I didn't get the chance to check the rewards for the mission. The system's notification had barely registered in my mind when Kazuya's fist came swinging toward my face. Time seemed to slow as I reacted on instinct, tilting my head to the side just enough to avoid the blow. His knuckles grazed my cheek, the force of his punch brushing past me like a gust of wind.
My body moved before my mind could catch up. Months of relentless training at the dojo, countless hours of practicing the Iron Body Technique, and the discipline of honing my Qi—all of it culminated in this moment. My palm shot forward, striking Kazuya's abdomen with precision. The technique I used was the Flowing Wave Palm, a move designed to channel kinetic energy into a concentrated shockwave. As my palm made contact, I released a burst of Ki, the force rippling through his body.
Kazuya's eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching as the impact sent him stumbling backward. He doubled over, clutching his stomach, his face a mask of pain and disbelief. He hadn't expected this. None of them had.
But I didn't stop there. Ren, who had been standing to the side, lunged at me, his fists raised. He was quick, but I was quicker. My training at the dojo had taught me to anticipate my opponents' movements, to react without hesitation. As Ren closed in, I sidestepped his wild swing and countered with a sharp strike to his jaw. My fist connected with a satisfying crack, and his eyes rolled back as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Shiro, the last of the three, stepped forward, his expression twisted with anger. "You think you're tough now?" he snarled. Suddenly, his arms began to change, the skin hardening and turning a dull gray. Stone. His Quirk—Rock Arms—activated, transforming his limbs into heavy, unyielding weapons.
Shiro swung at me, his stone fist cutting through the air with a low whoosh. I ducked under the blow, feeling the rush of wind as his arm passed overhead. The ground shook slightly as his fist collided with the wall behind me, leaving a small crater in the brick. He was strong, but he was also predictable.
I countered with a quick strike to his side, aiming for the gap between his stone arms and his torso. My fist connected with a satisfying thud, but Shiro barely flinched. His Quirk didn't just enhance his arms—it made his entire upper body more resilient. I'd have to be smarter about this.
When he swung again, I ducked low and swept his legs out from under him. His stone arms made him top-heavy, and he crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Before he could recover, I delivered a precise strike to his temple, careful not to use too much force. His eyes rolled back, and he went still.
I turned to Kazuya, who was still on his knees, clutching his stomach. He looked up at me, his face pale with fear. I bent down, my voice low but firm. "Consider this my last payment. Don't bother me again."
His eyes met mine, a mixture of fear and anger flickering in their depths. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, he nodded weakly, his pride shattered.
I straightened up and turned away, leaving the three of them behind. The adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a quiet sense of satisfaction. This wasn't just a victory over them—it was a victory over my past self. The weakling they used to push around was gone. In his place stood someone stronger, someone who wouldn't back down.
As I walked away, I finally took a moment to check the system notification. The mission was complete, and the rewards were waiting. But more importantly, I felt a newfound confidence. The UA entrance exam was just around the corner, and I was ready.