Julian’s head throbbed as he recovered from the immense images and thoughts. Yet, he felt lethargic, and leaning against the cold stone wall helped him cool off.
"You’re pretty dangerous, are you on drugs?"
Maria’s lips curled into a smirk when she asked him. It seemed she waited until Sena left for the vending machine to buy him something to drink.
"Well, even if I am, does it matter to you?"
Julian rubbed his temples, trying to remove the slight ache from earlier, though he couldn’t fix the slight daze that remained from his episode.
"Nothing, just curious," she said with a smile. "You will struggle to get home like that. Do you want me to give you a ride?" Her eyes licked across his body, her gaze different from before.
Julian shook his head, "No, Thanks."
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"Are you sure? You look pretty tired. I could make you feel better."
Maria’s body pushed closer, a little uncomfortable until her soft chest squished against his chest while her hand slipped along his thigh.
’What the hell is she doing?’
Julian’s body shifted before pushing her away, a slight grimace on his face. "I don’t need that, thanks."
Maria shrugged before pouting. "Well, it’s your loss."
He couldn’t help but feel her sticky gaze observing him while she smirked, before leaning against the wall and kicking out her legs while whistling.
A few minutes of awkward silence passed before Sena returned, her cheeks dripping with sweat after she left to buy Julian something to drink.
"Julian, I hope you don’t mind that it’s just water…"
"I don’t, thanks for buying it for me, Sena."
Julian’s cheeks lifted as he smiled at the beautiful woman.
He accepted the drink she bought and twisted the cap with a snap. Though it was only water, he didn’t mind and smiled back at her before downing it.
"You’re the best, Sena."
He couldn’t deny this face. Even when he called another woman’s name, she didn’t make a fuss or get mad at him. Instead, she showed concern for him.
"Thanks, I’m feeling better now."
Bang!
The rooftop door suddenly slammed open and smashed into the wall, creating a loud bang.
Sena frowned when seeing who stepped through the door and reached out to hold Julian’s hand. Maria, on the other hand, snorted before letting out a long sigh.
Twelve people arrived, all wearing black outfits with a snake printed on the back. They were Choi Taesung and several members of his little gang. They looked like they were ready to fight.
Choi Taesung led the group, while cracking his knuckles.
"Do you regret being a smart ass—now? Mr Hot Shit."
Min Joon, Donghae, and Hyunwoo followed Taesung wearing knuckle dusters and carrying baseball bats with menacing faces. Julian seemed to have hurt their feelings too much earlier, or maybe Maria’s rejection might have caused this.
"I am hot shit, no?" Julian refused to give the advantage or pace to this fool and wrapped both arms around Sena and Maria, with his lips curled into a wicked smirk, mocking the leading member.
His response caused Taesung’s face to become red with anger.
Taesung couldn’t control himself when he saw Julian touching Maria so comfortably; his pride as a man wouldn’t allow it! He tapped the metal bat against the concrete, trying to control his surging emotions.
"You bastard, how dare you touch my girl!" Choi Taesung shouted, his voice filled with anger and jealousy.
Julian raised an eyebrow, surprised by Choi Taesung’s reaction. "She’s your girl? If I wanted, I could take her right now, and you couldn’t stop it."
The sudden words caused Sena’s mouth to drop. In contrast, Maria’s lips curled into a devilish smile.
Sena noticed changes in her best friend, which made her feel uncomfortable and nervous. She didn’t understand why Maria started gazing at Julian with such a strange look.
Her behaviour changed after meeting Julian, which caused Sena to become jealous, yet she would rather not make a scene in front of these guys.
"Shut up! You’re just a punk who thinks he’s tough because he’s good-looking," Choi Taesung sneered, his grip tightening on the metal bat and stepping forward.
Because he struggled to recover from the image that caused him to suffer… Julian’s mood remained foul.
He released the two girls and stepped forward, facing the twelve members alone, a faint smile on his lips. As Julian’s eyes glowed, a plan formed in his mind. He ignored the two beautiful women calling out with worry.
"Julian!"
"Be careful!"
Julian faced the group of twelve gang members. Choi Taesung stood in the centre, holding a metal bat. Min Joon, Donghae, and Hyunwoo were behind him, wielding their weapons and knuckle dusters.
Woosh!
Taesung made the first move. He attacked Julian, who seemed to underestimate him.
His metal bat swung at Julian’s head with an intense force, aiming to knock his brains out.
Julian’s eyes widened as he leaned his head to the side to avoid the blow. He pulled back his shoulder and counter-attacked with a left jab. The blow connected with Taesung’s jaw and caused his face to twist in pain before he stumbled back.
"That…" Maria’s lips parted before she remained silent, shaking her head in denial.
Julian’s hips started to sway, his body bouncing on the spot, with an agile and rhythmic momentum and prepared to fight them.
The moment Taesung recovered from the sudden blow, he and his thugs closed in, Julian exhaled slowly, his heartbeat levelling out.
Twelve against one.
Perfect.
The gang leader sneered. "You should’ve kept your head down, Julian."
Julian rolled his shoulders, his gaze dull, lifeless. "I needed to let off some steam."
Taesung’s expression flickered—just for a second—before he barked, "Take him!"
The first one lunged.
Julian stepped forward, his right foot sliding in a tight arc. Fluid. Precise. Lethal.
His palm snapped out, deflecting a wild punch at the wrist, guiding the momentum past him. His other hand shot up—sharp knuckles colliding with cartilage.
CRACK.
The man reeled back, howling, blood gushing from his nose before another rushed in, throwing a heavy roundhouse kick.
Julian pivoted. He didn’t retreat—he advanced. His body slid past the kick like silk flowing through a storm.
The thug collapsed, screaming, but this didn’t affect Julian who continued moving.
The Beaumont School of Assassination Swordsmanship wasn’t about brute force. It was movement—fluid, instinctive. His body already started twisting the moment before the next attack came.
A thick-bodied thug swung a pipe, ruthlessly aiming for his skull.
Julian stepped in rather than away. Using tight, sharp footwork, he spun halfway and let the metal barely graze his cheek as it whizzed by.
His left hand caught the attacker’s ankle and yanked him off balance, before the other struck another thus in his chest, sending him to the floor like a sack of rocks.
Another came, a fist flying toward his temple.
Julian ducked low, twisted—his arm coiling like a whip before his fingers lashed out.
A sharp chop to the throat.
The thug staggered back, choking, hands clawing at his neck.
But the others weren’t waiting.
Three more came at once.
Julian welcomed them.
A blade cut through the air, slashing across his stomach. Julian’s eyes narrowed and avoided the blade by stepping to the side. He then kicked the attacker’s hand, forcing the blade to fall to the ground.
Before, a fist swung from the left.
Julian’s body weaved to the right, and countered—
A precise jab to the solar plexus. The man buckled over, gasping for air, but Julian wasn’t done.
He gripped the back of his head, driving his knee into his face with brutal efficiency.
Blood spurted, teeth flew, and the man crumpled.
While focused, another attacked Julian from behind. Julian’s senses screamed—he dropped into a low spin, sweeping the bastard’s legs out from under him and tossing the man he held at another thug.
Bodies crumpled. Blood stained the pavement.
Yet, the tide of attackers pressed in.
A fist slipped through his guard and grazed his cheekbone. Another caught him in the ribs, forcing the air from his lungs.
Julian grunted, gritting his teeth.
It had been too long since he’d fought like this, different from the game… without numbers, only sensing the damage he took with each blow, almost a nostalgic feeling.
Another fist struck his jaw with a heavy blow. The sudden burst of pain caused him to flinch, his skull shaking as Julian staggered back, tasting a sweet warmth in his mouth.
With a blurred vision, Julian staggered—only for a familiar voice to cut through the chaos.
"Bastard—! You think I’ll let you have all the fun?!"
Sena.
She was already charging forward, her body twisting into a brutal heel-driven stomp—bone cracked beneath her foot as the nearest thug collapsed in agony.
Another turned to face her—only for her elbow to crush into his face. Teeth and blood sprayed across the pavement.
Julian spit out a mouthful of red, exhaling sharply.
He hadn’t seen that move before.
Sena’s brow dripped with sweat as she brushed her hand across it and winked at her boyfriend. "What?"
"You look so sexy right now." Julian chuckled.
Then he dashed forward again, ignoring her blushed face, as she chased after him.
The last man standing was Taesung.
"W-We can talk this out…" He trembled, while holding a switch-blade, its sharp tip gleaming under the light.
"Talk?"
After being attacked and insulted, Julian could not accept this, so he shrugged his shoulders and responded.
"No."
Julian attacked like a panther. He captured Taesung’s arm and removed the knife, before knocking him to the ground with a brutal throw.
"You… you fucking monster," Taesung muttered, voice uneven.
Julian rolled his neck, a dull pop cracking through the air. Then he crouched beside Taesung, and slapped his cheek, the force causing his face to distort. "Fuck you."
Taesung’s eyes widened as he tried to escape. The fear he felt toward Julian grew with each moment. His back turned, he stepped forward, only to feel someone grab his right arm and twirl him around.
Step
A sharp knee drove into Taesung’s gut
Step
An elbow crashed against his temple.
Step
A brutal headbutt shattered his nose. The bastard slumped unconscious before he hit the ground, writhing in pain, his vision swimming with stars.
Silence.
Julian towered over Taesung, his expression cold and unyielding. The roof reeked of blood, sweat, and shattered pride.
"It’s over… finally." Julian exhaled, rolling his wrist.
And behind him… Maria stood frozen. Her hands covered her mouth with shocked, widened emerald eyes and her breath caught in her throat.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
She recognised those movements. That style.
Because once, long ago… she had been the one to teach him.
Sena panted heavily, her chest swaying with each deep breath. She noticed Julian glancing at her, and she couldn’t stop the excitement that grew in her chest.
The two smiled at each other before Sena complained.
"I’m hungry now."
"Shall we get something to eat?"