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Zack was walking through the city when suddenly, his stomach let out a loud growl, signaling his hunger.
System (laughing hysterically): "Awwww, where's my breakfast?"
Zack (grumbling): "Damn you, system! Because of your endless chatter, I forgot to eat breakfast, and now my stomach is playing a symphony of hunger!"
System (mockingly): "I didn't stop you from eating. You were too busy staring like I was a porn star!"
Zack sighed and entered a supermarket, heading toward the refrigerators to grab a milk drink and some quick food. As he was making his selection, he noticed a suspicious-looking man standing at the cashier, his hand tucked inside his coat in a rather shady manner…
System (this time in a calm tone): "Well, I think we might have just found the robbery we were looking for without aimlessly wandering around."
Zack (to himself): "Great… I didn't expect the mission to come to me this fast."
Zack (cautiously approaching the cashier): "You seem nervous, my friend. Is something wrong?"
Store Owner (in a low, fearful voice): "N-nothing… Uh, great! Is this all you've got? If you want, consider it on the house… No need to pay."
Zack immediately got the message, and with quick reflexes, he spun toward the suspicious man, landing a surprise strike on his side to force him back. The man attempted to pull out his weapon, but Zack was faster—he instantly drew his dagger, his eyes gleaming dangerously.
The criminal fired a shot!
Zack (moving swiftly and agilely): "Damn it, you almost hit me, you idiot!"
He dodged the bullet with a quick lean and then lunged forward with force. With precise technique, he sliced the tendons in the man's knees, causing him to collapse to the ground, screaming. But Zack wasn't done—he grabbed the man's arms and broke them in one swift, brutal motion!
The criminal howled in agony, completely immobilized, while Zack looked at him indifferently before turning back to the store owner.
Zack (calmly putting his dagger back in his inventory): "Call the police."
The store owner quickly grabbed the phone, while the system laughed and said:
System: "Man, you turned him into a broken doll in seconds… I love this style!"
As Zack walked down the street, sipping his cold drink casually, a transparent screen suddenly popped up in front of him with a soft notification sound, making him raise an eyebrow curiously.
"Gotham's New Hero!"
Congratulations! You have completed the mission: "Stop a Robbery in the City."
Rewards:
+400 XP
+ $150
System (mockingly): "Well done, oh great hero! But if you hadn't used your weapon, you could've completed two missions at once… What a reckless idiot!"
Zack (sighing as he wipes his mouth after finishing the last drop of his drink): "Oh, thank you, oh genius system. Really, I have no idea what I would do without your brilliant commentary."
He continued walking nonchalantly, ignoring the system's sarcasm, while thinking about his next objective. After a few moments, he found himself standing in front of a massive public park, filled with dense trees and peaceful walkways. The weather was pleasant, and people were engaged in various activities—some jogging, others sitting on benches reading their books.
Zack (whispering to himself): "Alright, let's get these exercises done quickly."
He walked toward an open grassy area and started with warm-ups first. He slowly rotated his neck, then rolled his shoulders in circular motions, before stretching his arms and legs with precise movements, preparing for serious training.
Placing his hands firmly on the ground, he straightened his body and began lowering and raising himself at a steady pace.
"One… two… three…"
System (mockingly): "Do you want some music? Maybe a training montage song from a boxing movie?"
Zack (ignoring it, continuing to count): "Fifteen… sixteen…"
By the time he reached twenty, he started feeling the strain in his arms, but he didn't stop. He pushed himself to keep going until he completed all fifty, then collapsed onto the grass, catching his breath.
After a few moments, he sat up, interlocked his hands behind his head, and began lifting his upper body, engaging his core muscles.
Zack (struggling to speak): "Forty… forty-one…"
System (teasing): "Nice! Soon, your abs will be rock solid! Too bad you won't see them under all that shirt."
Zack (with suppressed anger): "I'm gonna punch you one day."
He finished his exercise at fifty, then lay back on the ground again, exhausted but satisfied with his accomplishment.
"Daily Mission Completed – Physical Training"
Rewards:
+ 300 XP
+ $50
System (grinning slyly): "Excellent! Now you can beat up bad guys with toned muscles!"
Zack stood up, stretched his muscles a little to relieve the tension, then gazed into the horizon, deep in thought… The next mission would be tougher, but he was ready for anything!
With sluggish steps, Zack walked through Gotham's alleys, his body aching from the intense workout he had just completed. He kept complaining about his sore muscles, repeatedly trying to massage his shoulders while grumbling.
Zack (groaning in pain): "Ugh… Why does it have to be this hard? Maybe I shouldn't have done all fifty in one go…"
System (mockingly): "Oh, stop whining! Don't tell me you want a warm bath and a massage too? Toughen up, we've got work to do!"
Zack (sighing): "Alright… what's next?"
System (seriously): "Now, it's time for your next mission… a combat challenge. Do you see that small door to your right? Yeah, the one covered in faded posters and scratched-up walls?"
Zack (reservedly): "Yeah… but there's no need for all these insults while giving me directions."
As Zack approached the door, he noticed a burly man standing beside it, smoking a thick cigar. The man raised an eyebrow as he saw Zack coming but said nothing. Zack cautiously pushed the door open, immediately greeted by the roar of the crowd and the chaos of betting.
In the center of the room, a fighting ring was surrounded by men and women shouting enthusiastically, wagering on the next victor. Inside the ring, two fighters were brutally exchanging blows, with one of them bleeding onto the metal floor.
System (excitedly): "Hah! Now this is the right place! All you have to do is step in and participate in a fight. Simple, right?"
Zack (watching the brutal fight with skepticism): "Simple? Doesn't look like it."
A strong voice called from behind: "Hey, you there, looking for a fight?"
Zack turned around to find a bald man wearing sunglasses, standing with his hands on his hips, evaluating him. It was clear he was one of the organizers, probably assuming Zack was just another gambler.
Zack (calmly): "Yes, I want to participate."
Bald man (grinning): "Alright, we've got an open fight coming up soon. If you're ready, head to that room and change. Winning gets you $300, losing means you walk out with extra pain."
Zack (muttering to himself): "Remind me why I signed up for this madness again…?"
System (mocking): "Oh, I can hear your thoughts, dumbass. Did you forget I'm a part of you, you greedy bastard?"
Zack (with a flicker of anger): "Shut up, damn it! You never told me you could hear my thoughts!"
System (laughing): "I thought you were smart, man."
Zack clenched his fist, feeling a rush of excitement creeping in. Maybe this would bring him pain, but this was his path to power. He stepped forward steadily toward the room, ready to face the challenge ahead!
Zack entered the locker room—it was small, dimly lit, and filled with the stale scent of sweat and old smoke, as if the air itself had witnessed countless bloody battles. Torn clothes, dried blood stains, and incomprehensible carvings etched into the walls made the place feel like a graveyard of past fighters—some of whom might not have walked out intact.
The moment he stepped inside, he paused upon noticing a massive man sitting on one of the benches, slowly wrapping his hands with boxing tape, as if performing a ritual before the fight. His muscles were unnaturally huge, covered in deep scars that told stories of past battles where he clearly wasn't the loser. His bald head gleamed under the dim light, and his cold eyes stared blankly at the wall in front of him, as if he didn't acknowledge anyone else's presence.
At that moment, the system whistled inside Zack's mind and spoke in a mocking tone:
System (sarcastically): "Buddy… I think you're gonna take a lot of punches today. Maybe more than just punches… You could actually die here. Did I ever mention that I really wished you had trained more before jumping into this?"
A chill ran down Zack's spine as he stood frozen in place, analyzing the man, searching for any possible weak spot—he found nothing. The guy was like an unbreakable stone wall.
Zack let out a nervous smile, trying to mask the slight tremor in his hands as he mumbled under his breath, barely audible:
"I think I just pissed myself a little…"
The system burst into laughter inside Zack's head, as if thoroughly enjoying his nervous predicament, then mockingly said: "Bro, your funeral is in a few moments… should I order you a wooden coffin, or do you prefer something metallic?"
Zack scowled and responded in a low voice, "Cut the jokes. Give me some useful advice instead of this nonsense."
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down, then started changing into his designated combat attire. His tight black shirt outlined his muscles, but compared to the massive man sitting nearby, he still looked small. He slipped on his black leather gloves, tightening them around his hands before warming up with a few quick exercises.
The system spoke again, but this time in a more serious tone:
"Listen, Zack, you need to use your speed. That guy isn't going down easily. You have to move fast, dodge, and land your hits in the right places. Don't try to face him head-on, or you'll end up as a corpse."
Zack nodded, breathing slowly before glancing back at the massive man, who had just finished preparing himself. Now, he stood up and began walking toward Zack at a steady pace. He looked even taller standing up, and far more imposing than Zack had initially thought.
Stopping right in front of him, the man looked down, towering over Zack as if he were nothing more than a child.
In a deep, menacing voice, he asked, "You're my opponent?"
Zack tried to keep his cool, raised an eyebrow, and responded with a sarcastic tone: "Oh, I didn't know I'd be fighting a moving mountain tonight. Looks like I'll need some luck."
The man didn't smile. He simply stared at Zack for a moment before saying in a cold voice, "You won't have time for luck." Then, he turned and walked toward the ring's entrance, leaving Zack standing there, trying to keep his nerves in check.
The system whispered inside his head: "Alright… this guy isn't the joking type. Be careful."
Zack exhaled slowly, then made his way toward the ring entrance, his heartbeat quickening. Outside, the crowd was roaring with excitement, eager to see blood spill onto the metallic arena floor.
As soon as Zack stepped into the ring, he found himself surrounded by a circle of spectators, all shouting and placing their bets on the fight.
On the other side, the massive man stood calmly, rolling his neck as if preparing to break someone.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena:
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! We have a brand-new fight tonight! In the right corner, the undefeated beast, the destroyer, the bone-crushing machine… Ralph the Butcher!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting his name.
The announcer then turned to Zack:
"And in the other corner… a newcomer we know nothing about! But he seems bold enough to stand before the Butcher! Will he survive? Or will he be just another name on the list of victims? Let's find out!"
Zack smirked, raising his fists as he calmly said, "Alright… let's see who falls first."
The Butcher finally smiled—but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was the grin of a predator that had just cornered its prey.
The fight began!
As soon as the signal was given, the Butcher moved with unexpected speed, throwing a straight punch at Zack's face.
Zack barely managed to dodge, but the sheer force of the punch sent a gust of wind past him, making him fully aware of its terrifying power.
"Holy shit… if that had hit me, I'd be done for!" Zack thought as he quickly backed away, trying to keep some distance between himself and the giant.
But he didn't have much time to think—the Butcher was closing in fast, clearly not planning to give him any chance to catch his breath.
Zack decided to stick to his plan. He began dodging, avoiding the Butcher's heavy punches with quick and precise movements.
After a few seconds of dodging, Zack noticed that the man tended to attack more from the right than the left, which meant his left side was probably weaker. He waited for the right moment, then quickly ducked under one of the Butcher's punches and lunged forward, striking him on the left side of his ribs.
But… what happened next was completely unexpected.
Zack felt like he had just punched a rock. Pain shot through his hand from the impact, as if the Butcher's body was made of solid steel. Before he could pull back, he felt a massive hand clamp down on his shoulder. And then, suddenly—
BOOOOM!
Zack was sent flying through the air and crashed onto the ground with brutal force. It felt like his back had shattered into a thousand pieces. The air was knocked out of his lungs, and for a moment, he could barely breathe.
The system screamed inside his head: "What the hell are you doing, you idiot?! This guy isn't a joke! Get up, or he's going to crush you!"
Zack barely managed to roll to the side just before the Butcher's heavy foot slammed down on the spot where he had been lying. If he had been even a second slower, it would've been over.
"Alright… this is way harder than I expected," Zack muttered as he struggled to get back on his feet, pain shooting through his back.
He lifted his head and saw the Butcher grinning with confidence, already convinced that the fight was as good as won.
But Zack had no intention of going down that easily.
This was just the beginning of the fight… and now, it was time to change the plan.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
If you liked the story and want to read more
or just to support me, copy the link below.
You will find a special membership for:
3 chapter
and another one for:
7 chapters.
patreon.com/zakx205
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