December 1943
It had been a month since I stepped into the heart of New York, and the city had already begun to show its true face. It was a place where money and power ruled.
The first few days were rough. I needed to get my bearings, find my rhythm. But I didn't waste time. Quietly, behind the scenes I took action. The gangs in this city were the perfect starting point. They were everywhere, each with their own turf and dirty business. Small-time rackets, drug deals, protection money—it was all a part of the ecosystem.
I started small. A few street fights, working my way up, watching how the thugs operated.
A group of black marketeers counting their day's earnings in a back alley.
Five men, all armed with knives or pistols. Before I gained Peak Human Condition and Martial Arts Mastery, they would have been lethal threats. Now? They might as well have been children.
I stepped into the alley, making no effort to hide my approach. One man spotted me and barked something in Italian. I smiled.
"Sorry, fellas. Money's the need for everyone, isn't it?"
They reached for weapons. I moved.
The world seemed to slow around me as my enhanced reflexes kicked in. I crossed the distance to the first man before he could even draw his pistol, delivering a precise strike to his wrist that shattered bone. The gun clattered to the ground as he screamed.
The second man lunged with a knife. I caught his wrist mid-thrust, twisting until he dropped the blade, then tossed him into the third man with enough force to send them both crashing into a wall.
The fourth and fifth men fired their pistols. With my enhanced perception, I could almost see the bullets cutting through the air. A simple sidestep, then another. Both shots missed.
Before they could fire again, I closed the distance. Two quick strikes—one to the solar plexus, one to the temple—and the fourth man collapsed. The fifth managed to get off another wild shot before I disarmed him with a kick that probably broke his arm.
Five men. Ten seconds. All down.
I gathered their weapons and stuffed them into my inventory, then collected their money—a substantial amount of lire, along with some American dollars and Swiss francs. War profiteering paid well, apparently.
"Thanks for your contribution, gentlemen," I said to the groaning men. None were dead—I'd been careful about that. No need to attract more attention than necessary.
Over the next few days I took down more such gang members while also gathering information about the power structure of the criminal organizations. Before choosing my targets.
There were three gangs I targeted early on—the New York Camorra, the Eastman Gang, and the Hudson Dusters. Each of them controlled different parts of the city, and each had something I needed. Money. Power. Skills. I didn't care about their petty squabbles. I cared about what I could take from them.
The first takedown was simple. The New York Camorra ran a small extortion racket in a neighborhood just north of me. I knew where they hung out, knew their routines, knew their weaknesses. I wasn't after a bloody war—just a quick, efficient strike.
I took down their muscle one by one—tapping into the combat knowledge I'd copied. Basic street fighting, firearm proficiency, and a solid understanding of how these guys operated. They were brash, loud, and cocky. But they didn't stand a chance.
I'd left their safehouse in ruins and taken their cash. Not much, but it was enough to get my foot in the door.
By the time I moved on to the Eastman Gang, I had a plan. I needed an identity. A name. Something that would blend in with the rest of the city's underbelly but wouldn't draw too much attention.
I took the money I'd earned and used it to forge a new ID. New name, new history. The kind of persona that wouldn't raise any suspicion if someone checked.
With the identity in place, I moved on. The Eastman Gang were a tougher nut to crack. They were a bit more organized, better armed. But they weren't invincible. I kept my eyes open for opportunities, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
I was still copying skills from anyone I came across—gang members, street thugs, shopkeepers, even the passerby. Every person had something to offer. A different set of knowledge, skills related to their profession or even life skills. My body was already stronger—thanks to the Peak Human Condition—but it wasn't just about raw power anymore. It was about versatility.
For example one day, I ran into a guy at a bar—a former military officer turned mercenary, the kind of guy who had seen it all. I casually watched him as he interacted with others. The way he held himself, the quiet confidence. I knew exactly what he was capable of without him lifting a finger cause I my system showed it all. I copied his military and mercenary skills.
When the Eastman Gang finally made their move, I was ready. I waited for their usual ambush, a couple of guys jumping out of a van to intimidate the shop owners they were extorting. I took them out with precision, moving faster and more fluidly than they could react. One moment, I was in the shadows; the next, they were disarmed, immobilized, and begging for their lives.
It didn't take long to claim the Eastman Gang's territory and use the chaos to my advantage. I wasn't just taking money anymore—I was positioning myself to own a piece of the city.
The Hudson Dusters was the final hurdle. Their operations were much more high-profile, with connections that reached beyond the streets. But that made them the perfect target. I took my time with them, studied their operations, and slowly infiltrated their ranks. I wasn't in a rush. A few weeks of quiet observation, a few carefully chosen fights, and suddenly, I had all the knowledge I needed to tear them apart.
By the time I'd taken them down, I was already richer than most people could ever dream of. The money I'd earned from the gangs was enough to keep me comfortable. But it wasn't just about the money anymore.
I'd started to build something more important—knowledge.
Every person I'd met, had given me something new. Skills. Information. Techniques. I'd copied from them all. And now, I was getting close to maxing out all my skills. All skills reaching level 10.
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