The scent of burning tires and dust still lingered in the evening air as Ajani sat alone beneath the rusted canopy of the vulcanizing shed. His shirt clung to his skin—drenched not just in sweat, but in the weight of everything he had lost.
His eyes stared blankly at the metal pipe beside him. It used to be just a tool… now it felt like an extension of his soul.
> 📢 "System Quest Activated: Initiation Trial."
Objective: Eliminate one evil-aligned individual.
Reward: EXP + Unlock 'Map Function'
Bonus: If killed with weapon mastery active — gain skill imprint.
The voice of Alice echoed in his mind. Calm, cold… almost curious. He hadn't heard from her since the dream.
> 🧠 "Alice… why me?"
📢 "Because you lost everything… and that makes you dangerous."
He stood up, gripping the iron pipe. His hand trembled—not from fear, but from a quiet fury. It was time.
---
Somewhere in Mushin…
The streets were mostly empty, except for a few tired souls pacing back from the day's hustle. But not far from a rundown one-story building, shadows gathered. Inside, a man known as Jagun laughed while clutching a young boy's bag.
"Na small pikin I collect from today. These ajepako no go ever sabi suffer—me, I dey teach them."
His crew laughed, clinking bottles and counting the day's "earnings." Jagun was notorious—everyone in the area knew he was untouchable. Even the police turned a blind eye.
That night, someone watched from the rooftop across the street.
Ajani.
He took a deep breath. His heart beat like thunder in his chest. His eyes, however, were still. Calculated.
> 📢 "Initiating Combat Awareness Protocol."
Duration: 3 seconds.
Go.
---
He moved like a ghost.
Crashing through the window, the iron pipe swung with lethal force—breaking one thug's arm before he could react. The second tried to pull a machete, but Ajani ducked, drove the pipe into his gut, and sent him reeling.
Jagun reached for his locally made pistol—but too slow.
Ajani flung a beer bottle that shattered across his face, then leapt forward, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him into the wall.
> 📢 "Target alignment: Evil. Confirmed."
Executing Devour Protocol…
"Please… abeg…" Jagun wheezed, blood trickling down his face.
Ajani hesitated for a second.
Then he remembered his sisters.
He crushed Jagun's windpipe with a single blow.
Silence.
> 📢 "Target eliminated."
You have gained:
– +4 STR
– Skill: Street Sense (Passive) — Increases awareness in hostile environments
– Bonus: +100 EXP
– New Feature Unlocked: Mini-Map Function
---
Ajani staggered back, panting.
> 📢 "Congratulations, Devourer."
"The path of vengeance has begun. The system recognizes you as an active combatant."
"Would you like to view your updated stats?"
"No."
His voice was cold. Focused.
"I'm not done yet."
He stepped into the night, leaving behind the broken body of Jagun and his goons. As he disappeared into the shadows of Mushin, the mini-map in the corner of his eye lit up—three red dots just a few streets away.
Alice's voice returned, smoother this time.
> 📢 "Shall we hunt, Ajani?"
🧠 "We hunt."