The warehouse was littered with debris and blood. Kang lay groaning, battered but alive, his Black Serpent's Coil destroyed by Mikey's Phantom Tempest.
Mikey's fists were trembling, not from exhaustion, but from rage. His eyes burned red with fury.
"You… you're going to pay for everything," Mikey growled, advancing on Kang.
Jin staggered to his feet, clutching his head from earlier blows, his cocky grin gone. "Mikey… stop!"
The Temptation
Kang tried to crawl away, his breaths shaky, eyes wide. But Mikey's rage had blurred everything else.
He raised his fists, ready to deliver a finishing blow, the kind that could kill.
Every memory—the death of his mother, Kang's past attacks, the fear he had endured—poured into his fists.
Time slowed for Mikey; he saw the opportunity to end it all.
Jin Intervenes
Jin stepped between Mikey and Kang, gripping Mikey's shoulders. "No! This isn't what she would've wanted. You can't become what he is."
Mikey's fists shook. "He… he deserves to die, Jin!"
Jin's voice was steady, firm, almost unyielding. "I know! But we fight to protect, not to destroy. You control your power, or it controls you. Remember the Phantom Tempest isn't just about strength—it's about discipline."
Mikey's breathing slowed, his fists dropping slightly. The storm in his chest battled his rage, but Jin's words anchored him.
Letting Kang Go
With a final glare, Mikey stepped back, allowing Kang to crawl away. Bloodied, beaten, but alive.
Kang's eyes burned with hatred, a silent promise: "This isn't over."
Mikey's chest heaved, adrenaline and grief mixing. He had wanted revenge… but Jin had reminded him of who he truly was.
Jin patted Mikey's shoulder. "You did the hardest thing, man. We survive. We get stronger. And next time, we finish it the right way."
Mikey nodded slowly, clenched his fists, but this time, with purpose instead of blind rage.