1

The chill from Seraphine's presence pulled Bryan back into focus.

She tilted her head slightly, eyes sharp, tone cool and slightly mocking.

"So… what do you say now?"

Bryan gritted his teeth, glaring up at her.

"S-sorry! Just let go of me, please! I'm done. No more bullying. I won't even show my face here again!"

His voice cracked not from fear alone, but humiliation.

Seraphine let go of Bryan's hand. Her grip loosened slowly, and he pulled back, holding his wrist and breathing heavily.

She didn't say anything. She had seen people like him before--loud, proud, thinking they were tough because others were too scared to fight back.

People like Bryan didn't change because of one slap or one moment. And it wasn't her job to go around fixing them.

Still, she had a feeling this wasn't over. Bryan wasn't the kind to forget something like this.

And deep down, Seraphine already knew that the real trouble was just starting.

With a quiet sigh, she said, "Scram," her voice low and sharp.

Bryan didn't wait. He scrambled to his feet, muttering curses under his breath as he rushed out of the room, clutching his wrist.

While Bryan was still scrambling out, cursing under his breath, Rina stepped beside Seraphine.

"Seraphine, let's report this now. It'll only get worse for you. The bully council won't just let this slide.

Seraphine gave a calm smile and patted Rina's shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it."

Then, after a pause, she added with a softer tone,

"But really, I'm proud of you. I didn't think you'd jump in like that, reckless and all."

Rina grinned, tilting her head slightly.

"Obviously. What kind of friend do you think I am?"

Just then, Bryan shoved the sliding door open and stormed out.

As soon as he left, the whole class seemed to exhale at once, a collective sigh of relief, like they'd been holding their breath the entire time.

But that warmth... didn't last long.

Just when the class thought it was finally over, that Bryan had left for good but something happened that none of them expected.

A deafening series of noises tore through the corridor:

BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!

BAAAAANGG!!!!!!!!!

KRRRRRACK!! !!!!!!!!!!!

SKRRRSHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

 SHATTTTER!!!!!!

 BOOM!!!!!!!!!

THUUUUUDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bryan, who had stormed out moments ago, returned. Not by choice.

Something sent him flying backward with unreal force. like he got hit by a truck going full throttle.

The window of the classroom shattered, shards piercing his body as he was flung like a ragdoll. Before anyone could react, he was already unconscious, his ribs mangled from the sheer force of that one devastating blow, where it came from, no one knew.

He didn't even get the chance to scream, And then, he fell. Out the shattered frame. From the third floor. vanishing from sight. Gone.!!

The girls watching couldn't help it, their screams filled the room, a mix of fear and disbelief.

The scene before them wasn't just shocking, it was brutal.

What they'd just witnessed made Seraphine's earlier act look like child's play.

Every eye in the classroom locked onto the door, tension thick in the air.

All but one student. He was still mentally buffering in some alternate universe.

As his foot met the floor, the classroom fell into a deep, unnatural cold.

One step into the room. That's all it took.

the temperature felt like it dropped ten degrees. Everyone felt it.

Sweat started forming on their foreheads, unexplainable, but very real.

Even Seraphine who had just dominated a fight moments ago wasn't immune. Her eyes widened. She knew this wasn't normal.

The room went completely silent, like the air had gotten too heavy to speak through.

His hands were tucked in his jacket pockets as he stepped in. Casual like he had nowhere urgent to be.

He wasn't huge or bulky, not the kind of guy who looked like he lived in the gym.

But anyone with half a brain could tell: that body wasn't for show.

He was lean, solid. Sleeper build. The kind that didn't need to flex to intimidate.

The guy didn't march in with purpose or posture, he just strolled, like he'd taken a wrong turn into class and didn't really care.

A lollipop sat lazily in his mouth and zero concern for the tension he was stirring up, like he was more focused on the flavor than anything around him.

His hair was pure black, and barely tamed. The kind that refuses to stay neat for more than a second.

Still, the guy looked annoyingly good, effortlessly put together in a messy kind of way.

His eyes were something else though. Sharp. The kind of gaze you couldn't hold for long. and Cold. Like he could see through you easily.

His face stayed neutral, like nothing around him really mattered.

And he walked with no rush at all, like time wasn't a thing he ever had to worry about.

"J...Jake," Rina breathed out.

Seraphine caught the name and echoed, "Jake?"

That name alone shifted the room's energy.

Because the guy who'd just stepped in, the one who didn't even look back after slamming Bryan through a window--

was Jake Valtair.

Also known as: The myth.

The headache of every senior.

And most of all…

The undisputed STRONGEST in the entire campus.

While everyone in the classroom stood frozen in shock, Jake strolled past them with a lollipop in his mouth. He walked right by Rina and Seraphine, not even sparing them a glance. He didn't ignore Seraphine intentionally, he simply had no idea who she was.

But for Seraphine, it was a very different story.

She stood there, caught between disbelief and surprise. Because she recognized him.

Who wouldn't?

Anyone who knew even a little about martial arts in the Central Continent knew the name Jake. 

what the real shock was that the fact that he was here, walking through her classroom like it was just another normal day.

His name echoed across the entire Central Continent for a reason: he held a title that turned heads everywhere.

The youngest prodigy in martial arts.

He had reached the apex of martial mastery at an age others were still learning the basics. Even her father, a man not easily impressed, spoke highly of him. 

 Her father had once told her, "He's one of the few I would never underestimate."

Jake made his way to the back like he was out on a Sunday stroll,

 His eyes locked onto the honorary class mascot-Rix, the kid who could sleep through an earthquake. 

With a lazy drag, Jake pulled over a chair and plopped down, propping his legs right onto Rix's desk, right near his head.

"YOOOO!" Jake barked.

"Shut up, motherf*er…**" Rix groaned, not even opening his eyes all the way. He wasn't in a deep sleep, more like that drowsy limbo state. "Don't mess with my nap, idiot."

Had it been anyone else who dared to speak like that to Jake… they'd be spending the next month in the infirmary.

But Seraphine stood there, frozen in place. "Wait… did he just call Jake that… out loud?"

Rina, standing next to her, noticed the disbelief and chuckled softly. "You're adorable. You didn't know? Those two are basically bros. They always go at each other like that."

"Wait… what!?" Seraphine nearly blurted out, though she kept her face as composed as possible.

 To be honest the students weren't afraid of Jake because he was cruel or violent. He wasn't a bully. In fact, he rarely paid anyone any mind unless they gave him a reason. 

What everyone did fear, though was something else entirely, the weight of his presence. That overwhelming aura of respect. Of power.

And it all began the day he first walked into the college. The Bully Council--cocky and untouchable tried to mess with him.

A very Big mistake. What happened next became legend, a moment that shattered the Council's reputation and sent a message that the entire campus would never forget. That day marked a turning point. The day the predators became prey.

That day, a group of muscle-headed bullies made the mistake of underestimating Jake, but he dismantled them with terrifying ease--breaking arms, snapping legs, and walked away like it was nothing.

But he didn't stop there. Instead of letting it go, Jake stormed straight into the Bully Council's territory and beat up every senior member, regardless of their involvement. It was as if he wanted to send a message to everyone.

The news swept across the campus like wildfire: the entire bully faction had been hospitalized for two months.

From that day on, Jake became a symbol--not just of strength, but of fear. And strangely, admiration. Many students began to train harder, seeking to become stronger themselves. Some even hit the gym, trying to get a bit of that Jake-level swagger.

Since that day, the Bully Council kept their heads down. They never messed with Jake again or anyone in his orbit.

Rix? Dude had a free pass. Just being close to Jake was enough to make him untouchable.

It was as if borders had been drawn, territories marked by fear and respect. They kept their distance, knowing well what would happen if they stepped over the line.

Occasionally, Jake just for fun would cross into their turf, drop a metaphorical bomb, shake things up a little.

But the Council never retaliated. They never dared.

hearing the reply that came from Rix's mouth, Jake said with mock emotion,"Don't be so heartless, man. I made the ultimate sacrifice—walking all the way from there to see your sleepy face."

Rix, still half-asleep, cracked one eye open, his voice dry and his face deadpan.

"Your class is literally right behind mine."

Jake scoffed. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here… sigh, forget it."

He folded his arms, then glanced around as a crowd began to form.

In an instant, his expression shifted, his once-aloof gaze sharpened like a blade. "Mind your business."

It was calm, but had that don't-mess-with-me vibe.

The students flinched like they'd been caught peeking into the teacher's office.

 Like cockroaches under light, they scattered to their seats, and pretending like Jake wasn't even there. Still, every now and then, curious glances were cast toward the back, where Jake and Rix sat, mostly girls, especially One pair of eyes lingered more than the rest.

Rina Velmont.

Many girls harbored quiet admiration for Jake, but none as deeply as she did. 

Her feelings hadn't bloomed like fireworks but quietly, like a slow sunrise.

It all began the day those bullies tried something vile. Every other girl had frozen, terrified. But not Rina. She had stepped in--reckless, powerless, and alone.

She knew she couldn't win. But still, she stood.

It was foolish bravery.

she would've surely paid the price for her bravery--if Jake hadn't shown up.

No one stepped in for her. Not because she wasn't beautiful--she was. But that didn't matter.

Everyone looked away, afraid. Everyone but Jake.

He didn't care about appearances. He saw what others ignored: a girl trembling but standing tall.

He stepped in, and ended it… once and for all.

From that moment, something changed in her.

She stopped caring about comparisons, jealousy, or being liked.

Because that day, she understood that Love isn't about looks. It's about who's there when it matters.

Because when everything went dark, only one person lit the match.

Rix sat in the corner, arms crossed, eyeing the shattered window.

"The guy you threw… he's not dead, right?" he asked, pointing casually toward the debris.

Jake shook his head, slowly. "Might not be."

Rix frowned. "Might not? What the hell do you mean by that?"

Jake leaned back, completely calm.

"You don't know how hard it is to hold back my strength."

Rix let out a short laugh. "Dude! There's gotta be a limit to bragging, y'know?"

Jake chuckled, waving him off. "Relax. I was just messing with you. You think I'm that cruel? I'm not a monster, He's definitely not dead. . Probably just unconscious… and a little broken."

Technically, Jake wasn't lying. He had held back--a lot.

After all, he wasn't called the strongest for nothing. He was a monster in human skin. The first in history to earn a Karate Black Belt 4th Dan (Yodan) at the age of 22. A feat others took decades to accomplish, he mastered before his prime.

And as if the Karate feat wasn't enough, Jake had also reached the 4th Dan in Taekwondo.--a level so high, that it's usually worn by those who teach masters. That's basically "boss level", he could literally teach the people who teach others.

And it didn't even stop there.

Jake was a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu--a rank reserved for those with deep grappling mastery, just a breath away from the coveted Black Belt.

Then came Judo, where he was a 2nd Dan Black Belt -- that's not some participation badge. That meant competitive experience, years of throws, sweeps, armlocks, and real fight IQ. He didn't just know how to throw someone. He knew exactly when and where to do it so they'd never get back up.

In Muay Thai, he was awarded the Black Pra Jiad, a rank so rare you could count holders on your fingers. It was earned through blood, sweat, and absolute control of the body.

And last but not least Kendo. Jake had attained the 5th Dan -- Godan, a title spoken with reverence. A rank that placed him among master swordsmen, he's the kind of guy anime protagonists train under.

Jake was in the middle of a conversation when he felt the burning sensation of being watched. Jake's gaze drifted across the room with idle curiosity.

There, leaning casually but watching intently, was a girl he hadn't seen before

"…Hey, Rix," Jake said, his voice low but amused."That new girl… why's she staring at me like I stole her lunch or something?"

Rix, who looked like he was mentally drifting off into another dimension, blinked and scratched the back of his head.

"Huh? Oh… her? Yeah, that's Seraphine Ashbourne or something. She's from that military academy thing… I think."

"Ohh, military girl?" Jake raised a brow, this time peering at her with curiosity and a spark of intrigue.

"She's giving off serious swordfighter vibes… he muttered. "Kendo… She's highly proficient, isn't she?"

Rix shrugged, scratching his cheek. "Yeah… I think so."

"Now that I think about it, today's my Kendo practice day," Jake said as he rose from his chair, stretching slightly.

Rix barely opened one eye, gave a half-hearted thumbs-up. "Good luck with the training, warrior… now leave me in peace."

Then, without another word, he dropped his head into his hands and promptly dozed off.

Jake stared at Rix for a moment, then casually reached out and grabbed the back of his collar with a smirk. "No way, buddy. You're coming with me, to training."

Rix's eyes shot open in panic. In a flash, he bolted from his seat like a dog let off its leash.

Jake's hand snapped forward, grabbing the hoodie like it was nothing. halting him like a dog on a short leash. "Where do you think you're going, huh? Sit your ass down, motherfucker."

Rix's eyes widened as he felt Jake's iron grip on his hoodie. "…Fuck," he whispered.

Before he could even blink, he was being dragged across the floor with zero dignity.

"You know," Jake mused with a smile, "you're my only buddy… and also… my punching bag."

"Shit!" Rix yelped, now sliding helplessly across the floor.

Around them, students exchanged glances, holding back laughs like their lives depended on it. It was hilarious... but no one had the guts to be the first to chuckle.

Seraphine watched from the sidelines as Jake dragged his friend across the floor, laughter bubbling around the room like a shaken soda can. A flicker of amusement passed over her face but only for a second.

This wasn't what she expected of him.

Back in her home city, Jake's name echoed through the halls of elite circles. She had seen him once, during one of the Grand Tournaments. The guy who won the Grand Tournament like it was a warm-up match.

 He didn't show a hint of emotion--no joy, no anger, not even frustration. Nothing. His face was a void, unreadable, as if everyone were beneath him. It wasn't just composure, it felt like arrogance. Like he saw everyone else as lesser, not even worth reacting to.

That air of superiority used to irritate her. A lot.

But now, seeing him act like a goofy older brother, teasing his friend like any normal guy… it caught her off guard.

Maybe he just kept his real self well-guarded.

she was brought back from her thoughts by Rina, she nudged her, whispering playfully, "Hey, what do you say we follow them?"

Seraphine shot her a sideways glance. "Why would I do something so childish?"

"To see his training," Rina said like it was the best idea ever.

Seraphine rolled her eyes. "I'm not the stalker type. Besides, that sounds ridiculous."

Still, a part of her was tempted. The martial artist in her was curious-itching to see how someone like Jake trained. But she had an image to maintain--the daughter of a prestigious military family couldn't be seen creeping around like a fangirl. she couldn't risk her image. Not when half the students already expected her to walk like royalty. Dignity came before curiosity.

Without warning, Rina latched onto Seraphine's wrist and started dragging her forward.

"Don't act all cool now. It's not that weird to watch Jake train, students do it all the time. And hey, if his mood's right and someone manages to catch his eye, he might even give a tip or two."

Seraphine stiffened. "What are you--wait… tips?"

That word held weight. People practically begged to be taught by Jake, even grown adults. He rejected them all.

To outsiders, it might sound absurd. Why would anyone want to learn under a fellow student? But in the world of martial arts, age was meaningless. Skill was everything. It wasn't just hype. Jake had this freakish ability to pinpoint the tiniest flaws in martial arts. Didn't matter who you were student, teacher, or grandmaster, Jake could watch you fight for five seconds and tell you exactly where you were leaking power or where your stance was off.

Even her dad-the big-shot military commander had been stunned when Jake casually listed the flaws in his technique.. Jake had dissected his technique and listed improvements without hesitation. That had stunned the entire training division and her father accepted it like advice from a master.

What struck Seraphine most, however, was the paradox:

Jake could read others--but no one could read him. It was like he'd reached absolute mastery something only legends dared to chase.

"Okay, okay, wait a minute," Seraphine said, halting her steps.

Rina blinked, visibly confused. "What is it?"

Seraphine narrowed her eyes like a detective. "Let's say I agree to go. But tell me this--why are you tagging along? You don't even throw a proper punch, let alone care about training."

Rina's cheeks flushed with color, and she stammered, trying to piece together a convincing excuse. "H-Huh? I--uh--that's… It's because… that's--well--I just…"

She had no answer. At least, not one she was ready to admit out loud.

Seeing Rina stutter and blush like a tomato, Seraphine could already guess the reason. She sighed softly, brushing her hair back.

"Never mind. I didn't ask anything," she said, letting it go.

Rina grinned, relieved that Seraphine didn't press further. Without missing a beat, she tugged Seraphine by the hand and led her toward the sports building. Soon, Aria and Sylvia joined them, forming a little group.

The four girls decided, whether out of curiosity or mischief, to follow Jake.

Seraphine, however, wasn't exactly thrilled. It felt a bit out of character for her, A daughter of a prestigious military family trailing behind someone like this? It dented her pride. But against the tide of her friends' energy, she found herself swept along.