Something felt different. The crowd's chatter faded, replaced by a tense, almost electric silence. It wasn't just stubbornness keeping Darok on his feet anymore. Deep inside, something had stirred—an aura, a pressure, a primal will demanding endurance, demanding victory.
The bully stepped forward, forcing a laugh that trembled slightly.
Guy (forcing confidence): "S-so what? You're still just a small fry."
Darok's eyes shifted, glowing pale gray, sharp and unblinking. Unconsciously, he entered a state beyond anger, beyond skill—a state that would later be called the Monster State.
In this state, the body flows like water. Every motion anticipates the opponent. Every strike lands with precision and weight that feels almost unnatural. Reflexes sharpen; perception slows time without slowing the body. Instinct and thought fuse into a single, unstoppable flow.
Darok lunged. The bully threw a straight punch to push him back, but Darok moved as if he'd seen it before it happened. He caught the attacker's arm mid-swing, twisting and pivoting effortlessly. With a single, fluid motion, he slammed the bully against the ground. The impact echoed like a crack of thunder.
The boy lay there, gasping, eyes wide with shock. He didn't get back up.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. No laughter, no cheers—only the sound of Darok's heavy breathing. Dust lingered in the air, curling in the fluorescent light, as if the room itself was holding its breath.
Whispers broke the silence. Students stepped back, not daring to meet Darok's gaze. Even those who mocked him minutes ago now looked at him like something… inhuman.
Darok's Monster State faded as suddenly as it had appeared. His chest heaved, heart pounding, yet his mind felt calm, unnervingly focused. He stood alone in the center of the hushed cafeteria—broken chips scattered at his feet, the bully sprawled in defeat.
And that was the day Darok earned his name—the Monster.
Chapter 14 End