Mikey's hospital room was quiet, the dull hum of machines filling the air. His arm was still in a cast, but the pain was manageable now. The broken arm had slowed his progress, but it hadn't broken his resolve.
Across the city, Kang's presence was gone, but the threat wasn't over. In Juvia, the juvenile detention center notorious for housing the most dangerous youth, Kang trained relentlessly. Every day, he pushed his body and honed his Muay Thai skills, fueled by rage and his obsession with revenge.
When I get out… they won't see it coming, Kang thought, his eyes burning with cold fire.
[Mikey's Training — Phantom Jab]
Mikey's uncle, a seasoned boxer, visited him daily.
"You've got power, but raw strength isn't enough," his uncle said. "I'll teach you the Phantom Jab—a way to land punches while hiding your intentions. Speed, precision, and misdirection combined. Master it, and your strikes will be unpredictable and lethal."
Mikey threw punch after punch, learning to feint, to mislead, and to strike with devastating efficiency. At first, his broken arm made him slow, but persistence paid off. Each day, his fists moved faster, his timing sharper.
[Jin's Shadow Step Taekwondo]
Meanwhile, Jin trained independently. Watching Kang's Muay Thai attacks in his mind, he realized he needed something beyond conventional Taekwondo.
His master taught him Shadow Step Taekwondo:
Lightning-fast footwork to dodge and confuse opponents.
Misdirection in every strike to create openings.
Perfected kicks that combine speed, precision, and unpredictability.
Jin moved like a phantom, each kick and step flowing seamlessly, leaving him untouchable and terrifying to any opponent.
[The Pressure on Mikey]
Jin remained calm. Kang's threat didn't worry him—he had already beaten the bully before. But Mikey felt the weight of the danger acutely.
He's getting stronger in Juvia… I can't let him come back and catch me off guard, Mikey thought, sweat dripping from his brow as he perfected the Phantom Jab.
Even as Jin demonstrated Shadow Step, Mikey pushed harder, determined to catch up. Each strike, each movement, each combination was another step toward closing the gap between himself and Jin's terrifying skill.
[Foreshadowing]
Kang was in Juvia, training, growing, and waiting. Mikey's broken arm had set him back, but with the Phantom Jab and Jin's guidance, he was catching up.
Kang would return stronger and more dangerous.
Jin remained confident, having already proven his dominance.
Mikey's journey, skill, and determination would decide whether he was ready for the next confrontation.
Mikey clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. Next time… I won't lose. I'll be ready.