Chapter 01

Today was a beautiful day.

The radiant sun was shining high in a clear blue sky adorned with beautiful cotton-wool clouds. Students were coming out of classes, laughing and chatting with each other as they ran through the narrow corridors of the school and filled the cafeteria and the old school store.

As usual, during the middle of the day the school was bustling with noise and movement.

Teachers would gather in the teachers' office to drink coffee and chat with each other.

Students were out on campus, wandering around, having fun and hanging out until the next hour of the afternoon shift began.

It was another usual day.

There was nothing to suggest that today would be any different than any other typical school day.

Or well, it seemed that way...

 

Behind the school gym, in a dark corner—out of public view—was me, Ethan Drake, a high school sophomore.

What am I doing here, you ask?

Well, right now 

... I find myself taking a beating.

**

Bluaagh! Cough! Cough!

A tight, concrete-hard fist slammed directly into the pit of my stomach.

The sudden blow made my pupils constrict abruptly as I felt the air escape my body.

I immediately winced at the intense pain that had my stomach as its center, but quickly shook my entire body. My legs trembled, losing strength and falling to my knees on the floor.

Gasping and trying to contain the burning liquid that rose uncontrollably from deep inside my stomach.

That bitter and nauseating burning taste went up my throat until it filled my mouth.

I tried to contain it, but it was impossible. The vomit gushed out of my mouth as if it were an open faucet, spilling all over the floor and filling the place with a foul, foul odor.

Bluagg!

There went all the food I had for breakfast in the morning.

I coughed and spat out the rest of the bitter bile taste left in my mouth.

My eyes seemed to be on the verge of tears due to the shame and pain that overwhelmed my entire body - especially my stomach - but at the same time, a growing, bubbling anger inside myself began to emerge furiously, threatening to explore like a fucking volcano.

You...!

Anger coursed through my entire body, causing my fists to clench until they dug my nails into my skin.

My gaze filled with hatred and murderous emotions rose in the direction of those three bastards in front of me.

There, showing me expressions of mockery and ridicule, were the three thugs guilty of my misfortune.

"Hahaha! Ethan, fuck, look at the mess you've made. Yuck, what a rotten shit smell!" one of them exclaimed with laughter, while covering his nose with his fingers at the intense odor.

"What did you eat in the morning, Ethan, the smell is just nauseating!"

"For a family that supposedly has a dojo, you're pretty pathetic, aren't you? I thought I'd last a few more punches, but you went down with just one of my punches. Disappointing. Just disappointing, Ethan. I guess your family's dojo is just a scam. A dump full of useless weaklings, I alone could sweep them all away."

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✔️ ✔️ 

Today was a beautiful day. 

The radiant sun was shining high in a clear blue sky adorned with beautiful cotton-wool clouds. Students were coming out of classes, laughing and chatting with each other as they ran through the narrow hallways of the building and filled the cafeteria and the old-school store.

As usual, in the middle of the day, the school was bustling with noise and movement. The teachers met in the teachers' office to have coffee and chat among themselves. Meanwhile, the students were out on the school campus, wandering around, having fun and hanging out until their afternoon classes would begin.

It was another normal day.

There was nothing to suggest that today would be any different than any other typical school day.

Or that's what it seemed...

Behind the school gym, in a dark corner—out of public view—was me, Ethan Drake, a high school sophomore.

What am I doing here, you ask?

Well, right now... I find myself taking a beating.

✔️ ✔️