Chapter 9: The System’s Grip Tightens

Jihan barely had time to breathe after his victory over The Hound. His body ached, his muscles screaming for rest, but the fight had awakened something inside him.

He needed more. More strength. More power. More dominance.

As he made his way home, his phone vibrated again. The Dominance Code app had something new for him.

A New Challenge Appears

[Jihan, you've proven yourself. But power attracts enemies. Prepare for your next test.]

[New Mission: Defeat the Shadow Fangs – Time Limit: 48 Hours]

Jihan frowned. The Shadow Fangs?

He had heard whispers about them. A ruthless gang that controlled the night streets. Unlike the random thugs he had been fighting, these guys were organized, dangerous, and known for leaving their enemies broken in alleys.

And he had just been marked as their next target.

A Deadly Ambush

The next night, Jihan walked through the deserted streets, his senses heightened. He knew better than to wait for trouble—it was better to meet it head-on.

His instincts screamed at him a second before it happened.

Four figures lunged out of the darkness.

Jihan barely managed to duck as a metal chain whistled past his head. He rolled to the side, rising to face his attackers.

They were fast. Too fast.

A fist flew toward him. He blocked, but another hit caught him in the ribs. Pain exploded through his side. Jihan gritted his teeth and countered, his knuckles slamming into an attacker's jaw, sending him sprawling.

But the others didn't hesitate. One grabbed his arm, another his leg. A third drove a knee into his gut.

Jihan gasped, falling to his knees. They weren't just beating him. They were trying to break him.

He coughed, blood dripping from his lip. The leader of the group crouched in front of him, smirking. "You thought you were a predator? You're just another weakling who got lucky."

Jihan laughed. A low, dangerous laugh.

The leader frowned. "What's so funny?"

Jihan wiped the blood from his lip. "You should've hit harder."

With a sudden surge of strength, Jihan twisted, yanking the attacker forward and slamming his forehead into the guy's nose.

Crack!

The leader stumbled back, cursing as blood gushed down his face. The others hesitated—just long enough.

Jihan exploded upward, his fist finding another jaw. He spun, driving an elbow into the stomach of the one holding his leg. Two down. Two left.

The last two fighters regrouped, circling him. One pulled out a switchblade.

Jihan exhaled. "Good. Let's make this fun."

A Fight in the Dark

The one with the knife lunged. Jihan dodged, twisting his body at the last second. Too slow.

His hand shot out, grabbing the attacker's wrist. With a brutal twist, he snapped the arm in the wrong direction. The fighter screamed as the knife clattered to the ground.

The last opponent charged, swinging wildly. Jihan sidestepped and delivered a brutal kick to the knee.

Crack.

The guy collapsed, clutching his leg.

Jihan turned to the leader, still holding his broken nose. "Your gang just lost to one guy. How does that feel?"

The leader's eyes burned with rage, but he didn't answer. Cowards never did.

Jihan grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the alley wall. "Tell your boss—I'm coming for him next."

With that, he threw the leader onto the pavement and walked away, blood dripping from his knuckles.

His phone vibrated again.

[Mission Complete: +4 Strength, +3 Agility, New Skill Unlocked]

Jihan grinned. The system wanted him to become a monster? Fine. He'd become one.

The Shadow Fangs Strike Back

Jihan barely had time to process his new power before his phone lit up again.

[Warning: Retaliation incoming.]

The hairs on the back of his neck rose. They weren't done.

A roar of engines filled the alley as motorcycles screeched to a stop. Six more members of the Shadow Fangs dismounted, armed with pipes, bats, and brass knuckles.

Jihan cracked his neck. "Didn't learn your lesson?"

The leader of the new group sneered. "No, we just brought enough people this time."

The largest of them charged, swinging a metal pipe. Jihan sidestepped, but a second fighter grabbed his arm. A third cracked a bat against his ribs.

Pain flared, but Jihan gritted his teeth. He had no time for pain.

He twisted, throwing the guy holding his arm over his shoulder. The thug hit the pavement hard. Before he could get up, Jihan stomped down on his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

Five left.

Another came at him with brass knuckles. Jihan caught the punch mid-air and twisted, dislocating the thug's wrist. The fighter screamed before Jihan drove a knee into his face.

Four left.

The remaining fighters hesitated, but one of them—taller, meaner—smirked and pulled something from his jacket.

A gun.

Jihan froze. This was new. This was bad.

The leader grinned, leveling the gun at him. "Not so tough now, huh?"

Jihan clenched his fists. He was fast—but was he fast enough?

A split-second decision.

The leader's finger tightened on the trigger.

Jihan lunged.

Bang!

The shot echoed through the alley. Pain exploded in Jihan's shoulder, but he kept moving. He grabbed the leader's wrist and slammed it into the wall. The gun fell. Jihan didn't give him time to recover.

He drove his knee into the leader's stomach. Then again. And again.

The leader gasped for air before Jihan sent him crashing to the ground with a brutal uppercut.

Three left.

They rushed him, but Jihan was in a frenzy now. His body moved faster, stronger.

He caught one by the throat and slammed him against the wall. Another charged—Jihan spun, kicking him square in the chest. The last tried to run.

Jihan grabbed the discarded gun and aimed.

The runner froze.

Jihan didn't shoot. He smirked and tossed the gun away. "Tell your crew. If they come again, I won't hold back."

The thug nodded frantically before scrambling away.

Jihan exhaled, blood dripping from his shoulder. His phone buzzed again.

[Mission Completed: +5 Strength, New Skill Unlocked – Predator's Instinct.]

Jihan grinned through the pain. He was only getting started.

End of Chapter 9