"We've arrived at our location. The top floor."
Daniel, Vin Jin and Vasco reached the top floor. Even after searching for Alexander, they couldn't find him. Time was running out. They decided to come here first.
Vin Jin asked, "What's the plan now? We even lost that fatso."
Daniel said, "We have to find the old man Alexander talked about."
Someone called out from a cell.
"HEY YOU! ARE YOU DANIEL PARK?!"
Daniel was surprised. "JIHAN KWAK?! YOU WERE HERE?"
Daniel immediately opened the cell.
Jihan walked out in a white robe. "You were here? You fuckers, aren't you here to rescue me, right?"
"We kind of are, but we didn't expect anyone other than 'The Old Man'."
Jihan's eyes widened in surprise. "Old man?"
Daniel nodded. "It's literally an old man. The one who knows everything about this place. 'The Old Man'. I heard he is on the top floor. So I made my way up here."
Jihan pointed at a strange man. "What are you talking about. There's only me and this guy on this floor."
---
Seongji looked at Guile. Blood dripped from Guile's broken nose onto the floor. Guile wiped it away with the back of his hand.
"You're going to regret that," Guile said.
Seongji didn't respond. He stepped forward and grabbed Guile's collar with his left hand. His six fingers wrapped around the fabric. He pulled Guile toward him and drove his right fist into Guile's ribs. The impact made a heavy thud. Guile's body bent sideways.
Guile brought his knee up and caught Seongji in the stomach. Seongji's grip on the collar didn't loosen. Guile threw a hook at Seongji's head. Seongji took the punch on his jaw. His head turned slightly but he didn't let go.
Seongji yanked Guile forward and headbutted him. Their foreheads collided. Guile's head snapped back. Blood ran from a split on his forehead. Seongji released the collar and grabbed Guile's wrist with both hands. His twelve fingers wrapped around Guile's forearm. He squeezed.
Guile's eyes widened. The bones in his forearm ground together under the pressure. He threw a kick at Seongji's knee. Seongji's leg buckled slightly but his grip didn't weaken. Guile felt something crack in his arm. It felt like he wasn't even fighting a human.
Guile spun his body and used the momentum to wrench his arm free. He stumbled back several steps, cradling his forearm. His fingers were numb.
Seongji walked toward him. His boots made steady sounds on the concrete.
Guile launched into a jumping knee strike. His knee drove toward Seongji's chest. Seongji caught the knee with both hands. His fingers wrapped around Guile's thigh and shin. He twisted and threw Guile sideways. Guile hit the wall and dropped to one knee.
Guile stood and shook his injured arm. He could move it but the pain was sharp. He turned and delivered a low roundhouse kick to Seongji's shins, then immediately followed with a spinning hook to Seongji's head. The hook connected solidly. Seongji's head turned with the impact.
Seongji grabbed Guile's extended arm before he could pull it back. His right hand closed around Guile's bicep and his left hand gripped Guile's forearm. He squeezed both at once. Guile felt the pressure crushing his arm from both sides. His muscles screamed.
Guile brought his free hand up and chopped down on Seongji's elbow. Seongji's arms bent slightly but didn't release. Guile kicked him in the ribs. Once, twice, three times. Seongji took each kick without reaction. His hands kept squeezing.
Guile felt his arm going numb. He threw a desperate elbow at Seongji's face. The elbow caught Seongji on the cheekbone. Seongji's head moved to the side. His grip loosened just enough. Guile pulled his arm free and backed away.
His arm hung at his side. It was swelling already. Bruises were forming where Seongji's fingers had been. "Fucking monster!"
Seongji stepped forward. His eyes were calm.
Guile turned his back for a brief second and launched into a leaping back-spin kick. His heel aimed for Seongji's head. Seongji raised his forearm and blocked. The kick connected with bone. Guile felt the impact run through his leg. Seongji didn't move back.
Seongji grabbed Guile's ankle as it came down. His six fingers wrapped around it completely. He lifted Guile off the ground by the ankle and slammed him into the floor. Guile's back hit the concrete. The air rushed from his lungs.
Seongji didn't let go. He lifted Guile again and slammed him down a second time. The floor cracked. He lifted him a third time and threw him across the corridor. Guile's body rolled several times before hitting the wall.
Guile pushed himself up slowly. His back throbbed. His ribs ached. He spat blood onto the floor.
He looked at Seongji. The man was just standing there, waiting.
Guile's injured knee was still bothering him from his fight with Jerry. His forearm was damaged. His other arm was bruised and weak. He was breathing hard.
Seongji started walking toward him again. "Throw me your best shot first and I won't even block it."
Guile crouched and delivered a low kick to Seongji's legs, then followed with a downward punch. Seongji moved his head to the side and the punch grazed his ear. Guile spun and clubbed Seongji across the head with the back of his fist. Seongji's head turned with the impact but he kept walking forward.
Seongji reached out and grabbed Guile's throat with his right hand. His thumb and five fingers wrapped around Guile's neck. He squeezed. Guile's air cut off immediately. His eyes went wide. He grabbed Seongji's wrist with both hands and tried to pull it away. The wrist didn't move.
Guile kicked Seongji in the stomach. The kick landed solidly but Seongji didn't release his grip. Guile kicked again. And again. His vision was starting to blur.
Seongji lifted Guile off the ground by his throat. Guile's feet dangled in the air. He clawed at Seongji's hand. His nails scraped across skin but couldn't break the grip.
Seongji walked forward and slammed Guile into the wall while still holding his throat. The concrete cracked behind Guile's back. He slammed him again. More cracks appeared. Guile's struggles were getting weaker.
Seongji released his grip. Guile dropped to his feet, gasping and coughing. He fell to one knee, sucking in air.
Seongji grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him to his feet. He wrapped his arms around Guile's waist from behind. His hands locked together across Guile's stomach. He lifted Guile off the ground and bent backward. Guile's shoulders and back drove into the floor. The concrete shattered beneath them.
Seongji stood. Guile lay in the crater, dazed. Blood ran from his nose and mouth. His body twitched.
Guile rolled onto his side and pushed himself up on one arm. His other arm wasn't responding properly. He got one foot under him. Then the other. He stood, swaying.
"You should stay down for now," Seongji said. His voice was quiet.
Guile didn't answer. He raised his fists. His stance was unsteady.
Seongji's eyes flashed red. The air around him seemed to change. He stepped forward and grabbed Guile's ribs with both hands. Three ribs in each hand. His twelve fingers dug into the spaces between the bones. He squeezed.
Guile screamed. The sound was raw and broken. His ribs bent under the pressure. He felt them starting to crack. He threw wild punches at Seongji's face. The punches landed but Seongji didn't stop squeezing.
Guile's ribs cracked. The sound was wet and terrible. His body went limp. His arms dropped to his sides.
Seongji released him. Guile collapsed to the floor like a puppet with cut strings. He lay there, gasping in short, shallow breaths. His chest rose and fell unevenly.
Seongji looked down at him. The red glint faded from his eyes.
Alexander scrambled to his feet and pulled the gag from his mouth. He stared at Seongji with wide eyes.
Jerry was still on the ground, barely conscious. His swollen eyes tried to focus on what had just happened.
Seongji turned away from Guile and walked over to Alexander. He looked at the small man without expression.
"You okay?" Seongji asked.
Alexander nodded quickly. "Respectable sir, thank you for saving me."
Seongji looked at Jerry. He walked over and crouched beside him. Jerry's face was covered in blood. His nose was broken. His ribs were cracked. His breathing was labored.
"Can you stand?" Seongji asked.
"Yeah." Jerry slowly stood up. "Who are you?"
"I am Seongji Yuk. I am here for my student." Seongji stood and looked around the corridor. Bodies were scattered everywhere from Jerry's earlier fight. The walls were cracked and damaged. Blood was splattered across the floor.
Behind him, Guile tried to move. His hand scraped across the concrete. His fingers curled. He was trying to push himself up.
Seongji walked back over to him. He placed his boot on Guile's chest and pressed down. Not hard. Just enough pressure to keep him down.
"Don't," Seongji said.
Guile's hand dropped to the floor. His body went still except for the shallow rise and fall of his damaged chest.
Seongji removed his boot and looked at Alexander. "Who are you?"
"Alexander Hwang," Alexander said. His voice was hoarse.
Seongji nodded. He looked at Jerry again.
"Have you met someone named Vin Jin here?" Seongji said.
Alexander nodded quickly. "Yes. Yes, I did."
"Wonderful. Take me to him quickly." Seongji looked at Alexander.
"Yes," Alexander said. He was still shaking but he could move.
Seongji started walking down the corridor.
Alexander and Jerry followed close behind him.