Mount Cheonliang - The Shaman's Courtyard
"One hit. I'll use everything—all my speed and strength—on this single strike," Seongji Yuk thought as he closed in on the red-haired teen.
Suddenly, a voice echoed across the courtyard. "My, oh my. What absolutely perfect timing."
"Seongji Yuk, did you find a new sparring partner when I'm still here?" Baki dragged the unconscious forms of Beolgu, Jaesu, and Gwang behind him like sacks of grain.
Shinmyung felt horror wash over him witnessing his best fighters in such a state. Baki glanced at him and smirked. "Ah, these guys? They were quite something."
Baki approached Shinmyung. "Sesh!, Listen, bitch! Didn't I tell you I'd kill you if you messed with us one more time?"
James Lee sucked on a lollipop as he watched the spectacle with mild interest.
"You're amazing. I'm surprised once more. I didn't expect any country bumpkin to defeat them."
Baki snapped back at him. "Don't interrupt me, you dumbfuck! I'm having a moment!"
James was momentarily taken aback by the sudden profanity. He crushed the lollipop between his teeth and said calmly, "Sadly, I can't let you have your moment, Baki Hanma. The person I was raised under, Charles Choi, has struck a deal with Mr. Shinmyung Cheon here. So you can't harm him."
Hearing James's words, Shinmyung released a breathe of relief.
Baki looked back at James and grinned ferociously. "Is that so? And who's going to stop me?"
Seongji Yuk suddenly interjected, his voice carrying a warning. "Baki, don't underestimate this kid. He's different."
James walked towards Baki. "How about this? Join our group. We're building something called the Four Crews right now. We need manpower to manage it."
Baki grinned. "Four Crews? Sorry, I'm already a member of the Cheonliang Family, pretty boy."
"That's unfortunate. I thought we could be friends." James disappeared from his position and appeared right before Baki with a jab aimed at his face.
"Fast" . Baki's eyes widened in surprise as he blocked the attack with his palm.
Suddenly, Baki took a strange fighting stance. His whole body seemed loose.
With a sudden, explosive motion, Baki lashed out. It was a slap, but a slap so fundamentally different, so completely redefined, that it transcended the childish gesture it mimicked. His palm, relaxed and open, connected with James's cheek.
There was no deafening sonic boom, no shattering of bone. Instead, a hollow "thwump" echoed—a sound like a wet towel snapping against pavement.
James's head snapped back from the slap, his cheek burning red-hot. For the first time in years, his flawless composure cracked.
"...You bastard," James muttered, his voice flat, eyes narrowing.
Baki lowered his hand casually, his body loose, almost fluid. "What's wrong? Didn't see that coming, pretty boy?"
Then James moved.
He vanished. One instant he was before Baki; the next, his heel cut through the air like a blade—a lightning-fast Taekwondo kick aimed at Baki's temple. The speed was so intense it seemed invisible.
Baki ducked just in time through sheer instinct. The kick shredded through a wooden pillar behind him, splintering it cleanly.
"Invisible...?" Baki thought, his grin widening.
James didn't stop. His body flowed acrobatically, flipping midair into a spinning kick, his form becoming a blur. His foot lashed toward Baki's midsection.
But Baki grabbed his leg and hurled him back.
James flipped midair—but Baki exploded forward with a dash. His acceleration shattered expectation, closing the gap instantly.
WHAM!
Baki's elbow crashed into James's guard, the sheer force making his arms quake. James reeled but twisted his hips, redirecting momentum. He used Baki's charge against him, flipping behind him with graceful evasiveness, aiming a surgical jab at Baki's neck.
The jab landed—a nerve strike that should have staggered anyone.
Baki's neck twisted with the blow... but he laughed. "Nice one. My turn."
He suddenly mirrored James's stance. His body loosened, his footwork eerily similar. Then, in a blur, he unleashed a Taekwondo roundhouse kick, copied perfectly from James. The kick came with terrifying strength and speed mastery behind it.
CRACK!
James blocked, but the shockwave rattled his bones. "He... copied me?"
Before James could process it, Baki flowed again—this time snapping his palm like a whip. The Whip Strike connected across James's ribs, sending him skidding across the courtyard.
James landed gracefully, rolling back to his feet. He exhaled slowly. "Strength... and speed mastery. I didn't think I would see someone else after Seongji with two masteries."
He darted forward again, his movements becoming sharper, invisible attacks slashing at every angle. To Seongji Yuk and Shinmyung, it looked like Baki was being swallowed by invisible strikes.
But Baki absorbed every attack with his body.
Then—Baki did the unthinkable.
He crudely copied James's invisible speed attack, twisting his body in a sudden burst. His fist blurred, vanishing mid-motion, only to reappear slamming into James's abdomen.
BOOM!
James's body bent in half, breath exploding from his lungs. He staggered, his precision breaking for the first time.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His calm eyes narrowed into sharp slits.
"Endurance... mastery and he can even copy invisible attacks?!"
Baki tilted his head, smiling like a predator. "Get up! I'm just getting started."
"What the...?! What's happening here?" Gongseob came into view.
Jichang looked at the rows of guards lying across the courtyard. "Just what happened here?"
"Oi! Isn't that Jichang and Jaegyeon Na? Who are the others?" Baki scratched his head. Seeing that other Kings had arrived, James sat down on the courtyard pavement.
Seongji walked toward the Kings. "Did you guys get here because of the message?"
Jichang examined Seongji and said, "Yes. Your base was on fire, so we came to check it out."
Seongji smiled and scratched his head. "To be honest, the matter here has already been resolved."
Gongseob walked toward the sitting James and asked, "Is that so? Then what's this school brat doing here?"
"This brat came here to recruit us to some kind of... what was it called?" Baki grumbled.
"It's the Four Crews," James said as he unwrapped a lollipop.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! Anyone can tell that Baki and Seongji will join my Speed Circle!" Jaegyeon Na shouted.
Seokdu Wang put his hands on Jaegyeon Na's shoulder and said, "Uhm! Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?"
"Huh?! What! Bastard! I didn't say anything because you didn't harm my dearest car! Do you think that makes me scared of you?! Incheon isn't that soft! If you want to fight, then let's fight!" Jaegyeon Na raged.
"Since we've all gathered here, why don't we decide once and for all who is the strongest in the first generation?" Seokdu said as he flexed his muscles.