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"Courage is grace under pressure."
- Ernest Hemingway
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The night at the docks was eerily still as Zack Lee approached the warehouse where Johan Seong had been hiding. The scent of saltwater filled the air, blending with the cold breeze that swept through the empty streets. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silence, the only reminder that someone was here.
Zack's body felt heavy with the burden of what was about to come. He wasn't here to fight. He wasn't here to prove his strength or dominance. He was here because Johan had gone too far, and someone needed to bring him back. Zack hoped he wouldn't have to fight, but deep down, he knew Johan wouldn't go down easily.
As Zack reached the front of the warehouse, the shadows shifted, and Johan Seong stepped out from the darkness, flanked by several members of God Dog. His sharp eyes locked onto Zack, and for a brief moment, neither said a word. The tension between them was palpable.
"Zack," Johan called out, his voice calm but dripping with arrogance. "I didn't think you'd actually come looking for me. You should know by now that you're wasting your time. This is my world."
Zack's face remained unreadable, his gaze unwavering. He took a step forward. "Johan, you need to stop. This isn't you. You weren't like this before."
Johan chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Stop? You think you can just walk in here and tell me to stop? Look around you, Zack. I've built something here. God Dog is mine, and I'll protect it at any cost."
Zack sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly as he looked at Johan, not with anger, but with sadness. His friend had changed, and not for the better. Zack knew Johan had suffered, but the path he was on would only lead to more destruction. Still, Zack stood firm. "I didn't come here to fight you, Johan. I came here to bring you back."
Johan's eyes narrowed, his posture growing more aggressive. "Bring me back? You think I'm just going to walk away because you asked nicely? Don't be ridiculous."
Without another word, Johan lunged forward, his fist aiming directly at Zack's face. Zack stood still, not even raising his arms to defend himself. Johan's punch connected with Zack's jaw, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. But Zack didn't move. He didn't flinch, he didn't stumble, he just stood there, staring at Johan with the same sad expression.
Johan pulled back, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. He swung again, this time hitting Zack in the ribs. Again, Zack didn't budge. His body absorbed the blow effortlessly, as if Johan's punches meant nothing to him. Zack's endurance mastery was not even in full display, his body has been hardened from the months of relentless training.
"What's wrong, Johan?" Zack asked quietly, his voice filled with concern. "Is that really all you've got?"
Johan's eyes widened in frustration. He gritted his teeth and attacked again, this time unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks. Each blow landed, but none of them had any effect. Zack stood firm, tanking every hit without so much as blinking. His speed and strength were leagues ahead of Johan's, but he wasn't fighting back. Not yet.
"Fight me!" Johan roared, his voice filled with anger as he threw another punch. "Why aren't you fighting back?"
Zack sighed, his eyes softening. "Because I don't want to hurt you, Johan."
Johan's frustration reached its peak. He lashed out with everything he had, but it was useless. His punches bounced off Zack's body as if he were hitting a brick wall. Zack didn't need to fight back, he was too strong for Johan now, and he knew it. But that wasn't the point. Zack wasn't here to prove his strength. He was here to save his friend.
"Johan, come with me," Zack said, his voice gentle but firm. "You don't have to do this. We can figure this out together. Just come back."
For a moment, Johan hesitated. His fists lowered slightly, and his eyes flickered with uncertainty. But then, just as quickly, his pride took over. He clenched his fists again, shaking his head.
"I can't," Johan muttered, his voice filled with bitterness. "I've come too far. God Dog is all I have now."
Zack's heart sank. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but Johan had made his choice. "I'm sorry, Johan."
Before Johan could react, Zack moved. His fist slammed into Johan's abdomen with a force that could have crumbled concrete. Johan's eyes widened in shock as the air was knocked out of his lungs. He collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach, completely incapacitated by that single punch. His body shook as he tried to breathe, his pride shattered in an instant.
Zack looked down at him, his expression filled with sorrow. "You're stronger than this, Johan. But you're letting the wrong things control you."
Before Zack could say another word, the sound of footsteps surrounded him. The remaining members of God Dog had closed in, and among them stood Jin Jang, a sly smirk playing on his lips. He stepped forward, his eyes glinting with ambition.
"Looks like you've done us a favor, Zack," Jin Jang said, his voice dripping with malice. "Taking down Johan saves me the trouble. Now I can take his place. But you? You're not walking out of here."
Zack's gaze shifted to Jin Jang, his expression hardening. "You really think you can take me down?"
Jin Jang's smirk widened as he nodded toward the rest of God Dog. "Get him."
The God Dog members rushed at Zack all at once, but Zack remained calm, his eyes narrowing as he tapped into his speed mastery. The world seemed to slow around him as he moved, his body blurring with each step. In an instant, he was behind the first attacker, sending him flying with a single punch. Another came from the side, but Zack ducked and countered with a swift elbow to the ribs, knocking him out cold.
One by one, they fell. Zack's movements were too fast, too precise. Every punch and kick he threw hit with devastating force, incapacitating each member of God Dog in a matter of seconds. Even Jin Jang, who had stayed back at first, was no match. When he finally charged at Zack, Zack easily dodged his attack and delivered a crushing blow to Jin Jang's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.
The docks fell silent once more. Zack stood amidst the unconscious bodies of God Dog, his breathing steady, not a scratch on him. He looked down at Johan, who was still on his knees, gasping for air.
"I didn't want to do this," Zack said softly, his voice filled with regret. "But I couldn't let you keep going down this path."
Johan looked up at Zack, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and shame. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He had been defeated, not just physically, but emotionally as well.
Zack turned and began walking away, his heart heavy. "I'll be waiting, Johan. When you're ready to come back, you know where to find me."
As Zack disappeared into the night, Johan was left alone, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. The fight was over, but the real battle, the one inside Johan, had only just begun.
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End of the chapter
Author Out!