Neon City never really slept. Even at midday, its streets thrummed with the same restless energy that made the nights burn bright with neon haze. Jack West moved with purpose now, his steps carrying him past the noodle vendors, the bustling hawkers, and the kids chasing half broken drones across puddled streets. He wasn't wandering anymore. He had a target, a plan, and a system whispering at the edges of his mind.
Across the block loomed a storefront unlike the dingy repair shops and rust streaked warehouses he had grown used to. Above its wide steel and glass façade, a sign glowed in sharp electric blue:The Iron Fang:Weapons and Wares.
It was less a store and more a fortress of commerce. Thick armored shutters framed its entrance, and two security drones hovered lazily near the door, their scanning lenses following every passerby and every customer coming in. The Place had a reputation it was where mercenaries, bounty hunters, enforcers and would-be heroes came to buy the tools that decided life or death.
Jack took a breath, adjusted the umbrella turned walking stick he now carried, and stepped inside.
The air within was cool, humming with faint ozone and the metallic tang of sharpened steel. Rows upon rows of weapon racks lined the walls: polished swords gleaming under spotlights, daggers arranged in fan like displays, shields stacked in towers, gauntlets gleaming with mechanical fittings, boots laced with glowing threads of augment tech. The Shop wasn't subtle;it was a showroom of power.
Other customers were scattered around the Place. A man in a trench coat swung a curved blade experimentally, his movements sharp and practiced. Two young women examined a set of spiked gauntlets, giggling nervously before strapping them on and throwing playful jabs at one another. A pair of mercenaries argued loudly over whether to invest in heavier shields or lighter daggers.A young teenage girl twirled a nice spear in her hand.
Jack ignored them. He wasn't here to gawk at people or waste credits. He was here to prepare.
He drifted to the first section, where a holographic display floated above the racks, listing the store's tier system and the international tier system for all weapons in Neon city.
The shop stretched wide, aisles showcasing the Basic Tier, Intermediate, Advanced, Elite, Legendary and at the far end, suspended behind protective barriers, Apex. The various grades and tiers of weapons in Neon city.
Jack slowed, eyes widening. Weapons lined the walls and display racks like treasures in a museum.Swords with serrated edges that shimmered under blue light, plasma pistols with rotating barrels, spears reinforced with nano alloy tips. His system chimed softly in his head as he browsed, reading off stray data points whenever he lingered too long on an item.
Curiosity tugged at him when he reached the Intermediate Section. A sleek sword rested on a pedestal, the blade long and thin, with faint glowing lines etched into the steel like veins of light. Without hesitation, Jack activated his skill.
[ Inspect Activated ]
Name: Silver light Long Sword.
Weapon Tier: Intermediate .
Bonus: +2 Agility when equipped
Special: Enhanced synergy with teleportation-based movement.
Durability: 95%
Price: 6,500 Credits
Jack's breath caught. Enhanced synergy with teleportation? His fingers brushed the air just above the blade, imagining how fluid his Blink Step would feel paired with a weapon like this. He could already picture himself vanishing in one spot, reappearing behind an enemy, blade flashing with momentum.
But the price tag was brutal. 6,500 credits. More than double what he had left. He forced himself to step back, jaw tightening. Not yet.
He drifted past racks of armor plating, kinetic shields, and even a row of visors with targeting enhancements. In the Advanced Section, a pair of boots caught his attention,black leather reinforced with glowing circuitry along the soles. They looked simple enough, but the display glimmered with detail.
[ Inspect Activated ]
Name: Phantom Stride Boots
Weapon Tier: Advanced .
Bonus: +4 Speed, +2 Agility
Special: Reduced stamina drain when sprinting.
Price: 3,000 Credits
Jack smirked. Tempting… He shifted his weight, imagining how quick he'd be darting across streets. But then he shook his head. His teleportation already covered ground instantly. Buying speed felt redundant. Credits weren't endless.He couldn't afford to waste them.
The next item made him pause longer than he expected. Nestled under a locked glass case was a set of gauntlets, dark steel with faint crimson etchings across the knuckles. They radiated power just sitting there, as though the weight of each strike could crumble Cinder block walls.
[ Inspect Activated ]
Name: Crimson Gauntlets
Weapon Tier: Advanced .
Bonus: +3 Strength, +2 Agility
Special: Increases melee impact; synergizes with raw endurance,allowing the user to deliver punches faster and keep punching for a longer time without loosing strength.
Price: 10,000 Credits
Jack clenched his fists unconsciously. His punches would hit like sledgehammers with those. His whole body tensed with the urge to grab them, claim them as his own. They were perfect.He could also protect his hands and be able to also use another hand held weapon.
Then reality sank in. Ten thousand credits. He barely had three. He exhaled slowly, letting the fire in his chest simmer. "Later," he muttered under his breath. "One day, those will be mine,or I could just get something better."
He turned toward the exit, resigned to walk away empty handed. But something in the corner of the Basic Section snagged his eye. It wasn't flashy;just a simple matte,black mask, full face style, the kind you might see on a mercenary or rogue in back alleys. Still, it pulsed faintly with a holo tag.
[ Inspect Activated ]
Name: Jaw lock Mask
Weapon Tier: Basic
Bonus: +2 Strength when worn
Price: 50 Credits.
Special:Conceal identity and protection of the face from attacks which may cause injuries.
Jack's lips curled. Finally, something within reach. It wasn't much, but even the smallest edge mattered. He swiped his wrist across the counters scanner, his watch flickering as 50 credits vanished from his account.This would increase his strength to a 6.
[ Transaction Complete ]
Credits Remaining: 2,700
The night air of Neon City rushed to meet him as he stepped outside. Holo billboards glowed in the distance, projecting everything from fast food ads to wanted posters. One of those posters caught his eye again . Zane the Viper, face scarred, eyes sharp, staring coldly from the display. The list of crimes beneath his name stretched long: murder, extortion, burglary, racketeering.
Jack's hand instinctively brushed the mask in his pocket.
Time to hunt.
He raised his wrist and tapped the holographic interface of his watch. "Show me a detailed map of Zane the Viper's last known location."
The watch beeped. A three dimensional holo map of the city sprang to life above his wrist, glowing green lines stretching across streets, alleys, and districts. A red marker pulsed near the outskirts of the city.
[ Location Identified: The Viper's Den ]
Description: Abandoned mine on the eastern edge of Neon City. Known to be used as a hideout by Zane the Viper and his gang. High danger zone.
Jack's stomach twisted faintly as he studied the projection. The mines tunnels sprawled like a nest of serpents, branching paths winding into shadows. It wasn't going to be simple. He wasn't fighting just Zane ,he'd have to wade through layers of protection, underlings, and traps first.
He exhaled slowly. "Charging in blind would be suicide."
For now, preparation was key. He found a quiet rooftop overlooking the glowing cityscape and sat down, mask in hand. He slid it back over his face, letting it mold to him. Then he shadow boxed, practicing punches, kicks, and Blink Step teleports across the rooftop, testing how fluidly his movements flowed.
He wasn't strong enough yet. He knew that. But he didn't need to be the strongest. He needed to be smarter, faster, sharper.
Tomorrow, he'd be walking into The Viper's Den.
And when he did, Zane wouldn't know what hit him.