The tension that had been brewing in Yeongseong High was now palpable. Everyone was waiting for the inevitable clash between Jin Park and the juniors, and it seemed that the confrontation was closer than anyone had anticipated. The atmosphere in the school had changed. Whispers followed Jin through the hallways, and even students from other classes who hadn't known his name before now stared in awe.
But for Jin, none of it mattered. His focus was singular: to get stronger.
---
It was during lunch break when the juniors made their move. Jin was sitting in the school courtyard with Kim Min-Soo and a few other classmates when he heard the commotion. A group of juniors—more than a dozen—were marching across the courtyard, led by Oh Tae-Jin, the junior class leader. The crowd parted as they approached, sensing that something big was about to happen.
Tae-Jin, flanked by Hwang Do-Yoon and a few other top fighters from his class, stopped a few feet from Jin's table. His eyes were cold, filled with barely restrained anger.
"You're Jin Park, right?" Tae-Jin asked, his voice carrying across the courtyard.
Jin didn't bother looking up from his meal. "That's right."
Tae-Jin's fists clenched. "You've been making quite a name for yourself around here. Beating up my juniors, acting like you run this place. But let me make one thing clear—you're a freshman. And in this school, freshmen don't get to act like they're in charge."
Jin slowly looked up, his eyes locking with Tae-Jin's. There was no fear in his expression, only calm. "I never said I was in charge. I'm just here to fight."
A murmur ran through the crowd as Tae-Jin's jaw tightened. He hadn't expected such a direct response.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Tae-Jin said, taking a step forward. "But if you think you can beat us, you're sorely mistaken. You might've taken down Min-Jae and Seok, but that's nothing. We're not just going to let some freshman run around unchecked."
Behind Tae-Jin, Do-Yoon cracked his knuckles, a smirk playing on his lips. "We're going to make sure you know your place."
Kim Min-Soo, sitting next to Jin, shifted uncomfortably. "Jin… they're serious."
But Jin was already standing up. He wiped his hands on a napkin and took a step forward, his gaze never leaving Tae-Jin. "If you want to fight, let's get it over with."
Tae-Jin's eyes flashed with fury. "You've got a death wish, freshman."
---
The juniors didn't waste any time. As soon as Jin stood up, Tae-Jin lunged forward, throwing a high kick aimed at Jin's head. Tae-Jin was known for his speed and precision in Taekwondo, and he was one of the top fighters in the junior class. His kicks were fast and lethal, but Jin was faster.
With a quick sidestep, Jin dodged the kick effortlessly, his movements fluid and calm. Tae-Jin's foot sailed past his head, and before Tae-Jin could react, Jin's fist connected with his side in a devastating punch.
The sound of the impact echoed through the courtyard as Tae-Jin was sent flying several feet back, crashing into a bench. Gasps erupted from the watching students. They knew Jin was strong, but they hadn't expected him to take down Tae-Jin so easily.
But the juniors weren't deterred. As Tae-Jin struggled to his feet, Do-Yoon and the others rushed forward. Do-Yoon, a boxer, aimed a series of rapid punches at Jin's midsection, his fists blurring with speed. Unlike Tae-Jin, Do-Yoon was more methodical, using footwork and combinations to close the distance between them.
But once again, Jin's reaction speed proved to be too much. He blocked each punch with minimal effort, his arms moving faster than the eye could follow. Then, with a single strike, he countered, slamming his fist into Do-Yoon's chest.
Do-Yoon let out a grunt of pain as the air was knocked out of him, his body crumpling to the ground. The crowd was stunned. Two of the top juniors, taken down in mere seconds.
The remaining juniors, seeing their leaders defeated, hesitated for a moment, but they couldn't back down now. They had their pride to protect.
---
As Jin stood there, calm and composed, the remaining juniors rushed him. There were at least ten of them, and they came at him from all sides, hoping to overwhelm him with numbers. They were skilled—each had trained in different martial arts, from wrestling to karate to boxing—but none of them could match Jin's sheer power.
A wrestler tried to grapple him, attempting to bring him to the ground with a takedown. But Jin's strength was far beyond anything the wrestler had encountered. With a simple push, Jin sent him sprawling backward, his body slamming into the ground with a thud.
A karate practitioner followed up with a flurry of kicks and punches, but Jin dodged them with ease. His movements were smooth, almost effortless, as if he were playing with them. Then, with a single punch, he knocked the karate fighter out cold.
One by one, the juniors fell. It didn't matter what martial art they practiced or how skilled they were—Jin's power was overwhelming. His strikes were precise and devastating, each one landing with the force of a sledgehammer.
By the time it was over, the courtyard was littered with unconscious and groaning bodies. The remaining students watched in stunned silence, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Jin Park, a freshman, had single-handedly taken down more than a dozen of the top juniors in the school.
---
As the dust settled, Jin stood in the center of the courtyard, his expression unchanged. He glanced down at Tae-Jin, who was still struggling to get up, clutching his ribs in pain.
"You said I need to know my place," Jin said quietly, his voice carrying in the silence. "But I think you've got it wrong. It's you who needs to learn your place."
Tae-Jin's face twisted with rage, but there was nothing he could do. He had been thoroughly defeated, and everyone had seen it.
Jin turned to leave, but before he could take a step, he heard a slow clap. He looked up to see a figure walking toward him. It was Jang Woo-Sik, the senior class president.
"Impressive," Woo-Sik said, his voice calm and measured. "I've never seen anyone take down Tae-Jin and Do-Yoon so easily."
The crowd parted as Woo-Sik approached, giving him a wide berth. Unlike the juniors, the seniors commanded a different level of respect. Woo-Sik was known for his calm demeanor, but everyone knew he was one of the strongest fighters in the school.
Jin didn't reply. He simply watched as Woo-Sik came to a stop in front of him.
"I've been hearing a lot about you, Jin Park," Woo-Sik continued. "And now I see why. You're strong. Very strong."
Jin raised an eyebrow, waiting for Woo-Sik to continue.
"But strength alone isn't enough," Woo-Sik said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If you want to survive in this school, you need more than just power. You need allies, strategy… and respect."
Jin's expression remained neutral. "I don't need allies. I don't need respect.
Woo-Sik smiled faintly, though his eyes remained cold. "We'll see about that."
With that, Woo-Sik turned and walked away, leaving Jin standing in the courtyard, surrounded by the fallen juniors. The message was clear—Jin had caught the attention of the seniors. And soon, he would have to face them, too.
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