Jayden Kwon had a plan.
Not a good plan. Not a smart plan. But a plan.
He lay in bed the night before, staring at his ceiling like an anime protagonist right before the training arc, whispering his "battle strategy" to himself. In reality, it sounded more like a bored kid listing snacks:"Step one, slow time. Step two, dodge. Step three… flick forehead. Step four… profit."
He was going to take down Kevin "The Locker King" Walters. Not for justice. Not for honor. But because he was so tired of smelling garbage juice on his backpack.
The Morning of the Battle
Jayden walked into Westfield High not like a prey animal avoiding predators, but like a gamer logging into a server with wallhacks enabled.In his hoodie pocket, his hand rested on the ring like it was a legendary artifact.
His eyes scanned the hallway.Target acquired.
Kevin was leaning against a locker, laughing at something on his phone with two other jocks. The sight of his smug face triggered a mental montage of all the trash-can tosses, locker slams, and hallway humiliations.
Jayden inhaled slowly. In his head, he heard the epic pre-fight music from Fists of Heaven OST, Track 7. In reality, the school bell rang and someone nearby sneezed loudly.
Kevin noticed him first."Well, well, look who it is. Discount Sasuke."
Jayden's face remained expressionless, because that's what cool characters did before they destroyed someone.In his mind, he was already narrating: I've been waiting for this moment. My rise begins here.
Kevin stepped forward, already reaching for Jayden's backpack strap."You know the drill, nerd—"
Now.
Jayden's fingers brushed the ring. The world slowed instantly.
It wasn't just slow — it was slow-slow. Kevin's smirk stretched unnaturally, like a balloon inflating in reverse. His hand drifted toward Jayden's shoulder at the speed of continental drift.
Jayden tilted his head to the side, watching each individual finger hover past him.
He stepped to the right. Leisurely. Like he was browsing snacks at the grocery store.Then, for flair, he tapped Kevin on the forehead with his index finger. Not hard. Just enough.
In normal speed, that tap turned into something far funnier.
Time resumed.
Kevin's hand missed completely, and his own momentum made him stumble forward. Then, as if divine forces had flicked him, his head jerked back slightly. His expression went from confident to ??? in under a second.
The hallway went silent for half a beat.
Then someone gasped."Yo… did Kevin just… miss?"
Kevin shook his head, glaring. "Lucky dodge."Jayden smiled faintly. "Try again."
Kevin swung. Jayden slowed time again.
This time, he strolled behind Kevin, plucked the phone from his back pocket, and placed it gently on top of a nearby locker. On the way, he also casually tied Kevin's shoelaces together.
When time resumed, Kevin lunged forward, only for his feet to betray him — he tripped in glorious fashion, arms windmilling, nearly face-planting.
The hallway erupted into laughter.
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" Kevin roared, scrambling to untie his shoes."Yes," Jayden said, without hesitation.
Kevin charged again, red-faced. Jayden slowed time one more time, sidestepped, and this time gave him a playful shove in the back.
When normal speed returned, Kevin stumbled right into an open locker — the door slammed shut on him with a loud CLANG.
The hallway exploded into chaos.Phones came out. Snapchats were sent. Somewhere, the Freshman Hyenas were chanting "L! L! L!" like a sports crowd.
Jayden adjusted his hoodie like he'd just done something completely ordinary. Inside, he was screaming.HOLY CRAP IT WORKED HOLY CRAP IT WORKED—
Kevin finally shoved the locker door open, glaring murder at him."This isn't over, Kwon!"Jayden tilted his head slightly. "No. It's just the beginning."
And with that, he walked away down the hallway — slow, deliberate steps — as the hallway parted around him like he was some kind of folk hero.
At lunch, Jayden sat alone, replaying the moment in his head like it was a season finale cliffhanger.
Kevin wasn't the final boss. He was just the first. The warm-up.If Jayden could do this with zero muscle, imagine what would happen once he actually trained.
His eyes narrowed, and he bit into his sandwich dramatically.Westfield High… the throne will be mine.