Escape

Ryan's footsteps rang out against the ground.

He undid the buttons on his cuffs as he drew closer to Black Noir.

"I'll smash you to pieces."

With those words, Ryan vanished from where he stood.

By the time Black Noir caught sight of him again, Ryan's fist had struck his abdomen.

A visible dent formed in Black Noir's stomach. He clutched his belly and staggered back several steps, disbelief written across his face.

"You lunatic. You actually drank that much Compound V."

"Black Noir. Didn't you say you could use anything to beat someone?"

Ryan answered Black Noir's question simply and kept approaching him.

He grabbed Black Noir's head, letting him struggle and pound at his body.

The blows didn't leave so much as a red mark.

Meanwhile, Ryan forced Black Noir's head down toward his knee.

Knee strike.

A dull thud came from Black Noir's face. Ryan pulled his head back up, revealing facial features smashed beyond recognition.

Then Ryan lifted him up and gripped his shoulders, copying what Black Noir had done earlier.

His grip gradually tightened.

A sound like tearing fabric came from Black Noir's skin, and warm red liquid streamed from his chest.

Held in the air, Black Noir could only kick wildly in pain. He raised his fists and swung at Ryan.

Ryan either ignored those punches or freed a hand to swat them aside like flies.

The tearing continued.

Just as Black Noir felt he was about to be ripped in two, Ryan threw him to the ground.

The feeling of having narrowly escaped death left Black Noir dazed. He climbed off the ground and looked at Ryan.

"Are you letting me go?"

"No."

Ryan shook his head as he spoke.

"I just don't want you to die that easily."

Those simple words sent