*THUD*
The sound of shattering glass echoed through their house—the frame holding a childhood photo of Killie and Pillie with their mother, all smiling freely in a carefree pose.
Meanwhile, Killie's punch aimed at Pillie's face was intercepted by Pillie's friends, shielding him.
They tried to restrain Killie, but his rage burned too fiercely. He broke free from their holds and lunged at Pillie again. Killie's own friends stepped in, blocking Pillie's allies to give him space.
The fight erupted. Killie unleashed a barrage of punches—straight, diagonal, uppercuts—but Pillie dodged every one.
"All those years of training, and this is all you've got?" Pillie taunted, effortlessly evading.
Still grinning, Pillie pointed at the unconscious girl beside their mother. "Well? Isn't she pretty?"
Killie's only response was another brutal assault.
*WHOOSH*
Straight, hook, uppercut, body shot—every strike was thrown. Pillie sidestepped, but step by step, he was forced backward.
Finally, his back hit the wall. Killie leaped, fist aimed squarely at Pillie's face—
*WHOOSH—SLAP*
Pillie caught his wrist mid-air. *WHOOSH*
"Don't joke around. You think copying my daily drills makes you my match? You, who never dared to fight for real?"
*WHOOSH—CRACK*
A straight punch landed on Killie's face. But Killie retaliated instantly, his own strike connecting with Pillie's jaw.
Both staggered back, then charged again.
*WHOOSH—CRACK*
Another exchange. Killie's punch missed as Pillie ducked—but that was part of Killie's plan.
*CRACK*
His elbow smashed into Pillie's lowered head.
Neither would yield. "Weakling. You're not enough to face me," Pillie spat.
"Save your trash talk when your face is pulp, bastard!" Killie shot back.
Bruises marked both their faces. "You know, Killie… a big brother shouldn't hurt his little brother," Pillie said, suddenly vicious.
"But you broke my heart, you bastard!!" Killie roared.
Pillie snatched a book from the table, flipping it open.
"Tch—running away now, coward?" Killie sneered.
But—*WHOOSH—CRACK*
The book slammed into Killie's face. *WHOOSH—THUD* He crashed through the wall, collapsing outside.
Nearby, Killie's friends were spent, unable to fight further.
"All that training… for what? Now I've lost Mom anyway," Killie whispered, tears streaming as he lay broken.
His eyelids grew heavy.
His dojo mates burst in after defeating Pillie's lackeys. Their coach—the man once entrusted with Killie and Pillie's training—saw their mother's body. The female members gasped at the sight of her lifeless form, foam staining her lips.
Fury ignited. They turned on Pillie's remaining allies—
Then *THUD*
Pillie hurled Killie's limp body at them. They caught him, their eyes locking onto Pillie's battered but smirking face.
"Killie! Are you okay?!"
"Is he breathing?!"
"Get him to an ambulance—now!"
One member stepped forward, trembling. "Pillie… you did this?!"
"We never taught you this!"
"Your mother loved you! She visited you every day!"
Disbelief choked their voices.
Pillie shrugged. "I'm human too. Don't blame me for sinning. Everyone does it, right?" His tone carried mock remorse.
"You—! Sin? You act like you're innocent?!"
"From today, you're dead to us!"
"You're no longer one of us!"
"I was leaving anyway. I've outgrown you all," Pillie said, hoisting the unconscious girl onto his shoulder.
"Prioritizing some girl over your own mother?!"
"How could I ever have liked you?!"
"Disgusting!"
As Pillie strode out, one female member stood silent, watching him carry the girl away.
By evening, Killie awoke. His friends hovered, relief and grief mingling. Funeral preparations were complete; guests had been invited.
Killie clung to his mother's body, weeping. The dojo members and his few friends could only watch helplessly. By the time she was buried, rumors of "the son who killed his mother" had spread like wildfire—yet the authorities stayed silent.
One by one, the mourners left. Only Killie remained at the grave. His friends lingered at a distance.
Two shadowed figures observed further back. One, a man in a black hat, umbrella shielding his face, muttered, "Another monster awakens."
His companion sighed. "Justice doesn't exist in this world. That's why I'm here."
The hat-man chuckled. "Spoiled children aren't weak. They're just shackled by their parents."
"Oh?"
"Now that the chains are gone… a new monster is born."
-TO BE CONTINUED-