"Quick, grab your book, fatso!" Four high school boys laughed mockingly as they ran across the school field.
"Please, give me back my book." A green-eyed boy with glasses panted as he chased after his classmates who had snatched his book.
His chubby body made it hard for him to catch up to the bullies.
"Please, give it back." The boy's eyes were teary. He looked nerdy with his bob haircut and glasses. Sweat drenched his round face.
"Crybaby! You're a guy, but you're very weak!"
"Run! So you can lose weight, Colin!"
All the students laughed at him.
Refusing to give up, Colin chased the four boys again and managed to grab the corner of one of their uniforms.
"Please give it ba—"
THUD!
"Argh!" Colin fell to the ground, groaning in pain as the skinny boy punched him right in the stomach, causing him sharp agony.
"Does that hurt, dude?" William taunted. "And I didn't even hit you that hard."
William grabbed Colin by the hair, forcing him to look up and whispered, "You're weak."
Colin didn't fight back, afraid they would hurt him even more. Ever since he'd started high school in 10th grade, his life had been a nightmare. His classmates had turned him into their personal punching bag.
"Don't hurt him. His parents might yell at us, dude," one of William's friends mocked.
"Parents?" William burst into loud laughter, finding it hilarious. "You idiot! He grew up in an orphanage, so no one cares about him! Even if we killed him, the cops wouldn't arrest us!"
The field echoed with the laughter of students.
Colin clenched his fists tightly as tears streamed down his face.
'Bastards! I swear I'll get back at you!'
He had lost count of how many times he'd made that promise to himself, but he never had the courage to do anything, not even look them in the eyes.
They were kids from wealthy families in the USA, so neither the teachers nor the police would listen to Colin's complaints.
'Now I understand why they aren't afraid of bullying me, because they know no one will stand up for me.'
That fact cut through his heart like a knife. It was unbearable.
"Give the book back." Suddenly, someone spoke in a cold voice. It sounded like the sharp clink of a knife hitting the floor in an empty room.
Colin turned and saw an athletic boy standing beside him with a cold expression and a menacing gaze.
Colin froze, staring at his well-built muscles that made his uniform look tight.
'Wh-who is he?' Colin was awestruck by the boy's appearance. He had longed for a fit body for so long. How long had he worked out to get those muscles?
"Isn't that the poor kid?" William sneered. "Mind your business if you still want to go to school here!"
"Do you feel big when you pick on someone weaker?"
"Shut up! You wouldn't be here if Xander didn't want to be your friend!" William snapped, but his friends stayed silent.
"Give him the book," the blue-eyed boy repeated coldly, unfazed by the threat.
"And what if I don't?" William grinned slyly. "What could a poor orphan like you possibly do? Gonna report me to the teachers?
"Go ahead! But are you sure they'll listen to your complaint? My parents are the biggest donors to this school—"
WHAM!
Colin's eyes widened in shock as William's body flew through the air, crashing hard onto the ground.
He didn't move after the blow landed square on his forehead.
The field went dead silent, like a graveyard. No one dared to speak up or stop him.
Calmly, the muscular boy walked over to William, picked up the book beside him, and handed it back to Colin.
"Take it."
So stunned, Colin's hands trembled with fear, making it hard to reach out and take the book while the boy stood so close to him.
"If they bully you again, fight back. It's better to die in a fight than to live as a coward."
After giving him the book, the tough boy walked away.
Colin's mind was fixed on those words.
'Who is he? Why did he help me?'
Colin had never seen him before, or maybe he had never noticed? Because he always stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact, afraid to look at anyone since it felt like they wanted to kill him.
"W-wait!" Colin finally mustered the courage to speak up.
The tough boy stopped, making Colin even more nervous.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds. Colin stammered, unsure what to say.
"Wh-what's your name?"
The blue-eyed boy glanced at Colin coolly. "Does it matter?"
"S-sorry... I just wanted to thank you for helping me." Colin smiled awkwardly, still nervous.
"I'll tell you my name once you've become strong." He left without saying another word.
***
"There's only one rule... and that's to kill!"
"WHAT?!" Vernon's shout echoed through the room.
"You got a problem, dude?" Colin sneered.
"I don't agree!" Vernon protested firmly, ignoring Colin's taunt. "I know the rules of the Vagon BootCamp Tournament, and killing isn't allowed between Vagon boxers!"
"Too bad, this isn't a Vagon tournament, Vernon," Robinson replied nonchalantly. "So, the rules don't apply."
"You're insane!" Vernon glared at Robinson, feeling betrayed. "Once again, you treat people's lives like a game! Where's your conscience, you bastard?!"
Colin was shocked by Vernon's defiance. He reminded him of that boy, someone who never feared standing up to those with more power and wealth.
'Impossible. Vernon can't be him.'
Colin was baffled. Every time he looked into Vernon's blue eyes, reminded him of the person who had saved him nine years ago.
Back then, he was only 16 and weak. But after meeting him, Colin decided to conquer his fear and trained in boxing to protect himself from bullies.
Now, his only goal was to fight that person and learn his name.
"You can't back down now," Robinson said firmly.
Vernon took off his boxing gloves and threw them on the floor. "I'm not going to fight!" He started walking out, but stopped when he heard Robinson's threat.
"Fight, or Naomi and Kelvin will die!" Robinson shouted, his patience gone. He was furious that Vernon kept defying him.
Vernon's eyes widened, and his body stiffened. Did he hear that right? Robinson had just mentioned Naomi and Kelvin!
Vernon clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tensing, eyes burning with hatred.
How did he know about them?
Robinson grinned slyly, pleased with himself for discovering Vernon's weakness.
"Are you ready?" The referee asked as Vernon growled in rage, glaring at Robinson as if he wanted to tear him apart.
"Are you ready?" The referee turned to Colin. He nodded, while Vernon kept his eyes locked on Robinson.
"Scared, dude?" Colin sneered confidently.
Hearing that, Vernon glared at him angrily, as if he wanted to kill him.
"Do you see the difference in our strength? I'm way better than Mico, so don't expect to get away from me!"
"Shut up," Vernon snapped, raising his fists. "Let's see who dies today!"
Vernon's mind raced, trying to figure out how he could stop the fight without having to kill.
Unfortunately, he had no choice but to kill Colin.
He knew Robinson wouldn't hesitate to hurt Naomi and Kelvin if he dared to let his opponent live, like with Ryan.
'He's a real bastard!'
The bell rang loudly, signaling the start of the match.
Colin and Vernon circled each other, locking eyes. Neither was willing to throw the first punch.
Vernon glared at Colin, watching his every move to anticipate his attack. He couldn't read Colin's mind to know his plan.
Facing Colin, Vernon could feel the difference in their physicality and strength. Colin's muscular, ideal body—standing 180 cm tall, with fists the size of a baby's head—made him look terrifying.
Mico watched from outside the ring, tense. He was so anxious that he forgot to breathe. He didn't know whether to root for his student or his friend.
They both meant so much to him.
WHOOSH!
"Argh!" Vernon stumbled and hit the ropes as Colin landed a hard punch to his jaw. His head spun, and his vision blurred.
Colin's punch had been so fast that Vernon hadn't even seen it coming.
Colin didn't stop, growing more excited as he saw the chance to kill Vernon. He ruthlessly unleashed a barrage of punches—hooks, jabs, crosses—until blood splattered onto the floor.
Shouts from the B-rank boxers echoed throughout the arena.
"Finish him, Colin! Don't let him live!" Oliver yelled enthusiastically, raising his fists high.
Robinson was annoyed as Oliver successfully cornered Vernon, not giving him any chance to fight back.
'Damn it!'
This fight was far from what Robinson had expected. He had thought Vernon could beat Colin easily, just like he had when he fought Ronald and Carlos earlier.
'Is he tired from the previous fight?' Robinson clicked his tongue, frustrated by his wrong judgment.
Vernon sat weakly in the corner of the ring while Colin continued landing blow after blow, his blood spilling onto the floor. It was horrifying. The ring was now covered in a pool of blood.
Vernon's face was swollen as if stung by a swarm of bees. Blood gushed from his nose, eyes, and bruises.
"Get up, idiot! Fight him!" Robinson shouted angrily.
Hearing that, Colin grabbed Vernon's hair, pulling him up to his feet, then glared at Robinson.
"How could you make someone as weak as him your prized fighter, Mr. Robinson?" Colin mocked. "How could you think he's on my level, to the point of making him a B-rank boxer?"
Robinson was silent, growling in anger.
"Let me kill him in front of you, Mr. Robinson." Colin delivered a powerful uppercut, striking Vernon's chin and sending him flying before collapsing onto the floor.
The referee began the countdown, but Vernon didn't move. He lay unconscious in a pool of his own blood.
"Is he dead?" Tian murmured in shock, disappointed at Vernon's defeat. He had hoped Vernon could become a pride of the F-Group.
All eyes were on Vernon, curious if he would rise after Colin's devastating punch.
Colin stomped on Vernon's chest, grinning smugly at the crowd. "Do you think Vernon deserves to be a B-rank boxer?"
"Nooo!" The audience's roar filled the room.
The referee checked Vernon's pulse. It was still faint. "He's alive."
"Good," Colin sneered. "Let me finish him!" He raised his foot, ready to slam it right onto Vernon's heart.
The crowd screamed in support of Colin, while Robinson stood in silent disappointment.
Vernon had managed to defeat Carlos, a B-rank boxer from another Boot Camp, but now he was failing to beat Colin.
Was Colin's boxing skill superior to Carlos'?
'I can't be wrong.'
Robinson had been in this shady business for decades, so he couldn't possibly misjudge a boxer's talent, even with just a glance.
He knew Carlos was better than Colin, so why couldn't Vernon beat him? What was going wrong?