Nathan's thoughts raced as he blocked another strike. 'This guy is clearly trained. I don't like the way he speaks and looks at .'
Sion, sensing Nathan's irritation, smirked even more. He took a step back, giving Nathan a mont to breathe before speaking again.
" Must be nice to have everything handed to you. Probably never had to work a day in your life."
Nathan's jaw tightened. He didn't like how Sion was trying to provoke him, but Sion wasn't finished.
"I an, people like you—wealthy, spoiled—don't know what it's like to struggle. To actually earn strength." Sion's eyes narrowed, and he took another step forward, his tone getting sharper. "I bet you've never had to fight for anything real, huh? Everything's always easy for you, isn't it?"
Nathan's grip tightened as he steadied himself. He wasn't going to let Sion get under his skin. But Sion's words were clearly ant to provoke him, to get a reaction.
"Co on, Nathan," Sion taunted, stepping closer with a taunting grin. "Let's see if you can fight like soone who actually earned their strength."
Nathan could feel his heart pounding, the urge to respond to Sion's taunts growing stronger. Sion wasn't just trying to fight him—he was trying to get into his head, and it was working.
anwhile, in the field, Jin-hyu was watching the sparring match when Min Seok and Hannah approached him. He seed a bit startled when they walked up to him.
"Eh? Why so tense?" Min Seok teased, noticing Jin-hyu's focused expression.
Jin-hyu glanced at the sparring match, then answered, "Sothing intense is going on."
"Really?" Hannah asked, looking over to the field. When she spotted Nathan and Sion, her eyes widened. "Isn't that Nathan Hamilton? And who's that other guy?"
Jin-hyu nodded. "Yeah, that's Nathan. The other guy is Sion, our classmate. He asked to spar with Nathan."
Min Seok squinted and nodded knowingly. "Isn't that Sion? The idiot? Nathan's probably been trained by top rankers."
Jin-hyu responded with so concern, "Well, yeah, but look at Nathan. He's being pushed back."
As they spoke, more students started to notice the sparring match, and so began gathering to watch. Word spread fast through the Awakeners' building, and soon, many others were outside, drawn by the intense fight.
"Geez, look at how they move!" one of the Awakeners muttered, watching Nathan and Sion's fast-paced movents. "This is probably even more amazing if they were awakened."
A few of the more experienced Awakeners started discussing the fight among themselves.
Soone else comnted, "If both of them were awakened... I can't even imagine how powerful they'd be."
Nathan and Sion were still sparring on the training field. They didn't know that a crowd was growing, watching them from the side. Their classmates, seniors, even a few professors had co to see what was going on.
Nathan was focused. He blocked a punch from Sion with his arm, then took a step back. His breath was steady, but his body was starting to feel the pressure.
Sion moved fast. He stepped in, throwing another kick toward Nathan's side. Nathan blocked again, but his feet slid a little in the dirt.
"Co on," Sion said with a smirk, "is this all the famous Hamilton can do?"
Nathan didn't reply. He watched Sion's eyes, trying to find a weakness.
"You've had it easy," Sion continued, his voice low. "Big house. Famous family. Bet they gave you everything."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. He ducked under a punch and moved to the side, but Sion turned quickly and sent a knee toward Nathan's chest.
Nathan grunted, using both arms to block. He stepped back again, now breathing a little heavier.
"Don't go quiet now," Sion taunted. "Or is your pride too weak to fight back?"
Nathan didn't speak, but his expression changed. He no longer looked calm. He looked annoyed.
Sion stepped in again, this ti with a feint—pretending to punch, then spinning to kick. Nathan raised his arm just in ti to block, but the force pushed him back two steps.
Around them, the crowd watched in silence. So students whispered.
"He's still not using full strength," soone said.
"Yeah," another added. "But that guy is not weak either."
Nathan looked down for a second, dust on his shoes, then slowly looked back at Sion. His posture straightened, and he adjusted his feet. This ti, he looked ready to move forward.
Sion saw the change and grinned. "Finally going to take seriously?"
Nathan's voice was quiet, but clear. "I don't like talking in fights."
Sion's smile faded a little. Then Nathan dashed forward.
Nathan dashed forward, his body low and fast. Sion raised his arms, trying to block—but Nathan's fist ca quicker than before.
BAM!
Sion slid back a step. His eyes widened.
Nathan didn't stop. He stepped in again, throwing a low kick to Sion's leg, then turned with a punch to his side. Sion blocked it, but he felt the power behind it.
"What the—" Sion muttered. He jumped back, resetting his stance. "Your strength—what happened?"
Nathan smirked, brushing hair from his forehead. "What? Didn't expect it?"
Sion frowned, then rushed forward with a punch. But Nathan ducked and spun to his left, avoiding it smoothly.
"You were holding back?" Sion growled.
Nathan answered while moving, "You talk too much."
Sion swung again, this ti aiming high. Nathan blocked with his forearm, stepped close, and slamd his shoulder into Sion's chest. Sion stumbled back, coughing.
Around them, the crowd gasped. Nayoung was clapping her hands, excited. "Waaaah! Go Nathan!"
Sion grit his teeth. "I'm not done!" He rushed again, throwing fast punches. Nathan weaved around them, only using small movents to dodge.
Then—whoosh!—Nathan's foot ca up in a quick arc, almost hitting Sion's chin. Sion barely blocked it in ti.
Nathan didn't stop. He stepped close, faked a left punch, and then hit with his right—straight into Sion's gut.
Sion bent slightly from the impact, but tried to grab Nathan's arm. Nathan twisted his body, breaking free, and kicked Sion's side.
"Still think I had it easy?" Nathan said calmly.
Sion wiped his mouth, stepping back again. "Tch... You're annoying."
Nathan tilted his head, "Then stop talking and fight."
The two stood a few feet apart, breathing hard, the tension high.
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