Part 3: The Showdown
The bell rang, signaling the beginning of lunch break. The usual hustle and bustle filled the hallways of J High as students eagerly made their way to the cafeteria. Daniel Park, however, had other plans. He headed to the courtyard, a place where he knew Zack Lee would eventually confront him. It was a predictable scenario, one that he was prepared for.
Zack, fueled by his jealousy over Mira's blush and the humiliation from Daniel's earlier challenge, wasted no time. He stormed through the crowd, his face a mask of fury. Behind him, Doo Lee followed, nursing his bruised pride and leg from the morning's encounter.
Zack spotted Daniel and didn't hesitate. He rushed toward him, wacking Daniel's head to get his attention. "Hey, pretty boy!" Zack growled, grabbing Daniel by the collar. "You think you can embarrass me and get away with it?"
Doo Lee chimed in, his voice shaky with anger. "Yeah, he beat me this morning, Zack. We need to teach him a lesson."
Zack's eyes narrowed, and he let go of Daniel's collar, assuming his boxing stance. His fists were raised, and he began throwing rapid jabs. The crowd that had gathered watched with bated breath, their attention riveted on the confrontation.
Daniel's expression remained calm, almost bored. He dodged Zack's jabs with effortless precision, moving his head just enough to avoid each punch. To the bystanders, it seemed as if Daniel was barely moving, his body swaying subtly while Zack's fists whizzed past, missing by mere centimeters.
Zack's frustration grew with each miss. His initial confidence wavered as he realized that none of his punches were landing. "What the hell…?" he thought, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. He increased his speed, throwing a flurry of punches, but Daniel continued to dodge smoothly, his movements almost hypnotic in their fluidity.
From the sidelines, the students watched in awe. "Is Daniel even moving?" one whispered.
"It looks like he's just standing there, but Zack can't hit him at all," another marveled.
Zack gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. He shifted his weight, trying to catch Daniel off guard with hooks and uppercuts. His muscles strained, and his fists cut through the air, but Daniel's calm demeanor remained unbroken. Each punch was met with a slight tilt or a quick step back, leaving Zack punching nothing but air.
Desperation began to set in for Zack. His punches became wilder, less controlled. He thought about Mira, watching from the crowd. The humiliation of failing in front of her drove him to push even harder. But no matter how much effort he put in, Daniel's evasive maneuvers remained impeccable.
Daniel finally spoke, his voice carrying a tone of casual critique. "Zack Lee… good speed, but very weak upper body. You lack the strength and precision needed to compensate for your body weight difference. You don't have enough talent to make up for it with hard work alone. But you have potential to be a powerful boxer. It will take time and dedication."
Zack's face twisted with rage and determination. "You think you're better than me?" he spat. "Fine, if I win, you'll eat your words. But if you win, what do you want?"
Daniel's eyes gleamed with a challenge. "If I win, you join me and do as I say. No more bullying. And you'll stop your sidekick from bullying others on your behalf."
Zack, confident he could still win, nodded. "Deal."
As the words left his mouth, Zack lunged at Daniel with all his might. But in an instant, Daniel's body shifted. Using the principles of Aikido and Kyokushin Karate, Daniel performed a flawless technique. He intercepted Zack's punch, redirecting his momentum with a fluid motion. In a seamless transition, Daniel flipped Zack over, sending him crashing to the ground. The crowd gasped, the sound of Zack's impact echoing through the courtyard.
Zack lay on the ground, staring up at the sky, dazed and bewildered. He heard the murmurs around him, the whispers of awe and disbelief. "He lost… in one move…"
Daniel stood over Zack, his expression one of calm authority. The aura of power and control emanated from him, making it clear who the victor was. "As the winner," Daniel said, his voice firm, "you have to keep your word. Stop the bullying. And meet me at Burn Knuckles' workout place after class. We'll do a lot of sparring and training. If you're this weak now, imagine what would happen if someone tried to hurt Mira. How could you defend her?"
Zack wanted to retort, his pride wounded and his anger simmering. But he had no choice. He had agreed to the terms in front of everyone. Reluctantly, he nodded, accepting his defeat. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll do it."
Daniel extended a hand to help Zack up, a gesture of both victory and camaraderie. Zack hesitated for a moment before taking it, allowing Daniel to pull him to his feet. The crowd dispersed, their excitement and chatter filling the air.
As they walked away, Zack couldn't shake the feeling of humiliation and frustration. But deep down, a part of him respected Daniel's strength and resolve. He knew that this was only the beginning of a new chapter, one that would test his limits and redefine his understanding of power.
Daniel, on the other hand, felt a sense of accomplishment. He had taken the first step towards changing the dynamics at J High. The path ahead was still long and filled with challenges, but he was ready to face them with unwavering determination.