Chapter 98: Infamous
"What is he doing here?" I muttered to myself as I noticed a guy with wavy brown hair and black eyes.
Normally, I wouldn't have recognized this guy, but he had been in the headlines in Korea for a couple of months due to a scandal.
This person was none other than Ije Hajoon, a former taekkyon champion in Korea.
He had been on his way of turning into an international fighter and entering ONE, the top Asian MMA league. However, his career had taken a tragic turn when he accidentally killed his opponent during a fight.
Adding to his downfall, he had also tested positive for using steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. His name had become synonymous with controversy in the Korean sports scene.
But despite all the controversies surrounding him, it was widely agreed on the internet that he possessed some real skill. He had managed to elevate Taekkyon to a new level.
In the world of martial arts, Taekkyon stood out as one of Korea's most famous and distinctive forms. It was a martial art that incorporated a unique blend of grace, fluidity, and explosive power
Kicks were a hallmark of Taekkyon, with practitioners demonstrating remarkable flexibility and agility. High, spinning, and sweeping kicks were executed with such finesse that they seemed like dancing in motion. These kicks were not just for show; they were formidable weapons that could incapacitate an opponent with a single blow.
But Taekkyon wasn't just about kicks. Hand techniques were integrated seamlessly, with punches, strikes, and open-hand movements complementing the dynamic footwork. The art was a true embodiment of the yin and yang principle, where soft and hard, fluidity and power, worked in harmony.
I was familiar with all of this because my favorite character in a Korean manhwa used the same style. To be honest, Taekkyon was a technique that could be quite flashy and challenging to incorporate into MMA. That was precisely why he had become famous; he had managed to make this style lethal and effective in the world of mixed martial arts.
"I'm sure most of you here are familiar with him; he's Ije Hajoon, and from now on, you guys will learn from him. We've chosen all of you because you have the most potential," Obo explained.
As Obo spoke, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief. This gang had its own training regimen? Was I in the correct place? I glanced around the room, wondering if I had somehow been transported to an alternate universe where gangs were actually martial arts practitioners.
"Mind Eye"
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Name: Ije Hajoon
Age: 30
Level (29)
Overall Stats :??
Strength: ??
Agility: ??
Stamina: ??
Endurance: ??
Intelligence: ??
Charisma: ??
Status : ??
Suggestion Chance :??
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As expected, Ije was at a high level . I would have been shocked by someone like him before, but after encountering that mysterious man, Ije seemed somewhat insignificant in comparison.
"Zuzu, come to the front," Obo called out to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. It seemed that I was about to get some special attention.
"So, you're Zuzu?" Ije flashed me a smile, but it wasn't the friendly type. It had the vibe of a predator who had just spotted a new prey.
"Yes," I answered.
"My name is Ije," he said, raising his hand for a handshake.
Instinctively, I reached out to shake his hand. However, the moment our hands made contact, I felt his grip tighten, and out of nowhere, a swift kick was already heading directly towards me.
"Not good, I can't dodge," I thought desperately as I tried to pull away, but his grip on my hands was too tight.
BAM!
I was struck in the face and sent tumbling to the floor.
Getting kicked in the face was much tougher to handle than a punch. I tried to lessen the damage by turning my head slightly, using a technique I learned in boxing. Still, the impact left my jaw feeling numb and throbbing with pain.
"You sneaky bastard, sucker-kicking me!" I spat in anger as I scrambled to my feet. However, after just a few breaths, I felt my knee giving out, and I once again dropped to the ground.
"Good reaction time. You were able to minimize the damage of my kick by turning your neck away. You know the basics of boxing," Ije remarked .
"But you're fighting awareness sucks. I could tell from that exchange that all you know is the theory about fighting . I don't even think you're use to fighting that much ," He shook his head.
How did he figure it out with just that? I couldn't help but be shock with his insights .
In my recent fights, most of my opponents weren't skilled enough for me to learn anything from them. There were only two people I had encountered who displayed real fighting prowess: the red-haired guy and the National Boxing Champion.
Well, I couldn't really count the boxing match as a true test of my skills since it was more about my mind power working than my actual combat abilities.
[Mission : Land a clean hit on Ije Hajoon once : Time Limit 5:00 : ]
[Reward : 800XP]
"800 EXP for just landing a clean hit?" I couldn't help but be pleased with the mission reward. However, the fact that the System offered 800 EXP for just one hit showed how powerful Ije was.
"Alright, now that I've shown you the consequence of lowering your guard..." He started to speak, but I cut him off.
"Let's spar. I want to see the power of the infamous Ije Hajoon," I taunted him, challenging him to a fight.
"Kid, it's alright to act brave, but don't get ahead of yourself," he said, looking down at me with a hint of superiority, as if he thought I was underestimating the vast difference in our skills.
"Maybe you're just afraid that I'll beat you?" I sneered in contempt, trying to bait him into the fight. The clock had started running, and I needed to take on this challenge quickly. Every second counted at this point.
"Stubborn kid. Alright, I'll spar with you. But don't blame me if you end up dead. I can't really control myself with impudent and arrogant brats," he hissed, a sinister grin stretching across his face. It was as if I was staring at a completely different person, and an unsettling chill ran down my spine.
"Damn it, don't tell me this guy also has an innate ability!"
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