Days after conquering East Gangbuk.

[Anonymous Residence – West Gangbuk Dojo]

The house had no sign, no visible address. At first glance, it was a single-story residence in a forgotten neighborhood of Gangbuk. But inside, it was a different story.

Waxed floors. Tatami mats. Neatly arranged shelves with gloves, wraps, and dumbbells. No decoration, only functionality.

Seven executives. All gathered. And none of them knew exactly why they were there.

Gukja Yang, No. 2, was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His serene expression was only broken by the barely perceptible tension in his jaw.

Hajun Gu, No. 3, observed everything from a corner while smoking. He trusted Suhyeon, yes… but he didn't like surprises.

Haru Seong, No. 4, stood watching every object in the room. He looked uncomfortable. Training? Why now?

Hyeondong Lee, No. 5, was pacing in circles like a nervous puppy.

Jaeha Han, No. 6, had sat cross-legged, relaxed, but with his eyes closed. "I am one with the floor…" he thought.

Yugyeom Na, No. 7, remained standing without moving, eyes fixed on the door.

Jihyeon Lee, No. 8, was checking her practice katana. She didn't ask questions, only analyzed the whole atmosphere.

[System]: Initializing growth mission.

The silence of the training hall was broken when Suhyeon stepped forward.

"We will begin training. Form groups of two," he announced, raising two fingers calmly before pointing toward the first chosen. "Jaeha and Hajun."

"Yes," Jaeha responded with a confident smile, while Hajun kept his posture straight and his attention fixed on every word of their leader.

"You two will work together. You complement each other well in close combat," Suhyeon explained, sure of his decision, then turned his gaze toward Haru and Yugyeom.

"You two will be the next group. Your specialty in long-range attacks with kicks is a clear advantage."

"Understood! That will be very exciting, Suhyeon," exclaimed Haru with a radiant smile, shaking his head with contagious energy. Yugyeom, in contrast, only nodded silently, showing his usual sobriety.

Suhyeon then turned to the last pair.

"And finally… Hyeondong and Jihyeon. Well, I think I don't need to explain the reason," he said as he observed them, both holding weapons in their hands.

"I won't let you down, sunbae. I'll give my best," assured Hyeondong with a broad smile, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Perfect," concluded Suhyeon, before turning his gaze to the only one left. "And Gukja remains… you will train with me."

"With you?" repeated Gukja with a nervous gesture. A drop of sweat ran down his forehead as he forced a smile. "Fine… I hope I don't take as many hits as last time."

15 days later, in the same dojo

The air was filled with the echo of effort: sharp blows against the bags, ragged breaths, the metallic clink of weapons clashing.

From the sofa, Suhyeon watched them in silence. His eyes followed every movement, every gesture, as if weighing the depth of their progress.

"They have all grown more than I expected… they've managed to break their limits. They reached the Ascension of their true potential," he thought, crossing one leg calmly.

A fleeting glimmer reflected in his eyes as he saw the cards floating in the air above them, tangible manifestations of their discipline.

"The rewards they obtained… are truly exceptional," he added to himself, with quiet satisfaction.

Gukja Yang:

[Awakening Cards]

(Yamazaki-Style)

Kyokushin Karate. Allows Gukja to employ the Kyokushin Karate combat style, legacy of his Yamazaki family.

(The Devil)

Card that weakens the stats of his opponents. Very effective in combination with his Kyokushin.

[Ascension Cards]

(Yamazaki)

A powerful card related to his Yamazaki lineage. Provides permanent improvements to his physical abilities.

(Kill All Enemies)

A counterattack card that deals double damage after receiving a critical hit.

"Yamazaki… from the same lineage as Gun. It would be interesting to see how far he can go… if he raised his potential," thought Suhyeon as he watched Gukja train with the wooden dummy.

Hajun Gu:

[Awakening Cards]

(The Return of the Supreme Lord)

With each attack, an invisible clone appears that lands two offensive blows on the opponent.

(Out-Boxer)

A long-range boxer who uses straight punches and seeks to maintain distance.

[Ascension Cards]

(The Descent of the Supreme Lord)

When he takes a hit, it triggers a devastating counterattack or inflicts a debuff that immobilizes and weakens the rival.

(Demonic Strike Technique)

Brutal potency in his physical strength, increasing the lethality of his direct attacks.

"Demonic Strike Technique… not bad. It doubles physical power, raising his strength stat by +1. A simple but extremely effective card in combat."

Haru Seong:

[Awakening Card]

(Capoeira)

The Brazilian art of fluid movements, a combination of dance and combat.

[Ascension Card]

(Copy)

Ability to duplicate movements or techniques, allowing him to replicate combat actions.

"The 'Copy'… who would have thought Haru would get such a valuable ability. It's obvious he's related to Johan," thought Suhyeon as he watched her throw powerful kicks against the heavy bag.

Hyeondong Lee:

[Awakening Card]

(Tools)

Gains the ability to handle any tool with ease. Increases strength, and the degree of increase depends on the type of tool he is using.

[Ascension Card]

(Adaptive Craftsman)

Allows Hyeondong to enhance any tool or weapon he uses, increasing his stats in combat depending on usage time.

"Hyeondong Lee… a true diamond in the rough when it comes to tools. His cards fit together with almost perfect precision, enhancing every movement he makes. Without a doubt, he has earned the position he holds," murmured Suhyeon as he watched him swing the wooden sword, each cut firmer and more precise than the last.

Jaeha Han:

[Awakening Card]

(Self-Contempt)

This card reflects Jaeha's feelings of inferiority, transforming them into a rage that increases his stats.

[Ascension Cards]

(Avenger)

The deeper his grudge toward an opponent, the more powerful his abilities become.

"Jaeha doesn't rely solely on physical skills or techniques; his true power resided in his emotions and how he transformed them into strength," analyzed Suhyeon with mild interest.

Yugyeom Na:

[Awakening Card]

(Terabyte Low Kick)

A powerful low kick that can easily knock down opponents.

[Ascension Card]

(Terabyte Spear Kick)

A spear-like kick that pierces the opponent's defense, causing significant damage.

"These cards reflect Yugyeom's skill in kickboxing and his ability to adapt and improve in combat."

Jihyeon Lee:

[Awakening Card]

(Superhuman Quickdraw)

This ability allows Jihyeon to execute a cut so fast that the attack never fails, even against opponents with superior stats.

[Ascension Card]

(Jigen-ryū Ascension)

Jihyeon significantly enhances her stats. Grants her a considerable advantage in combat, allowing her to face high-level opponents.

"And finally, Jihyeon Lee… her cards reflect her sword-handling ability and her capacity to adapt and improve in combat."

Suhyeon had remained seated the whole time, legs crossed, watching calmly from the sofa, but then he received a message.

Finally, with a smooth and silent motion, Suhyeon stood up. Everyone looked up; his very presence imposed, as always.

"I have to introduce someone to you," he said calmly.

The door opened, and Johan Seong entered. No introduction was needed: everyone knew who he was. The man who unified Gangbuk in less than a day was standing before them.

"This is Johan Seong, a member of our team, now an external executive of Black Lotus," Suhyeon pointed out. "For a week, he will be the one to train you. Take advantage of the opportunity."

Johan gave a faint smile. He wasn't an expert in training people, but he could show his experiences in combat.

Haru murmured to himself:

"No… it can't be… did Suhyeon really recruit him?"

Gukja's eyes widened:

"It's Johan Seong!"

Hajun frowned, trying to keep his composure:

"I knew he would come, but seeing him… it's impressive."

Jaeha, crossing his arms, let out a slight sigh:

"Hm… I thought nothing would surprise me anymore. Looks like I was wrong. This really is one hell of a surprise."

Hyeondong couldn't hold himself back:

"Awesome! Not every day do you train with the former unifier of Gangbuk."

Jihyeon kept her guard up and asked cautiously:

"What kind of training can we expect?"

Yugyeom, for his part, remained surprised, saying nothing, watching Johan intently.

"I'm not a great teacher… but I'll show you everything I know. Maybe I can help you," Johan said, as a white glint shone in his eyes.