takes place at chapter 342-345

BEST READ IN BLACK FOR THIS CHAPTER ONLY!

15 days left.

Immense fear. To either die here or kill here. Everyone chose to kill. But they wouldn't be able to kill such a monster, watching as he reached out for (small) Daniel, Daniels eyes widening as he watched himself attacking himself.

She clenched her fists, knowing things were only getting messier. Whatever... At least she could probably be able to announce the disqualification of the third affiliate and gain some aura.

She was about to step forward when she saw Samuel and Jake already instinctively teaming together to attack the monster in UI. A slight smirk appeared on her face, seeing their bravery and teamwork. She hadn't even realized she was slowly getting hooked onto the adrenaline she got from fighting.

"Hey, convenience store boy." She turned to Daniel, slams and the sound of bones cracking in the background. "Uhm." She forgot what she wanted to say.

Daniel just stared at her, looking absolutely terrified of himself. The monster was easily overwhelming everyone, using Jake as a human shield towards Samuel, before elbowing both of them together. They crashed into the walls once more, the tiled floor now cracked and slippery.

Ae-ri could feel her stomach churn from so much violence, but she didn't shy away. Rather, she stepped forward, seeing Jerry also step up. "Stay where you are, Jerry!" She shouted, as if time had stopped and everyone was frozen in fear.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, watching as the monster stood his ground and silently took a step forward before lounging at her at the speed of light, already pulling his fist back.

A genius against a prodigy. Who would win?

A genius of course. Prodigies learn very quickly, able to learn what others have already figured out while geniuses imitate and figure out things that have yet to be explored.

But if the genius lacks experience? Ae-ri's body moved so gracefully, swiftly as if she were dancing, her body flexible from the years of violence. She relied on instincts to dodge and counter (big) Daniels attacks, even as she flipped and spun.

She huffed, seconds turning into gruelling minutes. It was getting tense, but she felt so full of adrenaline, she had to continue. Glancing to the side, she noticed Jake slowly regaining consciousness.

Perhaps she shouldn't have stepped in, wondering if Goo or Gun were going to show up at all.

She heaved, wondering what had happened while she was unconscious for the past thirty seconds. A broken leg. She suffered a broken leg, and the pain was starting to kick in. "Ah... I've never broken a bone before..." She groaned, slowly trying to sit up.

As her vision settled in, the ground shook, rubble of cracked tiles flying everywhere while Daniel stood victorious above Johan's motionless body. As she analyzed Daniel's body, their efforts had not gone to waste, especially hers.

Daniel wasn't aware of the pain since he was technically unconscious in such a mode, but she could see the effects of the fight taking a toll on him. His breathing got slightly heavier, movements slowing for a few seconds.

He raised his foot, ready to crack Johan's skull open.

"I'm here!" Ae-ri turned to the familiar voice, feeling her arm twitch and go numb, her leg bruised and swelling from the damage.

"Hey, what's this? Doesn't this belong to Xiaolung?" She blinked twice, everyone in the room did as she saw the familiar maniac. Goo.

He observed the situation indifferently, a wide grin on his face like always, picking up the weapon from the floor. "Xiaolung? What's he doing on the floor?" He shook his head, acting as if he didn't know anything.

"Ah, Miss Vivi. How is the president of T Group doing?" He asked casually, looking around and searching his pockets. "But wait, I thought the fight was over, that's why I came just now."

Ae-ri scoffed, "I thought you weren't coming..." Seeing Goo turn to her and stare at her condition before grinning again, "Wow! The great Ae-ri is in worse shape than I thought!" He pulled a piece of paper out from his pocket.

Samuel and Jake looked surprised too, completely unexpected. "Hold on, I have to read something." Goo sneered, reading some words off a piece of paper, presumably from Gun.

He casually announced the disbandment of the third affiliate, even calling them 'idiots.'
"Anyways, it's over now." He tossed the paper away. "I'm here on behalf of Gun. And Ae-ri." Ae-ri scowled at his last sentence.

"To finish the job!" He looked excited before narrowing his eyes, seeing the monster in front of him. "To... Finish the job..."

"Ah. What bad timing." His grin went down, eyes narrowed as he realized the severity of the situation. A long moment of silence passed before Goo spoke again. "I think I'll pass." Ae-ri flinched.

"Why should I fight? I just came to deliver the final blow." Ae-ri's jaw dropped slightly, " But this isn't the final blow, I don't want to break a sweat."

Ae-ri deadpanned, speechless at his reaction. Goo glanced over at her, "I'll be back in a bit. See you later!" He waved her off, eyes scanning over her broken leg.

She blinked once, already missing his movement. "Just kidding." He spun around, using his weapon to hit the side of Daniels neck. "Got you, haha." He chuckled slightly, staring at Daniel who had grabbed the weapon in time and remained indifferent.

"You're so screwed, haha."

Ae-ri heaved, feeling her chest start to tighten. She didn't expect the whole fight, seeing Goo still standing but exhausted. Were they even human? She slowly pushed herself up, feeling the pain get worse in her broken leg, stinging terribly.

She took a step forward. What would Minseong feel if he saw her like this? She wondered about it deeply, limping and supporting herself against the wall.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened, emerging... A piggy- Logan. The moment Goo saw him, he started cursing at him. Until Logan turned to the side, noticing Daniels unconscious body engraved into the cracked floor. "... Oh yeah." Goo started.

"There's a beast." Goo merely stated. If it hadn't been for the damage Ae-ri and the others did, he might have suffered a broken arm now, but it was just some cuts and bruises.

Goo turned over to Ae-ri, seeing her condition as she seemed to fade in and out of consciousness, her body swaying as she blinked twice before her eyes shut. Goo moved over to her, reaching out and grabbing her.

He smiled slightly, amused. "Looks like you didn't come out unscathed." He mumbled, holding her up with her arm around his shoulder and a supporting hand by her waist. "There you are, Joongoo." Samuel had an arm around his ribs, possibly injured.

Goo looked pretty glad to see him. "Hey, you don't look too badly bruised!" He laughed, "Did you really fight your hardest?!" Goo teased, Samuel keeping a straight face as he looked over to Ae-ri.

"...Yes, sir. Thanks for coming." Samuel smiled with closed eyes, "I heard from the chairman of workers. We'll look after Vivi and Xiaolung, you stay here and clean things up."

Samuel nodded, "Sure." He spoke nonchalantly, seeing Ae-ri stumble in Goo's arms before he lifted her off the floor. "...Goo." Ae-ri muttered out, still making sure to greet him. He simply stared at her. She couldn't pinpoint his emotions.

Goo glanced over at Logan grabbing Vivi and Xiaolung, the others looking pretty hurt too. "Say, Samuel. Who do you think fought the hardest?" Samuel let out a small sigh, a smile on his face as he recalled the events.

"Well... That would be me... And Miss. Ae-ri of course." Goo seemed satisfied with the answer, turning away.

"Let's go, Piggy!" He shouted, seeing Logan scowled and scrunch his nose slightly, trailing behind him. Logan let out some curses of annoyance, seeing as to how he only carried one girl.

Jake watched them walk away, his injuries stinging too much to move. He had to move, he knew he should. But he couldn't. "Logan." A voice called out, making Logan look down and stop in his tracks. "...Huh?"

"Leave them here." The voice rang out again, making Logan bare his teeth. " Or I'll kill you." Logan leaned over, turning his head to the side to reach the eye level of the smaller figure. (Small) Daniel.

Logan looked pretty awkward too, "Uh, by any chance... Have you lost your mind?" He inquired, seeing how fearless Daniel was, though he had no idea who he was. "Leave Vivi and Xiaolung... Here." Daniel retorted again confidently.

Logan looked totally mad now, tucking his hands in his pocket and leaning towards Daniel, staring into his eyes. "Have I seen you before?" Logan inched nearer to his face, trying to intimidate him.

"Who are you?" Logan scrunched his nose. " Look at this kid, do you really want to do this?" He scoffed at how brave Daniel was. However, Goo didn't seem too happy. Especially with Ae-ri looking as if she were dying in his arms.

Goo turned around, " Hey pig." Making Logan glance over. "I'm busy. Let's go." Goo spoke, feeling Ae-ri shuffle around in his arms and opening her eyes again, holding his shoulder for support. "C-convenience store boy..." She mumbled, making Goo raise a brow.

"Hold on, we've got lots of time." Ae-ri opened her mouth to counter Logan's words, unhappy with what he wanted to do. Especially since Daniel looked so much like Minseong now that he's lost weight. "Hey, don't hurt him..." She clicked her tongue, voice evident with fatigue.

Logan frowned, rubbing a hand on his nape. "I just want to teach this punk..."

"Hey." Ae-ri's grip subconsciously got a little tighter on Goo's shoulder, a worried look on her face. Goo inhaled deeply, temporarily placing her down, "I said let's go." He used the side of his hand, smacking it against the back of Daniels neck.

Ae-ri glanced at Daniel falling unconscious, her leg going numb. "Can you walk?" Ae-ri pursed her lips at Goo's question, hesitantly shaking her head as he held back a laugh and picked her back up. "Logan. You gotta stop breaking your promises."

"What?"

" Why are you being so naughty today?"

" Naughty? What am I? A little kid?"

" Aren't you?" Logan turned to Goo, "What?" He retorted, seeing Goo's sharp slit-like eyes gazing at him. "You'd better watch yourself..." He paused, feeling tense and awkward.

He turned away, grabbing Vivi and Xiaolung again, "Hmph." He huffed, too egotistical to say anything else and walking away to the elevator. "Goo, I'm tired." Ae-ri admitted, her leg turning into an ugly shade of purple and blue.

Goo's frowned turned back around, a grin on his face. "Alright-"

"You can't leave." Goo turned to the direction of the voice. "Leave them here. Vivi and Xiaolung." It's Jake.

Goo deadpanned. "What's YOUR problem!?"
Logan frowned, the elevator doors trying to close before opening again and clashing on Vivi and Xiaolung on each side of Logan's grasp, standing in the middle of the elevator doors.

"Long time no see, Jake." Goo spoke casually, following Jakes eyes as Jake glanced down at an exhausted Ae-ri in his arms. "Goo, you said we're going back..."

Goo dismissed her words, knowing it wouldn't take long. In her muffled hearing and the loud ringing in her ear, she was only able to make out the sentence, "There's going to be a major war soon."

She narrowed her eyes, turning her head to see Jake for a short second before Goo brushed him off and walked away, holding Ae-ri tightly. "Goo, where are we going now?" Ae-ri asked, her breathing shallow.

Goo was quiet for a short while. "First, we get to to a hospital. Next, we report back to chairman."

Ae-ri let out a sigh. "Charles... Chairman..." She furrowed her brows slightly. "Alright..."

bonus: There will be more information on Ae-ri's fighting prowess later on!

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p.s: UI Daniel breaks Gun and Goo's arm in the manhwa, but since I added my OC, instead of Goo's arm it's Ae-ri's leg

(Ae-ri is slightly weaker than Gun and Goo due to biological differences.)