JULIAN GONZALEZ291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb4BjDPhfK
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rgK2jtIC2
But Adan stood across from me like it was an arena.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnuoO1w3qn
Arms at his sides. Shoulders tensed. Eyes locked on mine like I’d personally set his house on fire. I tilted my head, unimpressed.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKj9ld4Owe
“You sure about this?” I asked. “You wanna settle this with a fight?”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgeJBITMlC
He nodded once. “Yeah. I’m done talking.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODqG59fDFV
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7TfulY3vb
“Alright,” I said with a shrug. “But just know—I'm not gonna hurt you. Not unless you actually make me.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUIJasVZEy
Adan’s jaw clenched. “That’s your first mistake.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw65Xkzynh9
“Aw,” I smirked. “He’s growing fangs.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxeEZeOtWO
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.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcZps0QHSf
“Davis,” Adan said without breaking eye contact, “go inside.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmAyabljUW
He didn’t move.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSRQRSiU9X
“I said go before these hands get to you too.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkv0b1cTXx
That surprised me. So did Davis turning without a word and walking inside.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuMrfIETP1
Okay. This was actually happening.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EixtIZ2KC
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward. “Alright, little bro. Let’s dance.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ550AxVfyWL
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdij3wxi0N
I blocked them both, backed up a step. “Huh.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAY9KFD1RM
He threw a kick. I caught it and shoved him backward. “Points for effort.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vhPlberz4
But he didn’t stumble. He slid, caught his footing, and came right back at me.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIESH6zhPh
Heh. Okay then.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BTVNEaewz
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuVTt3rY4a
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtYycG0p6C
The hell?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw8frUsIWj
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqR57wQDnk
“How are you—?” I started.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN98zuZpqe2
He interrupted with a kick to my thigh. My leg buckled slightly.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYywrN94SC
“Oh, now we’re serious,” I muttered.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyjvtegtTZ
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXSp3xq0tQ
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!”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOTg4S769b
The goo was now across his chest. His breathing was steady. His eyes weren’t just determined—they were focused. Sharp. Calculated.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns4k68t3dn
“You’re learning,” I said, circling him.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm5di4JbOb
He smiled. “Oh heck yeah I am!”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsCqd2lvum
“You feel that power, don’t you?” I asked. “That goo... whatever it is. It’s helping you.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47I66siDdM
"I don’t know about that. I might just be that good.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnQ8OsMLgW
I tried a cross-hook. He blocked it clean and slammed a fist into my gut. I bent over, coughing.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aZxgbW7Dz
He was faster now. Stronger.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBKtwB5gke
And I hated to admit it... but I was falling behind.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgn1ADmyy6
I lunged, trying to shoulder him, but he pivoted and slammed an elbow into my back. I dropped to one knee.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhhR8O9j8H
“What are you turning into?” I growled.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeNxN4yTUg
He didn’t even hesitate. “Something cooler.”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpHW4lW79W
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwsLXZ7FA1
I stood up again, breathing heavy. I rushed him. He stood still.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZc5kAg5M2
Then at the last second, he moved—and I didn’t see the punch coming.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMhfYjwgao
Everything spun. I hit the ground hard.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWSiDgUO9Q
I tried to get up—but a shadow loomed over me. Not Adan. Something more.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZizwWPl2ET
He wasn’t just wearing that thing.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRdKPOPGdq
He was that thing.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l5HJYYsT7
I looked at his fists—one of them had begun to glow.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r7dAZ9mD6
Then flames.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMCYDbWTsT
They danced across his knuckles, licking up his wrist like the final act of a show.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF07KtbyLW
Adan raised his fist. The goo crawled up his jawline.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLU4kbb6FD
He stared at me—no anger, just pure focus.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtq4ENsttd
I groaned. “Oh nooo, not the fireball...”291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6znaf5Owv
and then Add to home screen.