Ryan stared at the boxing gloves Arthur tossed toward him. They landed with a dull thud at his feet, heavy as bricks and just as intimidating.
"Get in the ring," Arthur said flatly, not even looking at him.
Ryan blinked. "H-Huh?"
Arthur rolled his neck, cracking it. "You said you had a jab, right? Time to prove it."
Maya chuckled from the sidelines, arms crossed and a cocky grin curling her lips. "Don't worry, kiddo. If he loses it and tries to murder you, I'll jump in and save your ass."
Ryan gulped. 'Is this... initiation? Or attempted manslaughter?'
[DING! New Quest: Survive 15 seconds in the ring with Arthur Kane.][Reward: Arthur's Interest +1, Maya's Interest +1]
His heart dropped. "Fifteen seconds?! That's it? That's all I have to survive?"
[Correction: That's all you can survive.]
"...Helpful," Ryan muttered and climbed into the ring.
The world shrunk instantly.
No more gym noise. No dumbbells clinking. No Maya's amused smirk.
Just Arthur.
Standing there in baggy sweats, no gloves, hands wrapped in tape. His eyes were closed… but something about his stillness screamed danger. Like a panther coiled to strike.
"I hope you didn't lie about that jab," Arthur murmured. Then opened his eyes—dead calm. "'Cause if you did, you're a bitch who doesn't even know the basics."
Ryan's throat went dry. "W-Who said anything about lying—?"
Too late.
Arthur dashed forward.
Not running. Gliding. The ground didn't even seem to exist under him. One second, he was on the other side of the ring. The next—he was breathing in Ryan's face.
Ryan swung his jab on instinct.
[Request: System! Help! Direction! Technique! ANYTHING!][DING! Real-time guidance activated… syncing body movement… ERROR: Host's body is slow as shit.][Override: Boosting reaction time 10% for trial.]
Ryan's arm moved smoother, his fist snapped forward—
—and Arthur leaned just enough to let it miss his chin by a breath.
He smirked. "That's it?"
Then his left hand slammed into Ryan's side like a steel bat. Ryan stumbled, wheezing. Before he could even curse, Arthur's right fist came in low and fast—hook to the ribs. Ryan saw stars.
Then—
Arthur jumped.
Ryan blinked in confusion, then horror.
'Wait, is that an ELBOW?!'
Arthur twisted midair, cocking back a flying elbow aimed straight for Ryan's temple.
Ryan froze. He didn't even flinch.
Shit. I'm gonna die. On day two. In gym class.
But then suddenly...s
Arthur stopped. Arm mid-swing. Just an inch away