Ryan's eyes widened. 'Huh… I stopped that?'
He barely had time to process the thought before another guy lunged forward, swinging a hook straight toward his head.
Ryan ducked instinctively, feeling the air split just above his scalp.
He popped back up, driving his fist into the attacker's ribs with a tight, snapping motion Arthur had drilled into him.
Thud!
The guy doubled over with a grunt, clutching his side.
A big, wild grin spread across Ryan's face. 'Oh shit… I can clutch this. I can actually clutch this!'
He moved before they could react, slipping around one of them and landing a quick one-two into his gut. The second man stumbled back, wheezing.
Two down. Two to go.
Ryan's adrenaline was surging now—his hands itched for the next exchange. He stepped toward the third guy, loading up for a jab-cross combo that might just end this—
But the guy caught his fist mid-air, twisting his wrist painfully.
"What—"
Before Ryan could react, the man's knee shot up into his abdomen with brutal precision.
WHUMP!
The air was ripped from Ryan's lungs. His vision blurred, and the next thing he knew, the hallway was tilting. Then—
BAM!
He was on the floor, staring up at the fluorescent lights.
'What… what the fuck? How am I on the floor? That was… one second.'
He coughed, tasting copper in his mouth.
"System… scan this guy's stats."
[DING!]
[Name: Jin Kuroda]
[Height: 5'11]
[Weight: 80 kg]
[Strength: B]
[Agility: B]
[Intellect: B]
[Endurance: B]
'Oh, what the actual—' Ryan's thoughts spiraled. 'A full set of B's?! This guy's a damn monster compared to me.'
"System… show me my stats."
[Name: Ryan West][Strength: D]
[Agility: D+]
[Intellect: D]
[Endurance: D+]
Ryan stared at the floating numbers.'In this situation… I can't win. I can only run.'
The problem was, Jin stood between him and any escape route.
Ryan pushed himself up, trying to think. He feinted left, trying to bait an opening—nothing. Jin didn't even blink.
'Shit… fine. Let's try stupid.'
Ryan charged forward, slamming his body into Jin like a battering ram. The taller boy staggered half a step, caught off-guard by the sudden contact.
Ryan used that fraction of a second—twisting, planting his foot, and throwing a desperate punch toward Jin's jaw.
It wasn't clean, but it connected. Jin's head snapped slightly to the side.
Ryan didn't wait to see the reaction—he bolted.
The two remaining guys shouted and gave chase, their footsteps pounding behind him. Ryan's breath burned in his throat, each step feeling like his legs might give out.
He rounded a corner—and there it was. His classroom.
And standing just inside the doorway… Arthur.
The pursuers slowed to a halt. One of them glanced toward Jin, who had caught up behind.
"It's useless," Jin said flatly, brushing his jaw with the back of his hand. "That's Arthur's class. We're not on good terms."
The others grumbled but turned away, melting back down the hallway.
Ryan stood there for a moment, doubled over, hands on his knees, gasping for air.
Then he stepped into the classroom, closing the door behind him like it was a vault seal.
He exhaled a long, shaky breath. 'Safe… for now.'
As he thought this he made his way to his seat and sat on it. Arthur was already there.
Arthur took a long second to notice Ryan, "Why are you covered in dust and why is your uniform this way?"
Ryan stuttered. "I- I got hit by some boys while I was on my way here."
Arthur's face didn't even flinched as he heard that information. He had a long sigh, "So, they are at it again, huh?"