New York was cool, but being Juri Han with no cash and a growling stomach kinda killed the vibe. After the street show and bantering with Web-Head, I had a hundred bucks in my pocket, but that wouldn't last long. The system kept nagging me to train to earn that pirate Fury's respect, and I was starting to think it had a point. So far, I'd only beaten up random goons with guns and alien toys. What if the next guy was a real heavy hitter? Like Hulk or some other Marvel psycho? I needed to know what I was capable of.
— Alright, Juri, time to get serious — I muttered, wandering the city for a spot where no one would bug me. New York's got plenty of abandoned places if you know where to look. After an hour of walking, I found an old, crumbling factory on the outskirts. Broken windows, rusty pipes, dust everywhere – perfect. Looked like even the rats decided this place sucked.
— Let's get this party started — I said, stretching my arms. First, I wanted to test my body. I jumped onto a pile of concrete blocks, doing a flip mid-air. My legs were like springs, and the Feng Shui Engine gave me crazy speed. I landed softly, no sweat. Damn, this body was like a sci-fi machine.
I started with basic moves: kicks, dodges, punches. Every kick was on point, thanks to that new "precision kick" skill from the system. I kicked an old barrel, and it flew through a wall, leaving a hole. — Holy shit, that's power! — I laughed, feeling the adrenaline pump.
Then I moved to crazier stuff. I cranked the Feng Shui Engine to max, my left eye pulsing with purple light. I leaped onto the factory roof, grabbing the edge and doing a one-handed pull-up. Felt like I could lift a car. I dropped down, spinning mid-air and landing in a fighting stance. My upgraded Spider Sense gave me badass awareness – I could feel every gust of wind, every creak.
— Okay, time for something big —
I muttered. I found a huge steel beam, probably weighing a ton. Tried lifting it. My muscles strained, but damn, I did it! I hoisted it overhead, then tossed it aside, shaking the ground. — Ha! Hulk can eat his heart out!
I wanted to test how I'd handle tougher fights than goons. I set up some concrete blocks as "enemies," imagining they were big shots like Rhino or some Marvel meathead.
I charged in full force – kicks, dodges, combos. I smashed one block with a precision kick, crushed another with an elbow, and obliterated the last with a spinning Feng Shui Engine kick. Dust was everywhere, and I stood there, panting but feeling like a freaking god.
— Okay, maybe I can take on the big leagues — I said, wiping sweat from my brow. My regeneration handled small scrapes from the concrete, healing them in seconds. — But seriously, system, what's the deal with these system points? What do I get out of 'em?
SYSTEM RESPONSE: SYSTEM POINTS ARE USED TO UPGRADE SKILLS, UNLOCK NEW ABILITIES, OR PURCHASE ITEMS.
CURRENT BALANCE: 95 POINTS. SUGGESTION: SAVE POINTS FOR FENG SHUI ENGINE UPGRADE OR NEW COMBAT SKILL.
— So, what, they're like game currency? — I snorted. — Cool, but give me something juicy. Can I buy a laser eye or what?
SYSTEM RESPONSE: LASER EYE UNAVAILABLE AT CURRENT LEVEL. SUGGESTION: CONTINUE TRAINING TO UNLOCK UPGRADE OPTIONS.
— Tsk, cheapskate — I muttered, but I grinned. The system was a pain, but at least it gave rewards. I decided to hold onto the points for now. Might need 'em when Fury throws me at some boss.
I was beat but stoked. I felt ready to face someone tougher than street thugs. I headed back to the city, covered in dust but grinning like an idiot. Now I just needed a place to crash. I found a cheap hotel in a sketchy neighborhood – the neon sign reading "Motel Star" flickered, and the receptionist looked like she'd seen it all.
— Room for one night — I said, slapping a few bucks from my street show on the counter.
— You look like you fought a bulldozer — she grumbled, handing me a key.
— Close enough — I laughed, heading to my room. It was tiny, smelled like mold, and the bed looked like it was from the '80s. But hey, I had a roof over my head. I flopped onto the mattress, not even bothering to take off my boots. The Marvel world was nuts, but Juri Han was handling it. I closed my eyes, wondering what tomorrow would bring. Fury? Web-Head? Or something bigger? Whatever it was, I was ready.