The Skull Gang

"Eliminate Training Bots: 200/200."

"William, you have successfully completed the side quest: Robot Terminator. Congratulations! You have received your rewards: Loot Box x1, 200 coins. You have gained experience. Your level has increased to 1."

With the energy time limit gone, William could remain in his hero form indefinitely. Soldier: 76 stood amid a pile of broken robots, gun in hand, as a storm of bullets swept through the entire training ground.

Overwatch: William

Level: 1

Coins: 300

Energy: 3 minutes

Skill: Sprint

Items: ??

Heroes Unlocked: 1

After reaching Level 1, William's status panel had changed considerably. He saw that the previously locked main quest was now glowing gold, with an "Accept" label displayed above it.

"Main quest unlocked!"

"Main Quest: The Skull Gang's Secret: Collect clues about the criminal organization known as the Skull Gang and uncover the secret they've hidden."

The long-awaited main quest had finally begun. In short, he had to gather clues and uncover a secret. There were no other requirements.

The quest sounded simple, but it was actually quite difficult. Fortunately, along with the quest details came an image related to the Skull Gang: a white skull with a snake crawling out of one eye.

It seemed this was the Skull Gang's symbol—and his first clue.

"Athena, there's something I've been meaning to ask. What happens if I fail a quest? Is there a penalty?" William asked.

Generally, quest failure came with a penalty. For example, the player might receive no rewards, have their level forcibly lowered, or even face the most terrifying outcome of all: annihilation.

"Penalties vary depending on the quest's level and requirements. There are no penalties for failing side quests or hidden quests."

"And if you fail a main quest, the system won't annihilate you." Athena's words had just eased William's mind when her next sentence made him feel as though he'd plunged into an icy abyss.

"The Overwatch System will sever its bond with your soul and leave you forever!"

"Leave me?" William murmured. If the Overwatch System left him, he would become an ordinary person again.

Without the Overwatch System's help, he would be left with nothing.

In this dangerous Marvel Universe, he had to worry about not only S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, or the Avengers, but even thieves and muggers could take his life.

He absolutely couldn't let that happen!

William's first main quest pitted him against a criminal organization. It was a considerable test for him.

He had spent the past few days gathering information about the Skull Gang. After asking around, he learned that it was a recently risen gang, apparently backed by some force working in the shadows. It had grown rapidly, attracting countless thugs and petty criminals and steadily expanding its ranks.

But as for what secret the Skull Gang was hiding, William had no clue.

With the main quest underway, the map module had become available. On the map, William appeared as a green arrow. All around him were silver question marks, each seemingly marking a place he needed to investigate.

While delivering pizzas, William searched for clues along the way.

Near the fast-food restaurant was a place called Heaven Bar. He went there to deliver a pizza, and the moment he stepped inside, the silver question mark on his map turned gold!

In the Overwatch System's map, a gold question mark meant he had found the right place.

There weren't many people in the bar, but two caught his attention. One had a mohawk, and the other wore an earring in his left ear. They were drinking and chatting, with a pile of empty bottles on the table.

William also spotted a familiar tattoo on their arms: that mysterious skull. They were members of the Skull Gang!

Both drunks had been drinking heavily, their faces flushed. Before long, they staggered out of the bar. They had just reached the mouth of a small alley when a hot-looking woman walked toward them. Their lust stirred, and emboldened by the alcohol, they went up to her.

"Hey, little miss, want to have some fun with us?" The mohawked man snickered.

The girl jumped in fright. No one expected to run into thugs in broad daylight. She tried to run, but the man with the earring blocked her way.

"Where do you think you're going?" The mohawked man grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. The girl immediately screamed for help.

"Help! He's molesting me!"

The man with the earring sneered and covered her mouth. She struggled desperately as the two tried to drag her into a shadowy corner of the alley. The mohawked man tugged at her clothes. Her cries grew fainter, and a trace of despair showed in her eyes.

"Let that girl go."

Just then, a weathered voice rang out beside them. The mohawked man couldn't help turning around. A strange red glow appeared in the darkness, like some terrifying Ghost!

"Fuck! It's a ghost!" The eerie red light sobered the mohawked man up. A figure emerged from the darkness, a man with white hair and strange red goggles.

"This has nothing to do with you! Get lost!" Once he realized it wasn't a ghost, the mohawked man relaxed and snapped.

William shook his head helplessly. He had been keeping the two Skull Gang members under surveillance, and after they left the bar, he had quietly followed them.

He hadn't expected the two drunks to be such scumbags, trying to assault a woman in broad daylight. He couldn't just stand by and let them get away with it. He was going to teach them a lesson!

"Do you want to die?" The man with the earring pulled out a sharp dagger and demanded.

"You're the one who wants to die." William advanced step by step. The man with the earring was already drunk, and on top of that, he was furious that someone had interrupted him. He raised his dagger and lunged at William.

Faced with a vicious enemy, William only smiled in disdain. He dodged to the side, then slammed a fist into the man's chest. With a thud, the man flew back a couple of meters, crashed into the wall, and immediately passed out.

The mohawked man stared in shock. William glanced at the girl and said, "Miss, Brooklyn is dangerous. Be careful when you go out alone from now on."

The girl nodded gratefully and hurried away. The mohawked man tried to run too, but William grabbed him.

"Punk, I have some questions for you."

"What do you want to know?" Sweat covered the mohawked man's face, and his voice trembled.

"I hate it when people lie to me. If you try to fool me..."

Before William could finish, he suddenly threw a punch. The mohawked man flinched, then realized William hadn't hit him. His fist had smashed into the wall behind him instead.

He turned around and swallowed hard. A clear fist-shaped dent marked the wall, cracks spreading all around it.

What if that punch had hit him instead? He didn't dare imagine it!

"Please spare me, sir!" The sight sobered the mohawked man up completely. "What do you want to know? I'll tell you everything!"

Any guesses about the Skull Gang's secret?