[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Side Quest: The Caged Flame — COMPLETE
New Companion Acquired: [Voran]
CREW FEATURE UNLOCKED
→ Crew Name: Not Set
→ Crew Members: 1/???
A new tab pulsed into view beside Nox's Skill Tree — deep red, shaped like a torn flag.
He opened it with a thought.
[CREW]
Name: ??
Members:
— [Voran]
No theme. No fanfare. Just one blinking name.
"Well," Nox muttered. "Guess that makes it official."
Across the vault, Voran stood beside an open crate.
A black katana lay across the loot lacquered sheath, crimson hilt.
He picked it up, gave it a clean draw, and rolled the hilt in his palm.
"Sharp enough," he muttered. "Let's move."
They slipped through the vault's side tunnel dark, narrow, breathing dust.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then they emerged into the loading hall — and all hell broke loose.
Guards. Gunfire. Smoke.
Snaps and Mara were already sprinting ahead.
"This way!" Snaps shouted, yanking Mara toward a side hall. "We got what we came for!"
"What about them?" she asked, motioning toward Nox and Voran.
"They'll manage!"
The two vanished into the smoke and flame.
Nox watched them disappear, then scoffed.
"Typical," he muttered. "Every damn time."
Three guards charged.
Nox raised a fist—
But Voran moved first.
SHINGK!
One body split in half. Another slammed into the wall. The third dropped without a word.
"Guess the sword works," Nox muttered.
But more were coming. Dozens.
The two fought back-to-back.
Flesh and steel tore through the incoming wave Oni fists breaking bones, Voran's blade slicing clean.
But their exit path caved in behind them.
Voran pointed forward.
"Up."
"Hate stairs," Nox muttered.
They climbed fast two steps at a time, boots pounding against stone.
Smoke trailed them. Behind, alarms still howled.
At the top landing, they burst through a locked door breathing hard.
The auction was in ruin. Chairs overturned. Stage half-collapsed.
Only one man remained.
Compact. Elderly. Smiling like he knew how this ended.
His outfit looked like a cross between a martial arts bodysuit and a stage costume bold, tight, and made to stand out.
He wore a navy-blue spandex suit stretched over his round frame, marked with a lightning bolt across the chest and a white arrow running down the center. A thick silver belt with an oversized gold "G" buckle wrapped his waist loud and symbolic.
Red leggings ran down to his knees, each marked with a blue arrow, paired with clean, white mid-calf boots. White gloves completed the ensemble.
The whole outfit was tight, eccentric, and theatrical
"So. You're the brat who flattened Yaba's crew."
Nox wiped blood from his chin.
"Depends. Who's asking?"
"Name's Lao G. Donquixote Family.
The grin deepened.
"Yaba was stable. Until you wiped their crew. Then you come here, smash the vault, and let every cage swing open?"
He scoffed.
"You think Joker won't notice?"
Nox shrugged.
"I don't even know the guy.
BOOM!
Lao G launched faster than he looked.
WHAM!!
Fist met fist.
Nox skidded back guard wide, footing off.
Lao G snorted.
"Not bad. But your form? Garbage."
"Jio-Ken: Chōtai!(Heaven Body Fist: Lengthen!)"
His leg stretched mid-spin like a whip.
CRACK!
Nox took the roundhouse full in the ribs.
"Jio-Ken: Chijime!(Heaven Body Fist: Contract!)"
He snapped back into striking range.
WHUMP!
Gut punch. Nox folded.
"Jio-Ken: Hari!(Heaven Body Fist: Needle!)"
Rapid jabs neck, sternum, side ribs.
"Jio-Ken: Dageki!!(Heaven Body Fist: Impact!!)"
A final strike both fists down like hammers.
BOOOM!
Nox flew through a column.
Voran slashed through the last guard in the vault corridor.
He turned eyes locking on Nox being beaten into the marble.
He moved to intervene—
CLANG.
Steel met steel.
A figure dropped between them silent, precise.
Pressed black slacks. Polished dress shoes. A black shirt under a tight vest. Thin white tie.
A saber gleamed in his hand.
He said nothing. Just raised the blade.
Lao G's eye twitched.
"What the hell are government agents doing here?!"
The figure didn't react.
"Project SER-4PH-V01: Subject V0-R4N," he said.
"You are government property. You will return with me."
Nox coughed, staggering upright.
"Lao G's mine," he growled. "You deal with that stiff."
Voran gave a nod.
"Gladly."
They clashed sparks flying as the fight spilled through a side wall.
Nox stood. Bleeding. Shaking.
Ribs screaming. Vision blurry.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Threat Level: High
Combat Efficiency Below Minimum Threshold
Opponent Class: Elite Martial Artist
→ Suggested Action: Immediate Disengagement
"Run?" he snarled. "That's your answer?"
He clenched his fists arms trembling, breath ragged.
But his will locked in.
"Even if I die… I'll fight!"
A low growl tore from his chest.
Power bloomed not in his muscles, but in his resolve.
Lao G crouched low.
"Let me show you real strength."
Lao G's expression darkened.
His knuckles cracked. Then his neck rolled with a loud, sharp pop like something locking into place.
He exhaled slow. Dropped his stance.
No flourish. No showboating.
His foot slammed down.
THOK.
The floor cracked under the pressure. A wave of force rippled outward.
Dust stopped midair. The air grew heavy.
Then he said it:
"Jio-Ken."
The words hit like a hammer across the hall.
His body shifted not flashily, but with brutal precision.
Muscles tensed. Chest expanded. Wrinkles tightened like cables under strain. Every joint locked with iron discipline. He looked like a machine built for one thing: destruction.
A blood-red aura pulsed around him sharp, rhythmic.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
The ground shook.
Nox didn't move.
Inside, Lao G gritted his teeth.
"I have to finish this fast… I can't hold this form for long. Every second, I'm getting drained."
But his face didn't show it.
He just stared forward eyes sharp, body loaded.
"let's ... end this now."
He dropped into a wide, grounded stance.
Fists chambered. Elbows tight. Shoulders square.
Everything ready to explode.
"Jio-Ken: Gōka Bakudan!!(Heaven Body Fist: Infernal Bomb!!)"
He launched full speed.
Fist cocked back. Aura flaring like fire.
Nox did the same.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Their fists collided.
The explosion ripped through the hall pillars shattered, dust blanketing the room.
Lao G was blasted backward — violently.
His body flipped through the air, crashing across the floor in a trail of rubble.
The clash hadn't just stopped him it had overpowered him.
He staggered up trembling.
Nox stood.
His fist, obsidian-black.
"Haki…?" Lao G whispered in shock. "You have Haki?!"
"Busoshoku Haki," he shouted.
"Hardening your spirit into armor… You bastard…"
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[BUSOSHOKU (ARMAMENT) HAKI UNLOCKED
Nox raised his fists.
"Let's finish this."
Lao G charged, fists flying.
"Jio Ken: Hari!"
Nox slipped a strike. Black coated elbow to the gut.
CRACK. Lao G reeled.
Nox lunged.
HEADBUTT!
Their skulls slammed.
Lao G stumbled dazed.
"Now."
Nox's hand clamped around his neck.
He lifted Lao G with one arm, then drove him down like a hammer.
THOOM!!!
The floor cratered as Lao G was driven into it spine first.
Stone cracked. Silence returned.
Lao G defeated.