The Chase Behind the School (Rewritten Version)**
The moment the shadow moved—
Arga didn't think.
He ran.
The back door slammed open.
Cold evening air rushed in— sharp, grounding— but it did nothing to slow him down.
Ahead—
the same figure from the window.
Now clearer.
A man in a gray jacket.
And in his hands—
the box.
"He's got it!" Bimo shouted.
Arga didn't answer.
He was already moving.
The energy surged.
From his chest—
down through his legs—
then exploded into motion.
He ran.
Faster than before.
Faster than he should be.
"Arga—faster!" Sinta called.
They turned into the narrow street behind the school.
Empty.
Too quiet.
An alley stretched ahead— tight— walls closing in from both sides.
The man slipped into it without hesitation.
Arga followed instantly.
Bimo hesitated—
just half a second.
"…what if—"
"MOVE!" Sinta snapped.
Too late to doubt.
They ran in.
Footsteps echoed.
Sharp.
Rhythmic.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The man's shadow flickered ahead—
still distant.
But getting closer.
Arga leaned forward.
The energy responded.
His speed increased.
The gap shrank.
Closer.
Closer—
The man glanced back.
His eyes narrowed.
"…persistent."
Then—
he stopped.
Abrupt.
Arga's eyes widened.
Too late to slow.
The man turned—
and moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
WHOOSH!
His arm cut through the air—
and a violent gust exploded outward.
Arga reacted on instinct—
jumping back.
The force slammed into the wall behind him.
CRACK!
Dust rained down.
Sinta froze for a split second.
"…that's not normal."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…so you really are active."
Bimo shot forward.
Too fast.
Too reckless.
"HEY—!"
He charged straight at the man.
The man stepped aside.
Effortless.
Bimo missed—
barely avoiding the wall.
"I CAN'T STOP—!"
Arga moved instantly.
"TURN LEFT!"
Sinta jumped ahead—
landing directly in Bimo's path.
"NOW!"
Bimo shifted—
just enough.
Too much.
He hit the ground—
rolling hard.
"Ugh—!"
The man watched.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…unrefined."
Arga stepped forward.
The heat inside him surged again—
but this time—
it didn't explode.
It focused.
"You're not taking that box," he said.
The man smiled faintly.
"…you already lost."
Then—
he moved.
Straight at Arga.
The distance vanished.
Instantly.
Arga reacted—
too slow.
THUD!
The man's strike hit—
and Arga was pushed back, sliding across the ground.
Pain shot through him.
Sharp.
Real.
"Arga!" Sinta shouted.
He steadied himself.
Breathing hard.
"…he's stronger."
"No," Sinta said quietly.
Her eyes never left the man.
"…he's controlled."
Silence.
That was worse.
The man adjusted his stance.
"You feel power," he said.
"But you don't understand it."
He stepped forward again.
"Let me show you."
Arga clenched his fists.
"No."
The energy rose again—
but this time—
he didn't chase it.
He shaped it.
Not speed.
Not strength.
Control.
He inhaled.
Slow.
Deep.
Then moved.
Fast.
But steady.
The man's eyes flickered—
just for a second.
Arga closed the distance.
Shifted.
Dodged—
and grabbed—
the box.
The man pulled back.
Hard.
But Arga held on.
Their strength collided.
For a moment—
neither moved.
Then—
Sinta moved.
She leapt—
higher than before—
but controlled.
She came down between them.
BANG!
The ground cracked slightly.
The force pushed the man back.
Bimo pushed himself up.
"…okay…"
"…I'm done running like that."
He inhaled.
Focused.
Then moved again.
Fast—
but controlled.
He circled wide.
Cutting off escape.
The man's gaze moved between them.
Then—
he smiled.
"…good."
A pause.
"…you learn fast."
And then—
suddenly—
he let go.
Arga stumbled back—
but kept the box.
The man stepped away.
"…that's enough."
Before they could react—
he moved.
Up the wall.
One step.
Two.
Gone.
Vanished.
Silence fell.
The alley returned to stillness.
Only their breathing remained.
Heavy.
Uneven.
Real.
Bimo dropped to the ground.
"…I almost hit a wall again…"
Sinta didn't move.
Her eyes stayed locked on the wall.
"…he wasn't trying to win."
Arga looked down at the box.
"…he wanted to see what we could do."
He opened it slightly.
The smell hit instantly.
Sharp.
Bitter.
Wrong.
He shut it.
Fast.
"This isn't MBG."
Sinta nodded.
"…it's something else."
Bimo looked up.
"…then why bring it?"
Silence.
Then—
Arga's lunch box reacted.
A warmth spread.
Then intensified.
He opened it.
At the bottom—
one glowing grain.
Then—
another.
Two points of light.
Pulsing.
In sync.
Like a heartbeat.
Arga froze.
"…it increased."
Sinta stepped closer.
"…we got stronger."
Bimo blinked.
"…by fighting?"
Arga didn't answer.
But he felt it.
Inside—
something had changed.
Not just power.
Growth.
He lifted his gaze.
Toward the wall—
where the man had vanished.
His expression sharpened.
Calm.
Focused.
"…next time…"
A brief pause.
"…we catch him."
And for the first time—
this wasn't fear.
This wasn't confusion.
This—
was the beginning of something else.
Resolve.