JULIAN GONZALEZ323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyanIPTSO7
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf7JqtRlAb
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ838Xy5ETPN
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6f0MzzY9k
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdEL00KEwA
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuftRUUznE
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpSavmRjTo
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkaCKhlWQA
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCFTdXzSmk
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZjmiXhMDq
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.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rIBTZS10j
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVzkj2yMOx
He didn’t move.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQVdPssfeW
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7ZAJgBINT
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUb4Nccsda
Okay. This was actually happening.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCmnB7L4Xq
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgztpp8kqm
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMNaW6bW76
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa4A4E7x6Y
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwI2H5RErP
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSfrH9UVMb
Heh. Okay then.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8iXvaBtNB
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9n86xJ8b0
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pGCByW1hF
The hell?323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDj4ASPzs0
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XtINJLtHo
“How are you—?” I started.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOf2wTlVkB
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l8U7GpJUL
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDixNT2KUpv
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOq1nzIyRBe
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!”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcW14WTfC8
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQHzmOHK1R
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV8CdCKWhi
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9HiudiPBx
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkISVGObyb6
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CN0XLiPAj
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNHJzIx8Zq
He was faster now. Stronger.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuGZm2VmwZ
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5jXzhwgHm
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci0DVL3Psn
“What are you turning into?” I growled.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzYDVbLFiZ
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjBsbkCfAY
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.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrEyRGPOyB
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJjZL6jUpk
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7Ir075gFt
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaA53bKMK5
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyiVVns7p3
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK2vtRDqsx
He was that thing.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh5Qg0GzCH
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9sRijer6I
Then flames.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaddDsSvu2
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQmjvCSneK
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEI9g46J5U
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVB4HRYkNc
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmW0CELsxV
and then Add to home screen.