The Price of Survival
"Ding. The host has successfully survived the West City Police Station plot."
The mechanical voice echoed inside Julian D'Aurelius's mind just as the night wind swept across the quiet street.
He leaned back in the driver's seat, cigarette smoke curling lazily around his sharp features.
Then the system continued—
"Reward: Complete mastery of ancient martial art 'Favour Return Strike' (one-time use)."
Julian blinked.
For a moment, he didn't react.
Then his face twisted.
"Damn it, Tyrant System," he muttered under his breath. "What's the point of giving me one-time rewards every day? Why not just hand me a pair of disposable chopsticks?"
He clicked his tongue irritably.
According to the system's description, Favour Return Strike was an ancient martial technique built on a terrifying principle—
Force against force.
Whatever attack struck him—
He could reflect it back.
Not equally.
But doubled.
If someone struck him with killing intent—
