Unveiled Potential

The cheering below was almost inaudible to Jiro's ears. He didn't move, his eyes fixed on Hyun-Seok's lifeless body. The world seemed to be happening outside a foggy window.

I won.

This revelation was not to be a time for relief. His chest ached with every inhale, and his body revolted at him after such a long and arduous battle. Blood started flowing from the side of his temple where sweat poured out of his face.

Hyun-Seok made a soft groan and let his fingers spasm with an attempt to push himself up. For the first time, the arrogant manner was gone and replaced with a look of disbelief and pain.

"You…" he muttered weakly, his voice barely audible. "How…?"

Jiro didn't say a thing. He didn't really feel like explaining himself at this point.

He pulled away, walking toward the edge of the rooftop where below the crowd roared celebrating.

"Jiro! Jiro! Jiro!"

Phones were held high, capturing the view from every angle. The school playground was filled with students from classes who had abandoned it to witness the fight going on.

But, amidst all this chaos was a silence that Jiro simply could not ignore.

Behind the sea of cheering students, a few unfamiliar faces stood watching. Their presence was different, calculated, cold. They were not here to celebrate. They were here to observe.

Jiro's Perception Field tingled faintly as his eyes scanned the crowd. He couldn't pick up any immediate threats, but their postures and sharp gazes set him on edge.

Who are they?

One of the figures, a tall man with a sharp jawline and piercing eyes, smirked when he noticed Jiro's gaze. He gave a small nod, as if acknowledging him, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

This isn't over.

Jiro clenched his fists, his body tense despite the exhaustion.

The more adrenaline wore off, the more Jiro's pain from his ribs came on full force. Each step down the staircase felt heavier than the last. When he got to the bottom floor, people surrounded the entrance, chanting his name and bombarding him with questions.

"How'd you manage to defeat Hyun-Seok?"

"Are you gonna fight someone next?"

"Dude, you're a legend now!

Jiro pushed through the crowd, his face not revealing a thing. He didn't have the energy to soak in their praise nor answer their questions. He wanted to get out of here, breathe.

The faint smell of sweat and rubber greeted Jiro as he stepped into the empty gym. The familiar environment brought a strange sort of comfort.

He sat down on the edge of the ring, peeling off his hoodie to inspect the damage. His ribs were bruised badly, the skin around them already turning a sickly shade of purple.

Could've been worse.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a cold pack, pressing it against his side with a wince.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the gym, and Jiro's Perception Field buzzed faintly.

"Looks like you've been through hell."

Jiro didn't need to look up to know who it was. Jin, his childhood friend and one of the few people he trusted, leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Hyun-Seok's no joke," Jin continued, walking over and sitting down beside him. "But you put him down. Not many can say that."

Jiro shrugged, his expression neutral. "It wasn't easy."

Jin smirked. "You think it's over?"

Jiro glanced at him, his brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"

Jin's expression darkened. "Word travels fast in this city, Jiro. You think Hyun-Seok's crew is just gonna let this slide? You've embarrassed one of their top dogs. That makes you a target now."

Jiro exhaled slowly, resting back against the ring. "I figured as much."

"You don't sound worried."

"I'm not." Jiro's eyes went cold. "If they come, I'll deal with them.

Jin sighed, shaking his head. "You've always been like this. One fight ends, and you're already thinking about the next one."

Jiro didn't respond. His mind was already turning, analyzing, preparing.

On the other side of town, in a dimly lit apartment, Hyun-Seok slumped on the couch, an ice pack strapped to his jaw. The crew stood around him in all that was anger and disbelief.

The kid beat you? said one of them, balled-fist slamming onto the table.

Hyun-Seok snarled at him, his tone low and venomous. "Shut up. He's not just a kid."

Another member of the crew leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What do we do now? If word gets out that the Butcher lost, our reputation is gonna take a hit."

Hyun-Seok's jaw worked. His pride was dented, but his mind already plotted.

"We don't let this stand," he said, his voice cold. "But this isn't just about revenge. That kid… he's different. We need to find out who he really is."

One of the men smirked. "You want me to pay him a visit?"

Hyun-Seok shook his head. "Not yet. Let him believe he's safe for now. But watch him close. I want to know everything -- who he sees, where he goes, his weaknesses. When the time is right.".

He didn't complete the sentence, but the sinister glint in his eyes was enough to get the point across.

The next day, the school was electric. Students hushedly whispered about the rooftop fight, and everybody's mouth had Jiro's name in it.

But not everyone thought it was impressive.

There were a few students who silently observed Jiro from behind a corner of the school. They weren't regular students; their sharp eyes and confident postures were hints of something more.

One of them, a girl with short black hair and a scar above her eyebrow, sneered. "So that's the guy who took down Hyun-Seok? Doesn't look like much."

"Looks can be deceiving," another student remarked in a calm, authoritarian voice. "But if he's strong enough to beat Hyun-Seok, he's worth watching."

"What do you want to do?" the girl snapped, her eyes never leaving Jiro.

The boy sank back against the wall and smiled faintly. "For now, nothing. Let him enjoy his victory. But sooner or later, he'll cross paths with us. And when he does…"

He didn't need to finish the sentence.