Flashback – 2 Years Ago
The gates of Crestwood High creaked open. A younger Axel stepped inside, his hands in his pockets, eyes heavy with something more than just fatigue.
His gang—Ken, Sean, Alex, and Josh—were already there, leaning against the wall like they owned the place.
Ken: "Hey, Axel… I heard about your father. I'm sorry, man."
Sean: "Yeah… none of us saw that coming. How are you holding up?"
Josh: gritting his teeth "Who did it? Tell me right now, and we'll go handle them. I don't care who it is."
Axel stayed silent for a moment. The tension hung between them. Then he spoke.
Axel: "…I quit."
Ken: "What?"
Axel: "I'm done with the fights. I don't care about territory, I don't care about power. I just… I want a normal life."
Ken: "Come on, man. We said we'd dominate all the way to college. What happened to that?"
Axel: "I'm sorry. I'm out."
Ken: "Axel—"
Alex: putting a hand on Ken's shoulder "Let him be. If that's what he wants, we respect it."
Axel walked past them without looking back, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway as the gang watched in silence.
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Present Day – East University – Main Hallway
Ramon: "So, you're new here, huh? HAHAHAHA! Leave, kid. You don't want to be here."
Ken: "Actually, I do. My brother needs help."
Ramon: "Suit yourself."
Ramon lunged forward, swinging a heavy punch—POW! Ken blocked it with one arm like it was nothing.
Ramon kept swinging—left, right, hooks, jabs—each strike fast and vicious. Ken stepped back just enough to dodge, his eyes calm, almost bored.
Ramon: "Gonna keep blocking me? Fight back! HAHAHAHA!"
Ken: "You're annoying."
Ken threw a single punch—BANG! Ramon slid across the floor, boots scraping against the tiles.
What the hell was that? He's so strong…
Ken: "Are we done playing around?"
Ramon roared and charged again. This time, he slipped a fist through—SMASH!—right into Ken's face.
Ramon smirked. "Got you."
But his smirk froze. Ken stood there. Unflinching. Not even a mark.
Ramon: "What… the hell are you?"
Fear flickered in his eyes.
Ken's punch came like a gunshot—BOOM! Ramon's body bent from the impact, but before he could hit the ground, Ken grabbed him by the collar, yanked him up—BAM! uppercut to the jaw—then a brutal shot to the gut.
Ramon flew back, slammed into the floor, and didn't get up.
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West Wing – Raul vs Sean
Raul had Sean locked in close combat, fists flashing like pistons. Sean weaved, dodged, and deflected, but Raul's speed was keeping him pinned. An elbow clipped Sean's cheek.
Raul: "You're quick on your feet… but I've fought faster."
Sean wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Sean: "Not really."
Raul: "You're not my target. Get out of my way."
Sean: "Not so fast."
Sean blurred out of sight—WHOOSH!—then appeared at Raul's side, boot slamming into his ribs. CRACK! Raul stumbled back, coughing blood into his hand.
Raul: "Tch… you're the fastest I've ever fought."
He lunged again, fists swinging wildly. Sean disappeared—again.
Raul: "Stop—doing—that!"
A voice came from behind him.
Sean: "Stop what?"
BANG! Sean's kick smashed into Raul's back, the impact sending him sprawling face-first into the floor. Raul didn't move again.
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End of Chapter 19