《Fighting Beast》 Chapter 1 – The Beast’s Curse Chapter 1 ¨C The Beast¡¯s Curse The sound of breaking bones was unmistakable. A sickening crack echoed through the alleyway, followed by a scream. Blood dripped onto the pavement, mixing with the rain as the boy lying on the ground trembled in pain, his arm bent at an unnatural angle. Kang Jinhyuk stood frozen, staring at his own hands. He hadn''t even hit him that hard. Had he? Around him, the other kids backed away, their eyes filled with something he had seen too many times before¡ªfear. "F-Freak¡­" one of them muttered. Jinhyuk clenched his fists, feeling his nails dig into his palms. He wanted to say it was an accident. That he hadn¡¯t meant to hurt anyone. That he hadn¡¯t even been trying. But the words stuck in his throat, useless. They wouldn''t believe him. They never did. From the moment he could walk, Kang Jinhyuk was different. As a child, he didn''t understand why he broke everything he touched. Why his hugs left bruises. Why playing tag ended with other kids crying on the ground. His mother tried to reassure him, telling him he was just "stronger than most." But that strength was a curse. By the time he was in elementary school, the whispers had already started. "Don''t play with Jinhyuk." "He¡¯s dangerous." "He doesn''t know his own strength." It wasn¡¯t long before kids stopped wanting to be around him. Teachers kept a watchful eye on him, worried he might accidentally hurt someone. And eventually, even Jinhyuk himself began to fear his own body. So, he stopped.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Stopped playing. Stopped moving. Stopped fighting back when he was shoved, insulted, and excluded. He thought if he let himself shrink, if he hid his strength away, maybe they would stop looking at him like that. But the world didn¡¯t work that way. Bullies saw him as an easy target. Teachers assumed he was the problem. And when he finally lost control that day in the alley, breaking a classmate¡¯s arm with a single punch¡ªhe became a monster in their eyes. The Incident The school didn''t expel him, but they might as well have. His classmates avoided him, his teachers barely acknowledged him, and the whispers only got worse. The kid he had injured had a rich father who made sure Jinhyuk''s name was blacklisted from most schools in the area. His mother¡ªhis only source of comfort¡ªworked two jobs to keep them afloat, always coming home too exhausted to talk for long. She never blamed him. Never got angry. But her tired eyes told him everything. He was a burden. A problem that had no solution. Until one day, a letter arrived. Shinhwa Martial Arts High "We invite Kang Jinhyuk to enroll in Shinhwa Martial Arts High, a specialized academy for students with exceptional physical potential." Jinhyuk read the words over and over, disbelief creeping in. A school where fighting wasn¡¯t a crime, but a skill? Where strength wasn¡¯t feared, but respected? For the first time in years, he felt something other than guilt weighing on his chest. Hope. That night, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. A tall, broad-shouldered seventeen-year-old with sharp features, dark eyes, and a body built for war. He had spent so long hating himself, fearing what he could do. But if this school could teach him control¡­ if he could finally learn to master his strength instead of hiding it¡­ Maybe he could stop being a beast. Maybe he could become a fighter. The moment he stepped onto the campus of Shinhwa Martial Arts High, Jinhyuk knew this place was different. The school didn¡¯t look like a normal high school. There were no nervous freshmen, no teachers yelling at kids to get to class. Instead, students sparred in open courtyards, groups of fighters watched from the sidelines, and the air was thick with competition. This wasn¡¯t just a school. It was a battleground. Jinhyuk adjusted the strap of his duffel bag and walked through the gates, ignoring the stares. He had felt out of place everywhere he went, but here¡­ here, he could feel it. Power. Raw, unfiltered, and dangerous. And if he wanted to survive in this world, he would have to prove he belonged. As he took another step forward, a voice called out. "New guy, huh?" Jinhyuk turned. A student stood in his path, arms crossed, a smirk on his face. He was lean but muscular, his stance relaxed but predatory¡ªlike a wolf sizing up its prey. "You look strong," the student said. "But let''s see if you can actually fight." Before Jinhyuk could respond, the student launched a kick straight for his head. And just like that, his new life began. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 – A Den of Monsters Chapter 2 ¨C A Den of Monsters Kang Jinhyuk¡¯s first fight at Shinhwa Martial Arts High began the moment he walked through the gates. The kick came fast, aimed straight for his head. Most people wouldn¡¯t have even seen it coming. Jinhyuk did. His instincts roared to life, muscles tightening. His body moved before his mind caught up. He tilted his head, the student¡¯s foot passing inches from his face, wind brushing his cheek. Without hesitation, he reached out¡ªgrabbing the attacker¡¯s ankle in mid-air. The student¡¯s smirk vanished. Then Jinhyuk tightened his grip. CRACK! The boy¡¯s body twisted unnaturally as he was slammed to the ground with enough force to shake the pavement. A sharp gasp echoed through the courtyard. Silence. Jinhyuk let go and stood over his opponent, who groaned, clutching his side. It wasn¡¯t enough to break bones, but the message was clear. "Don''t test me." Then the whispers started. ¡°Holy shit¡­¡± ¡°He stopped it¡ªjust like that?¡± ¡°The new guy is a monster too.¡± Jinhyuk ignored them. He had barely used any strength. If this was what passed for strong here, then maybe¡ª ¡°Yo, what¡¯s all the commotion?¡± A voice cut through the crowd. Deep, casual, but carrying undeniable authority. The students parted, and a figure stepped forward. "Iron Fist" Baek Dohyun (Rank 24) Baek Dohyun. Tall, broad, and built like a living tank. His uniform jacket was slung over his shoulders, revealing arms covered in scars. His knuckles were wrapped in white tape, stained slightly red. He took one glance at the kid on the ground, then looked at Jinhyuk. "You did that?" Dohyun asked, cracking his neck. Jinhyuk met his gaze. "He attacked first." Dohyun smirked. "Then I guess it''s fair. But listen, newbie¡ªthis is Shinhwa. Here, fights aren¡¯t accidents. They''re the rules."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. He stepped closer, the weight of his presence pressing down like a boulder. The students around them barely breathed. "Iron Fist" Baek Dohyun¡ªRank 24. The leader of The Iron Club, a gang that controlled most of the school¡¯s gym facilities and training halls. A brawler with fists as hard as steel. "I¡¯ll give you some advice," Dohyun continued. "If you''re strong, you''ll be challenged. If you''re weak, you''ll be crushed. And if you want to survive¡­" He clenched his fists, and his knuckles popped like gunshots. "You better learn the pecking order fast." Jinhyuk stared at him, unflinching. "So where do I start?" Dohyun¡¯s smirk widened. "Good answer." The Ranking Board ¨C The 100 Kings of Shinhwa Jinhyuk followed Dohyun through the main campus. The school was nothing like a normal high school. Instead of clubs for debate or music, there were fight clubs, combat gyms, underground arenas, and gang factions. Power dictated status. Those in the Top 100 weren¡¯t just students¡ªthey were monsters. The Ranking Board stood in the middle of campus, a massive digital screen listing the strongest fighters. [Top 100 Fighters of Shinhwa Martial Arts High] Rank 100 - "Savage Bull" Han Taekyu (Wrestling Club Leader) Rank 75 - "Silent Executioner" Choi Minjun (Underground Arena Enforcer) Rank 50 - "Dancing Reaper" Lee Hana (Gang Leader - Black Lotus Syndicate) Rank 24 - "Iron Fist" Baek Dohyun (Iron Club Leader) Rank 10 - ??? Rank 5 - ??? Rank 1 - Dragon Emperor - Jin seongho "The Top 50 run everything," Dohyun explained. "Clubs, gangs, fight rings, even gambling operations. If you''re not one of them, you''re a pawn." Jinhyuk scanned the list. The Top 10 had no descriptions. Just their names and titles. "The ones at the top," Dohyun continued, "are beyond human. The Student Council is made up of them, plus the instructors." Jinhyuk didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he asked, "How do I get on that list?" Dohyun barked out a laugh. "Damn. You¡¯re ambitious, huh?" Jinhyuk wasn¡¯t joking. If this school was home to monsters, he needed to know where he stood. Dohyun grinned. "Well, since you¡¯re so eager¡­ how about we test you out?" Jinhyuk found himself inside one of the underground arenas, a hidden fight club beneath the school. It was dark, packed with students betting on matches. The air smelled of sweat, blood, and money. Dohyun leaned against the cage wall. "You win here, people notice. You lose? No one remembers you." A buzzer rang. The gate opened. His opponent stepped in. "Mad Dog" Kim Jisoo ¨C Unranked Aspirant A lean, wiry guy with sharp eyes and a feral grin. His uniform was tattered, his hands wrapped in dirty bandages. Jisoo wasn¡¯t in the Top 100, but he wanted to be. And he was willing to kill for it. The announcer roared, "BEGIN!" BOOM! Jisoo lunged. His speed was terrifying. A flurry of punches and kicks came at Jinhyuk from every angle¡ªwild, unpredictable, rabid. Jinhyuk dodged the first few, analyzing his movements. Jisoo fought like an animal, biting, clawing, throwing elbows and knees. A fist flew at Jinhyuk¡¯s jaw. He twisted, barely avoiding it. But then¡ª CRACK! Jisoo¡¯s knee slammed into his ribs. Pain exploded through his side. "Heh. You¡¯re not untouchable." Jisoo grinned, licking blood from his lip. Jinhyuk exhaled, stepping back. "Neither are you." Then he attacked. BAM! His fist sank into Jisoo¡¯s stomach, lifting him off the ground. Before he could recover, Jinhyuk grabbed him by the collar and¡ª THWACK! ¡ªslammed his knee into Jisoo¡¯s face. Blood splattered. The crowd roared. Jisoo staggered, eyes dazed. He tried to shake it off, but Jinhyuk was already there. A roundhouse kick¡ªbrutal, fast, precise. SMASH! Jisoo¡¯s head snapped back. His body crumpled. Silence. Then, an explosion of cheers. Dohyun grinned from outside the cage. "Well, damn. The beast can fight." Jinhyuk exhaled, shaking the adrenaline from his limbs. This was it. He had taken his first step into the world of monsters. And he was just getting started. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 – The Past Never Dies Chapter 3 ¨C The Past Never Dies
The underground arena was in chaos. Students roared, money exchanged hands, and bets were settled. Kang Jinhyuk stepped over the fallen opponent, sweat cooling on his skin. His first fight at Shinhwa Martial Arts High had ended in a statement¡ªone that everyone in the school had heard loud and clear. But he wasn¡¯t done yet. Baek Dohyun grinned from outside the cage. ¡°Damn, newbie. You¡¯re the real deal.¡± Jinhyuk rolled his shoulders. ¡°Was there ever a doubt?¡± Dohyun laughed, clapping once. ¡°Not bad, not bad. But that guy wasn¡¯t Top 100. He was just trying to break into the rankings.¡± Jinhyuk didn¡¯t reply. The fight had been a warm-up. If anything, it told him one thing¡ªhe was still far from the top. As he stepped out of the cage, the crowd parted. Some looked at him with admiration, others with wariness. In a school ruled by combat, reputation meant survival. He was about to leave when a sharp voice cut through the air. ¡°Kang Jinhyuk.¡± The energy in the room shifted. The students turned, their expressions stiffening. Even Dohyun¡¯s grin faltered for a moment. Jinhyuk turned. A man stood at the entrance of the underground arena. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an instructor¡¯s uniform. His black eyes locked onto Jinhyuk, unreadable. Jinhyuk¡¯s breath hitched. His body tensed on instinct. It had been years, but he could never forget this man. Han Daehyun. His mentor. His first teacher. The man who had found him when he was nothing but a scared, beaten child curled up in an alley, crying after being called a freak. Jinhyuk swallowed. For a second, he wasn¡¯t in the underground arena anymore. He was back in that dark alley, his body aching from bruises, fists clenched around his knees. And then¡ª A hand had reached out to him. ¡°You got knocked down. So what?¡± A deep voice, firm but calm. The voice of the man who would teach him everything.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. That same man was standing before him now. An instructor at Shinhwa. ¡°You''ve grown,¡± Daehyun said. Jinhyuk¡¯s fingers curled into fists. His voice was steady. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± Daehyun studied him for a long moment before finally speaking. ¡°Neither did I. But I should have known.¡± The murmurs around them grew louder. The students weren¡¯t stupid¡ªthey could feel the tension. Jinhyuk wasn¡¯t just some new student. Dohyun, ever the instigator, chuckled. ¡°You two know each other?¡± Daehyun ignored him. His gaze didn¡¯t waver from Jinhyuk. ¡°Follow me.¡± It wasn¡¯t a request. Jinhyuk glanced at Dohyun, who just shrugged. ¡°Better listen to the teacher, newbie.¡± Jinhyuk exhaled sharply and followed. The hallways of Shinhwa were eerily silent compared to the underground arena. Daehyun walked ahead, his pace steady, his hands clasped behind his back. Jinhyuk followed, his mind racing. Eventually, they reached a training hall¡ªone of the many dojos on campus. The moment they stepped inside, Daehyun shut the doors behind them. Silence. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then¡ª Daehyun sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here, Jinhyuk.¡± Jinhyuk crossed his arms. ¡°Same here. I thought you vanished years ago.¡± Daehyun¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°I had my reasons.¡± Jinhyuk scoffed. ¡°Everyone does.¡± Daehyun studied him, his sharp gaze tracing every scar, every hardened line on Jinhyuk¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡± Jinhyuk shrugged. ¡°People do.¡± ¡°Not always for the better.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to talk about the past.¡± Daehyun raised a brow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± Jinhyuk opened his mouth to argue, but Daehyun suddenly moved. Fast. Before Jinhyuk could react, Daehyun¡¯s fist was inches from his face. Instinct screamed, and Jinhyuk twisted¡ªjust barely avoiding the strike. But Daehyun was already moving again. A kick. Low, precise. Jinhyuk barely managed to block it, the force sending him skidding backward. ¡°What the hell¡ª?¡± Daehyun didn¡¯t let up. Jinhyuk gritted his teeth. He had no choice. He fought back. His foot lashed out¡ªa counter kick aimed at Daehyun¡¯s ribs. Blocked. A punch. Deflected. Another strike¡ªthis time, he feinted, twisting his body at the last second to drive his elbow toward Daehyun¡¯s jaw. For a split second, he thought he had him. Then¡ª Daehyun caught his wrist. Jinhyuk¡¯s eyes widened. Before he could react, Daehyun shifted his weight and¡ª SLAM. Jinhyuk hit the mat hard. Pain flared through his back, but he refused to stay down. He twisted, moving to get up¡ª Daehyun placed a foot on his chest. It wasn¡¯t crushing, but it was enough to hold him in place. Jinhyuk froze. Daehyun stared down at him, expression unreadable. Then, in a voice that was calm and sharp as steel, he said¡ª ¡°You¡¯re strong. Stronger than when I last saw you.¡± Jinhyuk clenched his teeth. ¡°Then why the hell did you just throw me?¡± Daehyun¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Because strength alone isn¡¯t enough here.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s breathing was heavy. He stayed still for a moment, processing the words. Then, Daehyun removed his foot and stepped back, offering a hand. Jinhyuk hesitated. Then, reluctantly, he took it. Daehyun pulled him up. ¡°You¡¯re in Shinhwa now,¡± Daehyun said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the outside world. The rules here are different.¡± Jinhyuk exhaled, brushing dust off his shirt. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve noticed.¡± Daehyun crossed his arms. ¡°Then you also know that if you want to survive, you¡¯ll need more than just raw power.¡± Jinhyuk looked at him. ¡°And what do you suggest?¡± Daehyun smirked. ¡°You were always sharp. I¡¯ll be blunt¡ªI can¡¯t help you like before. I¡¯m an instructor, not your mentor.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s fingers curled. Daehyun continued, ¡°But I can tell you this¡ªif you want to climb, be ready. The moment you enter the rankings, you¡¯re marked. The Top 100 will come for you.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Good.¡± Daehyun sighed. ¡°You¡¯re still reckless.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Daehyun shook his head, but there was something almost amused in his expression. He turned toward the door. ¡°Get stronger, Jinhyuk. Because the real monsters haven¡¯t even noticed you yet.¡± With that, he left. Jinhyuk stood in the empty dojo, his heart still pounding. He clenched his fists. Han Daehyun was right. The real fight was only beginning.
End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 – The Laws of Strength Chapter 4 ¨C The Laws of Strength
Shinhwa Martial Arts High was a battlefield. But it was still a school. No matter how much blood was spilled in underground arenas or how many students were carried out of sparring sessions unconscious, the foundation of Shinhwa was still education¡ªthough the kind that trained monsters instead of scholars. And today, Kang Jinhyuk was about to experience one of its infamous lectures firsthand.
Jinhyuk found a seat in the middle row, leaning back as he took in the crowd. Most students looked dangerous. Some had scars, others had the confident air of people who had already proven their worth in the underground rings. He ignored the stares thrown his way. His first fight had made an impression, but he knew better than to get complacent. A deep, powerful voice cut through the murmurs. ¡°Silence.¡± The temperature in the room seemed to drop. A tall, broad-shouldered man walked onto the raised platform at the front of the hall. His body was wrapped in a dark training gi, and his arms¡ªthick as steel cables¡ªwere crisscrossed with scars. His gaze alone was enough to make some students sit up straighter. Kang Jinhyuk felt it instantly. This man wasn¡¯t just a teacher. He was a predator. ¡°Welcome, first-years,¡± the man said, voice like rolling thunder. ¡°I am Instructor Baek Seongjun.¡± Baek Seongjun. The name alone was enough to cause whispers. Jinhyuk didn¡¯t know much about the instructors, but even he had heard of Baek Seongjun. A retired underground champion. A man whose body count in street fights was rumored to be in the triple digits. Some said he had once killed a man in the ring with a single punch. The fact that he was a teacher here meant one thing¡ªShinhwa was not just a school. It was a warzone. Baek Seongjun¡¯s sharp gaze scanned the room. ¡°You are here to learn martial arts,¡± he said. ¡°But if you think that means just throwing punches and kicks, then you¡¯re nothing but infants crawling in the dark.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. He turned and, with a single motion, slammed his fist into the steel podium. BOOM! The entire podium dented. The room fell into dead silence. Jinhyuk felt his muscles tense. That wasn¡¯t just brute force. That was precision, control¡ªpower condensed into a single strike. Baek Seongjun withdrew his fist and rested his hands behind his back. ¡°Strength is not just about power. It is about knowledge. And today, you will learn what separates the weak from the strong.¡± A projector came to life, displaying a human body on the screen. Baek Seongjun gestured toward it. ¡°There are 206 bones in the human body. 640 muscles. And thousands of nerves.¡± His eyes gleamed. ¡°And every single one of them can be broken.¡± Some students swallowed hard. Baek Seongjun continued. ¡°A true fighter does not waste energy. A true fighter knows where to strike, when to strike, and how to strike.¡± Jinhyuk leaned forward, interest piqued. Baek Seongjun walked toward the edge of the stage. ¡°If you break the collarbone, the arm loses power. If you target the solar plexus, you can force your opponent into shock. If you attack the femoral nerve, you can cripple them instantly.¡± He turned, his gaze locking onto a student in the front row. ¡°You.¡± The student stiffened. ¡°Stand up.¡± He did. Baek Seongjun moved so fast it was almost impossible to react. His fingers jabbed forward¡ªlight, almost casual¡ªstriking just below the student''s ribs. The student collapsed instantly. Gasps rippled through the hall. Baek Seongjun stepped back. ¡°I barely used any force. But I hit a cluster of nerves. If I had struck harder, he would have blacked out.¡± Jinhyuk felt a chill. This¡­ was not just martial arts. This was assassination disguised as combat training. Baek Seongjun turned back to the class. ¡°This is your first lesson. Strength is not just muscle. It is knowledge. Learn, or be left behind.¡±
Jinhyuk was deep in thought as he stepped into the hallway. And that¡¯s when he saw her. A girl stood at the end of the corridor, leaning casually against the wall. Long black hair tied in a loose ponytail. Sharp, fox-like eyes filled with confidence. She wore the standard Shinhwa uniform, but the way she carried herself¡­ She wasn¡¯t just another student. She was a ranker. Jinhyuk knew it the moment she met his gaze. The air around her was different. Dangerous. And then¡ª She smirked. ¡°So you¡¯re the new guy causing all the noise.¡± Jinhyuk tilted his head. ¡°Depends. Who¡¯s asking?¡± The girl pushed off the wall and walked toward him. ¡°Choi Yeonhwa. First-year. Rank 72.¡± The number hit like a hammer. A first-year already in the Top 100. That meant only one thing¡ªshe was a monster. Jinhyuk studied her. ¡°You don¡¯t look that strong.¡± She laughed. ¡°And you don¡¯t look that smart.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s lips curled. He liked her already. Yeonhwa stepped closer, hands in her pockets. ¡°I saw your fight. Not bad. But you¡¯re still not Top 100.¡± Jinhyuk shrugged. ¡°Yet.¡± She raised a brow. ¡°Ambitious.¡± Then, in a blur, she moved. Jinhyuk barely had time to react. A fist stopped just short of his throat. The speed¡ªinsane. The precision¡ªflawless. He hadn¡¯t even seen it coming. Yeonhwa smirked. ¡°You¡¯re slow.¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s heart pounded. He hadn¡¯t felt this kind of pressure since¡­ Since Han Daehyun. He exhaled, stepping back. ¡°You testing me?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± She grinned. ¡°Or maybe I¡¯m just curious. Either way¡ªkeep climbing. I want to see if you¡¯re worth fighting.¡± With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Jinhyuk standing in the hallway, heart still racing. He clenched his fists. Baek Seongjun had shown him knowledge. Choi Yeonhwa had shown him speed. And both had made one thing painfully clear. Shinhwa was not a school. It was a jungle. And if he wanted to survive, he needed to evolve¡ªfast.
End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 – The Jungle’s Law Chapter 5 ¨C The Jungle¡¯s Law
Shinhwa Martial Arts Highbrokerose. Kang Jinhyuk had already survived his first few fights, made a name for himself, and even caught the attention of a ranker. But if the first week had been an introduction to the school''s brutality, the second was an all-out warzone. Today was Group Combat Training. The concept was simple¡ªteamwork under pressure. The reality? It was just another excuse for Shinhwa to throw students into a bloodbath. The training field was massive, a wide-open space designed for combat drills. Rows of first-years gathered, each team of five standing in formation. The tension was thick¡ªeveryone knew what was coming. That¡¯s when she arrived. A woman stepped onto the raised platform. Unlike Baek Seongjun, who carried himself like a warlord, she moved with a deadly grace, her form clad in a sleeveless black qipao-style martial arts uniform. Her presence alone was enough to silence the crowd. Sharp crimson eyes scanned the students, her short, midnight-black hair slightly tousled by the wind. She wasn¡¯t bulky like Baek Seongjun, but no one in their right mind would underestimate her. Jinhyuk recognized her instantly. Instructor Seo Yerin. Shinhwa¡¯s Crimson Viper. A former assassin. A master of speed and precision. A woman rumored to have fought on equal footing with Baek Seongjun in his prime. Her voice was smooth but carried an unmistakable sharpness. ¡°Welcome to your first Group Combat Training.¡± She walked to the center of the platform, hands behind her back. ¡°Here at Shinhwa, strength alone is meaningless.¡± Her crimson eyes gleamed. ¡°Because no matter how strong you are¡ªif you fight alone in this world, you will die.¡± Silence. Then, a hollow thud echoed through the field. Seo Yerin had kicked a massive steel training dummy straight off the platform.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It slammed into the ground with enough force to leave a crater. Her gaze swept over them. ¡°Today¡¯s lesson¡ªSurvival Through Coordination. ¡±Jinhyuk found himself standing with four others. He recognized none of them. But in Shinhwa, you adapt fast, or you don¡¯t survive. One of them, a tall guy with lean muscle, cracked his knuckles. ¡°Guess we¡¯re a team. Name¡¯s Lee Hyunwoo.¡± His eyes held a sharpness to them. ¡°I¡¯m unranked, but I¡¯m not weak.¡± Next to him was a girl with short silver hair tied in a messy ponytail. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had seen real fights. ¡°Jung Seori,¡± she introduced herself, arms crossed. ¡°Let¡¯s not drag each other down.¡± The third was a quiet, broad-shouldered guy with a buzz cut. He didn¡¯t speak much, just gave a small nod. ¡°Kwon Daeho.¡± His voice was low. ¡°Grappler.¡± And then¡ª ¡°I suppose introductions are in order.¡± A smooth, arrogant voice. Jinhyuk turned. A boy with jet-black hair and cold golden eyes smirked. He carried himself with the air of someone used to being feared. ¡°Kang Minjae. Rank 96.¡± A ranker. And now, he was their teammate. Jinhyuk smirked. ¡®Interesting. ¡¯Instructor Seo Yerin clapped her hands. ¡°Listen up.¡± A massive digital board flickered to life. Jinhyuk grinned. This wasn¡¯t a game. It was a hunt. And he was ready. BOOM! The sound of the starting signal echoed through the air. Twelve teams exploded into motion. Jinhyuk¡¯s team darted forward, weaving through the battlefield as fights broke out around them. In the distance, two teams clashed violently¡ªa brutal exchange of kicks, punches, and bone-crushing throws. Lee Hyunwoo¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°We¡¯re not alone.¡± Three students from an opposing team charged toward them. Jinhyuk stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡± The first attacker swung a wild punch. Jinhyuk sidestepped, his footwork fluid. He caught the guy¡¯s wrist, twisted it, and drove an elbow into his ribs. CRACK! The student collapsed, coughing blood. The second one came in with a spinning kick. Jinhyuk ducked low¡ªthen shot up with a devastating uppercut. BAM! The second student hit the ground. Only one left. This time, Jung Seori moved. Her silver hair whipped behind her as she slid forward, dodging a punch and delivering a brutal palm strike to the attacker¡¯s throat. The student collapsed, choking. Jinhyuk grinned. His team was solid. But the real battle was still ahead. Four figures approached, moving with unshakable confidence. One of them, a towering beast of a student, cracked his neck. ¡°Looks like we found some fun.¡± Jinhyuk recognized him. Baek Taehwan. Unranked, but known for sheer brutality. Beside him, a lean fighter with piercing blue eyes smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s make this interesting.¡± Kang Minjae stepped forward, golden eyes gleaming. His lips curled into a cold grin. ¡°Bring it.¡± And then¡ª The real fight began. Fists flew. Bones cracked. The law of the jungle had begun. And Jinhyuk? He was going to survive. No¡ªhe was going to win.
End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 – Baptism by Blood Chapter 6 ¨C Baptism by Blood
The battlefield was chaos. Fists clashed. Bones cracked. Roars and screams filled the air. And in the middle of it all¡ªKang Jinhyuk stood unshaken. His team had barely survived the first wave of attacks, yet now they stood face-to-face with some of the most dangerous first-years in Shinhwa. Baek Taehwan¡ªan unranked powerhouse known for his ruthless close combat. Choi Sangwoo¡ªa technical striker with speed that could match a veteran fighter. And two others, each carrying themselves with a deadly aura. Their team radiated the confidence of predators. And they weren¡¯t here to play. A grin spread across Baek Taehwan¡¯s face. ¡°This is a good lineup,¡± he muttered, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Finally, some fun.¡± He locked eyes with Jinhyuk. ¡°Let¡¯s see what the rumors are about, ¡®newcomer.¡¯¡± Jinhyuk¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. He wasn¡¯t afraid. In fact¡ª He was excited.
BOOM! Baek Taehwan exploded forward. For someone so massive, he moved with blinding speed. Jinhyuk barely had time to react before a fist came hurtling toward his face. Instinct. Jinhyuk shifted his weight, tilting his head just enough to let the punch graze past his cheek. The sheer force of it sent a gust of wind slicing through the air. But Taehwan wasn¡¯t done. He planted his foot and twisted, bringing his elbow down like a hammer. Jinhyuk raised his arm just in time¡ªThis novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. BAM! The impact sent shockwaves through his bones. ¡®What power¡­!¡¯ Jinhyuk slid backward, his feet digging into the ground. But Taehwan didn¡¯t stop. He was relentless, charging again with a devastating right hook. Jinhyuk had no choice. He met him head-on. THWACK! Their fists collided. A brutal impact. The force traveled up Jinhyuk¡¯s arm, but he refused to back down. He used the momentum to twist his body¡ªhis knee shot up like a spear. Taehwan barely managed to block, but the sheer force sent him skidding back. Silence. Then¡ª Taehwan grinned. ¡°Not bad.¡± He wiped a trickle of blood from his lip. ¡°This might actually be fun.¡± Jinhyuk smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t slow down, then. ¡±Kang Minjae was handling two opponents at once. One of them, Choi Sangwoo, was lightning fast¡ªa barrage of rapid punches aimed at Minjae¡¯s vitals. But Minjae wasn¡¯t just any fighter. He moved like a shadow, weaving through the attacks with ease. His golden eyes gleamed. Then¡ª BAM! Minjae¡¯s elbow drove into Sangwoo¡¯s stomach. The striker choked out a breath¡ª And Minjae followed up. A brutal roundhouse slammed into Sangwoo¡¯s side, sending him flying. The second opponent lunged from behind, but Minjae didn¡¯t even turn around. His heel shot back, striking the attacker¡¯s knee. A sickening crack echoed. Another one down. Minjae scoffed. ¡°Pathetic. ¡±Jinhyuk and Taehwan clashed again. Fists met flesh. Elbows struck ribs. Every movement was brutal, efficient, and precise. Taehwan¡¯s power was monstrous. Every punch felt like getting hit by a sledgehammer. But Jinhyuk? He wasn¡¯t just enduring¡ª He was adapting. Taehwan threw a devastating uppercut¡ªJinhyuk leaned just out of reach, countering with a sharp hook to the liver. Taehwan¡¯s muscles tensed. Pain. Jinhyuk saw it. ¡®There it is.¡¯ He pressed forward. Low kick to the shin. Taehwan¡¯s footing shifted. Right cross to the jaw. Taehwan staggered. For the first time, his grin wavered. Jinhyuk exhaled. ¡®It¡¯s time to end this.¡¯ Baek Taehwan wiped the blood from his mouth. Then, he laughed. ¡°You¡¯re strong.¡± His eyes shone with something primal. ¡°But let¡¯s see if you can survive this.¡± He sank into a stance¡ªlow, predatory. Jinhyuk narrowed his eyes. Then¡ª Taehwan charged. Faster than before. Jinhyuk barely had time to react before Taehwan was right in front of him. And this time¡ª It was different. Taehwan¡¯s form wasn¡¯t reckless anymore. He was controlled. Precise. BOOM! A devastating punch rocketed toward Jinhyuk. And this time¡ª He couldn¡¯t dodge. CRACK! The impact sent Jinhyuk flying. He crashed into the ground, rolling to a stop. His vision blurred for a moment. Taehwan loomed over him, breathing hard. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Jinhyuk grinned. Blood dripped down his lip. He pushed himself up. And Taehwan¡¯s grin faded. Jinhyuk was still standing. No¡ª He was smiling. ¡°You call that a finishing move?¡± Jinhyuk cracked his neck. ¡°I was expecting more.¡± Taehwan¡¯s eyes widened. Jinhyuk lowered his stance. It was his turn now.
End of chapter 6