"Spider?" Sunjae asked.
The woman smiled. "You must be the ones causing all the noise."
"We're here for the kids," Baki said.
The blonde man stepped forward. "You're not getting past us."
Spider tilted her head. "Ken and I have been waiting for something interesting to happen. Looks like today's our lucky day."
Ken rolled his shoulders. "Let's see what you've got."
Sunjae looked at Baki. "I'll take the blonde one."
"Fine by me," Baki said, eyes on Spider.
The corridor went quiet for a moment. Then Ken moved.
---
Ken charged at Sunjae, closing the distance fast. His fist came up in a straight jab. Sunjae's superior speed allowed him to see it coming. He sidestepped and countered with a hook. Ken ducked under it and spun, his leg whipping around in a wide arc. The kick came fast but Sunjae blocked it with his forearm. The impact was solid but Sunjae's strength held.
Ken didn't stop. He spun again, his other leg coming around. Sunjae ducked under it and threw an uppercut. Ken leaned back, the punch missing by inches. He continued spinning, his body rotating like a top. Three more kicks came in rapid succession. Sunjae blocked the first, redirected the second away from his body with a swift hand movement, and caught the third kick with both hands.
Ken's eyes widened. Sunjae twisted the caught leg and threw Ken to the side. Ken flipped in mid-air and landed on his feet, skidding back.
"Fast," Ken said.
Ken jumped and spun in mid-air, his legs extended. He seemed to hang there for a moment, still spinning, his body horizontal. Before his heel could come down toward Sunjae's head, Sunjae performed a backflip, his feet leaving the ground. He landed several feet back.
Ken's heel smashed into the floor. The metal dented. He looked up. Sunjae was already rushing in, his speed overwhelming. Ken threw a punch. Sunjae redirected it with a sweep of his hand, the punch sliding past his shoulder. Sunjae's fist connected with Ken's ribs. Ken grunted and stumbled back.
Ken lunged forward with another punch. Sunjae blocked and threw a knee. Ken sidestepped and delivered a high kick that grazed Sunjae's cheek. Sunjae felt the sting but his superior speed allowed him to grab Ken's leg before it fully retracted. He yanked. Ken hopped on one foot but didn't fall. Instead, he jumped and used his free leg to kick Sunjae in the chest. The force broke Sunjae's grip.
Ken landed and immediately went low. His leg swept at Sunjae's ankles. Sunjae jumped, performing a front flip in mid-air. He landed behind Ken. Ken spun on his hands and his other leg came around at chest height. Sunjae leaned back, the kick missing. He grabbed Ken's extended leg and threw him. Ken crashed into the wall but rolled smoothly to his feet.
Ken charged again. This time he feinted with a punch and then his leg came up high, aiming for Sunjae's head. Sunjae's speed allowed him to duck just in time. The kick whooshed over him. Ken's other leg came up immediately after. Sunjae raised both arms and redirected the kick upward. Ken's foot hit the ceiling.
Ken landed in a crouch. He sprang up, his fist coming up in a vicious uppercut. The punch came fast and hard. Sunjae tried to dodge but the angle was wrong. The fist connected with his jaw. His feet left the ground. He flew upward, slamming into a pipe on the ceiling.
Sunjae twisted his body in mid-air and grabbed the pipe. He swung himself and flipped, landing on his feet. Blood dripped from his mouth. Ken stood a few feet away, watching.
"Get up," Ken said.
Sunjae wiped his mouth. "I'm already up."
Ken moved in again. His leg shot up in a high kick. Sunjae used his speed to sidestep and counter with a punch. Ken blocked and delivered another high kick from the other side. Sunjae ducked under it. Ken's leg came around again. And again. Four kicks in rapid succession, all aimed at Sunjae's head.
Sunjae's speed kicked in. He weaved between the first two kicks, redirected the third with his forearm, and caught the fourth. Ken tried to pull free but Sunjae held firm. Sunjae yanked Ken forward and drove his knee into Ken's stomach. Ken gasped.
Sunjae released the leg and threw a combination. His fists moved in a blur. Ken blocked the first few but Sunjae's overwhelming speed meant more punches got through. One hit Ken's jaw. Another his ribs. A third his temple. Ken staggered back.
Ken shook his head, clearing it. He rushed forward and stepped in close, tensing his entire body. His leg came around in a heavy roundhouse kick, all his weight behind it. Sunjae saw it coming and jumped, performing a side flip over the kick. He landed and immediately rushed in, his speed overwhelming. He threw a punch. Ken barely raised his arm to block. The force of Sunjae's superior strength pushed him back several feet.
Ken gritted his teeth. His body tensed again, every muscle locked. Another heavy kick came, this one with even more force. This time Sunjae didn't dodge. He raised his arm to block. The kick smashed into his forearm. Even with his superior strength, he felt the impact. His arm went numb for a moment.
Ken moved in again, his body still rigid and tense. He threw the heavy roundhouse again, his whole body weight behind it. Sunjae ducked under it and swept Ken's standing leg. Ken fell. Sunjae jumped and brought his elbow down. Ken rolled to the side. Sunjae's elbow smashed into the floor, denting the metal.
Ken scrambled to his feet. He grabbed Sunjae's arm and pulled him upright. His knee came up into Sunjae's gut. Once. Sunjae tensed his muscles, his superior strength absorbing most of the impact. Ken's second knee came up. Sunjae caught it with both hands and shoved Ken back.
Ken stumbled but stayed on his feet. He moved in again, his leg shooting up in a high kick. Sunjae caught it with one hand. Ken looked surprised. Sunjae's other hand grabbed Ken's collar and he threw him. Ken flew across the corridor and crashed into the opposite wall. The metal buckled.
Ken pushed himself off the wall, breathing hard. "Though you look scrawny, you can pack some punch."
"Instead of complementing me, let's get on with the fight," Sunjae said.
Ken charged. His fist came up in another powerful uppercut. Sunjae's speed allowed him to sidestep. The fist missed by inches. Ken followed through, spinning in mid-air. His leg came around in a wide arc. Sunjae ducked and rushed in while Ken was still airborne. He grabbed Ken's leg and slammed him into the floor. The metal cracked.
Ken coughed, blood splattering. Sunjae didn't let go. He lifted Ken by the leg and threw him. Ken crashed through a door, landing in the next room.
Sunjae walked through the broken door. Ken was getting to his feet, slower this time. Blood dripped from his mouth.
"Not done yet?" Sunjae asked.
"Not even close."
Ken sprang up. His leg came up in a high kick. Sunjae caught it. Ken jumped off his standing leg and twisted, his free foot aiming for Sunjae's head. Sunjae leaned back, the kick missing by inches. He yanked Ken's caught leg down hard. Ken crashed to the floor face-first.
Ken pushed himself up. He spun and his leg swept at Sunjae's ankles. Sunjae jumped over it, performing a backflip. He landed several feet away. Ken got to his feet and charged. He jumped and spun in the air again, his body horizontal. His legs extended, both feet aimed at Sunjae. Sunjae sidestepped using his superior speed. Ken's feet hit the wall. He pushed off and spun, his leg coming around. Sunjae blocked. The impact pushed him back a step.
Ken landed and immediately spun again, building momentum. His kicks came faster now—one after another, each one spinning into the next. Sunjae used his speed to weave between them. One kick came at his head. He ducked. Another at his ribs. He redirected it with his hand. A third at his legs. He jumped over it.
Ken jumped and spun in the air again, his body a blur of motion. He seemed to hang there, suspended, his legs still spinning. Then he descended, his heel aimed at Sunjae's head. Sunjae raised both arms to block. The kick smashed into his guard. The force was immense but Sunjae's superior strength held. His feet slid back but he stayed standing.
Ken landed and immediately kicked at Sunjae's head. Sunjae ducked and rushed in. His fist connected with Ken's stomach. Ken doubled over. Sunjae grabbed him by the hair and drove his knee up. It connected with Ken's face. Blood exploded from Ken's nose. Sunjae released him and Ken staggered back.
Ken wiped the blood from his face. He rushed in again. He jumped and his leg came down in an overhead axe kick. Sunjae sidestepped using his speed. Ken's heel smashed into the floor. The metal buckled. Sunjae threw a punch at Ken's exposed back. Ken twisted and blocked with his forearm. His other leg came up in a roundhouse. Sunjae caught it with both hands.
Ken's eyes widened. Sunjae twisted the leg hard and threw Ken across the room. Ken hit the wall and dropped to the floor.
Ken got up slowly. His movements were sluggish now. Blood covered his face. He spat to the side.
"You're good," Ken said. "Real good."
"Stop it, I am blushing~" Sunjae said mockingly.
Ken shook his head. He crouched low, gathering his strength. Every muscle in his body tensed. He leaped into the air, higher than before, using every ounce of power in his legs. He rose up, his fist coming up in a rising uppercut with all his momentum behind it. His whole body was committed to the attack.
Sunjae's eyes widened. The attack was coming straight at him. He jumped to the side using his superior speed. Ken's fist shot past him, missing by inches. The force of the punch created a gust of wind.
Ken landed hard, stumbling. He was on one knee, breathing heavily. The attack had taken everything out of him. His legs were shaking.
Sunjae walked over. Ken tried to get up but his legs gave out. He fell forward. Sunjae caught him and eased him to the floor.
"I have seen strong people," Ken said, coughing. "But... you're something else."
"My my, are you that impressed~" Sunjae said with a smile.
Ken's eyes closed. He was out.
Sunjae stood and looked back toward the corridor. He could hear fighting. Baki was still going.
---
Baki watched Spider. She watched him back.
"You're not going to ask me to surrender?" she said.
"No."
She smiled. "Good. I hate boring fights."
Baki asked with a grin. "Are you strong?"
Spider didn't answer. She moved first. She leaped forward, her body spinning. Her leg came around in a downward kick. Baki sidestepped. Her heel smashed into the floor, leaving a dent.
She spun again, her leg coming up. Baki leaned back. Her foot grazed his chin. She landed and immediately jumped forward, both legs extended. Baki raised his arm to block. Her feet hit his forearm. The impact sent him sliding back.
Spider landed and rushed in. She jumped and both her legs came down. Baki rolled to the side. Her feet hit the floor hard, the metal buckling under the force. She pushed off and jumped at him again. Baki rolled again. She landed where he'd been a moment before.
She didn't stop. She spun, her hand coming around aimed at his midsection. Baki caught her wrist and countered immediately. His knee drove into her stomach. Spider gasped and jumped back.
Spider landed and spun again. Her leg came around. Baki didn't just block—he stepped in and slammed his fist into her chest. Spider stumbled. Before she could recover, Baki's uppercut caught her chin, lifting her off her feet. She flew back and crashed into the wall.
She pushed off the wall, wiping blood from her lip. "Not bad."
She rushed in again. Her leg came up high. Baki stepped forward quickly and delivered an overhead kick with his leading leg. His heel came down hard. Spider barely raised her arms to block. The force drove her to one knee.
She swept at his legs. Baki jumped, spinning in the air. His leg came around multiple times in rapid succession. Three spinning kicks—each one reaching far. Spider rolled away from the first two, but the third caught her shoulder. She grunted.
Spider jumped to her feet and thrust her hand forward, fingers extended, aimed at his face. Baki sidestepped and immediately lunged forward with a heavy hook. His fist connected with her ribs. CRACK. Spider coughed, stumbling sideways.
She twisted in mid-air and her leg came around. Baki raised his arm to block, then immediately replied with a powerful knee to her midsection. Spider doubled over, gasping.
She jumped back, breathing hard. "You're faster than I thought."
"You're not bad either," Baki said.
Spider rushed in again. She placed her foot on his head and dragged it down, forcing him to bend forward. Her other leg came up. Baki tried to straighten but her foot kept him bent. Her kick connected with his head, sending him into the air.
Spider jumped after him, her leg coming around. It connected with his side. Baki crashed into the wall.
He slid down, leaving a dent in the metal. Spider landed in a crouch.
"Tch! You're tough," Spider licked her lips. "It will be more fun to break you~"
Baki stood. "Good. This is getting interesting."
Spider rushed in again. She placed her foot on his head and drove him down to the ground. His face hit the floor. Before he could react, she stomped on the back of his head. Then she stomped on his back. Once. Twice. Each impact drove the air from his lungs.
She stepped off him. Baki pushed himself up, gasping. Spider grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to his knees. She placed her foot on the back of his neck and used it as a platform to jump. She flipped in the air. On the descent, she stomped on the back of his neck. Baki's face hit the floor again. She pivoted her foot on his neck, applying pressure. Then she stepped off.
Baki rolled to his side, coughing. Spider was already moving again. She placed the underside of her foot on his shoulder and shoved him across the corridor. He slid several feet. Before he could get up, she jumped and spun in the air, her leg coming around aimed at the back of his head.
Baki moved. No acceleration. He was just standing somewhere else now at full speed. Spider's kick hit empty air. She landed, her eyes widening.
"What—?"
"I had my warm up. Now, my turn!" Baki said.
She rushed in. She jumped and grabbed him in mid-air, placing her foot on his shoulder. Baki grabbed her before she could flip away. He slammed her to the ground hard. The floor buckled. Spider gasped.
Before she could recover, Baki grabbed her and delivered two knee strikes to her face. Then he kicked her chin. Spider flew backward and crashed into a pipe.
She got up slowly, blood trickling from her mouth. "Okay. I underestimated you."
Spider rushed forward. Her leg came up high. Baki blocked her incoming kick and immediately replied with a powerful knee. Spider stumbled back, coughing.
She jumped back and tried a spinning kick. Baki stepped forward and launched a fast kick. His foot caught her before she could complete her spin. She crashed to the floor.
Spider rolled to her feet. She was breathing hard now. She rushed in again, throwing rapid kicks. Baki met each one.
He delivered a knee strike, then extended his leg to hit her a second time. Before Spider could react, he spun around and brought his heel down hard on her head from above. Spider dropped to one knee.
She pushed herself up and jumped at him. Baki grabbed her mid-air. He fell backward in a roll, planting his foot on her stomach and applying pressure. Spider flipped over and crashed hard onto the ground behind him.
Baki stood. Spider was slower getting up now.
She rushed forward one more time. Her leg came up. Baki delivered a high kick to her head. Before she could fall, he followed with a crescent kick that launched her into the air. She crashed down hard.
Spider tried to stand. Baki moved forward and delivered two knee strikes. He extended his leg for a second hit, then turned around. As Spider stumbled back, he brought his heel down hard on her. She fell to her knees.
"Stay down," Baki said. "The fight's not fun anymore."
Spider looked up at him. Blood trickled from her mouth. Her eyes were unfocused.
She tried to stand one more time. She got one foot under her. Baki stepped forward quickly. He threw a jumping uppercut that caught her chin. Her head snapped back. Before she could fall, he followed up with a rapid combination of kicks—left, right, center—each one faster than the last. He finished with one more powerful uppercut. Spider's eyes rolled back. She collapsed and didn't move.
Baki stood over her. She was still breathing but unconscious.
He turned. Sunjae was walking back into the corridor. Ken was unconscious in the other room.
"Woho~ you certainly didn't go easy on such a beautiful lady~"
"Fuck off."