Gun came in low, his body shifting from side to side. He threw a quick jab at Seongji's face. Seongji moved his head. Gun's second punch came right after, aimed at the ribs.
Seongji's elbow came down, blocking it. The impact jarred Gun's arm. He stepped back half a step, then immediately kicked, his shin aimed at Seongji's thigh again.
Seongji checked it with his own leg. Shin met shin. Both men grimaced, but neither backed down.
Gun pressed forward. He threw a punch, then another. Seongji blocked both. Gun faked a third punch, then dropped down, his leg shooting out to sweep both of Seongji's legs at once.
Seongji jumped—not high, just enough. Gun's leg passed under him. Before Seongji landed, Gun was already rising, his fist driving upward toward Seongji's chin.
Seongji twisted in the air. The punch clipped his shoulder instead. He landed on one foot and immediately kicked with the other. His heel caught Gun in the chest.
Gun flew back and hit the terrace railing, the metal bending under the impact. He pushed off immediately, using the momentum to charge back at Seongji.
His shoulder drove into Seongji's midsection. Seongji's feet slid back. Gun kept pushing, trying to drive him into the wall. Seongji's hands came down on Gun's back, fingers digging in. Gun felt the pressure on his spine.
Gun twisted. His elbow came up, crashing into Seongji's jaw. Seongji's head snapped back, his grip loosening. Gun pulled away and kicked at Seongji's knee.
Seongji turned his leg so the kick hit the side of his thigh instead. He grabbed Gun's kicking leg with both hands and lifted it high. Gun hopped backward on one foot, trying to keep his balance.
Seongji pushed forward. Gun had to hop back more, his back hitting the railing. Seongji still held his leg up. Gun's hands grabbed the railing for support.
Gun suddenly pushed off the railing with his hands, his body going horizontal. His free leg swung around, heel aimed at Seongji's head.
Seongji ducked and let go of Gun's leg. Gun flipped in the air and landed on his feet.
Both men were breathing harder now—sweat on their faces, blood and bruises marking them.
Gun didn't wait. He came in with a spinning attack, his body turning, elbow leading. The elbow aimed for Seongji's temple.
Seongji raised both arms, blocking it. The force pushed him sideways. Gun's spin continued, his other elbow coming around from the opposite side.
Seongji couldn't block in time. The elbow caught him in the ribs. He heard something crack and felt pain shoot through his side.
Gun landed facing Seongji. He kicked immediately, his foot driving into the same ribs he'd just hit with his elbow.
Seongji stumbled back, his hand going to his side. Gun saw the opening. He rushed in, throwing punch after punch. Seongji blocked most of them, but his movements were slower now, protecting his injured ribs.
One of Gun's punches got through, hitting Seongji's cheek. Another landed on his jaw. Seongji's head rocked back.
Gun jumped, his knee coming up toward Seongji's face.
Seongji's hand shot up. He caught Gun's knee in his palm, stopping it cold despite the injured ribs. His other hand grabbed Gun's thigh. He lifted Gun up, then threw him down.
Gun crashed into the concrete. More cracks spread across the terrace floor. He rolled away, but slower this time. His back was screaming.
Seongji advanced, his breathing labored now. Each breath sent pain through his ribs, but he kept moving forward.
Gun got to his feet. He saw Seongji favoring his left side and went for it immediately—a quick kick to the injured ribs.
Seongji turned away, taking the kick on his back instead. He spun back around, his palm driving toward Gun's face. Gun ducked under it and grabbed Seongji's extended arm, pulling. At the same time, his leg hooked behind Seongji's knee.
Seongji fell backward. Gun fell with him, landing on top. Gun's fist came down toward Seongji's face.
Seongji turned his head. The fist hit the concrete beside his ear. The ground cracked. Gun pulled his hand back, knuckles bleeding, and threw another punch.
Seongji bucked his hips. The movement shifted Gun forward, and the punch missed. Seongji's legs came up, wrapping around Gun's arm and neck. He squeezed, trying to choke Gun out.
Gun's free hand grabbed Seongji's leg. He gritted his teeth, trying to power through. His face was turning red. He couldn't breathe. His other hand clawed at Seongji's leg, trying to break the hold.
Seongji squeezed harder. Gun's vision started to blur. He stopped trying to break the hold. Instead, he turned his body, bringing his knee down hard on Seongji's injured ribs.
Seongji's grip loosened. Gun sucked in air. He brought his knee down again—harder. Seongji let go completely, rolling away while clutching his side.
Both men got to their feet slowly. Gun's neck was red, marked where Seongji had choked him. Seongji held his ribs, each breath clearly painful.
They stood ten feet apart—both battered, both bloodied, neither backing down.
Gun spat blood onto the terrace. "This fight... it's better than the best night I've had with any woman."
Seongji straightened up despite the pain. "What?"
Gun laughed. It turned into a cough. "Nothing."
He moved forward again.
He threw a low kick. Seongji checked it. Gun threw another immediately after, then another. He was wearing down Seongji's legs, making him lift them repeatedly. Each time Seongji lifted his leg, his injured ribs shifted. Each shift brought pain.
After the fifth low kick, Gun changed levels. He shot in low, arms reaching for Seongji's legs, trying to take him down.
Seongji sprawled, pushing his hips back. His hands pressed down on Gun's shoulders, trying to keep him from getting the takedown. Gun drove forward, his legs pumping, trying to push through.
They were locked together, neither giving ground. Gun's face pressed against Seongji's stomach. Seongji's weight pressed down on Gun's back.
Gun suddenly changed direction. He stopped pushing forward and pulled back. The sudden change caught Seongji off balance. Gun's hand grabbed Seongji's ankle. He pulled while pushing Seongji's upper body.
Seongji fell. He landed on his back, and Gun was on him immediately. Gun sat on Seongji's chest, his fists raining down.
Seongji covered his face with his arms. Gun's punches hammered into his guard. One got through, hitting Seongji's eye. Another landed on his jaw.
Seongji's hands shot up. He grabbed Gun's wrists, stopping the punches. His legs came up behind Gun, hooking over his shoulders. He pulled Gun backward.
Gun fell off Seongji's chest, his back hitting the ground. Seongji rolled on top of him now, his hand drawing back.
Gun twisted. Seongji's punch hit the ground beside Gun's head. The concrete exploded, shards flying.
Gun's legs wrapped around Seongji's arm. He pulled it, trying to hyperextend the elbow. Seongji roared. He stood up, lifting Gun with him. Gun was hanging off Seongji's arm, his legs wrapped around it, pulling.
Seongji ran forward and slammed Gun into the terrace wall. Gun's back hit the brick. He lost his grip and fell to the ground.
Seongji stumbled back, holding his arm. It was screaming with pain, but not broken.
Gun pushed himself up using the wall. His back was a mass of pain. Every movement hurt. But he pushed off the wall anyway, coming at Seongji one more time.
He threw a spinning kick, his body turning, leg extended high, aimed at Seongji's head.
Seongji raised his arm to block. Gun's leg crashed into it. The force was still massive. Seongji's arm went numb.
Gun landed and immediately spun again—another kick from the other side.
Seongji ducked under it this time. He stepped in close, inside Gun's range. His good arm wrapped around Gun's waist. He lifted Gun off the ground and threw him.
Gun flew through the air and crashed into the terrace railing. The metal bent and groaned. Gun pulled out a crumpled cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag. "Such a mess. My heartbeat sounds so funny!"
Then he looked back at the blond behind Seongji Yuk. "But what are you doing, Goo?"
Goo Kim had appeared behind Seongji Yuk and pressed a sword down on his neck. Suddenly, the sword shattered into pieces. A red-haired guy appeared beside Goo Kim. Baki grinned. "I can't help but break weak things."
Goo Kim faced Baki Hanma. Gun Park faced Seongji Yuk. The situation trembled with tension.