Arashi remembered the ring, gripping it tightly as the giant bully advanced again. He struggled briefly, twisting and turning, trying to break free from the massive hands gripping him. Then, with a sudden leap, he landed in front of the bully, narrowly dodging a punch. Blood trickled down his face, but his eyes remained sharp, unwavering.
He slipped the ring onto his finger. Instantly, everything shifted. The world froze around him—the screams, the chaos, the panicked students. Every single person stood motionless, as if trapped in time itself. Only Arashi and the giant could still move, still see. The bully blinked, confused.
"What… what did you do, boy?" he demanded, his voice shaking.
"I didn't mean to reveal this," Arashi said quietly, calm as ever.
The giant's expression twisted with disbelief and anger. "You're arrogant. This… this nonsense doesn't exist!"
Arashi exhaled slowly, letting the silence stretch. "Fine. Let's stop talking and begin."
The bully smirked, trying to hide his unease. "Bring it on."
Arashi dashed forward like a shadow, throwing the first punch. The giant instinctively dodged, but a flicker of fear passed over his face. Arashi tilted his head slightly. "Why aren't you attacking?"
The first blow from Arashi landed solidly against the giant's jaw. Dust erupted around them, swirling as if the world itself had become a void. Strike after strike followed, each one a blur, backhands, jabs, and kicks, the giant staggering under the precision of Arashi's attacks. The ground below remained untouched, untouched by the speed and force of their collision.
"This atmosphere won't last long," Arashi muttered to himself. "I need to finish this."
He spoke aloud, confidence in every word, "Let's hurry. I'm already tired of you."
The bully growled, raising his fists. "What did you just say?"
Arashi placed one hand against the ground, using it to spring forward in a perfect flip. His leg shot out, landing a crushing kick across the giant's face. The man stumbled but recovered instantly, his massive hands grabbing at Arashi.
"I didn't want to reveal my true strength," Arashi said calmly. "But you forced me."
The bully spat blood, laughing bitterly. "True strength? You? Weak! You only bully those weaker than you. But I am not them!"
A faint smile appeared on Arashi's face. "Confidence is admirable. Let's see whether it's just noise… or something that can survive against me."
In the next instant, Arashi vanished. The giant spun, trying to track him. Left, right, behind… every direction brought nothing but silence. Panic began to creep into the man's eyes.
"Where are you, coward?!" he shouted, voice cracking.
Suddenly, Arashi's fist appeared directly before him. The giant tried to block, deflecting part of the force, but he was thrown backward. Dust and debris erupted around them, yet the space beneath remained intact.
Again and again, Arashi struck, each blow landing with terrifying precision. The giant retaliated, swinging massive fists, but Arashi dodged effortlessly. At speeds no human could follow, they collided violently. Their bodies slammed into each other, fists crashing with force that made the air itself shiver.
The bully stumbled, blood dripping from his face. "You're… strong… is that why you're so calm?"
Arashi's eyes were cold, unflinching. "I won't answer your questions. I will end this space, this fight. It's exhausting."
Then, with a flick of his wrist, the Partial Dimension dissolved. Time returned. Students froze in mid-shock for a moment, whispering frantically.
"Arashi…"
"The bully…"
"He… he beat him?!"
Confused murmurs spread like wildfire. Every student stared at Arashi, a mix of fear and awe in their eyes.
Calm as ever, Arashi walked away, leaving the giant sprawled and defeated. He entered his classroom, scanning for Rin. She wasn't there. "Where is she?" he asked her friend quietly.
"Rin is sick today," came the reply. Arashi lowered his gaze. I should check on her, he thought.
After school, Arashi made his way home, taking out his phone to send Rin a message. She replied quickly, "What did you study today at school?"
"I'm not texting to tire you," Arashi wrote back. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine," Rin replied, sending a cute emoji alongside.
Arashi smiled faintly, though his face remained calm. She must really be sick… I wish I could visit her. But work waits.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. The streets were quiet, until a group of bullies appeared ahead. Their numbers had grown—around twenty or more, all glaring at him.
"There he is!" one yelled. "The one who beat me at school! Come on, guys… let's finish him!"
Arashi stopped, his expression unchanged, yet a spark of readiness lit his eyes. The fight was about to escalate once again.