The corridor no longer felt like part of the gala.
The distant music had become muffled now, buried behind thick walls and rising tension, leaving only the cold hum of the overhead lights and the faint echo of footsteps somewhere far beyond the marble halls.
A few seconds ago, the space had been warm.
Soft.
Dangerously close to becoming something else entirely.
Now it felt sharp enough to cut skin.
Lily still stood near Jin, her body lightly pressed against his chest from the interrupted moment.
Her hands, which had once been wrapped around his neck only moments ago, slowly slid downward, fingertips dragging faintly across the fabric of his black coat before resting against his chest.
Her breathing was uneven.
Not from fear yet.
From the sudden shift.
From how quickly the world had changed.
Jin’s eyes hardened first.
It happened so subtly most people would never notice it.
The softness disappeared from his gaze like a candle snuffed between two fingers.
The warmth that had lingered there while looking at her vanished completely, replaced by something colder.
Sharper.
Predatory calm.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Then, without looking away from the man standing at the far end of the corridor, he spoke in a low voice.
“Lily… step aside.”
The tone alone made her heart tighten.
Not because he sounded angry.
Because he sounded dangerous.
Lily slowly looked up at him.
The same man who had almost kissed her seconds ago now stood perfectly still, shoulders squared beneath the black coat, red tie resting sharply against his white shirt like a streak of warning painted across snow.
His protective instinct had awakened completely.
And she could feel it.
A small hesitation flickered across her face before she nodded softly.
“Just…” her fingers curled lightly against his sleeve, “…please don’t hurt yourself.”
For a brief second, Jin’s eyes shifted toward her.
Only for a second.
Then he stepped forward.
Lily slowly moved back, heels tapping quietly against the marble floor as she walked toward the side wall of the corridor.
She stopped several feet behind him, hands clasping nervously near her chest while silver strands of hair slipped across her shoulders.
Her heartbeat wouldn’t calm down.
Not after seeing that look in his eyes.
Jin stood motionless in the center of the corridor.
Black coat.
Red tie.
Perfectly composed formal attire untouched despite everything.
One hand slid into his pocket briefly before both arms folded across his chest.
Across from him, Guard 137 smirked lazily.
The overhead lights reflected faintly against the polished floor between them like a line drawn for battle.
Jin’s voice broke the silence first.
Cold.
Quiet.
“Came to your death?”
Guard 137 cracked his knuckles slowly, the sound echoing against the walls.
“No…”
His smirk widened.
“For your death.”
A faint huff escaped Jin’s nose.
Almost amused.
“I’ll see who will.”
The air shifted.
Lily could feel it physically now.
The temperature of the corridor seemed to drop as Jin’s expression darkened further.
Images flashed through his mind in violent fragments.
Guard 137 clearing the building.
Toyo entering Jin Corp.
The ninjas.
The attack.
Lily nearly dying.
Something sharp twisted beneath his calm exterior.
His fingers curled slowly into fists.
Then Jin moved.
Not fast.
Not rushed.
Controlled.
He lowered himself gradually into stance.
His chest angled slightly forward while his spine remained perfectly straight.
The corridor lights carved sharp shadows across his jawline, emphasizing the cold focus in his narrowed eyes.
His arms rested low beside him, fists clenched tightly enough for the muscles in his forearms to tense visibly beneath his sleeves.
It wasn’t flashy.
It was worse.
It looked practiced.
Like violence refined into efficiency.
Guard 137’s smile faded slightly.
He adjusted his footing.
His own posture changed immediately, shoulders loosening while his arms rose into a balanced martial stance.
His black high-neck shirt tightened against his frame as he rolled one shoulder back, white pants shifting lightly with the movement.
“I’m a black belt…” he muttered with a confident grin.
Jin didn’t even blink.
“I don’t care.”
Lily swallowed nervously behind him.
The tension became unbearable.
Neither moved for one final second.
Then both exploded forward simultaneously.
THUD!
Their fists collided in the center of the corridor with enough force to send a sharp impact echoing through the marble walls.
Lily flinched instinctively.
Guard 137 attacked first.
Fast.
A brutal chain of precise martial combinations fired toward Jin’s ribs and jaw.
Sharp jabs.
A spinning elbow.
A sweeping low kick designed to destabilize balance.
But Jin moved differently.
Every motion felt economical.
Cold.
He slipped sideways just enough for punches to miss by centimeters.
His forearm redirected strikes smoothly while his shoulders pivoted with almost machine-like precision.
The black coat shifted violently around him with each movement, restricting him slightly, yet somehow making him look even more dangerous.
Guard 137 lunged again with another fast combination.
Jin tilted his head.
The punch grazed past his cheek.
A second later his elbow slammed into Guard 137’s ribs hard enough to force a grunt from him.
The corridor trembled faintly from the impact.
Their shoes scraped violently across the polished floor as both repositioned instantly.
Guard 137 spun into another kick.
Jin blocked partially with his forearm, the impact cracking loudly through the corridor before he immediately countered with a body punch sharp enough to force Guard 137 backward two steps.
Neither stopped.
The distance between them kept collapsing and reforming in bursts of violent motion.
A palm redirect.
A shoulder strike.
A knee feint into elbow counter.
A spinning backfist barely avoided.
The restricted corridor forced them into close-range combat, making every mistake lethal.
And despite wearing a long formal coat and clearly holding back…
Jin matched him evenly.
No. Not evenly.
Better.
Lily’s eyes widened further with every exchange.
Guard 137 was breathing harder now.
Sweat formed lightly near his forehead as he attacked repeatedly with increasing aggression.
Meanwhile Jin’s expression never changed.
Not once.
No frustration.
No strain.
No panic.
Only calm.
That terrified Guard 137 more than anything else.
Another clash echoed through the corridor before both fighters finally separated several feet apart.
Silence returned instantly.
Heavy breathing filled only one side.
Guard 137’s chest rose and fell faster now, eyes narrowed sharply at the man standing across from him.
Jin looked exactly the same as before.
Perfect posture.
Steady breathing.
No visible exhaustion.
The black coat settled slowly around him as if the fight itself had barely mattered.
And in that moment—
Guard 137 realized something horrifying.
Jin still wasn’t serious.
Behind him, Lily stood frozen near the wall, fingers trembling lightly against her dress as she stared at the man she loved.
The corridor suddenly felt much smaller.
Much heavier.
And the fight… was nowhere near over.
ANd then
Guard 137 wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, breathing rougher now, chest rising beneath the tight black shirt.
Sweat glistened faintly along his temple under the corridor lights.
Across from him, Jin stood unmoving.
Calm.
Still.
Almost terrifyingly composed.
The red tie rested neatly against his white shirt despite the fight, only slightly loosened from movement.
His black coat shifted softly around his legs as the distant bass of the gala music vibrated faintly through the walls.
Guard 137 gritted his teeth.
Then suddenly lunged forward again.
His shoe scraped sharply against the marble as he accelerated, twisting his hips into a straight punch aimed directly at Jin’s face.
Fast.
Precise.
Violent.
But this time, Jin’s eyes narrowed further.
Something shifted.
The pressure around him changed subtly, like the corridor itself had become heavier.
Guard 137 felt it instantly.
Before the punch could land, Jin calmly raised one hand.
GRAB.
His fingers closed around Guard 137’s fist mid-motion.
Perfect stop.
No struggle.
No recoil.
The attack halted completely.
Guard 137’s eyes widened.
Jin’s expression never changed.
Then, with his free hand, Jin drove a brutal punch straight into Guard 137’s stomach.
THUD!
The impact folded Guard 137 instantly.
He crashed hard near the opposite wall, one shoulder slamming into it before collapsing onto one knee.
“Ghk—!”
His teeth clenched painfully as he grabbed his abdomen, trying to breathe again.
Meanwhile Jin simply released his stance and stood upright once more.
Slowly.
Calmly.
His arms folded again across his chest.
Cold superiority radiated from him now.
Lily stood several meters away near the wall, both hands clasped tightly together against her dress while her silver eyes watched nervously.
She had never seen Jin like this before.
Not fully.
Guard 137 lowered his head while still kneeling.
Then suddenly—
“I’m sorry, sir…”
His voice came out strained.
Weak.
“A huge mistake…”
Jin blinked once.
Lily blinked too.
The atmosphere shifted strangely.
Guard 137 kept his head lowered.
“Please forgive me…”
“I won’t do this again…”
Jin’s brows furrowed slightly.
For the first time since the fight began, confusion flickered across his face.
Then his jaw tightened again.
“I DON’T forgive.”
The words cracked through the corridor like ice splitting.
Guard 137 remained kneeling.
“Truly, sir…” he muttered softly.
“I’m huge…”
A grin slowly spread across his face.
And instantly—
BOOM!
The side door beside Jin burst open.
A powerful kick slammed directly into Jin’s stomach.
The hit came too suddenly.
Too close.
Jin turned too late.
THUD!
His body crashed violently across the marble floor, sliding several feet before stopping near the corridor center.
A sharp breath escaped his mouth as pain shot through his abdomen.
“Jin!” Lily gasped loudly, taking an instinctive step forward before freezing again.
Jin looked upward from the floor.
Guard 137 was already standing now, the weakness completely gone from his expression.
And beside the opened doorway stood another figure.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Grey shirt.
Black pants.
A dark smirk resting on his face.
Guard 100.
The corridor suddenly felt much colder.
Both guards now stood side by side, looking down at Jin with calm confidence.
Jin’s eyes widened slightly for the first time.
“What…?”
His voice lowered dangerously.
“You too… 100?”
Guard 100 nodded slowly, hands resting casually inside his pockets.
“You’re a fool, Jin.”
The smirk on his face deepened.
“Everything…”
“Telling you about Guard 137…”
“Was only to satisfy you.”
“To stop further investigation.”
Jin slowly pushed himself upward from the floor, eyes sharpening with fury.
Guard 100 continued calmly, almost conversationally.
“This was all planned.”
“To lure you here.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Even Toyo…”
“He was just a trump card.”
“To make you aware of me.”
Jin’s fists tightened hard enough for the muscles in his forearms to tense visibly.
“You bastards…”
His voice lowered further.
“Traitors.”
Both guards laughed quietly.
Not loudly.
Just enough to show confidence.
Behind Jin, Lily remained near the corridor wall, silent now, her nervous eyes fixed entirely on him.
Then Jin slowly stood fully upright.
Silence swallowed the corridor again.
Guard 137 cracked his neck once.
Guard 100 rolled one shoulder.
Both positioned themselves in front of Jin.
Behind him, several meters away, Lily stood frozen beneath the dim lights.
Jin exhaled once.
Then reached up calmly and removed his black coat.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
The fabric slid from his shoulders, revealing the crisp white shirt beneath and the red tie resting sharply against it.
He walked toward a nearby couch placed against the corridor wall.
Folded the coat neatly.
Placed it down carefully.
Then turned back toward them.
The difference was immediate.
Without the coat, his movements looked lighter.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Even the guards noticed it.
Jin rolled one shoulder slightly before lowering himself into stance again.
This time the calm around him felt lethal.
Guard 137 and Guard 100 exchanged one glance.
Then both rushed forward simultaneously.
Guard 137 attacked first from the right side, throwing rapid punches toward Jin’s head and throat while Guard 100 moved lower from the left, aiming a heavy body strike toward Jin’s ribs.
Jin pivoted instantly.
His forearm slammed against Guard 137’s first punch, redirecting it sideways while he twisted his body just enough for Guard 100’s strike to graze past his shirt.
But Guard 100 adjusted quickly.
He rotated his hips and drove another punch into Jin’s side before Jin could fully reset.
THUD!
The impact partially connected with Jin’s ribs.
At the same moment, Guard 137 spun forward with an elbow strike aimed toward Jin’s jaw.
Jin leaned backward narrowly, the elbow missing by centimeters before he countered with a fast punch toward 137’s face.
Guard 137 blocked with both forearms.
But Jin immediately shifted targets.
His knee drove upward toward Guard 100’s stomach.
Guard 100 caught the knee with one arm and shoved it sideways while Guard 137 used the opening to launch a kick toward Jin’s shoulder.
Jin raised his arm just in time.
BAM!
The kick slammed into his guard, forcing him one step sideways across the marble floor.
Shoes screeched sharply.
The attacks didn’t stop.
Guard 100 charged in aggressively with heavy power-focused strikes while Guard 137 circled faster around Jin, constantly creating openings and cutting off escape angles.
For the first time in the fight, Jin was forced entirely onto defense.
Guard 100 threw a straight punch.
Jin blocked with his forearm.
Guard 137 instantly appeared beside him with a sharp knee strike toward his ribs.
Jin twisted sideways, partially avoiding it, but the impact still pushed him backward.
The corridor echoed with impact after impact.
Punch.
Block.
Counter.
Pivot.
Kick.
Redirect.
No wasted movement.
No pauses.
Jin retaliated suddenly with a brutal hook toward Guard 100’s jaw.
Guard 100 barely blocked in time, though the force still shoved him backward several steps.
But before Jin could press further, Guard 137 rushed in again with a spinning kick aimed high.
Jin ducked beneath it.
Then drove his elbow toward 137’s ribs.
Guard 137 grunted, but immediately retaliated with a downward punch toward Jin’s shoulder while Guard 100 re-entered from the opposite side.
The synchronization was suffocating.
One attacked.
The other trapped.
Jin’s tie loosened slightly now.
Dark strands of hair had fallen faintly across his forehead.
Still— his breathing remained controlled.
Still calm.
Still dangerous.
But now he was genuinely being pressured.
Guard 100 slammed a shoulder strike into Jin’s chest.
THUD!
Jin slid half a step backward.
At the same instant, Guard 137 attempted another rapid combination toward his face.
Jin blocked the first strike.
Slipped the second.
Caught the third wrist.
Then kicked sharply toward 137’s leg to break his balance.
But Guard 100 instantly grabbed the opportunity and drove a punch into Jin’s side again before Jin could fully recover.
Lily’s hands trembled harder near the wall.
Every impact made her chest tighten painfully.
The corridor had transformed into pure chaos now.
Heavy breathing.
Shoes grinding against marble.
Fabric snapping through movement.
The distant gala music still pulsed faintly somewhere beyond the walls like another world entirely.
Then finally— the three separated again.
Jin stood in the center of the corridor.
Breathing steady.
White shirt slightly wrinkled now.
Red tie hanging looser.
Across from him, both guards circled slowly, confidence growing as they realized their teamwork was beginning to work.
And behind Jin—
Guard 137 noticed it instantly.
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Guard 100 rolled his shoulder once, confidence slowly returning to his expression.
But then—
Jin smiled.
Small.
Faint.
Unsettlingly calm.
His eyes lowered slightly before lifting back toward them.
“It was fun…”
The words came quietly.
Almost polite.
A brief silence followed.
Then his grin faded completely.
“…now let’s get serious.”
Everything changed.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
Worse.
The atmosphere itself tightened.
Jin’s expression emptied completely of warmth.
His narrowed eyes sharpened until they looked almost inhumanly focused, every muscle in his body tensing with controlled precision beneath the white shirt.
Even the corridor felt colder.
He took one slow step forward.
Just one.
But the pressure behind it made both guards instinctively tense.
Their smirks weakened.
For the first time tonight— uncertainty appeared.
Guard 137 moved first.
He rushed in aggressively with a rapid combination toward Jin’s face and throat, fists snapping through the air with trained precision.
But Jin moved before the punches fully extended.
A slight tilt of his head.
A tiny shift of his shoulders.
The first punch missed.
The second grazed empty air.
The third never reached him.
Jin stepped inside the attack range instantly and drove a straight punch directly into Guard 137’s stomach.
BOOM.
Guard 137’s body folded violently.
A harsh cough tore from his throat as his feet nearly left the floor.
At the same moment, Guard 100 swung a massive hook toward Jin’s side.
Jin turned sharply.
His hand shot outward.
GRAB.
He caught Guard 100’s wrist mid-motion.
Then twisted.
Hard.
Guard 100’s arm jerked sideways painfully before Jin slammed his knee directly into his ribs.
THUD.
Guard 100 grunted violently, stumbling sideways.
And Jin didn’t stop.
Not even slightly.
His movements became terrifyingly efficient now.
A backhand strike snapped across Guard 137’s jaw the instant he tried recovering.
Before 137 could fall fully backward, Jin pivoted sharply and drove his elbow into Guard 100’s chest.
BAM.
The larger man staggered backward several steps.
Guard 137 attempted a spinning kick toward Jin’s head.
Jin side-stepped smoothly.
The kick missed entirely.
A palm strike exploded into Guard 137’s chest and launched him backward into the corridor wall.
The impact shook the nearby lights slightly.
Lily’s eyes widened further.
This wasn’t the Jin from before.
This was different.
Earlier, he had been fighting carefully.
Now he was dismantling them.
Completely.
Guard 100 growled and charged again with a heavy straight punch.
Jin slipped sideways, letting the strike pass beside his shoulder before driving a sharp body blow into Guard 100’s ribs.
The larger guard bent slightly from the impact.
Jin immediately followed with an uppercut that snapped Guard 100’s head backward.
At the same instant, Guard 137 rushed from behind with another rapid combination.
Without even looking fully, Jin ducked beneath the first punch, blocked the second with his forearm, then twisted his body and slammed a kick directly into 137’s thigh.
The guard’s balance collapsed instantly.
Jin grabbed the back of his collar and threw him sideways across the marble floor.
SHHKK!
Guard 137 slid violently before crashing into the wall again.
The entire corridor had become one-sided now.
Every movement Jin made felt absolute.
Cold.
Perfect.
Controlled violence stripped down to its purest form.
And despite all of it— his breathing stabilized again.
Calm.
Steady.
As if this level of combat demanded nothing from him.
Lily stood frozen near the wall, her silver eyes locked onto him while her hands trembled softly against her dress.
She finally understood.
The difference between Jin and the guards wasn’t small.
It was overwhelming.
Guard 100 wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and exchanged one desperate glance with Guard 137.
Then both rushed together again.
One from the left.
One from the right.
Their footsteps thundered through the corridor as they attacked simultaneously, trying to overwhelm him through sheer pressure.
Jin planted his feet firmly.
His loosened tie shifted softly against his chest.
Then—
BOOM!
Both fists moved at the exact same moment.
One punch slammed into Guard 137’s face.
The other crashed directly into Guard 100’s chest.
Perfect synchronization.
Perfect timing.
The impact echoed like an explosion through the corridor.
Both guards coughed violently as their bodies were thrown backward in opposite directions.
Guard 137 crashed hard across the floor, rolling once before stopping near the wall.
Guard 100 slammed into a decorative pillar and collapsed onto one knee before falling completely.
Silence.
Only harsh panting remained.
Both men were finished.
Jin slowly exhaled.
Then folded his arms calmly once more.
Looking down at them with cold indifference, he muttered quietly—
“Weaklings.”
Guard 137 clenched his fists weakly against the floor but couldn’t rise.
Guard 100 only grimaced painfully, chest heaving.
Jin calmly touched the communication device in his ear.
“Come.”
A few seconds later—
The corridor doors burst open.
Five Jin Corp guards rushed inside immediately, their footsteps sharp and synchronized.
They quickly restrained Guard 100 and Guard 137, forcing their arms behind them before hauling both traitors upright.
Neither resisted anymore.
They had nothing left.
As the guards dragged them away down the corridor, Guard 100 glared back at Jin one final time.
Jin didn’t even acknowledge him.
The doors closed.
And silence returned again.
Only the faint music of the gala lingered in the distance now.
Then Lily moved.
Quickly.
Her heels tapped softly against the marble as she hurried toward Jin, worry still visible in her silver eyes.
She stopped directly in front of him.
Close.
Very close.
Without saying anything, her gaze traveled carefully across him.
His chest.
His neck.
His shoulders.
His sleeves.
Searching.
Checking for bruises.
For injuries.
For pain.
Jin looked down at her quietly.
Lily reached upward gently, fixing his loosened red tie first.
Her gloved fingers carefully straightened the fabric before smoothing the collar of his white shirt.
Tiny movements.
Careful movements.
Tender ones.
Jin stayed completely still while watching her.
And slowly— something softened inside him again.
Because she wasn’t afraid of him.
Even after seeing all of that violence.
She was worried for him.
Only him.
Finally, Jin spoke quietly.
“I am okay.”
Lily’s shoulders relaxed instantly.
A soft breath escaped her lips in relief before she nodded faintly.
Then, without hesitation, she leaned forward and buried her face gently against his chest.
“That’s why…” she murmured softly against him, “…I’m okay too…”
Jin blinked once.
The coldness in his eyes faded little by little.
A quiet exhale escaped him.
Then slowly— carefully— he raised one arm and rested his hand atop her head.
Gentle pat.
The corridor finally felt calm again.
The danger was gone.
Warm golden light from the distant gala stretched faintly across the marble floor while Lily remained against his chest, peaceful now, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing.
Jin stood silently beside the corridor wall, one hand resting lightly on her head.
The battle had ended.
But somewhere between the violence, the fear, and the quiet comfort afterward— their bond had deepened again.
And neither of them fully realized just how much.