Bertram carefully tended to the Seven-Star Phantom Death Butterfly, letting it rest quietly against his chest.
He looked up at the sky. The sun had already disappeared behind the tall buildings, and the last bit of light had faded over the horizon, throwing the whole city into darkness.
Only the stars and a few scattered lights gave the city a faint glow.
Bertram's eyes narrowed, filled with killing intent. He pulled out a black coat he had prepared earlier and wrapped himself up completely.
Even someone who knew him well wouldn't recognize him now.
"Dina, it's your first day in this world. Daddy's taking you out for something big!" Bertram whispered softly.
He slipped out of the training room window, climbed over the school wall, and carefully moved through the narrow alleys.
With the silver thread in his hand, it was easy for him to swing from place to place, making his movements even more stealthy.
Doomsday City now wasn't like it was before the apocalypse, when there were cameras on every corner. These days, only a few important places still had surveillance.
That's why everyone in Doomsday City knew this unspoken rule: don't wander around at night.
Bertram silently made his way toward the police station.
Peeking through a small crack, he observed the station from a distance.
It was nothing like before. The front entrance was smashed, signs of battle were everywhere, and dried blood stains hadn't even been cleaned up.
"Looks like the Jackson Family's people really messed this place up. That's how the big families are, they treat Doomsday City's rules like a joke," Bertram thought.
But humanity didn't really have the strength to deal with these crazy families. It was already hard enough fighting monsters from other dimensions.
No one had time for internal drama. Most people just pretended they didn't see anything.
But Bertram didn't care about any of that. What he was about to do tonight wasn't much different from what those thugs did anyway.
He might know how to stay low-key, but Bertram wasn't someone who could be pushed around. In his past life simulation, he had died a terrible death, and that police officer was partly responsible.
"If they're our enemies, then we have to fight them! Unless we really can't win."
"Jack, heading out?" a few officers asked their colleague as he stepped out of the station.
"Yeah, getting off early tonight!" Jack grinned at them.
These poor guys can keep slaving away. I've already made my move up thanks to that one 'accident' that got me in good with the Jackson Family. My future's set now.
You think working overtime is gonna help you? Watch me climb the ladder instead.
Feeling pleased with himself, Jack waved goodbye and strolled down the street.
Even though the city was dangerous at night, being a cop still gave him a bit of protection.
Plus, he had a gun.
Jack happily walked along, whistling while taking a shortcut through some dim alleyways. It wasn't well-lit, but it was faster, so he didn't hesitate.
There's always a shortcut in life. Whether it's going home or getting a promotion.
As he was whistling, he suddenly felt something move.
A shadow flashed beside him. From the corner of his eye, a black figure lunged at him.
Jack reacted instantly. He wasn't just any ordinary guy, he was trained. Who had the guts to attack a cop?
From the looks of it, the attacker was only F-level. Jack himself was F+!
But right before he could do anything, the figure was already right in front of him. Their hands moved fast, and Jack's face suddenly changed.
Experts could tell the difference just from one move. This attacker's technique was slick and aimed straight for the hardest places to block.
But...
Jack swung his baton, aiming straight at the figure.
He had a weapon. Even if this guy landed a hit, one clean strike from his baton could knock him out.
Just as he had that thought, he felt a thin wire coil around his wrist.
The attacker's hands moved again. The wire followed up his arm and suddenly wrapped around his neck.
A sharp force yanked him back. Pain exploded at his throat.
Jack's face went pale. He instantly leaned back, using his baton to push away the wire.
Cold sweat poured down his face. He had almost gotten his throat cut.
He quickly shook off the silver wire from his hand and stepped back several times, using his higher skill level to gain some distance with his faster speed.
Then, he pulled out his gun and started shooting. Bullets flew from the barrel.
The close brush with death had left Jack completely drenched in cold sweat. He couldn't afford to take any more risks. Only his gun gave him any sense of security now.
As an F+ level martial artist, his aim and judgment were far better than the average person's.
In a situation this sudden, it was nearly impossible for anyone to dodge.
Seeing the bullets flying straight at the figure, the shadow quickly dashed to the side and hid behind some cover.
Even though this was his first time dealing with a firearm, the battle instincts Bertram had developed after countless fights with that mysterious girl kicked in right away.
He narrowly avoided getting hit.
Yes, the one lying in wait for Jack was none other than Bertram.
With his F+ level martial arts and a gun, Bertram was giving Jack a hard time.
But...
You think you're the only one with a gun?
Bertram smirked coldly in his heart.
He dodged again.
Jack locked on and pointed his gun at Bertram's blurred figure once more.
At that moment, Bertram quickly flicked his finger, and a dark, chilling sword aura cut through the air. It slashed through the bullets and sped toward Jack without mercy.
Jack's pupils shrank as he felt a sharp pain in his side. That dark sword aura pierced straight through him, staining his clothes red with blood.
Not only did Bertram have a gun, it was even a silenced one!
"Too bad this guy's F+ level and dodged fast! Otherwise, that sword aura would've killed him instantly!" Bertram thought to himself, noticing that the dark sword aura inside him had faded a little.
Jack held his bleeding stomach with one hand, cold sweat soaking his face. What was that just now? How did it go through his body like that?
Even holding a gun didn't make him feel safe anymore.
Gritting his teeth, Jack turned and ran toward the end of the alley. The main street wasn't far. Who would dare mess with a cop in broad daylight?
Plus, the gunshots should've already attracted some attention.
Eyes full of desperation, Jack stared at the alley's exit, hoping to make it out.
But just then, another wave of dark sword energy shot through the air and hit him right in the chest. Blood burst from his mouth and nose, mixed with bits of his insides.
He stumbled and collapsed at the alley's entrance, blood spreading around him, his eyes fixed on the world outside.
Even Bertram didn't expect such a stupid move from his enemy.
Turning your back on the enemy?
That's just asking to die.