Chapter 265: Fear
[3rd POV]
Everyone here is so weak.
That was the thought of Taegon Wi, the 'King Gon'.
From the time when he was a mere child who could barely speak words, Taegon Wi had to fight to survive in the streets of a Chinese town.
That was the type of environment he grew up in. The Chinese government couldn't care less what happens to a child like him.
He did not know his parents, whether he was abandoned due to the one-child policy or whether he was thrown away because his parents couldn't afford him was a mystery.
But suffice it to say, whoever they were, he hated them with all his heart for letting him exist. For birthing him in such a cruel world, for giving him life.
He had to fight for food before he could even say the word 'food'. He had to fight for a piece of bread before he even learned the concept of hunger.
Running away from street vendors because of theft and running away from old men trying to sell him off to some factory was a common occurrence.
But even with all the odds, even with all the struggle, Taegon Wi survived.
Or should I say thrived?
Even when his body could not muster a quarter of an adult's strength, he could fend dozens of them off by picking up a weapon.
A knife, a glass shard, a sharp chopsticks etc. Those weapons became his only ally in the cursed world.
He was a natural-born weapon master.
If survival of the fittest truly applied to the world, then Taegon Wi was indeed the fittest.
He fought all his life, and most of the time they were fights with his life on the line. So it shouldn't be a surprise when he claimed himself to be the best weapon master in the world.
And with his skills and powers, he carved a place for himself in the cruel world. He built a kingdom for himself.
He was a one-man army, money, power, influence, women, shelter. He had it all.
But when he obtained everything he thought he wanted, he felt empty. He felt that life was dull.
That was when he realized that he was already addicted to the thrill of a fight to the death. He craved the same struggle for survival.
It was a mental illness of sort that he developed due to his traumatic childhood.
He realized that he only felt alive when he was at the edge of death.
So when Xialong recruited him to protect Vivi, he easily accepted and left yn the comfort of this home. Vivi was the daughter of a Billionaire, there were many assassination attempts on her and Taegon was able to satisfy his lust for battle.
But ever since they came to Korea, life had become dull again.
The country, although filled with gangs and many fighters, was rather peaceful. Korea was well maintained and rich enough that no one had to fight for food and shelter. No homless child wander around the street and ran away from slave traders which still very much exit in China.
This means Taegon lacks the life-or-death battles that he lusts for.
Life was truly dull without the threat of death.
That was until he appeared.
A pretty face with purple hair. Yuito Fujita, a superstar around the world and a famous fighter.
Taegon Wi was not someone to judge a book by its cover, years of living in the slums where nice-looking people would sell you into slavery ought to teach you something about that.
So it would be a first when he say, he hated Yuito from the moment he first met.
He could see it, a perfect body void of scars, a pretty face, a privileged upbringing and godly talent.
Everything Taegon was not, Yuito was. It was everything he used to desire.
So it was only natural when he wanted to take everything from him. He wanted to break the blessed kid known as Yuito.
So imagine his surprise when he tries to stab Yuito, the boy retaliates.
It was not going to be a killing attack, merely an injury to his ankle that should disrupt his upcoming fight and harm his future career forever.
But then he felt the touch of death after a long time.
No, that wrong. It wasn't even a touch
A stare?
Was that all it really was?
A stare.
That was all it took for Taegon to feel alive like never before. For a person who was always fighting to survive, it was strange that that was the closest he had been to death.
And that.
That excites him.
But after that small incident, nothing much happens. It was a warning from the boy that if he ever tried something like that again, he would pay with his life.
Life goes on and it would not be wrong to say that Taegon was not praying for a conflict to happen. A chance where he could face Yuito and fight to the death.
He knew that was the only way he stood a chance, if he aimed to kill from the start.
If not, then he wouldn't be able to even challenge the enemy.
And the heavens answered his prayer.
"I can't let you harm my lady." He said as he saw Yuito swiftly dodging the knife he threw before catching it.
That was a lie. He couldn't care less about the lady right now.
Because at this moment, he wanted to fight as fiercely as he did in China.
A fight with his life on the line.
"You can't let me harm your lady? You nearly killed her." Yuito said with a chuckle. Then his eyes fell on his body, and Taegon shuddered.
There it was again.
Intense bloodlus that drowned his soul. He wondered how many the boy had killed to be this dangerous.
He felt a phantom blade in every vital part of his body. They were ready to take his life at any moment.
More.
He wanted more.
Taegon swiftly took out his favourite weapon, a three-stick nunchuck that could join and make a staff when he wanted.
"For trying to harm our lady and for killing her influential friends, I shall put you down." He said while pointing his weapon at Yuito.
"Kill? They are still alive." Yuito was saying before he put his arm up to block a strike that came from his side.
Bone against sold Iron. It should be obvious which was sturdier and which one should break the other.
But in this case, it was a draw.
The cold iron bar shits Yuito's bone and, nothing.
Taegon swung his weapon like a whip and the sound reverberated and echoed through the room. Yuioto was swept off his feet and with the expertise that came with years of fighting, he moved back and dodged the many other attacks that came from Taegon.
What was he fighting? Taegon Wi wondered. A human?
Or perhaps a ghost?
Yuito dodged under one particularly powerful swing and caught the triple-nunchucks. His grip remained firm and the iron groaned under his strength.
"You wish for a fight, is it? You do not desire to protect anyone." Yuito said and looked at the eyes of his opponent.
A maniac.
"Let me grant your wish." He said and flexed his powerful arms.
Underneath his perfectly lean and muscular arms were the explosive strength unlike anything Taegon had experienced before. Yuito jerked his hand and Taegon felt himself getting pulled.
His feet left the floor and his whole body was flung to the other side of the room.
*BOOOM!!*
His back crashed against the wall and formed cracks in the concrete. Although in pain, Taegonw Wi couldn't help but laugh in happiness.
Yes.
He'd expect nothing less from someone with such a thick killing intent.
He took out his hidden knives and threw them at Yutio in rapid succession.
*Fwoosh*
*Fwoosh*
*Fwoosh*
They cut through the air and flew at Yutio in great speed that makes them a blur. Yuito tilted his head and the first knife managed to graze his cheek, blood started seeping out.
He bleeds.
'He's just a man.'
Yuito with newfound caution, easily evaded all of the knives. Taegon was empty now, except for the one in his ankle. That would remain until he had a clear chance to kill.
Taegon Wi slowly stood up straight and took out another triple nunchucks from his left arm. It was fitted under his suit.
This was a bit different as the tip was sharp enough that you could pierce through a man. Taegon joined the nunchucks and formed a bo staff.
Yuito watched all of this in silence.
Taegon Wi spun the staff around as the air whipped and twisted around him. He felt himself smiling like a madman.
He finally could fight to the death and he also had a reason to kill his opponent.
How amazing.
He continued spinning the staff, shifting it from one hand to another before he finally took a stance. He put his staff behind him, in a way that the opponent would never be able to guess where or when it was coming for the kill.
He put out one hand out and spread his leg. His thigh muscles tensed and his core churned, ready to explode into action.
Yuito observed everything with his purple eyes that appeared to almost glow as they locked on him like prey.
And then...
They became a blur.
"HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" With a deep-throated roar, he swung his staff at his opponent.
It was an attack that took advantage of his longer reach. He also put enough power that his opponent would never be able to catch it again.
He did not hesitate to take a large swing because he thought with the difference in reach, he would be able to attack the enemy multiple times before he reach him.
*KWHIIIP!!*
A siwft sound, iron cutting through the air at a supersonic speed.
An attack that should kill his opponent.
.
.
.
Wait.
Opponent?
But there was no opponent.
.
.
'Below!!' he quickly realised and looked down to see Yuito, sliding on the ground like a football player.
His attack was missed and he was in the middle of motion, Taegon did not have enough time to react as Yuito slid towards him and his foot stepped on Taegon's kneecap.
Taegon's eyes were wide open so he saw how his knee bent the wrong way under the momentum and force of Yuito's kick.
*CRACK*
His knee buckled the in wrong way and he let out a shrill scream.
If he had not seen it, he wouldn't have even noticed the pain due to the adrenaline but since he saw it happen so cleary, his brain quickly registered the injury and sent shocks of pain through his nerves.
Stop whatever you are doing. Lay down. Heal. That was what his brain demanded.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH- *CRACK!!*"
He let out a scream but his jaw was shut as an uppercut landed right on his chin. Not only that, he bit off a part of his tongue in the process.
His teeth smashed against his teeth, grinding themselves and they broke.
His brain shook and Taegon fell on his back with a loud thud.
.
.
.
That was it?
Was he that insignificant against him?
But he was older? He had more experience and fought since he was a child.
He also had the advantage of a weapon.
So why.
Why couldn't he even put up a fight? Why could he not rob the blessed boy?
He thought struggle and hardship make people strong, He thought warriors are made under pressure.
Then why..Why was he so strong?
Taegon grabbed his mouth as his scream got muffled by his own blood and hand.
"MMMMMMMMPPPPPPP!!!"
His blurry vision caught the sight of Yuito looming over his fallen body. In his hand was his staff and Yuito was aiming at him,
The full bloodlust crashed on him.
This time, more intense than ever.
His broken body couldn't help but squirm in fear. The despair of his helplessness kept his mind awake.
He was someone who sought death and the thrill of battle.
But at this moment, he felt fear.
He realized then that he was not truly brave. He was still afraid of death. It's just that since he could fight for his life, he never thought he didn't fear death.
He was like every other mortal. He might have built up some bravado to death.
But he still feared certain death.
Now he lay broken and helpless.
He felt like that it was like when he was a helpless kid all over again.
He was at the mercy of someone. Every breath he took was because he was allowed to.
A thought came to mind.
Maybe there was a reason why Yuito's body was void of scars.
Maybe there was a reason why he never struggled in his life.
And it was not because of his earlier assumption. Maybe he was not blessed.
If so then...
'He must simply be...'
"You tired to kill Vivi." Yuito said.
Mercy ran out. His luck ran out.
It was swift. Taegon felt the shape end of his won staff pierce through his stomach and he was nailed to the ground.
He couldn't breathe.
'...just that strong.'
And then darkness claimed him.
.
.
[Image]
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