The two remaining syndicate enforcers did not wait to see if Vance was bluffing. Panic quickly replaced their brutal street conditioning. The taller man pulled a heavy caliber pistol from his soaked leather jacket. The shorter thug lunged forward with a sharp switchblade gleaming dangerously under the dim street lamp.Vance saw them move, but everything felt completely different. Before the System awakened, their movements would have been a terrifying blur of lethal speed. Now his newly enhanced perception processed every subtle shift of their weight and every tiny muscle twitch with perfect clarity. The raw strength coursing fiercely through his veins demanded an immediate release.He did not take a single step back in fear. He stepped directly into their space.The tall thug violently raised the heavy black gun, aiming right for center mass. Vance shifted his weight, pivoting on his back foot with a deadly grace he had never possessed before. He closed the short distance before the

The towering neon sign of The Apex Club bled bright magenta light into the cold, pouring rain. On the surface, it was an exclusive nightclub for the wealthy elite of Veridian City, a place where the rich came to burn their filthy money. Below ground, it was a bloody, unforgiving fighting pit where desperate men like Vance were beaten to a pulp for pure entertainment. Marco ran both operations with an iron fist from his heavily guarded penthouse suite on the very top floor.Vance stood still across the flooded street, staring intensely at the front entrance. Two massive bouncers stood under the thick velvet awning, checking the VIP access cards of the arriving guests. They wore expensive tailored black suits and transparent earpieces, projecting an intimidating image of total professional security.Vance gripped the beautiful silver sword hidden perfectly against his leg beneath his long, wet jacket. The freezing rain soaked his dark hair, but he felt no cold at all. The golden energy

Vance stared at the cracked silver blade. The weapon offered no advantage against the thick metal enhancements of his enemy. He tossed the ruined sword aside. The metal clattered against the broken marble floor.Marco laughed. The dark sound echoed in the ruined penthouse. His purple glowing fists crackled with raw power. He looked like a nightmare forged from steel and neon light."You are nothing," the crime boss snarled. He cracked his thick neck. "Just another dead rat in my city."Vance drew the cheap switchblade from his waistband. The tiny knife felt weightless in his grip. He focused his mind on the stolen combat memories. Fear did not exist in his veins anymore. He felt hungry. He wanted that purple energy.Marco charged forward. The massive man moved with terrifying momentum. He swung a giant fist aimed at the skull of his opponent.Vance dodged to the left. The strike missed his head and hit the stone wall behind him. The thick concrete shattered into a million pieces. The

Vance opened his eyes. The morning sun pierced through the large glass window of the hotel suite. He sat up on the soft bed. His muscles felt dense and heavy. The System had worked all night to fuse the cybernetic armor into his human bones. He felt no pain. He felt invulnerable.He looked at the small iron token resting on the nightstand. The crest of the Iron Fangs caught the morning light. He picked up the heavy coin. The metal felt cold against his skin.The blue System interface flashed in his vision.[Inanimate Object Detected. High Level Encryption Found. Initiate Data Extraction?]Vance nodded. He willed the system to begin.[Initiating Data Extraction. Please Wait.]A soft blue light scanned the iron coin. The metal hissed. A detailed three dimensional map projected into the air right above the nightstand. The map showed the labyrinth of Veridian City. A bright red dot pulsed in the deep industrial zone.[Location Acquired: The Blood Forge. Primary Manufacturing Hub for Iron

Vance stood high on the metal walkway. The Blood Forge burned bright red below him. Giant vats of liquid metal bubbled with fierce heat. Sweat rolled down his neck. The heavy air tasted like sulfur and burnt copper. The noise of massive gears grinding echoed off the high brick walls.Two elite guards patrolled the iron bridge ten feet away. They wore thick tactical gear. Heavy pulse rifles hung from their shoulders. Vance gripped his thermal katana. The orange blade roared to life with a fierce hum. The noise drew their attention.The guards raised their weapons to fire. Vance moved first. He lunged across the metal grate. His stolen speed made him a blur. He swung the burning sword in a wide arc. The intense heat cut through their rifles and their thick armor with zero resistance. Both men collapsed to the steel floor in a heap of sparks.A loud siren pierced the heavy air. Flashing red lights bathed the massive cavern. The intruders alarm echoed through the giant factory. Down on th