A loud thud echoed in the dark room filled with the stench of cigarette smoke and alcohol. The gang members who had lost the fight against Clark now knelt on the floor, their bodies trembling with fear. Standing before them, the gang leader, a large teenager with a gaze filled with rage, stood with clenched fists. His face was flushed with anger, and he didn't hesitate to rain down punches and kicks on his subordinates.
"You're all cowards!" he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the room. "Five against one, and you still lost? Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?!" Each word that left his mouth was accompanied by a kick to one of them, who could only groan in pain, too afraid to fight back. The shame and anger he felt were unbearable. All this time, he had been the ruler of the school, bullying whoever he wanted without anyone daring to oppose him. But a scrawny kid like Clark, whom he never even considered a threat, had made him look like a fool in front of everyone. It was something he couldn't accept. "I'll make sure you all learn what happens if you dare to fail me again!" he said in a threatening tone. "And you'll make up for this mistake, or I'll finish you off myself." In the midst of the tense atmosphere, the sound of heavy footsteps approached, causing everyone in the room to fall silent. The old wooden door creaked open slowly, and a man dressed entirely in black entered uninvited. His tall, slender frame, his face hidden under a fedora and dark glasses, made him look like a shadow from another world. The gang leader immediately stood up straight, taking a deep breath to calm his anger. His demeanor changed drastically, from enraged to very polite, even respectful. "Sir, I didn't expect you to come so quickly," he said in a slightly trembling voice. The man in black merely responded with a slight nod, his gaze cold and full of mystery. "I heard you had a bit of trouble," he said in a low voice that seemed to flow like poison. The gang leader swallowed hard, trying to suppress the sudden fear that had risen. He knew exactly who this man was. A mysterious figure who always appeared at critical moments, offering help that could never be refused but always came with a high price. "A minor problem, Sir," he replied, bowing his head. "We just... stumbled a bit, but it won't happen again." The man glanced at the henchmen still kneeling on the floor, their bodies trembling like leaves in the wind. "I hope not," he murmured, before turning his gaze back to the gang leader. "There's something we need to discuss. In another room." The gang leader nodded obediently, then gestured for his men to leave the room. Once everyone had left, he led the man in black to a small room at the back of the headquarters. The room was much tidier and cleaner compared to the main area, with dim lighting and only a table and two chairs. They sat across from each other at the table, the tension between them palpable. The man in black opened the briefcase he had brought, revealing several small bottles filled with a thick red liquid that glistened under the light. He took one of the bottles and placed it on the table, gently sliding it towards the gang leader. "This," he said calmly, "will give you the strength you need to deal with your problems." The gang leader stared at the bottle with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "What is this, Sir?" he asked respectfully. "This is a specially developed formula," the man in black replied. "Anyone who drinks it will gain extraordinary physical strength. They'll become faster, stronger, and tougher than anyone you've ever encountered." The gang leader's eyes lit up with ambition. "With this... I can crush anyone who stands in my way," he murmured, more to himself. *** Alex and Clark walked leisurely through the school grounds. Alex, who usually felt fearful every time he stepped into the corridor, now felt something different. Clark's presence beside him provided a sense of security he had never experienced before. The disdainful and threatening looks from other students that used to make him anxious now seemed to disappear. Instead, many now looked at Alex with respect, some even with fear, all because of Clark's presence. "This feels like a dream," Alex muttered quietly, almost unable to believe the change in the people around him. Clark glanced at him and gave a small smile. "They finally know they can't mess with you anymore." The two of them entered the classroom and sat in their usual spots. The lesson had just started when a few students approached their desk. One of them, a small-framed boy, hesitantly extended his hand, holding a small piece of paper. "What's this?" Clark asked, looking at the boy with interest. The boy lowered his head slightly, avoiding direct eye contact with Clark. "This... this is for you. They asked me to give it to you." Clark calmly took the paper and opened it. Alex glanced over at the paper and read the invitation written inside: *Meet at the basketball court after school.* "Do you know who sent this?" Clark asked, his voice flat but meaningful. The boy nodded slightly, his face still pale. "Yes, they... they’re from that gang." Clark said nothing more, just nodded to signal that the boy could leave. After the boy left, Alex looked at Clark with concern. "This has to be a trap, Clark," he said, his voice filled with worry. "They won’t give up so easily after what happened." Clark leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before looking at Alex calmly. "I figured they’d try something," he replied. "But we have to face this, Alex. There’s no point in running or hiding." "But... what if they bring more people this time? I don’t want you getting hurt because of me," Alex continued, his voice trembling. Clark placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder, looking at him seriously. "Don’t worry. If anything bad happens, I’ll take care of it. Trust me." Alex sighed, trying to calm his mind. "Alright, then. We’ll go." The lessons that day felt longer than usual, with anxiety hanging in the air. But Alex no longer felt alone. With Clark by his side, he was ready to face whatever awaited them at the basketball court later. ***After school, Clark and Alex made their way to the basketball court with steady steps. There, they were greeted by an unusual sight—a crowd of people already waiting. Their numbers were so overwhelming that Alex and Clark found it difficult to count how many had gathered. Alex felt nervous, fearful of what might happen. "Clark, what should we do? This isn't like usual," Alex whispered, his voice trembling. Clark turned to him, his face calm. "Don't worry, Alex. I'm here. No one will touch you. If they try anything, I'll handle it." In the middle of the crowd, a tall man with prominent muscles under his basketball uniform stepped forward. His eyes were sharp, filled with determination. The man was Vincent Hayes, the school basketball team captain and leader of the Black Vipers gang. "So, this is our new hero," Vincent said sarcastically, his gaze locking onto Clark. "Do you think just because you took down some of my guys, you can take on all of us?" Clark didn't flinch. He stared
In a skyscraper, a 40-year-old man stands behind a large glass window. His gaze is directed downward, but he is not enjoying the city view; instead, he is focused on the system interface he has been observing for years. As he lights a cigarette with a flame created by his fingers, memories of his first murder resurface. The memory is vivid and disturbing. He recalls the cold sweat on his palms and the rapid heartbeat as he prepared for his first kill. The target was a man living alone in a small apartment. The task seemed simple but felt like stepping into an unknown darkness. He felt waves of anxiety, his hands trembling as he approached the man’s residence. The apartment door creaked ominously as he opened it, revealing a completely unsuspecting target. The fear was palpable, yet there was also a strange, indescribable thrill. Each step closer brought a rush of adrenaline, heightening his senses and pushing aside his fear. When the job was done and he saw the life fading from his
The next morning, Alex decided not to go to school. His fear of facing the zombie-like people was too great. Clark followed Alex's decision and stayed home to rest. They sat in the living room, watching the news on television with confused expressions. "Clark, look at this news," Alex said, pointing to the TV screen. "It’s similar to what we faced yesterday. What exactly is happening with those people?" Clark frowned. "I don’t know either, Alex. They seem to be experiencing something that makes them not feel pain or injury. It’s very suspicious." The news showed CCTV footage of several young people doing crazy things—some throwing themselves into traffic, others jumping off buildings. Strangely, they got up and ran as if nothing had happened. Several witnesses corroborated the reports, adding details about how the people did not show any signs of pain. Alex looked at Clark with worried eyes. "Is there some kind of zombie outbreak hitting our city?" Clark squinted. "Do you believe
In his grand office building, Julian Drake sat in his workspace with a troubled expression. The news about a body found at the bottom of a pool and the failed mission to eliminate Clark Walker only added to his confusion. Julian felt frustrated because he had not yet completed the quest that required him to eliminate Clark Walker. Julian summoned one of his executives, Cole. The man appeared respectfully, bowing before Julian. Julian immediately asked if Cole had truly killed Clark Walker as ordered. Cole answered with full confidence, “Sir, I assure you that Clark Walker has been eliminated. I completed my task as instructed.” However, Julian felt increasingly bewildered. If Cole had killed Clark Walker, then who else needed to be eliminated? And if Clark Walker was already dead, why was the quest still showing up on his system screen? Julian kept wondering who Clark Walker really was and where the man could be. *** Meanwhile, at Alex’s house, Clark began a deep investigation in
The next morning, Elena woke up with mixed feelings. Her mind kept replaying the conversation from last night, where she uncovered more clues leading to the bitter and terrifying truth about what happened to her father. With a resolute determination, she knew she couldn't do this alone. She needed help from someone she could trust, someone with the ability to fight the enemy they were facing. Her thoughts immediately turned to Clark.Clark Walker was not an ordinary person. Although it had only been a short time since Elena started knowing him, she knew that Clark had something different, something no one else possessed.That morning, Elena decided to contact Clark. After taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone and dialed Clark's number. Shortly after, Clark's deep voice echoed on the other side."Hello?""Clark, it's Elena," she replied, her voice slightly trembling. "Can we meet today? There's something I need to talk to you about."Clark was silent for a moment before answe
The next day, Clark accompanied Elena to meet someone who claimed to know the truth behind her father's case. Elena appeared anxious as they walked towards the promised location, an old, long-abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Clark, also feeling cautious, maintained his calm demeanor to reassure Elena. He knew that this meeting could be the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding Elena's father's accident and possibly the tragedy that had befallen her family.As they arrived in front of the old building, the atmosphere felt eerily quiet and ominous. The structure looked decrepit, with peeling paint and cracked windows. Although sensing something was amiss, Elena pressed forward with hope, while Clark followed behind her, carefully observing every corner. When they entered the building, their footsteps echoed in the dark and dusty corridor.After a few minutes of waiting in the designated room, Elena's unease grew. "Where is that person?" she whispered, looking around
Clark quickly pulled Elena to the side, shielding her with his body. As the armed men started to approach, Clark grabbed a chair lying in the corner of the room and used it as a shield. He could feel the adrenaline surging through him, readying his body and mind to face the incoming assault.One of the burly men lunged at Clark with a sharp weapon, but Clark swiftly dodged, twisting his body to kick the opponent in the stomach. The man fell, and Clark seized the opportunity to grab the weapon from the fallen enemy's hand. Meanwhile, Elena sought cover behind a stack of boxes, trying to stay calm and focused despite the pressure.Out of the corner of his eye, Clark saw Elena using some boxes as a makeshift shield. As a few men closed in on him, Clark used his superhuman speed and strength to fight them off. Every move he made, whether a kick or a punch, was precise and devastating. He struck with a force that quickly brought his attackers down.However, the longer the fight lasted, the
In the living room of Alex's cozy home, Clark sat, glancing around. The house exuded a calm and orderly atmosphere, reflecting Alex's meticulous personality. They had just finished dinner, and Clark decided it was a good time to delve deeper into the life of his new friend, feeling this was the perfect opportunity to understand more about Alex."Alex, I've been curious," Clark began, trying to sound casual despite his genuine interest, "What do your parents do for a living? Why are they rarely home?"Alex nodded, seemingly prepared for the question. He appeared to reflect for a moment before starting his explanation. "Oh, that's an interesting question. My father is a businessman. He runs several large businesses outside the city, so he's often away on business trips. Sometimes, he has to stay abroad for extended periods."Clark waited patiently, giving Alex time to continue his story. He could see that Alex was comfortable discussing this topic, even though there was a hint of longin