Chapter 8: Rising Resolve

Seeing Zack Lee's reaction, Daniel's smaller body snorted and calmly asked, "Have you already forgotten me? Wasn't I very easy to bully just two days ago, Mr. Simp Yet Not Lover?"

Hearing this, Zack furrowed his brow, trying to recall. After a few moments, he realized he had beaten someone two days prior, but the person he remembered was much fatter, uglier, and shorter. Still, with a focused eyebrow and an annoyed look, he responded, "I don't know who you are, but you do resemble a fatty pig I beat up two days ago."

Daniel remained calm, thinking about how his smaller body was still underdeveloped but capable enough to teach these fools a lesson. As this confrontation unfolded, the cashier watched in fear, flabbergasted and unsure of what to do. He was new, having just applied for the job and working overtime. Fearful of losing his job if anything went wrong, he mustered the courage to shout at Zack and his sidekick, "Fuck off! You're the root cause of this! I won't do something I shouldn't, so please leave, or I'll report you!"

Daniel admired the cashier's bravery, thinking, "This boy stands up for himself despite his trembling body. His voice won't submit to their bullying." He decided that people around him should have such willpower and, if lacking strength, he would make sure they will be able to become stronger with him imparting it, complemented with his guidance on proper techniques since he has a lot of techniques that he had copied and analysed by himself during his free hours from newtube and other platforms available. Also with his bigger body potential he is also trying to make some new changes in fighting styles of many techniques.

Just as Daniel thought this, Zack's sidekick tried to punch the cashier. Instantly, Daniel's smaller body crouched, using the earth as his foundation like a spring which is pressed and released it bounces back with much more power on the same principle danial pressed and kicked upward to the bulky sidekick's chin.this move made the bulky boy fly out in air and then danial jumps in the air and performs a traditional reteakwondo's hammer kick ,due to gravity it made such an impact the bulky sidekic's brain couldn't even filter out how fast and what happend to him all he knows that one second he was trying to beat the cashier and another second he was doen to earth like in mother natures embrace. The sidekick's vision went blank, and when it returned, he saw the convenience store's ceiling. He was flustered, trying to get up but finding his body unresponsive. Daniel, without even looking at him, turned his gaze to Zack and the others.

Zack, flustered and annoyed, thought, "What's happening to everyone around me? First, Daniel Park comes out of nowhere and beats me, then Vasco seems stronger than me. Now, some guy who looks like the one I beat two days ago just knocked out my sidekick easily. How did I beat him so easily in the first place?"

Despite his annoyance, Zack believed he could still beat this guy. He moved towards Daniel with his hands in his pockets, arrogantly saying, "Knock it off and go your way, or you'll regret it."

Daniel replied with a creepy smile, "I'll beat you until you remember me."

Ignoring Zack, Daniel turned to the cashier, saying, "Don't cower in front of people like this. You're strong, very strong. I respect you, and I believe your parents must be great to have ingrained such courage in you." The cashier started to tear up, overwhelmed by Daniel's words. He felt a sense of validation and strength from someone who wasn't bullying him.

Zack, feeling guilty yet unable to change his ways instantly, said, "Hey, you, Mr. Hero… You made me angry!" He launched a flurry of punches, jabs, and hooks, all narrowly dodged by Daniel. Then Zack tried to tackle him, thinking, "You think I'm an idiot who'll keep punching when you're avoiding it? Same had happend to me already and he was lot stronger than you..of course I have learnt my lesson against nimble guys like you.Let's find out how strong your body is since Your body might be nimble, but can it be as strong as mine who had been 2nd rank runner up in middle school boxing tournament..?"

As Zack charged while grinning , Daniel thought, "Maybe the morning lesson had an effect. Now a boxer is trying to tackle me. But he's slow. I have a surprise for him." Just as Zack neared, he tried to grab Daniel, who suddenly disappeared from his grasp. Before Zack could react, Daniel dropped a spinning Retaekwondo kick on the back of his skull, pinning him face-first to the ground and knocking him out.

Everyone in the store was dumbfounded. A boxer of zack's caliber was forced to tackle and then knocked out in one kick? And somehow it was totally unbelievable to anyone who knows zack for a good time since was able to claim the position ot runner up in boxing tournament due to first rank being really monstrous who could easily analyse every oppent attacks and his name was johan seong while sidekicks were horrifyed of zack's loss The cashier breathed a sigh of relief, and Zack's sidekicks were full of fear. Daniel told them, "Pick up your trash and go. If I catch you bullying again, you'll beg for mercy but won't get it."

After they left with Zack and the big guy, Daniel bought his groceries and prepared to leave. He stopped and looked at the cashier, saying, "I didn't help you; I just lent a hand for the physical fight. The real fight is your mentality. Don't give up. If you want to protect yourself, find the Burn Knuckles workout ground near J High School. People with your mentality need strength to protect themselves and others. And belive in yourself you can become very strong ...You can do it since I also did and overcome myself ."

The cashier felt a surge of determination. Maybe he could change a few things about himself. As he watched Daniel leave, he resolved to check out the Burn Knuckles workout ground, feeling stronger and more confident.