The crude knocking and shouting from outside the door instantly chilled Lin Fan's gaze. He knew that in the wasteland, retreat only invited further bullying. He gestured for Emily to hide deeper within the shack, then slowly walked to the door and yanked it open.
Standing outside were three burly men. The leader, a beefy man with a face full of coarse flesh and a black wolf tattooed on his neck, spat disdainfully when he saw Lin Fan. His eyes held a sneer.
"Kid, you're the one who hit our Black Wolf Gang members?" The burly man, named Black Bear, was the leader of the Black Wolf Gang's outer city branch. His strength was at the peak of D-grade, making him a minor overlord in the outer city.
Lin Fan looked at him coldly, saying nothing. He could feel the D-grade peak aura emanating from Black Bear, a notch weaker than his current C-grade physique. But the opponent had numbers, and this was the Black Wolf Gang's territory.
"What, cat got your tongue? Dare to mess with our Black Wolf Gang, you're tired of living, aren't you!" Black Bear, seeing Lin Fan's silence, assumed he was scared and grew even more arrogant. "Hand over the girl, then kowtow and apologize to my brothers, and we'll let this slide. Otherwise…"
Before Black Bear could finish, Lin Fan's eyes sharpened abruptly. He detested this kind of bullying the weak the most. He knew that today's battle was inevitable.
[Quest Issued: Deter the Black Wolf Gang]
[Quest Objective: Defeat Black Bear and ensure the Black Wolf Gang no longer causes trouble in the outer city.]
[Quest Reward: Origin Energy points +200, System's Initial Trial activated.]
"System's Initial Trial?" Lin Fan's heart stirred. This was the first time he had encountered such a quest from the system. It seemed defeating Black Bear was not just about solving the immediate problem, but also an opportunity for his strength to advance.
"Otherwise what?" Lin Fan sneered, cutting off Black Bear. "Do you really think you trash are worthy of shouting in front of me?"
"You're asking for death!" Black Bear roared in fury. He hadn't expected Lin Fan to be so arrogant. He swung his fist, imbued with D-grade peak strength, slamming it towards Lin Fan's face. His two subordinates also charged forward simultaneously, flanking him from both sides.
Lin Fan didn't retreat; instead, he advanced. He activated his Origin Energy Shield while employing his Basic Combat Techniques. He shifted his body slightly, dodging Black Bear's direct punch, then delivered an elbow strike fiercely into Black Bear's ribs. Black Bear grunted, staggering back.
At the same time, Lin Fan unleashed an Origin Shockwave with his left hand, sending the subordinate on his left flying. With his right hand, he grabbed the arm of the subordinate on his right, twisting it sharply. With a sickening 'crack,' the subordinate's arm instantly dislocated, and he screamed, collapsing to the ground.
All of this happened in a flash. Black Bear hadn't even reacted before his two subordinates were incapacitated. He stared at Lin Fan in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief. He hadn't imagined this seemingly frail young man possessed such formidable strength.
"You… who exactly are you?" Black Bear asked, terrified.
"Someone you can't afford to provoke," Lin Fan said coldly. He charged at Black Bear again, this time holding nothing back. Origin Energy surged, and his fist, whistling through the air, slammed into Black Bear's chest.
Black Bear had no time to dodge and could only cross his arms to block. However, Lin Fan's strength far exceeded his imagination. With a loud 'bang,' Black Bear's arms instantly deformed, and his chest caved in. His body flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily against the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood, completely losing his combat capability.
[Quest complete! Gained Origin Energy points +200.]
[System's Initial Trial activated:]
[Trial Objective: Establish your own faction within Steel Bastion and gain control of at least one area.]
[Trial Reward: System core module upgrade, Physical Grade increase.]
Lin Fan looked at Black Bear lying on the ground, without a hint of pity. He knew that in the Martian wasteland, only the strong survived. He turned and returned to the shack, where Emily was staring at him in awe.
"It's alright now," Lin Fan said softly.
Emily nodded, but her gaze towards Lin Fan, besides gratitude, now held a deeper sense of reverence. She knew that Lin Fan was by no means an ordinary wasteland wanderer.
Lin Fan looked at the activated "System's Initial Trial" on the system interface, his heart filled with fighting spirit. Establish his own faction and gain control of an area? For him, this was both a challenge and an opportunity. He knew that Steel Bastion would be his first step towards rising to power.