The next morning, Jin Tae-hyun limped through the school gates. His uniform was freshly washed, but his face still carried the marks of the previous day—the bruises, the cuts, and a determined look in his eyes.
He tried to listen Students whispered that tomorrow and student of jaesung high school fights Min -Soo Kim. News of his fight with Min-Soo Kim had already spread. But no one who was that student.
At Jaesung High, rumors didn't stay quiet for long.
In the hallway, he saw Byung-soo leaning against the lockers, arms crossed, waiting. His expression was unreadable.
As Tae-hyun approached, Byung-soo stood straight and spoke in a low voice.
"Follow me. There's something you need to see."
Without another word, Byung-soo turned and began walking. Tae-hyun hesitated, but curiosity pushed him forward. They moved through the back corridors of the school, the parts most students never visited. Dark hallways, flickering lights, and strange graffiti on the walls.
Finally, they reached a backyards of the Jaesung high school there was an abounded factory .
Inside was something Tae-hyun didn't expect.
A wide underground training area.
Punching bags. Mats. Wooden dummies. Bleachers. And at the center—a giant board with names and rankings.
Byung-soo stepped inside.
"Welcome to the real Jaesung High," he said quietly. "This is where the top fight rankings are tracked.
We call it The Ring Master."
Tae-hyun looked around in disbelief.
"What is this place…?"
"It's been here for years," Byung-soo explained. "Students don't just study here.
They fight for power. For position. Everything in this school—from dorm rooms to cafeteria seats—runs by strength. You want respect? You earn it here."
Tae-hyun walked toward the ranking board. He saw Min-Soo Kim's name near the top: Rank 3.
Then, far below, at the very bottom, a new name had just been added:
Rank 79 – Jin Tae-hyun.
"That's you," Byung-soo said. "Your fight with Min-Soo earned you a place. Not because you loss —but because you survived. And that means something."
Tae-hyun stared at the board. He didn't feel proud… not yet. But a fire had started to burn inside him.
"How many people are ranked?"
"Only the top 100. And trust me, the top 10 aren't just strong… they're monsters."
Tae-hyun turned to Byung-soo. "And you? Where are you ranked?"
Byung-soo smirked. "I'm #14. Just some step away from the elite."
The room suddenly filled with tension. A girl with short black hair walked in, her sharp eyes immediately came towards Jin Tae-hyun.
"So this is the new guy," she said. "The one who went a round with Min-Soo."
Byung-soo nodded. "Tae-hyun, this is Yuri Kang. Rank 7. Don't underestimate her."
Yuri walked up to Tae-hyun, examining him like a hawk. "You're not impressive. But you've got guts. That's rare these days."
Then she walked away, without another word.
Tae-hyun was shocked there is an women also in the top 10 ranking.
Guts weren't enough. He knew that. If he wanted to survive he have to fight here but he but his conditions are not allowed him.
Jin tae hyun knows that if he fight Min -soo Kim he can easily overpowered him but Min -soo Kim is the peak he can handle and as byung -soo said he is top 3 then there more monsters here
Byung-soo stepped beside him again.
"There's one more thing. Every Friday… there's a ranked match night. You want to climb the board, you fight. You win. You rise."
Tae-hyun nodded slowly. "Then tell me. Who's ranked number one?"
Byung-soo's face darkened.
"No one's seen him fight in over a year. His name is Seo Joon-won. They say he ended five matches in less than a minute each. No one dares to challenge him anymore."
Tae-hyun looked back at the board, his name shining faintly under the lights.
He was at the bottom now.
But not for long.
To Be Continued…