Joe’s laughter faded, and silence reclaimed the hall. The excitement that had filled his veins drained away, his heartbeat settling back into a steady rhythm as the thrill of battle evaporated from his body. He exhaled slowly and lowered his gaze to the corpse beneath him.

  Big Dog’s mangled body continued to bleed, but his chest no longer rose.

  To be certain, Joe drove his hand into the ruined cavity and tore the man’s heart free. He studied it for a brief moment, turning it slightly in his grip, before tightening his fingers. The organ burst with a wet crack. Thick red fluid spilled down into the dead man’s open mouth. Joe waited until the last drop drained out, then tossed the crushed heart onto his face and rose to his feet.

  He noticed several messages in his mind and he immediately summoned them to his sight.

  ‘Let’s see what we got.’

  [Crushing Gust (Martial) (Bronze): Lvl 1 → 3]

  [Dash (Uncategorized) (Copper): Lvl 3 → 4]

  [Dodge (Uncategorized) (Copper): Lvl 3 → 10]

  [Body Control (Uncategorized) (Copper): Lvl 4 → 5]

  [Instinctive Movement (Uncategorized) (Silver): Lvl 2 → 4]

  [Essence Enhancement (Specialty) (Silver): Lvl 1 → 3]

  [Essence Concentration (Specialty) (Bronze): Lvl 9 → 12]

  Joe was not surprised that several of his Uncategorized Skills had improved. He had relied on them heavily throughout the fight.

  [Dodge] had seen the largest leap, which made sense. He had depended on it constantly while evading Big Dog’s relentless assaults.

  [Dash] had only been used sparingly since he maintained close proximity for most of the battle.

  [Instinctive Movement] had barely been necessary. He had only allowed his body to act on its own a handful of times to better understand the skill. His flexibility and fluidity had not been pushed far enough to force greater growth in [Body Control].

  As for [Essence Enhancement] and [Essence Concentration], both had risen because he activated them together. [Essence Enhancement] reinforced his physical strength, while [Essence Concentration] funneled that power entirely into his hands. That focused output had granted his fingers and nails the force required to tear Michael apart.

  The real surprise was [Crushing Gust]. He had unleashed it while consumed by rage, with no intention of refining it. His mind had been set only on destruction. Yet it had gained two levels regardless.

  His brow lifted when additional messages appeared beneath the skill notifications.

  [Congratulations! Dodge (Copper) has reached the required threshold!]

  [Dodge (Copper) has evolved into Advanced Evasion (Bronze)]

  [Advanced Evasion (Bronze)] – Your dodging ability has become sharper and more refined, reducing stamina consumption and reaction time when evading attacks.

  Joe’s eyes gleamed.

  So skills did have limits. Once they reached a threshold, they evolved.

  The new ability was a direct upgrade, enhancing every aspect of its predecessor and optimizing his evasive movements. It was useful, but what pleased him more was the confirmation that skill evolution was possible.

  Satisfied, Joe dismissed the notifications with a faint smile still lingering on his bloodstained face.

  He was about to leave when he remembered there was still something of value left in Big Dog's corpse.

  Joe crouched and placed his palm over the man’s ruined chest. A second later, a pulse of energy surged into his arm and spread through his body. The sensation was faint, almost imperceptible, but he felt it clearly. The remnants of Big Dog's essence were being drawn out and absorbed into his Spirit Heart, replenishing the reserves he had expended during the fight.

  It was not much. Just enough to restore what he had used.

  Joe had expected nothing more from such a worthless life, so he felt neither surprise nor disappointment.

  He rose and turned away.

  The moment he took a few steps, the hall erupted.

  Inmates screamed at the top of their lungs. They tore off their shirts and hurled them down toward the ring.

  “Take my uniform and clean yourself up, Boss!”

  “No, take mine! I’ll even give you my pants!”

  Clothing rained from the upper floors, covering the stage in a chaotic pile of fabric. Joe bent down and picked up the shirt closest to his feet. When he unfolded it, he noticed that all the uniforms belonged to sections other than the East. That made sense. The East wore overalls.

  A grin tugged at his lips as he used the shirt to wipe the blood from his face and hands. He did not bother with his own uniform. The stains had already dried. No piece of cloth would remove that.

  Outside the ring, the three remaining Kings watched in stunned silence. Their own followers ignored them completely, their attention fixed solely on Joe. Some even addressed him as Boss, openly discarding their loyalty despite the Kings still seated before them.

  It was a blatant act of betrayal. A direct slap to their authority.

  When he finished, Joe tossed the shirt aside and searched for the speaker that had been mounted on the shattered pillar. He spotted it just outside the ring and retrieved it.

  Then he returned to Big Dog’s corpse.

  Without hesitation, he sat down on the man’s mangled face as if claiming a throne.

  “From this moment onward, I hereby take my position as the King of the East.” Joe's voice resounded throughout the hall, calm and steady before he dropped the speaker.

  What followed was even more shocking.

  Every inmate in the hall, aside from the three Kings, fell to their knees and bowed their heads. There was no hesitation. No resistance. Even prisoners from other sections submitted.

  Joe’s smile widened as he looked toward the seated Kings.

  Angry Dagger drove his knife into the armrest of his chair, rage blazing in his eyes.

  Carl Timber crushed his half smoked blunt beneath his boot, extinguishing it without a word.

  “What an ugly boy!” Merry Stone hissed through clenched teeth, glaring at Joe.

  Unmoved by their anger, Joe stepped down from the ring and walked calmly through the silent hall of kneeling prisoners.

  When he entered the tunnel, he found Shelly waiting near the exit.

  “What are you doing here? I told you to wait for me.”

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  Shelly looked at him, apprehension flickering in her eyes, mixed with faint fear and something close to admiration. “I wanted to stop you. I thought Michael was going to kill you.”

  Joe chuckled softly. “I told you I’d handle it. There was nothing to worry about.” He paused, studying her face. “Wait. Were you worried about me?”

  Shelly nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground as a shy expression crossed her face.

  Joe smiled and ruffled her hair. “Thanks.” He stepped past her. “Let’s go.”

  He had barely taken a few steps when Shelly grabbed the back of his uniform. She buried her face against it and pulled him closer.

  “Thank you,” she whispered before breaking down. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Joe’s expression softened. He let her cry, saying nothing, simply standing there until the storm inside her eased.

  A few minutes later, they returned to their cell.

  “How’s your eye?” Joe asked as they sat down in his usual spot.

  “It’s better now. Thanks to you.”

  He grinned. “Good. I won’t let something like that happen again. I promise.”

  Shelly nodded.

  After a brief silence, Joe asked quietly, “How much did you see back there?”

  “All of it.”

  Joe scratched his head. “That’s why I didn’t want you following me.” He exhaled. What was done could not be undone. He looked at her carefully. “Now that you’ve seen that side of me… are you scared?”

  He knew most people would be.

  Shelly hesitated. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shaken. But I appreciate what you did for me. It means everything.” She gave him a bright, sincere smile.

  Then her expression shifted as she stared up at the ceiling.

  “It’s strange. I used to hate my mother.”

  Joe remained silent.

  “She stayed with my father even though he beat her every night. She would tell me to stay in my room whenever she confronted him. There was always shouting. It usually ended with her on the floor. My father drank constantly. He was almost always drunk when he hit her.”

  Shelly swallowed.

  “I never understood why she didn’t leave him and take me with her. But now I do. She depended on him. He was the one who put food on the table. She endured everything because she had no other way to survive. She sacrificed her dignity for security.”

  A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she looked back at Joe. “In the end, I was no different. I submitted to Michael. I endured his abuse because he could protect me. Because I was weak.”

  She tilted her head slightly. “Do you want to know how I ended up here?”

  Joe nodded.

  She looked back at the ceiling, her voice distant. “One day I came home from work and found my mother on the floor. She was covered in bruises. I barely recognized her. My father was passed out on the couch. There was a half empty bottle on the table.”

  Her eyes drifted back to Joe. “Do you know what I did?”

  She did not wait for him to answer.

  “I grabbed a knife. I stabbed him in the throat over and over. I watched him choke on his own blood.”

  Her voice did not tremble, but her eyes glistened.

  “My mother woke up and saw me standing there covered in blood with a knife in my hand. I told her we were safe now.”

  She let out a quiet laugh that carried no humor.

  “I thought she would be relieved. Grateful. But when she looked at me, all she saw was a monster. She screamed at me. Told me to stay away from her. She reported me herself.”

  Tears slipped down her face.

  “I used to think she hated me. Now I know she was just terrified. Her daughter had become a murderer right in front of her. And the only source of security she knew was gone.”

  Her shoulders shook slightly.

  “I wish she would visit me one day so I could tell her I understand. That I don’t hate her.” She wiped at her eyes. “But she’s never come a single day since I've been here. I guess that’s just a dream.”

  After a moment, she forced a small smile. “Sorry for dumping all that on you.”

  “It’s okay,” Joe said gently. “We’re friends. Friends are there when the other needs someone to lean on.” He paused. “You and your mother will reconcile one day. The bond between a mother and daughter doesn’t break that easily.”

  Shelly’s smile this time was real.

  “Thanks.”

  A few seconds later, Charles and Bob walked into the cell, Bob wearing an excited look on his face.

  “That was awesome! I saw your fight with Big Dog. The way you dismantled him was amazing!”

  Joe was taken aback by his enthusiasm. “Aren’t you mad? He was your boss.”

  “You’re kidding? I only stuck up to that bastard because he was strong. Big Dog was a complete asshole, and I’m glad he’s dead.”

  Joe smiled.

  “So how does it feel being the King of the East? Did you see how everyone in the hall bowed to you, even with all the other Kings present? It was surreal!”

  “It’s going to take some time to get used to my position,” Joe said, knowing full well he had only one day left before he would be released from prison.

  “Don’t worry, buddy. You have me by your side. You’ll be fine.” Bob placed a hand on his shoulder with a bright smile. He sighed. “Well, I’m beat. That was way too much excitement for me. I need a nap.”

  Joe pointed to the blankets folded near the wall. “Since that bastard isn’t here anymore, you can take back your blanket and give Charles his back too.”

  Bob’s face brightened. “You’re the best.” He grabbed two blankets, kept one for himself, and used the other to cover Charles, who was already asleep. Bob wasted no time covering himself as well. “Good night,” he muttered before drifting off.

  Joe glanced at Shelly. “Aren’t you going to take one?”

  “But I’m injured. Please go grab it for me. You’re the one who told me to sit tight,” she said shamelessly.

  “Are you serious?”

  Shelly nodded without shame.

  “Fine.” Joe sighed and got up. He grabbed a blanket and stood in front of her before dropping it over her shoulders. “There. Good night.” He walked away and returned to the two blankets he had left behind. Joe sat down in Big Dog’s previous spot and covered himself with both blankets. Even though he was not cold because of his Physique, he found the warmth pleasant. He felt no exhaustion despite the fight, but he still intended to sleep, if only to remind himself what it felt like.

  As he settled in, he looked up to find Shelly standing beside him. “What’s up?”

  “I’m cold, so I want to sleep next to you to keep warm.”

  ‘Say what!’ Joe thought, dumbfounded.

  “It’s not fair that you get two blankets while I only get one. Let’s share.”

  Joe looked at her for a moment before sighing and allowing her to sit beside him. They covered themselves with the blankets. “You sure you want to sit next to me? I smell like blood.”

  “It’s fine. Even if you were covered in blood, I’d still sit next to you because I know I’ll be safe.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Besides, I need a shoulder to lean on, and as my friend, you said you’d do it.”

  Joe sighed, then a small smile appeared on his face. He watched as Shelly drifted into her first peaceful sleep in a long time.

  The lights in the cell went off, and Joe closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to sleep.

  Somewhere in Suveny Prison, an inmate wearing glasses entered a dimly lit room. He closed the door behind him and took a few careful steps before kneeling on the ground.

  “I greet you, my Emperor.”

  A man covered in shadows sat upon a large throne. “What is it, Falco? It’s not like you to visit me at this hour.” His voice was deep and resounding, filling the room with ease.

  “I went to watch the Inter Prison Section Elite Tournament. I was curious about the upcoming stars in our establishment.”

  “And?”

  “The winner was a boy named Joe, a new inmate from the East.”

  “So? Why should I care about some dumb tournament? I doubt any of them can beat the Kings I’ve established.”

  “That’s the thing, my lord. This boy Joe not only won the tournament, but he challenged and defeated one of our Kings. Without a doubt, the strongest of them all. Michael.”

  “Say what!” The Emperor’s voice boomed. He nearly rose from his throne as his hands gripped the armrests. “Someone really beat Michael? Even with that annoying Physique of his? Tell me, Falco, why were weapons allowed in some minor tournament?”

  Falco swallowed. “He didn’t need a weapon, my Emperor. He defeated him with his bare hands.”

  “There’s no way! I know his body is weak to cutting, but surely he wasn’t defeated because some fool used his nails. I’ve seen Michael defeat many who resorted to that trick.”

  “That’s not all, my lord. Joe didn’t just defeat Michael. He murdered him in front of the entire prison. When he was done, even Michael’s skeleton was visible.”

  “That’s impossible! He did all that with his nails?”

  “Yes. And without suffering a single hit. Michael couldn’t even graze him.”

  For the first time, the Emperor’s eyes became visible within the shadows. They widened with disbelief. “Just who the hell is that boy?”

  “All the information I managed to gather in this short time, my lord, is that he was arrested for damaging property.”

  “Locked up for something as small as damaged property, and he managed to do all that? Impossible!”

  “If that were all, I would never have disturbed you at this hour, my Emperor.”

  “There’s more?!” the Emperor roared.

  Falco nodded. “When the battle concluded, he declared himself the new King of the East, which was expected. But then something remarkable happened. All the prisoners of Suveny Prison knelt before him willingly, as if pledging loyalty.” Falco hesitated. “His presence reminded me of you, my lor—”

  An oppressive force slammed into Falco’s body and crushed him into the ground. Blood burst from his mouth as the weight bore down on him.

  “You dare compare another prisoner to me in my presence? Do you not value your life, Falco?”

  “Forgive me, my lord,” Falco gasped, his voice strained beneath the pressure.

  “You said everyone in that hall bowed to this Joe, correct? Does that include you, Falco?”

  “I had no choice. If I didn’t, I would have been the only one standing.” He forced the words out through gritted teeth.

  “Bullshit! You chose to bend the knee to someone else, and that can never be undone. You are nothing but a treacherous coward, Falco.”

  “Forgive m—”

  Before he could finish, the pressure intensified. His body flattened against the stone floor. Bones shattered. Flesh tore. In seconds, he was reduced to a wide, bloody smear with no recognizable form left behind.

  Silence filled the room.

  “Joe… whoever you are.” The Emperor’s voice was low, filled with cold fury. “If you think you can come in and take over my prison, you are mistaken. There can't be two rulers in the same kingdom. One of us will die.”

  His eyes glowed faintly within the darkness.

  “And it will be you.”