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Arc Quest: Julian Corbin - Take One

The streets of District 7 buzzed with uneasy energy as Thenma parked his car under the shadow of a flickering streetlamp. The air smelled of rust and oil, mingled with the faint bitterness of smoke. Ahead, the underground casino loomed like a beast of shadows and neon, its muted glow spilling across cracked pavement.

[New Objective: Infiltrate the Nightfangs' network]

Reve’s voice chimed in his mind, cold and steady as always.

“Got it,” Thenma muttered, tugging the hood of his jacket lower over his face. His hands brushed against the small earpiece tucked securely in place. “Start scanning for entry points. We don’t have time for games.”

[Analyzing... Front access secured by biometric authentication. Alternative entry detected: Side ventilation shaft. Probability of success: 78%. Risk level: Moderate.]

Thenma grimaced. “That doesn’t sound promising.”

[Risk mitigation advised. Disguise effectiveness may provide higher success rates.]

“Fine,” he muttered, pulling a small fake tattoo sticker from his pocket and pressing it onto his wrist—a crude emblem similar to the Nightfangs’ symbol. It wouldn’t fool close inspection, but it might buy him a chance.

He strode toward the main entrance, keeping his movements deliberate but inconspicuous. A towering bouncer blocked the door, arms crossed and eyes sharp beneath a buzz cut.

“You don’t look familiar,” the bouncer growled, his hand resting on a holstered pistol.

“I’m new,” Thenma said, injecting just enough irritation into his voice to sound convincing. “Tobias told me to meet him here. You wanna delay his business, go ahead and call him.”

The bouncer’s eyes narrowed. “Stay here.” He turned to a small console by the door, typing in a code. Reve’s voice hummed in Thenma’s head.

[Intercepting communications. Fabricating entry credentials...]

A soft chime signaled success. The bouncer glanced back at Thenma, his suspicion easing slightly. “Alright. Don’t cause trouble.”

Thenma stepped inside, his pulse steady despite the tension in the air. The casino was a hive of illicit activity—gamblers hunched over tables, shadows conducting quiet deals in corners. Tobias wasn’t hard to spot, his leather jacket catching the dim light as he spoke to none other than Julian Corbin.

“There you are,” Thenma whispered, his eyes narrowing.

[Objective Updated: Gather evidence of Julian Corbin’s involvement with the Nightfangs.]

As Thenma edged closer, he caught fragments of their conversation. Tobias was agitated, gesturing sharply as Julian leaned back with a smug grin.

“You think I’m bluffing?” Tobias snapped. “Pay up, Corbin, or I’ll make sure the whole city knows what you’re up to.”

Julian’s smile didn’t falter. “Relax. The shipment’s arriving tomorrow. Once it’s done, you’ll get your money. Until then, keep your mouth shut.”

Thenma’s heart raced. A shipment? This could be the leverage he needed.

[Warning: Incoming hostile presence detected. Rival gang approaching location.]

“What?” Thenma hissed under his breath.

The answer came in a burst of chaos. The front doors slammed open, and a group of armed men stormed in, shouting threats. The Nightfangs reacted immediately, drawing weapons as the room descended into pandemonium.

[Advisory: Escape the conflict. Avoid detection.]

“Easier said than done,” Thenma muttered, ducking behind a pillar as bullets tore through the air. He scanned the room, spotting Julian slipping through a side exit with Tobias in tow.

[Secondary Objective: Pursue Julian Corbin.]

“I’m on it.”

Keeping low, Thenma navigated through the chaos, narrowly avoiding a stray shot. He slipped out the side door just in time to see Julian’s silhouette disappearing down an alley.

“Reve, track his location,” he ordered, breaking into a sprint.

[Tracking active. Subject moving toward a warehouse near the docks. Estimated time to arrival: 7 minutes.]

The chase was relentless, every step echoing in the narrow alleyways. Julian finally reached the warehouse, slipping inside through a side door. Thenma followed, his breaths steady despite the exertion.

Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit, the air heavy with oil and damp wood. Julian Corbin stood in the center, leaning casually against a rusted desk, surrounded by Tobias and a few Nightfangs enforcers. Their voices were low but carried just enough for Thenma, concealed in the shadows, to catch snippets of their conversation.

“Tomorrow’s shipment is the last piece,” Julian said, his voice tinged with arrogance. “Once it’s done, the debts are cleared. No one can touch me. Not Tobias, not the Clausters, not anyone.”

“Let’s hope so,” Tobias muttered, lighting a cigarette. He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing. “Because if this falls apart, you know who they’ll come after first.”

[Recording initiated. Evidence collected: Julian Corbin discussing illegal activities.]

The notification flickered before Thenma’s eyes, but he barely paid it any attention, focused on Julian’s every word.

He adjusted his position slightly, leaning closer from behind a stack of crates. The movement was subtle—almost imperceptible. Almost.

Julian’s head snapped up, his expression shifting from smug confidence to sharp suspicion. His eyes swept across the warehouse like a hawk scanning for prey.

“Someone’s here,” Julian said coldly, pushing off the desk. He gestured to the Nightfangs around him. “Check the perimeter. Now.”

Tobias arched an eyebrow, his cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. “You sure?”

“I don’t like being wrong,” Julian replied, his voice low and dangerous.

Thenma’s pulse quickened as the gang members began fanning out. Boots clattered against the concrete floor, echoing through the warehouse. He pressed himself against the crates, his breaths shallow, every instinct screaming at him to move but knowing any sound could give him away.

[Warning: Detection imminent. Immediate action required.]

The Nightfangs drew closer, flashlights slicing through the shadows. Thenma reached for a small device hidden in his pocket—a mini EMP disruptor he carried for moments like these.

“Reve, prep the EMP,” he whispered under his breath.

[Preparing EMP. Activation in 3... 2...]

Just before the countdown finished, one of the enforcers paused near the crates, his flashlight landing dangerously close to Thenma’s position. He squinted, stepping closer.

“Hey! There’s something—”

Click.

The EMP activated, sending a wave of static energy rippling through the warehouse. Lights flickered and died, plunging the space into darkness. The enforcer cursed, his flashlight fizzling out in his hands.

“What the hell?” Tobias barked, his voice cutting through the confusion.

Julian didn’t panic. Instead, he stood still, his ears straining for the faintest sound.

“Stay alert,” Julian growled. “Whoever’s here won’t stay hidden for long.”

Thenma took advantage of the chaos, slipping out from his hiding spot and moving along the edge of the warehouse. His heart hammered in his chest, every step measured, every breath controlled.

But Julian wasn’t done.

“You,” he snapped, pointing toward another enforcer. “Get the backup generator running. And you—sweep the back exits.”

One of the enforcers started moving toward the same direction Thenma was heading. The distance between them shrank with every step.

[Advisory: Deviation in planned escape route required. Alternate path available: Upper scaffolding.]

“Of course,” Thenma muttered, glancing up at the rusted beams overhead.

In a fluid motion, he grabbed hold of a low-hanging chain and hoisted himself up. The scaffolding creaked ominously under his weight, but it held. Below, the enforcer passed by, oblivious to the shadow slipping silently overhead.

From his elevated position, Thenma had a clear view of Julian, still standing in the center of the warehouse. Julian’s posture was tense, his sharp eyes scanning the room even in the dim light.

Thenma’s lips curled into a faint smirk. Not so untouchable now, are we?

But the moment of triumph was short-lived.

“Wait,” Julian said suddenly, his head snapping toward the scaffolding. His eyes narrowed. “Up there!”

A flashlight beam swung upward, catching a fleeting glimpse of Thenma’s silhouette.

“Gotcha,” Julian hissed. “Take him down!”

Bullets tore through the air, sparking against the metal beams as Thenma ducked and rolled across the scaffolding. Adrenaline surged through him, every nerve on high alert.

[Critical Warning: Increased hostility detected. Probability of escape compromised. Immediate action required.]

“Yeah, I noticed,” Thenma muttered through gritted teeth, dodging another volley of gunfire.

His eyes darted around the warehouse, searching for anything he could use to turn the tide. Then, he spotted it: a massive crate suspended from a thick chain, swaying slightly above Julian and his men.

“That’ll do,” he muttered, already calculating the angles. But as his mind raced, he realized he had nothing in his arsenal capable of breaking the chain. His multi-tool wasn’t strong enough, and time was slipping away.

[New Tool Available: Emergency Combat Procurement Mode]

The notification blinked in his vision, catching him off guard.

“What the hell is that?” he whispered, ducking behind cover as a spray of bullets ricocheted off the beams above.

[Emergency Combat Procurement Mode enables real-time acquisition of essential tools or gear. Terms: Costs deducted from Reward Points or accrued debts. Limited to 3 uses per quest. Selection must be immediate. Failure to utilize within 10 seconds will void the offer.]

A timer appeared, ticking down from 10.

“Are you kidding me?” Thenma hissed, his heart pounding. He had no time to overthink it.

[Available Items:

1. Compact Plasma Cutter (Cost: 10 RP)

2. High-Tensile Chain Snare (Cost: 8 RP)

3. Industrial Explosive Charge (Cost: 15 RP)

Select now.]

“Plasma Cutter!” he snapped, slapping the holographic menu. The timer froze at 2 seconds.

[Item confirmed. Deducting 10 RP. Delivering tool...]

A small compartment materialized in his inventory panel, and with a faint shimmer, the plasma cutter appeared in his hand. It was compact, lightweight, and buzzing with energy.

“Not bad,” he muttered, sprinting toward the edge of the scaffolding where the chain pulley was anchored.

He activated the plasma cutter, the bright blue beam hissing as it sliced through the thick metal like butter. Sparks rained down, and the chain groaned ominously. Below, Julian’s sharp gaze snapped upward as he noticed the commotion.

“Up there!” he barked. “Take him down!”

Bullets zipped past, one grazing Thenma’s arm. He gritted his teeth against the pain, focusing on the chain. With one final pass of the plasma cutter, the bolt gave way, and the chain unraveled with a deafening clang.

The crate plummeted toward the ground, smashing into the floor with a thunderous crash. Julian and his men scattered, the impact throwing up a cloud of dust and debris.

[Tool efficacy confirmed. Plasma Cutter deactivated. Remaining Emergency Combat Procurement uses: 2.]

“Worth every point,” Thenma muttered, stowing the now-inactive cutter.

Taking advantage of the chaos, he leapt down from the scaffolding, landing in a crouch. Without wasting a second, he bolted for the back exit.

Julian’s furious voice echoed behind him. “Don’t let him escape! I want him alive!”

The warehouse erupted into pandemonium as more Nightfangs gave chase. Thenma pushed himself harder, weaving through the maze of alleys outside.

[Objective Updated: Escape area undetected. Pursuers: Active.]

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