As someone who grew up without friends and was constantly bullied, Joe understood what it meant to be alone with no one on your side. It was a miserable existence he would not wish on anyone, except his uncle. That man could rot in hell for all he cared. Because of that, Joe understood the old man's position and refused to let someone else suffer the same treatment he had endured, especially when he had the power to stop it.

  “What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?” the prisoner sneered. “Did you finally realize you're messing with the infamous Kyle Killings and you're about to piss yourself?” Kyle smirked. “Too late for that. I'm going to make you pay for disrespecting me.,"

  He dropped the towel and cracked his knuckles.

  Joe tilted his head slightly, confused. “Kyle who?”

  “Don't tell me you don't know who I am. I was an infamous bandit and a member of the Wild Dogs before my arrest. Everyone in Suveny has at least heard of me.”

  “Nope. Doesn't ring a bell. Then again, I don't bother remembering the names of weak little bugs.”

  “What did you say?” The veins on Kyle's forehead bulged as his crimson skin darkened. “Forget making an example. I'll just kill you.”

  Kyle burst forward, closing the distance in an instant. His fist shot toward Joe's face. Joe ducked, the punch slicing over his head and ruffling his hair. Before he could reset, Kyle followed with an uppercut. Joe straightened and leaned back, the strike missing his chin by centimeters. He felt the wind pressure from it and backpedaled to create space.

  Kyle did not allow it. A high kick followed. Joe barely slipped past it.

  He leaped back and landed eight meters away, but Kyle appeared in front of him again. A flurry of punches and kicks forced Joe to retreat while dodging. The speed surprised him. Without his Blessed Physique, he was certain he would have been hit. Whatever drug Kyle had taken was potent.

  Minutes passed with Joe focused entirely on evasion. He did not throw a single strike. The watching inmates grew restless. Cheers turned into boos.

  “Quit running, you coward!” Kyle shouted.

  Joe intended to continue his strategy, but the floor had grown slick during the fight. His foot slipped and he landed on his back.

  Kyle grinned and punched down at his skull.

  Joe rolled away at the last second. Kyle's fist smashed into the ground, creating a small crater as the stone cracked inward. Joe regained his footing five meters away, surprised. Even with a suppression collar disrupting mana, Kyle had shattered the floor.

  Kyle yanked his hand free, teeth clenched, and attacked again. Joe kept dodging. Kyle grew more reckless, his swings wilder and easier to read.

  By the ten minute mark, Kyle was exhausted. Sweat drenched him and his breathing was ragged. Joe remained uninjured. His stamina felt untouched.

  “Are you done?” Joe asked calmly.

  Kyle snarled and threw another punch.

  Joe slipped past him, grabbed the towel around Kyle's waist, and repositioned behind him in one motion. When Kyle spun around in fury, Joe wrapped the towel around his fist and drove a punch into his face.

  Kyle's face caved inward. He hit the ground a second later.

  The room went silent.

  Then the prisoners erupted.

  “No way. He just took down Kyle Killings in one blow.”

  “He didn't even get hit.”

  “It has to be luck. There's no way Kyle would lose to that scrawny bastard.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “And people said he'd win the Inter Prison Section Elite Tournament. He's a fraud.”

  Joe studied Kyle with concern. ‘I hope that idiot isn't dead. I even cushioned the punch with the towel because I was worried I might kill him.’

  Kyle's chest rose and fell.

  Joe exhaled in relief. He dropped the towel over Kyle's face and retrieved the other one. As he walked toward the old man, he noticed the mixture of fear and admiration in the inmates' eyes. A few stared at him in a way that made him uncomfortable.

  Three notifications echoed in his mind.

  [Skill Acquired: Footwork]

  [Skill Acquired: Dodge]

  [Skill Acquired: Heavy Blow]

  They were common skills. Joe wondered why he had not obtained them in his soul space, especially after fighting the golem and the Goddess. He guessed it was because he had been using his consciousness body instead of his physical one. Either way, he was glad to gain them.

  He exchanged towels with the old man.

  The old man stared at him with wide eyes. “Johan?”

  Joe shook his head. “No. I'm not Johan. It's Joe.”

  Disappointment crossed the old man's face. “Oh. I guess you can't be Johan.” He turned and shuffled out with the others.

  A tall, middle aged man with a mesh beard stepped beside Joe. “That's Old Man Charles. Johan was his son. Died twelve years ago.”

  Joe looked at him. “What happened?”

  “He accidentally bumped into the Mayor. The boy was killed for it. Charles tried to get revenge and ended up here.”

  Joe stared at him. “He was murdered simply for bumping into the Mayor?”

  “Yes. Any contact with the Mayor without permission is punishable by death.”

  “That's horrible.”

  “You haven't seen half of what happens in this town,” the man replied before walking away.

  Joe understood now why the old man's mind was shattered. Anyone would break after such a traumatic event.

  Joe and all the male prisoners moved to the changing room and received new uniforms. Joe stayed near Old Man Charles, but no one dared approach them after what happened to Kyle.

  On the way back to the cells, a guard pulled Joe aside.

  “Come with me.”

  Joe followed silently. The guard stopped at a door and motioned him inside.

  Joe entered, closed the door and turned.

  Steve stood twenty meters away.

  “Long time no see,” Steve said with a grin.

  Before Joe could respond, his head slammed into the door as Steve punched him square in the face. Joe swung blindly, but Steve had already moved. A kick drove into his midsection and folded him in half. Air burst from his lungs. A knee struck his face. The guard grabbed him and threw him across the room.

  Joe stabilized himself midair and landed, but momentum carried him back. He searched for Steve and saw nothing.

  An elbow smashed into his face. He flew into the wall. A fist hammered his chest. He dropped to his knees. A foot forced his head into the ground.

  Steve crouched and grabbed his hair, forcing eye contact. “Good morning, Joe.”

  Joe spat at him. “Fuck you.”

  Steve had a blank expression. “Fair enough.” He shoved Joe back down.

  Moments later, Joe sat against the wall, bruised and breathing hard. Steve stood a few meters away.

  “So, how's prison life?” Steve asked casually.

  “It was going fine until you decided to beat me up for no reason.”

  “I had a reason. I wanted to see how you'd handle me fighting seriously. I'm disappointed.”

  “You caught me off guard.”

  “Excuses. You lost because you're not strong enough. You're a diamond in the rough. I need to shape you into a beautiful jewel.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you have flaws. You rely too much on your eyes. A real combatant trusts his body and instincts.”

  “And how do I do that?”

  “If I told you, it wouldn't be a lesson.”

  “Why are you acting like my teacher?”

  “Because I've decided you're my disciple.”

  “Do I get a say?”

  “No.”

  Joe sighed. He needed training before facing the Lord of the Woods in six days. He would not refuse.

  “Is that why you called me?”

  “Not entirely.” Steve pulled out a plastic bag filled with red powder. “This drug is circulating Suveny Station. It's called the Smiling Devil. I need you to find the source and shut it down.”

  Joe's eyes widened. “That's the Smiling Devil?”

  “You've seen it?”

  “Yeah. An inmate used it in the washroom. I handled him.”

  “You beat someone who took it?”

  “Yes.”

  Steve smiled. “Good. Then I chose correctly. Can you find the supplier?”

  “I can try. I have two days before I leave. I'll use the time.”

  “Excellent.”

  “Anything else?"

  “No. You're free to go.”

  Joe left.

  Once the door closed, Steve grimaced. He removed his right glove and saw blood on his knuckles.

  ‘Even when he's not attacking, that freak is dangerous.’

  He flexed his left arm. It felt numb due to his damaged elbow.

  ‘I should stop fighting him without an Enhancement Skill. I'll get seriously hurt.’

  Joe, meanwhile, ached everywhere. Steve had clearly held back a lot during their first encounter. Despite the pain, Joe smiled.

  ‘That bastard is a monster. But he's fun. I'll pay him back for this.’

  Two notifications appeared.

  [Skill Acquired: Body Control]

  [Skill Acquired: Pain Resistance]

  Both common, but useful.

  When a guard escorted him back, he noticed inmates leaving their cells. He found Bob waiting.

  “What's going on?” Joe asked.

  Bob grinned. “I saw what you did to Kyle. That was awesome.”

  “Forget that. Why is everyone leaving?”

  “Oh right, you're new. It's break time. Everyone's heading to the Battleground.”

  “Battleground?”

  Bob smiled wider. “You're about to see the ugly side of this prison. Come on.”