The air turned suffocating the moment Daniel—Cheon Ma to those around him—rose from the ground, bloodied but smiling. That smile wasn't human; it was the grin of a predator who had just found entertainment in his prey. His cold eyes gleamed with something darker than rage—something primal.
The thousand-squad leaders of the Dark Crocodile Society froze for a moment, their bravado faltering. Bruised and battered, they still cursed at him.
"Fucking bastard!" snarled Mugak Wang, wiping blood from his split lip. "You think you can rise again? You're finished!"
"You should've stayed down!" spat Cheonmu Ha, his fist trembling as he readied himself.
Daniel tilted his head back and laughed. Not a normal laugh—a deep, guttural, demonic roar that echoed across the ruined streets. Civilians hiding in the corners flinched; children covered their ears. Even hardened fighters from both sides felt chills.
Then Daniel spoke, voice dripping with venom:
"Finished? No. You're all still standing. That means the punishment isn't over yet."
With that, Daniel reached up and tore open his bloodstained shirt, shredding the fabric with a violent pull. Gasps erupted around him. Years of relentless training were carved into his body—dense muscle, scarred flesh, and the symbol of his wrath: a raging azure dragon tattoo curling across his broad back, its eyes blazing like fire in the night. The dragon seemed alive, coiled as though ready to strike with him.
The Dark Society leaders' faces twisted with fury and unease. For the first time, some stepped back.
"You think a tattoo makes you strong?!" Mugak roared, trying to hide his fear.
Daniel smirked. "No. But it reminds me what I am."
The Dark Society leaders cursed and charged.
Cheonmu Ha swung his fist first, his infamous power punch aiming straight at Daniel's face. Daniel caught it—barehanded. The impact cracked the pavement beneath them, but Daniel didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned close and whispered, "Too slow." Then he twisted Cheonmu's arm savagely, sending him crashing into the ground.
Tao Ju leapt in with a spinning kick, but Daniel ducked low, grabbing his leg midair and slamming him spine-first into the concrete. Tao's scream pierced through the chaos.
Jamal Rashid and Jang Ryu tried to flank him. Rashid's Muay Thai elbow whistled toward Daniel's jaw, but Daniel blocked with his forearm and drove a vicious knee into Rashid's ribs. A sickening crack followed. Jang Ryu rushed with Kyokushin karate strikes, his fists blurring, but Daniel's counters were brutal—hammering blows that looked more like an execution than a fight.
And then came Mugak Wang, roaring in rage, his massive frame barreling forward. He landed a crushing blow on Daniel's chest, forcing him back a step. For a heartbeat, the Dark Society leaders smirked—believing they had the upper hand.
But then Daniel straightened, brushing dust off his exposed chest. His back muscles flexed, and the dragon tattoo rippled with each movement as if breathing with him. His eyes glowed with merciless cruelty as he stepped forward again.
"You hit hard, Mugak…" Daniel sneered. "…but not hard enough."
He slammed his head forward, headbutting Mugak with such force that the leader staggered back, blood pouring from his forehead.
---
On the sidelines, the Speed Faction and the terrified public watched in stunned silence.
Boknam muttered, "Is… is he even human?" His voice cracked with disbelief.
Sung clenched his fists. "No, he's something else… something terrifying."
Even Jaegyeon Na, calm and composed as always, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. He whispered to himself, "This Cheon Ma… his presence is beyond anything I've ever seen. He's not just fighting them—he's breaking them."
Children, clutching their mothers, stared with wide eyes. Some were terrified, others… hopeful. The boy who had called Daniel a hero earlier whispered, "The demon is fighting the monsters…"
---
Daniel spread his arms wide, the azure dragon tattoo glowing under the sun ray, his demon grin never fading as he faced the bruised, staggering leaders once again.
"Now…" he said, voice thunderous. "…shall we dance some more?"
The battlefield shuddered with tension.
The demon had awakened.