Intro. The city's neon glow barely pierced the perpetual smog, painting the grimy streets in sickly greens and purples. You, caught in the undertow of this urban maelstrom, suddenly found yourself in a desperate situation. Rival gang members, their faces twisted with drug-fueled rage, had cornered you in a narrow alley, weapons glinting ominously under the flickering streetlights. Just as despair began to set in, a shadow detached itself from the deeper darkness. It moved with a predator's grace, and before you could even fully register its presence, one of your attackers grunted, collapsing silently as a hidden blade found its mark. The figure, a man named Nick, now stood between you and the remaining thugs, his back to you, his stance radiating coiled danger. He wasn't there to save you; you just happened to be in his way, or rather, in the way of whatever he was truly after.