Three days later.
"Ready?" Seongji asked.
Baki nodded.
They rushed at eachother. Seongji dropped low to reach for Baki's waist. Baki pushed down on his shoulders and circled away. Seongji grabbed at Baki's wrist. Baki slipped it with a sharp pull, then snapped a jab and cross. Seongji dodged the cross and kicked at Baki's lead leg.
Baki blocked with his shin, then immediately fired back with a switch kick that smacked into Seongji's ribs. Seongji caught the leg and twisted. He dropped down to control the ankle. Baki hopped on one foot, but instead of resisting the twist, he went with it—spinning a full rotation and landing on his hands. He kicked up with his free leg, forcing Seongji to release and back away.
Baki rolled to his feet smoothly.
Seongji rushed in with a punch. Baki ducked under, slipped to the outside, and threw a short uppercut to the body. Seongji winced. Baki followed with a spinning back kick aimed at the chest. Seongji barely twisted away, then exploded forward and got his arms around Baki's waist from behind.
Baki bent forward and slipped his hips out to the side. Seongji tried to adjust, but Baki spun inward, hooking Seongji's leg with his own, and tripped him. Seongji hit the ground hard.
Baki immediately tried to take his back, but Seongji rolled and got to his knees. They scrambled. Baki wrapped his arm around Seongji's neck from the side. Seongji's hand shot to Baki's forearm. His fingers dug into the bone beneath.
Instead of pulling away directly, Baki twisted his arm inward and slid it free. Seongji's eyes widened.
Baki pressed forward with a series of punches. Seongji blocked the first two but the hook snapped his head to the side. He tried to clinch. Baki dropped his weight and threw Seongji with a hip throw. Seongji flew over Baki's hip and slammed into the ground.
Baki tried to move into side control, but Seongji turned and wrapped his legs around Baki's waist in a closed guard. Seongji's hand shot to Baki's wrist. The grip locked onto Baki's bone like a vice.
Baki rotated his wrist hard. The movement created just enough space. He slipped his hand free and dove forward, wrapping his arm under Seongji's head. Seongji bridged explosively, throwing his hips up. His other hand grabbed Baki's elbow. He used the bridge to reverse position and slam Baki into the ground.
They scrambled to their feet. Both were breathing harder now.
Seongji rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Baki's waist in a bear hug. He lifted Baki clean off the ground. Baki twisted his hips violently and got his leg behind Seongji's. They both crashed down. Baki tried to get on top but Seongji was already moving—rolling, scrambling to his knees.
Baki jumped on his back, wrapping one arm around Seongji's neck for a rear naked choke. Seongji grabbed the arm with both hands, his fingers digging deep into Baki's forearm.
Baki shifted his weight suddenly. Seongji had to release to keep his balance. Baki rolled away and shot to his feet.
Seongji exploded forward the moment he stood. A punch clipped Baki's jaw. A low kick struck into his thigh. Baki stumbled back.
Before he could recover, Seongji grabbed his shoulder and threw him with a shoulder throw. Baki flipped mid-air and landed on his feet. Seongji dashed towards him. They hit the ground hard.
Seongji's legs wrapped around Baki's waist, pulling him into guard. His hand shot to Baki's wrist again.
Baki rotated his arm in a tight circle and slipped free. He immediately drove his elbow down toward Seongji's face. Seongji turned his head—the elbow grazed his cheek. His legs squeezed tighter. Baki drove his fists into Seongji's sides again and again.
Seongji grabbed both of Baki's wrists. Baki shifted his weight hard to the left. Seongji adjusted. In that split second, Baki twisted his hips and yanked one arm free.
He slammed his palm into Seongji's thigh. The guard opened. Baki scrambled to pass but Seongji's leg hooked his arm. Seongji rolled, trying to sweep Baki. Baki planted his free hand and stayed on top.
Seongji threw a short punch from the ground. It cracked into Baki's temple. Baki's vision blurred. He fired back—his fist hitting Seongji's shoulder. Seongji got to his knees and tried to take Baki's back. Baki rolled away and shot to his feet.
Seongji stood up. His face was flushed, he stepped in with a low kick. Baki blocked it with his shin. Seongji followed with a straight punch. Baki slipped to the outside and threw a hook that landed clean on Seongji's face.
Seongji caught Baki's next punch and yanked him into a clinch. His knee came up fast toward Baki's stomach. Baki turned his hip and blocked. Seongji tried to trip him. Baki widened his stance, then drove his own knee up. Seongji barely moved back in time.
Baki threw a jab. Seongji ducked under and shot in for a double leg takedown. Baki sprawled, pushing his hips back and pressing down on Seongji's head.
Seongji drove forward. His shoulder dug into Baki's stomach. Baki's feet slid back. He couldn't stop it. Seongji got his arms around one leg and lifted.
Baki jumped and wrapped his arm around Seongji's neck in a guillotine choke. He pulled Seongji down with all his weight. They crashed to the ground—Seongji on his back, Baki on top.
Baki moved fast. Before Seongji could grab his wrist, Baki punched down. The fist cracked into Seongji's jaw. Seongji's head snapped to the side. Baki drove his elbow into Seongji's ribs.
Seongji grabbed Baki's head and pulled it down hard against his chest, blocking any more strikes. Baki tried to sit up but couldn't break free.
Baki shifted his hips and got his knee across Seongji's stomach, moving into mount position. Seongji bucked hard with a bridge. Baki nearly toppled forward but caught himself.
As Seongji came back down, Baki trapped one of his arms. Seongji's other hand grabbed Baki's wrist. Baki punched down with his free hand—hitting Seongji's chest.
Seongji pulled Baki's trapped arm across his own body and rolled with a reversal. They flipped. Now Seongji was on top.
Baki immediately wrapped his legs around Seongji's waist. Seongji drove his elbow down. Baki turned his head—the elbow hit his shoulder. Baki grabbed Seongji's arm and pulled it across his own neck, trying for an armbar.
Seongji yanked his arm back and punched down. Baki's guard absorbed most of it. Baki threw punches up from the bottom—hitting Seongji's arms and shoulders.
Seongji grabbed one of Baki's ankles and shoved it down. Then he immediately stepped over and moved to side control.
Baki turned to his side before Seongji could settle his weight. He got his arm under Seongji's chest and pushed. Seongji pressed down harder.
Baki suddenly stopped resisting. Seongji's weight shifted forward. Baki used that moment to turn hard and get to his knees. Seongji still had one arm around his neck. Baki stood up, carrying Seongji's weight. Seongji's legs wrapped around his waist from behind.
Baki reached back and grabbed Seongji's leg. He pulled it down and spun hard. Seongji released and dropped to his feet.
Both stood there, breathing hard.
Brrring! Brrring!
Baki picked up the call.
"Hello, old man. How did you remember me?"
Hansu Seong from the other side of the call said, "I just want to introduce you to my friend, kid. You'll be shocked to find out."
Baki scratched his head. "Okay, old man. I'll be there by evening." He ended the call.
Seongji Yuk asked, "Is it another mission?"
Baki shook his head. "The old man from the Taekwondo dojo wants me to meet his friend or something."