With his parkour skills and enhanced body, he cleared the distance easily and landed silently on the roof.
Well, that's what he thought. But he wasn't alone.
Four people were already stationed on the roof. Two of them stood near the edge, rifles in hand, aiming down at the street below, ready to fire.
He couldn't let that happen. Not because he cared about Robert's crew, but because he needed them to cause more havoc.
The longer they kept the enemy gang busy, the easier it would be for him to move inside.
Gripping the stolen knife tight, he moved silently.
The first one had his back turned, pacing slowly near the rooftop stairwell.
He moved in, covered the guard's mouth, and slit his throat.
His actions barely made a sound before he lowered the body gently and moved on.
The second wasn't far. Leaning against the wall, half-alert, checking a phone.
Big mistake.
Ken struck before the enemy could react. Steel met flesh, and warm blood ran down the floor.
The look in the man's eyes said it all: fear, regret, and the terrifying realization that it was too late.
Another body down. That left the two gunners.
Hesitating for a heartbeat, he studied them to make sure everything would go smoothly.
'I have to take them out in one go.'
Slowly, he closed the distance, the bloodied knife gleaming in his grip.
They didn't hear him coming, too focused on the scene below.
Taking the opportunity, he drove the blade into the back of the first one's neck.
The second turned at the noise, his gun already lifting by instinct.
But it was too late.
Ken tackled the last gunner to the ground and slammed the blade into his throat.
"Don't struggle," he said, twisting the knife deeper. The wound split wider as he turned the blade like a faucet, because why the hell not.
The man silently begged him to stop, but Ken only smiled. Without warning, he yanked off his face mask and sank his teeth into the bleeding neck.
Blood sprayed across his face, warm and thick, but he didn't stop. He chewed through tendon and muscle like it was steak, his eyes gleaming red, lost to the hunger.
crunch!
Ken bit down again, harder this time, and tore away the rest of the throat. The windpipe came loose with a sickening crack.
By the time he pulled back, there was barely anything left of the neck. Just shredded skin, torn veins, and a lifeless body.
Ken wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, but the blood only smeared deeper into his skin.
'I underestimated my hunger. I need to make sure I'm well-fed before rescuing Nathalie.'
With that in mind, he chose to eat two bodies by hand and absorbed the rest.
A chime rang.
Level Up.
Music to his ears.
He added five points to Strength, pushing it to twenty. His muscles tightened, and for a second, the world felt lighter, like gravity just eased off.
Then, another chime.
Congratulations, Host. Strength has reached 20.
Three Skill Cards unlocked. Choose wisely.
Brute Force – Temporarily doubles Strength for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Stamina Cost: High.
Crushing Blow – A devastating strike that ignores 50% of enemy defense. Cooldown: 120 seconds. Stamina Cost: Moderate.
Triple Punch – Unleash three rapid punches, each stronger and faster than the last. First hit: 100% Strength. Second hit: 120% Strength. Final hit: 150% Strength. Cooldown: 60 seconds. Stamina Cost: Low.
All three were solid. But only one could be picked, and he had to choose based on what he needed now.
Brute Force offered a huge power spike. Ten seconds wasn't long, but it could be a game changer if he found himself surrounded.
Still, the cooldown made it risky. Use it too soon, and he'd be stuck with nothing when it really counted.
Crushing Blow was good against tougher enemies.
It didn't raise his damage but it bypassed the enemy's defence. Something close to what trained martial artists used to cause internal injuries. Dangerous, but specific.
Triple Punch was the most reliable. Fastest cooldown. Least stamina burn.
Useful in a drawn-out fight. And when it came to street-level combat, frequency mattered more than flash.
'I'll take this.'
As soon as he chose the skill, it sank into his mind, and he could activate it easily whenever needed.
The feeling of learning just by seeing flashes of information was both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
After all, it meant the system could interfere directly with his brain, just like when it made him see humans as nothing but food.
Still, bigger problems waited. He shoved the thoughts aside and moved.
The rooftop door groaned as he pushed it open, hinges rusted and loud. He slipped through and left it open.
'This place's bigger than I thought,' he muttered, slipping from one corner to the next.
Ken heard footsteps pounding up the stairs from the lower floor. A single person was running toward him.
He pressed his back against the wall and slipped into the shadows. The footsteps got louder, closer. Ken stayed still, holding his breath.
A man came into view, sprinting up without looking around. Probably headed for the rooftop.
As soon as the man passed and exposed his back, Ken made his move.
One hand over the man's mouth. The other at the neck. A blade pressed firm enough to draw blood.
"Make a sound, and I'll cut your throat."