Marc understood that the more time you spent in this strange world, the stronger you became. It was as if you absorbed the energy from over there. But he'd never thought about the fact that you could do that just by being with beings who'd already been there.
"I see it now. I could only feel it when I was with you, but now I feel a great energy."
Marc realized something. If he'd managed to become this strong thanks to this world, then what about the fighting genius.
"Goagi, isn't it? Let's fight."
Goagi looked at Jin. To him, nothing was more damaging than one guest too many. But nothing was more exciting than knowing he was going to win.
"Bring it on, new guy."
Jin charged headfirst at Goagi and tried to grab him around the waist.
"Wrestling, huh? You really know how to fight."
Truth be told, Jin wasn't the fighting genius for nothing. Although his skills excelled in the martial arts, he was also highly intelligent.
Goagi jumped up and tried to stick him in the back in exactly the same way as he had done with Elie. But Jin dodged and Goagi took a terrific gancho to the ribs.
"Capoeira?"
Goagi landed back on the ground unharmed, but before he could react he took a tsuki kizami to the same ribs.
"Kyokushin?"
The third blow went straight for the crotch. A kin geri followed by an axe kick to the face.
"Karate. Tell me, aren't you a fighting genius?"
His entire childhood had been spent getting stronger by researching and finding combat sports. He'd faced experts in their field and defeated them in their field. Jin knew that wherever he went, he was...
"You amaze me as always, kid."
The strongest.
Goagi straightened up and charged at Jin in turn. Goagi tried the same wrestling hold as Jin, but Jin blocked his head between his elbows.
"You think that's going to stop me catching you?"
Goagi tried to embrace him anyway, but Jin escaped his arms to come and kick him on the back of the head. However, Goagi hadn't moved a muscle. On the contrary, he'd even managed a terrific kick.
"Muay thai?"
"Eh yes, you're not the only one who can practice all the martial arts."
Jin had managed to protect himself with his arm, but the blow had made him a little numb. That didn't stop him from coming back at her with a broad smile.
"Are you coming back?"
Jin struck his belly with all his might, but Goagi had sensed this and contracted his muscles for a counterattack. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't expected such power from Jin and was unable to counterattack. Despite all his strength, he coughed up blood. Jin smiled.
"CQC, do you know it?"
Goagi tried a punch but Jin deflected it to launch a counter. He tried a second, but this too was deflected. It was the same for all the punches that followed. Jin had the upper hand on this otherworldly being. A wave of fists slammed into Goagi. He dropped to his knees before taking Jin's final blow.
"That's some jeet kundo, boy."
Goagi waltzed into the building. The impact collapsed the structure on top of him. Jin, standing from the dust of the rubble, appeared to be the real monster.
"I see it at last. That world you told me to reach, master."
Jin was ecstatic in front of his companions, who couldn't understand how he'd managed to defeat it alone when the three of them hadn't.
"Ha. That's why those who don't have the names to fight don't fight."
Jin looked in the direction of the debris.
"I like to fight fair, but if I lose, don't blame me if I crush you."
Jin advanced towards Goagi but soon noticed that the building that had collapsed had been put back on its feet. Goagi was standing right next to him. Jin tried a taekwondo-style kick again, but Goagi crushed his head with his foot. No one could understand how fast he had teleported above Jin to land this blow.
"I was in the areas a second ago."
Marc understood the nature of Goagi's power. It wasn't really to make things go back in time. But to make them loop. He could start a day over a million times, but he could also choose when things came back into the loop. The infinity symbol didn't mean that he was actually infinite because he was playing with time, it meant that the loop was closed by a loop. No matter which way you went, you'd always end up going back.
Marc realized at that moment that he didn't stand a chance against such power.
"So Marc, you're not moving to help your friend."
Neither Nathanaël nor Elie moved. They'd realized he couldn't beat this monster.
"You're no fun at all."
Goagi straightened up. Jin left no sign of consciousness.
"I've had enough fun. I'll stop tormenting you. Anyway, we'll meet again in the end."
Goagi turned and greeted them. His body was uninjured. His orange aura manifested itself around him and began to create a violent storm. Then he left as if he'd never been there.
Marc opened his eyes in his bedroom. He was sweating profusely. He watched as one of the drops of sweat fell from his forehead. The drop crashed to the cover of his bed without rising.
"He's gone."
Marc stood up and tried to get his head around it.
"What day is it?"
He looked at his phone. Saturday was the day it said.
"That guy really took off this time. I just can't believe it. What am I going to do if they're all like this?"
Marc sat down on the edge of his bed. He buried his head in his hands.
"There's nothing I can do."
At the same time, his mother, who was in the living room, was listening to Amour plastique.