Permanent Damage
The hospital room was quiet, too quiet for Mikey's heart. His right arm was wrapped in thick bandages and supported by steel pins.When the doctor walked in, he didn't sugarcoat it.
"The damage to your nerves and tendons… it's severe. Even with surgery, you may never regain full use of that arm. Boxing, martial arts… those days may be over."
Mikey's eyes widened, his throat dry."Over…? You're saying I'm crippled for life?"
The doctor didn't answer directly. He only gave him the kind of look that crushed hope.
Mikey lowered his head, silent, but the tears that slipped down his face said everything.
Kael's Web Tightens
Across the city, Kael was already setting his next phase into motion.
At the school board meeting, he sat politely in the back, dressed in a clean uniform, his hands folded like a model student. He spoke with calm intelligence:"Those two boys… Mikey and Jin. They bring violence everywhere they go. Just look at the fights, the broken windows, the hospital bills. How long before someone truly innocent gets hurt?"
The room nodded slowly, his words dripping into them like poison.
Teachers, parents, even the principal—people began to question if Mikey and Jin were really "heroes" at all.
A Dangerous Illusion
Later that night, Kael visited Silas and his second lieutenant—Veyra, the cold strategist.Together, they looked over videos and files Kael had been collecting. Every fight Mikey and Jin had ever been in, every reckless strike, every time a bystander had been close to danger.
Kael smirked."Violence is easy to erase with more violence. But what happens when society itself believes you're the villains? That's the beauty of manipulation. They'll beg me to protect them from you."
The Breaking Spirit
Back in the hospital, Jin sat at Mikey's bedside.Mikey stared at the ceiling, his face pale."Jin… if I can't fight… what am I even worth?"
Jin grabbed his shoulder hard."You're still my brother. Don't let him take that from you. We'll figure this out."
But deep down, Jin knew Kael wasn't just breaking Mikey's body—he was breaking his spirit.