Round Two

Without wasting a moment, Jinhwan smashed an uppercut into the Woodman's chin

CRACK!

Then followed up with a clean strike to his right side. As the Woodman's left hand came swinging in, Jinhwan dropped low, dropping to his knees to duck under the blow.

He drove his fist into the Woodman's left leg with full force

CRACK!

Then spun and hit the right one too. Both legs buckled under the hits, snapping like brittle branches.

But before the body could even hit the ground, the broken limbs began regenerating writhing and reforming in seconds, as if nothing had happened.

The Woodman lashed out with his left leg, but Jinhwan reacted on instinct. He grabbed the incoming leg midair, flipped his body upside down with a surge of momentum, and used the Woodman's own weight against him.

BOOM!

Delivering a powerful upside-down kick straight to the Woodman's face.

The woodman finally stumbled and hit the ground with a heavy thud, the ground cracking beneath the impact.

Jinhwan pounced, rearing back his fist and slamming it down onto the glowing green crystal in the Woodman's chest.

CRACK!

A hairline fracture appeared.

Jinhwan's eyes widened in hope.

it's working!

but before he could strike again, the Woodman's left hand shot up and grabbed Jinhwan's fist mid-swing.

There was a moment of silence. Then

CRUNCH.

"AHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Jinhwan screamed in agony as the Woodman crushed his hand, shattering every bone in his wrist. Pain exploded through his arm like lightning, his whole body convulsing from the shock.

The Woodman's grip tightened around Jinhwan's shattered wrist. Bone grated against bone as he slowly lifted him into the air, letting Jinhwan dangle like a broken doll by his ruined arm.

Jinhwan grit his teeth, blood dripping from his mouth, his body screaming with pain. Every nerve felt like it was on fire.

Then the Woodman casually raised his right hand, grabbed the sword impaled in his chest, and yanked it free with a sickening crack of wood tearing apart. His fingers flexed.

"I was starting to enjoy myself, Mortal...." he said with a sigh, voice calm and cold. "But I don't have time to play anymore."

Suddenly, his right-hand fingers split open roots twisting, stretching, writhing like a nest of snakes. Before Jinhwan could react, those roots shot forward, tearing straight through his stomach.

SHLCK!

Jinhwan's eyes widened.

The breath in his lungs vanished. Blood burst from his mouth like a fountain, drenching his chest in crimson. He couldn't scream. Couldn't move. His muscles locked up, the agony far beyond anything he'd ever felt. His head lolled back, his vision blurred. His strength was gone.

The Woodman tilted his head, almost curious.

"You're interesting, Mortal. Watching you grow in such a short time.. it was entertaining. If I had more time, I'd love to see you grow stronger."

His voice was disturbingly calm, like a teacher gently scolding a student.

Jinhwan's thoughts started to spiral as he dangled helplessly.

Is this it?

Am I… dying?

I swore I'd find the one responsible for all of this. I swore I'd kill them with my own hands. And now I'm dying.. not even at their feet… but in front of someone who doesn't even take this fight seriously.

Woodman released his grip, and Jinhwan dropped like a ragdoll. His body hit the ground hard.

THUD.

Jolting through the dirt. He couldn't even scream. He couldn't even breathe.

The Woodman looked down at him, smiling. "You can still move.... barely. Your left hand, your legs. Go on. Surprise me, Mortal."

Jinhwan lay there, twitching. His body didn't respond.

This is it.

He closed his eyes, breathing shallow and ragged.

Guess I'll be seeing Mom and Dad soon....

A bitter smile tried to form on his bloodied lips.

Not like there's anyone left who'll cry when I'm gone.....

But then.

A face..

A quiet smile...

That soft voice.....

Those eyes that never judged him.

My quiet storm....

His heart clenched.

No. No, not yet.

How… how could I forget her?

I still haven't seen her again. I still haven't said goodbye. I still have someone.

Like hell I'm leaving her alone.

Jinhwan's eyes snapped open, burning with defiance. His entire body screamed at him to stop but he wouldn't listen.

With a trembling breath, he forced his left arm to move. Fingers numb, shaking, he reached down into his pouch and grabbed the last healing potion. A tiny glass vial no larger than a pen.

He slammed it against his stomach, shattering it.

The thick, glowing liquid poured onto his wounds. And then the potion hissed as it touched his flesh. His torn stomach began to mend, muscle reknitting, skin sealing, blood slowing. His left hand straightened, bones cracking back into place. He felt strength trickling back into his veins like sunlight after a storm.

The pain didn't vanish, but it dulled just enough. Jinhwan let out a shaky breath, every inch of his body still aching, but no longer broken. With a slow, stubborn effort, he pushed himself to one knee. then to his feet. Blood still clung to his skin, his clothes torn and soaked, but he stood tall.

Across from him, the Woodman watched with mild amusement, arms loosely at his sides, that smug smile still carved into his face like a scar. The green crystal on his chest glinted in the moonlight, untouched.

"Well, well," he mused. "That's some high-grade healing potion. I mean, I've seen good ones but that? Healing through those wounds in seconds? Impressive. Those weren't scratches."

His voice was calm, casual. He didn't even sound disappointed that Jinhwan had survived but more like curious.

"So tell me, Mortal.... I can tell you're not here for money. Not for fame, either. So what is it? Why are you so hellbent on finding the one who connected the gates to Earth?"

The wind howled softly between them. Smoke still lingered in the air behind the Woodman, dancing like ghosts around his wooden limbs.

Jinhwan stared up at him, shoulders slowly squaring. His wounds had closed. His strength was returning. His blue eyes, once dulled by blood loss, now glowed again sharper, colder, more alive than ever.

His fists clenched.

"When I find that bastard." he said, voice low and tight like a blade on the verge of snapping, "I'm gonna kill him in the worst way possible."

There was no hesitation in his voice. No room for mercy. Just raw, burning fury.

The Woodman's smile widened.

"Oh?" he said, head tilting slightly. "That's the spirit. I'd love to see how you pull that off."

He took a slow step forward, lifting both hands into a loose fighting stance nothing fancy, just relaxed, open-palmed, like someone about to enjoy a sparring match.

"Since you're using bare hands now… I'll play fair. No special abilities. No regen. Just me and this body."

He tapped his own chest with two fingers lightly.

"Let's see what you've got left, Mortal."

The air between them shifted.

No more small talk. No more stalling.

Just two fighters standing in the aftermath of destruction one made of wood, grinning like a predator, and the other made of pure spite, clenching bloodied fists that refused to stop fighting.

[Chapter 10 end]