The Hidden Power of Marcus
John's heart was pounding as he and the group prepared to leave the reclaimed territories. The weight of their victory was still fresh, and for a moment, he allowed himself to relax.
That moment didn't last.
From the shadows, a man emerged, stretching casually as if he had just woken up. His sharp eyes locked onto the group, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
"Yo," the man said, his tone light but dangerous. "Dante sent me to clean up. Hand over the territories, and we can skip the messy part."
John froze. Dante sent just one guy? His stomach churned with unease. He quickly activated Mind's Eye, and the stats appeared before him.
[Mind's Eye Activated]
Name: Connor
Strength: 87
Speed: 85
Endurance: 82
IQ: 70
Potential: A
John's breath caught. These stats… they're insane. He's almost as strong as Marcus at his peak!
The man's smile widened as he noticed the group's tension. "Oh, Marcus is here too? This might actually be fun."
Tyler stepped forward, fists clenched. "I don't care who you are. You're not taking anything from us!"
Without waiting for a reply, Tyler charged.
The man didn't flinch. With fluid, almost lazy movements, he dodged Tyler's punch and delivered a brutal kick to his ribs. Tyler let out a gasp of pain before collapsing, unconscious.
"Tyler!" John shouted, his voice shaking.
Marcus, Kyle, and Alex stared in disbelief.
The man adjusted his stance, his smile unwavering. "Who's next?"
---
The Battle Intensifies
Kyle and Alex launched themselves at the man, trying to overwhelm him with their combined strength.
Kyle swung a powerful punch, but the man sidestepped effortlessly and delivered a sharp calf kick to Kyle's leg. Kyle stumbled, pain shooting through him, but he gritted his teeth and tried to fight through it.
Alex aimed for a high kick, but the man intercepted it, slamming his fist into Alex's stomach. Alex crumpled to the ground, clutching his midsection.
Kyle, struggling to stay upright, threw another punch. The man dodged again, delivering a brutal kick to Kyle's chest, sending him sprawling.
John's hands trembled. They're all falling one by one. We're no match for him.
The man turned his attention to Marcus. "Well, well," he said, cracking his knuckles. "The former leader of the South. I've heard stories about you. Let's see if you live up to the hype."
Marcus stepped forward, his usual smirk replaced with a serious expression. "I don't care who you are. You're not walking out of here with a win."
---
Marcus vs. The Unknown Fighter
The clash between Marcus and the man was intense. Marcus's punches were precise and powerful, but the man dodged with inhuman speed, countering with kicks that Marcus barely managed to block.
John watched in terror. Marcus, their strongest, was struggling. Each exchange left Marcus breathing harder, while the man remained composed.
We're going to lose.
Then, John remembered the system notification. Level Link.
"System," John whispered. "Link with Marcus."
[System Notification]
Skill Activated: Level Link
Distributing training points…
John felt the system drain his remaining training points, pouring them into Marcus.
---
The Turning Point
Marcus, mid-dodge, suddenly felt a surge of energy. His fatigue vanished, replaced by newfound strength and speed.
"What the—?" Marcus muttered, his fists tightening.
The man noticed the change immediately. "What just happened?"
Marcus didn't answer. He lunged forward with blinding speed, throwing a punch that connected squarely with the man's jaw. The impact sent the man stumbling backward, his confident smile replaced with shock.
"You were saying?" Marcus taunted, his smirk returning.
The man growled, rushing at Marcus with renewed aggression. But Marcus was faster now, dodging each attack with ease and countering with devastating blows.
A sharp uppercut from Marcus sent the man to the ground, dazed and coughing. Not giving him a chance to recover, Marcus delivered a final punch to his chest, knocking him unconscious.
---
Aftermath
The battlefield was silent except for Marcus's heavy breathing.
John ran over to check on Tyler, Kyle, and Alex. They were injured but alive. Relief washed over him as he turned to Marcus, who stood over the defeated fighter.
Marcus glanced at John, confused. "What just happened? I felt… stronger. Faster. Like I was back at my prime."
John forced a smile, hiding the truth. "Maybe it was adrenaline. Either way, you saved us."
Marcus nodded slowly, though suspicion lingered in his eyes.
---
[System Notification]
Quest Completed: Defeat Dante's Fighter
Reward: +3,000 Training Points
John let out a shaky breath, his mind still racing. He used Mind's Eye on Marcus again, and his stats appeared.
[Marcus Stats]
Strength: 90
Speed: 88
Endurance: 87
Potential: A+
John's heart sank. Marcus was far stronger than he had been during their fight.
I'm so far behind.
John swallowed his insecurities, turning to his injured friends. For now, they had won. But Dante wasn't going to stop here.
As the group began their journey back to the South, John's resolve hardened. I need to get stronger. Not just for me, but for all of us.
To Be Continued...