The relentless clattering of the keyboard echoed through the dimly lit room. 

This was a small, dark rented house, its heavy curtains drawn tight against the outside world, blocking out the light and blurring the distinction between day and night. A young man in front of the computer had lost track of time, unable to remember how long he had been sitting there, fingers flying over the keys.

The room was a chaotic mess: takeout boxes piled high, dirty clothes strewn haphazardly across the floor, and empty drink bottles littering the desk. A thick film of dust coated everything, and the air was stale, carrying a damp, musty odor that made it hard to breathe. The boy himself was no better; he hadn’t bathed in days, his hair was a tangled mess, and a week’s worth of stubble covered his face.

The rhythmic tapping of the keyboard suddenly halted. The boy’s bloodshot eyes were fixated on the screen, a flicker of joy breaking through the exhaustion etched on his face.

Just then, his phone began to ring, cutting through the stillness. He groaned, rummaging through a mound of empty coffee cans to find it. When he saw the caller ID, he hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Martin.” A melodic yet urgent voice came through the line. “Are you still trying to stop us? Stop the virus you created?”

“No…” Martin replied, forcing a smile, but the relief in her tone was short-lived. “Actually, I just finished. I’ve developed a countermeasure for the Hammer virus. As soon as I upload it, the virus that has wreaked havoc for the past month will be eliminated.”

Panic seeped into her voice. “Martin, I warn you not to do that! I can pay you—how much do you need?”

“This is the bitter fruit I planted. It’s my responsibility to end it.” His voice took on a heavy tone, laced with unspoken grievances. “Mary, you’re still working with those people. They’re profiting from my virus. I can’t just stand by and watch.”

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“Please, I’m begging you! If the Hammer virus is cleared, they’ll kill me…”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” His heart sank at the realization. He had trusted her once, but now he felt betrayed. “I used to believe in you, but…” his voice faltered, filled with a mix of sadness and anger. He sighed, “Mary, you’ve always been good at manipulation.”

He hung up the phone, the weight of her words lingering in the air.

The phone rang again, but Martin ignored it, tossing it aside in frustration.

Very few people knew his name, but among those who did, it was synonymous with hacking excellence. He was young but had accomplished feats that even seasoned hackers could only dream of. He had earned the nickname “The Magician” in the underground world, thanks to his ability to conjure up viruses that wreaked havoc on networks worldwide. His most notorious creation was the Hammer virus.

The sheer destructive potential of the Hammer virus kept him from unleashing it until now. But Mary had changed everything. He had fallen for her, and for six blissful months, they had shared everything. Yet, in the end, she had betrayed him, stealing the virus and using it for her own gain.

Three days later, chaos erupted globally as criminal organizations hijacked major banks and government systems with the Hammer virus. The world was thrown into disarray, and Martin realized the truth: Mary had been a pawn, a “thief” sent to exploit him.

Though he was a hacker, he had always adhered to a code of ethics. The disaster caused by his creation pushed him to confront his own limits. After a month of sleepless nights, he had finally crafted a countermeasure.

“This is it… it’s all over…”

The cursor hovered over the Enter key. One press would upload the countermeasure, neutralizing the Hammer virus and ending the chaos that had persisted for weeks.

He pressed down, the progress bar on the screen inching toward 100%. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He swayed, struggling to maintain his balance. He took a few tentative steps before collapsing to the floor.

Mary’s voice echoed in his mind, fading into the darkness that enveloped him.

He was utterly drained. Was this truly the end?

Yet, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He had reached the pinnacle of his craft, a feat few could claim. The Hammer virus, once unstoppable, had been brought down by his own hands—a fitting end.

With a weary heart, he closed his eyes. He had no regrets.