After serving his punishment—both at school and at home—Tyron was finally allowed to return to training. He had cleared all the roots and could now focus entirely on the trunk. But as days passed, it felt harder than before, as if the wood itself had grown tougher. No matter how many punches or kicks he threw, nothing worked. Only by clawing at it with his nails could he scratch out something that resembled a board.
Exhausted, he looked around for his master. Jayden wasn't there. Scanning the forest, Tyron spotted him instead using the wood and roots that had already been cut, shaping them into something. With a subtle flick of his hand, Jayden sliced the timber with ease. But when he noticed Tyron watching, he dragged the boy back by the ear and planted him in front of the fallen tree. The task wasn't over.
Tyron had never seen his own body covered in so many wounds—shallow, but painful all the same. He leaned against a tree, pulled off the bandana Jayden had once given him, and muttered, "Guess he's not such a bad guy after all."
Jayden overheard. He walked up, smacked Tyron on the head, then surprised him by tossing him some bandages.
"Wrap them up. And when you hit—use this part," he said, tapping his index and middle knuckles. "That way you don't fuck your hands up even more."
Tyron, a bit encouraged, bandaged his fists and legs and tried again. But no matter how he applied Jayden's advice, the trunk wouldn't budge. He kept sneaking glances at his master, who was now comfortably seated on a wooden stool he'd built from the pieces.
By the end of the day, Tyron dragged himself back home. On the bus, he noticed two girls from his school, beaten up and wrapped in bandages just like him. Theirs, however, were different colors—one wore light blue, the other brown—while his remained yellow.
A small voice in his head urged him to find out more, but he ignored it, collapsing into sleep.
The next morning, on his way to school, he saw Antonio sprinting ahead of him. Tyron wondered if the boy was still angry with him—until he heard the roar of motorcycles. Kiev and the others had arrived.
Inside class, Antonio froze when Tyron entered. Tyron tried to greet him, but Antonio ignored him completely. Tyron sat by the window. The school day passed uneventfully—until dismissal. Antonio bolted for the exit. Tyron realized too late where he was heading. Kiev, Monguer, and Soner were waiting for him outside.
With his new speed, Tyron rushed down from the third floor. But he was still too late. Monguer and Soner blocked the way as Kiev kicked Antonio to the ground. Raising his fist for a final blow, Kiev snarled—until Tyron shoved the others aside, grabbed Kiev's arm, and pulled him back, planting himself between Antonio and the attackers.
Kiev: (shocked) "What the fuck are you doing?! Don't you get it? We got suspended because of him! That little pussy couldn't keep his mouth shut 'cause his fists don't make up for his lack of balls!"
He shoved Tyron back a step.
Tyron: (glancing at Antonio) "I'm sorry. This is my fault." (turning back to Kiev) "He's not to blame for anything. If you want someone to fight—it's me. I'm the one who told the headmistress what we did!"
He pushed Kiev, knocking him to the ground.
The air grew heavy. Tyron knew he didn't stand a chance—but better to take the beating than let Antonio suffer again. Kiev sprang up, red with rage, and slammed a punch into Tyron's face.
"So it was you, huh? My best friend? And you threw it all away—for your boyfriend?"
In that instant, Jayden's words echoed in Tyron's head: hit with the right part. Relaxing his arm for speed, Tyron fired a punch straight into Kiev's mouth, leaving him stunned.
Soner and Monguer closed in as Kiev spat blood and growled: "You're dead, Elkin." He only called Tyron by his surname when things were deadly serious.
Realizing the fight was unavoidable, Tyron shouted to Antonio: "Run!" But the redhead couldn't even stand. The beating was seconds away—until a voice cut through the chaos.
"Step away from those boys, or I'll call the police!"
It was the headmistress.
The three bullies covered their faces and bolted. Tyron helped Antonio up and handed him over to her, gathering his scattered belongings and stuffing them into his backpack before giving it back.
As he walked away, the headmistress called out: "I thought the news exaggerated when they called you a hero… but now I see it's true."
Later, back in the forest, Tyron scratched at the trunk with his nails and asked:
Tyron: "Jayden… what's happening to me?"
Jayden: "Happening? Hell if I know what you're babbling about. If you don't tell me, how the fuck am I supposed to answer your stupid shit?"
Tyron just smiled, despite the insult. "It's just… ever since I started this training, I've been doing and saying things I never would have before. It's not… normal."
Jayden laughed, his eyes gleaming with madness.
"That's the change. Your transformation… TO BECOME A FUCKING WARRIOR!"
His insane grin burned into Tyron's mind.