Rain hit the city hard that night — a steady hiss across the rooftops.
Phoenix's neon reflected in the puddles, flickering red like blood.
Yujhae wasn't at the club.
He was underground again.
A fight night.
No stage, no lights, just sweat, concrete, and the smell of iron.
The crowd surrounded the ring, shouting names and throwing cash.
At the center — Yujhae, shirtless, taping his hands, eyes calm.
Across from him — Iron Shin, the reigning underground champion, built like a wall.
The bell rang.
---
Shin came in swinging, fists like sledgehammers.
Yujhae blocked the first — the second broke through.
Pain shot through his ribs. He staggered back.
Another hit.
Blood from his mouth.
The crowd screamed, hungry for more.
Yujhae grinned through the pain. "That's it… keep going."
A heavy kick slammed into his shoulder — his HP bar flashing in his vision.
SYSTEM:
> Health 52%… 49%...
Condition Trigger Met — HEAT MODE ACTIVATED
---
The world ignited.
The cold vanished.
The pain melted into focus.
Every nerve screamed — but in rhythm, in control.
The world slowed, every movement glowing red at the edges.
Yujhae's breath deepened. His eyes burned.
"Let's finish this."
---
He stepped in — fast, violent.
A clean slip under Shin's punch, then a grip around his waist.
Skill Activated — MMA: Throw
He lifted and slammed the giant to the ground hard enough to shake the mat.
The crowd gasped as dust rose in the air.
Yujhae didn't stop. He mounted, striking — precise, brutal, efficient.
Each hit cracked against Shin's guard until the man went limp.
---
SYSTEM:
> Victory Achieved
Skill Proficiency +12%
HEAT MODE Duration: 20 seconds
Condition: Pain Threshold Achieved
---
The arena went silent before exploding into cheers.
Taejun lowered his camera. "Boss… you're insane."
Yujhae stood, breathing hard, the red aura fading slowly off his skin.
He wiped blood from his mouth and smiled faintly. "Guess I finally understand what Heat really means."
---
The next morning, Phoenix, Radiant, and Nova were alive again — money flowing, reputation rising.
But inside his office, Yujhae wasn't smiling.
Taejun entered, tossing a folder on his desk.
"Boss, someone's buying clubs near our area. Three already gone. Company's called Black Line Holdings."
Yujhae frowned. "Name doesn't ring a bell."
"Because it's new," Taejun said. "But word is, they're funded by Selima's old people."
The memory of broken glass and blood flashed in his mind.
Selima. Again.
---
SYSTEM:
> New Quest — "Territory War."
Objectives:
Investigate Black Line Holdings
Stop their district expansion
Protect the Phoenix Network
Reward: +20 Stat Points | Skill Upgrade — Heat Mode (Lv.2)
---
Dojin cracked his knuckles from the doorway. "So it starts again?"
Yujhae adjusted his jacket, walking toward the elevator.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"And this time… if they want a fire, I'll give them an inferno."
The elevator doors slid shut, reflecting the faint red glow in his eyes.-
ELOOOO bey