Ryan's eyes widened in shock. 'Huh... I stopped his punch? What the fuck?'
He barely had any time to process anything 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 guy's ribs with a tight, snapping motion Arthur had drilled into him.
He was trying to mimic Arthur and he failed miserably to copy the technique, still the luck was with him so it worked.
THUD!
The guy doubled over with a loud grunt as he clutched his side where he got punched.
A big wild grin appeared on Ryan's face. 'Oh shit... I can clutch this. I can actually clutch this.'
Ryan had hope that nothing would happen to him as he moved before the other guys could react, slipping around one of them and landing a quick one-two into his gut. The second man stumbled backwards, wheezing.
'Two down, two more to go. You can do this, Ryan...'
Ryan's adrenaline was surging now—his hands itched for the next exchange of moves as he stepped towards the third guy, loading up for another jab-cross combo that might just end this—
But the guy leaned in a bit as he caught Ryan's fist in his hand mid-air, twisting his wrist painfully.
'What—' It was so sudden that Ryan didn't even have any time to react to the guy's movements.
Before Ryan could counter back, the man's knee shot up into his abdomen with brutal precision.
WHUMP!
The air ripped from Ryan's lungs, his vision blurred out 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. In just one second he did this?'
He coughed, tasting copper in his mouth. He touched his lips with his two fingers as he noticed that his blood had started coming out of his mouth.
'I don't have time to whine... I should get out of here, but first I want to know about this guy. Hey, system scan this guy's stats for me.'
[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 as his stats!? No wonder I'm on the ground....'
'System, show me my stats. I'd like to compare myself with him.'
[Okay, host.]
[Name: Ryan West]
[Strength: D]
[Agility: D+]
[Intellect: D]
[Endurance: D+]
Ryan stared at the floating numbers. 'In this situation... I can never win, the best option for now is escape.'
The problem was, Jin stood between him and the escape route.
Ryan tried to push himself up, trying to think of a quick plan. He feinted left, trying to bait an opening—nothing. Jin didn't even blink.
'Shit... fine. Let's try this shit, I know this'll be a stupid move but...'
Ryan charged forward as he slammed his body into Jin like a battering ram. The taller boy staggered half a step as he got caught off-guard by the sudden contact.
Ryan used that fraction of second—twisting, planting his foot and throwing a desperate punch towards Jin's jaw.
It wasn't clean or precise, but it connected. Jin's head snapped slightly to the side, which was enough time for him to make a run for escape.
Ryan didn't wait to see the reaction—he bolted forward.
The two remaining guys shouted and chased Ryan as their footsteps pounded 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 inside of it was Arthur.
The pursuers slowed down to a halt as one of them glanced back 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 and I don't want to risk anything or else that guy will not spare me."
He didn't mean Arthur when Jin said that guy... He was someone whom even Jin was scared of.
The three boys turned back and left as Ryan stood there for a moment, hands on knees, gasping for air.
Then he stepped inside of 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 of 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, hehe." Ryan scratched the back of his head as he replied back to Arthur.
Arthur's face didn't even flinch as he heard that information. He let out a long sigh as he muttered. "So, they're at it again, huh?"