Zack's smirk quickly changed into a serious expression. "Alright, tough guy. Let's see how good you are with this." Zack quickly pulled out a pocketknife and smiled menacingly.
Kyle's eyes shifted toward the blade, then back at Zack, his posture shifting slightly as he prepared. Zack lunged; the knife aimed for Kyle's midsection. Kyle could tell instantly that Zack was much faster than the two thugs he had faced so far.
'He's quick...'
Kyle quickly parried Zack's attempt to slice his neck and responded with a blow to the stomach before Zack quickly narrowly dodged his kick.
"You are a tough one..." Zack spat out.
"Come on Zack." Kyle smirked pointing towards his upper chest directly where his heart was located and drawed an imaginary 'X' with his finger. "X marks the spot." Kyle couldn't help but smirk at his witty line.
Zack wasted little time lunging, Kyle wasted no time twisting to the side, but Zack was quick, swiping the knife in an upward arc, grazing Kyle's arm.
An exhale of breath escaped Kyle's lips as the blade cut through his sleeve, but he didn't flinch. He spun away, creating distance between them, his breathing steady despite the pain. He could feel himself being fired up.
Claudia stood frozen, her heart hammering in her chest.
She had never seen Zack so furious, so consumed by rage. And this stranger this masked figure was fighting back like a seasoned warrior.
'Why is he doing this? Is he trying to protect me?' Claudia thought
Claudia's mind reeled at the scene in front of her, falling to her knees in shock.
Zack snarled, his grip on the knife tightening as he charged again. This time, Kyle was ready. He sidestepped just in time, catching Zack's wrist in midair and twisting it sharply, forcing the knife from his hand. The weapon clattered to the ground, but Zack, fuelled by rage, swung an elbow toward Kyle's face.
Kyle managed to block most of the hit, but the impact still sent a sharp pain through his jaw.
'This guy's tough, no wonder why he is a villain too.' Kyle thought
Kyle thought. But the more they fought; the more Kyle could sense Zack's energy flagging.
With a final burst of energy, Kyle ducked under Zack's wild swing and executed a clean move a fast jab to Zack's stomach followed by a knee to his chest that sent Zack stumbling backward. The blow knocked the wind out of him, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
'He's tough but my hits took it out of him. I couldn't beat him for strength.'
Kyle stepped back, watching as Zack struggled to catch his breath. The two thugs, seeing their leader defeated, hesitated.
Kyle's eyes scanned them, and without needing to say a word, they backed off, slowly retreating into the shadows.
"You haven't won. This isn't over," he spat, clutching his side as he struggled to stand. His venomous glare quickly turned towards the thugs fleeing.
Kyle couldn't help but chuckle internally and without a moment's hesitation he turned to Claudia.
[Quest completed!]
[Reward 10+ stat points for any stat of user's choice + Heroine receives $40,000]
Kyle's eyes almost burst out of his eye socket when he saw what the heroine would receive from his rescue and his hard work saving her.
'What?!' His internal voice practically screamed. His jaw tightened as he re-read the screen, making sure he wasn't hallucinating. '$40,000?! For her?! That's... That's enough to pay tuition for years and live comfortably! I'm the one who fought them off, and she gets that?!'
Kyle shook his head in frustration, although he was jealous of the heroine such an obscene amount of money, he knew ultimately it was not her fault.
"Close." Kyle muttered under his breath.
---
He knew he would have to revisit his aggrievances with the system later, for now he had to deal with what was in front of them. And that was the [Heroine] Claudia who hadn't quite recovered. Her wide eyes locked onto him as if trying to piece together what she'd just witnessed. Her face was pale, her lips slightly parted as she struggled to find words.
Kyle hesitated, momentarily unsure of how to address her. His voice, when it came, was softer than before, but still firm.
"Are you hurt?"
"I... I don't... Who are you?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Claudia couldn't help but blink rapidly.
Kyle tilted his head slightly, considering his response. "Just someone passing through," he said, his tone measured.
The answer didn't seem to satisfy her. Claudia's brows knitted together, and she took an unsteady step forward. "But why... why did you help me? And... how do you fight like that?" Her legs were still shaky, Claudia's teeth chattered slightly.
"..."
'Poor girl, she seems to have been through a lot today, I don't know what she has been through, nor do I remember a character like her, but I hope she can rest easy now.'
He couldn't help but smile gently underneath the hockey mask.
"I couldn't sit around and let a lady get treated like that." He spoke seriously. "As for my fighting ability? Let's just say... I've had plenty of practice."
Claudia's lips parted as if to press further, but Kyle turned away before she could.
"Stay safe," he said over his shoulder, his voice low but carrying an undeniable kindness.
Claudia reached out, her voice catching in her throat. "Wait—!"
But Kyle had already moved, disappearing into the shadows like a phantom. The cloak he wore blended seamlessly with the night, leaving no trace of his presence behind.
Left alone in the eerie quiet, Claudia felt her knees buckle. She sank to the ground, her hands clutching her chest as her breath came in shallow gasps. The adrenaline of the encounter had finally caught up to her, leaving her overwhelmed and trembling.
[Pzzzzzzzzzt!]
"?"
Claudia felt her phone vibrate, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone and turned on the screen.
[$40,000 deposited into your account! Please open up XXXX to see funds.]
Her fingers hovered over the screen; her mind unable to process what she was seeing. "Forty thousand..." she whispered, her voice cracking.
Shaking hands navigated to her banking app, and as the balance refreshed, she gasped audibly. There it was. The money! real and tangible sitting in her account!
Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the numbers on the screen. The weight of everything she'd been carrying suddenly pressed down on her, but this time, it was accompanied by a flicker of hope.
Her mother. Her mother could finally get the treatment she so desperately needed. The doctors' calls, the mounting bills, the endless worry all of it could finally start to fade.
"Thank you... thank you..." she whispered, though she wasn't entirely sure who she was thanking. Claudia couldn't help but let out a shaky breath as her eyes let a tear or two drop from her eyes.
Her thoughts drifted back to the masked figure. The mysterious saviour who had appeared out of nowhere to defend her, then vanished just as quickly.
"Was it him?" she murmured to herself. Her free hand tightened around her phone as a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
She recalled his parting words: "Stay safe." The kindness in his voice, the strength he'd shown—it was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. And now, this incredible gift, this miraculous answer to her prayers... Could it all be connected to him?
Claudia touched her chest, her heart pounding as her thoughts swirled. She had no proof, no way of knowing for certain, but something in her gut told her it had to be him.
The memory of his masked face lingered in her mind, mysterious and almost otherworldly. Who was he? Why had he helped her? And why did she feel her cheeks heating up whenever she thought of him?
A soft laugh escaped her lips, tinged with disbelief and nervous energy. "I don't even know his name..." she muttered, brushing away the tears still clinging to her lashes.
[Ding!]
[Heroine's Interest has increased by 25!%]