The night air was thick with tension, the city silent but for distant echoes of sirens and the whispers of gangs realizing a storm was rising. James Lee had tracked a Toman captain—a formidable fighter known for ruthless efficiency and tactical skill—through the narrow backstreets near Tokyo High. The system pulsed, calculating the risk, potential XP gain, and the reward that awaited if victory was achieved.
He approached with his core team—Yamagishi, Kazutora, Hiroto, Atsushi, Takuya, and Makoto—each moving like extensions of his own body. The captain, unaware of the precision and coordination waiting for him, sneered. "Valhalla? You don't belong here. Step aside!"
James Lee's eyes glimmered. "I'm not here to belong. I'm here to rise."
The fight erupted instantly. The Toman captain struck first, a flurry of fast, powerful attacks. James Lee dodged with Shadow Step, countered with Precision Strike, and forced the captain into defensive maneuvers. Every movement was calculated, every strike measured, each recruit perfectly supporting the flow of battle.
[Perks in Play: Tactical Vision, Quick Reflexes, Eagle Eye, Aura of Command]
Despite his skill, the captain could not keep pace. James Lee anticipated every attack, exploited weaknesses with surgical precision, and systematically broke down his defenses. Kazutora and Hiroto flanked, disrupting his movements, while Yamagishi created openings for critical strikes. The captain was battered, gasping, on the verge of collapse.
Finally, with a perfectly executed combo—Shadow Step, Precision Strike, and Tactical Mastery—James Lee pinned the captain to the ground, leaving him on the brink of death. Blood trickled from a split lip, bruises blossomed across his body, and his confidence shattered.
James Lee knelt, looking down, calm and commanding. The system pulsed with a new opportunity. Copy Skill unlocked.
This was a mechanic James Lee had only glimpsed in other universes, in the simulated experiences of LookSim/QuestSim. It allowed him to absorb the fighting techniques, passive perks, and signature abilities of a worthy opponent—but only if they were defeated decisively without death. The Toman captain, trembling, represented the perfect source.
James Lee extended his hand, activating the system. A faint, digital shimmer ran through his body as the captain's fighting style, signature moves, and passive perks flowed into James Lee's consciousness. Combat memory, tactical intuition, and specialized skills now fused seamlessly into his repertoire.
He stood, the Copy Skill integrated, a faint smirk on his lips. "Your strength… is now mine. Valhalla grows stronger with every challenge."
The recruits around him watched in awe. Every victory, every perk, and now every skill copied from formidable opponents ensured Valhalla's dominance would only accelerate. The city was not just seeing a gang rising—it was witnessing a tactical, unstoppable force that absorbed power and turned enemies into assets.
From the shadows, Takemichi watched once more. His arm had healed, but the pain of watching friends fight—and now seeing a Toman captain brought to the brink—was overwhelming. Valhalla was no longer simply rising; it was eclipsing Toman, rewriting the balance of power in Tokyo.
James Lee looked across the city, recruits behind him, system humming with new data and power. Every fight, every recruit, every skill copied, every perk unlocked—it all added to Valhalla's unstoppable trajectory.
"Step by step, victory by victory, skill by skill," he murmured. "Valhalla will not just survive the war. It will define it."