JULIAN GONZALEZ26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPYck62wAc
The backyard wasn’t much. It was mostly dirt with just two trees. It wasn’t big, but just enough to have a fight. This wasn’t a battleground, but it was enough.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e8m8L57hb
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqYgusgEkj
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84zf3vj9EY
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvs5JQGt3V
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H9Tlsegal
I gave him a once-over. He wasn’t built like a fighter—lean, sure, but not strong. I’d never seen him throw a real punch before. So, yeah. I didn’t feel threatened.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKHaiLAgFj
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDkZp2iMKY
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVd6E2rfEa
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeaut107rH
Davis stood near the back door, arms crossed like some referee that didn’t want to be there. “You guys don’t have to do this. You’re both pissed off, but this isn’t the way.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSwtoFMXCi
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDndahdlYj
He didn’t move.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdN1DOrOgN
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjctfV30rx
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5PlijDFta
Okay. This was actually happening.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjORapF1ZRB
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVIsMUv1uV
He came at me with a quick jab. Then another. Fast—faster than I expected. He wasn’t flailing like an amateur. There was purpose. Timing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFJYlZ4T2i
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFTaQ7jKex
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3AohDgyPG
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMQp2R89U2
Heh. Okay then.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBNJeqLOKP
We exchanged a flurry of punches. Mine were heavier. His were sharper. He landed one to my ribs—stung a bit. I hit his shoulder, and he hissed through his teeth.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk65i2PFPKX
That’s when I noticed it. The black goo on his arm? It had moved. It wasn’t just clinging—it was climbing. Spreading up his bicep, wrapping around him like it wanted the fight.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XB1gO1KPq
The hell?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrevXZ2QJG9
Adan kept coming. His punches were cleaner now. Angles tighter. Defense improving with every exchange. It was like he was downloading how to fight in real time.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlOmWqZgWg
“How are you—?” I started.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nyTZVrhei
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq0BRTQ1vp
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBZUw1cwKI
I came in harder—more aggressive. Feints, combos. I knew how to move. I’d been in a few fights before. Adan hadn’t. But he was keeping up now. No—he was surpassing me.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C96fDL9fT
I ducked and tried to sweep his legs. He jumped—jumped—over it and spun, nearly catching me in the ribs. I stumbled back. He laughed. “This feels so good!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy5uXS6mcu
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73tMgsceuS
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ102d0sU7FV
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9ZeFuwjqV
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbYDLHWSZL
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxCWetLvFg
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne6SotfJVm
He was faster now. Stronger.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbr4gd0CUx
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaB5UGxEHi
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuehtZLeVSU
“What are you turning into?” I growled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLI2yl5LsL
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwVZKNqWc2
He backed up, panting, and I could see the goo crawling—legs, torso, now both arms, coiling like a living thing. Only his face was still uncovered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I2o6sqthQ
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbewuJU4NV
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebxrmjeJMD
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOidPUvds8
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlVQn5QBwP
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjf718SH7i
He was that thing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ7NP7YgPE
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqtSrXNSJS
Then flames.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQSjRv0iyT
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJgy0BEh4J
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tL7d58G7t
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynIrxZegaD
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JtPSxb7aC
