Summary
Highlights
Kyle is moved into a cell with Manson, a dangerous inmate, but survives the night. His brother-in-law, Paul, tells him to bribe guards to survive. Kyle meets Belly, a young inmate, and Milkay, an older inmate, who explains the prison's two gangs led by Bolit and another. Milkay advises Kyle to bribe Tulik for a cell change. After Andrei spits on his food, Kyle fights him, landing him in solitary confinement again. This time, Kyle uses his isolation to train vigorously.
Kyle is working in Russia when he calls his wife, Gray, who feels lonely and misses him. As he's about to return home, his call with Gray is cut due to a power outage. A stranger attacks Gray, and Kyle, hearing her screams, races home. He arrives to find Gray murdered and the attacker flees. Kyle chases him, catches him, but is injured in the process before the police arrest Kyle instead of the attacker.
The court declares Gray's killer, Kovik, innocent due to lack of evidence, attributed to his wealthy family bribing the judge. Enraged, Kyle grabs an officer's gun and kills Kovik, leading to Kyle's life sentence in a high-security Russian prison. Upon arrival, the prison director, Korshov, warns new inmates against escape. Officer Tulik steals Gray's wedding ring from Kyle. Kyle gets into a fight with Andrei, an inmate who enjoys beating others, and is sent to solitary confinement where he attempts suicide, but a butterfly reminds him of Gray.
While working on a railway, a landmine explodes, providing a distraction for Belly and his friend to attempt an escape. Belly's friend is killed, and Belly is recaptured. Instead of being punished severely, he's returned to Andrei's cell, revealing the guards' monetary gain from inmate fights. Meanwhile, Kyle continues his intense training, transforming physically and gaining strength. Prison director Kirshov arranges a fight between Kyle and Andrei for entertainment and profit.
Kyle fights Andrei, initially struggling but eventually gaining the upper hand. Kirshov tries to intervene to prevent Kyle's victory, but Kyle kills Andrei. Kyle continues to win brutal fights, becoming more aggressive and obsessed with vengeance, concerning his friends Belly and Milkay. Paul visits Kyle, offering help to get him out, but Kyle refuses, consumed by his dark path.
During Russia's National Day celebration, Belly confides in Kyle about his escape plan, aided by Milkay. Belly is caught, tortured by Tulik, and then given to Folia to be beaten all night. Belly dies, his last words to Kyle warning him not to become a monster like Andrei. Belly's words resonate with Kyle, making him reevaluate his actions.
Kyle refuses his arranged fight with Folia, realizing he's been manipulated. Folia beats him, but Kyle doesn't retaliate. Kirshov orders Kyle punished by being hung without food or water. Manson confronts Milkay, revealing Milkay's betrayal of Belly for medical treatment. Manson then sets Milkay on fire and recalls his own past crime, when he burned and killed his teacher who tried to abuse him.
The gangs make a truce, infuriating Tulik. Gray's spirit visits Kyle, telling him he's on the right path. Kyle is hospitalized and then returned to solitary confinement. Kirshov forces Kyle to fight Milosh, a giant inmate. Kyle, recognizing Milosh as his cell neighbor, connects with him. Milosh, seeing Kyle as a friend, refuses to fight, leading to a riot where Milosh sacrifices himself fighting the guards alongside Kyle. Kyle and Manson retreat, and Kyle finally shares his story of loss and transformation with Manson.
Manson reveals he has evidence of the prison's corruption and proposes an escape plan: Kyle fights Folia, and during the post-fight transport, they escape. After two weeks of heightened security due to the riot, the plan is set. Kyle fights Folia, winning and stabbing Bolit. Guards take Kyle to a garage, where Manson joins him. They overpower the guards, Kyle reclaims his ring from Tulik, and injures Tulik. Manson gives Kyle a guard's uniform and the evidence of corruption. Kyle escapes. Manson returns to Kirshov's office, killing him, and then surrenders. Three months later, the prison is shut down thanks to Kyle and Manson's actions, and the evidence brought to light.