Chapter One: Urban (continued)
The voice faded, leaving only the thrum of blood in Kai's ears. The gang closed in. The short one twirled his knife like he was born with it in his hand.
Kai's gut screamed: Run. His legs disagreed: frozen stiff.
The tall one shoved him against the brick wall. "Last chance, rookie. Pay the toll."
Something inside Kai snapped. Maybe it was fear, maybe adrenaline, maybe the cruel logic of the book itself, but his body moved before his brain caught up.
He slammed his forehead into the tall guy's nose. A crunch—then a howl.
The short one lunged with the knife. Kai stumbled sideways, and the blade scraped sparks off the wall where his ribs had been.
Everything blurred. The alley stretched and twisted, lights bending, shadows lunging. Words—actual words—flashed in the corners of his vision, like graffiti only he could see.
[Urban Skill Unlocked: Street Brawl — Improvised Combat +20%]
"What the hell—" Kai gasped, but his fist was already moving. He grabbed a rusted pipe from the trash and swung it hard. The short one yelped, blade clattering into a puddle.
The third guy cursed, pulling a chain from under his hoodie. He swung it wide. Kai ducked, the chain smashing sparks off the wall.
The book's words pulsed again in his vision:
[Choice: Fight or Flee]
[Warning: Death is Permanent]
Kai's hands shook around the pipe. His heart pounded like a drum against his ribs.
The tall one wiped blood from his nose, snarling. "You're dead, kid. Nobody crosses the Wolf Pack."
The gang tightened the circle. Rain hammered harder, drowning the city in silver.
And Kai realized—this wasn't a chapter he could skip. He had to play it out.