Martial Arts System

Whenever passersby went past the dilapidated two-floor building, they had faces of a surprise after seeing the light coming from the windows.

They wondered if someone finally purchased the building, and when they saw the sale sign being gone, they were sure of their assumption.

Elderly men and women looked at the building with surprised looks, and they remember it being empty for who knows how long.

From the windows, they thought they saw a shadow moving. However, from dusty windows couldn't see correctly inside.

Currently inside the building.

Ichiro was sitting on the floor with a book on his lap.

Every now and then, he licks his finger and changes pages on the book. On the book's cover, a man making martial arts moves could be seen.

At the top of the cover, the book's name was written in nice curved letters.

[Martial Arts of Titan]

The book talked about hundreds of different martial arts found in the world, some felt ludicrous in Ichiro's eyes, but few were very interesting and maybe even useful.

''My style is better…'' After reading another page, he let out his thoughts.

Most of the Martial Arts were powerful in their own way. However, Ichiro only found faults, faults, faults, faults, and faults.

At every technique.

''Sigh… System?'' Ichiro leaned on the wall.

[Yes?]

''Can you give me a quest?'' He casually asked. Even though the chances of receiving anything were slim to none, he decided to gamble.

[No]

''Why?'' Ichiro expected the answer, even though it made him disappointed.

[I won't help you anymore until you reach Martial General]

''Why?'' That was an answer he didn't expect.

[…Something changed within you]

Ichiro's face became serious, ''What do you mean?''

[Your Power Limit… Is gone, and I am not sure whether it is permanent, but it is something which shouldn't have happened, and I only can guess that it is because of the System, and to be sure, I decided not to help you for the time being, before I can figure it out]

''Sigh… Alright.'' Ichiro decided not to argue against it. Even though he has grown to trust the System in ways of making him stronger, he still prefers good old ways of getting stronger.

He closed the book and put it on top of a brand new desk, which was repaired after using the House Repairing Tool.

Everything inside the building became brand new, without any signs of wearing off.

*Pat* *Pat*

Ichiro patted off the dust from his pants and took a glimpse of his phone, his gaze landing on the clock showing 3 P.M.

''Time to return…'' He grabbed his jacket from the desk and was ready to return to home.

From the ceilings, kicking bags were hanging. Ichiro took them from the backyard and bought padded parts for the pillars, and he planned to use them as striking poles to hone his punches.

When he was about to leave, he heard the door opening with a loud and screechy creak.

Once the door opened, an elderly woman with a wrinkly face and droopy eyes entered the premises.

She looked around her and widened her aged eyes in surprise after seeing everything being fixed!

She rubbed her eyes, and once her eyes regained their clarity, everything still looked the same as a second ago!

''How…'' Her legs took her to the first room, and soon, her eyes landed on top of black-haired youth, who was confused at someone unknown entering the house.

''Who are you?'' Ichiro asked.

''Uhh… That should be my question.'' She gave a strained chuckle, ''B-But, I know who you are… The legend…''

Ichiro raised an eyebrow and saw the elderly woman suddenly going into a coughing fit.

''Ahem…'' After coughing for several seconds, she cleared her throat and answered, ''My name is Old Xiu…''

''Right… Why are you here?''

''I… Was surprised.'' She replied and pointed at the floor with a shaky finger. ''How… Is everything fixed?''

''That aside…'' Ichiro had no intention of answering; it would be difficult to do so, ''I was about to leave, and I need to lock the places… So, can we take this talk outside?''

''Sure, young man…'' She nodded and limped towards the door, barely making it outside.

Ichiro closed the lights, left the house, locked the door, and put the key in his pocket.

The elderly woman turned to look him in the eye, ''You… Bought the building?''

''I did,'' Ichiro replied and stepped onto the sidewalk with cars going back and forth in front of him.

''Why..?'' She asked.

''I needed a building.'' Ichiro replied and put his hands on his pockets, ''It was the closest one to home.''

''I see…'' She looked at the building with great emotion, ''This building… Has great history.''

''Oh?'' Ichiro looked at the building that looked like it would fall down from single touch, ''It doesn't look like one.''

''Haha…'' She chuckled and kept nodding, ''Indeed… Well, thanks for buying it… This is farewells.'' She waved her hand and slowly walked down the sidewalks, slowly moving forward.

Ichiro looked at her back for several seconds before turning away and grabbing his phone from his pocket.

Several messages were already showing.

''Damn.'' He quickly stuffed his phone back in his back pocket and slowly started walking in the streets, in the opposite direction from the old woman.

While walking in the streets, he saw a crowd of passersby's gathered around a window with a TV that broadcasted News.

He casually stopped next to them and started watching the TV.

The TV showed a middle-aged man who was talking with a serious look. On TV, a picture of Marshall was shown.

''Today, approximately 1 P.M, the truck, which was transporting former Police Commissioner Marshall to Maximum Security Prison was attacked and unfortunately…''

He took a deep breath and almost grinded his teeth as he continued, ''Former Police Commissioner Marshall managed to escape, using the attack as decoy… His current location is a complete mystery, but there is a chance of him returning to his roots… To the Underworld, where finding him will be impossible.

Ichiro and nearby passersby were shocked.

However, Ichiro's face soon changed, ''I see… He wants to go hiding? Not on my watch.''