The city awoke to a morning unlike any other.
Instead of the usual cheerful news programs and weather reports, every television channel carried the same urgent broadcast.
In apartments...
In restaurants...
Inside convenience stores...
Even on the giant electronic billboards mounted between tall buildings...
The same report echoed throughout the city.
> "This is an emergency announcement from the City Police Department."
The news anchor's serious expression reflected the gravity of the situation.
> "The suspect responsible for multiple violent incidents is currently fleeing through the western district of the city."
> "Residents are advised to remain indoors and avoid the western district until further notice."
> "Schools in the area are being evacuated as a precaution."
> "Do not approach the suspect under any circumstances."
The broadcast repeated endlessly.
Shops hurriedly closed their shutters.
Parents rushed to pick up their children.
Office workers abandoned the sidewalks.
Within minutes, panic began spreading through the western district.
---
A shattered television screen lay across the floor of a small electronics shop.
Cracks spread across the display where Gary's fist had struck it.
Tiny shards of glass glittered beneath his feet.
His right hand remained clenched.
Blood slowly trickled from the cuts across his knuckles before dripping onto the floor.
He paid no attention to it.
His gaze lifted.
Across the street...
More than a dozen police officers stood in formation.
Some held batons.
Others carried tasers.
Several patrol cars blocked every possible route ahead.
One officer stepped forward.
His voice remained calm despite the tension.
"It's not too late."
"Turn yourself in."
Gary didn't answer immediately.
The anger burning inside him slowly settled.
His breathing became steady again.
He lowered his bloody fist and quietly closed his eyes for a brief moment.
No...
Losing my temper won't solve anything.
I have to find Jin.
Everything else can wait.
He slowly opened his eyes.
His expression had become calm once more.
"I won't surrender."
The officers tightened their grips on their weapons.
Gary continued.
"There's something I have to do first."
"I need to find someone."
His eyes swept across the officers surrounding him.
"I'll check Blackridge."
"After that..."
"You can do whatever you want."
The officers exchanged uncertain glances.
One of them couldn't help but frown.
Did this kid seriously think he could negotiate after everything that had happened?
The leading officer shook his head.
"You're in no position to make demands."
"Stay where you are."
"And raise your hands."
Gary remained exactly where he was.
His hand slowly slid back through his black hair.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"I was hoping you would understand."
The officers instinctively became more alert.
Gary looked at each of them.
"If you won't let me leave..."
"...then I'll make you."
Silence... For just a second...Nobody moved.
Then the officer at the front raised his baton.
"Take him."
The officers charged forward together.
--
The streets around Blackridge Academy had grown unusually quiet.
Only minutes earlier, hundreds of students had filled the campus with their usual chatter. Now, after the emergency announcement, groups of students hurried toward the exits while teachers instructed everyone to leave the school immediately.
Outside the academy, police sirens could occasionally be heard in the distance.
The western side of the city was being evacuated.
Within minutes, the roads around both Ironfall and Blackridge had begun to empty.
Only a handful of students still remained near the entrance.
Daniel looked around the nearly deserted campus before letting out a sigh.
"Damn it... What's even going on?"
Mark folded his arms as he stared toward the school gate.
"That Gary guy is crazy."
"Running away from the police after doing all that..."
Daisy glanced toward the empty road.
"It won't be long before they catch him... right?"
Before anyone answered, footsteps approached from behind.
Bob, Andrew and Coner walked over together.
Bob looked at the three of them in confusion.
"What are you all doing here?"
"We should leave the school."
"Didn't you hear the announcement?"
Daniel looked at him with a grin.
"Why?"
"Are you scared?"
Bob's expression changed immediately.
"What?"
"Scared?"
"No."
"Why would I be scared?"
He folded his arms confidently.
"It's just a mad dog running around the streets."
Andrew nodded.
"Exactly."
"The police will deal with him."
Coner smirked.
"He probably won't even last another ten minutes."
Before anyone could continue—
Daisy suddenly looked down at her phone.
"...Hey."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Look..."
She held the phone up.
Daniel, Mark, Bob, Andrew and Coner all leaned closer.
Their eyes slowly widened as the live news broadcast filled the screen.
---
Several police officers rushed toward Gary at once.
Batons swung from every direction.
Gary remained completely calm.
He sidestepped the first strike before driving his elbow into one officer's ribs.
The man doubled over instantly.
Another officer attacked from behind.
Gary caught the incoming arm, twisted it aside and kicked the officer hard enough to send him crashing into two more charging from the front.
The street erupted into chaos.
Punches.
Kicks.
Bodies hitting the pavement.
Every officer that reached Gary was thrown aside just as quickly.
He didn't even seem to be trying.
His eyes shifted toward the line of patrol cars blocking the road.
"...What a pain."
Without another word, he sprinted toward them.
One officer standing beside the nearest vehicle shouted,
"Stop him!"
Gary ignored him completely.
His fist shot forward.
CRASH!
The windshield exploded into thousands of pieces.
Glass scattered across the road.
Before anyone recovered from the shock, another officer leaped down from the roof of a patrol car, baton raised above his head.
Gary looked up.
"...Seriously?"
His fist shot upward.
The punch landed squarely on the officer's face.
The force launched him backward, slamming him onto the roof of the patrol car.
The metal caved inward with a deafening crunch, bending almost through the middle before the unconscious officer rolled off onto the road.
Gary continued forward.
Another windshield shattered.
Then another.
Within seconds, nearly every patrol vehicle had been rendered useless.
One officer rushed toward the final intact car.
Gary reached him first.
He grabbed the officer by the neck, lifted him effortlessly off the ground and threw him into the group charging from behind.
Several officers collapsed together in a heap.
Gary let out another sigh.
"What a pain."
"I don't have time to waste my energy on you."
He climbed into the only patrol car left intact.
The engine roared to life.
The tires screeched across the asphalt as the vehicle sped away from the scene.
The remaining officers could only watch.
"...Shit!"
One officer pointed after the disappearing vehicle.
"Follow him!"
Another officer looked around at the destroyed patrol cars before shaking his head.
"We can't, boss."
"The other cars aren't in any condition to be used."
"He destroyed the rest."
The officer cursed under his breath before grabbing the transmitter attached to his shoulder.
"We need backup."
"It looks like he's heading toward Blackridge School."
"Send every available unit there."
---
The video on Daisy's phone came to an end.
For a few seconds...
Nobody said a word.
The footage had shown streets littered with broken glass, unconscious police officers lying across the pavement, and several destroyed patrol cars.
Daniel stared at the screen in disbelief.
"...Did he escape?"
There was both surprise and tension in his voice.
Mark slowly lowered his arms.
"I thought he was just an ordinary guy..."
"But it looks like he's not."
The group remained silent.
Then—
A deafening crash echoed through the academy.
BOOM!!
Everyone instinctively turned toward the school gate several meters away.
A police patrol car smashed straight through it, sending twisted metal and broken concrete flying across the entrance before finally coming to a stop.
Smoke rose from the ruined engine.
Coner jumped back.
"W-What the hell?!"
Andrew's face turned pale.
Bob glanced at the two of them and scoffed.
"Don't be scared."
The driver's door creaked open.
Gary stepped out of the vehicle.
His clothes were slightly dusty, and fresh blood still dripped from the cuts across his knuckles, but otherwise he looked completely fine.
His eyes slowly swept across everyone standing before him.
Finally, he spoke.
"...Found you."
His voice was calm.
"Tell me where Jin is."
"I have to meet him."
No one answered immediately.
Bob let out a short laugh before stepping forward.
"Watch this."
Andrew and Coner smirked as they followed behind him.
Bob stopped only a few steps away from Gary.
"There's no Jin here."
"So why don't you go back, loser, before we—"
He never got to finish.
Gary's fist slammed into Bob's stomach.
THUD!
Bob's eyes widened.
Blood spilled from his mouth as every ounce of air left his lungs.
His knees hit the ground.
He couldn't even scream.
Andrew and Coner froze.
The smirks on their faces disappeared instantly.
Before either of them could react—
Gary moved, and launched two quick punches.
THUD!
THUD!
Both strikes landed squarely in their stomachs.
The two boys folded over before collapsing unconscious beside Bob.
Daniel, Daisy and Mark stared at the three unconscious students lying on the ground.
Gary looked back at them without the slightest change in expression.
"I am not joking anymore."
"Tell me where Jin is, Or tell him to come here."
His gaze briefly shifted toward the three lying at his feet.
"Unless you want to end up like these knuckleheads."
Daniel swallowed.
"...He took them down so effortlessly?"
Mark frowned, though he didn't seem particularly worried.
"We underestimated him."
"...But honestly, those three weren't a big deal."
Daniel nodded slightly.
"True."
"But you still attacked students from our school."
Mark stepped forward until he stood beside Daniel.
"I'm saying this again."
"We don't know where Jin is."
"If you're not planning to leave without a fight..."
He raised his fists.
"...Then we're ready."
Daisy quietly backed away, stopping near the school building to avoid getting caught in whatever was about to happen.
Gary stared at the two of them for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"...A fight, huh."
"Sure."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm already pretty frustrated."
"I've been looking for that guy since morning..."
"And new things just keep getting in the way."
He slowly walked toward them.
Daniel and Mark exchanged a quick glance.
Neither of them spoke.
The next second—
Both charged at Gary together.
Daniel reached Gary first.
He threw a straight punch toward Gary's face.
At almost the same moment, Mark circled around from the side, aiming to attack together.
Gary calmly leaned his head aside.
Daniel's punch cut through nothing but air.
In the same instant, Gary slipped between them and appeared behind both of them.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"...He's behind us!"
Mark reacted immediately.
He spun around and swept his leg toward Gary.
Gary jumped lightly over the sweeping kick.
The moment he landed—
Daniel had already closed the distance.
His body twisted as a roundhouse kick flew toward Gary's head.
Gary raised both forearms.
THUD!
The kick connected with enough force to push Gary several feet backward.
His shoes scraped across the concrete before he came to a stop.
Even then...
He never lost his balance.
Gary lowered his arms and looked at the two standing before him.
"...Way better than those three."
He rolled one shoulder before continuing,
"But that's still not enough."
He waited.
Daniel and Mark rushed toward him again.
As soon as they entered his range—
Gary stepped forward.
His fist buried itself into Daniel's torso.
THUD!
Daniel's eyes widened as the air was forced from his lungs.
"...Ghk!"
Before Gary could follow up, Mark's kick crashed into his ribs.
The impact echoed through the courtyard.
Gary barely moved.
He simply looked down at the spot where he'd been kicked.
"...I must say..."
He turned his eyes back to them.
"Despite your skills..."
"You're physically weak."
"I mean..."
"You're just B Rank."
Daniel and Mark immediately retreated a few steps, creating some distance between them and Gary.
Daniel frowned.
"...What do you mean, 'just' B Rank?"
"Do you think that's not good enough?"
Mark kept his guard raised.
"...Then what's your rank?"
Gary lowered his eyes toward the ground.
One hand rested casually against his side.
His answer came without pride.
Without arrogance.
Simply as a fact.
"...I'm S Rank."
Silence.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"...S Rank?"
Mark stared at Gary in disbelief.
"...An actual S Rank?"
Neither of them had ever fought someone at that level.
Mark had only heard stories.
Daniel immediately thought of Alan.
Even Jack...
An A Rank fighter...
Had been defeated by Alan with a single strike.
Daniel shook his head.
"You're S Rank?"
"Stop joking."
Mark nodded.
"I've heard S Ranks are monsters."
"You seem more like an A Rank than an S."
Gary shrugged.
"I don't really care what you believe."
"...But I can show you."
"The difference between our strength."
The instant the words left his mouth—
He vanished.
Mark's pupils shrank.
"...What?!"
Gary appeared directly in front of him.
His fist shot forward.
Mark barely managed to raise both arms in time.
BOOM!
The impact forced Mark several steps backward.
His arms went numb.
"...He's suddenly faster..."
"And stronger than before!"
Daniel's expression changed.
"Mark!!"
Gary's eyes shifted toward him.
"...Don't shout."
"You're annoying me."
Before Daniel could react—
Gary was already standing in front of him.
A single punch crashed into Daniel's face.
BOOM!!
The ground beneath Daniel's feet shattered into a small crater from the impact.
His body collapsed onto the cracked concrete.
Gary calmly ran a hand through his hair.
"I was holding back before."
"I wanted to see how good you were."
Mark gritted his teeth and rushed in from behind.
His leg swung toward Gary's head.
Gary caught it with one hand.
Mark froze.
Gary grabbed his arm with the other hand.
Then—
He slammed Mark into the ground.
CRASH!!
Concrete burst apart beneath him.
Cracks spread across the courtyard.
Gary looked down at him.
"...Have fun sleeping."
He released Mark before turning toward the academy entrance.
Both Daniel and Mark were still conscious.
But neither of them could stand.
They could only lift their heads slightly, watching Gary walk away.
Gary's footsteps suddenly stopped.
Two figures stood in front of the entrance.
Both were taller than him.
Broad shoulders.
Muscular builds.
They wore police uniforms unlike the ordinary officers from before.
Gary looked at them for a moment.
"...Now who are you?"
"Did they send more people after getting defeated?"
The two officers calmly pressed the transmitters attached to their ears.
One of them spoke.
"We've found Gary."
The man continued,
"We'll bring him to the station."
"Over."
Gary looked at them without the slightest interest.
"...I don't have time to deal with some cops."
"Move."
He casually tried walking between them.
One of the officer moved.
He grabbed Gary by the shoulder and threw him backward.
Gary's body hit the ground several meters away.
He remained lying there for a second, staring up at the clear blue sky.
"...That..."
"...wasn't something an ordinary cop could do."
He slowly stood back up.
Brushed the dust from his clothes.
Even though there was barely any.
Then he looked at the two officers again.
"...Well."
"I'll beat you both."
Gary stepped forward.
His eyes settled on the officer.
Without another word he charged at him.
Gary closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
His fist shot straight toward David's face.
David calmly raised an arm.
THUD!
The punch was stopped before it could reach him.
Gary's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...You reacted?"
Without saying a word, David threw a punch back.
Gary blocked it with both forearms.
BOOM!
The force pushed him several steps backward, his shoes scraping against the concrete.
For the first time that day...
Gary smiled.
"...Woah..."
"...Woah."
He lowered his arms and looked between the two officers.
"Are you two the trump cards of the City Police?"
John answered in a calm voice.
"Special Unit."
"The strongest fighters in the City Police."
"David and John."
"The only officers who hold the rank of S."
Gary stared at them for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.
"...S Rank?"
"So you two are the strongest cops in the city."
He glanced around for a second.
"They actually sent two S Ranks after me."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"...That's..."
"...That's so annoying."
The smile disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
His eyes became cold.
Behind him, Daniel slowly lifted his head from the cracked ground.
"...S Rank...?"
Mark wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"There are... three S Ranks here?"
Neither of them could believe what they were witnessing.
An S Rank criminal...
Facing two S Rank officers.
Gary sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I guess..."
"I'm not meeting him today."
"Everyone keeps standing in my way."
He slowly lowered his hand.
His gaze locked onto David and John.
"...I'll kill you both quickly."
"I'm tired of this nonsense."
Neither officer reacted to the threat.
David simply took one step forward.
"If you surrender now..."
"We'll avoid unnecessary injuries."
Gary looked at him as though he had heard a joke.
"...You talk too much."
Dust and tiny fragments of concrete burst beneath his shoe.
BOOM!
He disappeared.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"So fast—!"
Gary appeared directly in front of David, The punch tore through the air.
David met it head-on.
Their fists collided.
BAAAAM!!
A shockwave exploded outward.
The concrete beneath both of them cracked in every direction.
Windows around the school trembled from the impact.
Even Daniel and Mark instinctively shielded their faces from the wind created by the clash.
For a brief second...
Neither fist moved.
Gary smirked.
"So you really are S Rank."
David answered with a straight face.
"I could say the same."
Before Gary could attack again—
John appeared beside him.
A powerful kick swung toward his ribs.
Gary barely caught it with his forearm.
The impact still sent him sliding several meters across the courtyard.
He dug his heels into the concrete before finally stopping.
"...Heh."
Gary rolled his shoulder.
"This is more interesting."
Without another word—
He rushed at both of them again.
--
The sounds of the battlefield...
Everything slowly faded away.
Six Years Ago
The schoolyard was unusually quiet.
Children laughed together in small groups while others chased each other across the playground.
Standing alone near the edge of the yard...
was a small boy with messy black hair.
Gary, When he was Nine years old.
His eyes wandered across the playground before slowly lowering to the ground.
"...Elementary school."
He muttered to himself.
"Another day..."
"My parents sent me to this place."
He watched the other children playing together.
"...A place where nobody cares whether I exist or not."
To be continued...