takes place at chapter 423-429

7 Days left.

I thought this wasn't my fight... But it seems Yoojin wants our relationship to be known faster than I expected. I'm really going to war against Charles.

Even as I watched Sinu, Eli and Warren fight, I just thought about Minseong. My mind was empty, no longer harboring any thoughts of the past.

My heart didn't sink to the pit of my stomach... Or beat faster as I witnessed the complete wipe of Big Deals existence. When Xiaolung emerged with a badly beaten Jake from the same car Sinu gifted him, my priority didn't waver.

A scoff left Ae-ri's lips as Burn Knuckles appeared, confident and full of adrenaline, walking forward. She had a small smile as she stared at Vasco. He had long changed since the last time she saw him.

An orange flicker was flashed in a swift movement at the side of the street, the smell of gasoline scattered all over. The orange light was swept back up into the air, a familiar face in a surprising green sweater.

Zack. Ae-ri smiled slightly, seeing how surprising Zack's and Vasco's change was.
She continued to stay on the phone with Yoojin and the others to execute the plan, though she wasn't paying attention to any of what they were saying.

Then, a wide smirk appeared on her lips as she saw a male in a black hoodie, the hood pulled over his face. As the figure took a step forward and announced the failure of the workers, she knew who it was. Daniel. She would be fighting him again.

The burn knuckles rushed forward, shielding Big Deal while letting Vasco shine brighter, as Jin Jang and Hwangho appeared. Only to be easily defeated by Vasco. Magami Kenta fought with Zack, only to be taken out after a single blow. Taegon was all confident when he lounged at Daniel, just to be sent to the side unconscious.

Xiaolung inhaled, getting into his stance to prepare fighting against Daniel. But in the blink of an eye, he faced the destruction technique Daniel copied from a certain guy.

She huffed. "Are you watching, Ae-ri?" She heard Yoojin's voice in her earpiece. "Yeah." She retorted, witnessing Vasco fighting with Mandeok before Zack stepped in, already achieving the iron fortress.

Zack's eyes widened, Yuseong lounging behind him, his fist pulled back.

THWACK!

Daniel had already flipped above Zack, the sole of his shoe blocking Yuseong's fist and slamming him into the ground. It was almost impossible to not see how much they've changed, their power only getting more obvious.

It has started to rain, the raindrops falling to the ground with a heavy splash. Desperation hung in the air, Big Deal rising to get up again and fight, hope shining in just those three. Zack, Vasco and Daniel.

But just as Eugene started to feel hope, Ae-ri sighed. The street was starting to grow cold from the rain, but adrenaline and sweat pushed everyone forward, until their fates were deemed done as a stranger under an umbrella walked down the street.

His reflection shined in the puddles of muddy water that cleared up as he stared down at his own reflection, no sense of urgency in his eyes. "Workers. You are no longer a part of the four major crews." His words rang out, making Ae-ri's heart beat faster.

She used to fight with him over collecting payment from the four crews, or eating out with him on occasions with a certain Blondie.

She couldn't hear what he said from here, but it wouldn't be long before she did hear. She saw as he lit up a cigarette, smiling widely as he flicked the cigarette to the ground, putting it out in the rain in an instance.

He seemed to have a short conversation with Daniel, Zack and Vasco behind Daniel as he turned and walked away. You approached a random member of the workers, ordering him to remove his coat, the power he had over everyone here evident.

The weak were hopelessly intimidated at just the mere sight of him. He wasn't a man, he was just a demon. Gun Park - Shiro Oni. Even as Yuseong, Mandeok, Eli and Warren all launched at him, he was unfazed. In fact, he looked even more riled up.

"Enough... You win." Yoojin spoke, biting his lower lip in defeat. Everyone was drenched under the rain, blood mixing in with water. "Everyone is too-"

"Tired? I can wait." Gun inhaled his cigarette, saying a few words of reality, only to be met with a sudden punch from Magami Kenta.

Time passed fast for Ae-ri who watched everything at the side, but the same couldn't be said for Magami who had already collapsed on the ground after just one of Gun's straight punch.

Magami started to cry from frustration, his incoherent and muffled shouts filling the sky, but not near enough for Ae-ri to hear. She rested her chin against her hand, watching from one of Big Deal's stores on the top floor through the window panel.

The rev of a motorcycle was heard, a biker in a long white coat arriving. She sighed at his grand entrance, already knowing he was probably saying some confident remarks to Gun.

Daybreak was reaching, it was probably time for her to come out soon. Her last fight would be against Gun... She could have never expected it. It was fun collecting money while Goo drove her around... Everything was fun while it lasted.

Ae-ri sighed a breath of content, knowing that Minseong had already received the money and treatment.

To kill or be killed. Ae-ri watched as the symbol of hope in a moment of despair, Ryuhei, took on the demon head first. After a few strikes, it was clear that Ryuhei was losing, none of his attacks working. But he's not a rabid attack dog for no reason.

Ae-ri's eyes widened slightly, seeing Ryuhei slide down and strike an uppercut to Gun. It would have worked had it not been for Gun's crazy reflex. Ryuhei lost.

Ae-ri clicked her tongue, pulling her shirt over her arms as she kicked the glass panel in front of her.

"So... Who will be the next hope?" Gun lit up another cigarette, the smoke going unextinguished in the pouring rain. "No one?" Yoojin's heart was beating, but he kept a calm composure. "In that case... I will be taking Yoojin. (Eugene)"

" Unfortunately, Gun... I'm afraid that will be rather difficult." Gun narrowed his eyes at Yoojin's words, " What?"

Yoojin smiled, his eyes closing. The workers had survived this time. "You see, Kuroda Ryuhei... Did his part." Before Gun could say another word, the glass shattered behind them from the second floor of one of the shops.

Glass shards scattered all over the ground as Ae-ri's clothes soaked immediately along with the small cuts from the glass decorating her forearm. It was as if the light shined down above her specifically, still raining heavily above Gun.

"I didn't expect to introduce her this quickly." Ae-ri kept her gaze on the ground as all eyes turned to her. Gun had an amused smirk along with a look of slight dissatisfaction in his eyes.

He scoffed with a smirk, "Ae-ri Jeong. You were the last person I thought would betray Charles Choi..." Ae-ri looked apologetic but not regretful. "So you've completely gone over to the workers side?"

Ae-ri huffed, walking in front of the Workers and opposing Gun. "I guess... This is the choice I made, Mr. Choi will find out soon enough." This time, they were really fighting as enemies.

"You can't take Eugene." Ae-ri continued, Gun grabbed his coat as he ripped his shirt off. "And if I insist?" Gun had a grin, riled up to see how much Ae-ri had improved.

"Don't worry." Ae-ri mumbled, turning back up to send a smile back to Gun. "You won't." Footsteps made them halt as Ae-ri glanced at Daniel who didn't seem very happy with where she stood in this fight.

"It seems... You turned him into your masterpiece." Ae-ri muttered, staring back at Daniel. Gun shrugged, not caring any less. "Back off. It's not your place to intervene."

Daniel turned to Yoojin. " I can't do that. I have business with Yoojin myself." Zack and Vasco seemed to agree, though they stared at Ae-ri just as disappointed as Daniel did. "That's true. We are not here to save Big Deal. We're here to teach the Workers a lesson." Zack spoke up.

Ae-ri frowned at how well they seemed to get along, trusting each other and being protective of one another. "That surprised me. Noona... I didn't think you of all people would make such a choice." Daniel admitted, his eyes narrowing.

Gun seemed to want to attack too, only to stop after receiving a phone all from presumably Crystal. He turned to look at the current situation, wondering what that senile old man planned to do next.

"Noona, do we really have to fight...?" Ae-ri held back a laugh at his words. "Daniel." She patted his head, making Daniel turn to her with a smile, only to drop it once he heard her speak.

"Are you going to attack first then?" Daniel was disappointed and defeated. He didn't think the girl he liked would choose such a path, but after all, they were already in a world of violence.

He sent an uppercut aiming right to her cheek, though it felt unfamiliar for him to be hitting girls, Ae-ri dodged it easily nonetheless. "No hesitation, I see." Daniel kept a straight face at her words, launching multiple attacks while Ae-ri seemed unfazed, even speaking as she dodged.

"I made a deal with Yoojin. I was supposed to help him clean this street..." She had a slight frown as she flipped upwards, ready to send a kick down to Daniel. But her leg was blocked by Zack who seemed to have already achieved the iron fortress.

" But it seems I'll let things depend on you three." She huffed, avoiding Vasco's kick and turning up into the air. It seemed as if their training was no match for hers, wondering what she had done to achieve such power.

Previously, their attacks could reach her, despite not touching her. But it was totally different now. Not only were they not touching her, it barely even reached. Her movements were smoother, no longer harboring any unnecessary movements and utilizing her flexibility.

She had already knocked Vasco out, her skills going against all logic of speed, strength and biological differences in being a female. Everyone was losing the will to fight, even Daniel.

As Daniel strategized his last attack, redirecting her impact and using it to spin himself, Ae-ri tiled her head back and avoided his attack. Only for her eyes to widen. "Be careful, Ae-ri." Gun huffed a cigarette as he watched the fight. "That attack... Got me too."

Ae-ri's eyes widened as Daniel crushed the top of her foot, pinning her in place as he pulled back a punch. The moment Ae-ri very slightly let her guard down and lowered her gaze to his foot, he sent a punch to her cheek.

Gun seemed impressed and proud, Jake and Jason couldn't believe it while Yoojin froze in place. Ae-ri scowled, turning back up to Daniel at almost the speed of light, no possible way for him to react to her movement in time.

Her hand flew at him, but rather, landed softly on his head. "I didn't expect that." Ae-ri giggled slightly, a genuine smile on her face as she pulled back, turning away slightly. "Ae-ri." Yoojin called out, making Ae-ri sigh.

She glanced at Jake for a brief moment then to Gun and the unconscious Vasco and hurt Zack. "You all... Teamwork and friends..." She muttered, deep in thought before inhaling deeply.

" Don't worry, Yoojin. I did my part, Big Deal will surely disappear today." Ae-ri turned away, glancing at Yoojin as he signed. This was his victory. Not flawless, but he won.

Ae-ri pursed her lips, her gaze never wavering as she watched the entire collapse of Big Deal. Albeit not eliminated fully, half of Big Deal had been caught by polices. And even Daniel - almost - getting released with the help of another high-ranked detective.

"So this is how Big Deal falls." Ae-ri felt a little bad, but not bad enough to regret it. Minseong was going to recover no matter what, and she would definitely be happy with him. The familiar streets were now invaded with police forces, no longer the once heartwarming street she saw before.

"One of the four major crews is gone." Ae-ri shifted her weight to one side of her hips. "Don't you think Mr. Choi will be pleased about this... Gun?" She talked casually, as informally as she did before. Even now as enemies.

Gun seemed conflicted and disappointed with her, not having anticipated this. He lit up his cigarette, his chest heaving once. "Making Charles Choi into your enemy... I just can't understand you."

Ae-ri sneered, a sarcastic and breathy laugh. "Is that so? Perhaps you will. Or maybe you won't ever." She turned, waving him off for the last time. "I had fun... Let me off this time, Gun." She gave a smile.

Throughout all the time they spent together, he never once saw her smile so genuinely. And when she did, it was the last smile he would ever get from her. "... I'll see you next time. We'll truly be enemies then." Gun blinked once and turned away too, both not glancing back at each other as they bid their final goodbye.

bonus: Gun and Ae-ri did bond though not shown :)

+

Gun is a love interest