MISSION: Stop a level 5 Assassin. Time limit: 50 minutes.
Before I can react, a map appears with a red dot marking the target's location. Suddenly, an arrow materializes on the ground, pointing at a sleek, black motorcycle parked a few feet ahead.
I step towards it, my heart racing. The bike hums quietly as I approach like it's waiting for me. I swing my leg over, gripping the handlebars, and the moment I press the ignition, the engine roars to life. The vibrations pulse through my arms, and it feels so real—the weight of the bike, the power beneath me, the faint scent of fuel in the air.
I take off, following the arrow on the map. The wind slams against my face as I ride through the city streets. The buildings zoom past in a blur, lights flickering as neon signs flash overhead. I can even feel the breeze on my skin—cool, crisp, and almost too real for a virtual world.
As I weave through traffic, the city comes alive around me. NPCs chatter on street corners, cars honk in the distance, and pedestrians casually stroll across crosswalks. For a second, I forget this is a mission. It feels like I've been dropped into a living, breathing world. The level of detail is insane.
"Hey, watch it!" a random NPC shouts as I narrowly avoid crashing into their car.
"Sorry!" I shout back, chuckling to myself. It's incredible how natural everything feels.
I rev the bike harder, zipping down an open highway. The target's getting closer. I can see the red dot on the map blinking faster as I approach a large, still-under-construction building. The sounds of a political rally echo in the distance. The streets are packed with people waving signs, shouting slogans—unaware of the danger lurking just above them.
I park the bike in an alley and make my way towards the building. Keeping low, I avoid the bustling crowd as I enter the structure.
"Tenth floor..." I mutter to myself, glancing at the mission details.
I slip inside, taking the stairs two at a time. The unfinished floors are eerie, all concrete and exposed beams. My senses heighten, every creak of the building putting me on edge. By the time I reach the tenth floor, I'm completely silent, moving like a shadow.
And there he is. The assassin.
He's standing near the edge, surveying the rally below, a sharp glint in his eye. I duck behind a pillar, trying to get closer.
But before I can make my move, he spins around, locking eyes with me.
"Who the hell are you?" he demands, his voice cold and sharp, his body tense.
"Does it matter?" I smirk, stepping forward, my hands instinctively clenching into fists. "I found you, didn't I?"
His expression hardens. "You've got guts, kid, but you should've stayed in the shadows."
He lunges at me, fists flying. The impact reverberates through my arms as we clash in hand-to-hand combat. I block his strikes, moving fast but focused. His movements are sharp, practiced, but he's not unbeatable.
We exchange blows, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the empty floor. Suddenly, he pulls out a knife, the glint of metal catching the dim light.
"You didn't think I'd make this easy, did you?" he sneers, slashing toward me.
SYSTEM ALERT: Weapon available—knife.
My weapon tab lights up, and I quickly access it. A sleek combat knife materializes in my hand—balanced, deadly.
"Perfect timing," I mutter, adjusting my grip on the blade.
We engage again, this time with knives. The air crackles with tension as we circle each other. His strikes are fast, but there's something off—he's a newbie too. His footwork falters, and I take advantage, dodging his attacks and landing calculated blows.
Finally, with one swift move, I disarm him, sending his knife clattering to the ground. A quick spin, and I bring my knife up, stopping just shy of his throat.
"Game over," I whisper.
He glares at me, breathing heavily. "You got lucky..."
"Maybe," I reply, pulling him into an Iron Vice. He fights back, hitting my hand, over and over as he growl.
[Skill Iron Vice used]
[Skill leveled up]
I drop his body as he disappears into pieces of pixels
"Or maybe you just weren't as good as you thought."
MISSION COMPLETE.
REWARD: 250 EP + 85 Bonus Points.
I take a deep breath as the adrenaline subsides. The knife in my hand pulses briefly, and a notification flashes across my vision.
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Phantom Strike (Knife Technique).]
This time a loading icon appears.
Next Level
A proceed and Abort button
Accept.
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