The hideous creature levitated over the wrecked hardwood floors of the gym. Its hideous smile let out a devilish cackle that echoed across the damaged gym.

Gen stood in guard, energy crackled around his gauntlets-clad fists.

“I don’t know what the fuck yer deal is, but trust me when I tell ya this.” Gen cracked his knuckles and neck simultaneously.

“Ya ain’t leavin’ this place alive.” With that said, Gen blasted off towards the Gainen, fist at the ready.

The moment he reached his enemy, a sudden force pushed him from above, as if a giant sphere dropped on him, toppling him face-first on the ground, leaving his body indented against the floor, wood splintering around him.

“What…the…fuck?” Gen uttered through gritted teeth as this force pushed down on him like a massive hammer attempting to turn his body into a nail.

The creepy Gainen giggled with evil intent. The sound was a discordant gurgle. A truncated arpeggio of mocking disdain as the pressure generated by his powers increased with each passing moment, dangerously close to grinding Gen's bones.

“Ya… Ain’t keepin’ me down.” The young brawler tensed up his whole body, using his arms to lift up his body, as this invisible pressure pushed him down.

Gen, through sheer grit and determination, managed to stand up somehow, even if he was leaning forward as if he was holding the world over his shoulders, as if he was a modern version of the Titan Atlas.

“Stop laughin’ ya grinnin’ asshole.” The young brawler took a step forward, his trainers so heavy that they cracked the embattered wooden floor.

While this happened, Sophia was rushing back towards the gym. She dropped their fellow injured student off at the nurse’s office. 

The nurse attempted to ask about the injuries, but upon listening to the police sirens approaching the school, she dashed back to the gym to warn Gen.

She entered the gym just as Gen was inching its way towards the Gainen, who kept giggling while juggling more of the spheres he had been throwing.

“GEN!” She shouted from the balcony surrounding the gym. “You need to wrap it up; the cops are about to arrive.”

“I’m… doin’... my best…” He replied, each word followed by a step forward, as the Gainen, who up until now had been playfully juggling, paid attention to Gen.

“Everythin’... is… so… fuckin’... heavy…” Gen grumbled, almost about to reach the giggling jester, but before he could, the creature turned its eyeless face around, placing the whole of its focus on Gen.

A moment later, the pressure vanished, only to be replaced from another direction, as a film of distorted air formed between Gen and the Gainen, before it blasted towards the young brawler, not just launching him back, but shifting the direction of his gravitational pull.

Gen fell sideways, until landing on the gym wall and standing parallel to the floor.

“WHAT THE FUCK!?” He blurted, looking around in utter confusion as his brain attempted to understand what was happening.

“It manipulates gravity, dumbass!” Sophia's exasperated words reached Gen, who finally had a clue about what was going on.