Becoming the Strongest as a Game Dev

Sam walks down the dimly lit street, his mind still reeling from his conversation with Yuna. The unease he feels over Kendrick's veiled threats weighs heavily on him, and he can't shake the sense that something is amiss.

As he nears his apartment, Sam notices the distinct lack of people on the normally bustling street. His pace slows, and he scans his surroundings, his instincts on high alert. Suddenly, he spots a group of thugs approaching from the end of the street, their movements deliberate and menacing.

Sam tries to avoid eye contact, hoping to pass by unnoticed, but the thugs adjust their course, effectively blocking his path. Steeling himself, Sam approaches them, his voice polite but firm.

"Excuse me, could I please get through?" he asks, his gaze steady.

The thugs exchange a quick glance, and one of them steps forward, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"Sure, you can get through. But it's gonna cost you."

"Cost me? What are you talking about?"

"You know, a little protection fee. It'd be a shame if something were to happen to you out here, all alone."

"I don't have any money to give you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be on my way."

"Oh, I don't think so. You're not going anywhere until you pay up."

Sam instinctively reached into his utility belt. He made it a habit to bring it whenever he could.

The thugs surround him. "Hey, are you going to pay or what?!" said the thug.

"Sorry, but I don't need to pay you. Why don't you and your friends step aside, and we can get on with our day," said Sam.

"So you think you're a tough guy now, huh?!" the thug throws a swing, but Sam catches and locks his arm and dislocates it.

"AH!" the thug screamed in pain. Sam looks cautiously at the other thugs.

"Don't just stand there! Get him!" said the thug who got his arm dislocated.

Sam fights the attacking thugs, his martial arts skills allowing him to evade their blows with ease. He deftly counters their strikes, having previously extracted the Dark Knight's combat techniques into his repertoire.

One thug lunges forward, his fist swinging wildly. Sam sidesteps the blow and delivers a swift elbow strike to the man's ribs, sending him crumpling to the ground. Another thug charges, wielding a metal pipe. Sam catches the pipe mid-swing and wrenches it from the thug's grasp, then brings it down on the man's shoulder with a resounding crack.

Sam spots a thug pull a gun from his jacket. In a flash, he hurls a Batarang, the sharp edge knocking the weapon from the thug's hand. The metallic clatter echoes as the gun clatters to the ground.

"What the-?" the thug exclaims, staring at his empty hand in disbelief.

Seizing the opportunity, Sam tosses a smoke bomb, the canister exploding and blanketing the area in a thick haze. The thugs start coughing and waving their arms, their vision obscured.

Sam's senses heighten, his training kicking in. He darts between the disoriented men, his movements a blur. With a series of swift strikes and grapples, he takes each thug down one by one, their cries of pain ringing out through the smoky air.

"Argh, where'd he go?" a thug shouts, stumbling blindly.

Sam delivers a crushing blow to the man's solar plexus, dropping him to the ground, gasping for breath. The other thugs scramble in vain, unable to land a hit on the elusive vigilante.

Once the last thug crumples to the ground, Sam quickly checks them for any remaining weapons. Satisfied that they are disarmed, he pulls out his phone and dials 911.

"911, what's your emergency?" a calm voice answers.

"This is Sam Briar. I was just attacked by a group of thugs on Oakwood Street, and I've managed to subdue them all. Could you please send the authorities to my location?" Sam explains, his voice steady.

"Understood, Mr. Briar. We've dispatched officers to your location. They should be there shortly," the operator responds. "Are you injured in any way?"

Sam glances down at himself, taking stock of his condition. "No, I'm unharmed. Just a little shaken, that's all."

"Alright, the officers will be there to assist you. Stay where you are, and they'll take care of the situation," the operator reassures him.

"Thank you," Sam replies, ending the call. He takes a deep breath, his adrenaline slowly subsiding as he waits for the authorities to arrive.

The authorities arrived quickly, sirens blaring as the police vehicles pulled up. Two officers approached Sam, their expressions stern.

"Sir, are you alright?" one of them asked, his gaze sweeping over Sam's form.

"Yes, I'm fine," Sam replied, his voice steady. "I was just on my way home when these thugs confronted me, demanding money. I had no choice but to defend myself."

The other officer nodded, jotting down notes in a small notebook. "Can you tell us exactly what happened?"

Sam recounted the events, describing how the thugs had surrounded him and refused to let him pass. He explained his attempts to diffuse the situation and the subsequent fight that had broken out.

The officers listened intently, occasionally asking for clarification. Once Sam had finished his account, they exchanged a brief glance.

"Alright, Mr. Briar, it seems you were acting in self-defense. We'll need you to come down to the station to provide a formal statement, but you're free to go for now," the first officer said, his tone professional.

Sam nodded in understanding. "Of course, I'll come by the station as soon as I can."

The officers thanked him and turned their attention to the incapacitated thugs, who were being loaded into the police vehicles. Sam watched, a sense of unease settling in his stomach.

As he made his way home, Sam couldn't shake the feeling that the thugs' actions had been deliberate. Why had they targeted him specifically? The whole encounter had an air of orchestration, as if they had been waiting for him.

Once inside his apartment, Sam sank into his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. He replayed the events in his mind, searching for any clues or patterns that might shed light on the situation.

The police had taken the thugs away, and Sam knew he couldn't pursue the matter further. Still, the nagging feeling that something wasn't right refused to dissipate.

Sam took a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts aside. He would need to focus on his upcoming projects and collaborations with Yuna. With a renewed sense of determination, he turned his attention to the plans for their Monster Hunter simulation, determined to put the strange encounter behind him.

///

Please provide power stones, and leave a comment and review of your thoughts so that I know people are interested in this story.

Advance chapters in my P@|r$0n/Najicablitz