One week before the prophesied date of The Eclipse, Jax walked back into his old school to collect his withdrawal papers.
The moment he stepped into the hallway, a hush fell over the chattering students. Heads turned. Whispers erupted.
"Who is that?""Is he a new transfer?""Damn, he's handsome."
He stood at least four inches taller than a year ago, his frame lean and powerful beneath a simple black t-shirt and jeans.
His once-shaggy hair was cut short and neat, and his eyes, no longer downcast, held a calm, unwavering focus. He was unrecognizable.
He ignored the stares and walked directly to his old classroom.
As he entered, the chatter inside died instantly. He spotted his old desk, and standing next to it, holding court with his cronies, was Kang Min-jun.
Min-jun's eyes narrowed.
"Who the hell are you? This is Class 3-B, get lost."
Just then, the teacher entered. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Jackson... Mercer? Is that you?"
The classroom exploded.
"No way!""That's the fat pig?""What happened to him?!"
Jax simply gave the teacher a polite bow.
"I'm just here for my paperwork, ma'am."
Kang Min-jun's face contorted with disbelief, then jealousy. The hierarchy he'd built on intimidation was being threatened by the very bottom of the food chain.
He shoved through the crowd and got in Jax's face, his friends flanking him.
"So, you lost some weight, loser," Min-jun sneered, trying to regain control. "Doesn't change the fact that you're still trash."
He shoved Jax hard in the chest.
In his past life, Jax would have stumbled, apologized, and fled. This time, he didn't move an inch.
Before Min-jun could react, Jax's left hand shot out, grabbing the front of Min-jun's uniform.
His right fist, a blur of motion honed by a year of relentless training, slammed into Min-jun's stomach.
The air exploded from the bully's lungs in a strangled gasp.
Jax released him, and Min-jun crumpled to the floor, wheezing and clutching his abdomen.
The classroom was dead silent.
Min-jun's cronies, who had been puffing their chests out moments before, now looked like startled deer.
Jax looked down at the pathetic heap on the floor, his voice cold and steady.
"Don't ever touch me again."
He turned, retrieved his papers from the stunned teacher, and walked out of the classroom, leaving a legend behind him.
He had no powers, but for the first time in his life, he felt powerful.