39: Incheon [14]
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Samuel ran while grabbing his head, trying to stop the warm stream of blood leaking from his skull. His fingers pressed against the wound, slick and trembling. Each breath came out ragged, echoing in the narrow alleyway as his boots slammed against the wet pavement. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, mixing with the faint smell of smoke and garbage that hung heavy in the air.
He was staring down at his phone, the trembling glow of the screen flickering against his sweat-soaked face. Jake Kim's message—an address—kept blinking on the cracked display. His vision was blurring from exhaustion, yet he pushed forward, gritting his teeth as his heartbeat pounded in his ears like war drums.
The city's veins—the alleys—twisted endlessly around him. Rusted metal doors, broken neon signs, and shattered bottles lined the path as he ran. His breathing grew heavier, harsher, until his throat felt like it was scraping raw from the air. Every step echoed, the sound of desperation and pain.
After what felt like forever, he finally reached the place.
It was secluded, silent—like the world itself had turned its face away. Huge, cracked concrete walls surrounded the area from three sides, towering like forgotten tombstones. The air was dense, suffocating with the scent of blood and gunpowder. The ground was littered with shards of glass glinting in the faint light, and puddles of blood stretched like crimson mirrors across the ruined ground. It looked like two superhumans had torn the place apart, leaving nothing but carnage and silence.
Then Samuel froze. His eyes shot up.
There—amidst the destruction—lay a body.
Mugak Wang. The Dark Crocodile Society's 10,000 Squad Leader. The Number 2 in the latest Dark Crocodile.
He was sprawled across the cold concrete, barely clinging to life. His massive frame trembled weakly, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. A wound cut deep into his torso, covered hastily with a soaked piece of cloth. His right arm was twisted unnaturally, bone showing through torn flesh. His eyes—open—were rolled upward, blank and glassy.
Samuel swallowed hard, his throat dry. He forced himself to look away, his gaze following a thick trail of blood smeared along the cracked floor. It led toward the wall.
And there he saw him.
Jake Kim.
He was slumped against the base of the wall, his body broken, barely breathing. His chest was wrapped in bloodied cloth, a futile attempt to hold back the bleeding. His skin was pale, his lips cracked, and his upper body half-naked under the dim, trembling streetlight. His phone rested loosely in his hand, its screen dimming and brightening like a dying heartbeat.
Samuel's steps slowed. He stopped in front of him, the sound of dripping blood echoing softly between them. Jake's breathing was faint—uneven. His head hung low, eyes closed as if lost in the fog of near-death.
"Jake... Kim," said Samuel, voice low, strained, looking down at him.
Jake opened his eyes slowly. Lifeless. Hollow. He rolled them upward to see Samuel, and a faint, trembling smile crossed his lips. Not one of joy—more of gratitude, of relief that someone still stood there.
Samuel exhaled, shaking his head. He pulled off his suit jacket, its fabric soaked in crimson stains. The faint smell of cigarette smoke still clung to it. He tossed it toward Jake.
"Put it on. Your body is not pleasing my eyes," he muttered, looking away as he lit another cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating the exhaustion carved into his face.
Jake gave a faint nod, using the last of his strength to pull the suit over his battered body. His hands shook violently as he adjusted it, the fabric sticking to his blood. Samuel knelt slightly and grabbed Jake's arm, helping him to his feet. Jake staggered, barely able to stand, his legs trembling beneath him.
"What happened? Why didn't you call me?" asked Samuel, his tone rough but steady.
Jake looked down, eyes shadowed. His voice cracked as he spoke.
"That Thief Girl just called me through Lineman's phone. She said... Lineman sacrificed himself for them..."
Samuel's eyes widened, his whole body tensing. His jaw tightened, and the veins on his forehead stood out. The throbbing pain in his skull vanished beneath the surge of fury boiling inside him.
"What do you mean... he sacrificed!!!?"
Samuel's voice came out dangerous, low and shaking with restrained rage.
Jake said nothing.
That silence broke something in him. Samuel's hand shot out, grabbing Jake by the neck. He slammed him against the wall with a thunderous BAAM.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN!!" Samuel roared, his voice echoing through the broken courtyard.
But before the next heartbeat, Jake erupted, his voice raw, desperate—
"WHY THE FUCK YOU ARE ASKING ME!? JUST TAKE ME THERE! HE WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FUCKER!!?"
Samuel froze for a moment, the rage in his face clashing with Jake's desperation. His hand loosened. He let go, chest heaving. The cigarette between his teeth cracked in half, the filter tearing from the pressure of his bite.
He spat it aside, jaw clenched. "Let's go!?"
Jake blinked, startled, confusion flickering across his pale face.
"What—What are you doing?" he asked, his tone flabbergasted.
He saw Samuel lowering himself, squatting in front of him.
[A/N: Guys, I swear this is not gay]
Samuel didn't even turn around as he spoke, voice rough and flat, "Don't get any other idea. You can't walk, so the best way to reach there fast is... you rest on my back."
Jake hesitated, eyes wide, his breathing shallow. But he could barely stand, and Samuel's back—broad and steady—was the only choice. After a second of silence, he lunged forward, landing weakly against Samuel's back.
[A/N: Amm, He is Chest Monster, Ofc his Back is broad Don't interpret in any other way]
Samuel felt the added weight, adjusted his stance, then rose to his full height. His muscles tensed, his breath steadying. Without another word, he started running—feet pounding the pavement again, this time heavier, faster, determined.
The world around them blurred—the walls, the alleys, the dim lights—all fading into streaks of grey and red.
"You know," Samuel said between breaths, his tone dry, "you are surprisingly light."
Jake let out a quiet huff, voice weak but defiant in thought, No, you're just too strong, Chest Monster.
[A/N: Should I just jump in Seine instead of writing this chapter!?]
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Samuel ran and ran, carrying Jake like a dying brother on his back. Every breath burned in his lungs; every muscle screamed. The night air cut through his open wounds, but he didn't stop. His steps splashed through blood puddles and broken glass, leaving behind trails of red footprints that faded into the dark.
Finally—after what felt like a lifetime—they reached the place where it had all begun.
The battlefield.
As they entered the ruined lot, the faint orange of distant fires flickered, revealing the aftermath. The smell of iron and ash hung thick.
Samuel slowed. Jake raised his head weakly.
Then both of them froze.
Their eyes widened—utter disbelief painting their faces.
Bodies were scattered across the ground. Dozens. The silence was eerie—broken only by the faint hum of wind brushing over corpses.
At the center of it all sat Yeowool Ha, still, silent, surrounded by fallen fighters. His gaze was empty, his body trembling faintly. Beside him lay Lineman—the Hidden Dragon.
He was broken. His body was riddled with punctured holes, as if torn apart by relentless strikes. His blood soaked the earth beneath him, pooling and spreading slowly. His breaths came shallow, faint, fading.
Jake slid down from Samuel's back, his knees giving out the moment his feet touched the ground. He stumbled forward, collapsing to his hands. Crawling—each movement weak, desperate—he dragged himself toward Lineman.
His vision blurred with tears and blood. Every inch felt like miles.
But neither Yeowool nor Samuel noticed him move.
Because their eyes were drawn elsewhere—beyond the broken battlefield—toward the clash that raged at the far end.
A fight that couldn't be described in human words.
Something divine, monstrous, beautiful, and terrifying all at once.
A godly fight—between two humans.
Pacheon Jo V/S OG Daniel Park.
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Author Note: Guys, Should I keep next Chapter as OG Daniel Vs. Pacheon Jo or Should we shop this fight, which we can do in chapter 41 too, if we keep the next chapter as OG Daniel Vs. Pacheon Jo.