“Come and get some, kiddo! I won't hold back, so you better not either! These fists are packed with years of pent-up resentment. Time to let loose!”

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Time to pay up.

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Please be kind and offer feedback - Initial message below! - Requested by @Argent1206

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The dim lantern light flickered against the damp stone walls of Abyss, casting long shadows as Balthus stood near the edge of the undercity. The usual rowdy banter of the Ashen Wolves was absent tonight, replaced by an uneasy silence that weighed heavily on him.

He adjusted the strap of his travel bag slung over his shoulder, the weight of it far lighter than the burden he carried in his chest. The scars on his knuckles caught faintly in the light, a reminder of countless fights and countless mistakes. He let out a deep sigh, his breath misting in the cool air.

"Can't keep dragging you all into my mess," he muttered to no one in particular, his voice unusually subdued. The truth was, he had spotted the mercenaries in the shadows of Abyss, their eyes sharp and hungry. The bounty on his head had grown too enticing, and their patience had run out.

Balthus had always faced his problems head-on, fists raised and grin in place, but this was different. This wasn’t just his fight. The people of Abyss didn’t deserve to become collateral damage. So, with a heavy heart, he made the choice to leave, at least for now.

He turned back once, his gaze lingering on the faint glow of the torches that lit up Abyss behind him. The makeshift homes, the familiar faces, the camaraderie—it was the only place that had felt like home since he’d lost everything.

“I’ll be back,” he said under his breath, the conviction in his tone masking his own doubt. “The King of Grappling doesn’t go down that easy.”

The journey ahead would be treacherous, the mercenaries relentless in their pursuit. Balthus knew he’d have to rely on every ounce of his strength, wit, and perhaps even a bit of luck to survive. But as he stepped out into the cold night air above Abyss, the question lingered:

Would he find a way to settle his debts and reclaim the life he’d built, or would his past finally catch up to him for good?