Three days later.
"Ready?" Seongji asked.
Baki nodded.
They rushed at each other. Seongji dropped low and grabbed for Baki's waist. Baki shoved down on his shoulders and twisted away. Seongji's hand shot out and caught Baki's wrist. Baki yanked it free and threw a straight punch. Seongji slipped his head to the side and kicked at Baki's leg.
Baki lifted his shin to block. The impact made a sharp noise. He immediately kicked back at Seongji's ribs. Seongji caught the leg under his arm and twisted. Baki hopped on one foot, then suddenly jumped and spun with the twist instead of fighting it. He landed on his hands and kicked up with his free leg. Seongji had to let go and step back.
Baki rolled forward and stood up.
Seongji came in fast with a punch. Baki ducked under it and moved to the side. He drove a short punch into Seongji's stomach. Seongji grunted. Baki spun and kicked at his chest. Seongji twisted away just in time, then lunged forward and wrapped both arms around Baki's waist from behind.
Baki bent forward and shifted his hips out. Seongji tried to hold on, but Baki hooked his leg behind Seongji's and twisted hard. They both went down.
Baki tried to get behind Seongji, but Seongji rolled and got to his knees. They scrambled. Baki got his arm around Seongji's neck from the side. Seongji's hand clamped onto Baki's forearm. His grip was crushing.
Baki twisted his arm inward and pulled it free. Seongji's eyes widened.
Baki pressed forward, throwing punches. Seongji blocked two but the third one snapped his head to the side. He tried to grab Baki. Baki dropped his weight and threw him with a hip toss. Seongji flew over and slammed into the ground.
Baki moved in to pin him, but Seongji wrapped his legs around Baki's waist and pulled him down into his guard. Seongji's hand shot to Baki's wrist again. The grip locked on tight.
Baki rotated his wrist hard and slipped free. He pushed his arm under Seongji's head. Seongji bucked his hips up hard, throwing Baki off balance. His other hand grabbed Baki's elbow. He used the momentum to flip them over and slam Baki into the ground.
They scrambled to their feet. Both were breathing harder now.
Seongji rushed in and wrapped his arms around Baki in a tight hug. He lifted Baki completely off the ground. Baki twisted his body hard and hooked his leg behind Seongji's. They both crashed down. Baki tried to get on top but Seongji was already rolling away and getting to his knees.
Baki jumped onto his back and wrapped his arm around Seongji's neck. Seongji grabbed the arm with both hands. His fingers dug in deep.
Baki suddenly shifted all his weight to one side. Seongji had to let go to keep from being pulled over. Baki rolled away and shot to his feet.
Seongji stood and immediately rushed forward. A punch clipped Baki's jaw. A low kick slammed into his thigh. Baki stumbled back.
Before he could recover, Seongji grabbed his shoulder and threw him over his hip. Baki twisted in the air and landed on his feet. Seongji was already moving. He grabbed Baki's arm and they both went down hard.
Seongji wrapped his legs around Baki's waist and pulled him into his guard. His hand shot to Baki's wrist.
Baki twisted his arm in a circle and pulled free. He drove his elbow down at Seongji's face. Seongji turned his head and the elbow scraped his cheek. His legs squeezed tighter. Baki started hitting Seongji's sides with both fists.
Seongji grabbed both of Baki's wrists. Baki shifted his weight hard to the left. Seongji moved to counter. In that moment, Baki twisted his hips and yanked one arm free.
He slammed his palm into Seongji's thigh. The guard opened. Baki tried to move past but Seongji hooked his arm with his leg. Seongji rolled to sweep Baki over. 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 for a second. He fired back and hit Seongji's shoulder. Seongji got to his knees and tried to get behind Baki. Baki rolled away and stood up.
Seongji stood up. He stepped in with a low kick. Baki blocked with his shin. The impact echoed. Seongji threw a straight punch. Baki slipped to the side and his hook landed clean on Seongji's jaw.
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 and drove his own knee up. Seongji barely moved back in time.
Baki threw a jab. Seongji ducked under and shot in low, grabbing both of Baki's legs. Baki pushed his hips back and pressed down on Seongji's head.
Seongji drove forward. His shoulder dug into Baki's stomach. Baki's feet slid back, tearing up the floor. He couldn't stop it. Seongji got his arms around one leg and lifted.
Baki jumped and wrapped his arm around Seongji's neck. He pulled Seongji down with all his weight. They crashed to the ground. The floor cracked beneath them. Seongji was on his back with Baki on top.
Baki moved fast. Before Seongji could grab his wrist, Baki punched down. His 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. Baki tried to sit up but couldn't break free.
Baki shifted his hips and got his knee across Seongji's stomach. Seongji bucked hard with his hips. Baki nearly fell 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. 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 and it hit his shoulder. Baki grabbed Seongji's arm and tried to pull it straight.
Seongji yanked his arm back and punched down. Baki's arms 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 stepped over and moved to the side.
Baki turned 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 let go and dropped to his feet.
Both stood there.
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."