JULIAN GONZALEZ26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp40MvU29Wy
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MKrzkQjP6
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvUoimChJE
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyx48luQmH
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDPLR9F7Bb
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0guGk4qUp
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIktiFyq36
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoEclawdZW
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwx7Gz1Ntb
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz63B6up6mB
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqVIAhJl62
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPscAzqYeSi
He didn’t move.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEceBgSF3V
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS8oOxPjZV
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r51caLQGK
Okay. This was actually happening.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv1GN3kNxV
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcJlqiuJGD
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp7MgrUpXe
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX7ov4Td3A
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQcZ2belCQ
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAGWtupHXo
Heh. Okay then.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk09vd3px2z
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8Gnmz5JJe
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXfp49KhV5
The hell?26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKvaQhxSq5
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qDl2QJlHc
“How are you—?” I started.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DFGb6Wfu
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzmjU1P6bj
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B9zGsqlTl
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43D81ir2iK
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf56F6iVGLp
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dv3jar7eR
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfosq2iV8Qy
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOF6QIcchj
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwgkUIs1C2
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfZEgOKd8w
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQrNFrQ0t0
He was faster now. Stronger.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT8TcIYgFK
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UyzmFvnXp
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17PJ9mdlbx
“What are you turning into?” I growled.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo8CtpJ18n
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms0ItVKWH0
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q2e7cFHJv
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhLkrqHroe
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu1ogQB6Wg
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflA3nh9cRu
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NieSKNqYS
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YpzUshTbr
He was that thing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ONkX2WtvN
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS4H7WY7Iu
Then flames.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5PIHm0b6f
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHbOfOWwqa
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR4G8r4sS0
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUhjgTHZxf
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ry1S2QAY9
