The bell rang to end the day, but the tension in Class 1B lingered like an impending storm. Jin Park, the newcomer who had quickly dismantled Min-Jae, sat calmly at his desk, eyes on his notebook, but his mind elsewhere. Word of his fight with Min-Jae had spread like wildfire. But the fight hadn't gone unnoticed by everyone, especially Seok—the undisputed top fighter of Class 1B and Min-Jae's cousin.
Jin's reputation, however brief, was now about to face its real test.
Just before the final bell rang, Seok stormed into the room, his broad shoulders cutting a clear path through the crowd of students who quickly parted to make way for him. The aura around him screamed dominance. His eyes zeroed in on Jin as if the rest of the world didn't matter.
"Jin," Seok's voice boomed through the classroom, silencing the room in an instant, "I heard you had fun with Min-Jae, but I'm here to show you how real fighters operate."
Jin didn't look up. He wasn't phased, wasn't intimidated by Seok's stature or his presence. But the air in the room thickened, and Jin could feel the eyes of every student on him.
Seok smirked, leaning against Jin's desk. "Meet me after school, by the park. Let's see if you're as tough as they say."
The challenge was laid out like a trap, but to Jin, it was nothing more than a nuisance. He finally looked up, his gaze sharp. "I don't need to prove anything to you," Jin said flatly.
Seok's expression twisted with irritation, but he didn't push further. "Don't be late," he said before storming out.
Word spread fast. By the time Jin arrived at the park after school, nearly half the class had gathered. The crowd buzzed with excitement and tension, eager to witness the inevitable clash. Seok stood in the center of the makeshift circle, flexing his knuckles with a confident grin.
Jin stepped forward, his expression calm, yet something in his demeanor radiated unshakable confidence. Seok noticed, but it only fueled his anger. No one had ever disrespected him like this.
"Ready to get knocked down?" Seok asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet, his eyes burning with anticipation.
Jin rolled his neck, loosening his shoulders. He knew his strength far exceeded that of any normal high schooler, especially someone like Seok, who relied on brute force and reputation. But Jin wasn't here to toy with him.
"Make your move," Jin said, his voice cold and detached.
Seok didn't waste time. With a furious roar, he charged at Jin, swinging a wild hook aimed at Jin's jaw. His fist cut through the air, fast and powerful. But before Seok's punch could land, Jin's body moved with lightning speed.
In a split second, Jin's right fist shot forward, a blur to the onlookers. His knuckles collided with Seok's abdomen in an explosive impact, a sound like a hammer hitting steel reverberating through the park. Seok's eyes widened in shock, his body seizing as the overwhelming force of the punch surged through him.
His feet left the ground, and for a brief moment, Seok was airborne. His body crumpled and crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. The crowd fell deathly silent, their gasps frozen in their throats. Seok lay motionless, completely knocked out.
Jin didn't flinch. He stood over Seok, his face impassive as he looked down at the fallen fighter.
The fight was over in a single punch.
The students, who had come expecting an epic battle, now stood in stunned disbelief. Some couldn't comprehend what they had just witnessed. Seok, the best fighter in their class, had been taken down as if he were nothing.
Jin turned and began walking away, uninterested in any further fanfare. His power had spoken for him. The whispers followed him, growing louder with each step.
"Did you see that?"
"He knocked Seok out with one punch!"
"I didn't even see it happen!"
Jin didn't care for their reactions. He had no desire to revel in the glory or bask in their awe. His strength was beyond what anyone here could understand, and the fight with Seok only proved that further.
As he made his way out of the park, Jin's mind was already drifting back to his goals. Seok had been nothing more than an interruption, a mere obstacle to be removed. There were greater challenges ahead, ones far more worthy of his attention.
But for now, the name Jin Park would be etched into the minds of his classmates, a name they would not forget.
In the days that followed, Seok didn't show his face around the school. Rumors swirled about how long it would take for him to recover, but no one dared to speak of it in front of Jin. Fear and awe had replaced the initial curiosity about him. But for Jin, it didn't matter. He would continue on his path, facing greater foes, because this was only the beginning.
And in his heart, he knew — there were still many more battles to be fought.