stepped inside calmly, but his sharp gaze was filled with caution. As soon as he saw Min Joon still sitting on the floor, breathing heavily, he quickly glanced at Ho Joon, who was slumped against the wall.

"What happened here?" His voice was cold and authoritative.

Jin Seok let out a deep breath, still trying to calm his emotions. "Ho Joon almost killed Min Joon."

Shin Kyung walked closer, his eyes locking onto Ho Joon, who was still in pain. "Did you really think this would settle your revenge?"

Ho Joon smirked despite the blood on his lips. "I don't care. As long as I haven't avenged my mother, I won't stop."

Shin Kyung studied him for a moment before turning to Jin Seok. "So, all of this was a misunderstanding about Lee Joo Hyun?"

Jin Seok nodded. "Ho Joon thought my father was behind everything. But in reality, the true culprit was his own father."

Ho Joon narrowed his eyes as if trying to process those words. His jaw clenched, but he remained silent.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the building.

BANG!

The front door swung open roughly, and several of Shin Kyung's men rushed in with tense expressions. One of them approached Shin Kyung, speaking in a hushed voice. "Boss, there's suspicious movement outside. We suspect someone has been watching this place for a while."

Shin Kyung immediately tensed. "How many?"

"We're not sure yet, but they appear to be armed."

Jin Seok cursed under his breath. "Damn it. Are we being set up?"

Min Joon finally managed to stand, despite the pain. His eyes burned with intensity as he glared at Ho Joon. "Don't tell me this is your doing too."

Ho Joon chuckled weakly despite his injuries. "I did want to kill you, Min Joon. But this time, it's not me who called them."

Shin Kyung signaled his men to stay alert. He then turned to Jin Seok and Seung Min. "We need to get out of here now. If they're really after us, staying inside this building is suicide."

Seung Min clenched his fists. "Then let's fight them."

Shin Kyung looked at him seriously. "I know you want to settle this, but we can't be reckless. We need to find out who sent them first."

Outside the building, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Flashlights began sweeping the area.

Jae Hoon whispered, "They're here."

The tension reached its peak. They had only two choices—fight or escape.

Shin Kyung took a deep breath before raising his hand. "Get ready. This isn't over yet."

Seung Min stared at Lee So Mi and Jin Ho sharply. "You need to leave now. This isn't the place for you two."

However, Lee So Mi shook her head firmly, her eyes filled with determination. "I won't leave you here. I can fight!"

Jin Ho clenched his fists. "Don't expect me to run away and let you face this alone."

Seung Min sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. Meanwhile, Jin Seok turned to Min Joon, who was still weak, then to Ho Joon, who was slumped on the floor with a bruised face. "Min Joon, take Ho Joon and get out of here. You're in no condition to fight."

Min Joon hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave. "But—"

"Don't argue," Jin Seok cut him off coldly. "You know you can't handle this fight right now. Go!"

Min Joon clenched his jaw but finally grabbed Ho Joon, helping him stand. Ho Joon tried to resist, but his body was too weak. "Don't think this is over," he muttered hoarsely.

Min Joon didn't respond, only glancing at Seung Min and Jin Seok for a moment before turning away, dragging Ho Joon with him.

At that moment, Jae Hoon smirked and flexed his fingers. "Looks like this is our feast tonight."

From outside, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Shadows of several figures appeared under the dim streetlights.

Shin Kyung smirked slightly, then glanced at Seung Min and Jin Seok. "Alright, let's make them regret coming here."

Seung Min's eyes gleamed coldly. "I agree."

The night wind howled, carrying the weight of the tension in the air.

The fight was about to begin.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids