A Moment of Shock

I had just caught Zaden's punch.

And I wasn't even struggling.

For a split second, the world stood still.

Zaden's gang stared, their expressions frozen in disbelief. No, not just them—the entire cafeteria had fallen into complete silence. Forks hovered midair, drinks remained untouched, and whispers died before they could even begin.

Every single person in this room was staring.

At me.

At Elias Astaire.

At the supposed weak, pathetic villain who had just done something completely out of character.

I met Zaden's gaze, and for once, there was no mockery in his eyes. No smug superiority.

Just genuine shock.

I could almost hear his unspoken question:

How the hell did you stop that?

I exhaled sharply, forcing a small, amused smile onto my lips as if to say, Hell if I know. Then, I gave a slight shake of my head.

That was a mistake.

Because the moment my guard dropped—

A fist slammed into my stomach like a storm.

The impact stole the breath from my lungs instantly. Pain exploded through my core, burning hot and merciless as I stumbled backward. My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright, my arms wrapping around my midsection as a sharp gasp left my lips.

And just like that—

The cafeteria erupted.

Cheering.

Laughing.

Mocking.

As if they had been waiting for this.

As if they already knew I was weak and just needed proof to reassure themselves.

The noise was deafening, a cruel celebration at my expense. Zaden smirked again, the previous moment of confusion completely erased as he cracked his knuckles, looking down at me like I was nothing more than a bug waiting to be crushed.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the twisting pain in my gut.

I was doomed in this world.

And there was no stopping it.

Pain still pulsed through my gut, but before I could even process my next move, the atmosphere shifted.

The cafeteria, once filled with laughter and celebration at my suffering, fell into a hush.

Then—the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Dante Ashbourne.

I stiffened. My body instinctively tensed as my gaze flickered toward the entrance. And there he was—walking forward with an air of absolute authority, his presence demanding attention without a single word.

But wait—

Why is he walking in slow motion?!

The absurdity of it slapped me in the face. Every step stretched longer than normal, the dramatic pause between each one thick with unbearable tension.

And then I saw it—the light.

A divine golden glow radiated from behind him, so blindingly bright it made me squint. Where the hell was it coming from?! There were no windows that big! Was this cafeteria secretly blessed by the gods just for him?!

His coat billowed dramatically—despite there being no wind.

His obsidian-golden hair shimmered under the cafeteria lights like it had been kissed by celestial beings. Each strand perfectly in place, effortlessly tousled as if he'd just walked out of an elite hero magazine photoshoot.

His sharp, piercing eyes, glowing with an ethereal intensity, scanned the room, their weight enough to make students visibly flinch and avert their gaze like peasants unworthy of his divine presence.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

And then—

Music.

Oh, for the love of—why do I hear music?!

An invisible orchestra seemed to play in the background—a grand, heroic symphony of justice and righteousness, building in intensity with each step he took.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Nope, still there.

Was I hallucinating?

Or was this world really so determined to worship Dante Ashbourne that it physically bent reality to make his entrance look like the second coming of a war god?

I could already feel the narration forming in my mind, almost laughing at me with my own words.

> "He walked in slow motion, but urgent—his presence undeniable, a force that could silence even the rowdiest of crowd. The very air trembled at his arrival, the world itself parting before him as though bowing to his existence."

I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration before groaning loudly and hitting my head against the floor.

This is ridiculous.

I wrote this.

And now I have to live through this embarrassment.