"What? Who's the strongest?" Seraphine asked, a little surprised.
"You don't know?" Rina raised a brow, sipping her mango juice. "I thought you'd have heard of him. You were in Central City, after all."
"Who are you talking about? You still haven't said his name," Seraphine replied, though deep down she had a feeling she already knew.
"Oh, it's Jake, of course. Who else could it be?" Rina said casually,
"Wait, what? Jake? He's actually at this college?" Seraphine asked, her eyes widening. She was genuinely shocked.
To make sure she wasn't tripping', she asked again, "Do you mean the Jake? The guy everyone calls the martial arts prodigy right??"
"Yep, that's him," Rina said casually.
"I see..." Seraphine mumbled to herself.
She wasn't surprised about who Jake was. I mean, who doesn't know Jake? Anyone in the Central Continent who knew even a little bit about fighting knew that name. He was a legend. The real shock was the fact that a guy like him was actually studying in this boring-ass college.
His name echoed across the entire Central Continent for a reason. He held a title that turned heads wherever he went: the youngest prodigy in martial arts.
He had reached the top of his game at an age when most people were still learning the basics. Even Seraphine's father—a man who wasn't easily impressed by anyone—spoke highly of him. Her father had once told her, "He's one of the few people I would never underestimate."
Because of that, any info about where he was or what he was doing was kept top secret. Her father had made sure of that.
After all, the guy wasn't called the strongest for nothing. He was a monster in human skin. He was the first person in history to earn a Karate Black Belt 4th Dan at just 22 years old. It was a feat that took most people decades, but he had mastered it before he was even in his prime.
And as if the Karate feat wasn't enough, Jake had also reached the 4th Dan in Taekwondo.--a level so high, that it's usually worn by those who teach masters. That's basically "boss level"
In Muay Thai, he was awarded the Black Pra Jiad, a rank so rare you could count holders on your fingers.
And last but not least Kendo. Jake had attained the 5th Dan -- Godan, a title spoken with reverence. A rank that placed him among master swordsmen,
normally reaching all these and achive all these is practically impossible and there are also years and stages for you need to reach each stage, but what if you fight doezen of master above yourself at the same time without breaking a sweat.
offcourse jake was more that that, but the old people who rule over the martial wound that much satisfied that young came and accoumplished everything, that is like an insult to them and their heritage, so the least they could give was all these titles and these cahivements.
Back in her home city, Jake's name echoed through the halls of elite circles. She had seen him once, during one of the Grand Tournaments. The guy who won the Grand Tournament like it was a warm-up match.
If the Karate stuff wasn't enough, Jake was also a 4th Dan in Taekwondo. That's a level so high you're usually the one teaching the masters. It's basically "final boss" level.
In Muay Thai, he held the Black Pra Jiad—a rank so rare you could count the owners on your fingers.
And then there was Kendo. Jake had reached the 5th Dan, a title that put him among the greatest swordsmen alive.
Normally, getting all these titles is impossible. There are years of waiting and stages you have to pass. But what do you do when a guy fights a dozen masters at the same time without even breaking a sweat?
The old leaders who rule the martial arts world weren't exactly happy. Having a kid show up and master everything felt like an insult to their history. But they had no choice. He was so good they had to give him every title and achievement they had.
Back in her home city, Jake's name echoed through elite circles. Seraphine had even seen him once, at the Grand Tournament. He won the whole thing like it was nothing more than a warm-up.
It wasn't just that Jake was a freak at fighting; he had another skill that was even scarier.
People begged him to teach them, even grown adults, but he refused every single time.
To anyone on the outside, it sounded stupid. Why would a master want to learn from a college kid? But in the martial arts world, age doesn't mean anything. Skill is everything.
Jake had this weird, almost supernatural ability to spot the tiniest mistakes. It didn't matter if you were a student or a grandmaster; Jake could watch you move for five seconds and tell you exactly why you were weak or where your balance was off.
Even her father, a hardened military commander, had been stunned when Jake casually broke down his technique and listed improvements without hesitation. The entire training division had been shocked, and her father accepted Jake's words as if they came from a master.
But what really bothered Seraphine was the weirdest part: Jake could read everyone else like an open book, but nobody could read him. His movements gave nothing away, like he was on a level others couldn't reach yet.
What bothered Seraphine the most wasn't Jake's skill—it was how her father always compared her to him. Every time Jake's name came up, her father would say things like, "Why can't you be more like him?" or "Jake would never make that mistake."
It wasn't that Seraphine disliked Jake. She respected his ability. But the constant comparisons gnawed at her, leaving her irritated whenever his name was mentioned.
"Jake this, Jake that," she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the empty chair again. "Seriously, that guy."
Rina looked at her, confused. "Did you say something, Sera?"
"Nothing," Seraphine said quickly, fixing her expression. "By the way… what's his relationship with Rix?"
"Oh, they've been best friends since childhood. At least, that's what I heard," Rina replied.
Seraphine hesitated, then asked, "So… where is Jake now?"
Rina thought for a moment, sipping her juice. "Hmm, I think he's away for a tournament or something. That's what I heard, anyway."
Seraphine felt a weird mix of being relieved and annoyed. She was glad she didn't have to deal with her dad's favorite "prodigy" just yet. But it also pissed her off. Even when the guy wasn't even in the room, his name was still scaring everyone away from a perfectly good table.
"A tournament, huh?" Seraphine muttered to herself.
She looked at Rix again.
He was just leaning back in his chair, looking bored out of his mind. He didn't seem to care at all that the rest of the room was packed. It felt so unfair. He had this huge table all to himself just because people were scared of his friend.
While everyone else was struggling to find a place to sit, he was just chilling there like he owned the place.
"Best friends, huh?" Seraphine muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Must be nice having a human shield like that."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly, the heavy double doors at the cafeteria entrance swung open. A few students turned to see who it was. The man who stepped inside had a build that was enough to make people shiver just by looking at him.
"YOU FUCKER!! Where the hell is my assignment?! You promised you'd finish it today!"
The voice exploded through the room like a thunderclap. Every head snapped toward the noise.
It was Bryan.
the school's biggest gym rat and a notorious bully.
He was part of the "Bully Faction," a small but dangerous group of guys who made it their mission to pick on anyone weaker than them.
The faction wasn't very big or respected, but they had real power. A handful of them were actual fighters—guys who could break bones without blinking. Nobody in their right mind wanted to mess with them.
The victim in this mess was Noel. He was the classic class topper: lean, quiet, and always buried in his books.
The roar echoed through the cafeteria, making most of the students flinch. A few girls and boys even jumped in their seats, though not everyone was completely paralyzed by the noise.
Noel was sitting at a crowded table, but the second the other students realized Bryan was targeting him, they scrambled. Within seconds, they had all cleared out, leaving the poor kid sitting there entirely alone.
Noel was frozen in place, struggling to find his voice. "S-sorry… I—I got back late from tuition. I was so tired I couldn't even finish my own work…"
His voice was barely a whisper, and his shoulders were shaking. He was trying to hide how scared he was, but it wasn't working. Bryan strided toward the table, his heavy boots thudding against the floor.
"MOTHERFUCKER! I'm not talkin' about your damn assignment! I don't give a shit what happened to you! I asked, where the hell is MY assignment, you little shit?!"
Of course, the assignment didn't actually matter. It never did. Bryan just wanted a reason to start something, and a weak target like Noel was the easiest way to show off.
"I… I'm sorry… just give me a little more time…" Noel's voice was barely a whisper now, his entire body shrinking under Bryan's shadow.
"Time? What fucking time!?" Bryan roared, his face turning a dark, angry red. "It's the last day, you useless piece of shit!"
The next second was a blur of pure violence.
Bryan's hand shot out like a whip, fingers locking into Noel's hair with a sickening tug. Before anyone could even blink, he slammed Noel's face down onto the hard wooden table.
CRACK...
The sound was heavy and wet. The entire cafeteria went deathly silent. Every student froze, their jaws dropping as a collective gasp rippled through the room.
Blood immediately began to seep from Noel's mangled nose, pooling on the table and staining his open notebook. His scream broke the silence, high-pitched and jagged.
"Gah—! Ah… nghhh—!"
His voice cracked as he tried to suck in air through the blood and the pain. He tried to push himself up, but Bryan's grip only tightened, twisting his scalp.
"S-stop… it h-hurts… please—"
"Does it?" Bryan sneered, leaning down until his spit hit Noel's cheek. "It's gonna hurt a lot more if that paper isn't on my desk by next period."
Everyone had heard rumors of bullying. Some had seen it in corners.
but seeing this level of raw, stomach-turning brutality out in the open was different. It wasn't just bullying anymore; it was an assault.
Several students recoiled instinctively. A few girls covered their mouths in shock, their eyes wide and shimmering with tears. Even the boys who usually laughed at this kind of thing looked rattled, unsure of where to look.
The cafeteria didn't feel like a cafeteria anymore.
Seraphine's eyes narrowed, a flicker of cold light passing through her ocean-blue gaze as she watched the scene unfold. She wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business, especially over small things.
But this wasn't small. Bullying someone weak for no reason? That was something she could never tolerate.
Still, she didn't rise immediately. Instead, she leaned toward Rina, who sat frozen, one hand clamped over her mouth.
"Who is that guy?" Seraphine asked, her voice low and dangerous.
"H-Huh?" Rina stammered, trying to gather herself. "He… he's Bryan. He's part of the bully council. He's not really considered that strong, but I've heard he's ranked somewhere in the top fifteen fighters…"
"I… I didn't think he'd go that far," Aria added, her voice shaking as she sat beside Seraphine.
Julian, who had been sitting near the back, suddenly stepped forward. His voice was sharp and filled with anger.
"That's enough, Bryan! You're crossing the line. I'm reporting this to the management!"
Bryan paused, his grin getting wider and meaner. "Oh?"
With a violent jerk, he flung Noel toward the wall like the poor kid weighed nothing. Noel's body hit the bricks hard.
"A-AHHH!!" he cried out, slumping to the floor and clutching his side in pain.
"Oh yeah? Go ahead. Run to the old farts. Scream. See if they care." Bryan's tone dripped with mockery as he walked forward, hands in his pockets like he owned the room.
He stopped right in front of Julian, nose-to-nose. "Stay out of shit that doesn't concern you."
Then, Bryan leaned in closer, making sure the whole class could hear him. "You still remember what happened the last time you tried to play hero, right?" his voice was mocking. "The council doesn't give out mercy twice. Especially not the top-ranked guys."
He patted Julian's shoulder firmly. "You think I'm scary? Try crossing someone like Seth or Cain. You won't even get a warning."
Julian actually shivered.
His fists were clenched tight, but he was stuck in his own head.
He remembered the bruises, the blood, and the week he spent in a hospital bed, broken and humiliated.
Even with his family's money and all their complaints, nothing happened. The council walked away free. The management just smiled and said they'd "look into it," but they never did.
Julian had the body of an athlete, but he wasn't a fighter. He just stood there with his head bowed in shame.
Seeing Julian go quiet, Bryan smirked. "Good," he muttered. He turned back around and glared at Noel. "Now, let me finish my job. You piece of shit, we've got other business to tal—"
A calm voice cut right through the noise.
"Stop it."
It was Seraphine.
She stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back, her stride steady. "I won't allow this to happen here," she said firmly. "Not when i am here."
Bryan turned around, eyes widening as they landed on the stunning girl standing before him.
"Hey!" Rina called out, marching forward to stand right beside Seraphine. She brushed past the frozen crowd, her eyes full of resolve even if her heart was racing.
"Don't think your little meathead council runs this whole college, Bryan," she said, crossing her arms. "Terrorizing people weaker than you doesn't make you strong—it just makes you a coward. Besides, we all know the truth. You're only acting like this because Jake isn't here, right? If you really had that much courage, why don't you or your council act like this when he's around?"
Two girls now stood at the center of the hall, completely unshaken.
At the mention of Jake's name, Bryan's face shifted. For a split second, his bravado cracked—his jaw tightened, his eyes flickered, and a shiver ran through him. But he forced a grin, trying to mask it.
Bryan sneered, tilting his head mockingly.
"Whoa… where'd you girls get this courage from? Is it 'cause you think the council spares girls? Big mistake. We enjoy toying with girls more than boys."
He slurped crudely, eyes lingering on Seraphine and Rina, making several girls squirmed in their seats.
"How about you two beauties come over to my place? I'm pretty strong, y'know, maybe we could—"
SLAP!
A thunderous crack silenced the room. Bryan's head snapped to the side, a burning red imprint glowing on his cheek. Seraphine stood tall and elegant, her hand already back behind her.
"That," she said coolly, "is not how you speak to a woman."
Bryan froze.
He slowly turned his head back, his eyes turning bloodshot with pure rage.
No one, especially not a girl had ever humiliated him like this.
"You... you crazy bitch," he growled, his fists curling into boulders. "Jake isn't here to save you, and I don't give a damn who you think you are. I'm going to break you."
Bryan exploded forward, hand raised.
But Seraphine was quicker. "Too slow," she said calmly.
She moved like a phantom, sidestepping his charge and dropping him with a clean sweep of her leg. He hit the floor with a heavy thud.
Before he could rise, her hand caught his wrist.
CRACK.
His wrist fractured under her grip like cheap porcelain.
"AHHH! YOU—BITCH!" Bryan screamed, twisting in agony.
CRACK.
"AHHHHH!!! YOU... YOU PSYCHO!"
She held on, Her grip tightened even more, her strength far beyond what her slim frame suggested.
CRUNCH.
"AAAAHHHHH!! PLEASE!!"
The entire cafeteria gasped.
"Bryan's arm…?!" "No way… she actually broke it?!"
Bryan writhed on the floor, his face pale and covered in sweat. "LET GO!! I SWEAR—"
CRUNCH.
"AAGGHHHHHHH!!!"
As his screams echoed off the high ceiling, students looked at each other in total disbelief. Then came another crack, and another scream.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!! STOP! PLEASE, MAKE HER STOP!"
But Seraphine didn't even blink. Bryan gritted his teeth, wincing in pure agony as she held his arm at a sickening, twisted angle. The room was dead silent. His pride was completely gone, shattered right along with the bones in his hand.
Bryan had felt this kind of burn before.
The pain? He could deal with that.
The embarrassment? That was just part of being a big name on campus.
He had felt this exact same weight before. It reminded him of that guy.
He was the kind of guy who never needed to shout. He didn't give a damn about ranks or titles. There was just this heavy vibe around him like gravity you couldn't see it, but you will definitely feel it dragging you down.
Whenever he walked in with his hands in his pockets, the whole mood in the room will shift. It was like someone dimmed the lights. Even the loudest and toughest guys would suddenly shut the hell up.
Pinned to the floor, Bryan felt that same bitter shame. Seraphine was a lot like him. But she still wasn't him.
It wasn't that he went looking for a fight. Nobody was that stupid. They were terrified of him because no one had ever seen him actually have to put in any real effort. He was the only name the Council was too damn smart to put on a hit list.
Pinned to the floor, Bryan felt that same suffocating pressure. Seraphine was a monster, sure, but she still wasn't him.
They called him "The Untouchable." The "Uncrowned King." He never asked for a title, but everyone gave him the same one anyway:
[The Strongest.]
The chill from Seraphine's presence pulled Bryan back into focus.
She tilted her head slightly, eyes sharp, tone cool and slightly mocking.
"So… what do you say now?"
Bryan gritted his teeth, glaring up at her.
"S-sorry! Just let go of me, please! I'm done. No more bullying. I won't even show my face here again!"
His voice cracked not from fear alone, but humiliation.
Seraphine let go of Bryan's hand. Her grip loosened slowly, and he pulled back, holding his wrist and breathing heavily.
People like Bryan didn't change because of one slap or one moment. And it wasn't her job to go around fixing them.
Still, she had a feeling this wasn't over. Bryan wasn't the kind to forget something like this.
And deep down, Seraphine already knew that the real trouble was just starting.
Bryan didn't wait. He scrambled to his feet, muttering curses under his breath as he rushed out of the cafeteria, clutching his wrist.
While Bryan was still scrambling out, cursing under his breath, Rina stepped beside Seraphine.
"Seraphine, let's report this now. It'll only get worse for you. The bully council won't just let this slide.
Seraphine gave a calm smile and patted Rina's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
Then, after a pause, she added with a softer tone,
"But really, I'm proud of you. I didn't think you'd jump in like that, reckless and all."
Rina grinned, tilting her head slightly. "Obviously. What kind of friend do you think I am?"
-----------------
Rix sat alone at his table, watching the absolute shitshow unfold.
sweat dripping down his forehead as the chaos unfolded around him. He muttered under his breath, voice shaky.
"It… it isn't too late for me to go and apologize, right?"
Probably.
Maybe.
He drummed his fingers once on the table.
"I mean technically I could just walk over there and—"
But as he reached for his drink to steady his shaking hands, he stopped dead.
His eyes dropped.
"Mm?"
The glass of water on the table wasn't still.
The surface was... moving
Moving..
Moving.....
The water was moving...
Neither spilling nor rippling from any wind or vibration he could feel. Just..
Moving...
A slow, steady pulse. Back and forth.
like a
wave
Rix stared at it.
The cafeteria noise continued around him, the trays, laughter, chairs, conversations layered on top of each other.
He then stared at the glass again.
The water didn't stop...
...huh...?