The Devil You Created
The Night Mercy Died
The warehouse fell into a deadly silence.
Smoke drifted through the air. Bodies lay scattered like broken promises.
And in the middle of it all—
Ryan stood up.
Slowly.
Blood ran down his arm. His chest heaved. Pain screamed through every inch of his body.
But his eyes?
Cold.
Locked.
Unshaken.
Across from him, Maxwell's smirk faltered—for the first time.
"You're still standing?" he muttered.
Ryan didn't answer.
He stepped forward.
Once.
Then again.
Each step heavier… but more dangerous.
Maxwell raised his gun.
"Stay down."
Ryan kept walking.
BANG!
The shot rang out.
Ryan twisted.
Too late to fully dodge.
The bullet grazed his side, tearing through flesh.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't even flinch.
Maxwell's eyes widened.
"What the hell are you…?"
Ryan lunged.
Fast.
Faster than before.
His hand slammed into Maxwell's wrist—
CRACK.
The gun fell.
Maxwell staggered back, shock flashing across his face.
Ryan didn't give him time.
A punch—
Heavy.
Brutal.
It sent Maxwell crashing into a metal crate.
The sound echoed.
Loud.
Violent.
Maxwell groaned, pushing himself up, blood trickling from his lip.
"You think this makes you strong?" he spat.
Ryan tilted his head slightly.
"No."
His voice was low.
Cold.
"It makes me dangerous."
Maxwell roared and charged.
Their bodies collided like beasts.
Fist met flesh.
Bone met bone.
Each hit carried rage—years of it.
Maxwell swung wildly.
Ryan blocked.
Countered.
Drove his elbow into Maxwell's ribs.
CRACK.
Maxwell grunted but retaliated, slamming his fist into Ryan's wounded side.
Ryan staggered—
Pain exploded—
But instead of falling…
He smiled.
That was new.
That was terrifying.
Maxwell hesitated.
Just for a second.
That was all Ryan needed.
Ryan grabbed him by the collar—
SLAM!
Drove him into the ground.
The floor shook.
Ryan climbed on top of him, fists raining down.
One.
Two.
Three—
Maxwell caught his arm mid-strike.
Breathing hard, eyes wild.
"You're just a kid!" he shouted.
Ryan leaned closer.
Close enough for Maxwell to see it.
The change.
"I was," Ryan said quietly.
Then he broke free—
And drove his fist straight into Maxwell's face.
Blood splattered.
Maxwell went limp for a second—
But desperation kicked in.
He reached for a fallen knife nearby—
Ryan saw it.
Too late to stop it completely—
The blade slashed across his arm.
Ryan hissed in pain.
Maxwell kicked him off and scrambled back to his feet.
Both of them stood now.
Bleeding.
Breathing hard.
Barely standing.
The final moment.
Maxwell wiped blood from his mouth, laughing weakly.
"Look at you… you've become exactly what you hate."
Ryan said nothing.
Maxwell charged one last time.
Knife raised.
A desperate strike.
Ryan stepped forward—
Not back.
Forward.
He caught Maxwell's wrist mid-air.
Twisted.
Hard.
CRACK.
The knife dropped.
In the same motion—
Ryan drove his fist into Maxwell's throat.
Maxwell choked—
Eyes wide—
Air gone.
Ryan didn't stop.
He grabbed him—
Pulled him close—
And whispered—
"This is the cost."
Then—
SLAM!
He smashed Maxwell's head into the ground.
Once.