On the second floor, Kris and Hans' fight was still continuing. Hans' footsteps sounded hurried as he ran away, choosing the long, open school corridor as the next arena.
Classroom walls lined up neatly on both sides, the floor reflecting the dim afternoon light. Seeing that, Kris instead smiled faintly, his body leaning slightly forward, as if the pain from earlier had never existed.
"Did you prepare this stage for me? You're very kind."
His tone was relaxed, mocking, yet the words felt cold.
Kris' body did not look completely upright, his shoulders slightly lowered, his breathing heavy, but his gaze was sharp like a blade.
Hans stopped in the middle of the corridor, taking a deep breath while preparing his stance.
The soles of his feet gripped the floor, his hands raised ready to strike. He still wanted to continue this fight, still believed he could win, even though his chest rose and fell irregularly.
Without warning, Kris moved forward. Not running, not jumping, but as if disappearing from where he stood. In the blink of an eye, the distance between them vanished in less than a few seconds.
Hans only had time to widen his eyes when Kris was already beside him, one hand gripping his shoulder tightly, the pressure making Hans' body reflexively tense.
Then Kris brought his mouth close to Hans' ear, as if nothing had happened.
"But forgive me, I don't like fighting insects…"
The words were spoken softly, almost whispering, yet that was exactly what made them piercing. Hans could feel the humiliation more painful than any punch.
Anger exploded. Hans swung his fist toward Kris' face, full of strength and emotion. But the punch only hit empty air. Kris had already shifted, his body turning lightly, his movements flowing like a cold and cruel dance.
Within that spin, Kris' heel shot out, striking Hans' right jaw with perfect precision. The sound of impact was short and solid.
Hans' body lifted slightly before collapsing onto the corridor floor, his eyes closed, his consciousness extinguished instantly.
Kris stood upright above the unconscious Hans.
"Finished? Is that all your ability? You collapsed even before I remembered your name."
Then Kris walked toward the third floor, he looked at Hans lying unconscious.
"A weak insect like you should be grateful for being defeated by me."
On the third floor, the atmosphere changed drastically. The seven people who had surrounded Riko earlier were now scattered across the corridor, some crashing into classroom walls, the rest lying face down on the floor with gasping breaths.
"Is he really human!!?" said one of them before passing out.
Riko stood among them, his shoulders rising and falling, but his gaze calm. There was no more doubt, no more wavering. The fight earlier felt too easy for him.
"This isn't as difficult as before…" he muttered softly.
He clenched his fist, feeling a strange sensation spreading from his palm to his arm.
"There's something different with my body."
Sweat flowed down his temple, heat. An unnatural heat, like a small fire burning from inside his own flesh.
Riko stepped forward, passing the motionless bodies. Every step felt heavy, but his determination pushed him on. His gaze focused toward the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
"Rio… wait!"
he said quietly. He had to get there. Whatever happened, he could not be left behind.
But after only a few steps, his body suddenly stopped responding. His muscles tightened instantly, then the pain came. Not like being hit, not like being stabbed.
It felt more like his own body was rebelling.
"Arghhhkk!!!!!"
His scream echoed through the empty corridor. Riko grabbed his chest, his back bending sharply. The earlier heat turned into brutal pain, like something tearing from inside, forcing its way out.
"What is this!!!?"
His breathing broke apart, his vision spinning. The world around him felt rotating, classroom walls seeming to move closer and farther alternately. He tried to stand upright, but his legs trembled violently.
A drop of blood fell to the floor. Then another. Blood flowed from his nose uncontrollably. Riko sat down, his body hunched, one hand holding the floor to keep from collapsing completely.
His teeth chattered, not from cold, but from the pain that kept increasing.
His mind was chaotic. Memories, emotions, anger, determination, all mixed into one. As if something inside his body had just awakened, but was not ready to be controlled.
His strength finally ran out. Riko's head drooped, his large body slowly falling to the side. In the silent third-floor corridor, he lay unconscious, still breathing, but his awareness drowned in darkness.
"I have to go…"
His hand still tried to rise, but in the end that was his limit.
Kris had just arrived on the third floor, his steps stopping instantly. His eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. The school corridor had turned into something like a battlefield.
Seven people lay collapsed in terrible condition, blood scattered on the floor and walls. Some had their backs slammed into the wall until their bodies hung crooked, some dangled weakly on the balcony railing, and the rest lay motionless with bruised faces.
Kris fell silent for a few seconds, trying to process the insane scene in front of him.
"What the hell is he…?"
Kris muttered softly, his tone mixed between annoyance and admiration.
"He did this alone…?!"
Kris' gaze then dropped toward the stairs leading to the fourth floor. There, Riko sat unconscious, his body leaning weakly, head lowered, his breathing still rising and falling but clearly unstable. Dried blood was visible around his nose.
Kris approached quickly, kneeling in front of Riko, then embracing that large body with difficulty.
"You idiot… You pushed yourself too hard."
he said while letting out a long breath. With some effort, Kris lifted Riko and began carrying him toward the fourth floor, his face now serious, no more joking tone.
"This is heavy too…"
he said, Kris starting to feel lazy.
On the fourth floor, Rio was thrown onto the floor after being blown back by the earlier punch. He rolled once before stopping, then slowly rose with one knee touching the ground.
His right hand wiped the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. His face remained calm, even though he had just been struck by Kariel.
"What was that?"
Rio said coldly.
"Was that a coward's move?"
He stood fully, patting his dusty uniform and blazer, as if just brushing off a small disturbance. His gaze then lifted forward, staring at Kariel and Rivaldo without the slightest fear.
"Hey,"
Rio continued in a flat but piercing voice.
"If I knew you were this much of a coward… I wouldn't even bother fighting you."
That sentence was like fuel poured onto fire. Kariel immediately growled, veins bulging on his temple. Without warning, he dashed forward, his steps fast, his fist heading straight toward Rio's face.
But the punch only struck air. Rio jumped lightly, his body rising past Kariel, the shadow of his leg passing above his opponent's head. In one quick spin, Rio's heel struck the side of Kariel's head hard.
Kariel's body immediately collapsed, his head hitting the balcony floor with a heavy sound.
"Feel the movement you just failed yourself…"
Rio said coldly, his eyes calm like the surface of a lake without waves.
Rio's body had not fully descended.
In the air, he folded both legs, then dropped himself directly toward Kariel. Both knees slammed into Kariel's fallen body, making the floor beneath them vibrate slightly.
Dust rose again into the air. Rio landed steadily on top of Kariel, his breathing steady, his expression empty.
"One… finished."
Rivaldo could only remain silent seeing Rio become so strong.
—
A few days before the fight happened, evening descended slowly over a quiet corner of the school. Rivaldo stood leaning against the balcony railing, his arms folded casually, his eyes gazing into the distance at the courtyard that was beginning to empty.
The wind gently moved his uniform, carrying a calm atmosphere that felt strange to the people around him.
Behind him, several of his subordinates gathered. David stepped slightly forward, resting his shoulder against the wall while looking at Rivaldo with a doubtful expression. His voice broke the silence.
"So… what will you do? Are you going to let him go?"
David asked Rivaldo, who was standing while leaning.
Rivaldo did not answer immediately. He let out a slow breath, then closed his eyes.
A small smile appeared on his face, not a mocking smile, but something far gentler.
"Yes, I've been protecting him for a long time. Maybe… this is the time…"
His tone was calm, almost like someone remembering the past.
Rivaldo's eyes were closed, he smiled sincerely.
"When Rio said he would become a 'Challenger,' on that day I was very happy. I have fulfilled my promise to his parents. Maybe… this is enough."
Some of the subordinates looked at each other, the atmosphere becoming awkward. Kariel, who had been silent all this time, finally stepped forward, standing beside Rivaldo. His gaze was sharp, more serious than usual.
"You bullied him all this time to protect him. But who is protecting you?"
Kariel asked Rivaldo.
Rivaldo slowly opened his eyes. He turned slightly toward Kariel, but did not fully face him. The wind blew again, making the atmosphere feel even quieter.
"Protecting who? Rio? I wasn't protecting him, I was just holding onto a promise…"
That sincere smile appeared again on his face, without burden, without regret.
David lowered his head slowly, as if he had just understood something that had been missing from his thoughts all this time. The other subordinates fell silent, none dared to interrupt. For a moment, Rivaldo no longer looked like a feared leader, but someone who was closing a long chapter in his life.
Rivaldo looked into the distance again, toward the school building standing still. In his heart, he knew, when that promise was released, there would be no more protection, no more reason.
"I bullied him to protect Rio from those people. And that was only for a promise…"
Rivaldo smiled and then wanted to laugh softly.
"This is quite a funny story to laugh about… isn't it?"
Rivaldo laughed happily, followed by his friends. The beautiful afternoon sun was accompanied by Rivaldo's laughter.
—
Back to the present…
Rio jumped toward Rivaldo with a full-force push. His body spun in the air, then a powerful kick struck Rivaldo's chest mercilessly.
The impact sounded heavy, Rivaldo was thrown back and fell onto the rooftop floor, his breath instantly choked.
Rio landed right beside him. Without hesitation, he bent down, grabbing Rivaldo's uniform collar with his left hand, pulling the body half-lifted from the floor.
His right hand clenched tightly, veins tense, his shoulder trembling from the anger long buried.
"This is my revenge…!"
The first punch landed on Rivaldo's face. Followed by the second, third, and more. Every strike was full of resentment, full of old wounds that finally found their way out.
Rivaldo's head swung to the side, blood flowing from the corner of his lips, his body no longer resisting.
Rivaldo could only accept it. His hands hung limp, his eyes half open, his breathing growing heavier.
"You—…"
He tried to speak, but his voice broke.
Rio's fist struck again, forcing the words to sink along with the pain.
Rio's gaze was empty. There was no explosive anger, no satisfaction, only cold emptiness.
His hands kept moving as if his body acted on its own, as if his mind had stopped hearing the world. Punch after punch landed without pause.
"You… have… become strong…"
Rivaldo's voice came out faint and weak, almost drowned by his own breathing.
"What are you saying?.. I can't hear it."
Rio did not smile, nor frown. His face remained flat, expressionless, while his fist struck Rivaldo again.
In the distance, Arya ran closer. His steps were hurried, his eyes widened seeing the scene.
He already knew the truth, everything that had been hidden. Fariel had told him everything when he was defeated. And now, seeing Rio like this,
Arya realized one thing.
"This will be dangerous if left alone!"
Rio was about to rain another punch, but suddenly his arm was restrained.
Arya was already behind him, hugging Rio's body tightly, stopping his movement before the fist could fall again. Arya's breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling, but his hold did not loosen at all.
"What is this!!"
Rio growled, his body tensing like a wounded beast cornered. His muscles contracted, his anger boiling, as if the touch only ignited a new fire.
"Rio!! Stop first, listen to my explanation!"
Arya's voice was firm but urgent.
But Rio did not hear. Or rather, he refused to hear.
His body spun suddenly, his leg lifting and kicking backward with brutal reflex. The kick went straight toward Arya's face behind him. With difficulty Arya avoided it and stepped back.
"So fast!!"
Arya muttered.
"You're blocking me!"
Rio's eyes were terrifying, his pupils narrowed, his face empty but full of pressure.
Fear, anger, and resentment buried all this time seemed to merge into one, taking over his entire body.
Rivaldo lying on the floor watched the scene with gasping breath. Pure fear covered him. Not because of the punches, but because seeing Rio like someone who had lost control of himself.
At the same time, Kris arrived at the rooftop carrying the unconscious Riko. His steps stopped instantly seeing Rio attacking Arya. His eyes widened.
"What is happening?!"
Without thinking, Kris carefully lowered Riko to the floor.
"You stay here for a moment, Riko, I'll handle them."
Kris immediately ran toward Rio and Arya.
Kris stopped beside Arya, his eyes moving quickly between Rio and Rivaldo.
"What happened?"
"Kris, I'll explain later…! For now it's better we stop him."
Arya said heavily.
Rio stood with his body slightly leaning forward. His eyes were completely dark, black without reflection, like an empty hole swallowing everything.
When he moved just one step, killing intent spread wildly, pressing the air around them. Rivaldo, Arya, and Kris all broke into cold sweat.
"This pressure!!!"
Kris let out a small forced laugh.
"Chairman… are you sure you can subdue him?"
"I'm not sure!!!"
Arya answered honestly.
Just as Rio was about to move again, his body suddenly staggered. His steps stopped, his shoulders dropped, then his whole body collapsed forward. He fainted just like that, lying helpless on the rooftop floor.
Silence fell instantly. The pressure disappeared like fog blown away by wind.
"Huh… huh… What was that…"
Kris muttered.
"Hahhh… finally…"
Arya exhaled deeply.
"Maybe earlier he was truly angry and drowned in emotion… I also blocked his revenge… that might be what made his consciousness sink completely."
On the other side, Riko, who had already regained consciousness, looked at Rio with a complicated expression.
"I've seen that once before… I didn't expect to see it a second time."
"The first time was when his younger sibling was kidnapped."
No one responded immediately.
Riko stood and approached Rio.
"I'll be the one to take him home."
Without waiting for an answer, he lifted Rio carefully.
Riko approached Rivaldo and stood beside him.
"This is over. It's better we don't create problems again in the future."
After that, Riko turned and walked away with the others.
"I'm not a man who breaks my promises…"
Rivaldo said faintly before lying there like someone who had surrendered.
They stopped at the school gate. The evening sky stretched wide, the sun slowly setting, leaving warm orange colors.
"That… is beautiful…"
Rio's voice appeared weakly.
"Yes… it is beautiful."
Arya, Riko, and Kris said it at the same time.
The four of them looked at the sky without saying anything.
It felt peaceful. No fights, no resentment, only honest silence.
They walked home together. Their figures slowly became silhouettes under the sunset light.
That day ended, becoming night.