Tears streamed down Daiyu's cheeks. Chioma attempted to wipe them away, but Daiyu gently pushed her hand aside.
"Girl, this isn't a fight," Chioma gently remarked.
"I understand that you desire what's best for me. But what you said wounded me; nevertheless, it's the truth, and I must confront it. I'll conduct myself better, Chioma. Thank you for your counsel," Daiyu said, her voice strained.
She wiped her face dry. Guided by her reflection in the mirror, she meticulously adjusted her smeared makeup with the compact kit she carried in her purse.
She then glanced at Chioma. "Let's return together so the boys don't surmise what transpired here," she suggested, a hint of resolve in her tone.
"After you," Chioma politely offered, allowing Daiyu to lead the way.
The ladies returned to their seats. Ivan's demeanour had brightened considerably. He took the initiative to steer the conversation. The four friends discussed their future aspirations. Ivan articulated his ambition to own an animation studio. Chioma, a keen fashion enthusiast, desired to establish her own clothing line. Daiyu expressed a strong inclination to pursue a degree in clinical psychology to become a therapist.
As for Roger, he wished to continue his straightforward life as an influencer. He already commanded a significant following on social media. All he required was one viral post to ascend to the status of a super influencer. He primarily promoted games and food establishments on his social media platforms.
The friends then conversed about the impact the recent flooding and alien attack had had on their lives. They all carefully avoided language that might trigger Ivan's trauma during their discussion.
Ivan's phone vibrated; it was a notification from the Disaster Relief Agency. Ivan read the notification. The ministry had located Ivan's taxi and concluded that it was damaged beyond repair. Consequently, Ivan would be allocated a new taxi.
He shared his news with his friends, who were all overjoyed. It was confirmed that Ivan would receive a recent sedan model equipped with modern features. The friends discussed potential uses for the vehicle should the need arise. Ivan was a loyal friend, always willing to assist, provided it didn't overly inconvenience him.
The clock struck 9:00 p.m., and the four friends decided to conclude their evening. Chioma and Roger departed separately. Daiyu insisted on accompanying Ivan home. Ivan attempted to dissuade her, but ultimately, he acquiesced.
The duo walked down the street the restaurant was on and turned right onto a branching street. Daiyu suppressed a strong urge to grasp Ivan's hand. She initiated a conversation, asking Ivan how soon he intended to open his heart to romantic love. Ivan revealed that he had no such plans at present, and the inherent uncertainty and peril the future held deterred him from contemplating romantic attachments.
Ivan's candid reply visibly dampened the conversation. It was certainly not the response that Daiyu had hoped for.
"We're nearly at your place. You're quite fortunate that your apartment building has never sustained a significant impact," Daiyu said with a forced cheerful expression. "If your taxi hadn't been damaged, I wouldn't need to summon another taxi for you."
Daiyu retrieved her phone from her purse. Unbeknownst to them, a man had been trailing behind them. He didn't appear suspicious, merely like a typical pedestrian. This man wore a black hoodie with the hood down, revealing his face, brown denim trousers, and a pair of grey athletic shoes. Daiyu was navigating to her Uber app when the man suddenly sprinted past her, snatching her phone directly from her hand.
"What the hell! That fellow snatched my phone!" Daiyu exclaimed, utterly stunned.
Ivan reluctantly gave chase without uttering a word. Daiyu attempted to pursue them, but she was quickly winded. She was left a mere spectator to their rapidly receding figures.
Ivan pursued the thief for over twenty blocks, a relentless chase that saw them cross two busy streets. The rogue then sprinted into a dimly lit alley. Ivan followed him. Ivan halted abruptly. He saw the rogue standing at the far end of the alley, positioned strategically behind a cluster of men who were smoking marijuana and using other hard drugs.
"Who are you, imbecile?" One of the drug users challenged the newcomer, his voice laced with aggression.
The rogue smirked. "Consider me an ally," he replied, his tone sly.
The rogue then raised his voice, addressing the assembled crowd assertively while pointing directly at Ivan. "Gentlemen, that man right there isn't one of us. He pursued me here because I took a phone that doesn't even belong to him. He believes he's superior to us because he doesn't engage in our activities."
Ivan sensed a peculiar, unsettling energy emanating from the rogue. His instincts cautioned him that the crowd had turned hostile. The rogue was clearly a special character whose class was 'Thief'. Characters possessing the Thief class were exceptionally skilled in evading pursuers, depending on the nature of the pursuit. Furthermore, they possessed the dangerous ability to instigate others.
Instigation was the sole special ability a Thief-class character exhibited at base tier.
Ivan correctly assessed that he could not possibly elude the grip of the now instigated crowd. He recalled that he was ranked Base-tier and had noted his enhanced physique. He inferred that he could engage the crowd and absorb some of their initial assault, provided he could dispatch them swiftly. Adrenaline surged through his bloodstream, anticipating the first individual who dared to attack.
>>>>
Congratulations.
Your intelligence has unlocked an innate special ability: Flaw Gleaner.
Description: Utilising your keen vision and intellect, you examine a structure, be it living or inanimate, and can identify its weak point.
Ivan quickly absorbed the information from the sudden pop-up window in his perception.
One burly man took the initiative to assault Ivan with a heavy crowbar. Ivan had already devised a plan to evade the man's attack and deliver a potent blow to the man's temple, intending to render him unconscious.
Ivan side-stepped to the right, narrowly avoiding the downward slash of the crowbar. He then delivered a powerful cross punch to the man's temple, knocking him out cold.
Ivan had not formally studied human anatomy, so he was previously unaware that a forceful punch to one's temple could induce unconsciousness so effectively.