The club was silent again. Only the sound of dripping water from the broken ceiling echoed through the night.
Yujhae sat behind the bar, bruised, exhausted, and staring at the SYSTEM window still glowing faintly in front of him.
SYSTEM:
Emergency Quest: "Retaliate — or be erased."
Objectives:
Recruit Security
Defeat Selima Gang
Reward: Skill Upgrade Opportunity + 15 Stat Points
He cracked his knuckles, a faint grin pulling at his lips.
"Fine. You want a war? Let's make it a real one."
---
[Stat Allocation Menu Opened]
> Strength +5
Agility +3
Endurance +3
Perception +2
Intelligence - unchanged
New Stats Applied.
He immediately felt the difference — his pulse steadier, vision sharper. When he clenched his fists, power pulsed through his arms.
"Let's see what this Boxing Jab can really do."
He turned to a cracked mirror, squared his stance, and threw a punch.
Whoosh!
The air split. The mirror rattled from the impact of a punch that didn't even connect.
SYSTEM:
Skill Activated — Boxing Jab (Lv.1)
Effect: +20% speed and accuracy for single-target strikes.
"Yeah…" Yujhae smirked. "That'll do."
---
Over the next few days, he started recruiting.
He found Dojin, a massive ex-bouncer with scars on both arms, and Taejun, a quiet but sharp-eyed martial artist who used to work security in Gangnam.
At first, they hesitated. The club looked half-dead, still covered in damage from the Selima raid.
But Yujhae made an offer they couldn't ignore.
"Weekly pay, bonuses for every threat you put down, and a share of profits once this place stands again. You in or not?"
Dojin smirked. "As long as I get to break some skulls."
Taejun simply nodded. "I'm in."
---
The three trained together in the club's basement — their temporary "dojo."
Yujhae learned to time his new skill, feeling the rhythm of a real fight. His jab became sharper, cleaner, faster.
Dojin would block with his forearms, wincing. "Damn, boss. That's starting to hurt."
"That's the point," Yujhae replied, wiping sweat from his face. "Next time Selima shows up, they won't be breaking things — they'll be begging."
---
When the club reopened a week later, word spread fast.
Rumors said the new security team at Club Phoenix was ex-military. Others said Yujhae had ties with a mysterious syndicate.
Whatever people believed, one thing was clear — the club was alive again.
But so was the danger.
---
Late one night, Dojin came running in from the alley. "Boss! Selima's crew — they're here. Around ten of them."
Yujhae grabbed his jacket and stepped outside. The street was dim, lit only by the flicker of neon signs and the glint of metal bats.
The same man from before — the tall one with "Selima" inked across his forearm — smirked.
"Didn't I tell you to stay down?" he said.
Yujhae stepped forward, unflinching. "Yeah. And I didn't listen."
---
The first punch came from Selima's side.
The sound of fists and metal echoed through the alley. Dojin grabbed two men at once, slamming them into a wall. Taejun moved like lightning, disarming another.
Yujhae focused on the leader. His body relaxed. Breath steady.
Then—
Skill Activated — Boxing Jab (Lv.1)
His fist shot forward, cracking straight into the man's jaw. The leader stumbled back, blood spraying.
Yujhae followed up — jab, jab, body shot — a perfect combination. Every move sharper, faster.
The man tried to swing back with a knife, but Yujhae ducked under and countered with another jab straight to the ribs.
He collapsed, gasping.
The rest of the gang froze. Dojin stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Anyone else?"
No one moved.
Within minutes, Selima's men retreated, dragging their leader with them. The alley reeked of sweat and defeat.
---
SYSTEM UPDATE:
Emergency Quest: "Retaliate — or be erased." — COMPLETE
Reward Gained: +15 Stat Points
Bonus: Skill Upgrade — Boxing Jab (Lv.2)
---
Yujhae stood there, blood dripping from his knuckles, chest heaving.
Dojin laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Guess we're in business now."
Taejun smirked. "Selima won't stay quiet for long."
Yujhae wiped his face, eyes burning with determination. "Good. Let them come."
He looked back at the glowing club sign — PHOENIX now shining fully again.
"Because every time they burn us down…"
He grinned. "We'll rise higher."
---
End of Chapter 4
Bye Xd idk