JULIAN GONZALEZ295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOArEYiObK
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCzafhgl1V
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVL3qqJLXP
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpIRL8hCNG
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqIugsCbFP
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43DOp2VJxl
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ668Y4hhxI5
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TRn3rtwbn
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkqN1GSumI
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyISLW4TUM
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.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPBbVsYXfk
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuUV1jynCX
He didn’t move.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9VoV5CzuP
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe64NBgYu9I
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53SwiTKpR7
Okay. This was actually happening.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHUnocum7B
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZXUEhycHP
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d1yKByo5t
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoGgujGygD
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OQcoqA0H2
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulXxSBlRQp
Heh. Okay then.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvy8dLgfeR
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YGQSSZv2o
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1gfgddjmD
The hell?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQchWtBXWTf
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgQCxeu2XG
“How are you—?” I started.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhRXDPud2L
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJHkqshdar
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR00zeF2Mk
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHx22JlzwY
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!”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSR1yCKOpz
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSQDtfK9W2
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSdKImGRGT
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOQ2iWEHqE
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLzOTg9Ad1
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXJGCIbcTs
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8qql0B5zR
He was faster now. Stronger.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1TkIbkvqE
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPahVcGw2K
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OszImh202
“What are you turning into?” I growled.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4bOv4DpZH
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM2ORSBkUM
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.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ggkF7dBTf
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4hBQ2lFXX
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWZFAMxJf3
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7rbuYMCsT
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzOq7EAisg
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmYTDatCTI
He was that thing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlr6rnAPck
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOE8AqmjCF
Then flames.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7sTFixUZk
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiESyheIlT
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oaB7DzWs0
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Dx8Hp69vY
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplblZQme2Y
and then Add to home screen.