The rooftop was silent.
Rain from earlier had dried, but the air still reeked of tension, sweat, and blood.
Ethan stood in the center. Calm. Unshaken.
Lucien charged first—rage on his face, fists swinging wildly.
"DIE, YOU BASTARD!"
Ethan didn't move.
Until the last second.
A single sidestep. Lucien's punch cut through air.
Crack!
Lucien staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his nose "You're dead, you hear me? I'll—"
Before he could finish, Ethan was already in front of him.
Bang!
A lightning-fast roundhouse kick to Lucien's ribs sent him flying into a pile of steel benches. He coughed violently, blood spraying from his mouth.
"Weren't you just talking big?" Ethan sneered, tilting his head. "Come on, I thought you were a lion. Turns out you're just a meowing chihuahua."
Lucien groaned, crawling forward. "What… the hell…"
How is he this strong? He wasn't like this before… He was a loser!
But Ethan didn't stop.
He darted forward again, this time launching a brutal flurry—an elbow to the throat, a low sweep kick to the knees, and a devastating uppercut as Lucien fell forward.
Crack.
Lucien flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing into a water tank. His eyes rolled back.
Ethan didn't even glance back.
"Next," he said coldly, turning to Axel, who was still wiping blood from his broken nose.
Axel's eyes were wide with disbelief. "This… this isn't the same Ethan!"
"You're damn right it's not," Ethan said. "I upgraded."
Axel lunged with a wild punch, but Ethan side-stepped easily. He grabbed Axel's wrist mid-swing, twisted it, and snapped his elbow with a knee strike.
Axel screamed, collapsing.
"F*ck! My arm!"
"I thought you were gonna break every bone in my body?" Ethan asked, crouching beside him. "You should start with your own."
Axel roared and swung his remaining hand. Ethan ducked and delivered a savage headbutt.
Then a punch to the throat.
Then a brutal stomp to the leg—crack—as Axel howled in agony.
He's toying with me! This bastard is toying with me! Axel's thoughts were panicked, his pride shattered. How is he doing this?!
Meanwhile, Rei stood still, watching the chaos.
But his eyes narrowed.
His movements... They're becoming sharper.
Ethan didn't forget Rei.
Even while beating Lucien and Axel to the ground, he weaved and ducked under Rei's sudden attacks—punches that came from behind, kicks aimed at his blind spots.
Each time, Ethan dodged by mere inches. The Bond-Wick style was kicking in harder than ever. His instincts sharpened, footwork lighter, counterattacks brutal and efficient.
This guy is evolving mid-fight… Rei thought. His form is cleaner. Foot placement tighter. He's watching my joints, reading my next move… This isn't luck. It's mastery.
Rei launched a flying knee strike.
Ethan ducked and spun, his elbow slamming into Rei's ribs with a crunch.
Rei gritted his teeth. That one hurt.
He hit me… square. A clean shot. Damn… this guy…
Their fists clashed again. Ethan's eyes glinted—calm, but fierce.
"This is fun," he muttered under his breath.
Rei smirked. "You're improving too fast. Who the hell are you?"
Axel suddenly screamed from the ground, "Stop holding back and kill him already!!"
But before Rei could respond—
BAM!
Ethan planted a boot into Axel's chest, knocking the air out of him.
"Stay down, dog," Ethan said with venom. "You bark too much."
Axel coughed violently, nearly vomiting blood.
That's when the rooftop door slammed open.
A middle-aged teacher in a windbreaker stood there, eyes wide at the sight of blood-soaked students sprawled across the rooftop.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!!"
Ethan froze.
Rei stepped back calmly, wiping blood from his lip.
Lucien was unconscious.
Axel tried to stand but failed, blood soaking through his shirt.
The teacher ran toward them in panic, immediately pulling out his phone.
Blood on the tiles. Two students on the ground. Ethan stands tall in the center like a demon in human skin.
"What… What the hell happened here?
He looked at Lucien, then Axel—face drained of color.
Rei stepped back without a word.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You're late."
The teacher ignored him. "I'm calling the staff. This is a medical emergency. You—" he pointed at Ethan, "—you're coming with me to the university clinic. Now."
Ethan didn't resist.
But behind him, Axel suddenly shouted through bloodied lips.
"No. No way I'm trusting that goddamn clinic!"
The teacher turned. "Your arm is dislocated! You need to be checked immediately—"
"Screw you!" Axel growled, clutching his side. "I said no!"
"Then what do you plan to do? Bleed out here?!"
Axel's eyes turned to Rei. "Take us to the hospital. Now."
Rei nodded silently, moving toward Lucien.
The teacher shook his head in disbelief, then turned back to Ethan. "You. Walk."
Ethan followed.
—
University Clinic – 15 minutes later
Ethan sat quietly on the exam bed.
Bandages wrapped his left arm. A faint bruise marked his jaw, but he looked calmer than ever.
The nurse checked the last injury and muttered, "Reckless… this could've been fatal. One more inch and that cut would've hit a vital artery.Are you out of your mind, fighting like that?"
Ethan didn't answer.
"I'm done. But no strenuous activity for the next few days," she sighed, bandaging the last wound. "You're lucky to be walking."
The door creaked.
The same teacher entered, this time with a grim expression.
"Can you walk?"
Ethan nodded.
The teacher didn't smile.
"Good. Come with me. The principal wants to see you."
Ethan stood.
The teacher's eyes darkened. "Axel Crowne's parents are here. And they're asking for you."