Standing before the towering, steel-and-glass facade of Dragon Nexus Technologies, I couldn't ignore the weight of the moment. The imposing structure loomed over me, a silent testament to the power and influence that this corporation wielded. For years, this building had been a fortress of secrets and lies, and now it was the site where I would confront the demons of my past.
A group of uniformed security guards, armed and alert, moved towards me. Their faces were unreadable at first, but as they drew closer, recognition flickered in their eyes. They knew me—or at least, they knew the reputation I carried. Whispers of my past had spread like wildfire, painting me as a relentless force of vengeance. They remembered the stories: the tragic murder of my parents and the calculated path of retribution I had taken since then. Fifty lives. Fifty individuals who had wronged my family and paid the ultimate price.
One guard, a burly man whose expression betrayed his unease, hesitated before speaking. His voice, though steady, carried an undertone of fear. "If you wish to enter, you may," he said, stepping aside. It wasn't an invitation born of respect; it was born of apprehension, the kind that came from standing face-to-face with someone you'd rather not provoke.
Without a word, I strode past them, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous lobby. The tension was palpable, a mixture of fear and hostility that hung in the air like a storm cloud. My immediate destination was the front desk, a sleek, minimalist counter manned by a young receptionist. She regarded me with thinly veiled disdain, her professional smile failing to mask her condescension.
"I need to see Li Wei," I stated plainly, my voice firm but calm.
The receptionist arched an eyebrow, her demeanor shifting from dismissive to outright haughty. "Mr. Wei is a very busy man," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "He doesn't have time to entertain the likes of—"
She didn't finish the sentence. Before she could continue her tirade, one of the guards who had escorted me inside stepped forward. His eyes flashed with irritation as he interrupted her. "Do as he says," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "Call Mr. Wei. Now."
The receptionist's confidence crumbled under the weight of the guard's authority. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the phone, punching in the numbers with hurried precision. Moments later, she muttered into the receiver, her words too soft for me to hear. When she hung up, her expression was a mixture of annoyance and apprehension.
"Mr. Wei will be down shortly," she said, her voice devoid of the earlier arrogance.
I waited in silence, my gaze fixed on the elevator doors at the far end of the lobby. Time seemed to stretch, each passing second sharpening the edge of my anticipation. Finally, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open to reveal a man I had long awaited to confront.
Li Wei stepped out with an air of calculated confidence. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, he exuded the smug arrogance of someone who believed himself untouchable. His eyes scanned the room, landing on me with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. As he approached, his lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Well, well," he began, his voice smooth and mocking. "To what do I owe the honor of this… visit?" His gaze swept over me, pausing briefly on my worn clothes. "Ah, I see. Still as financially destitute as ever, I presume?"
His words were a deliberate provocation, a knife twisted into the wounds of my past. Fury surged within me, but I kept my composure. I stepped closer, my voice low but charged with anger. "How dare you disclose my family's wealth to Lian Xue? I trusted you with that information."
Li Wei's smirk widened, his expression a picture of feigned innocence. "Ah, yes, Lian Xue," he said, his tone light and casual. "She can be… persuasive, shall we say? I had no choice but to comply."
His words were like fuel to the fire, but before I could respond, he moved. With surprising speed, he lunged at me, his hand closing around my collar as he slammed me against the wall. The impact sent a jolt of pain through my body, and I felt a warm trickle of blood sliding down my temple.
"Now," he sneered, his face inches from mine, "I no longer have to respect you."
The room seemed to tilt, the edges of my vision darkening as the pain threatened to overwhelm me. But then, like a spark igniting dry kindling, the system within me activated. A notification flashed before my eyes, its message as clear as the resolve building within me: Attribute points available: Strength + Agility.
In that moment, the pain faded, replaced by a surge of energy so powerful it was almost intoxicating. I could feel my muscles tighten, my reflexes sharpen, and my confidence solidify. Rising to my feet, I stared Li Wei down, a new fire burning in my eyes.
"You stand no chance against me now," I said, my voice steady and unwavering.
The air around us seemed to crackle with tension as the balance of power shifted. For the first time, Li Wei's expression faltered, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. He could sense it—the transformation, the newfound strength that radiated from me like an aura.
This was only the beginning.