Wicked Justice

A sudden surge of power coursed through his veins, unlike anything he had ever felt before. His trembling legs steadied, his breathing slowed, and his eyes, once filled with fear, burned with the intent of going berserk. The bullies froze for a moment, taken aback by his change in demeanor.

"Yo, what's up with this guy?" one of them muttered as they began to back up.

Kai took a step forward, his lips curling into a dark, twisted grin. "I'm gonna kill you," he growled, his voice low and menacing, each word dripping with emotional fury.

The tallest boy, trying to mask his fear, spat on the ground. "Don't let this freak scare you! He's just trying to act tough!"

But Kai didn't stop. His pace was steady, his entire body radiating an aura of deadly intent. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, fresh blood dripping to the ground. He could feel the blood coursing through his veins, each beat of his heart igniting his muscles with raw, overwhelming power.

The system chimed in his mind, its voice cold and clinical:

[Emotional Overload Detected.] [Combat Mode Engaged: Berserker Activated.]

Kai didn't respond. He rushed forward with terrifying speed, a blur of motion the leader couldn't hope to react to. Before he could even flinch, Kai's fist slammed into his gut with bone-shattering force.

The leader's body lifted off the ground, flying through the air like a ragdoll. He smashed into the alley wall, the impact shaking loose bits of brick and debris. Cracks spiderwebbed across the wall as his unconscious body slumped to the ground, leaving a smear of blood where his head had hit.

The remaining two bullies froze, their faces pale as they looked at their leader's motionless state. One of them stammered, "W-what the hell is wrong with you?!"

Kai turned his bloodshot eyes toward them, his grin widening into something monstrous. His fists were still clenched, blood dripping steadily from his palms onto the cracked pavement.

"You're next," Kai said, his voice calm, as he took a step forward.

The system chimed once more, fueling his rage:

[Enemy Neutralized.] [Remaining Targets: 2.]

The bullies stumbled backward, their confidence shattered. But there was no escape.

As one of the bullies turned to flee, Kai moved faster than any of them could comprehend. He grabbed the boy from behind and, with a single motion, suplexed him to the ground with brutal force. The bully's head slammed against the pavement, leaving him unconscious.

The last remaining bully, a chubby, trembling mess, backed away, tripping over his own feet. He landed hard, scrambling to push himself back, but Kai overlooked him like a shadow of death.

The boy's face twisted with terror as tears streamed down his cheeks. "P-please don't hurt me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for bullying you all this time!"

Kai smirked, his eyes dark and unfeeling. "Shut the hell up," he spat, his voice wicked. "Now that the roles are reversed, I'm gonna hurt you like you used to hurt me."

Kai raised his fist, his intention clear—he was going to shatter the boy's skull. The system urged him on:

[Finish the Target.] [Reward: Increased Strength and Experience.]

But just as Kai's fist tensed, ready to deliver the fatal blow, a loud, piercing scream shattered the moment.

"STOP!"

Tessa's voice rang out, trembling with fear.

Kai froze, his fist hovering in mid-air. Slowly, he turned his head to see her standing at the end of the alley. Her face was pale, her gray eyes wide and brimming with tears. She wasn't just scared—she was horrified.

Her voice shook as she yelled again, "Kai, stop it! What are you doing?!"

For the first time, Kai saw her not as the girl he was protecting, but as someone afraid of him. Her disappointment and fear hit him harder than any blow he had ever received. His clenched fist relaxed, his arm dropping to his side.

He stared at Tessa, his breath ragged. The blood on his hands, the unconscious bodies around him, and the look of devastation on her face—all of it began to sink in.

Kai muttered under his breath, his voice cracking, "Tessa… I…"

But her tears and the way she trembled from him were louder than any words he could say.

Tessa wiped her tears and took a shaky step closer, her voice trembling but sincere. "Kai, this isn't the person I met yesterday."

Her words hit him hard. Kai's fists loosened, the adrenaline fading into a cold realization. He looked at the unconscious bullies, then back at Tessa.

"I—" He tried to speak, but the shock and sadness in her eyes silenced him.

Tessa's voice wavered, "Let's go back to the apartment before the police come."

Tessa turned and walked away without another word, her footsteps echoing through the tense, silent alley. Kai followed a few steps behind, each step weighed down by her words. The image of himself reflected in her eyes haunted him, a reminder of what he feared he was becoming.

---------------------------

After returning to the apartment and a long silence, Tessa said to Kai, "Go take a shower. You stink. I'm gonna make us some food."

After Kai had finished showering, he saw Tessa setting up the food and sitting at the table. Kai went to join her, and they ate in silence. After a couple of minutes, Kai broke the silence, saying, "I'm sorry."

"Kai," she began, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "how were you so strong tonight? It was like you were... an unstoppable force."

------

Hey everyone! I know the story might feel a bit slow right now, but trust me, it's going to get much juicier with plenty of action, world-building, and more. If you have any ideas or suggestions for my story, feel free to share them! I'd love to hear your thoughts and might even incorporate your ideas. Stay tuned and thanks for reading!