CHAPTER 11 – THE PRICE OF INTERFERENCE
Power always collected its debt.
It never forgot.
Cooldown Backlash
Big Daniel woke up choking.
His muscles refused to respond at first—like the body itself was rejecting him. Every breath burned. His vision swam, edges dark.
Forced switch, the MC realized grimly.
I broke the rule.
He tried to stand.
His legs gave out.
Pain—not injury, but exhaustion at the core—wrapped around his spine.
This wasn't damage.
This was penalty.
Little Daniel – Alone Again
Little Daniel woke up refreshed.
Too refreshed.
His body felt light, his head clear.
Then—
Pain.
A dull ache rolled through his chest and arms.
He sat up sharply.
So that's how it balances…
Big Daniel paid.
Which meant Little Daniel had to walk alone now.
School – The Test Continues
The calm didn't last.
It never did.
A senior blocked Little Daniel's path near the stairs.
Just one.
Tall. Lean. Calm eyes.
"You're Daniel Park," he said.
"Fight me."
Not a threat.
A challenge.
Little Daniel swallowed.
But he nodded.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL (SOLO)
They squared up.
The senior moved first—clean jab.
Little Daniel blocked late.
Impact stung.
He stepped back, recalibrating.
Don't panic. Don't rush.
The second punch came.
Little Daniel slipped—barely—and countered with a straight to the chest.
It landed.
The senior smiled.
Good.
They exchanged.
Punch. Block. Step.
Little Daniel got hit.
Then hit back.
No dominance.
No fear.
Just persistence.
The senior stepped away after a while.
"…You're annoying," he muttered.
And left.
Little Daniel stood there, shaking.
But standing.
Zack & Vasco – Higher Tier, Higher Risk
Zack's next opponent didn't lose.
Didn't win either.
The fight ended in a draw—and Zack walked away bleeding but smiling.
"I didn't lose," he said.
That mattered.
Vasco took a full-force kick to the ribs.
Stayed upright.
Finished the fight.
Collapsed afterward.
And laughed.
Big Daniel – Recovery
It took hours before Big Daniel could stand.
The MC lay flat on the floor, breathing slowly.
Lesson learned.
Interference had limits.
He closed his eyes.
Not to sleep.
To endure.
Gun's Decision
Gun stood on a bridge, hands in pockets.
"…He broke his own rule," he said.
Goo laughed.
"So? That makes him human."
Gun's eyes sharpened.
"No," he replied.
"That makes him dangerous."
Understanding the Path
That night—
Little Daniel trained alone.
Big Daniel rested alone.
Both understood the same truth.
They couldn't protect each other forever.
So they had to become strong enough not to need saving.
CHAPTER 12 – THE FIRST CLEAN WIN
Growth finally crossed a line.
The kind you couldn't step back from.
Morning – Control Returns
Big Daniel woke up slowly.
No choking.
No collapse.
Pain lingered, deep and dull, but his body answered when he moved.
Cooldown stabilized, the MC noted.
I can switch again… carefully.
He didn't.
Not yet.
Today belongs to Little Daniel.
Little Daniel – No Fear, No Anger
The fight came during lunch.
No crowd.
No shouting.
Just a boy from another class who had beaten people before.
"You're that Daniel," he said.
"Let's see."
Little Daniel exhaled.
His stance wasn't perfect.
But it was set.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL (CLEAN WIN)
The opponent rushed.
Fast.
Little Daniel didn't freeze.
He stepped diagonally—just like Big Daniel once did—and let the punch skim past his shoulder.
Now.
He countered.
A straight punch to the chest.
Not powerful.
Accurate.
The opponent staggered, surprised.
He swung again—wide.
Little Daniel ducked and drove his shoulder into the man's ribs.
They hit the wall.
Little Daniel didn't chase.
He waited.
When the opponent lunged again, tired—
Little Daniel swept his leg.
Clean.
The man hit the floor.
Hard.
Silence.
The opponent sat up, stunned.
"…You won," he said quietly.
Little Daniel backed away.
Heart pounding.
Hands shaking.
But his legs—
Steady.
Witnesses
People saw.
They didn't cheer.
They whispered.
"Daniel Park won."
No excuses.
No interference.
That mattered more than reputation.
Zack & Vasco – Recognition
Zack nodded once when he heard.
"About time."
Vasco smiled wide.
"He didn't fall!"
Not pride.
Relief.
Big Daniel – Approval Without Words
That night, Big Daniel switched in.
Just briefly.
He stood in front of the mirror and felt the link.
Little Daniel's confidence echoed faintly—raw, fragile, real.
You did it, the MC thought.
He switched back immediately.
No need to linger.
Elsewhere – The Test Is Set
Gun stood in a quiet training hall.
"He won clean," Goo said.
Gun nodded.
"Then he's ready."
"For what?" Goo asked.
Gun's eyes sharpened.
"To be broken," he replied calmly.
"Or to survive."
The Line Is Crossed
Little Daniel lay in bed that night.
Bruised.
Tired.
Smiling.
I won…
Not because someone saved him.
Not because the world changed.
But because he did.
And somewhere deeper—
Big Daniel waited.
Not as a shield.
But as a final edge.
CHAPTER 13 – THE GAP YOU CAN'T IGNORE
Strength was relative.
And today, Little Daniel learned what that really meant.
The Invitation
It wasn't written.
It wasn't spoken.
It was felt.
The moment Little Daniel stepped outside school, the air changed. The street was quieter than usual. Too clean. Too controlled.
A man leaned against a lamppost ahead.
Black clothes. Hands in pockets. Calm posture.
Not a student.
Not a thug.
"…Daniel Park," the man said.
Little Daniel stopped.
Every instinct screamed.
This isn't a fight I'm ready for.
Big Daniel – Watching, Not Moving
From far away, Big Daniel felt the pressure through the link.
Not fear.
Scale.
This one's dangerous, the MC realized.
Gun's test has started.
But the rules held.
No switch.
Not yet.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL vs THE GAP
The man moved first.
No warning.
No wind-up.
A step.
A strike.
Little Daniel raised his guard—
And was sent flying.
His back slammed into a wall. Air ripped from his lungs.
Pain detonated.
He slid down, coughing.
"…Good," the man said calmly.
"You stayed conscious."
Little Daniel forced himself up.
His legs shook violently.
This is different.
The man advanced again.
Little Daniel attacked first—desperation sharpened his movement.
Punch.
Blocked.
Counter.
Little Daniel barely rolled away before the kick smashed the wall where his head had been.
Concrete cracked.
If that hit—
The man grabbed Little Daniel's collar and threw him.
Hard.
Little Daniel rolled, skin tearing, vision blurring.
The Lesson
The man didn't chase.
He waited.
"Strength isn't about winning every fight," he said.
"It's about knowing how far you can go… without dying."
Little Daniel pushed himself up again.
Blood ran down his eyebrow.
"…I won't stop," he said hoarsely.
The man smiled.
Just a little.
One Last Exchange
The man stepped in.
Little Daniel stepped forward at the same time.
For a split second—
Little Daniel moved correctly.
He slipped inside the strike and landed a punch.
It didn't hurt the man.
But it landed.
The man's eyes sharpened.
Then—
A chop to the neck.
Darkness rushed in.
Aftermath
Little Daniel woke up on the ground.
Alone.
No attackers.
No witnesses.
Just pain.
And understanding.
I survived.
Big Daniel – The Edge Holds
Big Daniel finally stood up, fists clenched.
The urge to switch burned.
But the link stabilized.
Little Daniel was alive.
Breathing.
Growing.
Good, the MC thought grimly.
That was the point.
Gun's Verdict
From a rooftop—
Gun watched Little Daniel stagger away.
"…He didn't beg," Gun said.
Goo tilted his head.
"So?"
Gun turned.
"That means," he said calmly,
"he can still be shaped."
Two Paths, One Future
That night—
Little Daniel trained despite the pain.
Big Daniel rested, watching, calculating.
The gap hadn't closed.
But it had been measured.
And once measured—
It could be crossed.
END OF CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14 – ADAPTATION
Pain stopped being an obstacle.
It became data.
Recovery Without Rest
Little Daniel woke up sore everywhere.
Neck stiff. Ribs screaming. Vision still fuzzy.
But nothing felt broken.
He held back, Little Daniel realized.
Just enough.
That thought burned.
Not fear.
Motivation.
Big Daniel – Silent Instruction
Big Daniel didn't switch.
He stood in his own body, shadowboxing slowly.
Each movement sent faint echoes through the link—stance, timing, weight transfer.
Not commands.
Examples.
Learn what you can. I won't carry you.
Training Shift
Little Daniel stopped copying blindly.
He changed how he trained.
Less reps.
More control.
Foot placement.
Hip rotation.
Guard position.
Every punch had a reason.
Every step had balance.
First Application
It happened fast.
A senior tried him again—same one from before.
This time, Little Daniel didn't rush.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL (ADAPTIVE)
The senior threw a straight.
Little Daniel stepped offline and parried instead of blocking.
The impact slid past.
He countered—not with power—but with timing.
Punch to the chest.
The senior inhaled sharply.
Little Daniel followed with a low kick.
The leg buckled.
The senior stumbled back.
"…What changed?" he muttered.
Little Daniel didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Big Daniel – Confirmation
Big Daniel felt it through the link.
He's thinking now.
That was the real threshold.
Strength came later.
Zack & Vasco – Parallel Growth
Zack adjusted his training again—shorter combos, tighter defense.
Vasco learned to stop swinging wildly when tired.
They weren't catching up to Big Daniel.
They were catching up to themselves.
Gun – Interest Deepens
Gun watched reports quietly.
"…He adapted in less than a week," Goo said.
Gun nodded.
"Good."
"That's it?" Goo asked.
Gun's eyes sharpened.
"That means," he said calmly,
"the next test can be real."
Little Daniel – The Shift Inside
That night, Little Daniel stood in front of the mirror.
Bruises faded.
Eyes sharper.
He raised his fists.
Not trembling.
I don't need to win yet, he thought.
I just need to keep up.
And for the first time—
That felt possible.
Big Daniel – Waiting
Big Daniel lay back and closed his eyes.
Soon, the MC thought.
Very soon.
Not to save.
But to challenge.
END OF CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15 – BREAKING THROUGH
Some fights didn't just test strength.
They tested existence.
Little Daniel – The Opportunity
It came unexpectedly.
A new student—older, taller, skilled—challenged him near the gym entrance.
"Daniel Park," the boy said, smirking.
"Let's see if the rumors are true."
Little Daniel's hands trembled for a split second.
Then he remembered every push, every hit, every bruise.
I survive. I adapt. I grow.
He raised his guard.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL vs HIGH-TIER OPPONENT (DETAILED)
The first punch hit his shoulder.
Pain.
He rolled with it.
Second strike—low kick.
He shifted weight and twisted—avoiding a full impact.
Counter—straight punch to the abdomen.
The opponent grunted, surprised.
Third punch—hook to the head.
Little Daniel ducked, stepped inside, and planted his elbow.
Impact echoed.
The opponent staggered.
Little Daniel's eyes widened. He landed a hit. A meaningful hit.
The boy blinked, reassessing.
This kid's different.
Big Daniel – Calculated Re-entry
The link flared.
Big Daniel clenched his fists.
Cooldown allowed brief assistance.
Not domination.
He tapped into the connection.
Timing, spacing, instincts.
Little Daniel's next movements were sharper. Faster. Safer.
The high-tier opponent swung wildly.
Little Daniel sidestepped and struck—clean, accurate, but still measured.
The opponent stumbled back, off-balance.
Big Daniel's presence faded again immediately.
Just enough.
Result
The opponent didn't fall.
But he stopped smiling.
He backed away, acknowledging the gap.
Rumors would spread.
Daniel Park wasn't just surviving anymore.
He was a threat.
Zack & Vasco – Observing Progress
Zack clenched his jaw.
"He's improving… faster than expected," he muttered.
Vasco grinned, blood and sweat on his skin.
"Finally! He's landing hits that count!"
Little Daniel – Understanding the Edge
He touched his bruised arms.
The adrenaline was gone.
Pain lingered.
But confidence didn't.
I hit him, Little Daniel thought.
I can really fight.
The connection to Big Daniel pulsed faintly.
I didn't need saving.
Gun – Watching Closely
From afar, Gun's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting," he muttered.
"This one will be different."
Goo tilted his head.
"Care to elaborate?"
Gun didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Some monsters didn't announce themselves.
They arrived.
END OF CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16 – THE SHADOW'S TEST
Morning – Uneasy Calm
Little Daniel woke early, body stiff from yesterday's fight. Every muscle ached, but he forced himself up. His vision was sharp, senses awake.
I can't afford hesitation anymore, he thought.
I have to be ready.
He ran through the streets, light steps. Foot placement, pivot, balance—all memorized in muscle memory. Every step carried purpose. Every breath was measured.
Big Daniel watched silently from the rooftop across the street. The link pulsed faintly. He didn't intervene, only observed. The MC calculated what Little Daniel could handle today—and what he couldn't.
The test will come. He must survive it alone.
First Contact
By noon, the message came—not directly, not written. Just a presence. Heavy. Controlled. Unmistakable.
A lone figure appeared at the edge of the schoolyard. Not a student. Not a delinquent. A man in black, broad-shouldered, calm, moving like a predator measuring prey.
Little Daniel froze instinctively.
"You're Daniel Park, right?" the man asked, voice low. Controlled. No emotion.
Little Daniel nodded slowly.
"Good. I want to see what you're capable of."
The words weren't a threat—they were a challenge.
Preparation
Little Daniel's heart raced. He adjusted stance, feet planted firmly. He remembered Big Daniel's previous guidance: timing, spacing, calmness. Not to win, not yet. Just survive, adapt, and respond.
The man smiled faintly. "Don't hold back, kid. I won't either."
Every student nearby had disappeared; the air felt empty, tense, almost suffocating.
FIGHT – LITTLE DANIEL vs SHADOW FIGURE
The first strike came in a blur.
A jab aimed at the chest. Little Daniel slipped slightly, pain exploding in his arm as it grazed him. He rolled with the motion, feeling every micro-impact.
Counter—he threw a short punch to the man's abdomen. The figure didn't flinch.
A spinning kick came. Little Daniel jumped, pivoting midair to avoid a crushing impact. Air whipped past his face.
The man's strikes weren't random—they were tests. Each movement precise, designed to measure balance, reflexes, endurance.
Little Daniel tried a body feint followed by a low kick. The figure blocked effortlessly, pushing Little Daniel back three steps.
Focus. Timing. Don't panic.
The man suddenly switched speed, firing a combination of punches and kicks. Little Daniel blocked, dodged, and absorbed strikes with calculated deflection, feeling his muscles burn under repeated impact.
A hard knee slammed into his ribs. Air left his lungs. He fell to one knee.
The man paused, observing. "Good. You've lasted longer than expected."
Little Daniel gasped, pain slicing through his body, but his fists clenched. He rose. Staggered forward. Blood ran from a cut eyebrow. Eyes clear. Focused.
He feinted left, then stepped inside to land a punch. Solid impact. The man's eyes flickered—not pain, but acknowledgment.
Another kick, aimed for his legs. Little Daniel pivoted, landing his own elbow into the opponent's side as he rolled with the blow. Damage. Learned. Adapted.
Minutes stretched like hours. Little Daniel was exhausted, bruised, bleeding—but he stayed upright.
Big Daniel – Subtle Intervention
The link flared. Big Daniel's presence brushed against the MC inside Little Daniel.
Not enough to fight.
Just enough to whisper timing, hint spacing, avoid fatal strikes.
Little Daniel absorbed it. Not control. Guidance.
The figure slowed, noting the child's adaptability.
"You've grown," he said, voice calm. "But this is only the beginning."
A final sweep kick aimed at Little Daniel's torso.
He twisted midair, using the momentum to strike back. A punch landed squarely on the man's shoulder. He stumbled—not significantly, but enough to show progress.
Aftermath
The man stepped back. Calm. Controlled. A predator satisfied with the first glimpse of potential.
Little Daniel collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Pain tore through every muscle. Blood dripped from cuts, his shirt torn.
But he survived.
Big Daniel switched in briefly to steady his link, exhaling. The MC felt Little Daniel's pulse, confidence quietly echoing through the connection.
Not victory, Big Daniel thought.
But a step closer.
Gun's Observation
Gun, perched on a rooftop nearby, observed in silence. Goo beside him tilted his head.
"Impressive," Goo said.
"He didn't even try to win?"
Gun shook his head. "Survival, adaptation, consistency. That's the real metric. He's ready for what comes next."
The Lesson
That night, Little Daniel trained despite every ache.
Each bruise, each cut, each aching joint became data points.
I can survive. I can adapt. I can grow.
Big Daniel lay on his bed, exhausted from the subtle link intervention.
Soon, he thought.
Soon, they will see the full potential of Daniel Park.
END OF CHAPTER 16