Exchange of Spiritual Protocore
In the days that followed, Hell's Kitchen descended into chaos.
With Kingpin dead and Soran's manipulations spreading through the underworld, the fragile balance of power collapsed. Every night, the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets, punctuated by wailing sirens.
The government did nothing. After all, the only ones dying were gang members. As far as the authorities were concerned, the scum of Hell's Kitchen were cleansing themselves.
---
That morning, in a quiet manor villa, Xu Mo stumbled out of the bedroom, still groggy.
In the kitchen, Wanda, dressed in simple pajamas, was busy at the stove. She turned when she heard him, a smile lighting her face.
"You're awake."
Xu Mo walked over and hugged her from behind.
"Why are you cooking today? Leave this to the staff."
"I wanted to do it myself." She slipped his hands away playfully, though her eyes lingered on him with warmth. "Go wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Fine, fine," he said with a grin, heading off.
Since the night Xu Mo saved Pietro, his bond with Wanda had deepened. She had truly let him in. Women like Wanda, who had known loneliness all their lives, were quick to give their hearts once they found someone who treated them sincerely.
And in Wanda's eyes, Xu Mo had risked everything to protect her brother.
---
By the time Xu Mo returned to the dining room, breakfast was laid out on the table.
He froze.
Steaming buns and a bowl of rice porridge.
"You… made this?"
"Of course." Wanda tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling shyly. "The maids told me you prefer Chinese food. I thought I'd try."
"You did amazing." He picked up a bun and bit into it. Beef filling, savory and fragrant. To his surprise, it was genuinely good.
"By the way," he asked between bites, "where's Pietro been lately?"
Wanda sighed. "He found work and rented an apartment in Queens. During the day, he's at the job. At night, he studies the techniques you showed him. I hardly see him anymore. If I hadn't dropped by last week, I would've thought he'd been kidnapped again."
Xu Mo could only shake his head. Pietro's stubborn streak was legendary. He had refused Xu Mo's money, house, even the job offers arranged for him. After the last ordeal, Pietro insisted he could stand on his own.
Xu Mo respected him for it. A brother-in-law who valued pride and discipline wasn't a burden—he was trustworthy.
Before Pietro left, Xu Mo had handed him the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method along with rations of ferocious beast meat to strengthen his body. Once Pietro reached quasi-warrior level, he would be ready to train seriously.
Still, Xu Mo preferred that Wanda and Pietro eventually unlock their own latent abilities—her Chaos Magic, his incredible speed. That was their true path.
---
Later, in the gym, Xu Mo reviewed a thick dossier compiled by Soran.
The gangs of Hell's Kitchen were bleeding out. Membership in the major crews had been cut in half; many smaller outfits had been wiped out completely. Ironically, this purge had made the neighborhood safer than it had been in decades.
He opened his system panel.
Points: 31,960.
The body count had already reached thousands. Though the deaths were indirect, the system still credited him. Recently, however, the point gain had slowed.
But it was more than enough.
He opened the system mall. Mutant abilities filled the list:
Storm – Control celestial phenomena. 30,000 points
Teleportation – Instant movement to any place previously visited. 30,000 points
Sandification – Transform into sand, resist physical damage. 30,000 points
Clone Generation – Up to 100 controllable duplicates. 30,000 points
Overwhelming Confidence – Unshakable ego, but with grotesque side effects. 100,000 points
The options were tempting, but Xu Mo frowned. Mutant gifts were bound to the X-gene. As powerful as Magneto was, a single injection of the mutant cure could strip him of everything. Xu Mo sought power no antidote could touch.
Then, his eyes landed on it.
Spiritual Nucleus – Integrates into the host's mind, releasing autonomous spiritual power. Grants the potential to reach the peak of the God of War level. 30,000 points
"That's the one."
The points vanished. A dark-golden sphere materialized in his hand, no larger than a soybean. It shimmered faintly, almost unreal.
Following the system's instructions, Xu Mo pressed it against the center of his forehead.
Agony lanced through his skull. His vision went white—
And when it cleared, he found himself standing in a vast, endless void.
Before him floated a palm-sized black tower, rotating slowly.
The Star Tower. The artifact he had obtained before…