The voices in Max’s head got louder. Mr. Grimes. Seth. Everyone who didn’t believe in him. Who thought he was too weak to do anything, too pitiful to even acknowledge his existence.

He kept dragging himself across the ground and his bloody immobile legs behind him.

He was halfway across the ground towards the minotaur.

The woman kept squirming. She didn’t have much longer to live.

Psycho-cripple.

Weakling.

Useless.

The words became a mantra in his head, a marching drum, propelling Max forward.

He wouldn’t let those who didn’t care for him bring him down anymore. If he died here, fine. He didn’t care anymore. But he wasn’t going to sit there and bleed to death while someone who actually tried to help him died for her actions.

A powerful rage swirled in his body, energizing him. His heart beat rapidly as he dragged himself forward.

The adrenaline pulsed through his veins. He suddenly felt unshackled. His mind clear. His determination fierce.

He got to the foot of the minotaur.

The woman was barely making any noise now.

It was now or never.

If yelling at this monster wouldn’t distract it from its murderous intent, maybe something physical might do the trick.

Max lifted up his right arm. He clenched his fingers into a fist.

One punch. That was all he had. Hopefully, it would be enough to distract the monster for even a moment. Enough time for the woman to catch her breath. Maybe even free herself.

He held his fist up and suddenly a yellow glow surrounded his arm and hand similar to when the minotaur had attacked him.

What’s this?

He didn’t dwell on it. There was no time.

He slammed his glowing fist into the minotaur’s leg.

“ARGGGHHH!!”

The minotaur shot across the park. The creature flew with such force in the air, it smashed through trees, breaking down the trunks.

With the lower half of his body limp and still bleeding out on the ground, Max stared at his fist. The yellow energy still burning off it.

The minotaur was stunned across the park.

I...

Max couldn’t believe it.

I...did...that?

6

Sakura sucked in air as soon as the minotaur was no longer pinning her down beneath the tree trunks.

She held the pile of logs up, giving her more room to breath. She needed a second to catch her breath and regain the strength to slice through this pile of trees holding her down.

She then looked at the stunned monster across the park.

Did that kid really just send that ruby-ranked monster across the park in a single punch?

Who the heck was this kid? Did he have some kind of bruiser ability?

She took the kid in. Shaggy red hair. Blue eyes.

He looks like...

No... she thought. That climber didn’t have any family as far as she knew.

The minotaur rushed forward towards the boy.