After freshening up, Max grabbed a quick breakfast and checked his messages. His inbox was flooded with notifications from the game—player feedback, bug reports, and a few inquiries from major corporations wanting a stake in his creation.
He smirked. They think they can buy their way into my world? Not happening.
Just as he was about to close his laptop, a call came in from an unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Max Ryder speaking."
A deep, distorted voice replied, "Mr. Ryder, we need to talk."
Max's eyes narrowed. "And who exactly are we?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Check your mailbox. We've left you something… interesting."
The call ended abruptly.
Max frowned. Great. Another mysterious group trying to mess with me.
Curious but cautious, Max walked to his mailbox. Inside, he found a sleek black envelope with no return address. He opened it, revealing a simple card with a single sentence:
"The Hand is hunting you."
Max scoffed, mumbling, "Is that supposed to scare me?"
Before he could toss the card away, he was suddenly surrounded by dozens of ninjas clad in black. One of them, presumably the leader, stepped forward.
"Yes. Or do you prefer to die?" the ninja asked coldly.
Max looked at them unimpressed. "Do you guys live under a rock or something?"
The leader narrowed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"
Max smirked. "Because I'm ridiculously overpowered, yet you still came after me."
Before the ninja could react, Max moved. In the blink of an eye, one of the assassins dropped dead. The others barely had time to process what had happened when Max appeared behind the leader, gripping his neck.
"So, what's next?" Max asked, his grip tightening.
The leader choked out, "I… I can summon reinforcements!"
Max rolled his eyes. "Of course, you can. You guys just don't know when to quit, huh?"
With a sigh, he let go, watching as the ninja gasped for air.
"Time to pay the Hand a visit," Max muttered as he killed the leader and the all the dead bodies were engulfed in flame and soon vanished from existence.
Max went back to his room and left a note for his sister before heading to the Hand's location, specifically near the Hell's Kitchen area.
As Max approached the Hand's hideout in Hell's Kitchen, he sensed multiple presences lurking in the shadows. His lips curled into a smirk.
"So, they really don't waste time," he muttered.
The moment he stepped forward, a dozen kunai came flying toward him from all directions. Without even flinching, Max raised his hand, and a dark barrier formed around him, deflecting the weapons with ease.
"Is this really the best you've got?" Max taunted, his voice laced with amusement.
From the rooftops and alleys, masked figures emerged, surrounding him. The leader, dressed in crimson robes, stepped forward.
"You have interfered with matters beyond your understanding," the leader spoke, his voice calm yet menacing. "Surrender, and we may grant you a quick death."
Max scoffed. "You guys have a flair for the dramatic, huh?" He cracked his knuckles. "Fine, let's get this over with."
Before the leader could respond, Max vanished from sight. In an instant, a shockwave erupted as he reappeared behind the first row of ninjas, his fist slamming into one of them with bone-crushing force. The ninja was sent flying into a wall, leaving a crater upon impact.
The others hesitated for a split second—just long enough for Max to capitalize.
With blinding speed, he weaved through their ranks, delivering precise and devastating blows. Each strike sent a ninja crashing to the ground, either unconscious or worse.
The leader barely had time to react before Max was right in front of him, gripping his throat.
"Now," Max said, tightening his hold, "why don't you tell me who sent you before I start getting creative?"
The leader gasped, struggling against Max's grip. "You… have no idea… what you've done…" he choked out.
Max's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I think I do. The Hand made a mistake targeting me." He smirked. "And now, I'm going to return the favor."
With that, Max released the leader—only to deliver a brutal punch to his gut, knocking him unconscious.
Max dusted off his hands and looked at the remaining survivors, who were now trembling.
"Run," he ordered.
Without hesitation, the remaining ninjas vanished into the night, leaving their fallen behind.
Max exhaled, stretching his neck. "That was fun," he mused before stepping into the hideout.
As Max stepped into the hideout, he wasn't surprised to find Madam Gao already waiting for him, seated at a small wooden table with a teapot and two cups. The dimly lit room smelled of aged tea leaves and incense, a stark contrast to the chaos he had just caused outside.
She looked up at him with her ever-present calm, wrinkled yet sharp eyes betraying no fear. "You certainly know how to make an entrance, young man," she said, gesturing to the empty seat across from her. "Please, join me for tea."
Max raised an eyebrow but took the seat nonetheless. He was amused. Madam Gao wasn't like the usual Hand lackeys—she was patient, calculating. If she had waited for him instead of attacking, then she wanted something.
He picked up the teacup and took a sip. It was rich and soothing, but he wasn't naïve enough to think it was just a friendly gesture. "So," he said, setting the cup down, "what does the infamous Madam Gao want with me?"
She folded her hands together, her expression unreadable. "You are an anomaly, Mr. Ryder," she said. "A force that disrupts the natural flow of things. The Hand has taken notice."
Max smirked. "Oh? I didn't realize I was such a big deal."
Gao chuckled softly. "Your game, your abilities, your growing influence… The world is shifting because of you, whether you intend it or not. And there are those who wish to control such power."
Max leaned back in his chair. "Let me guess. You're here to offer me a deal? Work with the Hand, and I get to live a long, prosperous life?"
***
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