The second day at J High started with a clear goal in mind—I needed to cement my place in this world. I couldn't afford to be just another face in the crowd. If I wanted to thrive here, I had to establish my strength and gain influence.
As I walked into the school building, the whispers from yesterday had intensified.
"That's him, the new guy who didn't back down from Zack's crew."
"Even Daniel Park took an interest in him."
"I heard he's ridiculously strong."
Rumors spread fast in a place like this, and I wasn't about to let them fade away. If people already saw me as someone important, I'd make sure to live up to it.
It didn't take long for someone else to take notice of me. While heading to my classroom, I saw a commotion near the stairwell. A group of guys in uniform were surrounding someone—intimidating a student who looked terrified.
"Come on, man, you know how this works. If you don't pay up, things get rough," one of the bullies sneered.
Classic school thug behavior. It was almost cliché.
I was about to step in when someone else beat me to it.
A tall, muscular guy with a distinct scar on his eyebrow stormed forward, his presence alone making the bullies stiffen. Vasco.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Vasco's voice boomed through the hallway.
The bullies paled. "V-Vasco! We were just—"
"Shut up." Vasco cracked his knuckles, his expression fierce. "You think you can push people around? Try pushing me instead."
I smirked. Vasco was exactly as I remembered—hot-blooded and righteous.
The bullies scrambled away, leaving the terrified student bowing repeatedly in thanks. Vasco didn't even acknowledge it, instead, he turned, locking eyes with me.
"You. You're the new guy, right?"
I nodded. "Jinwoo Baek."
His eyes narrowed as he examined me. "You look strong. You fight?"
I chuckled. "I can handle myself."
Vasco's face brightened. "Good. Then fight me."
I blinked. "What?"
"I like strong people," Vasco said with a grin. "And the best way to get to know someone is through a fight!"
I scratched my head, amused. This was so typical of Vasco that I couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright," I agreed. "Let's do it."
The crowd gathered behind the school building, excitement buzzing in the air. Word had spread fast that Vasco, the leader of Burn Knuckles, was fighting the new guy.
Vasco bounced on his feet, his fists clenched. "Alright, no holding back."
[Combat analysis activated.]
Vasco's fighting style was simple yet effective—pure brute force combined with raw endurance. His movements were unpredictable, and he had an absurd amount of natural talent.
I took a stance, keeping my breathing steady. The Nano Machine adjusted my body, ensuring I was in peak condition.
Vasco lunged first, throwing a powerful right hook. Fast.
I dodged, barely shifting my head to the side. His punch created a gust of wind behind me. The sheer force would've knocked someone out cold.
"Whoa." I grinned. "That's some serious power."
Vasco didn't slow down. He immediately followed up with a series of rapid punches. I dodged each one, my body moving on instinct. The Nano Machine was already learning his attack patterns, helping me react faster.
"Stop dodging and fight back!" Vasco grinned like a madman, clearly enjoying himself.
I decided to indulge him. Instead of avoiding, I countered his next punch with my own, meeting his fist head-on. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, making the spectators gasp.
Vasco staggered slightly, his eyes wide. "Damn, you're strong!"
"You too," I admitted. "But I'm not done."
I moved in, using my enhanced speed to launch a precise kick toward his ribs. Vasco barely managed to block, sliding back from the force. He grinned wider.
"This is fun!"
The fight continued, both of us exchanging blows. Vasco was like an unbreakable wall—no matter how many times I hit him, he just kept coming. But I could feel it—my body was already adapting. My movements were getting sharper, my attacks more refined.
Finally, after a solid ten minutes of intense fighting, Vasco suddenly stopped, breathing heavily but grinning.
"You're amazing," he said, offering his hand. "Let's be friends."
I chuckled and shook his hand. "Sure."
The crowd exploded in cheers.
"Jinwoo held his own against Vasco?!"
"No way, is he even human?"
I smirked. My reputation had just skyrocketed.
After the fight, I was about to head home when I heard someone call my name.
"Jinwoo Baek."
I turned and found Zack Lee standing nearby, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable.
"Impressive fight," he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "Thanks?"
He studied me for a moment before sighing. "You're strong. You're making waves."
I crossed my arms. "And?"
Zack hesitated before finally saying, "You might want to watch your back. There are people who don't like newcomers rising too fast."
I smirked. "Is that a warning?"
Zack shook his head. "A heads-up. Just don't be stupid."
With that, he walked away, leaving me standing there, contemplating his words. If someone like Zack was saying this, it meant the school's underground power dynamics were already shifting because of me.
I clenched my fists. This was only the beginning.
......
if you like my fanfic leave a comment.