Warrior Supreme

The gates of Montserrat Prison clanged open to release a prisoner. A tall man in ordinary clothes walked out, having served his three-year conviction term.

"I can finally be with my family again," Tyler said aloud, shielding his eyes with his hand from the bright noon sun. He didn't turn back to look at the prison facade.

Montserrat was a maximum-security prison, home to the most heinous and dangerous criminals in the world.

But Tyler never belonged to this living hell.

He eyed the uncharacteristic tattoo on his own right bicep, the six-wings, called the Seraphim sigil. It was not a prison souvenir but one given to him by Butch Salvatore, one of the other inmates serving a life sentence.

Butch was an eccentric old man who claimed to be the leader of a mysterious group. Most other inmates considered Butch a deluded old psychopath and avoided him, but Tyler befriended the man and showed him kindness.

One day Butch invited him to his practice sessions.

"I suffered a near-fatal attack from my enemies many years back," he told the young man. "It took most of my life energy to heal myself. My life is about to end soon. However, I see innate talent in you, Tyler. I can teach you to master invincible skills that will aid you in reaching the pinnacle of the world. It won't be an easy or enjoyable path. Will you accept your destiny?"

Tyler was both skeptical and intrigued by Butch's tall claims. In the end, he decided to put them to the test. From that day onwards, he spent his time in prison as Butch Salvatore's disciple.

The old man put him through hell to learn martial arts and abilities. Eventually, Tyler realized Butch's claims were not imaginary.

Just before Tyler's release from prison, Butch imprinted this tattoo on his arm.

"Someone will be waiting for you outside," he instructed in a serious tone. "I don't have anything of material value to give to you right now. However, you are my true legacy; everything I own is yours. There's a place hidden from the maps-Wings Island. You must go there when you're ready. "

Tyler didn't really expect anything else from Butch. But indeed, someone was waiting for him outside the prison.

A tall, athletic woman dressed in rugged leather leaned on a Harley Davidson. Her eagle-green eyes scrutinized him.

"Are you Tyler?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I am. Butch Salvatore said you'd have gifts for me."

Three years back, Tyler would have been intimidated by such a perfectly sculpted female. However, the new and improved Tyler had drastically changed. He was tall, lean, and muscular. An air of confidence and indifference surrounded him.

"I'm Britta, Butch's granddaughter," she said, handing him a paper bag. "There are three gifts inside. Handle them carefully. I'll drop you at Sapphire City now."

Tyler nodded and pocketed the bag.

Britta handed him a phone before leaving. "My number is in the phonebook. Call me whenever you need anything. "

Tyler breathed in the city air as he walked down a familiar street. Sapphire City had barely changed, bringing back memories.

Tragic memories.

***

Three years ago, Tyler's life was near perfect. He was about to graduate from university and land a cushy job in a top manufacturing firm.

Tyler was going steady with his childhood love and girlfriend, Erica Sinclair. She was one of the most beautiful girls in the city, and the young man felt lucky to have her as a partner.

After Tyler got his joining letter, he purchased an engagement ring with his savings and proposed to Erica. She said yes! Even her parents were ecstatic since the young man's future looked bright.

Tragedy struck soon after. The couple was returning from a romantic date when Trent Cooper, the son of a local billionaire, stopped them at a crossroads.

Trent was a narcissistic, spoiled heir who always had lustful eyes for Erica. The brat used to pursue her relentlessly, showering her with gifts and brandishing his influence. However, the beauty turned him down every time.

Under the influence of liquor, Trent decided to use force to get what he wanted. He hired a few henchmen and attacked the couple.

"If you won't be my girlfriend, I'll take you against your will!" the billionaire brat declared to Erica. While his henchmen pinned down Tyler, Trent dragged the girl into his car and attempted to force himself on her.

Erica screamed at the top of her lungs as he tried to rip off her clothes. Overcome with fury and panic, Tyler mustered all his strength and broke free from the henchmen.

Before Trent could do the unthinkable, he shoved the man off Erica. The brat, already intoxicated with liquor, lost his balance and fell heavily, breaking his arm. Erica escaped during the commotion.

Tyler thought the danger had been averted, but it was merely the beginning.

Trent immediately ordered his henchmen to beat up Tyler. Moreover, the Cooper family had the Chief of Police in their pockets. Tyler was arrested for assault and other false charges. Nobody believed his story and a corrupt trial judge sentenced him to three years at Montserrat prison.

***

Tyler slowly walked up the street he was raised in. As he made the turn towards his ancestral home, the scene shocked him to the core.

His parents' home looked decrepit and run-down, as if thirty years had passed. Mold and creepers grew on the walls while the boundary itself was crumbling. There were cracks on the facade, and the garden was overgrown with grass and weeds.

Tyler took a moment to process the bizarre scenery. What tragedy had struck the Grants while he was gone? It had been only three years! The city itself had prospered, but his ancestral home had turned into ruins!

The Grant family had never been billionaires, but Tyler's father owned a mini-mall in the city. He made enough money to keep his family in comfort.

Tyler approached the porch and rang the doorbell. However, the power was out, and the bell was useless. He knocked on the door. After five minutes, he heard the sound of rolling wheels, and someone opened the door.

The figure that emerged from the shabby house was that of a wizened old woman in a wheelchair. She had disheveled hair and was dressed in tattered clothes.

"Who is it?" she asked with a pained tremor in her voice.

Tyler's heart did a double-take. The shriveled woman before him was none other than his own mother, Ruth Grant!

She seemed to have aged twenty years and was pinned to a wheelchair! What the hell happened while he was gone?

"Mom, it's me. Tyler. Don't you recognize me?"

"Tyler... Is it really you?" she stammered, raising a trembling hand to touch his bearded face.

"Yes..." He figured his unkempt hair, scraggly beard, and rugged physique made him look quite different from the boyish young man she remembered from three years ago.

Tears of mixed emotion streamed down Ruth's eyes as she pulled her son towards her and hugged him. "Am I dreaming...? I can't believe it... You're finally back..."

"Mom. What happened while I was gone?" Tyler asked with concern. "Why is our home in this dilapidated condition? What happened to your legs? Why do you look so unwell?"

Ruth grabbed her son's arm with her trembling hands. "Come in, son. The house felt vacant without you."

Tyler nodded and pushed her wheelchair inside. The house's interior was in a worse condition. The paint was chipping off the walls, and most furniture was missing. Did his parents sell everything to meet the expenses? Was their financial ruin so devastating?

Ruth took some time to rein in her emotions before she began speaking again.

"Things fell apart when you were convicted, son. The Coopers were not content with just throwing you into prison. They vented their anger on our family. They usurped your dad's business and ensured he wouldn't be hired elsewhere."

"That's not the end of it. The Coopers demanded compensation of two million dollars from us. We gave away all our savings, but it was not enough. We sold our jewelry and furniture. Yet, we could pay back only a small fraction of what we owed them."

Tyler clenched his fist as anger bubbled in him. The Coopers had gone too far for their revenge, wrecking the lives of his parents. Their brutality had made his mother a cripple!

"Those bastards!" he growled, looking at his helpless, withering mother. Ruth used to be a beautiful, upright woman. She had been reduced to an invalid.

Ruth didn't need to explain her miserable appearance. Tyler could only imagine the amount of mental and physical agony she must have gone through. That would break the strongest of people.

Tyler remembered about his father's ancestral land. "We inherited land in Denter County from Grandpa. You could have moved there and sold off some agricultural land to pay off the debt."

Tyler's suggestion further aggravated his mother's mood. "Your uncle Rollo backstabbed your father. While he was upset about your imprisonment, Rollo made him sign off all inheritance properties to his name."

Tyler pursed his lips. Rollo had always been a deceptive fraud. He had lived a spendthrift life until his share of inheritance money was exhausted. Now, he had stolen his elder brother's property!

Ruth went on, occasionally sobbing in melancholy. "Since nobody else would hire your dad, he had to take up a menial job in sewer maintenance. It was the only way to support us. The wages are low but enough for two meals daily and to purchase at least some of my medicine."

Tyler bit his lip in anguish. It was his fault that the Coopers attacked his parents. "Mom, I am so sorry this happened to you."

Fresh, warm tears appeared in Ruth's eyes. "The prospect of you coming back home kept me alive, son. Now that you are back, I am sure things will start looking better. Perhaps your dad can work overtime in the sewer department. We used to manage two meals daily, but now that you are here, we will need three meals. You are young and need to eat well. I don't know if they fed you well in prison..."

Tyler wiped his mother's tears with his thumbs and looked into her weary eyes. "Now that I am here, I will take care of everything, Mom. Please stop crying."

Ruth shook her head. "Do you mean you'll get a job? But who will hire you, son? You are an ex-convict, and the Coopers have besmirched our family's name beyond repair."

"Let me worry about that. I need you to stop crying and take a rest." Tyler hugged his mother tight and reassured her that good things were coming their way.

"Alright, son," Ruth replied with a pained smile, touching his cheek affectionately. "Go to your room and freshen up. I'll serve you some food."

Tyler went to his room and found everything preserved the same way he had left it. Ruth had sold furniture from the living room and the master bedroom, but her son's space was untouched. Even when the woman was impoverished, she didn't agree to auction off his things.

Tyler approached his desk and found a picture of Erica Sinclair, his girlfriend. After he was convicted, she promised she'd wait for him. He intended to visit her next and make sure the Coopers hadn't ruined her life as well.

Just then, Tyler heard his mother yell from downstairs. He rushed down to the kitchen but she wasn't there. The main door was ajar.

The young man raced outside to find a group of severe-looking men crowding their lawn. The leader's face was twisted in savagery as he dragged Ruth by her hair on the ground. The old woman wailed helplessly while the other goons cackled at her misery.

"Have you forgotten us, cripple?" the leader barked. "We're from the Hux gang hired by the Cooper family! Where's the monthly installment of ten thousand dollars? Cough it up, or I'll break your arms!"

As Ruth struggled in vain, one of the henchmen spoke up. "Boss, the bitch hasn't paid the installment for six months. She owes ten grand every month to compensate the Coopers. But every time, she sent us off with old furniture instead. I just checked the house and found only thirty-two dollars in her stash."

The leader spat with disdain. "You filthy scum of a woman! Where are you hiding our money?"

Ruth wailed in pain and tried to explain herself. "I'm sorry, mister. But my husband's wages are quite low. We don't have enough for three meals a day. Please forgive us..."

"Do you think this is a joke, wench? Is the Cooper family going to be fooled by your lies?"

Ruth joined her hands, crying profusely. "Please, I am telling you the truth... Wait! I'll sell some cutlery to neighbors and try to arrange five hundred dollars. I promise! Please give me fifteen minutes."

The leader's eyes were bloodshot in anger. "Five hundred? Have we come here to collect spare change, bitch? Maybe you aren't taking us seriously. I think breaking your arms will teach you a good lesson!"

He extended out her arm and raised his foot to stomp her.

"Take your filthy hands off her!" Tyler warned with a commanding voice. "If you want to live, you will step away from her!"

The leader turned towards the young man who had just walked onto the porch. "Who the hell are you?"

Ruth's face put on a look of dismay. "No, Tyler! They are dangerous people! Gangsters! Save yourself! Run and hide!"

The gang leader scanned him from head to toe. "So you are Tyler Grant? Are you out of prison already? Good thing we spotted you. Time to shell out one and a half million dollars you owe the Coopers!"

Tyler's eyes became cold and distant, as if he was barely listening to the thug. Inside him, a volcano was about to explode.

"I won't pay you a single penny. Neither will my family. Today is the day your brutality ends. Now unhand my mother before you lose your life."

The goons broke into hysterical laughter. "Do you know who I am?" the leader asked bashfully.

"I don't know who you are, and I don't care!"

The leader guffawed. "Boy! Since you were gone for three years, you are ignorant. I am Huxley, the leader of the Hux gang. Everyone in this locality is scared to death of my name. Your machismo will disappear when I break all your limbs!"

Tyler was unmoved by the gang leader's threats. "Are you good at terrorizing elderly and disabled people only? You don't scare me at the least!"

Huxley gritted his teeth and let Ruth go. He felt emasculated for a moment since he was caught dragging and beating a crippled, helpless woman. It would do well for his reputation if he were to beat up a young man instead.

Tyler straightened Ruth's wheelchair and helped her get on it. "Go inside the house, Mom. I'll deal with these punks."

Ruth eyed her son nervously. "Is it necessary to get into a fight? If I grovel before the gangster enough and take some beating, he may give us an extension. Besides, you already have a criminal record. It may get you in trouble with the law. I don't want to see my son in prison again!"

Tyler turned and gave her a reassuring nod. "You don't have to beg or even lower your head, Mom. From today onwards, no one will bother us. I promise."

Ruth looked uncertain, but her son's conviction made her feel secure suddenly. She followed his instructions and entered the house.

"If your sob drama is over, it's time for you to become a cripple like your mother!" Huxley spat with a smirk.

"Bring it on!"

Huxley signaled one of his men, and the latter lunged at Tyler with a swinging arm. The young man stepped out of the way dexterously and landed a powerful chop on the goon's back. The latter hit the ground like a bag of sand.

Huxley looked stunned. What just happened? Could the loser guy really fight? Perhaps it was a fluke? He figured he needed to step up the attack by a notch.

The gang leader gestured to all his five remaining men, and they gradually surrounded Tyler. "Let's see how you fare against all of us!"

The goons rushed at Tyler together, aiming punches and kicks at him. There was no way to escape or evade.

The young man's eyes shifted with lightning speed. He moved his limbs even faster.

Bam! Bam! His attacks hit them like a whirlwind. The five goons bit the dust before they could realize what happened.

Huxley's jaw was left hanging. How did a young man like Tyler learn to fight like that? It couldn't be a coincidence or fluke at all. The leader decided to try different tactics.

"It seems you learned a few tricks in prison. Good for you. But you're still a pathetic loser whose girlfriend is marrying another man. Shame!"