Location: Artificial Area, Forest
Peter and Jack moved at the same time.
The corner of Peter's lips curled slightly upward.
His eyes glowed with an almost pitch-dark red.
Peter: Are you as strong as your mouth, Jack!?
Before the words even faded, Peter threw a punch.
Jack leapt backward on instinct.
But even as he dodged, the air pressure from the punch chased him.
BOOM!
Two massive trees were hurled aside as if torn from their roots. Their trunks cracked midair, then shattered as they crashed to the ground.
Jack flipped through the air and landed, his feet scraping against the soil before he managed to stop.
Jack: Hah! Monster!
Peter laughed. Short. Mocking.
Peter: Haha! Running away… just what I'd expect from you.
Jack clenched his teeth.
Suddenly, he accelerated.
Every time his feet hit the ground, mud and stones flew everywhere. Jack circled Peter at blinding speed, his figure almost completely blurred.
A brief opening-
Jack appeared behind Peter in an instant.
Jack: Cosmic Impact!
He poured all his strength into his fist and struck.
FSSSS-
The punch pierced straight through its target.
But-
There was only smoke behind Peter.
Jack's eyes widened.
Jack: Wh—!?
Peter: Seriously?
A hand grabbed Jack's wrist.
Peter seized Jack with one hand. His muscles tightened, cracks spreading even beneath the ground.
Then
He threw him.
Jack lost control midair.
He crashed into one tree and shattered it.
Hit a second and split it in two.
By the third, his body was buried into the trunk.
But before Jack could even hit the ground
Peter was already in the air.
Peter: Insects should know their place!
Peter slammed his full weight into Jack's opening.
KRAAAAAASH!
Jack was smashed into the ground.
The earth caved in.
The impact zone was the size of a building.
Nearby trees collapsed, the ground trembled.
Jack coughed inside the crater.
Jack (coughing): Th-This… turned bad fast.
Peter landed on his feet.
A thick cloud of dust rose around him.
From within the smoke, two red eyes glowed.
Peter slowly looked down at Jack.
Peter: Just as expected from an insect like you… weak.
Jack trembled as he tried to stand.
He crossed his arms, taking a defensive stance.
Peter lunged forward.
Punches
Not one.
Not two.
A storm.
Each punch tore through the air. Each blow shook Jack's guard.
They were so fast, it felt like they surpassed even the top speed of Formula 1 cars.
Jack's feet lifted off the ground.
With every hit, he was pushed farther back.
Peter: What's wrong!? Not as strong as your mouth, are you, little bug!?
Jack's arms were shaking.
His breathing was ragged.
Jack (thinking, in pain): Is it… even possible to beat this monster…?
Another hit.
Jack was blasted backward and fell to his knees.
In the distance, behind a tree, Rose's eyes widened.
Rose (thinking): Jack… I'm sorry.
Your chances of winning… aren't even as big as a grain of rice.
Amid the smoke, shattered trees, and cracked earth, Peter stood tall.
Jack was still trying to stay upright.
But the difference in power between them was now undeniable.
Jack collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Location: ???, Jack's hometown
Time: 8 years ago
Jack stood in front of his house.
The laughter of other children reached his ears with the wind. They were running together, falling, getting back up again.
Jack stood a few steps away. Alone.
Jack: Mom… why can't I play with the others?
His mother spoke without looking at him. Her voice was calm but distant.
Jack's Mother: Because you're very different from them, my son.
Jack lowered his head. His fingers clenched.
Jack: But my brother can play with them…
His mother hesitated for a moment then hardened.
Jack's Mother: Because you're far, far more different than them!
Jack flinched and stepped back.
Jack: Wh… what?
This time, his mother looked directly at him. Her gaze was cold.
Jack's Mother: Why weren't you born like your brother? He obtained a Technique before you did!
Those words stabbed into Jack like a knife. His eyes filled with tears, his breath trembling.
Jack (deeply hurt): Just because I don't have a Technique… you won't accept me as your child!?
No answer came.
His mother stayed silent.
That silence hurt more than screaming ever could.
Jack couldn't endure it anymore. He ran to his room and slammed the door shut.
Jack (crying): Why was I even born…!?
He started punching the wall.
Once.
Then again.
Jack: Why! Why! Why!
Blood seeped from his hands, but he didn't care about the pain.
Jack: You'll see, Mom… I'll become a Guardian and gain power beyond those so-called geniuses!
Those words carved themselves deep into Jack's heart that day.
Present Day
Location: Artificial Area, Forest
Peter's punches suddenly stopped.
The violent tremors shaking echoing through the forest ceased.
Peter: Now then… shall we finish this with one last move, little bug?
Jack lay on the ground. His body wouldn't respond. His breathing was uneven.
Rose turned away, glancing at him.
Rose: I'm sorry, Jack. Say goodbye to your dream of becoming a Guardian.
Jack's eyes were open but unfocused. His pupils were barely visible.
Jack (thinking): Is this… as far as I go…?
(A brief pause)
They didn't even give me a chance to prove myself…
Peter raised his arm, preparing the finishing blow.
But—
He stopped.
Jack: What…? Why hasn't he attacked yet?
Jack forced his eyes upward.
Peter stood completely still.
Even a bird flying above wasn't flapping its wings.
Jack: What's happening…
(He realizes the truth)
I can't… move any part of my body.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Then footsteps.
Slow. Clear. Approaching.
Jack (in pain): Wh-who… is there…?
- - - : You don't need to know, Jack.
Jack's heart raced. He wanted to speak, but no sound came out.
Jack: How do you… know my name…?
- - - (smiling): Hahaha! You don't need to know.
- - - : Just tell me… do you want to defeat this bastard?
At that moment, everything inside Jack fell silent.
The wind changed direction.
The air grew heavy.
Even the texture of the forest felt different.
In an instant
The atmosphere changed.