I woke up on the damn bench, the stink of fish and salt air making my stomach churn. The boat was there, swaying gently in the harbor, but this time, I wasn't stepping foot on that death trap. Fuck the Hunter Exam. Screw the goddess and her impossible missions. Screw that entire goddamn situation. It was a rigged game, a cosmic joke at my expense, and I was done being the punchline.
A note appeared in my pocket, but I didn't even bother reading it. Why bother? It'd just be another cryptic message, another impossible task, another reminder of how little control I had over my own goddamn life. I crumpled it up, tossed it into the bushes as hard as I could, and stalked off with a stomping gate that sent tremors through my strengthened body. I had my jaw clenched tight with so much repressed anger that I could barely goddamn stand it. This time, I was doing things my way. No more goddess, no more missions, no more dying for some cosmic cause I didn't even understand.
First things first: cash. I needed a place to stay, food to eat, a way to blend in. This world, with its weird-ass creatures and deadly exams, felt like one giant gamble, and I was playing with loaded dice.
I headed towards the city, the squat, weather-beaten buildings of the port giving way to taller structures as I moved inland. In the distance, I could see skyscrapers, gleaming towers of glass and steel that reminded me of Shinjuku back home. Except, this city felt… different. There was an underlying tension in the air, a sense of barely contained chaos that set my teeth on edge.
"Stupid goddess," I growled, kicking a loose rock that skittered across the cobblestones. "How the hell can someone with that much power be such a clueless airhead?! Dropping me into these death traps with nothing but a few cryptic notes and a pat on the head… what kinda messed-up game is she playing?"
I spotted a newsstand up ahead. The guy behind the counter was in a heated argument with some loudmouth, waving his arms like a conductor leading an orchestra of angry pigeons. Perfect.
I didn't even slow down. Just kept walking, my hand shooting out as I passed the stand. A quick twist of the dispenser, a snatched newspaper, and I was gone, melting into the crowd before either of them even noticed. I didn't care which paper it was; I just needed something to tell me what the hell was going on in this city.
I ducked through a nearby alleyway, my steps light and casual, like I belonged there. Emerging on the other side, I found myself in a bustling shopping district. I spotted a bench near a fountain, surrounded by chattering shoppers and street performers. The perfect place to blend in, to look like just another guy taking a break.
I sat down, unfolded the newspaper, and started reading.
Grinn Port-City Times
"Homeless Heart Stealer Strikes Again!"
The headline screamed from the page, accompanied by a blurry photo of a shadowy figure lurking in an alleyway.
Homeless Heart Stealer… What the hell kinda name was that? Sounded like a bad karaoke song.
That stupid goddess… she either had a seriously twisted sense of humor or was just so damn incompetent that it was almost funny. She should have realized that this whole "Hunter Exam" thing was gonna take time, that I might need to train, before I could even think about tackling some world-ending threat.
But after witnessing her attempt to explain basic concepts that any four-year-old could understand in terms that even a five-year-old would find confusing, it wouldn't surprise me if she thought I could take on a serial killer with a rusty spoon.
Nope. I was on my own. Time to figure this shit out myself.
I left the park, my steps purposeful, my gaze scanning the streets.
After moving for a while, the bustling shopping district gave way to a maze of narrow alleyways and dimly lit bars.
The air here was thick with the smell of stale beer, cheap perfume, and something dangerous. This was the kind of place where trouble brewed, where secrets were traded, where guys like me could make a quick buck.
I spotted a rundown warehouse, its windows boarded up, a single flickering neon sign above the door proclaiming it to be "Benny's Imports." Yeah, right. Benny wouldn't know an import if it bit him in the ass. This place screamed "front" louder than a karaoke bar at closing time.
I pushed open the door, the hinges groaning in protest. The air inside was thick with cigarette smoke and the smell of sweat. A couple of burly guys were hauling crates in the back, their faces etched with boredom and barely concealed aggression.
"Where's the fighting rings at?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
The thugs stopped what they were doing, their eyes narrowing. One of them, a mountain of a man with a shaved head and a tattoo of a snarling wolf on his bicep, cracked his knuckles.
"What's it to ya, pretty boy?" he growled, stepping closer.
"You new in town?" the other one chimed in, a skinny dude with a greasy ponytail and a sneer that could curdle milk. "Don't you know who runs this place?"
I rolled my eyes. "Look, I don't like kicking the shit outta weaklings who can't fight," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "And robbing nobodies makes me feel gross. Tell me where the city's fights are, or I'm gonna have to kick it outta your asses."
"You think you're tough, huh?" Shaved Head chuckled, flexing his bicep. "We'll see about that."
"Yeah, you're gonna regret messing with us," Ponytail sneered. "We're Benny's boys, and Benny don't like nobody disrespecting his…"
He didn't get to finish his sentence.
I moved like a blur, my fist connecting with Shaved Head's jaw before he even had time to blink. He staggered back, his eyes wide with surprise, as I followed up with a roundhouse kick to Ponytail's gut. He doubled over, gasping for air.
"Benny can kiss my ass," I growled, stepping over their groaning bodies. "Now, where's the damn fighting ring?"
The other guy takes a swing and I trip him with a leg.
"Do you want me to finish that, you know, with your face on the ground while I stomp on your unconscious ass, or you gonna piss me off more and get beaten further?" I asked, my voice cold and steady.
Shaved Head groaned, spitting out a mouthful of blood and a couple of teeth. His nose, now a Picasso-esque masterpiece of angles and curves, was rapidly swelling.
"Don't you mean… or you gonna give me the info?" he mumbled, his voice slurred.
I grinned, a predatory gleam in my eye. "Nah, your buddies over there, the ones who are actually smart enough to stay outta this shit-show? They look just reasonable enough to answer. You two, on the other hand… you tried some shit. So, knockout or beatdown? Choose one."
I glanced at the other two thugs, who were huddled in the corner, their eyes wide with fear. They were younger, less experienced, and clearly not as eager to throw down as their idiot buddies.
"We… we'll talk," one of them stammered, raising his hands in surrender. "Just… Please, don't hurt us."
"Good choice," I said, my grin widening. Then, with a swift one-two combo, I sent both of the remaining thugs crashing to the floor, unconscious. No point in dragging things out.
I turned to the two younger guys, who were still cowering in the corner. "Alright, boys, time to talk. Where's the boss?"
A few minutes and a quick interrogation later, I was standing in front of a mountain of a man named Benny. He had a shaved head, a goatee that could house a family of sparrows, and arms thicker than my legs. He was sitting behind a massive oak desk, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and a faint aura of Ten surrounding him like a hazy halo.
"So, you're the new kid, huh?" he said, his voice a gravelly rumble. "Heard you made a mess of my boys out there."
"They were asking for it," I shrugged. "Just here for the fights. Heard this city's got some good ones."
"We got the best, kid. Especially for… special people like us."
He winked, and I felt a tingle of recognition. Special people like us. He was talking about Ten, or whatever else was related to Ten, wasn't he?
"I can get you a fight tomorrow night," Benny said, leaning back in his chair. "Upper-end category. Good money if you win."
I grinned, leaning forward, my elbows on his desk. "What do
you get out of this, then? Tell me about it."
Benny's grin widened. "You're smart, kid. I like that. Tell you what, I got an empty townhouse a few blocks from here. Belongs to some rich asshole who's outta town for a while. You can crash there till your fight tomorrow. Consider it a deal between new associates for twenty-five percent of your winnings, though tomorrow's first fight only. Gotta make it worth my while, right?"
"You own the house and the guy, or just the house? Or is this just info?" I asked, my eyes narrowed.
Benny chuckled, the sound like a bag of gravel being shaken. "Nah, kid, I ain't in the real estate business. Just giving you a heads up. The guy's a collector, always traveling. Place is empty for months at a time. Security system's a joke too. Easy pickings for a guy like you."
"Twenty-five percent's a bit steep for just a tip," I countered, leaning back. "Especially if the prize money ain't that great."
"Prize money?" Benny snorted. "Kid, these are high-stakes fights. We're talking twenty-five mil minimum, plus side bets that could double, even triple that. Twenty-five percent of that… you'll be swimming in cash."
"Naw, it'll be ten percent," I said, my voice firm. "Unless you've got something good for me. Something… regarding what makes us 'special,' you know?"
He paused, taking a long drag on his cigar. His eyes narrowed, studying me. "You catch on quick, kid. I like that. Ambition's a good thing. But information like that… it comes at a price."
"Ten percent of the entire night's winnings," I countered, my mind racing. "Plus that townhouse info, and you tell me the basics. You know, the stuff I need to know to really make it in this city. The real basics too."
Benny chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "You drive a hard bargain, kid. I'll give you that. But information like that… it's valuable. Especially the 'real basics.'"
"Fifteen percent, then," I said, pushing my luck. "And I want something else. Something… for my weapons."
I wasn't even sure what I was asking for. But something about those "special people," the way Benny had said it… it felt like there was more to this whole "Ten" thing than I realized.
Benny leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Weapons, huh? You're a man of ambition, I'll give you that. Tell you what, because I like you, kid, I'll throw in one of the advanced ones. On the house. But that's my final offer. Take it or leave it."
"Deal," I said, my heart pounding. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but something told me I wouldn't regret this.
He snapped his fingers, and one of his goons scurried out of the room, returning a moment later with a stack of books. Seven of them, each one bound in leather, their titles embossed in gold lettering.
"Nen of the Flame by Mysterious Ido"
"Nen Handbook by Mysterious Ido"
"Applying Zetsu by Zenless Zoldyck"
"Applying Ren By Biscuit Kreuger"
"Modifying Your Ten by Mystery Z"
"Hints on Enhancing Your Enhancement by Biscuit Kreuger"
"Shu, Your Weapon and You, by The Swordsman"
I stared at the books, my brow furrowing. I had no idea what half of those words even meant. But something told me these books held the key to unlocking a whole new world of power.
"Don't lose 'em, kid," Benny said, his voice a low rumble. "Those are worth more than their weight in gold."
I nodded, gathering the books in my arms. They were heavy, the leather cool and smooth against my skin. I had a feeling I was in way over my head, but a thrill of excitement coursed through me.
This was it. Time to level up.
I left Benny's office, my mind racing. I had a fight to prepare for, a new home to break into, and a whole lot of reading to do.
This Hunter Exam World might be a death trap, but it was also an opportunity. An opportunity to become something more, something stronger, something… special.
And I wasn't about to let more power slip away from my hands.
Not anymore.
A/N: Hey guys, I know that some of you read my other story, where an OP version of Kirito, Asuna, and Yui, from SAO abridged, go about fucking around with people who are begging to find out, all while enhancing their inter-versal and soon Multiversal Empire! So what you might or might not know is that that story, and this story are both going to be available on my patreon with ADVANCED CHAPTERS. Every story I produce, for 2.49$, will get you three chapters early on (currently only Multiverse shits itself but soon this one too.)
Wow! ahead of the pack! Such awesome!
For 5 bucks, you get 6 chapters!
Woah, now we're going to space!
The other tiers don't matter yet, but don't worry! they will sooooooooooooooon!
Here I go, reading again!
