Chapter 17: The Forgotten Tyrant

The warehouse was silent.

Jihan stood his ground, his body aching from the previous fights. He had barely had time to catch his breath, but now he was facing an entirely new nightmare—Kwon Seojin.

The name alone carried weight. A legend who had ruled the school before mysteriously vanishing. His return was more than just an inconvenience—it was a declaration.

Jihan felt it the moment Seojin took a step forward. A suffocating pressure filled the air, thick and heavy. This was different from fighting Minsu, different from any opponent he had faced so far.

Seojin smirked. "I expected more."

The words barely left his mouth before he moved.

Jihan barely registered it—a blur of motion—before a fist sank into his stomach.

His entire body convulsed, his feet leaving the ground as the impact sent him skidding backward. He barely managed to stay upright, his vision swimming.

So fast. So strong.

Seojin cracked his knuckles. "Come on. Show me why they call you the new king."

Analyzing the Monster

Jihan took a deep breath, calming his nerves. He had fought stronger opponents before. He could find a way.

Seojin attacked again—this time a high kick aimed for Jihan's head. He saw it.

Jihan ducked at the last second, countering with a sharp elbow to Seojin's ribs. A direct hit.

But Seojin didn't even flinch.

Instead, he twisted mid-air, using the momentum from Jihan's strike to spin into a devastating roundhouse kick.

Jihan barely raised his arms in time. The impact rattled his bones.

He stumbled backward, breathing hard. He's playing with me.

The system flashed a notification.

Mission Updated: The Forgotten Tyrant

New Objective: Survive.

Jihan wiped the blood from his lip, eyes cold. Then I will.

Breaking the Pattern

Jihan didn't fight recklessly. He watched. Analyzed.

Seojin was fast, but even fast fighters had patterns. And after the third exchange, Jihan saw it.

Each time Seojin attacked, he left a slight gap in his defense—a fraction of a second, a small window.

Jihan took a calculated risk.

As Seojin lunged, Jihan feigned weakness—lowering his guard just enough to bait an attack.

Seojin took it.

Jihan twisted at the last second, dodging by millimeters before striking Seojin's temple with a vicious knee.

For the first time, Seojin staggered.

The crowd went silent.

Jihan didn't stop. He launched a brutal combination—elbows, punches, knees—every attack honed to perfection.

He was turning the tide.

Until Seojin suddenly grinned.

Then he moved again—faster than before.

Jihan barely saw the punch coming before it connected. A devastating hook to his ribs.

CRACK.

Pain exploded through his side. His vision blurred, his body refusing to move.

Seojin grabbed him by the collar, lifting him slightly. "Not bad," he murmured. "But you're still not there yet."

Emergency Activation

Jihan's breathing was ragged. His body was failing.

Then—

A new system alert.

Emergency Skill Unlock: Adrenaline Surge

Effect: Temporarily enhances speed and reaction time when facing a superior opponent.

Jihan felt it immediately—a surge of energy, sharp focus.

Seojin threw another punch, aiming to end it.

Jihan saw it. Every movement, every microsecond stretched out.

He ducked at the last second, countering with a brutal elbow to Seojin's chin. The impact sent him reeling.

Jihan pressed forward, attacking relentlessly. For the first time, Seojin was on the defensive.

He aimed for the finisher—

But Seojin suddenly caught his fist mid-strike.

His silver eyes gleamed. He was smiling.

"Good," he said. "You passed."

Jihan froze, his momentum broken. "…What?"

Seojin chuckled, releasing his grip. "I just wanted to see if you were the real deal. You are."

The tension in the warehouse shattered. The fight was over—but the war wasn't.

Seojin turned to leave. "You rule this school now, Jihan. But don't get comfortable."

He glanced over his shoulder, his smirk sending chills down everyone's spine.

"Because the real enemies are coming soon."

Jihan watched him go, fists clenched. Real enemies?

The system flashed a final notification.

New Arc Unlocked: The Shadow Syndicate.

Jihan exhaled. So, this was just the beginning.