Evan couldn't believe his first skill was so amazing. It did leave a bitter taste in his mouth from how much he lost to gain it.
But he figured he needed to see just how 'uncanny' his luck was now since he didn't have a luck stat.
He got up with a stretch and checked his account to see his savings had gone down to only 2,000 left. while checking was barely hanging in there at 50 left.
With a sigh he went to the local deli where he grabs the usual 3 dollar half sub sandwich he has survived off of for lunch and dinner for the last 6 years of his life. he greets the deli owner like normal and grabs his sandwich order before noticing a challenge.
A new scratch lotto ticket was available that was only 1 dollar and paid out up to 3,000. though you only get one winning ticket for every 7 to 9 chances you use them for.
He shrugged and bought 5 of them to see if his skill would activate. If not then he knew he had to save up for a new skill. He grabbed the 5 from the cashier and went to a table in the deli before sitting down and grabbing his spare quarter and scratching at the lotto tickets.
He nearly fell to the ground in shock as his first ticket paid him 50 bucks. THAT was already an improvement. He picked up steam from excitement as he scratched the next one off and gained another 200. Then 400, and 800 and the biggest pay out was from the final one at 2,500. He slumped in his seat staring at the scratched tickets.
He thought to himself, 'The stars would have to fucking align just right for something this lucky to happen!'
Then his new skill came to mind, 'And I guess they technically did!'
He picked up the scratch tickets and left the deli after finishing his sandwich. Today being a day off he took his time to walk to the lotto office down town to not only get the money but also try to gain his old body back. Now knowing he can gain skills he needed to have a body strong enough to support them.
And that started by exercising once more. He used to have a more toned body from track and field combined with martial arts. But he had to stop both of those to save for his skill board. And he lost his motivation for both with so many deaths in his life.
He walked the 2 miles worth of city streets to the office and got a notification.
*Due to continued physical training and application you have gained
+1 str
+1 end*
He grinned at that and went in with the tickets held tight in his hand. He waited as he saw a lot of people turning in lotto tickets or scratch rewards. He was soon at a counter and turned in the tickets. The cashier was shocked to see his haul but soon nodded with a smile and said, "You sir are very lucky! Nice job!"
Evan could only grin at that and took his money in cash to deposit into an ATM later. He was happy to feel the bulge in his pocket of 3,950 dollars. THIS would be helpful towards getting some savings going for a new place in up town New York.
He got out of the lotto shop and started to head down to the ATM bank just a block over. Unknown to him he was being followed by a trio of unsavory characters.
He entered the ATM bank as an elderly couple had just gotten done with their transaction. They nod and smile kindly to him as they leave while Evan nods back. he gets ready to use his card when he is grabbed from behind and slammed into one of the walls. He looks into the eyes of a tall and muscular guy who obviously uses steroids.
He grins at Evans shocked face while the girl and guy who are with him flank each side. The girl looks like a punk rocker with her bright pink hair and leather jacket and pants. While the other guy looks similar but with a lip piercing and mohawk hair. The big guy looks to be more along the lines of body builder with no sleeves mentality as his arms rippled with muscles.
The big guy talks first, "We noticed you leaving the lotto place with a nice big smile dude! Must have won big huh?"
Mohawk speaks next, "Yeah! So give us a share! Or better yet! Give it all or be beaten!"
The girl just cackles thinking it was intimidating only to sound like a discount Harley Quinn.
Evan sighs as he checks his status.
Name: Evan McLean
Race: Human
Level: 8
HP: 80
MP: Locked
Ki: Locked
Str: 7
Agi: 6
End: 9
Int: 28
Sense: 15
Skills:
Uncanny luck: Boosted luck that makes you seem like the luckiest guy in the world
As it stands he was weaker than them. But he knew where to get a boost to help him.
He checks the skill board while letting the trio think they had him scared stiff when he was actually checking the skill selection calmly.
He found what he was looking for and purchased the trio of skills for a thousand a pop.
Karate Initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn karate up to mid belt tier
Muay Thai Initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn Muay Thai up to mid tier practitioner
Kick Boxing initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn Kick Boxing up to amateur level
With those boosting him he speaks up despite crying on the inside at the lighter feeling in his pocket, "Well if you insist. I can share it with you."
The trio grin before the big roided guy bends over from a sudden knee kick to his abdomen. The other two gape at this move while Evan flips over the big guy to kick the face of the mohawk dude.
He quickly turns to the girl only to suddenly have to dodge a sharp kick from her. She finally speaks with a slightly russian accent as she says, "So you know Martial Arts? Too bad I do too! You shall feel the sting of my Savate!"
She kicks at him in a flurry while someone outside notices and goes to find a safe place to call the police from. As they do they rush past a tall and well toned looking woman who turns her head to see the battle going on. She grins as she turns fully towards it and walks to the ATM station. Both to warm herself up as she approaches, and to allow the one inside a chance to show he how skilled he is.
Back with the fight. The girl shows she has probably done this most of her life as he kicks are hard, strong, and fast. Evan had done martial arts before but he was rusty. Even with his new skills boosting him he was still malnourished and out of practice. So the girl was slowly gaining the upper hand.
She lands another kick to Evans now very bruised body thanks to her steel toed boots she was wearing before he finds his opening and dive beneath her out stretched leg and slams his knee into her chin from a Muay Thai move.
She sees stars for a moment as she stumbles back before big ugly and muscles comes around and bear hugs Evan from behind. He begins to crush him while Evan gasps in pain from the tight squeeze. Mohawk comes around and flips open a switch blade and grins crazily while getting ready to stab Evan.
Evan kick backs with a kick boxing move and hits his captor right in the balls. He squeaks out an ouch and falls to his knees freeing Evan as the punk stabs forward. He goes right past Evan as he steps to the side of the knife and uses a karate palm strike to the guys elbow making his arm fly up and his knife to stick into the ceiling.
A follow up elbow strike to the guys chest finishes him off for now as he falls to the ground gasping for air. Evan smiles before falling to his knees as his back is struck from behind. He falls to his knees and hands before looking behind him to see the girl has recovered. However as he rises to try and take her out big muscle comes around and haymakers Evan in the cheek.
He slams into the wall leaving a crack as he slumps to the ground with his HP now reading 21/80. He struggles to get up from that blow, 'Shit these punks are tough as a group. i really need to practice more now that i have the motivation. I know i am going to survive this! I need to survive this! I finally have a chance to live life with a new slate! A proper slate! A slate that allows me to be who I want to be!'
As he thinks this he sees the trio surround him all a bit battered and bruised. But otherwise fine.
Mohawk chuckles as he says, "You gave us quite the workout dude! But now! Give us the money you were smiling about or things will get ug-!"
Suddenly he stumbles and falls backwards. His two friends are shocked and look back at a darl skinned African American woman. She stands at a solid 6ft with a black sports bra that contains B cup breasts, she is wearing some nice tightly packs braids that hug her scalp while allowing a bit to hang loose around her neck, exercise shorts, sports shoes, and her body is rippling with well toned muscles. Her abs are so tight they look like they were carved from marble, her arms are lean but corded with tightly packed muscles, and her legs look like they are used to being used against heavy lifting and heavy targets.
The other two sweat a bit as Mohawk isn't getting up after the blow to his head. Muscles rushes the newcomer but soon finds his fist intercepted by a knee to his haymaker. He barely has time to realize this as her hand comes forward and punches him right in the diaphragm. He chokes on the lack of air he suddenly doesn't have before her knee finds its way to his jaw while her hands cup the back of his head to slam him even harder into her iron like knee cap.
He goes down faster than a toddler taking out a lego tower as the girl looks nervously at the Muay Thai fighter. She has confidence against amateurs but against someone who obviously has experience and skill? She was truly fucked.
She readies her legs to fight her way out of here and the Muay Thai fighter chuckles before saying, "Trust me little missy I wouldn't do that."
The girl ignores the warning and rushes the female fighter. She sighs at the first high kick and simply catches it lifts the girl off the ground with it then side kicks and breaks the knee in it. The girl screams in pain as she tries to dull the feeling of the broken knee. She squirms on the ground before she feels something metal around her wrists. She looks to see a pair of handcuffs on her suddenly and the woman is cuffing her two friends. The woman holds up her bag and shows the police badge symbol on it as she grins at the trio of punks, "I tried to warn you! now we can talk about this at the station."
Two pairs of officers come to collect the trio and bring them in while the female fighter comes to check on Evan who was watching in awe.
She helps him to his feet and smirks at him, "What? were you captivated by my beauty or something?"
Evan, being the man who he is and without a girlfriend for over half a decade, honestly says, "Yeah. Actually. You were beautiful. And are beautiful! And skilled! And... I'm going to shut up now."
The female fighters eyes widen a bit at the honest praise before she chuckles and laughs out loud at him. "I like honest men! hahaha! My name is Zara Nikumu! The African Queen of the ring! Though during the day I'm a part time officer of the law and a mixed martial arts gym owner as well."
Evan is in awe and realizes this would be his chance to grow stronger so her can live his life the way he wants. And so he can shake off the guilt of living his life so sadly after all those losses. 'I did promise to myself that I would live better, that way my loved ones didn't die in vain.'
He shakes her hand and says, "Evan McLean. good to meet you! And thanks for the save. I am a bit rusty as you can see. Haven't been to a gym in a while to work on my skills or body."
She nods while appraising him, he has skill but a weak body with some signs of malnourishment, but she didn't know before the skills were applied he was even skinnier. She nods again before saying, "Want to come to my gym then? I can offer you a trial session of 4 weeks for only 200 bucks if you got it?"
Evan excitedly nods and hands her the 200 bucks out of pocket, Zara notices the stack of hundreds and realizes while the punks were after Evan. "Won some cash from lotto?"
Evan stops as he was handing the money over. "Ah! Yeah I did! They saw me come out with a smile and tracked me here. But I will be paid soon so don't worry about me needing to save too much money for lessons. If it helps me grow to protect myself. I'm all for it."
Zara nods and pats his shoulder, "A good mentality! I like you sir! Looking forward to having you in the gym soon. And... Here is my number."
She hands him her officer card and she begins to walk off to the officers outside to give her statement. "Call or text me soon! Looking forward to chatting with you... or even hanging out with you Evan!"
Evan blushes at her practical invitation to a date before chuckling and putting the number into his phone. He deposits his remaining 700 and heads to where the gym is to check the place out once he texts her and asks for the address.
Current stats:
Name: Evan McLean
Race: Human
Level: 8
HP: 80
MP: Locked
Ki: Locked
Str: 7 (+6)
Agi: 6 (+6)
End: 9 (+6)
Int: 28
Sense: 15
Skills:
Uncanny luck: Boosted luck that makes you seem like the luckiest guy in the world
Karate Initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn karate up to mid belt tier
Muay Thai Initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn Muay Thai up to mid tier practitioner
Kick Boxing initiate: gain +2 to all physical stats and learn Kick Boxing up to amateur level