Lookism: King's Ascension

Morning in Anyang was always cold, even when it wasn't. 

Taeyang and Daehyun walked, the streets mostly empty except for a few shop owners setting up for the day.

"You good?" Daehyun asked.

Taeyang adjusted his blazer. "Yeah."

Daehyun just nodded. He didn't ask anything else.

By the time they reached the warehouse, Minho was already inside, standing at the table with a cigarette between his fingers, looking over a map. Dongwoo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usual easygoing look replaced with something quieter. 

A couple of their guys were in the back, checking crates, but no one spoke.

Minho glanced up. "Good. You're on time." He tapped at the map. "Ansan hit us again last night."

Taeyang and Daehyun stepped closer, eyes scanning the marked locations.

Minho exhaled smoke. "Our karaoke bar's been a few times over the past few weeks. Light work… just enough to see how we'd react." His gaze flicked up. "I want the next time to be the last time."

Daehyun nodded. "Gotcha."

Minho tapped his fingers against the table. "We know Ansan has got some heavy hitters. Three guys in particular stand out. I want you two to watch out for them."

He pointed at the first photo on the table.

"Choi Hyeok. Big guy. Built like a damn truck. Looks like he should be swinging fists, but instead, he fights with a kendo sword." Minho's lip curled slightly. "Sounds ridiculous, right? A street brawler carrying a wooden sword?"

Daehyun raised a brow. "What, does he think he's some samurai?"

Minho exhaled. "I don't know what the hell he thinks he is, but he's dangerous. That kendo sword isn't just for show…. he's damn good with it. Fast, strong. And even without it, he's got the strength to crush someone's ribs with a single punch. People underestimate him because of the weapon. Don't."

Taeyang memorized the name. Choi Hyeok.

Minho pointed to the second photo.

"Nam Giseok. Fights like he wants to die."

Taeyang frowned slightly. "What?"

Minho shook his head. "I don't know how else to put it. The guy looks like he's about to break down crying every time he fights. But he doesn't stop. No matter how many times he gets hit, no matter how bad it looks for him… he just keeps going. It's like he doesn't feel pain… or is too sad to."

Dongwoo scoffed. "Sounds like a lunatic."

Minho gave a short nod. "That's exactly what makes him fucked up. He fights like there's nothing left for him outside of it. Desperate people are unpredictable. And the worst part? He's actually skilled. Fast hands, sharp instincts. He doesn't just rely on blind aggression… he knows what he's doing."

Daehyun let out a low whistle. "Sounds like a pain in the ass."

"Yeah," Minho muttered. "And then there's the last one."

A third photo.

"Go Jinhwan. The Iron Bastard."

That got a reaction. Daehyun's expression darkened slightly, and even Dongwoo's face tightened a little. Taeyang glanced between them. "You know him?"

Daehyun exhaled. "I've fought him before."

Minho nodded. "Big guy. Not as flashy as the other two, but solid. Controlled. He doesn't fight like a street brawler. Everything is measured with that guy. You hit him, he doesn't budge. He takes everything you throw at him and just keeps walking forward."

"Like a fucking wall," Daehyun muttered.

"Exactly." Minho's expression was grim. "Jinhwan used to be in deep with some CEO's kid. He wasn't just some thug… he was a bodyguard. He left that life, but he didn't lose the skills."

Taeyang absorbed the information. 

Three dangerous fighters. A swordsman who didn't look like a swordsman. A desperate, reckless fighter who never stopped. And an unshakable wall that absorbed everything. 

Of course, he didn't miss how Taesoo Ma was nowhere to be seen.

Daehyun exhaled. "Well, shit. Sounds like we've got our work cut out for us."

Minho's gaze hardened. "I don't need you two getting into unnecessary fights. This isn't about beating them… even if you can. We just need to secure our position down south and make it clear we're not letting them fuck with us. If it's one of them leading the probes… you two should be able to take them out. But don't be reckless."

Daehyun grinned. "Since when am I reckless?"

Minho gave him a flat look.

"…Fine, fine." Daehyun raised his hands in surrender. "We'll play nice. Sort of."

Minho sighed. "Just get it done. Hopefully you won't have to fight them."

Taeyang finally spoke. "How long do you think we'll be gone?"

"A week," Minho said. "Maybe more if things go south."

Daehyun snickered. "Ha, South, get it? Because we're going… no?"

Minho ignored him and continued. "Seoul has started moving their guys to the closest border to Suwon but in case anything goes wrong and they find out it was us… I'll need you to come back right away. Jeongdu and I can't hold them off ourselves."

"Gotcha."

"Just don't die," Minho said flatly, shoving his hands back into his pockets. His eyes flicked to Taeyang. "That goes for you too, thief."

Taeyang barely reacted, adjusting his cuffs instead. "I wasn't planning on it."

"Good." He exhaled. Then, he scoffed and turned away. "Tch. Anyway, Have fun babysitting Daehyun."

Daehyun threw an arm around Taeyang's shoulders dramatically. "Don't worry, I'll be a great travel companion."

Taeyang pried him off without a word and started walking toward the exit.

Daehyun sighed. "Man, so cold."

Minho's voice followed them as they left. "Remember… get it done fast. And don't get cocky."

Daehyun just waved over his shoulder.

***

The sun had fully risen by the time they hit the streets again. Anyang was waking up… early morning vendors setting up their stalls, students in uniforms making their way to school, the occasional businessman rushing past with a coffee in one hand and a phone in the other.

But even with all that movement, it was quiet.

Taeyang and Daehyun walked at a steady pace, the weight of what was coming settling between them. They weren't in a rush, but they weren't taking their time either.

After a while, Daehyun glanced at him. "You thinking about those guys Minho talked about?"

Taeyang didn't answer immediately. "Yeah."

Daehyun hummed. "They're not the worst we'll ever fight, but they won't be easy either."

"Have you fought all of them?"

"Not all," Daehyun admitted. "Just Jinhwan."

Taeyang's gaze flicked to him. "And?"

Daehyun exhaled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "He's a pain in the ass. Hits like a truck. Doesn't go down. Doesn't react. It's like fighting a statue."

"…Did you win?"

Daehyun grinned. "What do you think?"

Taeyang raised an eyebrow

Daehyun laughed. "Okay, okay, fine. It wasn't a real fight. We had a scuffle at some underground matches way back. He wasn't there to make a name for himself… just doing a job. I barely got any reaction out of him, and then the fight got called off before it could really go anywhere."

Taeyang narrowed his eyes at that. He was leaving a lot out.

But it wasn't the right time to pry.

They reached the corner where a small convenience store stood, its door open.

A couple of kids loitered outside, leaning against the weathered brick wall with cigarettes dangling loosely from their fingers. 

Their eyes flicked over to Taeyang and Daehyun as they approached, a brief moment of curiosity before they quickly looked away, uninterested. Just regular kids, wasting time, lost in their own little world.

"We taking the bus?" Taeyang asked, his voice cutting through the low hum of the city.

Daehyun snorted, shaking his head. "You think Minho would have us ride a bus into a warzone?" He smirked, digging his hand into his jacket pocket and pulling out a key. 

Twisting it around his fingers, he tossed it to Taeyang with an easy flick of his wrist. "The bikes are down the block."

Taeyang caught the key without breaking stride. "Whose is it?"

"Remember the one I drove yesterday?" Daehyun grinned wider. "We stole a few from Gunpo."

The two of them walked down the block, the distant sound of traffic growing louder as they neared the alley where the motorbikes were hidden. 

A sleek, black motorcycle with matte finish and slightly modified parts.. Nothing flashy, just enough to get the job done. 

Taeyang hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on the bikes. He'd never ridden one before.

Daehyun noticed his hesitation, a small smirk playing on his lips. "First time?"

Taeyang shot him a quick look, then nodded slowly. "Yeah."

Daehyun tossed him a helmet. "Don't worry. I'll teach you."

With a shrug, Taeyang slipped the helmet on, and then climbed onto the bike. It felt different… unfamiliar.

He adjusted himself, unsure of what to do with his hands and legs, his nerves making his palms a little sweaty.

Daehyun slid onto his own bike with a practiced ease, revving the engine once before looking over at Taeyang. "Just follow my lead. You'll be fine."

The moment Taeyang started the engine, it felt like the ground was shaking beneath him. The low rumble of the motor vibrated through his body. His grip tightened instinctively, trying to keep control as Daehyun shot him an encouraging nod before peeling off down the street.

Taeyang followed, adjusting to the rhythm of the bike, his body tensing with every turn and bump in the road. 

It wasn't smooth… he was jerky and off-balance, but he managed to keep up, focusing on Daehyun's movements in front of him.

As they sped through the quiet streets of Anyang, the city's buildings became more worn and aged. 

The early morning light filtered through the haze, casting a soft glow over the cracked sidewalks and street art splattered on the walls. The area was still waking up.

Taeyang, still getting used to the bike, shifted slightly with the turns, trying to find his rhythm. The wind hit him with every twist and lean of the bike, and it made him feel more alive than he'd expected. 

He could hear Daehyun up ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure Taeyang was still on track. 

The ride was intense, but there was something almost freeing about it, like the world narrowed down to the road ahead and the hum of the engine.

"You ever been down south before?!" Daehyun's voice carried over, breaking through the wind.

Taeyang shook his head, eyes focused on the road ahead. "No!"

Daehyun grinned. "It's different down there! A lot messier. Doesn't have a Minho keeping everything in line!"

Taeyang's eyes narrowed slightly. "What about those people Minho mentioned?!"

"They're not leaders… not of the entire city anyways! Ansan is split into factions that work together… sometimes!"

Taeyang didn't respond, his grip tightening on the handlebars as he focused. 

The landscape shifted as they made their way to the southern edge of Anyang, the buildings more scattered and less polished. The contrast was sharp. Graffiti covered the walls, broken windows stared out like hollow eyes. 

The area felt rougher, rawer.

"We get to the border, we check in! See what we're up against! Then we make sure they regret ever thinking they could take us on!"

Taeyang nodded, his grip tightening on the handlebars.

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Introduction to some Ansan characters, Goatsoo Ma can't be the only strong one over there after all.

Also, this should be a complete character page for now.

Taeyang.

Minho.

Jeongdu.

Baek Daehyun.

I'll post pics of the Ansan guys when they appear.