I cast my stop-time spell and really, really, really want to punch my sworn enemy - which of these two scenarios is more believable?

I spent my life, my fortune, my family connections... I sold my children into slavery and my soul to Ilnarren... Wanted posters hang from from the Abyss of Shrondir to the expanse of d'o (most bearing passable liknesses)... I've sworn fealty to the Great Abitor and the Peasant of Myksyr... and betrayed them both... I've expended every facet of my being in this universe for this one moment...

My intrepid wizard desires a soul-satisfying revenge on his worst enemy! To that end, he has cast a stop-time spell. All the universe is frozen around him as he pulls back, spinning his arm in a disturbingly Popeyesque fashion, investing every fiber of his being to deliver a right-cross that would resound across the universe! But what happens to his nemesis (or himself) when that punch lands?

I'm trying to inject a bit o' science into my magical scenario and seek the greater wisdom of Worldbuilding.SE. Which of the two scenarios below is more believable? Your answers will be judged by how well you substantiate your claim. To that end, though this question appears very much to be about magic, your answers must be science-based with the exception that how the unverse came to a stop (aka, the setup of each scenario) is simply accepted as described in the scenarios.

Scenario #1

The name of the stop-time spell is misleading. What really happens is that I'm sped up to an infinite degree (or, at least to so great a degree that I cannot discern the passage of time for all others). I think, move, and react with instantaneous effect — and yet don't die in a moment due to me burning through all the energy my body pocesses. In short, though feeling just fine (thank you for asking!), I represent infinite potential while the rest of the universe represents none. Consequently, my fist moving at an unimaginable speed compared to the reference frame of my hapless (and soon to be dispatched) enemy and connecting with his head, results in a brilliant explosion of burning plasma that would make XKCD proud! It hurt! But it was well worth it.

Scenario #2

The stop-time spell was aptly named! Literally all the potential of the universe is brought to a stand-still, and like a river damed by the damned, the potential of the universe is absolutely infinite! I am unchanged, but also unable to discern the quantum quiver as the forces of time and space hold their proverbial breath, waiting for release! My fist drawn back... my anger explodes! And so does my hand as it impacts with what is quite literally the hardest thing the universe has ever seen! Or at least it feels that way, because what pitiful force my punch can bring is nothing against the restrained potential of the universe. Falling to my knees I cradle my hand and cry to the uncaring universe, "Noooooo!!!!"

Cry havoc! And release the unbound imagination of worldbuilding!

Which scenario is more believable?

EDIT(s)

1. Pelinore points out that the atmosphere between my wizard's fist and his enemy's head is non-trivial. That's a honking good point, but for the purposes of this question, please ignore that. let's focus on the fist and the head.

posted almost 6 years ago

JBH‭

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