The man's grip tightened around Jared Alonzo's collar.
"Kid… you talk too much."
Jared didn't resist.
Didn't panic.
Didn't react.
He observed.
Grip strength: high.
Distance: close.
Balance: forward-leaning.
Reaction time: average.
Opening: available.
"…you're right," Jared said calmly.
The man frowned.
"…what?"
That moment—
Of confusion—
Was enough.
Jared moved.
Not fast.
Not strong.
Precise.
He stepped slightly to the side—
Twisted his body—
And drove his elbow sharply into the man's ribs.
"Ghk—!"
The man staggered back, grip loosening instantly.
Jared slipped free.
Target: vulnerable point confirmed.
"YOU—!"
The second man lunged forward.
Jared stepped back immediately.
Too fast.
His body lagged—
Just slightly—
Impact incoming.
Adjust.
Jared raised his arm just enough—
BAM!
The punch landed.
Pain exploded through his forearm.
"…tch."
He slid back a step, stabilizing himself.
Strength difference: significant.
Mark laughed from behind.
"Not so smart now, huh?!"
Jared ignored him.
Focused.
Three opponents.
Body condition: below optimal.
Direct fight: unfavorable.
New strategy: control the situation.
The first man recovered quickly.
"Lucky hit," he growled.
Both men advanced together.
Jared's eyes moved rapidly.
Distance.
Angles.
Movement patterns.
They don't coordinate well.
Exploit.
The first man charged again.
Predictable.
Jared stepped aside—
Just enough—
The second man swung—
And—
THUD!
"—what the?!"
His fist hit his own partner.
"Watch it, idiot!"
"Then move properly!"
Jared stepped back further.
Creating distance.
Divide them.
Mark frowned.
"What are you doing?! Just grab him!"
But Jared had already seen it.
Emotional instability increasing.
Coordination decreasing.
"…inefficient," Jared muttered.
The first man rushed again—angrier this time.
Faster.
Less controlled.
Jared adjusted.
Stepped back—
Then—
Kicked low.
Straight to the knee.
"ARGH!"
The man dropped slightly, balance broken.
Jared didn't hesitate.
He pushed forward—
Shoulder strike.
BAM!
The man stumbled backward into the other.
Both lost footing—
And fell.
Silence.
Jared stood there, breathing slightly heavier.
Arm throbbing.
Body strained.
But standing.
Mark's expression froze.
"…no way."
Jared looked at him.
Calm.
Cold.
"You made three mistakes," Jared said.
Mark didn't respond.
"First," Jared continued, "you chose the wrong people."
The two men groaned on the ground.
"Second…"
Jared took a step forward.
"You underestimated me."
Mark took a step back.
"…and the third?"
Jared's eyes sharpened.
"You made it personal."
Silence.
For the first time—
Mark hesitated.
Then—
"Let's go," he muttered, helping the others up.
They left.
Quickly.
Jared watched them disappear.
Then—
His body gave in.
"…tch."
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing uneven now.
Pain catching up.
"That was stupid."
A voice.
Iris.
She ran toward him, eyes wide.
"I saw everything—are you okay?!"
Jared exhaled slowly.
"…functional."
"That's not an answer!"
She helped him up.
"You're injured," she said, checking his arm.
"Minor."
"It's not minor if you collapse!"
Jared didn't argue.
Because—
His body was shaking.
Limit reached.
As Iris supported him—
Jared's mind remained active.
Even now.
Conclusion:
Intelligence alone is insufficient.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…I need more."
Above them—
The sky dimmed.
The city moved on.
Unaware.
But something had changed.
Jared wasn't just thinking anymore.
He was acting.
And that—
Made him dangerous.