The Demon That Laid Dormant

Fight Back

I walked to our classroom, and of course, there were a whole lot of students staring daggers at me. How did she even expect me to believe that pathetic lie? Top student, my ass. She got bulls for brains.

<Don't talk badly of a behind a girl's back.>

'Why shouldn't I? She was the one who is now tailing my back with clear ill intentions. Why did she even lie in the first place?'

<Just don't.>

'Hmm... I had doubts but now I am sure.'

The way he talked, the way he acted, and now this.

<What?>

'You are a Casanova.'

<That I am.>

'Don't just admit it that easily!'

<Why shouldn't I?>

'Holding my gun at me huh...'

<Hehe.>

This guy really puts me off when he tries to act cute.

"I haven't seen that son of a bitch the whole day."

Ah, yes. Gossips.

"Must have gone to die again."

"Why is he still here?"

"Get the fuck out!"

"Haa..."

Their words stung me like hundred needles alright. Even if I tried to retaliate, nothing would change. It was just my fate. But now, I had someone by my side and something that will help me grow.

I guess I should open my mouth a bit.

"Ahem!"

Everyone in the class was already looking in my direction as soon as I entered the classroom, but now they had an even more aggressive glimmer in their eyes as if to kill me right in the spot as soon as the words in my mouth fly out. Yeah, that would happen considering the words I was going to say.

I was half inclined to swallow the words in my mouth but then it struck me...

'When did I become this wimpy?'

<Yeah right. You always stood up when you were beaten up badly and never backed down and continued to endure it with your all. Why stagger now?>

This guy...

'Should I go with a blast?'

Everyone's powers were waiting to go berserk.

<Go for it!>

"..."

"..."

"Phew... Fuck you all."

"..."

"..."

...

Silence reigned everywhere in the classroom. It was like the calm before the storm and I knew that storm was not going to be good for my health, but damn, it felt good. I couldn't help but feel something heavy on my chest had been lifted. But now... it was time for the beating. And since I have already done the deed, there was no point in backing out now.

Those who were seating on their seats got up with creaking noises trailing off their back. Those who were already standing and staring daggers at me took steps towards me. Some manifested their powers of fire, water, wind, earth, and what-not, and some cracked their knuckles to beat me bare-handedly- all girls and boys alike. Boys are one thing, but shouldn't girls avoid fighting? This shatters my image of girls, not like I had a good image of them. Anyway, in just a few seconds, the classroom became a class filled with students who looked like going to an exciting war... against me.

<Now, the beat up.>

'I guess I am gonna try what my dad did.'

Yeah. My body is not frail anymore so I think I can pull those off.

I rolled up sleeves and took out the bandages I use after every beat up lying in my pocket and wrapped them around my hands.

<Oi oi, you are really going to do 'that'? You know that you never even tried that in your life, right? That is not something you should do without any practice.>

'It's just simple martial arts. And either way, I am going to turn a half-dead.'

He seemed like he was overly worried.

<But still!>

Woah, he raised his voice. It was the first time.

<But still, you shouldn't.>

'Hey, it'll be alright.'

I know that there is a catch, but for now, I am going to keep that aside. I've got more pressing matters.

"Hey, son of a bitch..."

A bulky guy whose face I have seen for the first time approached me. With his enormous height, I seemed like an ant who is going to be crushed. Was this guy ever in our class? Or is he a teacher?

"Um, would you mind if I asked your name?"

Not like I am going to remember later on.

"..."

He was silent. I must have touched a nerve and I could see the throbbing nerve on his neck. And now he is going to spout out the same cliché dialogue.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YA SAY?!"

Ah, here comes the cliché.

He swung his big ass arm at me.

The memories of my dad practising his martial arts flew by my mind.

***

'Dad, how do you defeat opponents who are much bigger than us?'

'Why do you need to know, my son?' My dad placed his callused hand on my head.

'In case my frail body recovers and I have to face a big opponent.' My childish self answered honestly.

'Hmm... Okay, let me show you.'

My dad went over to a simulator and sat on the seat. He sucked in the machine and his body became still.

I craned my neck towards the big TV in front of my face and saw my dad waving. Behind him was a big man, standing still and stoically.

My dad went over to the man and did something on the back of that man.

My dad went back to his position and took a fighting stance.

'Look carefully, Ken,' he said, smirking.

The big man also took a battle stance, and what went down in that simulation was flawlessly ingrained in my mind like a preserved fossil.

***

"Haaah!!!"

I stepped aside and his hand cracked the floor.

It was at a terrifying speed but yet, for some reason, I could see it all.

Boom!

'A super-human Potential.'

Enraged, he jabbed his arm towards the side I was in. My father's words surfaced in my mind, at the same time, I was reading his movement precisely.

'Big opponents tend to rely on their strength too much, so try to dodge their attacks by using their stable and strong body parts as platforms and take the advantage of your position.'

I jumped over the hand huge hand and placed my hand firmly on the stable hand. For some reason, I felt my body light as a feather. It was surreal. I could flip my body as much as I wanted without breaking a sweat. But the thing which surprised me the most was the unbelievable rise in reaction time and reflexes. They were astounding for a Potential-less. Everything around seemed to stop moving for a split second, I could see everyone's face. But it was not pleasant, every girl's eyes were watching me with disgust in their eyes and the boys were gritting their teeth in anger and surprise. But it didn't last long. Time started to move again and I could feel my body in motion again.

I yanked my feet to stabilize my upside-down body and landed on his arm slyly.

"Huh?!"

I ran up the arm and when I was near his neck, I yanked my arms behind.

'There is no way you can win against a big opponent in terms of strength unless you are stronger than them, so play it smart. Every living being has certain weak points craved in their body. In the case of humans, they are called the pressure points.'

'First is the pulsing vein in the neck.'

I opened my index and middle while leaving the rest in my fist, and pushed the yanked hand towards the vein, imitating my father's martial arts exactly.

"Gah!"

My fingers went deep inside his vein but I took care not to "accidentally" tear it apart.

"..."

What happened? Why was he not moving?

Thump!

He fell to the ground and his eyes rolled upwards.

"Huh?"

That was it?

<O-O-Oi...>

"Huh?"

Why is he stuttering so much?

I took a sweeping glance at the faces of my so-called classmates.

They stood at their places and their faces screamed 'monster'.

No, it can't be.

I slowly creaked my head towards the bulky guy.

"What the..."

***