The rain turned the alley into a mirror of shattered neon. Luo Tian stepped out of the car, boots splashing through the thin sheet of water. Somewhere ahead, a presence pressed against his senses like a rising tide.
> [Target Detected: System Bearer – Codename "Blitz Fang."]
[Rank: C+]
[Skill of Interest: Hyper Reflex – Increases reaction speed by 400%.]
[Warning: Host's current stat spread indicates 63% chance of defeat without adaptation.]
A tall man stepped from the shadows. His hair was wet, his eyes bright with predatory focus. A faint shimmer of qi crackled around him, each movement like a blur in the corner of the eye.
"You're Luo Tian," Blitz Fang said, his voice a low rasp. "The one who killed Iron Jack."
Luo Tian didn't flinch. "Guess you're here to collect the bounty?"
A smirk. "And your System."
---
The fight began with no warning. Blitz Fang moved—no, vanished—and a punch slammed into Luo Tian's ribs hard enough to make the air jump from his lungs. Only Titan Frame kept his bones from snapping.
> [Godslayer Instinct: Active]
[Counter-window: 0.3 seconds.]
Luo Tian ducked under the follow-up hook, his own fist flashing upward toward Blitz Fang's chin. But the man twisted away, movements inhumanly sharp.
"You're strong," Blitz Fang said, circling, "but too slow."
---
Another burst of motion—this time Luo Tian anticipated, sweeping low. His kick connected, but Blitz Fang's leg didn't buckle; the man flipped midair and landed with the grace of a predator.
> [Host is outpaced in both speed and reaction.]
[Recommendation: Secure target's Combat Skill for immediate advantage.]
Easier said than done.
---
They clashed again, each strike sending ripples through the rain. Luo Tian used the environment—ricocheting a kick off a dumpster to gain height, slamming an elbow into Blitz Fang's guard, driving him back toward the wall.
But Blitz Fang was grinning. "Not bad… let's see if you can keep up with this."
The man's qi flared. For a moment, it was like fighting lightning.
---
> [No. 1 System Perk Activated: Adaptive Skill Theft]
[Partial Data Integration in Progress…]
[Combat Skill Acquired Mid-Battle: Hyper Reflex (50% efficiency). Scaling with Host Growth Rate.]
Suddenly, the world slowed. The rain fell in lazy arcs, every droplet visible. Blitz Fang's next strike wasn't a blur anymore—it was a thread of motion Luo Tian could follow, read, and intercept.
He caught the man's wrist mid-punch, twisted, and drove a knee into his sternum. Blitz Fang staggered, eyes wide.
"What—?!"
---
Now Luo Tian pressed forward. Godslayer Instinct mapped every counter. Hyper Reflex fed him windows to exploit. Titan Frame made each hit punishing.
An uppercut snapped Blitz Fang's head back. A low kick crumpled his stance. A final palm strike crushed the air from his chest.
Blitz Fang tried to retreat, but Luo Tian's hand clamped over his face. With a single, brutal motion, he slammed him into the brick wall. The sound was wet and final.
---
> [Target Eliminated.]
[Full Skill Integration Complete.]
[Hyper Reflex – Reaction speed x4, scales with Host stat growth.]
[Attribute Panel Updated.]
Name: Luo Tian
Level: 5
EXP: 410 / 800
HP: 270 / 270
Qi: 320 / 320
Strength: 50
Agility: 38 → 56 (+Hyper Reflex synergy)
Endurance: 52
Charm: 41
Luck: MAX (Infinite Fortune Domain)
Skills:
Godslayer Instinct – Perfect Combat Execution
Infinite Fortune Domain – Luck Always on Host's Side
Endless Flow – Infinite Stamina
Titan Frame – Triple Strength & Durability
Hyper Reflex (New) – 4x Reaction Speed, Scales with Growth
Skill Points: 3
---
Mei Ruo appeared from the alley mouth, her umbrella tilted against the rain. "Quick work," she said casually, though her eyes took in every detail of Blitz Fang's broken form.
"You did something," Luo Tian said.
Her smile was faint, unreadable. "Just kept anyone from interrupting."
---
> [Warning: Two additional System Bearers detected.]
[Rank: B and B+.]
[Proximity: Within 5 km.]
[Note: Their systems have logged your presence. Expect pursuit.]
Luo Tian stepped over the body, rain dripping from his hair. "Looks like the real hunt is about to start."
Mei Ruo's gaze lingered on him. "And how do you plan to deal with enemies who already know you're coming?"
Luo Tian's grin was sharp. "By making sure they can't leave to tell the tale."
The rain kept falling, but for Luo Tian, the world had never felt so clear, so slow, so full of openings to exploit.