Chapter 32: Jack the Giant

The moment the Aura struck Zik, a force unlike anything he had ever felt ripped through him.

It wasn't a blow in the traditional sense—there was no malice, no intent to harm—yet his body reacted as if it had been hit by a truck. His muscles locked up, his chest seized, and for an instant, it felt like every cell in his body had been overloaded.

Then, his vision went dark.

He collapsed.

Silence.

The crowd sat in stunned disbelief. Had he just died?

The principal, still mid-fist-pump, froze, looking between his hands and Zik's motionless body. "Oh... uh... that wasn't supposed to happen."

Reyes grabbed him by the collar. "WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?!"

The referee rushed forward. "WE NEED A—"

Then, something shifted.

A pulse, almost imperceptible, rolled out from Zik's body.

At first, nobody noticed. But then, they felt it.

Like the air in the room had changed. Like something unseen had awakened.

Zik's body twitched—then his wounds began to heal.

Not just heal—reverse.

The bruises faded. The torn skin sealed itself. The dents in his muscles smoothed out like they had never been there.

Zik inhaled sharply. His fingers clenched. And when his eyes snapped open, something was different.

For the first time in his life, he could feel everything.

Not just his body—the space around him. The weight of the air. The energy moving through the ground. The invisible flow of power that had always been there, just beyond the reach of his senses.

It wasn't just strength.

It was connection.

Something fundamental had changed.

Then, a chime echoed in his mind.

---

New Ability Unlocked!

Core Ability: Aura

Grade: A

Level: 1

Description: Aura is a force that amplifies and refines all abilities, enhancing physical and supernatural attributes beyond their natural limits. It allows for a deeper synchronization with one's own power, increasing adaptability and resilience. Strong Aura users can extend their influence beyond themselves, manipulating energy, perception, and even the flow of battle itself.

System Intervention Activated: Due to extreme damage, Regeneration has been temporarily overclocked to restore full function.

---

Zik sat up, his breathing steady, his body feeling... lighter. Sharper.

He flexed his fingers. The energy flowing through him was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

The crowd? Speechless.

Jack, still in his massive form, squinted. "Yo. Uh. What was that?"

Zik blinked, still adjusting to the strange, electric sensation running through him.

"...I think I just unlocked Aura."

Silence.

Reyes let go of the principal's collar.

The principal sank to his knees, staring at Zik like he had just committed tax fraud in front of him.

The referee, having absolutely no idea what just happened, sighed, cracked his neck, and raised his hand.

"Fight!"

Jack stared at the referee, his expression flat but his eyes screaming:

"Are you serious? The dude just came back from the brink of death."

Then he turned to Zik, who was stretching his arms like nothing happened.

"You good to keep going?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zik exhaled, rolling his shoulders as the strange new energy pulsed through him. Then, with a grin, he said, "Of course. Never felt better."

Jack blinked. "…Okay, then."

Zik moved.

There was no delay, no hesitation. The moment he channeled his Aura into his legs, his body disappeared from Jack's sight.

A sharp gust of wind blasted against Jack's chest.

In that instant, Zik had activated a movement technique he had drilled countless times under Reyes—Speed Dash.

Before Jack could even react, Zik reappeared right in front of him, mid-sentence.

"You alright, Jack?"

And then, before Jack could even process what was happening—

BOOM.

A fist wreathed in Aura smashed into Jack's stomach.

Power Strike.

Before Jack's massive frame could even tilt back, another attack followed.

Zik spun—his body twisting with precision—and his heel came crashing down with raw momentum.

Spinning Speed Kick.

Jack felt it. The power. The speed. The sudden weight behind Zik's attacks.

But…

He barely moved.

His massive body shifted back only a few inches.

There was no real pain. No real damage.

Just… force.

And yet—Jack was still in awe.

Zik had actually pushed him back.

Not many could say they physically moved him when he was in this form.

Jack's lips curled into a grin. "Now this is getting fun."

Jack's lips curled into a grin. "Now this is getting fun."

He cracked his knuckles, his body barely shaken from the last attack. His muscles flexed and tensed, his monstrous frame shifting as he braced himself. His eyes, now sharp and focused, locked onto Zik.

But Zik didn't just stand there waiting.

His mind raced. His attacks weren't enough. Even with Aura reinforcing his strength, Jack's defenses were on another level. If this was a test of endurance, he'd lose. He had to adapt—fast.

Jack exhaled, his breath coming out in a low chuckle. "I gotta admit, I respect it. You're still fighting even though you know you can't win. You just wanna go down looking cool, huh?"

Zik's eyes sharpened. "Wrong."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not here to lose. I'm here to win."

Then Zik moved.

His aura surged—flowing from his core, spreading through his limbs like wildfire. He wasn't just reinforcing his body anymore. He was directing it, shaping it, making it work for him.

Jack barely had time to react before Zik disappeared.

[Speed Dash]

Jack's instincts kicked in. He spun, already raising his arm to block—

But Zik wasn't aiming for his torso this time.

He was already low, slipping past Jack's defense in a blink.

[Speed Feint] – New Technique Unlocked!

A flicker of movement—then nothing. Jack felt the wind shift, but Zik was gone.

He realized too late.

A brutal strike slammed into the side of his knee.

The force of it buckled his leg. For the first time, his stance wavered.

Zik didn't stop. He pivoted, his Aura-infused fist rocketing upward.

[Aura Burst: Rising Blow] – New Technique Unlocked!

The uppercut connected, lifting Jack's massive frame off the ground for a split second. The impact sent a shockwave through the air. The arena trembled.

The audience gasped.

Jack landed hard, skidding back, his massive feet digging trenches into the dirt. His breathing was heavier now, and he slowly rolled his shoulders.

Then, to Zik's frustration—

Jack grinned again.

"Alright," he muttered, cracking his neck. "Now I actually gotta try."

The referee sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is gonna take forever."

Zik's breath was steady, his stance unwavering. His body was battered, but it didn't matter anymore.

Aura Sense had sharpened his instincts. He could feel every shift in Jack's movements, anticipate every swing before it came. And his regeneration—now boosted to a monstrous A++—had turned him into something Jack simply couldn't break down fast enough.

This fight had stopped being about power. It was a battle of endurance.

Jack swung—a brutal right hook aimed for Zik's ribs. It would've shattered bones at the start of this fight. Now? Zik barely flinched. His body absorbed the blow, healing the damage almost instantly.

Jack exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Damn. That's annoying."

Zik smirked. "Yeah. I'm kinda overpowered right now."

Jack just laughed, shaking his head.

And then it happened.

A flicker of light. A subtle shift. Jack's massive frame wavered.

Then—it shrank.

Giantization was powerful, but it wasn't limitless. And Jack? This was his first real fight using it. He had forgotten something critical.

It was on a timer.

And time had just run out.

His body compressed—his towering presence vanishing in an instant. The unstoppable juggernaut was gone. In his place stood Jack—just Jack.

The arena fell silent.

And Zik still had Aura left to spare.

The moment was almost cruel. The shift was too sudden, too absolute. The entire dynamic of the fight had reversed in a heartbeat.

Jack—who had been the unstoppable force—was now just a kid again.

And Zik—once the prey—had become the predator.

Jack's fingers twitched. He felt the weight of it—the shift in power, the eyes watching, the slow realization that the fight was already over.

He could give up now. Everyone would understand.

But that? That would be too uncool.

Jack grinned. And he fought anyway.

His punches were slower, his reach smaller, his power reduced to what it once was. But he fought. Not for victory. Not for pride. But because he wasn't done yet.

And Zik? He respected it.

They clashed one last time. Not as titans. Not as monsters. But as fighters.

A final exchange—blows traded in rapid succession. Jack's stamina was fading. His body was screaming at him to stop. But he wouldn't.

Not until his legs finally gave out beneath him.

His vision blurred. The world tilted.

And Jack fell.

Flat on his back, staring up at the sky.

For a second, he just breathed. His chest rose and fell, his body aching, his mind blank.

Then he chuckled. "Damn."

Zik stepped forward, looking down at him.

Jack's voice was quiet, but it carried.

"I kinda wish I fell when I was still a giant."

He turned his head slightly, catching Zik's gaze. His grin didn't fade.

"But I'm okay with this."

The weight of it settled in. He could feel it. The looks from the crowd, the whispers, the murmurs.

They had seen him.

The school had watched his fight.

His fight. Not just Zik's.

He exhaled. His body was beaten, exhausted. But he was happy.

Because one day—one day soon—he was going to be big enough for the world to see.

Jack the Giant.

Jack groaned as he pushed himself up, still grinning like an idiot despite the pain. His body ached, but his spirit felt lighter than ever. He dusted himself off, then turned to Zik.

"Hey, give me your contact."

Zik blinked. "Huh?"

Jack stretched, rolling his shoulders. "I wanna hear more of your ideas. I'm not exactly the smartest guy around, but damn, you come up with the craziest stuff. You made me realize I've barely scratched the surface of what I can do. Next year, I'm winning for sure."

Zik tilted his head, eyeing him with newfound respect. Jack was cool.

Funny how he never noticed him before.

"How the hell have I not met you until now?" Zik asked.

Jack let out a short laugh, scratching the back of his head. "I was too shy. Too small. People didn't really notice me, y'know? But not anymore." He clenched his fist, feeling the lingering strength in his muscles. "I got to this round mostly by luck. Everyone I fought before you was weak. But now?" He exhaled, looking around at the people still watching.

"Now they've seen me."

Zik smirked, handing over his number. "Alright then, Giant. Let's see what you got next year."

Zik barely had time to breathe before his friends swarmed him, grinning like maniacs.

"Look at you, networking and stuff," Aiden teased, nudging him with an elbow. "Trying to build your own hero agency without us, huh?"

Tobias shook his head in mock disappointment. "We see how it is. You win one big match, and suddenly you're scouting talent."

Zik rolled his eyes and laughed. "Come on, I wouldn't dream of it. All my future plans are with you guys." He spread his arms wide, as if to gesture at the world ahead. "Besides, my dream would be so tasteless without you guys in it."

Aiden dramatically wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "That was so corny, man."

Tobias smirked. "Yeah, but he meant it."

And with that, the tension of the battle melted away, leaving nothing but the warmth of victory and the bond they shared.

The crowd was still buzzing from Zik's unexpected victory. Jack had walked off the stage with his head held high, already plotting his future comeback. But as the cheers began to die down, the referee let out a long, tired sigh.

"Another fight... Another delay... Another late night," he muttered, rubbing his temples. He shot a look at the sky, as if silently pleading for the sun to just set already so he'd have an excuse to call it a day.

Too bad the next match was just about to start.

"Aiden Treadwell, step forward!" the announcer called.

From the stands, Zik and Tobias turned to look at their friend, who was stretching his arms with a lazy grin. Aiden rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as he started making his way to the arena.

"Finally," he sighed. "My turn."

Zik raised an eyebrow. "Don't get too cocky. My fight just changed the whole mood—people are going to be watching this one closely."

Aiden smirked. "Good. Let them watch."

Then his opponent's name was called.

The moment it was announced, half the crowd went silent. Even the referee's tired expression changed as he straightened his posture. For the first time today, he actually looked serious.

Tobias furrowed his brows. "Wait… Aiden's fighting who?"

Zik's grin faded. "That guy?"

Aiden just chuckled under his breath, his hands sliding into his pockets as his opponent stepped onto the battlefield.

"I was hoping for an easy win," Aiden said, grinning wider. "Guess I'm not getting one."

The referee took a deep breath.

"Welp... There goes my bedtime."