Blackstone City woke to fear.
Not rumors.
Not whispers.
Fear.
Low Iron District had changed overnight.
Bloodstains still marked the streets. Broken weapons lay abandoned. And at the center of it all stood a single name—spoken quietly, carefully.
Zhang Wei.
Independent elite.
Territory holder.
Syndicate breaker.
The system panel hovered calmly before me as I walked through my newly claimed district.
[DING!]
Territory Status: Stable (Temporary)
Public Fear Level: High
Faction Hostility: Extreme
Warning:
Major retaliation imminent.
I smiled faintly.
"So they won't ignore me."
Good.
At the heart of Blackstone City, inside the Black Fang Syndicate's headquarters, rage boiled.
Kang Yu stood at the center of the council chamber.
Around him sat five figures.
Each radiated power.
Each had blood on their hands.
Each was a lieutenant—or worse.
"Qin Mara is finished," Kang Yu said calmly.
His voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
"The Low Iron District is gone," another man growled.
"That was our supply route."
A woman with sharp eyes sneered.
"An academy stray takes territory and lives?"
"This city has become a joke."
Kang Yu raised his hand.
Silence fell.
"This Zhang Wei didn't join us," he said.
"He rejected us."
His eyes sharpened.
"That makes him a threat."
One of the lieutenants leaned forward.
"Permission to crush him?"
Kang Yu nodded slowly.
"Yes," he said.
"But not recklessly."
He turned to the shadows.
"Send the Reapers."
A hush fell.
Even the lieutenants stiffened.
"The Reapers?" someone whispered.
"Against one man?"
Kang Yu smiled thinly.
"He didn't act like one man."
Night returned quickly.
Too quickly.
I stood on the rooftop of a ruined warehouse, overlooking the Low Iron District.
Lanterns flickered below as residents stayed indoors.
No laughter.
No noise.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
High-tier assassins detected.
Designation: Black Fang Reapers
Estimated number: 6
Rank range: Enhanced (Peak) – Elite
Threat Level: Lethal.
I exhaled slowly.
"So this is how they answer."
The wind shifted.
I moved.
The first Reaper struck silently.
A blade flashed from the darkness toward my throat.
I tilted my head.
The blade skimmed past.
Shadow Step.
I reappeared behind him and crushed his spine with a palm strike.
No scream.
He dropped like a puppet.
The second and third attacked together.
Perfect coordination.
Too perfect.
I blocked one strike, took another across the arm.
Blood spilled.
Pain flared.
The system chimed instantly.
[DING!]
Combat injury detected.
Adaptive growth activated.
Power +4.
I smiled.
I grabbed one Reaper by the wrist and snapped it.
Before he could cry out, my elbow crushed his throat.
The third tried to retreat.
Fear Incarnate surged.
His steps faltered.
I appeared before him.
One punch ended it.
Three down.
The street was silent again.
But not empty.
The remaining three revealed themselves.
One woman.
Two men.
Their auras were heavy.
Elite Rank.
Real elites.
"You're impressive," the woman said calmly.
"But this ends now."
I wiped the blood from my arm.
"Good," I replied.
"I was hoping for something worth killing."
They attacked.
Together.
The world seemed to shrink.
Blades.
Chains.
Poisoned needles.
I moved constantly.
Shadow Step chained.
Strike.
Evade.
Counter.
The fight spilled into the street.
Buildings cracked.
Stone shattered.
One Reaper wrapped a chain around my leg and yanked.
I fell.
The woman lunged, blade aimed at my heart.
I grabbed the chain and pulled.
Hard.
The Reaper slammed into her mid-strike.
Bones broke.
She screamed.
I rolled, rose, and struck.
Body Reinforcement surged.
My fist crushed her skull.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Elite enemy eliminated.
Growth acceleration active.
The last two hesitated.
Just for a second.
Fear.
I exploited it.
Shadow Step.
I appeared behind one and tore through his back.
The final Reaper roared and charged blindly.
I met him head-on.
Our fists collided.
The shockwave ripped apart the street.
He staggered.
I didn't.
I stepped in and drove my palm into his chest.
Once.
Twice.
Third strike.
His heart gave out.
He collapsed.
Silence returned.
Six bodies.
Six elites and near-elites.
Dead.
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
Black Fang Reapers eliminated.
Major Retaliation Survived.
Rewards processing…
Power +22.
Fear absorption: Massive.
Territory Stability: Increased.
Warning:
Faction leader response likely.
I stood among the bodies, breathing steadily.
Black Fang had drawn blood.
And lost.
By morning, Blackstone City was in uproar.
"The Reapers are dead!"
"All of them!"
"In Low Iron District!"
"That independent elite—he slaughtered them!"
Fear rippled through the city.
Even rival factions took notice.
Inside Black Fang headquarters, Kang Yu stared at the report.
Six Reapers.
Gone.
He closed his eyes slowly.
"So," he murmured.
"You chose war."
He opened his eyes.
"Prepare the inner circle."
Back in my district, residents gathered at a distance.
Watching.
Waiting.
I stood at the center of the street and spoke clearly.
"This district is under my protection," I said.
"No extortion. No forced labor."
Murmurs spread.
"If anyone has a problem," I continued calmly,
"send them to me."
They bowed.
Not out of loyalty.
Out of fear.
And fear was enough.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Territory Loyalty: Emerging
Authority recognized.
New Objective Generated.
Objective:
Confront Black Fang leadership.
Reward:
Major Rank Advancement
Unique Title
System Evolution Progress +30%
I looked toward the heart of the city.
Toward Black Fang's headquarters.
"So," I murmured,
"now it's your turn."
Blackstone City had tested me.
I had answered.
Now—
It would burn.