As the assault continued, Travis's defenses were pushed to their limits. He was no longer able to dodge the punches effectively; instead, he had to focus on blocking, each block coming with intense pain. Jack's relentless barrage kept Travis on the defensive, and before long, he was reduced to absorbing the full brunt of the attack, struggling to withstand the crushing blows.
"Ha ha ha ha! Where's that confidence from before, huh? Look at you!" Jack taunted, his voice dripping with derision.
"Even after you awakened, you're still weak as hell! You'll never beat me, you fucking loser!" His laughter was maniacal, echoing through the empty hallway.
Jack paused his relentless barrage, savoring the sight of Travis struggling to maintain his defensive stance. Travis's arms were raised, protecting his face and vital areas as best as he could. Jack's eyes gleamed with a predatory glint as he waited for Travis to make a mistake.
When Travis's guard faltered just a fraction, Jack took his chance. He launched a punch with blinding speed—faster than any strike before. The blow connected squarely with Travis's face, the sheer force of it sending him crashing backward.
Travis was propelled through the air, his body twisting uncontrollably. He hit the cold, hard floor with a resounding thud, sliding painfully down the length of the hallway. His momentum carried him until he slammed into the wall, crumpling against it. The impact left him dazed and disoriented, his vision blurring as he struggled to regain his composure.
Jack glanced back at Travis with a smirk, his breath coming in ragged bursts from the exertion.
"That wasn't as fun as I thought it'd be," he muttered to himself with a hint of disappointment. He shrugged nonchalantly, as if the whole confrontation had been nothing more than a trivial diversion.
Travis lay on the floor, his body aching from the brutal encounter. The sting of defeat was sharp and unfamiliar—a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time. He remained on the ground, too exhausted and disheartened to move. The weight of his defeat settled heavily on his shoulders, a stark reminder of the formidable challenge ahead.
...
Time passed, and Travis stirred from unconsciousness to the familiar buzz of his sister's call. His body had recovered, but his pride still ached. Losing a fight wasn't new to him, but losing to someone like Jack—a guy who, in his previous state, wouldn't even come close to his level—was a humbling experience he hadn't anticipated. He slowly stood, dusting off his clothes as if brushing away the sting of defeat.
"Man, that was humiliating," he muttered to himself, shaking off the frustration before slinging his bag over his shoulder. With a final glance at the now-empty hallway, he left the building.
He met up with his younger sister, Maya, and they began their walk toward the bus station. The cool evening air seemed to settle some of the tension in Travis's muscles, but his mind was still replaying the events of the day.
"Are you okay, big bro?" Maya asked, her voice filled with concern as she noticed his quiet demeanor.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Travis replied, forcing a small smile. "By the way, I awakened today. I'm in Class A now."
Maya's eyes widened in shock. "Huh? When did this happen?"
"This morning," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "I just didn't know it until I got to school."
Her astonishment was clear as she tried to process his sudden change. "Wow, that's... amazing! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
He gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Had a few things on my mind, you know? I didn't know."
As they walked, Maya kept glancing up at him, still processing his transformation. But despite her excitement, Travis couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy from his earlier defeat.
They made it to the bus station and sat down, waiting in silence for a few minutes as the night sky began to darken. Travis tilted his head up, staring at the stars that were just starting to appear. The sting of defeat was still gnawing at him, a bitter reminder of how outmatched he'd been.
His body was still buzzing with adrenaline, the urge to face Jack again bubbling beneath the surface—but he knew he wasn't strong enough yet. The thought of that humiliation was a weight he couldn't easily shake off.
Maya noticed how distant and lost in thought her brother seemed. Without a word, she reached over, taking his hand gently and wrapping her arm around his. With her bright, innocent smile, she broke the heavy silence.
"Let me tell you about my day," she said cheerfully, leaning closer. "So today, we had gym class, and it was sooo tiring! Coach made us run 80 laps nonstop..."
She kept talking, her words flowing effortlessly as she recounted every little detail of her day. Travis didn't say much, but he didn't need to.
Just hearing Maya's voice, her bubbly energy, was a welcome distraction from the storm in his mind. Her stories, as mundane as they were, had a strange way of easing the tension in his chest.
By the time the bus arrived, she was still talking, her enthusiasm unchanged. They boarded the bus, and even as they sat down, she continued on, her animated gestures making him smile.
Travis leaned back in his seat, the defeat that had consumed his thoughts slowly slipping away. He glanced at his sister, appreciating her ability to unknowingly lift his spirits just by being herself. He smiled softly, grateful for her company in that moment.
"It's nice to have someone to talk to," he thought.
The bus dropped them off right by their house, and as Travis and Maya walked hand in hand, they talked casually. The evening air was cool, and the soft glow of streetlights illuminated their path. When they approached the driveway, they noticed their mother's car already parked there.
"Mom's here already," Maya said, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yeah," Travis replied, his mind still on his earlier thoughts. "By the way, is the information about Class S, like, prohibited or something?"
Maya looked up at him curiously. "Not really. There's nothing that secretive about that class. At least not to me. Why do you ask?"
Travis paused for a second, then shrugged. "I plan on entering that class. Not now, obviously, but soon. I'll explain more later."
Maya gave him a thoughtful look but didn't press for more details. They both entered the house, and the heavenly scent of freshly cooked food immediately filled their senses. The smell was rich and comforting, but Travis was too focused to let it distract him. Without a word, he went straight upstairs, quickly changing into his training clothes.
He made his way back down to the basement, where their home gym was set up. The space was dimly lit, and the familiar clang of weights and machines surrounded him. Travis took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.
"Alright, time to get stronger," he thought, determination hardening his resolve.
TO BE CONTINUED