Jerry Kwon and Warren Chae confronted each other. Warren slid his hand behind his back—the same hand he'd used to block Jerry's punch. "Is it really necessary to keep your guard up? Between us and our history? I'm not going to let you off easy, since I don't have a reason to anymore."
Jerry mirrored Warren's stance. His hand trembled as he said, "It's too bad... that you're with Hostel, Warren Chae. You would've really belonged in Big Deal."
Both Warren and Jerry threw a punch at each other. "SHALL WE BEGIN?!"
But they stopped midway. Warren asked, "What? Why are you stopping?"
Jin Jang leaned against a wall behind them. He said, "Sword of Jake. Your services are no longer needed. It's time for you to leave... Jerry Kwon."
Jerry glanced back. "What are you up to? Isn't this the reason you wanted me? The war has just begun. You must know it's a losing battle if I leave now. Didn't you need me to back up Hostel? Or did Jake say otherwise?"
Jin Jang popped a lollipop in his mouth. "You talk too much. My words are Jake's words. Are you questioning Jake's words?"
Jerry Kwon walked past Jin Jang. "...I shall leave."
Jin Jang smiled. "Atta boy. That's the Jerry Kwon I know."
Then he tapped Warren's chest with his finger. "Now, let's see... Gangdong's mighty Warren Chae. There's something I wanted to talk to you about!"
But Warren wasn't in any mood for Jin Jang's games. He punched him directly in the jaw, sending him spinning to the ground. "You little chickenshit. How dare you kill my vibe."
Then he turned to the Hostel members. "And why are y'all just standing there? Aren't you gonna pay your respects?" He rushed at them with a smile. "Your uncle's here."
---
Meanwhile, Vasco was fighting Seth Lee, Hostel A's Cheonliang Branch Head. Seth Lee had always been known for his inhuman strength. Though he'd been defeated by Johan Seong in Cheonliang, Johan was a genius that no one could deny. But Vasco? Vasco wasn't.
Seth Lee threw a punch at Vasco's midsection. "What a shame. I had such high expectations when I got called to Seoul. Maybe I should have come so—"
Before he could finish, Vasco jumped forward and rammed into Seth with his knee, hitting Seth's jaw. Before Seth could counter-attack, Vasco grabbed him and delivered a knee strike to his midsection. Then he swung him to the opposite side and delivered a second knee strike to his solar plexus.
Seth went flying back. Yes, Johan was a genius that no one could deny. But Vasco? Vasco was a genius at hard work. Johan might have the software, but Vasco had the hardware.
Seth rolled back and rushed in again. Vasco grabbed him, lifted him, and tossed him behind. Seth groaned, "Y-You bastard... H-How are you this strong?"
Vasco took out a headband and put it on his head.
"That's obvious. Because I don't lose to bad guys."
---
A tall, muscular man with blue eyes, long eyelashes, thin arched eyebrows, and slightly tinted lips stood in front of Vin Jin. The guy had cauliflower ears.
Vin Jin asked, "Motherfucker, who are you? I seem to remember you from somewhere."
The guy smiled. "I am Baek Seongjun."
Vin Jin shouted, "Yeah! You're that NewTube cook, motherfucker! What the fuck are you doing here? This ain't no place to cook. Go back home and have dinner and then go to sleep. You wouldn't want your beautiful face damaged, right?"
Baek Seongjun grabbed a metal pipe from the ground and swung it at Vin Jin's head.
Vin Jin ducked and grabbed Seongjun's wrist. He twisted it, slipped his leg behind Seongjun's, and threw him over his back. Seongjun hit the ground hard.
The pipe rolled away. Seongjun got up quickly and kicked Vin Jin in the stomach. While Vin Jin was bent over, Seongjun grabbed his shoulder and arm, then threw him over his shoulder. Vin Jin crashed onto his back.
"Fuck," Vin Jin said. He swept Seongjun's legs and threw him down too.
Both got up at the same time.
Seongjun picked up a wooden crate and threw it. Vin Jin knocked it away. Seongjun rushed in and punched him in the jaw, then landed another punch to the side of his head.
"Motherfucker! You fight dirty!"
Vin Jin grabbed both of Seongjun's arms and spun, lifting him off the ground. When Seongjun was in the air, Vin Jin caught him by the collar and slammed him down.
Seongjun rolled and grabbed a chair leg. He swung it at Vin Jin's knees. Vin Jin jumped back.
"Using weapons? Pussy."
Seongjun tossed it. "Shut up."
He threw a punch, another punch, then drove his knee into Vin Jin's ribs. Vin Jin grunted but grabbed Seongjun's raised leg. He twisted the ankle and kicked Seongjun's other leg out. Seongjun fell.
Seongjun kicked Vin Jin in the chest from the ground. Both stood up, breathing hard.
Seongjun hooked his leg behind Vin Jin's and pushed. Vin Jin didn't go down. Instead, he spun behind Seongjun, kicked his foot out, and threw him.
Seongjun grabbed Vin Jin's ankle as he fell, pulling him down too. They wrestled on the ground, hitting each other with elbows and headbutts. Seongjun wrapped his arm around Vin Jin's and rolled him over. They separated.
Blood dripped from Vin Jin's nose. Seongjun's eye was swelling shut.
Seongjun grabbed a trash can lid and charged with it raised. Vin Jin spun out of the way, grabbed Seongjun's wrist, and lifted him with his leg. Seongjun spun in the air. When he came down, Vin Jin caught his wrist and slammed him into the ground. The concrete cracked.
---
Meanwhile, everyone had their opponents. Zack was facing off against another guy from Cheonliang—the same one he'd beaten on the train.
Logan Lee and Jay Hong teamed up and faced several men. Or so Logan Lee thought, until he saw it was a guy impersonating Jay. Just as he was about to beat the fake Jay, someone slammed a wooden bat on his head. Logan's mind went blank for a moment.
The same duo went for Daniel, who was already tired from his fight against Zack. The duo jumped and slammed the bat against Daniel's head. But Jay shielded Daniel and took the hit himself.
Seeing that Jay wasn't capable of fighting anymore, Daniel rushed into the group of enemies, leaving Jay behind.
---
Suddenly, a Mandarin song began to play. A braided man wearing a sweater dragged Zack Lee and Jay Hong. He shouted at the sky, "DADDY'S HERE!!! Eli! LONG TIME NO SEE!!!"
It was Olly Wang, the Big Daddy of Hostel A. He threw the unconscious Zack at Warren Chae. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!!! I GOTTA SEE ELI!"
Warren slowly put down the unconscious Zack and walked toward Olly. "I am disappointed. You didn't miss me? That day... it was you who reported to the police. You, YOU FUCKER!!!"
Olly Wang jumped at Warren. "DON'T INTERRUPT ME, YOU FUCKER!!!"
Warren looked at Olly. "I missed Eli Jang as much as you did... And I missed you... as much as you missed Eli... so that I could beat you to death!"
Saying this, he threw a punch at Olly's stomach. Olly bent over and coughed out blood.
Throughout Warren's life, he'd never learned any fighting style, any techniques. But he had what most didn't. He'd fought over a thousand opponents. He had all the experience. He'd once asked Baki to teach him, but Baki had refused. So he copied Baki's workout. Over the years, he continued and never stopped.
Warren may not realize it, but all his fighting and brawling has taught him a martial art—Jeet Kune Do. And his exercises made him unbelievably strong. He currently has both the hardware and software to become a fighter. He is now an all-rounder.
He threw a roundhouse kick at Olly's forehead. But Olly only smiled. Warren smashed Olly's face with a punch. But Olly laughed. "Hey, hey! Stop hitting me! Hey, you're breaking my nasal bone."
At this moment, Warren realized he hasn't been the only one to grow. Olly has also grown—into a monster who doesn't feel pain, fear, or terror.
Warren smacked him in the stomach once again. Olly bent over. "Bastard! You're only punching where it makes it hard to breathe. Weird, isn't it?"
Olly put his fingers into Warren's mouth and smashed him into a wall.
"You bastard!" Warren bit down on Olly's fingers. But Olly didn't show any reaction.
"Warren, if I knew you were this wea—" Before he could finish, a punch smacked him in the side of his head. Olly was sent flying.
Warren spit out the blood in his mouth. "Olly... you've grown stronger. But me? I had no choice but to grow strong. I always thought, why do I do what I do? But when I look at her smile, I feel that whatever I do, I can't stop. I can't let that smile disappear from her face."
Saying this, he walked toward the fallen Olly. But Eli called him out from behind. "You can stop now, Warren. I'm all done here."
Bodies littered the ground around Eli. He continued, "I'll talk to... Olly Wang."
Olly smiled at Eli with a teary face. "...You remember I told you I have a lot of things to show you, right?"
Several kids surrounded Eli. Olly spread his hands and said, "Say hello... to the main product of our Hostel's business... that has successfully replaced you... Little Eli Jangs."
He put his hands on the kids' heads. "No matter how much I try... I couldn't make one as good as you."
Eli's face morphed into demonic anger. The kids jumped at Eli. Olly turned to Justin Peng and Chuck Kwak.
"I want to talk to him privately. So get rid of the others."