When one of them grabbed the girl and placed a knife to her neck, my eyes instantly fixed on him.
Saka stepped forward, grabbed me, slapped me, and shouted:
"You idiot… he's holding a knife!"
I snapped back to my senses, looked at Saka, and said:
"Thank you… for bringing me back to my senses."
Then I stepped forward and said:
"You… the one with the hostage. Listen carefully because I will only say this once. Let her go—and take me instead."
The man's hand trembled, and he shouted fearfully:
"You think I'll believe you? You already took down two of us!"
I glanced at the unconscious two, then locked eyes with him with a cold glare and spoke quietly:
"Let her go. I will use your friends against you. And believe me… if she gets hurt—even slightly—I will kill you."
His hands trembled as the knife pressed near her neck. He scratched her—barely—but she groaned in pain, lowered herself, and screamed.
At that moment, my eyes saw nothing but him.
Once she bent down holding her neck, I charged forward and struck him with my fist. It wasn't just a punch—his body lifted off the ground from the force and collapsed unconscious.
Everyone else was stunned, giving Saka the chance to take care of the remaining ones. Then Saka walked toward me angrily and said:
"You bastard… what if she had died?!"
He punched me—hard. A punch I still remember to this day. Then he continued shouting:
"Your training won't be just training anymore."
The girl thanked me, saying:
"Thank you, Tai."
I was shocked—how could she still remember me?
I said nothing; I remained silent.
Then another girl approached, the one wearing glasses, and said:
"You have good taste, Nino."
Nino froze, flustered, and began mumbling random words.
I laughed…
Ah… I don't even remember the last time I laughed.
But I laughed—after a long time.
Nino began walking toward me and said:
"Listen… don't misunderstand what happened here. She was lying, she didn't mean anything by it."
I looked at her neck and placed my hand gently to check the depth of the wound.
She made a sound I only heard from my mother once.
She blushed, slapped me, and walked away.
The same girl with glasses came forward and said:
"That was just bad luck. Don't do that again."
I answered:
"I don't know what I did wrong for her to slap me."
Saka started laughing, and the others looked at me as if I was clueless.
I got angry and said:
"Say something—what did I do wrong?"
None of them answered. The girls thanked us for saving them. Then the girl with glasses leaned closer and said:
"Don't worry… you'll get another chance."
I didn't understand what she meant until I grew older…
and realized the disaster I caused.
After we left, police arrived, surrounded the area, and detained me and Saka. Saka was shocked and shouted:
"On what grounds are you arresting us?!"
One officer replied:
"Someone reported this location saying 'there are armed men trying to kidnap girls'—and here we are."
Saka stayed silent, but I wondered,
"How did he know they were girls? We only heard one voice…"
Then I realized, and when the officer tried to grab me, I pulled away and asked:
"Are you actually a police officer?"
He looked at me and said:
"Yes, I'm an officer. Satisfied now? Now give me your hands."
I refused and resisted:
"How did that person know they were girls? We only heard one voice.
And how did you arrive this quickly?"
Saka noticed… he understood.
Then he shouted:
"The girls… They're after the girls! Tai—go! I'll handle things here!"
I immediately ran. Five armed men blocked my way—four with knives, and one holding a gun.
The sun was blazing above us, heat crushing the narrow alley. The walls echoed every movement I made. Five killers in front of me. Their blades glimmering like sparks beneath the sunlight. Death watching silently.
I was unarmed at first—but my eyes never left the man holding the gun.
I leapt forward—fast.
I struck him with my knee, and the gun flew out of his hand before a single shot could fire.
The others rushed at me, coordinated, precise.
I stepped back, my body twisting between light and dust. Every move calculated, every motion sharp like lightning. I searched for an opening.
On the ground—metal pipes scattered from nearby construction work.
I grabbed one.
It became heavy steel in my hand—
and steel turned deadly.
Their knives clashed with the iron pipe—sparks flying, echoes shaking the alley.
Chaos unfolded:
— I kicked one to the ground; his body crashed into debris.
— I smashed another's knife with the pipe, the sound echoing like thunder.
— They tried surrounding me, but I planted the pipe into the wall behind me, used it as leverage, and launched myself into them.
Dust rose. Sweat rolled down my face. But my eyes didn't lose sight of a single movement.
Blades flashing. Screams echoing.
Nothing distracted me.
Nothing weakened me.
I spun—attacked—blocked—advanced—
steel clashing, pain erupting, bodies collapsing.
The alley turned into a cinematic battleground—alive—loud—glowing from sparks.
I jumped forward again, and in a decisive moment, I stood in the center of the alley. The pipe heated from friction. Their breathing harsh. Mine sharper.
I smirked and said:
"Come on… show me what you've got."
Then I charged.
I struck the first from behind—steel to leg—bones twisted—he rolled onto gravel screaming.
The second lunged—pipe to his stomach—crash—boxes collapsing on top of him—screams muffled beneath wood and splinters.
The third tried attacking from the right—
pipe slamming him down, ribcage crushing against metal scraps and stone.
The fourth sprinted with his knife—
I kicked him against the wall—
his body swallowed by discarded planks—each piece digging into him.
The last one—the former gunman—approached cautiously.
Before he breathed again—
pipe strike—hard—violent—
his back flew against wooden barricades and iron pieces scattered on the alley floor.
The sound of impact echoed.
Dust filled the air.
He collapsed—motionless.
I stood in the center of the alley—breathing heavily—vision blurred—yet still standing.
Victory was not easy—
but it was earned.
I rushed to check on the girls. Heat burned above my head, exhaustion pulling at my body. I found them inside the school—they were safe.
Relief washed over me.
But that moment shattered when I
remembered something…
Saka was still fighting.
I sprinted back—
and when I arrived…
I saw something I wish I never saw.
(End of Chapter 14)