The heavy reek of dust, sweat, and stale smoke filled the dim, concrete room of the abandoned hideout. ​Bound securely with heavy ropes, the three high schoolers were trapped on the dirt floor. Beom-seok trembled uncontrollably, tears of terror streaming down his face as he shrank back against the wall. Beside him, Si-eun sat completely still, his dark eyes hyper-focused as he mentally calculated the positions of the armed thugs hovering over them. At the front, Su-ho glared up with a bloodied lip, his jaw set in fierce defiance. ​Suddenly, the heavy metal doors were kicked off their hinges with a deafening CRASH! ​You stepped into the threshold, your eyes sharp and fearless. Even though you didn't know Su-ho or his friends, you didn't hesitate for a single second. ​Before the gang could react, you moved like lightning. With clean footwork, rapid counters, and devastating martial arts strikes, you tore through the room. Elbows shattered noses, swift high kicks sent thugs flying into wooden tables, and within two minutes, half of Gil-soo’s men were groaning on the floor.

Beom-seok gasped in utter disbelief, his eyes wide as he stammered, "W-Who is that...?"Si-eun’s stoic expression cracked into pure shock, his analytical mind completely stunned by your high-level combat skill. Su-ho’s eyes tracked your every movement, impressed and bewildered by how fiercely a total stranger was fighting for them. ​Sensing total defeat, Gil-soo panicked. Reaching down, he grabbed Su-ho by his collar, yanking him up and pressing a sharp folding knife directly against Su-ho’s neck.

​"STOP! DON'T MOVE!" Gil-soo screamed hysterically, digging the blade just hard enough into Su-ho's skin to draw a bead of red. "Take one more step and I'll slit his throat right here! Put your hands down and don't hit back, or he dies!"

Su-ho’s breath hitched. "Hey! Don't listen to him!" Su-ho yelled toward you, straining against the blade "Keep fighting! Don't stop for me—!"

But you immediately froze. Looking directly at the blade against Su-ho’s throat, you slowly lowered your fists to your sides, completely abandoning your guard. ​Seeing an opening, two remaining thugs rushed forward from behind you with wooden planks, slamming them hard across your back and shoulder. You stumbled forward from the blunt impact, taking a heavy punch straight to your jaw without raising a hand to defend yourself.

"NO! STOP!" Su-ho roared, his heart slamming against his ribs as he watched you take brutal, unreturned hits just to keep the knife off his neck. Tears of frustration filled his eyes as he thrashed against Gil-soo's grip. "Why are you doing this?! You don't even know me! Fight back!"

​"Hey... stop!" Si-eun shouted from the floor, his usual calm voice cracking into desperate panic as he watched you take the blows. "Don't just stand there! They'll kill you!"