Kailash glared at Arjun, his face twisted with anger. Three of his men were down, unconscious on the ground, and he wasn't going to let that go. His remaining five companions stood ready but uncertain, waiting for their next move. Kailash didn't hesitate.
"Bring him to me!" Kailash's voice was sharp and full of fury.
Meanwhile, Arjun lay on a pile of bricks, his whole body aching with pain. Every movement hurt, but he knew he had to do something. He quickly opened his status window, checking to see how much strength he had left.
Name - Arjun Verma
Level - 16
Strength - 20
Stamina - 18
Intelligence - 15
Agility - 17
Sense - 19
HP - 35/100
EP - 127/10000
Seeing his stats, Arjun realized he was in no condition to fight off Kailash and his remaining men. He quickly accessed the system shop and spent 100 experience points on a healing pill. The pill appeared in his hand, and without wasting a second, he swallowed it.
Almost immediately, the pain began to fade. His wounds stopped bleeding, and his body started to recover. His HP, which had been at 35, climbed up to 49, giving him just enough strength to stand up, although he still felt weak. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth, but he wiped it away, determined.
The five remaining boys exchanged uneasy glances. Arjun was back on his feet, and they weren't sure if they should charge him or back off. They hesitated, unsure of what to do next.
Kailash, growing more impatient by the second, barked at them again, "What are you waiting for? Get him!"
Arjun, despite the pain, clenched his fists and took a step forward. A small smirk appeared on his lips. He was hurt, yes, but he wasn't giving up. Not yet.
"I'm not done," he muttered to himself, ready to face whatever came next.
Kailash now wore steel knuckles on both hands, ready to do serious damage to Arjun. He had thought this task would be simple, but today was proving much more difficult than he had imagined. As he prepared to fight, his mind drifted back to what had happened just a few hours earlier.
He had been sitting in a dimly lit room, alone except for one other person—a boy sitting across from him. The boy's face was hard to make out in the shadows, but Kailash knew exactly who he was. This wasn't someone to be messed with.
The boy leaned back, casually smoking a cigarette, completely unfazed by the fact that smoking wasn't allowed in school. He exhaled a puff of smoke before speaking.
"Listen carefully," the boy said. "I've got a job for you, and you better do it right. My name doesn't come up in any of this, got it?"
Kailash focused on his words, a bit nervous. He had seen this boy break the rules without fear before, but this felt different.
The boy continued, "Today, after school, Rio's going to meet someone. I need you to follow him, find out who he's meeting, and report back to me with everything."
Kailash's stomach dropped. He knew Rio's reputation, and this task wasn't going to be easy. "But what if Rio finds out I'm following him?" Kailash stammered. "If he even suspects me, I'm dead."
The boy laughed, a cold, sharp laugh that sent a chill down Kailash's spine. "Why are you scared? I'm with you. But if you fail me… well, you don't want to find out what'll happen."
Kailash had been torn. Refusing the job felt dangerous, but taking it on was just as risky. After some hesitation, he had agreed, though with a sinking feeling in his gut.
After some time, Kailash found himself back at the same place where he had met the boy earlier. The dim room felt even more oppressive now as he gathered his thoughts, ready to report what he had witnessed. He told the boy everything—how Rio had met Arjun, who Arjun was, and all the details he could remember.
Kailash felt a flicker of pride. He had done what was asked of him, completed the task, and even got close enough to Rio to observe without getting caught.
The boy listened quietly, but his expression slowly shifted into one of disbelief. When Kailash finished, the boy's eyes narrowed, and a mocking grin spread across his face.
"So, Rio has gotten that weak, huh?" the boy said, his voice dripping with scorn. "He's hiring some loser who's weaker than him to do his dirty work?"
He let out a laugh, shaking his head, openly ridiculing Rio. The laughter was harsh, echoing in the small room. Kailash remained silent, unsure whether he should say anything.
After a moment, the boy's laughter died down. He looked Kailash up and down, his eyes narrowing as if evaluating him. There was a long pause as the boy seemed to weigh his next words carefully.
"You know what, Kailash?" the boy finally said, his voice low and calculating. "I've got another job for you. This time, it's something only you can handle."
Kailash leaned forward slightly, intrigued but wary.
The boy smirked. "You need to send that kid—Arjun—back to where he belongs. No one else can do this. Only you."
Kailash felt a chill run down his spine. The weight of the boy's words hung heavy in the air. He didn't need to ask what the boy meant; it was clear enough.
Kailash's anger had reached its peak, his blood boiling with fury as he glared at Arjun. The more he tried to suppress it, the more his rage consumed him. His companions, sensing the storm brewing, instinctively backed away.
One of them muttered, "This boy doesn't stand a chance today. Kailash is out of control."
Another added nervously, "But Arjun is no pushover. If Kailash lets his anger blind him, things could get ugly."
Despite their whispers, no one dared step in. They had seen what Arjun was capable of, but they also knew Kailash's wrath was unstoppable once unleashed.
With steel knuckles tightly fitted on both hands, Kailash charged at Arjun like a raging bull. His feet pounded against the ground as he closed the distance between them, his eyes locked onto his target.
Arjun braced himself, watching Kailash's every move. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind stayed sharp. He noticed Kailash pulling back his fist, aiming for a devastating punch straight at his face.
The punch came with incredible speed and force. Arjun could feel the air shift as the knuckles approached, just inches away from his face. Time seemed to slow down for a moment.
In that split second, Arjun bent down completely, narrowly avoiding the blow. The punch sailed over his head, missing its mark by a hair.
Sweat dripped from Arjun's brow as he whispered to himself, "I've got one chance… just one."
His body tensed, his muscles coiled like a spring. He knew this was the moment—either he acted now or he wouldn't get another opportunity.
Kailash's anger had reached its peak. His patience was gone, and his rage burned hotter with every passing second. Just looking at Arjun made his blood boil. He had thought this fight would be easy, but Arjun had fought back harder than expected. The more Kailash tried to control his anger, the more it consumed him.
With a furious roar, he charged forward, his feet pounding against the ground as he sprinted at full speed toward Arjun. His companions, knowing his temper too well, immediately backed away.
One of them muttered under his breath, "That kid won't survive today… Kailash is completely out of control."
Another boy, watching the fight unfold, added nervously, "But Arjun… he's not weak. He's fighting back. Kailash might not have it as easy as he thinks."
Kailash didn't care about their words. His mind was focused on one thing—destroying Arjun. His fists, wrapped in steel knuckles, clenched tightly as he swung forward with all his might. His punch tore through the air, aimed straight at Arjun's face.
Arjun saw it coming. The force behind that punch could have shattered his jaw, maybe even worse. His instincts screamed at him to move. His mind raced, searching for a way out.
With a split-second decision, Arjun ducked low, completely bending down to avoid the incoming attack. The punch whizzed past, missing him by mere inches. He could feel the rush of air as it passed above his head. If he had reacted even a fraction of a second later, it would have been over for him.
With Kailash fully committed to the attack, his body leaned forward, completely open. His arms had followed through with the punch, leaving him defenseless for just a brief moment. That was all Arjun needed.
Gritting his teeth, Arjun clenched his fist and twisted his body. He channeled all his remaining strength into his legs and launched himself upward. His fist shot forward like a bullet, aiming straight for Kailash's chin.
BAM!
The uppercut landed with devastating force. The impact echoed through the air as Kailash's head snapped back violently. His feet lifted off the ground, his massive body rising four feet into the air from the sheer power of Arjun's strike. His eyes went wide in shock, his mouth slightly open as the force stunned him.
The moment he hit the ground, Arjun didn't wait to see what happened next. He knew Kailash wouldn't stay down for long. His body was already aching, and his stamina was running low. If he stayed and fought, he wouldn't have the strength to win.
Without a second thought, Arjun turned and ran. His feet moved fast, his breath heavy, but he forced himself forward. He had to get out of there before Kailash recovered.
The other boys stood frozen, their eyes shifting from Arjun's retreating figure to Kailash lying on the ground. None of them had expected this. Kailash, the one they thought was unstoppable, had been sent flying.
But the fight wasn't over.
As Arjun ran, he knew this wouldn't be the last time he faced Kailash. The real battle was just beginning.
End of the chapter