Chapter One: Urban (conclusion)
Kai swung the pipe again, wide and desperate. It caught the tall one in the ribs with a hollow crack. The man doubled over, gasping.
The short one scrambled for his knife. Kai stomped down on his hand. Bone gave way with a sickening crunch. The boy screamed.
The third—chain-guy—roared and lashed out. The metal links wrapped around Kai's arm, burning the skin. Pain flared, white-hot. Kai gritted his teeth and yanked hard, dragging the man forward, then smashed the pipe across his jaw. Blood sprayed into the rain.
For a moment, silence. Just Kai, chest heaving, pipe slick with water and something darker.
He'd won.
But the words flickered again in the air, burning neon across the alley walls:
[Urban Encounter Complete]
[Reputation Gained: Wolf Pack Enemy]
[Danger Level Increased]
The tall one staggered up, clutching his ribs, eyes burning. "You're dead, kid. You hear me? Dead! The Pack owns this city."
He spat blood, grabbed his unconscious friend, and melted into the shadows with the other limping behind.
Kai leaned against the wall, shaking. His arm throbbed, his knuckles were split, and the pipe clattered to the ground.
Then—sirens. Red and blue lights flared at the alley's mouth.
Police? He almost laughed in relief—until the words appeared again, sharper this time:
[New Chapter Triggered: Authority]
[Warning: Trust No One]
Two officers stepped out of the car. Their flashlights speared through the rain, landing on Kai, bloody and broken, standing over the mess.
"Hands where I can see 'em!" one barked.
Kai froze. The book hadn't saved him. It had only thrown him deeper in.
And as he raised his hands, the words shimmered across the sky like graffiti written by God himself:
[Chapter Two Begins…]