The dim glow of Damian's phone screen was the only light in his apartment. He scrolled through the news, eyes narrowing at a name he had seen before—James "Scar" Rodrick.
A street-level criminal, known for muggings, extortion, and connections to something bigger. Someone like him would make the perfect test subject for Damian's newfound power.
The system had been quiet since his first awakening, but now, as if responding to his thoughts, a message appeared before him.
> [New Quest: The First Hunt]
Objective: Confront a target of interest.
Target: James "Scar" Rodrick – E-Rank Criminal.
Reward: 1,000 EXP, Random Skill Upgrade.
Failure Penalty: Temporary Stamina Suppression.
Damian exhaled slowly. So, this is how it works.
He wasn't some hero cleaning up the streets. This was training. He needed to see what his ability could really do.
A Predator Stalks
Tracking Scar wasn't difficult. The man wasn't exactly subtle, operating out of a run-down district where streetlights flickered unreliably.
Damian pulled his hood up, blending into the night. He could already feel it—his senses sharper, his body more attuned to movement.
He spotted Scar outside a small club, leaning against a wall, laughing with two others.
Three-on-one.
Under normal circumstances, a bad idea.
But Damian wasn't normal anymore.
He took a deep breath. Then, for the first time in a real confrontation, he activated Temporal Acceleration.
Time Slows, The Hunter Strikes
Everything slowed. The faint sound of distant traffic dragged out into an eerie hum. Scar's cigarette ember burned at a fraction of its usual speed.
Damian moved.
His first strike connected with the nearest thug's ribs. Even as time returned to normal, the man's body had already lifted off the ground, crashing against a pile of discarded crates.
Scar barely had time to react before Damian was behind him, gripping his collar. A quick shove sent him off balance, colliding with the brick wall.
The third man reached for something—Damian let him. As the weapon flashed under the streetlights, he activated his skill again.
A half-second stretched into eternity. Damian sidestepped the attack effortlessly, then caught the man's wrist in an iron grip, twisting it just enough to disarm him.
A single strike to the chest sent him down.
Scar, dazed, stumbled back. He wiped the blood from his mouth, laughing weakly.
"You're not a cop," he muttered. "So, what are you?"
Damian stepped forward, looming over him. "I'm the one asking questions."
Scar grinned despite his situation. "You messed up, man. The Syndicate doesn't let things slide."
Damian barely had time to process that before a new system notification appeared.
> [Quest Complete: The First Hunt]
Reward: 1,000 EXP, Skill Upgrade – Temporal Acceleration Lv.4.
Already?
The system was pushing him forward faster than he expected.
Damian let go of Scar, watching the man slump against the wall. He had his answers—at least for now.
The world was bigger than he thought.
And he wasn't done playing.