Read The Sealed Player of the Eight Worlds :: Chapter 3 – The Punch That Shook the Hall

The hall was silent as Tom stepped forward. His footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor, the sound almost deafening in the heavy quiet.

Every student, every instructor, every rival turned their gaze to him.

To the crowd, he looked almost too calm — shoulders loose, eyes steady.
But inside, he felt it: the faint, grinding pull of the seal carved deep within his being.
It pulsed in his chest — not pain exactly, but a constant reminder.

Not too much. Not too far. The universe will punish you if you overstep.

Ten percent. No more.

Tom laid his hand lightly on the striking pad, face unreadable. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stretch.
Then, without flourish or wasted movement, he punched.

The Punches

The pad rattled. Sensors flared to life.

Punch 1 – 54 RU

Gasps erupted immediately. The number was higher than most students could dream of on their first try.

Tom exhaled softly and punched again.

Punch 2 – 55 RU

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“No way…”
“He’s matching Kaito already!”
“That’s near Aru’s level, isn’t it?”

His third strike came as effortlessly as the first — fluid and precise.

Punch 3 – 56 RU
Average – 55 RU

The machine’s monotone made the numbers sound dull, but on the massive holographic screen they blazed like fire.

Students shouted — some in awe, others in disbelief.

“Fifty-five?! That’s insane!”
“Who is this guy?”
“I’ve never even heard of his family name — Anderson? What house is that?”

Tom lowered his hand calmly, expression unchanged.
But inside, the seal pulsed once — a dull ache across his chest.
Still too close, he thought.

The Kicks

Jeremy’s voice cut across the rising chaos. “Continue.”

Tom stepped back, shifting his stance. His first kick cracked against the pad; the sound echoed through the hall.

Kick 1 – 168 RU

Several students flinched. Jenny’s eyes went wide.

The second kick landed harder.

Kick 2 – 170 RU

“Impossible… he’s on par with me!” Jenny whispered, hand covering her mouth.

The third kick slammed like thunder.

Kick 3 – 172 RU
Average – 160 RU

The holographic screen pulsed, updating instantly:

Tom – Punch 55 RU | Kick 170 RU | Rank #2

Shockwaves

The hall exploded. Students shouted, voices crashing together.

“He’s second place!”
“He beat Kaito, Jenny, Hiroto — everyone but Aru!”
“Where did he come from?!”

Some looked at him with awe, others with resentment.
The ones who had just scraped into the Top Ten now looked stricken, their hard-won spots slipping away.

On the sidelines, ordinary students who had scored in the 20–40 RU range stared at him like he was a different species.

“My best was 28 RU…” one muttered.
“Twenty-eight? I only managed 23. And I was top of my district.”
“The gap is insane…”

Teachers’ Speculation

In the observation room, Natasha Reign leaned forward, eyes glinting.
“That boy… he’s not from any of the famous families, is he?”

Erhard Vale frowned, scrolling through his tablet.
“No records. No notable lineage. His surname Anderson doesn’t appear on any hero registry or clan chart.”

“Then how?” Natasha pressed.

Erhard’s eyes narrowed.
“Either he’s a hidden heir from a forgotten line… or something else entirely. His control is frightening — no wasted motion. And he’s deliberately holding back.”

Natasha’s lips curved faintly. “Dangerous.”

Rivals React

Kaito’s smirk shattered. His fists clenched, jaw grinding.
“No way… someone like him just appears and takes second from me?!”

Leon Drake grinned wide, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
“Good. Finally, a real fight waiting down the line. Don’t disappoint me, Anderson.”

Sylvia Ardent’s cold gaze followed Tom as he stepped back.
Her frown deepened slightly.
That control… that presence. He’s no ordinary student.

Jenny trembled faintly.
She remembered their morning in the café — his calm voice, the way he’d treated the academy like breakfast conversation.
He is strong. Interesting

And at the top, Aru Aryan remained still, arms crossed, eyes glinting.
For the first time, his lips curved into a small, respectful smile — recognition, not mockery.

The Rankings

The board settled, glowing letters scrolling across the air:

Additional data scrolled below:

• Top 50 – 35 to 45 RU punch / 90 to 140 RU kick
• Top 100 – 28 to 35 RU punch / 70 to 90 RU kick
• 500th place – Punch 12 RU | Kick 33 RU

The gap was brutal — visible, undeniable.
From 500th to Top Ten, it wasn’t just talent; it was a different world.

Aftermath

As Tom stepped back into the crowd, students parted unconsciously, unsure whether to give him space or glare outright.
Whispers followed him like shadows.

“Who is he?”
“His name is rank second on the display?”
“Which family does he belong to? Anderson? Doesn’t ring a bell.”

Tom ignored them all, expression calm, almost bored.
Inside, the seal pulsed faintly again, reminding him of its chains.
Too close. Even restrained, I nearly crossed the line.

The roar of the crowd had long faded, but Tom could still feel its echo in his bones.

The memory of hundreds of eyes fixed on him lingered—heavy, restless. He walked alone down the empty corridor, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. His stride was steady, calm as ever.

Inside, his body screamed.

The seal burned.

It wasn’t fire in the flesh. It was deeper—an ache against the marrow of his being, chains dragging across his soul. Beneath his shirt, the golden mark pulsed once, faint but searing, before dimming again.

Tom slowed, pressing a hand briefly to his chest.

Still too much, he thought grimly. Even at ten percent, the seal stirs.

The punishment wasn’t immediate, but he felt its shadow looming—a warning.

He knew too well what awaited if he overstepped: the universe itself lashing back, merciless, obliterating balance-breakers without hesitation.

He had seen it happen.
He had survived it once.

He wasn’t ready to pay that price again. Not yet.

Tom forced his shoulders loose, exhaled slowly, and let his face smooth back into the calm, unreadable mask that had carried him this far.

To the world, he was still the same unshakable figure.
But inside, he was walking a knife’s edge.

☕ Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading Chapter 3 of The Sealed Player of the Eight Worlds!
What secret lies within Tom’s seal—and how long can he hold it back?
Tap the ❤️, leave a comment, and follow to catch the next chapter. 🌙