JULIAN GONZALEZ30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZphES3Rli
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0vIC0qXMn
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzeckZcsIe
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBNgfVd0xS
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAZ6djnjn0
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQIby3k5xS
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxCi0OYvkQ
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkrnHELMdX
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCxvWlApw6
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraBEcsEA1d
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.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0kZhrPMya
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVYXdimuue
He didn’t move.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw95jFHpUs
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXO6alodWk
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzoRxzbtFC
Okay. This was actually happening.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA54sXoSOJq
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVnzwwNPDf
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIvimqCBee
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFXojfzaoy
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqBQx9h90U
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RzfRaM448
Heh. Okay then.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDJxVmEzI4
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjxzhLx20c
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSqik9pI3B
The hell?30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbFwVIHy1v
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQOZMlSajh
“How are you—?” I started.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8JJ6Wsg9Q
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IPDnAebML
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiAZXVt6RV
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdAs2KWmys
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!”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACMFDEGNIY
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnwIlp3L1s
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBHkbhgk4S
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxa4SO35VY
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyAC6Mluke
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRkwgPFJnd
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5kaQqkFJq
He was faster now. Stronger.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyKhhZrsB9
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XQrSLgVrN
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9n3E8mc8b
“What are you turning into?” I growled.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbAkgDw7yF
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtsmxwKpln
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy3a7EV23U
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwzWOX3aVf
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq4BefZBHO
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWhHgnnlbQ
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoerypltQ9L
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo617DseaU
He was that thing.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtjf65tcEM
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoMEi0gDNM
Then flames.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTJatN6fxj
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzxllG13lZ
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lRdOUP6Mu
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bkSC6QtBO
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV8IcVbfkH
