The air in the warehouse grew heavy with the smell of ozone and burning wood. The man with the flame, whose name tag read 'Kael', stepped forward. He didn't look like a common thug; he looked like a warrior from another world.
"You're a Zero, yet you have the guts to challenge me?" Kael laughed, his eyes glowing orange. "In this world, Rank is everything. And you, kid, are at the bottom of the food chain."
Without warning, he threw the fireball in his hand. It streaked through the air like a miniature sun.
[System Alert: High-velocity projectile detected. Skill 'Flash Step' temporarily unlocked!]
I didn't think; I moved. My body felt light as a feather as I dodged to the left. The fireball exploded against a stack of crates behind me, sending wood splinters flying.
"He's fast!" the man with the glowing tattoos muttered, his eyes narrowing.
"Luck!" Kael growled. He clapped his hands together, and a whip of pure fire formed between them. He lashed out, the whip cracking like thunder.
I could feel the intense heat on my skin. I needed to close the distance. My strength was useless if I couldn't touch him.
[Mission Update: Defeat Kael]
[Reward: Skill Book 'Gravity Grip' & 500 Gold Coins.]
I started sprinting. Not straight at him, but in a zigzag pattern. Kael's fire whip missed me by inches, scorching the concrete floor. When I was just three feet away, I jumped.
"Got you!" Kael shouted, raising his flaming palm.
But I was faster. I used the momentum of my jump to deliver a powerful kick to his chest. The System's 'Level 2 Strength Boost' didn't disappoint. It felt like a truck had hit him.
Kael's fire extinguished instantly as he was sent flying across the warehouse, crashing into a metal shelf. He slumped down, unconscious.
The silence that followed was deafening. The other two men stared at me in pure disbelief. A Zero had just defeated a Rank C fire user in one hit.
[Mission Accomplished!]
[Rewards Distributed: 500 Gold Coins & Skill Book: Gravity Grip.]
[You have gained 50 Exp. 100 more Exp needed for Level 2.]
The man with the tattoos stepped forward, but this time, he didn't look mocking. He looked... impressed. "Who are you, kid? And who gave you a System like that?"
I stood my ground, my blue screen flickering in the dark. "I'm just someone who is tired of being at the bottom."