"You bastard!" the boy yelled, his voice laced with pain. "This isn't over! I'll get you for this!"
Clutching his injured arm, he staggered away—retreating in humiliation.
Kevin watched him go.
His gaze was indifferent.
Cold.
As if he had just looked at something completely insignificant.
(…Do they always use lines that cringey?)
(…Yeah. Typical bully.)
He exhaled lightly and turned back to his seat.
"Huh? What?"
The classroom had fallen silent.
Every single eye was on him.
But Kevin didn't care about that.
What actually caught his attention… was Nazy.
She was staring at him.
Eyes wide.
Jaw slightly parted.
Shock.
Kevin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
(…Did I overdo it?)
(…I was really trying not to look suspicious.)
The rest of the day passed without incident.
Well… not exactly.
Whispers began to spread.
Rumors crawled through classrooms, carried by excited voices and curious ears.
Someone had defeated the top bully.
And just like that—
Kevin became the new "king" of Class 3A.
The rumor didn't stop there.
It climbed.
Primary 4.
Primary 5.
Primary 6.
And with it came something inevitable.
Attention.
Trouble.
Kevin didn't care.
Why should he?
They were just kids.
Kids who hadn't even hit puberty.
(…There's no way they can hurt me.)
It sounded arrogant.
But it was the truth.
It had been over a month since the dream.
And from day one—
Kevin had been training.
Relentlessly.
Morning.
Night.
Every single day.
Right now—
He was already stronger than most teenagers.
And when you added his mind—
A mind that had lived far longer than his body—
…there was no comparison.
No contest.
No threat.
Except—
The visions.
(…In a situation like this… I should've seen something by now.)
His gaze shifted slightly.
Toward Nazy.
She was sweeping the classroom.
Focused.
Unaware.
(…Apart from the recurring vision of Nazy… nothing else.)
(…Does that mean it's safe?)
(…No… it shouldn't be.)
His eyes darkened faintly.
(…That vision… her lying in blood…)
(…That's years from now… two… maybe three…)
(…So why—)
"Kevin!"
He blinked.
"Huh? What?"
"I've been calling you," Nazy said, frowning. "Why are you always staring into space?"
"…I was just thinking about how cute you are," he replied casually.
Silence.
Then—
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
"Haa… fine! Let's just go home!"
She turned quickly, clearly flustered.
Kevin smirked faintly.
(…Too easy.)
They walked down the stairs together.
Nazy in front.
Kevin behind.
Calm.
Observant.
Like a silent guard.
"Kevin…" she said softly. "I can't help but think something is weird about you."
"Oh?"
"You always walk me home. It's strange."
"Is that why you agreed to be friends with me?" he teased. "Because I'm interesting?"
"Ugh… will you stop teasing already?" she huffed. "Let's just go!"
She walked faster.
Kevin watched her quietly.
(…She's perceptive.)
(…Even now… she's not someone you can fool easily.)
His expression hardened slightly.
(…The reason I stay close to her… is because of the visions.)
(…The future isn't fixed.)
(…So I'll change it.)
"Umm… Kevin?"
She stopped.
Turned.
"C-Can you wait here? I need to use the restroom."
"…Yeah. Sure."
Kevin leaned against the wall.
Arms folded.
Waiting.
Minutes passed.
Quiet.
Still.
Then—
"…Is it him?"
Kevin lifted his head.
And sighed.
"I guess you didn't learn your lesson, did you?"
"Shut up, you bastard!"
The same boy stepped forward.
But this time—
He wasn't alone.
Two older boys stood behind him.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Older.
Kevin straightened slowly.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I see you brought friends. From higher classes too… Class 6, I guess?"
"…It'll be different this time," the boy said, confidence returning. "There's no way you can beat the three of us."
"We're going to beat you so badly—your mommy won't recognize you!"
Kevin chuckled.
Not out of amusement.
Something darker.
"…One or three… it doesn't make any difference."
His gaze lowered slightly.
Cold.
"You're all still just bugs."
They flinched.
Anger surged.
They rushed him—
Then Kevin spoke.
Calm.
Almost casual.
"Since school is already dismissed…"
He cracked his fingers slowly.
"…teachers won't be butting in."
A pause.
His lips curved.
"And that means…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I don't have to hold back."
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
"So tell me," Kevin added, tilting his head slightly, "is it considered disrespectful to beat up an upperclassman…"
His smile widened.
"…even when it's clearly self-defense?"
"You son of a—!"
Woosh!
The punch came.
Kevin slipped past it effortlessly.
Jab!
A precise strike to the bicep.
The arm dropped instantly.
Jab!
A sharp hit to the stomach.
The boy collapsed, choking on air.
"Arrgh!!"
Kevin crouched beside him.
Calm.
Detached.
"…Even though I said I wouldn't hold back…"
His voice was quiet.
"…you're just too weak."
The boy trembled.
Kevin tilted his head.
"Come to think of it… I don't even know your name."
A faint smile.
"So I'll call you Bully #1."
Pause.
"You like it?"
"…Impressive."
The second boy stepped forward.
"Let me introduce myse—"
"I don't care, Bully #2."
Silence.
Then—
"Tch… let's just beat him!"
They rushed.
Zoom—
Kevin vanished.
Bam!
A fist drove into the stomach.
Bam!
Another.
Boom!
A kick sent the third boy crashing into the wall.
"…Again with the lines," Kevin muttered. "Was I supposed to wait?"
Bully #2 charged in anger.
Kevin caught the punch mid-air.
"…Hmm."
He tilted his head.
"Nice one."
A slight pause.
"I almost felt an itch."
He twisted the arm and threw it aside.
"Argh!"
"Get up!" Bully #2 shouted. "I can't do this alone—he's a monster!"
The third boy forced himself up.
Both stood side by side.
Breathing hard.
Fear creeping in.
Kevin stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
"Oh? You actually got up?"
His lips stretched.
"…I know I was holding back… but I didn't expect that."
His aura shifted.
Darker.
"Heavier."
"Congratulations."
A pause.
"You've successfully leveled up…"
His eyes dimmed.
"…from bugs to cockroaches."
"Yaaa!!"
They rushed again.
Punches.
Kicks.
Desperation.
Kevin didn't move.
Hands in his pockets.
He simply… avoided everything.
Effortless.
Bored.
Each dodge only widened the gap between them.
"W-What is he…?" one muttered, panting.
"At this rate… we can't win…"
"…But we won't give up!"
They lunged—
—
Kevin appeared between them.
"Seriously…"
His voice was low.
"…just how many movies have you guys been watching?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Nazy will be out of the restroom soon."
A step forward.
"So let's put an end to this."
Bam!
Jab!
Boom!
A flurry of precise strikes.
Bodies lifted—
Then crashed.
Silence.
"…I guess we're done here."
Kevin dusted his clothes lightly.
"…Good thing Nazy didn't see—"
"See what?"
Kevin froze.
Nazy stood behind him.
Eyes wide.
Confused.
"What the hell happened here?!"
(…Ah crap.)
Kevin scratched the back of his head.
Forcing a smile.
"Uhh… we were just practicing some dance moves…"
A bead of sweat rolled down.
"…they got tired and decided to take a short nap."
"Do you think I'm stupid?!"
She glared at him.
"I leave you for fifteen minutes and THIS is what happens?!"
"But they attacked fi—"
Then—
It hit.
The vision.
Sharp.
Violent.
Immediate.
"Nazy—LOOK OUT!!"
Kevin moved instantly.
He shoved her aside—
CRASH!
A heavy plank slammed into his head.
Blood spilled instantly.
Warm.
Thick.
But Kevin didn't react.
"…Are you okay?" he asked.
"I—I'm fine but you're—"
Kevin turned.
Slowly.
His gaze locked onto—
Bully #1.
Still standing.
Still holding the broken wood.
And something inside Kevin…
Snapped.
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He slammed into him—
Driving him to the ground.
Then—
The first punch landed.
Hard.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Kevin didn't stop.
He couldn't.
(…All this time…)
Punch.
(…Holding back…)
Punch.
(…Pretending…)
Punch.
(…Acting normal…)
Punch.
(…Trying to change the future…)
Punch.
(…Trying to protect everyone…)
Punch.
Something broke.
Deep inside him.
All the restraint.
All the pressure.
All the frustration—
Burst.
(…Enough.)
His lips slowly curled.
A faint smile.
Cold.
Unhinged.
"…Just this once…"
Punch.
"…I'll let it out."
Punch.
Punch.
Punch.
Blood splattered.
Teeth cracked.
Bones shifted.
His eyes burned—
Red.
Empty.
Merciless.
Like something human had been peeled away.
And what remained—
Was something raw.
Primal.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Like—
An Angered Beast.
—To Be Continued