The morning sun had barely crested over the rooftops when Leon stepped outside the merchant's shop, stretching his limbs. The night's work had been fruitful, but now, he needed to test something else—his surroundings.
He strolled through the marketplace, blending into the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. Vendors shouted their wares, thieves moved like shadows, and mercenaries lingered near taverns, waiting for work.
Then, he felt it—someone watching him.
Leon didn't react immediately. Instead, he slowed his pace, acting as if he was admiring a nearby stall. His instincts, honed by years of high-stakes business, screamed at him.
Danger was near.
He turned down a narrow alley, moving casually, yet listening intently. The soft shuffle of boots followed. His pursuers weren't amateurs—they kept a steady distance, but Leon had played this game before.
Then, the attack came.
A blur of motion—a dagger flashing toward his back. Leon twisted just in time, grabbing the assailant's wrist and slamming them against the wall. But more were coming.
Time to see just how much strength this new world had given him.
THE FIRST BATTLE
Leon barely had a second to analyze the situation before the next attacker lunged. A short blade aimed straight for his throat—efficient, precise. A trained killer.
He ducked, twisting his body and slamming his elbow into the assassin's ribs. A sharp grunt of pain confirmed the hit, but Leon wasn't finished. With fluid movements, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it, and forced him to drop the blade. Before the attacker could recover, Leon kicked his knee inward, sending him collapsing to the ground.
Another shadow moved from the side. Leon pivoted just in time to see a second assassin, this one wielding a pair of curved daggers. The gleam of poisoned steel sent a clear message—these people weren't here to scare him. They were here to kill.
Leon dodged the first strike but barely avoided the second. The assassin was fast. Too fast. Superhuman? No—just highly trained.
But Leon had faced predators before. Corporate sharks. Ruthless executives. And now? Killers in the dark.
He stepped forward, closing the distance before his opponent could react. A swift punch to the solar plexus knocked the air out of the assassin. He followed up with a brutal knee to the face, sending the man sprawling.
The alley was silent.
Leon stood over the unconscious bodies, his breath steady. This new world had underestimated him.
But someone had sent these men. And that meant his presence was already causing waves.
He wasn't just a nobody anymore.
He was a threat.