14. The Rise of a Fighter

Joon-hyuk's life at his new school was far from peaceful. From the moment he stepped into the grounds, he could feel the gazes of others, the subtle tension in the air, and the unspoken hierarchy that dictated the school's underground world. He quickly learned that the school was filled with factions—small groups of students who fought for dominance. Violence was a common language, and strength was the only thing respected here.

It didn't take long for trouble to find him. On his first week, a group of older students cornered him behind the gym. They had heard about his past, about how he had come from another school under suspicious circumstances. To them, he was an easy target.

"You're the new kid, huh?" one of them sneered, cracking his knuckles. "Think you can just walk in here like you own the place?"

Joon-hyuk remained silent, his eyes scanning his opponents. There were five of them. They were bigger, stronger, but they didn't see him as a threat. That was their first mistake.

The moment the first one lunged, Joon-hyuk moved. He sidestepped the attack and grabbed the boy's wrist, twisting it in a smooth Aikido maneuver before sending him crashing to the ground. The others hesitated for a second, surprised at how easily he had countered.

Then they attacked all at once.

Joon-hyuk didn't have time to think—his body moved on instinct. He ducked under a punch, using Judo to throw one of them over his shoulder. Another came at him from the side, but he deflected the blow with Tai Chi's redirection techniques before striking with a precise counter. Within moments, all five were on the ground groaning in pain.

He stood over them, breathing heavily. His body felt strange—like a fire had been ignited inside him. The fight had lasted around five minutes, and he could feel himself growing stronger, his movements sharper, his reactions quicker.

That was when he first realized it—his ability.

Joon-hyuk soon understood the truth: the longer he fought against strong opponents, the stronger he became. His body adapted at an insane rate, doubling in strength and speed every five minutes. However, he also quickly learned that prolonged battles took a toll on his body. If he pushed himself too far, he would collapse from exhaustion or even suffer internal injuries.

Over the next year, he refined his skills, seeking out stronger opponents within the school. Each battle taught him something new. He honed his Aikido and Judo for defense, his Tai Chi for control, and his BJJ for ground combat. But when faced with brutal, relentless enemies, he allowed himself to tap into the aggressive techniques of Krav Maga and Vale Tudo. He fought in alleys, on rooftops, in abandoned classrooms—wherever he was challenged.

Rumors of his strength spread like wildfire. No one could understand how a kid his size was taking down students twice as large. Some said he was a demon, others believed he had been trained by a legendary fighter. But one thing was certain—he was becoming the strongest in school.

Despite his growing reputation, there was one person he had yet to defeat—Seo Jin-wook, the undisputed strongest student in school. Unlike the others, Jin-wook wasn't just a street brawler. He had been training in boxing and Muay Thai for years, and his raw power was terrifying.

Their inevitable clash happened in the school's abandoned sports hall. A crowd had gathered, eager to witness the battle between the rising star and the reigning king.

Joon-hyuk faced Jin-wook, feeling the familiar heat rising in his body. He knew this fight would push him to his limit.

Jin-wook smirked. "I've heard a lot about you, new kid. Let's see if you're really as strong as they say."

He attacked first, his movements a blur. His punches came fast, precise, each one carrying the weight of years of training. Joon-hyuk barely dodged the first few, feeling the wind of each strike pass by his face. But then, he adjusted.

Five minutes into the fight, his reflexes sharpened. He started blocking and countering, his body reacting faster than his mind. But Jin-wook was no fool—he noticed the change.

"You're getting stronger," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "Interesting."

He switched tactics, using Muay Thai's devastating knee strikes and elbow blows. Joon-hyuk struggled, the sheer force of Jin-wook's attacks rattling his bones. But he refused to back down. His body adapted again, his counters becoming smoother, his own strikes carrying more power.

The fight stretched on—ten minutes, then fifteen. The crowd was silent, mesmerized by the brutal exchange. Every strike, every movement was precise, deadly. Joon-hyuk felt his body reaching its peak, his strength far beyond what it had been when the fight began. But the exhaustion was catching up. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps.

Jin-wook noticed and grinned. "Looks like you've got a limit after all."

He went in for the finishing blow—a devastating right hook aimed at Joon-hyuk's jaw. But Joon-hyuk, using the last of his energy, ducked at the last second, stepping inside Jin-wook's range. He grabbed his opponent's arm, twisted it, and delivered a crushing elbow to the ribs, followed by a powerful sweep that sent Jin-wook crashing to the ground.

The crowd erupted.

Joon-hyuk stood over his fallen opponent, barely able to keep himself upright. He had won. He was now the strongest in school.

After the fight, Jin-wook approached him, a grin still on his bruised face. "You're something else, kid. Guess I'm not the strongest anymore."

Joon-hyuk didn't respond. He was too exhausted to even think. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning. There would always be stronger opponents out there, more challenges to face. And his journey was far from over.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but wonder—just how far could he push himself? And at what cost?