The streets of Incheon were shaking from the chaos. The bloody battle between Daniel—still masked in his identity as Cheon Ma—and the Dark Crocodile Society's 1000-Squad Leaders had turned into something beyond a simple clash.
Mugak Wang, Cheonmu Ha, Tao Ju, Jamal Rashid, and Jaun Ryu—each bruised and battered from the earlier rounds—regrouped with fury blazing in their eyes. They looked like rabid beasts cornered but not yet broken.
"Kill this bastard!" Mugak roared, spitting blood on the ground. "Let's show him the true power of the Dark Society!"
The five leaders attacked together, their coordination flawless, their strikes heavy and merciless. Cheonmu's devastating punches collided with Tao's brutal kicks; Rashid's Muay Thai knees slammed in while Jaun Ryu's sharp, snapping kicks cut through the air. Mugak charged like a beast, slamming his knee and fist into Daniel at once.
The combined assault was overwhelming. Daniel's body rattled with each hit, blood spattering from his lips as his body was hammered, his guard breaking under the relentless force.
"DIE, CHEON MA!" Cheonmu bellowed as his punch smashed into Daniel's ribs.
Daniel staggered back. Another kick from Tao Ju smashed into his side, Rashid's knee snapped against his chin, and Jaun's kick drove into his temple. Finally, Mugak grabbed him by the neck, lifting him and slamming him into the ground with a thunderous crash.
The earth shook. Daniel lay still, blood pooling beneath him.
"HAHAHAHA!" Mugak laughed cruelly, his voice echoing through the ruined streets. "Look at him! The so-called monster, the so-called hero! He's nothing but a broken dog crawling before the Dark Crocodile Society!"
The other leaders joined in his laughter, spitting curses.
"You dared to challenge us, you bastard!" Tao hissed.
"You're nothing but meat for our fists!" Rashid growled.
"You'll rot here, just like your pathetic allies will!" Jaun sneered.
The Speed Faction stood frozen in shock. Their eyes widened, disbelief spreading across their faces as they watched Daniel's battered body unmoving on the ground. Even Jaegyeon Na, who usually held his composure, clenched his jaw tightly, unease flickering in his eyes.
Yeowool's fists trembled. "Is this it? Did he fall? Was Cheon Ma just… human after all?"
Among the civilians, fear spread like wildfire. Mothers clutched their children, elders cried, and the little boy who once asked Daniel if he was a hero stared with teary eyes, unable to understand why his hero lay broken on the street.
The Dark Society leaders, grinning and limping from their own injuries, began stepping toward Daniel, their shadows looming over his body.
Mugak spat on the ground and cursed.
"Pathetic. You made me bleed for nothing. You thought you were some kind of demon? You're just another corpse! I'll rip out your spine and feed it to the dogs!"
They drew closer, ready to end it.
But then—
A low chuckle escaped from Daniel's lips.
"…Heh…"
The laughter grew louder, darker, filling the ruined street. Slowly, his body began to stir. Bloodied, bruised, but not broken, Daniel pushed himself up from the ground. His hand wiped the blood from his mouth as his lips curled into a demon's smile.
His eyes gleamed with that cold, ruthless fire again. His voice came out deep, sharp, and mocking—chilling every heart around him.
"You rang?"
The mocking smile on his face sent a ripple of unease through everyone—Dark Society and Speed Faction alike. For a moment, the battlefield froze as if a true devil had risen from the depths.
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