Jake Kim leaned back as Xiaolong's staff flew past him. "That was dangerous!"
Jake asked, "You're really different from before."
"Really? Fighting to protect is different from fighting to kill." Xiaolong said as he swung his staff over Jake once again. Jake ducked down. Xiaolong immediately changed his attack's trajectory and slammed the staff downward. Jake rolled sideways and came up with an uppercut. "I should give you enough space."
But to Jake's surprise, Xiaolong used the staff as leverage and threw a kick to his jaw, sending him flying back. Xiaolong spun the staff in his hand. "Narrow the distance?" Saying this, he thrust the staff into Jake's stomach. "You think I'd let you do that?"
Jake's body crashed against a wall. Xiaolong spun the staff behind his back. "Jake Kim, are you just going to keep lying down there? You should go all out for Big Deal."
Jake muttered, "I don't get it. What happened? I'm sure you couldn't fight. I definitely felt it back then. I broke your legs."
Xiaolong asked, "Talking about the past—"
"Revenge? Is it for revenge that you want to break my legs too?" Jake asked.
Xiaolong shook his head. "Jake. You should know—if you were me, have I ever moved by personal feelings?"
Jake smiled. "How pathetic. Did you come here for Vivi again?" With that, Jake threw a book at Xiaolong's face and lunged at him with a punch. "Well, I'm a lover—"
Xiaolong slammed down with his staff at Jake's head. Blood splashed, and Jake went down headfirst into the ground, creating a crater beneath his head. "It's no use." Xiaolong pointed the staff at Jake. "Even if you kill Eugene, it's impossible to save Big Deal."
Jake muttered, "Despair is another form of hope. I've made allies. Allies with the same goal as mine."
Jake Kim slowly stood up. He tore his shirt and wrapped it around his hands. "They all believe in me. I can't let them down. I've thought of a way to beat you."
Xiaolong asked, "You thought of a way to beat me? By putting cloth around? You think that's gonna help you defend? Try to beat me then."
Saying this, Xiaolong swung his staff at Jake. Jake blocked it with his forearm. His forearm reddened. Xiaolong continued, "A cloth is just a cloth. You're still going to get hit. Nothing will change." With that, he swung the staff once again. It connected with Jake's jaw, sending him flying.
Xiaolong immediately followed. "No matter how sturdy your body is, it will eventually break. This is the end."
Xiaolong spun the staff and jumped in the air before slamming it downward. Jake barely dodged—the staff cut through the concrete wall. "You dodged it somehow. It's better to die instead of avoiding it. You'll only look pathetic and ugly."
Xiaolong thrust the staff. But his eyes widened with surprise. Jake actually caught it. He wrapped it between the gap with the cloth. Jake pulled Xiaolong alongside the staff. "This is what I wanted."
But Xiaolong released the staff and struck Jake with several palm strikes. Jake coughed out blood. Xiaolong immediately followed with two impactful palm strikes. Jake's body went flying back. Xiaolong grabbed his staff and jumped upward. He slammed the staff downward.
But Jake caught the staff in his clothes once again and shifted its trajectory. Then he hit Xiaolong with his palm.
Xiaolong went flying back but managed to stay on his feet. "...So you're getting the hang of it."
"That's right. Now I'm going to get you." Jake said, cloth wrapped around his hands.
Xiaolong thrust his staff at Jake. "A straight stab can't be caught. I have to stab his vital point to end this."
Jake also rushed forward. Just as the staff was about to pierce him, he slid under it and kicked Xiaolong in the leg, breaking it. Xiaolong's face twisted in pain. Jake immediately went behind Xiaolong. "I knew it. You thought I'd catch your stick? You think I'm gonna play your game?"
Jake chokeheld Xiaolong. "It's your loss."
Xiaolong's body went limp in Jake's grip. Jake thought it was over. "Finally—"
Xiaolong's elbow slammed into Jake's ribs. The bone cracked. Jake's grip loosened.
Xiaolong spun around despite his broken leg. His staff whipped across Jake's face. Blood flew. Jake stumbled back.
"It's not my loss tonight." Xiaolong planted his good leg and swung the staff like a bat.
The staff connected with Jake's side. Jake crashed through a wooden desk. Splinters scattered everywhere.
Jake tried to stand. Xiaolong didn't give him time. He hopped forward on one leg and thrust the staff into Jake's shoulder. Jake's arm went numb.
"Damn it—" Jake swung with his other fist.
Xiaolong ducked and swept Jake's legs with the staff. Jake fell. Before he hit the ground, Xiaolong spun the staff and slammed it down on Jake's chest.
The concrete beneath Jake cracked. Air rushed out of his lungs.
Xiaolong lifted the staff and brought it down again. This time on Jake's stomach. Jake coughed up blood.
"Jake Kim, it's over now," Xiaolong said.
Jake grabbed the staff with both hands. He tried to pull Xiaolong down. Xiaolong twisted the staff, breaking Jake's grip. Then he thrust it into Jake's face.
Jake's head snapped back. His nose broke. Blood poured down his face.
Xiaolong pulled the staff back and swung it sideways. It hit Jake's temple. Jake's vision blurred.
"I told you. It's no use." Xiaolong swung again.
The staff connected with Jake's ribs. Another crack. Jake rolled across the ground and hit a metal printer. The printer dented inward.
Jake tried to push himself up. His arms shook. Blood dripped from his mouth.
Xiaolong hopped closer, dragging his broken leg. "Big Deal... no one can save it tonight."
He swung the staff overhead. It came down on Jake's back. Jake collapsed flat. The ground beneath him cracked.
"Get up if you can," Xiaolong said.
Jake's fingers twitched. He tried to lift his head. Xiaolong stomped on it with his good leg. Jake's face pressed into the concrete.
Xiaolong raised the staff one more time. He brought it down on the back of Jake's head.
Jake's body went still.
Xiaolong stood over him, breathing hard. His broken leg trembled. But Jake didn't move.
"It's over," Xiaolong said.
---
On the other hand, Yuseong kicked Olly in the neck. Olly took the attack and grabbed Yuseong's collar before headbutting him. "Hehe~ I learned this trick from an old man."
Yuseong stumbled back from the headbutt. Blood dripped from his forehead onto the office carpet. He didn't make a sound.
Olly laughed. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Yuseong's body moved before Olly could react. He spun on one hand, his legs whipping around in a wide arc. His heel connected with Olly's jaw.
Olly's head snapped to the side. But he was grinning. "That's it! More!"
Olly rushed forward. He grabbed Yuseong's arm and twisted it behind his back. Then he drove his knee into Yuseong's spine. Once. Twice. Three times.
Yuseong's body jerked with each impact. But he didn't cry out. Instead, he planted his free hand on the ground and kicked both legs backward. His feet slammed into Olly's chest.
Olly flew back and crashed through the office cubicle walls. The flimsy partitions shattered. Papers scattered everywhere. A monitor fell and cracked against the floor.
Yuseong landed on his feet. He wiped the blood from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Olly stood up from the wreckage. Bits of cubicle wall stuck to his clothes. "You're doing great. I like it!"
He charged at Yuseong again. This time he came in low, sweeping Yuseong's legs. Yuseong jumped, but Olly was already rising. His fist drove into Yuseong's stomach mid-air.
Yuseong coughed. Spit flew from his mouth. He grabbed Olly's shoulders as he fell and brought his knee up into Olly's face.
Blood exploded from Olly's nose. But Olly caught Yuseong's leg and slammed him into the floor. The carpet compressed. The floor beneath cracked.
Olly didn't let go. He lifted Yuseong and threw him at the conference table. Yuseong crashed through it. The wood split down the middle with a loud crack. Office chairs scattered in every direction.
Yuseong rolled across the broken table. His body was covered in dust and small cuts. He still didn't make a sound.
Olly walked toward him. "Come on! Fight back! Show me something good!"
Yuseong moved. He spun low to the ground, his leg sweeping in a circle. Olly jumped over it. But Yuseong wasn't done. He continued the spin, transitioning into a handstand. His legs kicked upward, catching Olly in the chin.
Olly's head snapped back. He stumbled but didn't fall.
Yuseong landed and immediately launched himself forward. He twisted his body mid-air, his leg coming around in a spinning kick. His heel connected with Olly's temple.
Olly crashed into a filing cabinet. The metal crumpled inward. Files spilled out across the floor. The cabinet tipped and fell with a heavy crash.
Olly shook his head. Blood dripped from his mouth. "Nice! But that's not enough!"
He grabbed the fallen filing cabinet and lifted it. Metal groaned in his grip. He swung it like a battering ram.
Yuseong ducked. The cabinet whistled over his head and smashed into the office window. Glass exploded outward. Cold air rushed in from outside.
Olly swung again. Yuseong rolled to the side. The cabinet hit the floor, punching a hole through the carpet and into the concrete beneath. Debris flew up.
Yuseong sprang up from his roll. He planted his hands on the ground and kicked both legs up. His feet hit the cabinet, knocking it out of Olly's hands. It crashed against the wall, denting the drywall.
Before Olly could react, Yuseong's foot came down on his shoulder. The force drove Olly to one knee.
Yuseong spun again, his other leg whipping around. His heel smashed into Olly's face. Olly fell backward into a desk.
But Olly caught himself with his hands on the desk. He kicked up from the ground, his feet aiming for Yuseong's stomach. Yuseong blocked with his arms. The impact pushed him back several feet, his shoes leaving marks on the carpet.
Olly flipped back onto his feet. He charged at Yuseong. His fist came straight at Yuseong's face.
Yuseong tilted his head. The punch missed by inches. Yuseong grabbed Olly's extended arm and twisted. He used the momentum to flip Olly over his shoulder.
Olly crashed through another desk. The wooden surface split in half. A computer toppled and shattered. The desk lamp exploded in a shower of sparks.
Olly kicked the broken desk pieces away. They skidded across the floor and hit the wall. He stood up among the wreckage.
"This is fun! Let's keep going!"
He ran at Yuseong. His movements were wild and unpredictable. He threw a punch. Yuseong dodged. Olly followed with an elbow. Yuseong blocked it. Then Olly headbutted him again.
Blood dripped from Yuseong's nose. But his expression was blank. Like he felt nothing.
Olly grabbed Yuseong's collar. "What's with that face? You're really not the President of the Workers?"
Yuseong didn't answer. He just grabbed Olly's wrists and pulled them apart, breaking Olly's grip. Then he kicked Olly in the stomach.
Olly bent forward. Yuseong brought his knee up into Olly's face. Blood splattered across the carpet.
Olly stumbled back. He wiped his face. His hand came away red. "Good! Good! More!"
He rushed at Yuseong again. This time he came in with a low kick. Yuseong jumped over it. Olly spun and threw another kick while Yuseong was in the air.
Yuseong twisted his body. The kick grazed his side. He landed on one hand and swept his leg at Olly's head. Olly ducked under it.
Both separated. They stood among the destroyed office furniture.
Olly picked up a piece of the broken desk. He threw it at Yuseong. Yuseong dodged. The wood smashed into the wall behind him, punching through the drywall.
Olly threw another piece. Yuseong dodged again. But Olly was already moving. He closed the distance while Yuseong was dodging.
His fist drove into Yuseong's ribs. Yuseong's body bent from the impact. Olly followed with another punch to the face. Then another. And another.
Yuseong's head snapped back with each hit. But then he moved. His hand shot up and grabbed Olly's fist mid-punch.
Olly's eyes widened. "What—"
Yuseong pulled Olly forward and drove his forehead into Olly's nose. The crunch was loud in the enclosed space.
Olly staggered back. Blood poured from his nose. But he was laughing. "That's it! That's what I wanted!"
Yuseong didn't wait. He spun and kicked Olly in the side. The impact sent Olly sliding across the carpet. He crashed into a bookshelf. The entire unit toppled over with him. Books scattered everywhere.
Olly pushed himself up using the fallen shelf. "Come on! Don't stop now!"
Yuseong walked toward him. Blood dripped from his face onto the carpet.
Olly grabbed the bookshelf and pushed. It slid toward Yuseong across the floor.
Yuseong jumped. He planted one foot on top of the shelf as it passed under him. Then he kicked off, launching himself at Olly.
His heel came down on Olly's head. Olly caught it with both hands. The force drove him to one knee. The floor cracked beneath him.
"Heavy!" Olly grunted. But he was still grinning.
He twisted and threw Yuseong off. Yuseong landed several feet away. Before he could recover, Olly was on him. He tackled Yuseong through the glass door of the corner office.
The glass exploded inward. Both crashed into the executive desk inside. The heavy wood groaned under the impact.
Olly pinned Yuseong against the desk and threw rapid punches. Left. Right. Left. Right. Yuseong blocked some. Others connected with his face and body.
Yuseong's hand shot up and grabbed Olly's throat. He squeezed. Olly's eyes bulged.
With surprising strength, Yuseong lifted Olly off him. Then he kicked Olly in the chest. Olly flew backward and crashed through the office's interior glass wall.
Glass shards scattered across the main floor. Olly lay among the broken glass. He coughed. Blood came up.
But he was still smiling. "This is the best!"
Yuseong walked through the shattered doorway. He stood silently, watching.
Olly stood up from the glass. His clothes were torn. Blood covered his face. But his eyes were bright with excitement.
"Let's finish this!" Olly shouted.
He charged at Yuseong one more time. His fist came straight at Yuseong's face with everything he had.
Yuseong didn't dodge. He stepped forward into the punch. His own fist drove into Olly's stomach at the same time.
Both attacks connected.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Olly coughed up blood. His legs gave out. He fell to his knees.
Yuseong stood over him. His fist was still extended. Blood dripped from his knuckles.
Olly looked up at him. "That was... fun..."
Then he collapsed forward onto the carpet. He didn't get up.
Yuseong stared down at him for a moment.