Night settled over Briar's Hollow like a dark blanket.
Lanterns flickered along the wooden streets, casting warm golden light across shop windows and cobblestone paths. Most of the town had already closed for the evening. Bakers were finishing the last batches of bread for tomorrow morning. Merchants were counting coins behind locked doors. Farmers were snoring loudly after long days of work.
The town was quiet.
Peaceful.
Which was exactly why the men hiding in the forest outside the walls were very annoyed.
Six figures crouched behind the treeline.
Black leather armor.
Scarred faces.
Short blades and clubs tucked into belts.
And every one of them carried the same tattoo.
A black snake curled around a dagger.
The mark of the Black Viper gang.
Their leader spat on the ground.
"That bastard humiliated us."
One of the others grunted.
"You sure it's the same guy?"
The leader nodded.
"Our scout watched him today."
"He cleared a goblin nest alone."
Another man snorted.
"Bullshit."
"Scout swore it."
"He also punched wolves through the air."
Silence followed.
The men stared at each other.
Then one of them laughed nervously.
"…Alright maybe the scout drank too much."
The leader cracked his knuckles.
"Doesn't matter."
He pulled a short sword from his belt.
"Boss wants revenge."
Another thug nodded.
"Guy embarrassed the Vipers in public."
"People are laughing."
"That can't happen."
The leader pointed toward the town gates.
"So tonight we remind everyone who runs things around here."
He grinned.
"And we break that idiot's face while we're at it."
---
Inside Briar's Hollow, Ryuji Kuroda was asleep.
Sort of.
More accurately, he was lying on a wooden bed in the small room he had rented above the Hungry Hare tavern.
One arm behind his head.
The other resting across his stomach.
The room was dimly lit by a candle on the bedside table.
Outside the window, crickets chirped quietly.
Ryuji yawned.
"Man."
"Fantasy beds are surprisingly comfortable."
Lumi floated upside-down near the ceiling, lazily kicking her feet in the air.
"You realize you almost collapsed a dungeon earlier today."
Ryuji shrugged without opening his eyes.
"Details."
"You punched a stone wall so hard it exploded."
"Yeah."
"That's not normal."
"Feels normal."
Lumi groaned.
"You're impossible."
He grinned.
"Still alive though."
"That's not the point!"
"Seems like a pretty important point."
She rolled her eyes.
"You should be resting."
"I am resting."
"You're smiling."
"That's because today was fun."
Lumi crossed her arms.
"You're excited about punching monsters."
"Obviously."
Then Ryuji's eyes opened.
"…Huh."
Lumi noticed immediately.
"What?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Someone's sneaking around outside."
Her wings twitched.
"…What?"
Ryuji sat up slowly.
Footsteps.
Quiet.
But not quiet enough.
Years of living in rough neighborhoods had trained his ears.
"Six people," he muttered.
"They're trying to be stealthy."
Lumi blinked.
"…How can you tell?"
"Boot sounds."
He stood up and stretched.
"Also they're whispering."
Sure enough, faint voices drifted through the open window.
"…second floor…"
"…break the door…"
"…beat him quick…"
Ryuji sighed.
"Oh come on."
Lumi floated closer.
"…What?"
"The idiots from the gang."
"How do you know?"
"They always talk like cartoon villains."
---
Outside the tavern, the gang members moved quietly.
The leader gestured toward the second-floor window.
"That's his room."
One thug grinned.
"We jump him."
Another cracked his knuckles.
"Teach him a lesson."
The leader nodded.
"No witnesses."
Then—
The tavern door opened.
All six men froze.
Ryuji stepped outside.
Barefoot.
Stretching his arms.
Wearing nothing but simple pants and the Iron Brawler Gloves.
He yawned.
"Evening."
The gang stared.
The leader frowned.
"…You're supposed to be upstairs."
Ryuji scratched his head.
"Yeah but you guys were being loud."
One thug growled.
"You got guts coming out here alone."
Ryuji glanced around.
"Alone?"
Then he shrugged.
"Oh right."
"You meant against you."
He cracked his neck.
"Don't worry."
"I like the odds."
---
The gang attacked first.
Two men rushed forward with clubs.
Ryuji didn't even step back.
The first club swung toward his head.
Ryuji tilted slightly.
The weapon whistled past his ear.
Then he punched the attacker.
CRACK.
The man dropped instantly.
The second thug froze mid-swing.
"…What the—"
Ryuji elbowed him in the ribs.
CRUNCH.
The thug collapsed wheezing.
Four left.
The leader drew his sword.
"GET HIM!"
Two more men rushed forward.
Ryuji activated his skill.
The system flashed.
---
Shockwave Punch Ready
---
He punched.
BOOM.
The shockwave blasted outward.
Both attackers flew backward like rag dolls.
They crashed into a cart across the street.
Wood exploded everywhere.
The leader's eyes widened.
"…What the hell was that?"
Ryuji rolled his shoulders.
"New move."
He walked forward casually.
"You guys picked a bad night."
One thug screamed and charged.
Knife raised.
Ryuji sidestepped.
Grabbed his wrist.
Twisted.
SNAP.
The knife fell.
The thug screamed.
Ryuji punched him in the stomach.
The man folded instantly.
Two left.
The leader backed away slowly.
"…You're not normal."
Ryuji grinned.
"Thanks."
The last thug tried running.
Ryuji grabbed a loose rock from the ground.
Threw it.
THUNK.
The rock hit the man's head.
He face-planted into the dirt.
The leader stared at the fallen bodies.
"…Boss isn't gonna like this."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Tell him to send better fighters."
Then he stepped forward.
The leader swung his sword desperately.
Ryuji caught his wrist.
Twisted.
The sword clattered to the ground.
Then Ryuji punched him once.
CRACK.
The leader collapsed.
Silence filled the street.
The tavern door slowly opened.
Freya the waitress peeked outside.
"…Is it over?"
Ryuji waved casually.
"Yeah."
She stepped out and looked at the unconscious gang members scattered everywhere.
"…You beat six of them."
"Yep."
"You're barefoot."
"Yep."
Freya shook her head slowly.
"…You're terrifying."
---
Word spread through Briar's Hollow quickly.
By morning, the story had grown considerably.
Apparently Ryuji had fought ten gang members.
Or maybe fifteen.
One version even claimed he punched someone through a wall.
Ryuji didn't bother correcting anyone.
Meanwhile, inside the Adventurer's Guild—
Mira sat behind her desk reviewing reports.
She had heard the rumors already.
When Ryuji walked through the guild doors, the room quieted.
Several adventurers looked at him with new expressions.
Not curiosity.
Respect.
A few even nodded at him.
The big dwarf from earlier raised his mug.
"Morning, fist guy."
Ryuji waved.
"Morning."
He walked to the desk.
Mira adjusted her glasses.
"You fought the Black Vipers again."
Ryuji shrugged.
"They started it."
She opened the guild ledger.
Her pen moved quickly.
Ryuji Kuroda
Status update.
Combat capability: above expected range.
Solo goblin nest clear.
Multiple criminal combat victories.
She tapped the page thoughtfully.
"You're progressing very quickly."
Ryuji grinned.
"I'm talented."
She looked up.
"Or reckless."
"Little of both."
She closed the book.
"Either way, the guild has taken notice."
Ryuji leaned on the desk.
"Oh?"
"You're now considered a rising adventurer."
Ryuji smirked.
"Sounds fancy."
Before Mira could respond—
The guild doors burst open.
A man in royal armor stepped inside.
A messenger.
Dust covered his boots.
His breathing was heavy from travel.
The room went silent.
He stepped forward.
"I bring urgent news from the capital!"
Every adventurer in the hall turned.
The messenger unrolled a scroll.
His voice echoed through the guild.
"A dangerous dungeon outbreak has been detected near the northern border."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"Multiple monster nests have appeared."
"Creatures migrating toward nearby villages."
"The crown is requesting all capable adventurers."
He raised the scroll.
"Anyone willing to assist will receive royal compensation."
The guild erupted in excited chatter.
High reward jobs always attracted attention.
Ryuji leaned back with a grin.
"Well."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Finally."