CHAPTER 7 — BURN KNUCKLES DOESN'T BACK DOWN
Daniel Park didn't understand Burn Knuckles yet.
But he felt their presence before he ever saw them.
It started with rumors.
"They don't bully."
"They protect people."
"They fight anyone who crosses the line."
At J High, that alone made them dangerous.
Daniel was walking toward the convenience store after school when he noticed it. Raised voices. Angry ones. A small crowd gathering near the alley beside the store.
He stopped.
Three students surrounded a smaller kid. First-year, judging by the uniform. His bag was on the ground. One of the older students kicked it aside.
"Hand it over," one of them said. "Lunch money. Now."
The kid shook his head, terrified.
Daniel felt his legs tense.
Old instincts screamed at him to walk away.
New instincts told him to stay.
Before Daniel could decide, a loud voice cut through the alley.
"Hey."
Everyone turned.
Vasco stood there.
No shouting. No threats.
Just calm.
"That's not cool," Vasco said. "Give his bag back."
One of the bullies laughed. "Who are you?"
Vasco took a step forward. "Someone who doesn't like that."
The air shifted.
Daniel recognized it instantly.
This wasn't about dominance.
This was conviction.
The tallest bully stepped up. "You wanna fight?"
Vasco nodded. "If that's what it takes."
The fight started without warning.
The bully swung first.
Vasco blocked with his forearm and stepped in, driving his fist into the guy's stomach. The impact knocked the breath out of him instantly.
The second bully charged.
Vasco turned and slammed his shoulder into him, sending him crashing into the wall.
The third froze.
Vasco looked at him calmly. "Leave."
The guy ran.
Daniel stared.
It was over in seconds.
The kid picked up his bag, shaking. "Th-thank you."
Vasco smiled brightly. "Don't worry. Just be strong next time."
As Vasco walked away, Daniel followed without thinking.
"Vasco," Daniel said.
Vasco turned. "Oh! It's you."
Daniel hesitated. "Why did you step in?"
Vasco looked confused. "Because it was wrong."
That answer hit harder than any punch.
The system flickered.
[SYSTEM PASSIVE NOTE]
Moral Drive Detected:
High
Growth Trigger:
Resolve strengthens execution
Daniel didn't fully understand it yet.
But he knew this.
Vasco wasn't fighting to prove strength.
He was fighting because he believed someone had to.
Later that week, J High shook.
Burn Knuckles showed up openly.
Red jackets. Confident stances. No fear.
They didn't harass students.
They didn't demand respect.
They simply stood their ground.
And when someone challenged them—
They fought.
Daniel watched one of those fights from the edge of the crowd.
A challenger rushed in aggressively.
Burn Knuckles member blocked, countered, and dropped him cleanly.
Efficient. Controlled. Purposeful.
The system analyzed silently.
[SYSTEM COMBAT LOG]
Observation:
Group coordination
Controlled aggression
High morale
Recommendation:
Avoid reckless engagements
Prioritize positioning
Daniel clenched his fists.
This wasn't random violence.
This was structure.
That night, Daniel trained harder.
His guard was tighter. His footwork cleaner. He practiced striking, but only enough to create space.
He remembered Vasco's words.
Be strong.
Not loud.
Not cruel.
Strong enough to stand.
The system updated quietly.
[SKILL UPDATE]
Basic Self-Defense → Level 3
New Passive:
• Impact Absorption (Low)
• Panic Suppression (Minor)
Daniel breathed out slowly.
For the first time, he felt it.
He wasn't just reacting anymore.
He was choosing.
At school the next day, trouble found him.
Two students blocked his path near the stairs.
"You're hanging around Burn Knuckles a lot," one of them said.
Daniel didn't step back.
"I just walk here," Daniel replied calmly.
The guy smirked. "Then walk somewhere else."
Daniel raised his hands.
Guard up.
Breathing steady.
The system stayed silent.
This wasn't an emergency.
This was a test.
Daniel shifted his stance.
And didn't move.
CHAPTER 8 — WHEN YOU CAN'T WALK AWAY
Daniel knew the moment was wrong.
The hallway near the stairs was too quiet. Students lingered at a distance, pretending not to watch while watching everything. Two boys stood in front of him, blocking the narrow passage.
They weren't laughing.
That made them dangerous.
"You really don't get it, do you?" the taller one said. "You're not Burn Knuckles. You're just a guy standing too close to them."
Daniel kept his hands raised, elbows in. Guard tight. Feet planted.
"I'm not trying to be anything," Daniel said. "I just want to pass."
The shorter boy scoffed. "Then crawl."
The punch came fast.
Daniel moved on instinct.
He shifted his weight back, forearm rising just enough to deflect the strike. Pain flared up his arm, sharp and immediate, but he stayed upright.
Gasps echoed around them.
The taller boy's eyes widened. "He blocked?"
Daniel didn't counter.
He stepped sideways, trying to create space.
The second punch came from the other side.
Daniel ducked too late.
It clipped his cheek.
His vision blurred for half a second.
The system reacted.
[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE]
No emergency declared
Condition: Solvable Threat
Recommendation:
• Maintain distance
• Disable balance, not strength
Daniel clenched his teeth.
The taller boy rushed him, swinging wildly now. Anger had replaced control.
Daniel sidestepped and shoved the boy's shoulder instead of striking. The momentum carried the attacker forward. He stumbled, barely catching himself on the wall.
The shorter boy grabbed Daniel's collar.
Daniel reacted instantly.
He dropped his weight, twisted his hips, and pulled the arm down while stepping back.
The grip broke.
Daniel shoved him away and finally created space.
His chest heaved.
Pain throbbed in his cheek. His arms burned.
But he was still standing.
"Back off," Daniel said.
His voice didn't shake.
The taller boy hesitated.
That was enough.
A loud stomp echoed down the hall.
"Oi."
The crowd parted.
Zack Lee walked through, hands in his pockets, eyes cold.
He took in the scene in one glance. Daniel's raised guard. The two boys' aggressive stances. The tension in the air.
Zack sighed. "You guys picking fights in the hallway now?"
The taller boy stiffened. "Zack, this doesn't—"
Zack punched him.
One clean shot to the stomach.
The boy folded instantly.
Zack turned to the second without even resetting his stance.
One punch.
Down.
Silence.
Zack looked at Daniel. "You alright?"
Daniel nodded slowly. "…Yes."
Zack studied him for a moment.
"You didn't freeze," Zack said. "Most people do."
Daniel swallowed. "I didn't want to run."
Zack smirked faintly. "Good choice."
He turned and walked away like nothing had happened.
The crowd dispersed just as quickly.
Daniel leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
The system updated quietly.
[COMBAT REVIEW]
Outcome: Controlled Survival
Damage Taken: Minor
Skill Progress:
Basic Self-Defense → Level 3 (72%)
Mental Attribute Increased:
• Composure under pressure
Daniel closed his eyes.
He wasn't shaking.
That alone felt unreal.
After school, Daniel found Vasco near the gym.
Vasco was wrapping his hands, expression serious.
"You fought?" Vasco asked without looking up.
Daniel blinked. "How did you know?"
Vasco smiled slightly. "Your stance is tighter."
Daniel didn't know how to respond to that.
Vasco finished wrapping his hands and stood. "You didn't throw wild punches. That's good."
"I was scared," Daniel admitted.
Vasco nodded. "Me too. Every time."
That answer surprised Daniel more than anything else.
"Being scared doesn't mean you're weak," Vasco continued. "It means you know what you're protecting."
Daniel thought about it.
His body.
His resolve.
His future.
The system logged silently.
[SYSTEM PASSIVE NOTE]
Mental Alignment Improved
Execution Stability Increased
That night, Daniel trained until his legs gave out.
Not harder.
Cleaner.
Each movement had purpose.
Each breath was controlled.
He collapsed onto his bed, exhausted.
But satisfied.
J High hadn't changed.
It was still brutal.
The difference was simple.
Daniel Park wasn't invisible anymore.
CHAPTER 9 — THE LINE YOU DON'T CROSS
The tension at J High didn't disappear.
It thickened.
Daniel felt it the moment he stepped onto campus. Students whispered more carefully now. Fights didn't break out randomly anymore. People were choosing sides, even if they didn't say it out loud.
Burn Knuckles had drawn a line.
And someone wanted to erase it.
Daniel was changing his shoes in the locker area when shouting erupted outside. Not the usual trash talk. This was loud. Angry. Chaotic.
He stepped out just in time to see it.
Burn Knuckles members stood in a loose formation near the courtyard. Red jackets. Calm faces. Opposite them was a mixed group of delinquents from other classes, some armed with sticks, some just desperate to prove something.
Vasco stood at the front.
His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.
"This is school," Vasco said loudly. "Fight somewhere else."
A tall boy from the other group laughed. "You think you own the place?"
"No," Vasco replied. "But I won't let you hurt people here."
That was enough.
The fight exploded.
Daniel's heart jumped, but his feet moved on their own. He stayed near the edge, back against the wall, just like the system had drilled into him.
Don't rush in.
Control space.
Survive first.
Two delinquents charged at the Burn Knuckles line.
Vasco moved.
His first punch landed cleanly on one's jaw, snapping his head back. He followed with a body blow that folded the second attacker instantly.
Around him, Burn Knuckles members moved in coordination. They didn't swarm. They covered angles, backed each other up, pulled injured members out of danger.
Daniel watched closely.
This wasn't chaos.
It was discipline.
Someone rushed Daniel from the side.
He reacted instantly.
Daniel sidestepped and shoved the attacker's shoulder, redirecting momentum instead of absorbing it. The boy stumbled forward into another fighter and fell.
Daniel backed away immediately.
No chasing.
No pride.
Another attacker swung a stick.
Daniel ducked, the wood whistling over his head. He stepped in close, slammed his forearm into the attacker's chest, and pushed him away hard.
Pain shot up his arm.
But the space opened.
That was enough.
The system stayed quiet.
This was within his limits.
A sudden shout cut through the noise.
"Vasco!"
Daniel turned.
Zack Lee had entered the fight.
Not recklessly.
Efficiently.
Zack moved straight for the leader of the opposing group. One punch. Another. Clean strikes that shut the man down in seconds.
The momentum shifted instantly.
The attackers hesitated.
Burn Knuckles didn't give them time.
They pushed forward just enough to force retreat.
Within minutes, it was over.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
Everyone scattered.
Daniel leaned against the wall, breathing hard. His arms trembled, but he was upright.
Vasco approached him.
"You okay?" Vasco asked.
Daniel nodded. "Yes."
Vasco smiled. "You didn't freeze."
Zack walked over, glancing at Daniel's stance. "You stayed on the edge."
Daniel met his eyes. "I didn't want to get surrounded."
Zack smirked. "Smart."
The system updated quietly.
[COMBAT SUMMARY]
Threat Level: High
Outcome: Successful Defense
Skill Progress:
Basic Self-Defense → Level 4
New Passive:
• Situational Awareness (Low)
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
He hadn't won any fights.
But he hadn't crossed the line either.
That mattered.
As the sirens grew louder, Vasco spoke again.
"This won't stop," he said calmly. "People don't like rules."
Daniel looked at the empty courtyard.
"I know," he replied.
But for the first time, that didn't scare him.
CHAPTER 10 — STANDING ALONE
Daniel Park realized something was wrong before the first punch landed.
The hallway near the old gym was empty. Too empty. Classes had ended minutes ago, yet no one lingered. No footsteps. No noise.
A trap.
He stopped walking.
From behind him, a voice spoke. Calm. Mocking.
"You've been getting bold."
Daniel turned.
Three students stepped out from the side corridor. Not the same guys as before. These ones were older. Built tougher. Faces marked with confidence earned through violence.
"You hang around Burn Knuckles," one of them said. "You block punches. You don't panic."
Another cracked his knuckles. "That makes people curious."
Daniel raised his hands slowly.
Guard up. Elbows in. Feet angled.
"I don't want trouble," Daniel said.
The first guy smiled. "That's what everyone says."
They rushed him together.
Daniel moved instantly.
He backed toward the wall, keeping them in front of him. The first punch came high. He blocked, forearms absorbing the impact. Pain shot through his arms, but he stayed balanced.
The second attacker swung low.
Daniel hopped back just enough to avoid it, heel scraping the floor. He shoved the attacker's shoulder as he passed, throwing off his balance.
The third came straight in.
Daniel ducked and pivoted, using the wall to stop himself from being flanked.
His breathing stayed controlled.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
The system flickered briefly.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Condition: Outnumbered
Emergency: NOT AUTHORIZED
Recommendation:
• Maintain wall support
• Disable pursuit, not dominance
Daniel clenched his jaw.
One attacker grabbed his sleeve.
Daniel twisted his arm inward, dropped his weight, and yanked free. He shoved the attacker away hard enough to create space.
But a punch landed on his ribs.
Pain exploded.
Daniel staggered but didn't fall.
"Still standing," one of them said, impressed. "Let's fix that."
They pressed harder now.
Daniel felt the fatigue creeping in. His arms slowed. His steps grew heavier.
A kick came from the side.
Daniel raised his leg just in time to check it, but the impact rattled his balance. He stumbled.
That was when it clicked.
He wasn't supposed to win.
He was supposed to last.
Daniel planted his feet.
When the next punch came, he didn't block fully.
He redirected.
The fist slid past his guard. Daniel stepped in and shoved the attacker's chest with both hands, using their momentum against them.
The guy crashed into the wall.
Daniel didn't follow.
He stepped back, eyes scanning, refusing to tunnel vision.
Another punch grazed his cheek.
Pain flared.
But the attacker hesitated.
Daniel was still moving.
Still thinking.
Still standing.
Footsteps echoed suddenly.
"Enough."
The voice was cold.
The attackers froze.
Zack Lee stood at the end of the hallway, eyes sharp, posture relaxed but lethal.
He looked at Daniel first.
"You didn't run," Zack said.
Then he looked at the three boys.
"…Bad choice."
The fight ended in seconds.
Zack didn't shout. Didn't posture. He moved forward and dropped each one with clean, efficient strikes. No wasted effort.
Silence followed.
Daniel leaned against the wall, chest heaving.
Zack glanced back at him. "You held out."
Daniel wiped blood from his lip. "…Barely."
Zack nodded. "That's enough."
The system updated quietly.
[COMBAT REVIEW]
Threat Level: High
Solo Engagement: Confirmed
Skill Progress:
Basic Self-Defense → Level 4 (68%)
Mental Attribute Increased:
• Endurance Under Pressure
Zack turned to leave.
"People will come for you now," he said over his shoulder. "Decide what you're standing for."
Daniel watched him go.
His body ached. His ribs screamed. His arms trembled.
But he didn't sit down.
He straightened.
"I already did," Daniel said quietly.
The hallway felt different now.
Not safe.
But earned.