As Tony and his men chuckled, Vince's hand slowly moved behind his back, feeling the cold, reassuring weight of the gun tucked at his waist. His other hand clenched into a fist, every inch of his body primed with the lethal martial arts techniques the system had drilled into him over the past two days. But he knew he wouldn't need the gun—not yet.
"Come on, kid. You think you can scare us with that tough guy act?" Tony spat, stepping forward.
Vince smiled. "You have no idea."
In a blur, Vince moved. His fist crashed into Tony's jaw with a sickening thud, sending the thug sprawling onto the floor. The others barely had time to react before Vince launched himself into the group, his movements fluid and precise, like a viper striking its prey. He was faster, stronger, and deadlier than they could have imagined.
One thug swung at him with a bat, but Vince ducked effortlessly, grabbing the man's arm and twisting it behind his back with a sickening crack. The man screamed, but Vince silenced him with a knee to the stomach, knocking the air out of him. Another tried to come from behind, but Vince sensed it. His foot lashed out, catching the thug in the ribs, sending him crashing into the table.
The system's martial arts techniques flowed through Vince like second nature, each move a perfect counter to his opponents' clumsy attacks. Punches, kicks, and disarms—they were nothing more than training dummies to him. In his previous life, he'd fought plenty of men like these. Now, with the system backing him, they were nothing more than insects beneath his boot.
Within minutes, Tony and his men were reduced to groaning heaps on the floor, half-dead from the brutal beating. Vince hadn't even broken a sweat. The gun had stayed tucked away, unused.
Two hours later, the thugs woke up, groaning in pain as they found themselves tied together in the middle of Vince's living room. Tony blinked through swollen eyes, trying to focus on Vince, who stood in front of them with cold eyes.
"How much do I owe you?" Vince asked calmly, though his voice carried a deadly edge.
Tony, still dazed, muttered, "A... hundred thousand."
Vince smirked. He reached into his pocket and tossed the envelope of cash onto Tony's face after untying him. "Here's half a million. Take it and fuck off. Don't ever show your face here again."
Tony and his men scrambled to grab the money, their hands shaking. The fear in their eyes was evident—they weren't just scared of Vince. They were terrified of what he had become. Without another word, they bolted out of the house, stumbling over each other in their haste to leave.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Vince turned to his family. His mother, Rosa, and his sister, Sofia, were standing in shock, still processing what had just happened. Vince stepped forward and wrapped his arms around them, pulling them into a comforting embrace.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm here now. I'll protect you."
Sofia sobbed quietly into his chest, while Rosa gently patted his back. After a few moments, Rosa pulled back and looked at him with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Where did you get all that money, Vince?" she asked, her voice soft but serious.
Vince smiled, already prepared for the question. "I've been investing in stocks. I got lucky, and one of my investments boomed. That's where the money came from."
Rosa studied his face for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you're being careful."
Vince chuckled. "Don't worry, Mom. I've got everything under control."
Later that evening, after sharing a peaceful meal with his family, Vince retreated to his room. He knew the fight with those thugs was just the beginning. He could feel the weight of the challenges ahead—larger, more dangerous enemies were waiting in the shadows. The hungry hyenas, as he called them, would soon come to challenge him. But he wasn't afraid. The system was making him stronger every day.
For the next two days, Vince trained relentlessly. Each punch, kick, and movement became sharper, faster, and more powerful. By the end of his training sessions, he could feel the surge of strength coursing through his body, his reflexes honed to a razor's edge.
The system confirmed his progress with another notification.
[Character Stats]
Strength (STR): 27 (+6)
Agility (AGI): 25 (+6)
Stamina/Endurance (STA/END): 26 (+4)
Vitality/Health (VIT/HP): 28 (+5)
Intelligence (INT): 25
Wisdom (WIS): 24
Luck (LCK): 20 (+1)
Perception (PER): 29 (+4)
Charisma (CHA): 20 (+2)
Dexterity (DEX): 23 (+5)
Spirit (SP): 22 (+3)
Control: 30 (+3)
Reputation/Infamy: Locked
"New feature available," the system suddenly announced.
"What's the new feature?" Vince asked, curious.
"You can now view the proficiency of your learned combat arts," the system replied.
Vince opened the new feature, scanning the details.
[Martial Arts Proficiency]
Lethal Hand-to-Hand Combat: Intermediate
Weapon-Based Martial Arts: Intermediate
CounterBasedDefenseSystem:Intermediate
Situational Awareness (Combat): Expert
FirearmDisarmamentandControl:Intermediate
A satisfied grin spread across Vince's face. His growth was progressing faster than he had imagined.
After two days of intense training, Vince decided it was time to give his family a well-deserved break. He took Rosa and Sofia on a lavish shopping spree, buying them the best clothes, jewelry, and a brand-new luxury car. He also purchased a large, upscale flat for them to live in, far away from their old, run-down home. It was the least he could do after everything they'd been through.
That night, after they had settled into their new home, Rosa insisted on having dinner together. Vince smiled, knowing he had other plans for the night, but he stayed for the meal. As soon as Rosa and Sofia were fast asleep, Vince quietly slipped out of the house.
He had one more purchase to make—a separate, secret house far from the city. This new place had a basement, the perfect location for Vince's new starting point—the foundation for the mafia empire he would soon build.
The scene shifted to the hideout of the thugs Vince had beaten. They sat around a table, nursing their injuries, as they reported to their boss.
"I don't know how the kid did it, boss, but he's got a lot of money now," Tony muttered, wincing from the pain in his jaw. "And he's a hell of a lot stronger than before. There's no way we can take him on our own."
The boss, a young man just a year older than Vince, leaned back in his chair, a menacing grin spreading across his face.
"Oh, this is going to be fun," the boss said, his voice dripping with malice. "There's nothing better than crushing someone after they've gained a little hope."
His laugh echoed through the room, the darkness in his eyes promising chaos.