Chapter 21: Perfect Martial Arts For Perfect Punishment

The moment Richard opened the door, the smile on his face disappeared.

Ryan’s fist crashed straight into his face.

BAM!

Richard’s entire body was thrown backward, his feet leaving the floor as he slammed into the wall behind him.

"What the...?!"

Before he could finish, Ryan grabbed him by the collar and dragged him forward.

BAM!

Another punch.

Then another.

Richard stumbled backward, blood already running from his nose.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed.

Ryan didn’t answer immediately.

He simply stepped forward.

Richard instinctively raised his fists and tried to fight back.

He threw a wild punch.

Ryan tilted his head slightly, allowing the fist to pass beside his face.

Then he drove his elbow into Richard’s ribs.

CRACK!

Richard’s knees nearly gave out.

Ryan caught him before he could fall.

"I might not have arrived here with my magical powers."

Ryan tightened his grip around Richard’s shirt.

"But there’s one thing I can’t lose."

His eyes became cold.

"Perfect Martial Arts."

The next few seconds were nothing but a nightmare for Richard.

He tried to swing again, but Ryan blocked it.

He tried to kick, but again, Ryan stepped aside.

He tried to grab Ryan...

Ryan twisted his arm, forced him down, and drove him into the floor.

Richard screamed.

Ryan grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled him up again.

BAM!

His face struck the wall.

The naked woman who had been sitting on the bed froze in terror.

She didn’t even understand what was happening!

One moment, she had been lying comfortably in Richard’s room.

The next, a young man had entered and was beating him as though Richard had no chance of surviving the encounter.

She immediately jumped off the bed. She didn’t bother looking for her clothes. She didn’t bother asking questions.

She simply ran.

She rushed through the doorway and disappeared down the hallway, leaving everything behind.

Ryan didn’t even look at her.

His attention remained fixed on Richard.

"You used her."

Richard coughed heavily.

"What... What are you talking about?"

Ryan grabbed him and slammed him against the wall again.

"You know who I’m talking about, you d**k!"

Richard’s expression changed.

"Michelle?"

"Oh... Yes, that’s right."

Ryan punched him in the stomach, and Richard bent over, gasping for air.

"The woman who loved you."

Another punch.

"The woman who did everything for you."

Another.

"The woman who stayed beside you when you had nothing. When you were just a pathetic loser."

Richard tried to crawl away, but Ryan grabbed his ankle and pulled him back.

"And what did you do?" Ryan’s voice remained surprisingly calm.

"You cheated on her."

He dragged Richard closer.

"You used her."

Another blow landed.

"And when you were done using her, you threw her out like she meant nothing."

Richard coughed, blood staining his lips.

"I... I didn’t..."

Ryan grabbed his collar.

"You didn’t what?"

Richard couldn’t answer, all terrified and covered with intense disbelief at what was happening at that moment.

Ryan stared directly into his eyes.

"She gave you everything she had."

He released him for a moment, allowing Richard to fall against the floor.

"And you couldn’t even give her loyalty."

"Loyalty. That’s what she asked from the lazy punk that you are!"

Richard tried to push himself up, but Ryan kicked his hand away.

"You even took her property."

Richard’s eyes widened.

"That wasn’t..."

"Shut up."

The single command silenced him as Ryan stepped closer.

"You really thought you could do all of that and simply get away with it?"

"You believe... Oh... She’s an orphan. She’s got no one but you. You could do whatever you want and get away with it."

"You were wrong, man."

Richard’s breathing became heavier.

He looked toward the door and noticed that there was nobody coming. No one was going to save him.

Ryan crouched down in front of him.

"You know what I find funny?"

Richard stared at him.

"You probably think I’m some random young man who came here because Michelle sent me."

Ryan smiled. "She didn’t."

Richard swallowed, scared the more the young man spoke. The young man who was clearly younger than him but was unimaginably impossible to rival in a fight.

"She doesn’t even know I’m here."

That was when Richard’s face changed completely.

Ryan stood, shrugging his shoulders.

"You know, there are people who make mistakes."

He looked down at Richard.

"And then there are people like you."

Ryan grabbed his arm, as Richard immediately began struggling, trying to get away. Every single time, his attempts failed him.

"Wait! Wait!"

Ryan twisted.

CRACK!

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Richard screamed.

His arm dropped uselessly.

"People like you shouldn’t have limbs."

Ryan grabbed the other arm.

Richard’s eyes widened with terror.

"No! Please!"

"Please! No! Don’t do this!!!"

CRACK!

"OHH-ARRRRRGGHHHHHHH!!!" Another scream filled the room.

Ryan released him this time, as Richard collapsed onto the floor, barely able to move. He tried to crawl, but his body refused to cooperate properly.

He was clearly in the most painful state of his life at that point, helpless.

Ryan looked down at him.

"This is what happens when you think someone’s love makes them weak."

Richard’s face was pressed against the floor, as blood continued to run down his face.

Ryan stepped closer.

"You thought Michelle had nobody..." He paused. "Unfortunately, my friend. You were wrong."

Richard couldn’t even lift his head anymore, as Ryan turned toward the doorway.

He had reached the endpoint of leaving the room when he stopped and looked back one final time.

"You can hate me."

He adjusted his clothes calmly.

"You can even try to find me."

His eyes narrowed.

"But if you ever go near Michelle again..."

Ryan didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t need to, but Richard already understood without a doubt.

Ryan walked out of the apartment, and the door slowly closed behind him.

And inside the room, Richard remained on the floor, barely conscious, unable to move properly and surrounded by the consequences of everything he had done.

For the first time since he had thrown Michelle out of his life, he finally understood something.

He might have made the wrong enemy.

***

When Ryan returned to the apartment, Michelle was already back from school at that time and was sitting in the living room.

She had an indifferent look on her face, and quite a mixed look that seemed like she was sad and angry at the same time.

The fact that she didn’t approach him made it clear that everything was not all right, but Ryan just sighed and walked over to her.

He stared, settled beside her, and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"What’s the problem, Emily?" He asked.

His little sister turned to him, her eyes glinting and demanding.

"Big Brother," she called.

"Yeah?" Ryan responded.

"Is it true that..."

"You murdered the Registrar?"