In his previous life—
That single punch would have killed him.
Or worse.
Left him broken.
Helpless.
Waiting for the next blow.
But this time—
Ryan moved.
Charl's fist tore through the air, mana surging around it—raw, unstable, but powerful.
Fast.
Too fast for anyone normal.
Ryan didn't step back.
He stepped in.
Charl's fist grazed Ryan's cheek.
Fast.
Closer than expected.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he's not completely useless.
Ryan's body shifted just enough, slipping beneath the strike with practiced precision.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
His feet planted.
His hips turned—
And his fist drove forward.
Thump.
The impact landed clean.
Deep.
Right into Charl's kidney.
Charl's entire body jerked violently.
The breath left his lungs in a broken gasp.
His eyes widened instantly.
"What—?!"
If Ryan still had his old body—
That strike would have done nothing.
Charl's skill reinforced his body with mana.
Doubled his strength.
Doubled his durability.
But now—
Ryan wasn't weak anymore.
Charl staggered backward, clutching his side.
"That shouldn't be possible!"
Ryan walked forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Each step deliberate.
The smile on his face widened slightly.
Cold.
Controlled.
"You see…"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Your skill makes you twice as strong as an average person."
Another step.
Closer.
"But I'm already there."
Ryan's eyes sharpened.
He knew the problem.
Agility.
Charl might still be faster.
Which meant—
This ends now.
Ryan moved.
Two quick steps.
Explosive.
Then—
He was inside Charl's reach.
The impact echoed through the room.
A fist slammed into Charl's stomach.
The sound was heavy.
Solid.
All the air exploded from Charl's lungs as his body folded forward.
Ryan didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't give him space to recover.
Thwack.
His second punch came from the side.
Sharp.
Precise.
It connected with Charl's jaw.
Blood sprayed.
Charl's head snapped sideways.
His body lifted slightly—
Then crashed to the ground.
Silence.
Across the room—
Alice sat frozen.
Both hands covering her mouth.
Her eyes wide.
Unmoving.
The man standing before her—
Was not the Ryan she knew.
The quiet coworker.
The easy smiles.
The gentle presence—
Gone.
In its place—
Something darker.
Something heavier.
Something that had lived through far too much.
Ryan stepped forward.
Slowly.
He bent down and grabbed Charl by the collar.
Dragged him upright.
Charl's body barely responded.
His head hung loosely.
Blood dripping steadily from his mouth.
Ryan's eyes burned.
Green—
But darker now.
Colder.
"For almost a century…"
His voice was low.
Rough.
Like something dragged up from deep inside him.
"I've been imagining for this."
His fist rose.
Then—
Thump.
The punch slammed into Charl's face.
His head snapped back.
Blood spilled freely now.
Ryan pulled him up again.
Not letting him fall.
Not letting him escape.
"And now…"
His voice trembled—
Not with hesitation.
With fury.
"I finally get to make you suffer."
Thump.
Another punch.
Harder.
Heavier.
Charl's body sagged.
Barely conscious.
His face—
Unrecognizable.
Ryan lifted his fist again.
This one—
Would end it.
"Ryan—stop!"
Her voice shook—
But she didn't step back.
His fist froze.
Midair.
Just inches from Charl's face.
Slowly—
Ryan turned.
"Alice."
His voice was strained.
Tight.
"Go outside."
She stepped forward.
"I won't."
Closer.
Too close.
Her hand rested gently on his shoulder.
"I can't let you kill him."
Ryan's fist trembled.
His jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
"You don't understand."
His voice cracked.
Not weak—
But breaking under pressure.
"You don't know what he did to you."
And I can't let it happen again.
The rage surged again.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
"You don't know how he made you suffer!"
Alice stared at him.
Confused.
"But I'm fine."
Her voice was soft.
"He didn't do anything to me."
She flinched.
Just slightly.
But it was enough.
Ryan saw it.
And something inside him—
Broke.
He turned away instantly.
Couldn't look at her.
"…Maybe not this time."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
She thinks I'm a monster.
The thought hit harder than any attack.
Images flashed through his mind.
Alice—
Stepping away from him.
Looking at him with fear.
Avoiding him.
Losing that warmth.
That smile.
And yet—
Even knowing that—
He would still do it.
As long as she lived—
Nothing else mattered.
A hand touched his shoulder again.
Gentle.
Warm.
"Ryan."
He didn't turn.
"Ryan… look at me."
A pause.
"Please."
Slowly—
Reluctantly—
He turned.
He expected fear.
Disgust.
Distance.
But instead—
Alice looked at him softly.
No fear.
No rejection.
Only—
Understanding.
And something deeper.
Something warmer.
"I don't know what happened to you."
Her voice was steady now.
"And I don't know why you think Charl hurt me."
A small pause.
"But I do know this."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"This isn't who you are."
Ryan's eyes flicked downward.
Charl lay at his feet.
Broken.
Bleeding.
Unconscious.
"I know you," she continued.
"And you wouldn't kill someone like this."
Ryan released his grip.
Charl's body dropped to the floor.
Lifeless.
For now.
"You don't know me as well as you think."
Ryan's voice was quiet.
"The Ryan you knew…"
A pause.
"He wasn't this person."
He looked back at her.
The rage was gone.
Replaced by something heavier.
Something older.
"But the man standing here now…"
He shook his head slightly.
"He's not the same."
Alice didn't step back.
Didn't hesitate.
"That might be true."
Her voice softened.
"But it doesn't change how I see you."
Ryan stared at her.
For a long moment.
Then—
A small smile formed.
Faint.
Almost fragile.
"You might change your mind."
He reached up gently.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
The gesture—
Careful.
Soft.
"The world you knew is gone."
Ryan gestured toward Charl.
"People like him…"
His voice hardened again.
"Are going to get stronger."
"More dangerous."
"And they won't hesitate."
He looked back at her.
Steady.
Certain.
"The only rule left in this world…"
"…is that strength decides everything."
Ryan stepped closer.
Slowly.
He took her hand.
Gentle.
Careful.
"Come with me."
His voice dropped.
Softer now.
"Let me protect you."
Alice looked down.
Her fingers tightened slightly in his.
Her life—
Her past—
Her ties—
They all felt distant now.
Unimportant.
But that wasn't what made her hesitate.
It was him.
The way he asked.
The weight behind his words.
She took a breath.
Steadying herself.
Then looked up.
A small smile formed.
Warm.
Certain.
"I'd like that."
Outside—
The world was already changing.
And this time—
They would face it together.