The silence was the only thing louder than the frantic rhythm of Dohyun's heart. He didn't just drive away; he fled with his sister, Yoona, in the passenger seat of his borrowed car. Her backpack sat forgotten on the floor; her gaze, however, was searing. It was fixed not on the passing streetlights, but on the place where her brother had just been assembling a military rifle in the shadows. That look—the terror, the betrayal, the profound questioning—was more painful than any gang-inflicted wound.
He didn't try to talk. He drove her to a high-rise business hotel—a place of glass and security cameras, paid for with a thick, illegal stack of cash. It was the safest temporary prison he could build. He instructed her to order room service and lock the door, his tone leaving no room for argument or the desperate questions she had started to whisper.
The Tactical Upgrade
Back inside the car, miles from the hotel, Dohyun immediately accessed the System Status. He was burning time and precious resources. His focus shifted entirely to the inevitable fight with Hyuk-jin's professional thugs.
The cold, imperative voice of the System filled his awareness, slicing through his guilt: "Warning: Host's kin is secured in a temporary, high-traffic zone. This location is unsustainable due to heightened risk of network tracking and surveillance. Host must immediately secure long-term resources and finalize the Fortress's preparation. Recommended Action: Utilize remaining XP for combat optimization."
He had 50 XP left from his previous work. He needed a silent kill capability. He focused all his intent: "Utilize 50 XP. Allocate to: MELEE COMBAT."
The System responded instantly: "Upgrade Successful! Melee Combat (Basic Lvl 1 \rightarrow Lvl 2). Cost: 50 XP. Current XP: 0/2000. New Functionality Unlocked: Close Quarters Evasion and Disarming Techniques. Damage Bonus: +10%. The Revenant is now tactically prepared for silent urban engagement."
The upgrade was startling. It wasn't brute force; it was the chilling, precise knowledge of how human joints lock, how tendons snap, and the exact pressure points needed to incapacitate a man instantly. He was a killer, and now he had the blueprint.
The Snare in Surplus
Dohyun needed supplies. The bunker was sealed, but empty of food. He targeted a large, specialized military surplus and camping store, a place likely to carry the high-density MREs he needed.
He entered the store, his Perception 16 whirring like a silent alarm, scanning every customer, every corner. He quickly filled three carts with nutrient-dense supplies and heavy-duty battery packs.
As he moved toward the checkout, a sudden, sharp tremor ran through his muscles. The System immediately warned him: "Warning: Hostile Target Acquisition in Proximity. Threat Level: Moderate. Hostile entities are actively monitoring transactions related to survival-grade equipment."
Dohyun paid the cashier with practiced calmness and moved to the loading dock. Outside, leaning against a nondescript dark van, were two men. Big, dressed in dark jackets, and scanning the area with professional, predatory patience. They were Hyuk-jin's cleanup crew, watching for anyone purchasing materials that hinted at long-term hiding.
He dismissed the store clerk and stepped into the bay, making himself visible. He had chosen the bait, and the lure had worked.
The two thugs recognized him instantly—the one who stole the money and injured their comrade. They separated, moving to box him in.
The fight that ensued was terrifyingly brief.
The first thug lunged. Dohyun, relying entirely on the new Melee Combat knowledge, didn't block; he evaded—slipping under the strike—and pivoted with a newfound, brutal fluidity. He delivered a focused, crippling elbow to the man's floating ribs, the blow fueled by Strength 11. The man collapsed, gagging against the concrete wall.
The second thug was faster, drawing a heavy steel baton. Dohyun gave him no room. He closed the distance, his Agility 11 blurring the movement. He deflected the baton strike with a rigid forearm and instantly executed the Disarming Technique, twisting the weapon from the thug's grip. He finished the fight with two precise, rapid strikes to the temple and throat with the baton, ensuring the man was unconscious, silent, and breathing.
The entire brutal exchange lasted less than twelve seconds.
Dohyun stood over the crumpled bodies, his lungs heaving, his hands steady. He hadn't fired the rifle. He hadn't created chaos. He had merely executed the System's training.
The System roared its approval: "Decisive Combat Engagement Initiated. Hostile Targets Subdued (Non-Lethal). Temporal Integrity Altered. +700 XP awarded. Current XP: 700/2000. Level Up Imminent. The Revenant demonstrates mastery."
He quickly searched the men, finding a discreet keycard for an exclusive, underground club—a known spot where Hyuk-jin's inner circle held court. He took the keys to the thugs' van, loaded his supplies, and left his old rental car behind as a decoy. He had to move Yoona now. The fortress was ready, and the path to Hyuk-jin's throat was finally visible.
His next stop was the hotel, followed by a long, dark drive into the mountains.