The fog had lifted, leaving the city slick and glistening under the dim neon. He had barely caught his breath from the last contract when the next one arrived—a whisper through the gauntlet.
"New target," it said, voice low, serious. "Mid-tier lifeform. Dangerous. Contract details incoming."
A holographic projection flickered above his wrist: a hybrid creature, partially magical, partially humanoid, had been terrorizing the industrial outskirts. Intelligence suggested it was controlled by an unknown faction. Survival would not be guaranteed.
"Looks like they've been waiting for us," the gauntlet said, its tone unusually tense.
He moved like a shadow along the rooftops, scanning the area. The creature was massive, covered in jagged, rune-etched armor, glowing faintly with corrupted mana. Its limbs ended in claws capable of tearing through steel. Around it, a squad of elite assassins—human, armed, and clearly trained—flanked it.
"This is bigger than anything we've faced before," the gauntlet murmured. "We'll need to push every limit."
The fight began.
He dropped from the rooftop, gauntlet first forming dual blades, slashing through the first two assassins before they could react.
One charged with a magical spear; he twisted, blades morphing into tonfa, redirecting the attack while striking the ground to launch a shockwave that sent two more opponents staggering.
The hybrid creature roared, swinging massive claws. The gauntlet transformed into a massive hammer, absorbing the impact as he countered with a crushing blow that left a crater in the concrete.
The creature was fast, far faster than expected. It lunged, claws slashing. The gauntlet morphed again—mace in one hand, shield in the other, blocking, striking, and rolling seamlessly.
"Don't overextend," the gauntlet warned.
He ignored the voice momentarily, launching a pulse gun attack mid-spin, forcing the assassins back. He leapt onto a nearby crane, firing glowing arrows from bow-form, striking two snipers perched above.
The battle became a whirlwind: weapons shifting, attacks blending into one continuous motion. Every strike counted; every block mattered. Muscle memory and the Ego Weapon's guidance made him a living weapon.
Finally, the hybrid lunged for the finishing strike. He anticipated it, pivoting, blades snapping back into dual gun-blade form, firing pulses while slashing. The gauntlet extended a temporary energy barrier, absorbing the retaliatory strike. With a final spin and hammer blow from the gauntlet, the creature collapsed, defeated.
The remaining assassins fled into the night, their formation broken, their morale shattered.
"Leveling complete," the gauntlet said, pulsing warmly. "Lv.9 achieved. We are closer."
He exhaled, wiping rain from his face. The first true taste of danger, of force beyond ordinary humans, had pushed him to his limits.
"Next… we prepare for the trial," the gauntlet murmured, voice calm but loaded with meaning. "The breakthrough is approaching. You will need everything."
Above the city, lights flickered in quiet oblivion. Somewhere, threads of his lost memories stirred—the forge, the rhythm of hammer against steel, and the feeling of metal yielding to his hands. Echoes of a past life waiting to be reclaimed, as the shadows continued to watch, waiting for the next move.