JULIAN GONZALEZ17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNum6v8ITxx
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG5ndMxQy4
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhBaKTlDKR
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaosssSTkAM
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcgUGvjdOl
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgHkz6jl9u
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6UslwAPim
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnPvS8nEwm
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3adbCsieq
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA8OwYXEAt
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.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hL9h82q2U
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxMt1CNHJi
He didn’t move.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI8VWnznnb
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTZVNVTUrX
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllcgWVxEOW
Okay. This was actually happening.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ppixm8EWy
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkoEjLZQL8
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IAXuByLm0
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimEUeBjlym
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyZgB3vfA8
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldmBNJik8I
Heh. Okay then.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG41LFgD01
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7M4urZKY
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUG4o22mFV
The hell?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiNNMmXbRx
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS1TQzSrGW
“How are you—?” I started.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htHdcTxHq
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7z2wA0JaS
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKouwukdGUa
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsorl6l6ghf
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!”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNm3bxn8gh
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDrfrYxgFV
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexKbdTQgZp
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoBYD6SXCF
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdivzqEDr8Z
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e0fPqwlZB
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6JHeM1Btr
He was faster now. Stronger.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowgMHo40Hx
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7Jas5Xies
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0o09aE5qk
“What are you turning into?” I growled.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6bjLK5uJv
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1SaUewKLs
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BXH7NVr7R
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU6ppbxa7j
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcogSlSbDp
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE8POHR4mh
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7JCBV1qhe
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBIFgL0Kmk
He was that thing.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkODJ3jqZft
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwgDKQJnyL
Then flames.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowZjD58x0m
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtphc4Us75
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarUyNpa0oJ
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41FDSt3hus
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7R3A3qiVM
