JULIAN GONZALEZ25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlNMB34nla
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz86g4wVm0O
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoRAQtwTo3
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoGno370C
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmq9tvbM4P
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzqrztQcVb
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U5R7PJU0r
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC54cVMWHU
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68hJi7Ol9s
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrIqnYs0zr
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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsLDoKpzka
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI991QaeGEC
He didn’t move.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjlDddioC4
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDZP9RoiCv
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqsLDoAOWO
Okay. This was actually happening.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzrjLWUCxl
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5rDjnHcje
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0bMg4ug3J
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p1YxQ7bFx
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxci9Th6P6R
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetvxB0Qjo9
Heh. Okay then.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0f0EjKg29
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXptnqqc9IM
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBKDWQocSC
The hell?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHxFl3Jl3s
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDFvee9sX7
“How are you—?” I started.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGausUVCNs4
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ9KU5g5hf
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F9IlkSfCF
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmtDoEZ1xH
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!”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmDMf85uXi
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HnyuyPAvL
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ6d0VN6ky
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2lb7u5aiT
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke7kGopAiY
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj7LwS6od2
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBheCUEyTY
He was faster now. Stronger.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfGcE0eLbY
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVodfSt2gi
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIeoUJ6QuD
“What are you turning into?” I growled.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHurIWMcd5N
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA2GTnv1iv
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBODpwIxsK
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWnym4buO0
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYHLFvUZXk
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVe49d0kJh
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVauLdtDnu
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6pLVEFKau
He was that thing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp87bRzyxH
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzbQACwURz
Then flames.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofNWDvmorZ
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdffaLSaTpF
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEJHknYDcS
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCuHTpSKzk
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXz3Kle86j
