Blackstone City was too quiet.
That was the first sign.
No street brawls.
No loud merchants.
No drunken shouting.
The Low Iron District, once chaotic, now stood under an uneasy calm.
People moved carefully.
Spoke softly.
Watched the shadows.
Because everyone knew what was coming.
Black Fang would not stay silent.
And when they moved—
The city would bleed.
I stood on the rooftop of a broken watchtower, overlooking my district.
The system panel hovered before me.
[DING!]
Territory Stability: Rising
Public Fear Level: High
Faction Hostility: Maximum
Major confrontation probability: 92%
I exhaled slowly.
"Finally."
The wind shifted.
A presence entered the district.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
But heavy.
Refined.
Dangerous.
I turned.
Kang Yu walked down the main street alone.
No guards.
No weapons drawn.
Just calm, steady steps.
Every person in the district retreated into their homes as he passed.
Doors shut.
Windows closed.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
High-tier entity detected.
Name: Kang Yu
Affiliation: Black Fang Syndicate
Rank: Elite (Late Stage)
Threat Level: Extreme.
Opportunity Level: Exceptional.
I jumped down from the rooftop.
My feet hit the street silently.
Kang Yu stopped ten meters away.
We faced each other.
No one else remained outside.
Only us.
"You've caused quite the disturbance," Kang Yu said calmly.
His voice carried no anger.
No hatred.
Just cold calculation.
"You sent assassins," I replied.
"They failed."
He nodded slightly.
"Yes," he said.
"They did."
Silence stretched.
The air between us felt heavy.
"You killed the Reapers," Kang Yu continued.
"That was a mistake."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Sending them was your mistake."
For a brief moment, the corner of his lips twitched.
Not a smile.
Something sharper.
"You're strong," he admitted.
"Stronger than expected."
His aura began to rise.
Not explosively.
Slowly.
Controlled.
Like a blade being drawn inch by inch.
"But this city," he said quietly,
"belongs to Black Fang."
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Pressure spread outward.
Buildings trembled.
I felt it.
His power was different.
Not like the others.
Sharper.
Denser.
Deadlier.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Elite (Late Stage) pressure detected.
Host survival probability:
Direct clash — 41%
Recommended strategy:
Adaptive combat and domination scaling.
I smiled faintly.
"Good," I said.
"I was getting bored."
Kang Yu moved first.
No warning.
No roar.
Just a blur.
His fist appeared in front of my face.
I barely raised my arm in time.
Impact.
The shockwave ripped through the street.
My feet slid backward, carving grooves into the stone.
Strong.
Very strong.
He pressed forward relentlessly.
Strike after strike.
Precise.
Efficient.
Deadly.
I dodged.
Blocked.
Countered.
Shadow Step activated.
I vanished.
He turned instantly, fist already swinging.
He read my movement.
Our blows collided again.
Another shockwave.
Windows shattered.
Walls cracked.
The district trembled.
The system pulsed rapidly.
[DING!]
High-intensity combat detected.
Adaptive Growth Overdrive activated.
Power increasing…
Heat surged through my body.
My muscles tightened.
My aura flared.
I stepped forward.
This time, I attacked first.
My fist struck his ribs.
Kang Yu grunted.
A small sound.
But real.
He stepped back.
For the first time.
His eyes sharpened.
"So it's true," he murmured.
"You grow during battle."
I didn't answer.
I attacked again.
Shadow Step chained.
Left.
Right.
Above.
My strikes came like falling thunder.
Kang Yu blocked most.
But not all.
A kick landed.
His shoulder cracked.
He retreated two steps.
The street fell silent again.
Both of us stood still.
Breathing slowly.
Watching.
Measuring.
The system chimed again.
[DING!]
Opponent pressure stabilizing.
Combat growth slowing.
New condition required for further advancement.
Suggested action:
Absolute domination strike.
I understood immediately.
One decisive blow.
Not a long fight.
A finishing move.
I stepped forward.
Kang Yu's eyes narrowed.
He sensed it too.
Our auras flared.
Stone beneath our feet shattered.
We moved at the same time.
Fists collided in the center of the street.
Power exploded outward.
Dust filled the air.
When it settled—
Kang Yu staggered back.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes widened slightly.
I stood still.
Unmoved.
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
Kang Yu laughed softly.
Not mocking.
Not angry.
Almost… impressed.
"So that's your level," he said.
He wiped the blood from his lip.
"This city just became interesting."
I didn't lower my guard.
"Are we done?" I asked.
"For today," he replied.
He turned.
"But this isn't over."
He looked over his shoulder.
"Next time," he said quietly,
"I won't come alone."
Then he walked away.
The moment he disappeared from the district, the system chimed.
[DING!]
Major confrontation survived.
Outcome: Dominance achieved.
Reputation surge: Massive.
Power +15.
Territory Stability: High.
Warning:
Black Fang preparing full-scale operation.
Estimated time: 3–5 days.
I exhaled slowly.
So the real war was coming.
Good.
The residents began peeking out from their homes.
Whispers spread again.
"He drove Kang Yu back…"
"An independent elite…"
"Low Iron has a real ruler now…"
Fear.
Respect.
Both tasted the same.
The system pulsed once more.
[DING!]
Main Objective Updated.
Objective:
Crush Black Fang's inner circle.
Reward:
Major Rank Advancement
Unique Legendary Title
System Evolution Complete
I looked toward the heart of Blackstone City.
Toward the syndicate's territory.
A slow smile formed.
"Looks like it's time," I murmured.
Because the next fight—
Would decide the ruler of Blackstone.