The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 12: The First Strike

Jin barely had time to react.

She lunged—fast.

His body moved on instinct. The pipe shot up to block.

A sharp crack rang through the air as her fist connected. But nothing happened.

Jin exhaled sharply. That's it?

Then—

A shockwave ripped through the steel.

Jin barely had time to register it before his body was launched backward. His breath ripped from his lungs as he crashed into the side of a car, the metal groaning under his weight.

Pain. Everywhere.

His ribs screamed. His arms trembled. What the hell was that?

Jin tried to suck in air, but his chest felt like it was being crushed.

This girl wasn't strong but her skill made her formidable.

Jin coughed, gripping his side. His entire body ached.

The girl stood where she had punched, watching him with that same eerie, dreamy smile.

Her eyes drifted over to the others.

Joon-seok had half-stepped forward, but hesitated. Seul-ki's hands clenched at her sides, unsure if she should even move. Echo's breath came out uneven, his gaze flicking between Jin and the girl.

No one knew what to do.

And she knew it.

The girl pouted, hands on her hips. "Are you all just going to stand there?"

She let out a small sigh.

"That's so boring."

Her attention flicked back to Jin.

Her smile widened.

"Let's fix that."

She moved.

Jin's pulse spiked.

His body screamed at him to raise the pipe again, to block—but he didn't.

Instead, he threw himself to the side.

A rush of air blew past his cheek as her fist barely missed him.

Then—

A deep metallic crunch rang out behind him.

Jin turned just in time to see the car he had been standing in front of crumple inward, the entire door caving in.

His breath caught.

The moment she landed a hit, it would explode in force seconds later.

And it was always twice as strong.

His mind pieced it together.

She's not naturally strong. Her ability gives her that strength.

She wasn't like a powerlifter who could throw multiple devastating punches one after another.

Her skill only let her amplify one attack at a time.

And until that attack actually connected with delayed impact—she couldn't use it again.

Jin's grip tightened on the pipe.

If his theory was right—she couldn't throw another enhanced punch until the delayed force hit.

Jin took a deep breath. There was only one way to test it.

She turned back to him, smiling.

"You're thinking too much."

She moved again.

Jin braced himself.

But he didn't block.

Instead—he moved forward.

Her fist shot toward him.

But she wasn't used to people closing the gap.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Jin stepped into her range—and swung.

The pipe slammed into her ribs.

A heavy thud echoed through the street.

She staggered—her breath hitched.

No delayed impact.

Her ability hadn't triggered yet.

Jin's eyes flicked to her hands.

She hadn't thrown another punch.

His theory was right.

Once she landed a hit or she was hit, she was vulnerable.

And until her ability activated—she was just a regular girl.

Then the impact of his strike hit her, and she was knocked back—

For the first time, she actually looked surprised.

She grinned.

"Oh."

She coughed, steadying herself.

"You're fun."

But something about her tone was off.

Her fingers twitched at her sides. Tensed.

She let out a sharp exhale.

Then—she started laughing.

It wasn't loud.

Not crazed.

It was small. Quiet.

But it didn't stop.

Her shoulders shook harder.

Jin's grip tightened on the pipe. What is she—?

Then—her laughter cut off.

And when she looked up at him, the smile was still there.

But her eyes had changed.

Something darker.

Something colder.

"...That's nothing," she murmured.

Jin's stomach twisted.

She took a slow step forward.

Her hands clenched into fists.

Jin braced himself—but she wasn't attacking.

She was talking.

"You think that hurt?" she asked softly.

Her voice was still light. Still dreamy.

But there was something wrong underneath it.

"That's nothing."

Her head tilted slightly.

"My father used to do worse."

Her breath hitched.

Jin's hands tightened.

He didn't want to know.

But she kept going.

"He'd hit me every day," she said lightly. "At first, I cried a lot."

She giggled, like she was sharing a funny memory.

"But then I stopped."

She lifted a hand, staring at it.

"I figured it out. The pain is only bad if you make it bad."

Her fingers curled inward.

"So I stopped letting it hurt."

She looked at him again—and suddenly, she was moving.

Jin barely had time to react.

She jumped.

Jin's instincts screamed.

His body moved. The pipe swung up—but he was too slow.

Her fist slammed into his ribs.

At first—nothing.

Jin gasped. He had braced himself for pain, but... there was nothing.

Then—his stomach dropped.

His mind barely had time to register what was happening before it hit.

A blinding shockwave exploded through his body.

The force erupted all at once.

Like a bomb going off inside his ribs.

Jin's vision blurred.

His feet left the ground.

The world spun.

Then—

CRASH.

His back slammed into the pavement.

A choked, ragged breath tore from his lungs. His ribs felt like they had been crushed inward.

Pain erupted through his entire body. A deep, throbbing ache that refused to stop.

Jin's fingers twitched.

Move.

His mind screamed at him. Get up.

She's coming.

The girl landed lightly.

She didn't rush in.

She stood over him, watching him struggle.

Her hands rested at her sides, but her fingers twitched slightly—like she was debating whether to finish this now or drag it out.

She sighed, almost disappointed.

"I'm so glad I get to help you," she murmured.

Jin gritted his teeth.

His chest burned. His arms trembled.

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The pipe in his grip creaked under the pressure.

Cracks.

Thin fractures splintered across the metal.

One more solid hit—and it would break.

She took a step forward.

Jin forced himself to move. To push up, to get his legs under him.

But she didn't give him the chance.

Her foot shot out to press him back down.

Jin's arms shook.

His pulse roared in his ears. Move, dammit—

Then—something changed.

A sudden, sharp distortion crackled through the air.

The girl's body jerked.

Her head snapped to the side, brows furrowing.

Then, suddenly—she heard her own voice.

"I'm glad I get to help you."

Her shoulders stiffened.

The exact same words. Spoken in her own voice.

She blinked. "Huh?"

Before she could process what had happened, something slammed into her side.

A forcewave.

Joon-seok's ability.

The air rippled violently.

The impact sent her staggering.

Her body tilted—legs struggling to keep balance—

Then, suddenly—

BOOM.

The delayed impact from Joon's hit finally kicked in.

She was launched further back.

Her body crashed against the pavement, rolling several times before she dug her fingers into the ground, forcing herself to stop.

She landed in a crouch, breathless.

But not down.

Her head snapped up.

Her pupils contracted.

Her hands tensed.

She wasn't smiling anymore.

Jin staggered forward.. His body screamed at him to stop, to rest—but he couldn't.

He gritted his teeth.

I have to end this. Now.

She wobbled to her feet.

Her knees threatened to give out, but she forced herself to stand.

Her fingers twitched, curling in and out of fists.

Jin tightened his grip on the broken pipes.

She should've been out cold. So why was she still moving?

Her breathing was ragged, uneven.

Her pupils were wide, unfocused—as if she wasn't seeing them anymore.

Her lips trembled.

"You're just like him..."

Jin's brows furrowed. What?

She giggled.

A weak, hiccupping sound. But it wasn't happy.

Then—her whole body shook.

"You're just like him," she whispered again.

Her voice cracked.

"Just like my dad."

Tears welled in her eyes.

She sniffled, clutching her sides.

Then—she looked at them.

And for the first time—Jin saw hatred.

"You think it's okay to hit a girl?"

Her voice wavered, but her words were venom.

"You think you're strong? That you're better than me?"

Her shoulders shook.

Her tears fell freely.

"You're no different."

Jin's heart pounded.

Something was off.

She was crying. Genuinely crying.

But she was angry.

Furious.

Her eyes were filled with nothing but hate.

She let out a sharp breath.

"If that's how it is..."

She lurched forward.

"I'll KILL YOU—"

Jin moved fast.

His body reacted before his mind could.

The broken pipe swung.

CRACK.

The first strike slammed into her left forearm.

She screamed.

Then—BOOM.

The delayed impact kicked in.

Her wrist twisted violently.

Her arm jerked backward unnaturally, snapping against her side.

Jin didn't stop.

He swung again—right arm this time.

CRACK.

Another scream.

Then—BOOM.

Her other arm snapped limp.

She stumbled, her breath hitching.

Her arms hung at her sides—completely useless.

Jin's grip tightened.

Not yet.

He stepped forward.

Then—he swung again.

A blunt smash against her ribs.

She choked on a breath.

Another hit—this time, against her shoulder.

She jerked violently.

A third—her knee buckled.

Her breath came out in short, weak gasps.

And finally—

Jin lifted both broken pipes.

And with one last, final strike to the temple—

She collapsed.

Jin didn't move.

His arms trembled.

His chest rose and fell sharply.

Blood dripped down the jagged edges of the pipes.

But it wasn't his.

The others stood frozen.

Joon-seok's expression was unreadable.

Seul-ki's hands were clenched into fists.

Echo let out a slow, shaky breath.

Then—

A whimper.

Jin's eyes snapped back down.

The girl's lips trembled.

Her eyes were dazed, unfocused.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

Her voice came out broken.

"...Help me. Please"

Jin's stomach twisted.

Then—her eyes rolled back.

And she went still.

This time, she didn't get up.