Episode 9

The following day at the university where Ryan was enrolled, the campus was engulfed in terror and suspense. A posse of fifty thugs belonging to a biker gang descended upon the grounds, fully armed with an arsenal that included swords, knives, machetes, cleavers, baseball bats, and more.

This mob arrived at midday with the sole purpose of finding a young man who was none other than Ryan Aji Sena. However, their search was fruitless as Ryan was not present at the university, having skipped school that day.

The gang was infuriated when their inquiries about Ryan's residence yielded no answers from any of the students, simply because no one actually knew.

Their rage intensified due to this obstacle. They wreaked havoc, destroying several pieces of university property with the intention to leave.

But as they were about to depart, a striking woman approached the group and proclaimed that she knew the whereabouts of the young man they were after.

Novie! The beautiful woman was none other than Ryan's ex-girlfriend, Novie. Out of vengeance and heartache caused by Ryan's actions in front of a boutique on a Saturday afternoon, she willingly divulged Ryan's address.

"So you know where that little ruffian resides?" inquired the thug leader, his face fierce with scars and stitches around his mouth and eyes.

"Yes, boss! I do!" Novie responded, though slightly trembling.

Suddenly, without warning, the leader seized Novie's wrist with a tight grip.

"If you know, then show us the way and come with us!" the leader demanded.

"But..." Novie stammered in fear.

"No buts! Or I will have my way with you along with all my men!" the leader threatened.

Hearing the leader's threat, the thugs grew even more frightened.

"Okay-okay-okay!" agreed Novie with a nod. Deep regret filled her for involving herself in the affairs of Ryan and thes thugs.

The leader and his followers then left the university, en route to Ryan's house, with Novie in tow as their guide.

Ryan's House

Meanwhile, in front of his modest home, Ryan was practicing new martial arts techniques he had mastered the night before. His mother Lastri, recently recovered from a lengthy illness, had just left him alone at home to go shopping for daily necessities.

Previously, Ryan had given her 3 million as a gift for her recovery, despite her suspicion about where her son had acquired such a sum. Nevertheless, she trusted that Ryan would not have earned it through dishonest or unsavory means.

After working up a significant sweat, Ryan took a break under a large, shady tree located roughly twenty meters in front of his residence.

As Ryan drank from a water bottle he'd brought along, he was startled by the noise of motorcycles belonging to the thugs.

Upon seeing the group, his expression darkened; he recognized someone amongst the crowd of riders.

'Novie?' he thought to himself.

The biker gang came to a stop not far from Ryan, all alighting with threatening expressions.

"There's the guy!" Novie exclaimed, pointing at Ryan.

The gang leader approached Ryan with his sword drawn and clutched tightly.

"So you're the one named Ryan Aji Sena?" the leader questioned while brandishing his sword at Ryan's face.

"That's me! What can I do for you?" Ryan replied, showing no fear in the face of the leader's sword. His expression was calm as still waters.

"Boy! You've offended the wrong person!" the leader remarked.

"Wrong person? You mean her?" Ryan inquired, gesturing toward Novie.

"No! I have no idea if you have a problem with that woman or not! What matters now is that you're about to face your grim fate!" stated the leader, signaling his forty-nine henchmen to encircle Ryan.

Despite the danger, Ryan remained composed, considering the possibility that if the thugs weren't sent by Novie, then the only other likely scenario involved Brian or his kin, and Ryan was not in the wrong.

"Get him!" the leader commanded.

Nine men of imposing stature and menacing features advanced slightly ahead of the rest. Ryan assumed a defensive stance and sharpened all his senses.

According to knowledge of kung fu previously acquired from the System, a combatant must focus on all aspects, including one's senses. Heightened awareness can eventually lead to instinctive reflexes that are useful for predicting danger.

Before the nine thugs could attack, a notification from the System echoed in Ryan's ear.

[Ding! A high-level task has been triggered! Defeat all members of the Black Skull biker gang and turn them into subordinates! You will receive 50 system points, 5 strength points and 10,000,000 in cash! Failure will cost you your life!]

A smile formed on Ryan's face upon hearing the announcement. With astonishing speed, he struck first, targeting a thug in front of him wielding a baseball bat.

The thug was caught off-guard by Ryan's swift moves. Unbelievable to them, one could only appreciate such human velocity with their own eyes.

This came as no surprise, as Ryan bore physical strength 25% greater than the average person, equal to his current power points.

The thug attempted to dodge Ryan's incoming uppercut punch, but his movements were sluggish compared to Ryan's rabbit-like speed.

Bang!

Ryan's punch connected with the man's face, sending him flying three meters back, the baseball bat slipping from his grasp and spinning in the air, teeth scattering in all directions due to the sudden blow.

Ryan swiftly caught the airborne bat and smirked at his opponents, while the other eight halted, shocked by his spectacular feat.

Witnessing Ryan's sardonic smile, they instinctively retreated a step, their bodies chilled with a sudden dread.

"Come at me if you want to end up like him!" Ryan taunted, the baseball bat casually resting on his shoulder, looking like a bloodthirsty demon ready to dispatch all his prey.

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