Rain fell in thin silver lines across the city — the kind of drizzle that blurs neon lights and makes every breath feel heavier. Midnight. The streets were mostly empty except for the occasional taxi and the restless hum of street lamps flickering in the wind.
Jackim sat alone in the back of his Maybach, the faint rhythm of raindrops against the glass echoing the thoughts in his mind.
The night had been long. Meetings, signatures, system updates — and silence from Ariana. Her last message still hovered in his mind like a thorn he couldn't pull out.
> "If this is your way of moving on, I understand. But don't lie to me again."
He replayed those words again and again.
It wasn't guilt exactly — it was something heavier. The realization that somewhere along his rise, the people who once mattered most were starting to drift like ghosts in his rearview mirror.
"Sir?" his driver asked softly. "Should I head straight home?"
Jackim hesitated, staring out at the rain. "No. Take the long route through Riverside Avenue. I need to think."
The driver nodded and turned the car into the quieter streets — wide, empty roads lined with glass buildings glowing pale in the dark.
Jackim loosened his tie, closed his eyes for a second, and sighed.
But then… something didn't feel right.
The sound of the engine echoed too loudly. No other cars behind. No pedestrians. The city felt— hollow.
The System chimed suddenly, voice sharp and mechanical:
[Alert: Suspicious activity detected. Multiple vehicles matching hostile behavior approaching from rear and left flank.]
Jackim's eyes snapped open. "What?"
The driver looked at him through the mirror, confused. "Sir?"
"Step on it."
The driver accelerated — but before the tires could fully grip, black SUVs emerged from a side street like shadows awakening. Their headlights pierced the rain.
The first SUV rammed into the Maybach's side. The impact was brutal. Jackim's head slammed lightly against the seat as the car screeched across the wet road.
The driver panicked. "Sir—"
"Keep driving!"
Another SUV appeared in front of them, blocking the path. Jackim's instincts kicked in. He unbuckled, grabbed the emergency handgun from the glove box — a habit he developed after too many threats.
"Stay down!"
Gunfire erupted — muffled pops beneath the roar of rain. Bullets shattered the side windows. Jackim ducked low as the driver lost control, the Maybach spinning before crashing against a concrete barrier.
Silence. Smoke. A low hiss of the engine.
Jackim's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The System's calm voice whispered in his mind:
[Emergency Mode Activated. Host Vitality at 72%. Auto-defense features unlocked.]
"Perfect timing," Jackim muttered.
The driver moaned weakly beside him, blood running down his temple. Jackim shook him gently. "Stay with me. Don't move."
Outside, black figures in raincoats surrounded the car. Their movements were military — precise, trained, silent.
Jackim pushed open the door, stepping into the rain, the cold biting into his skin. His once pristine black suit was torn and damp, his knuckles already bruised from the crash.
One of the men shouted, "End this quickly. The Wheel wants no witnesses."
The name hit like a spark. The Wheel.
Of course.
Jackim smirked darkly. "You really sent dogs after me, huh?"
He cracked his neck, rolled his shoulders, and whispered, "System — give me something useful."
[Skill Unlocked: Martial Arts Lv.4 – Flowing Dragon Fist.]
"Flowing what—"
Before he could finish, his body moved on instinct.
A figure lunged at him with a knife — but Jackim sidestepped smoothly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it until the knife dropped. A clean spin followed by a brutal elbow strike sent the attacker crashing into a puddle.
The next came fast. Jackim ducked under a swing, swept his leg, and sent two men down in one motion. The rain mixed with blood on the ground, painting crimson streaks under the flickering streetlight.
Gunfire cracked again — but he grabbed one fallen attacker's weapon and returned fire with startling precision. Years of calm logic blended with newfound instinct; his movements were too sharp, too graceful.
[Vitality: 61%. Adrenaline Boost Engaged.]
A bullet grazed his shoulder — pain flared like fire, but he didn't stop. He kicked the shooter's gun out of his hand, spun, and drove a fist into his jaw so hard the man collapsed instantly.
The rain kept falling. The world blurred into motion, sound, and fury.
By the time the last attacker stumbled backward, panting and terrified, Jackim looked more like a demon than a man — soaked in rain, blood streaking his cheek, eyes cold and alive.
"Who sent you?" Jackim demanded.
The man spat blood. "You think… you can win against the Wheel?"
Jackim's expression didn't change. "No. I don't think. I know."
He turned, walking toward his car — but the man lunged one last time with a hidden blade.
The System reacted before he did.
[Counteractive Reflex Activated.]
Jackim twisted effortlessly, the blade grazing past his ribs as he slammed the man down with a forceful throw. The body hit the wet asphalt and didn't move again.
He stood there for a moment, chest heaving, surrounded by the aftermath — broken glass, rain, blood, silence.
The System's tone softened.
[Vital signs stabilizing. Emergency Mode deactivating.]
Jackim looked down at his trembling hands, blood washing away under the rain. "You call this stabilizing?"
[You survived. That's what matters.]
He almost laughed. Almost.
Then his phone buzzed.
Kelvin.
Jackim picked up, voice rough. "Kelvin."
"Jackim— oh my God, I just saw the alerts. Are you okay? The news is reporting an explosion near Riverside—"
"I'm fine," he said flatly. "Just another night in paradise."
"What happened?"
"The Wheel sent their dogs. They're getting desperate."
"Where are you now? Should I—"
"Stay out of it, Kelvin. Take care of the company. I'll handle this."
He hung up before Kelvin could reply.
Jackim limped back to the car, dragged the injured driver into the back seat, and slumped against the door. His shoulder burned, but the rain numbed most of it.
[Minor lacerations detected. Administering Auto-Heal.]
A faint warmth spread through his chest and shoulder — the pain eased. Slowly, his body relaxed.
As the car's engine sputtered to life again, he looked out through the cracked windshield. The streetlights shimmered on the wet road, the puddles reflecting the city like broken mirrors.
Somewhere deep inside, a dark calm settled in.
If The Wheel wanted war, then war they'd get.
Hours later, in a private hospital suite, Jackim woke to the soft beeping of a monitor. His shoulder was bandaged, his clothes replaced by a hospital gown.
Lina was the first face he saw — red-eyed, worried.
Behind her stood Kelvin, Melissa, and Ariana. The tension in the room was thick.
Ariana's arms were crossed, her gaze sharp. "So, this is your idea of keeping a low profile?"
Jackim tried to sit up, wincing. "If you wanted a man who doesn't get stabbed, you picked the wrong billionaire."
Lina scolded him softly. "Don't joke about this. You almost died."
Kelvin nodded. "The Wheel's going too far. We need security teams—"
Jackim raised a hand. "Already handled."
They stared at him.
"The System's upgrading my defenses," he said vaguely, trying not to sound insane. "We'll be fine."
Ariana's expression softened slightly as she sat by his bed. "You scared me, Jackim. I thought…"
He met her eyes, quiet. "I'm still here."
She reached for his hand — hesitant, trembling — and he didn't pull away.
Outside, dawn was breaking. Light spilled through the curtains, washing over the sterile white room. For the first time in a long while, Jackim let himself close his eyes, breathing in peace.
The System's voice returned, calm and almost proud:
[Mission Complete: Survive Ambush.]
[Reward: Vitality Core +1, Combat Skill "Flowing Dragon Fist" Mastered.]
And beneath that came something new — something colder.
[Warning: The Wheel has escalated hostility. Level 3 Threat detected.]
[Recommendation: Prepare for war.]
Jackim exhaled slowly, eyes still closed. "War, huh? Fine. Let's give them a show."
Outside, the rain had stopped. The city was waking again — unaware that beneath its shining surface, a storm was just beginning.