Back at the orphanage, Zik threw himself onto his bunk, immediately pulling up his status window to check how much EXP he'd need to hit Level 4. He was getting stronger, but each level required more experience points, and he knew he'd have to push himself even harder to reach that next threshold.
He looked over his abilities and skills, feeling a growing sense of pride but also a hint of hesitation. He had three core abilities now: Super Speed, Regeneration, and Stealth — his three precious slots filled. Then there were his skills: Power Strike and Jab-Cross, both of which he'd practiced relentlessly. And finally, his prized Speed Strike — a super skill that combined Super Speed and Power Strike into a powerful attack he could actually use in a fight. He'd made real progress, yet something still bugged him.
As much as he appreciated his abilities, he was also beginning to feel the weight of having his slots filled up. Regeneration was invaluable, especially considering how many times he'd been punched in the face just because some kid felt like it. Back when he was younger, other kids had approached him, not out of friendship, but simply because they found his "punchable face" entertaining. Regeneration had proven its worth back then, and it continued to be his lifeline.
But having all three slots full left him with little room for flexibility. What if something new comes up, like a skill I need in an emergency? Zik thought, chewing his lip. Keeping a slot open might mean sacrificing an ability I want right now, but it would also mean I'd have an option to adapt on the fly.
As he considered his path forward, he saw a way to turn his situation into a strength. Sure, everyone else might have fixed abilities, but I have a system. I can level up, earn new skills, and find combinations that make each ability count. If he planned things right, he wouldn't need a dozen powers to get by — he'd just need a few that worked together perfectly.
He closed his status window, feeling more confident in his direction. He didn't have friends or natural advantages, but he had his determination, his strategy, and a system that let him build himself up, bit by bit. He was going to make every skill, every quest, and every level count.
Tomorrow, he'd wake up early, hit the gym again, and keep leveling up. He might be starting small, but he was beginning to see the potential of his journey — and he was determined to turn his weaknesses into something unstoppable.
Zik woke up the next morning feeling like he'd been trampled by a herd of buffalo. Every muscle ached from the sparring session with the powerhouse in the gym, and his head throbbed from lack of sleep. Groaning, he dragged himself out of bed, eyeing his closet in search of something clean to wear. But the orphanage wasn't exactly known for its luxury — his clothes were mostly hand-me-downs, worn and ill-fitting, and finding something decent in the mess was always a struggle.
As he pawed through his clothes, a thought hit him: Items in games have stats. What if I check mine? He grinned at the idea. If he could see stats on his clothes, maybe he'd understand why he was always having horrible days when he wore certain outfits.
He hesitated, then lifted one of his least favorite pieces of clothing — a faded yellow shirt he practically never wore. Every time he'd put it on, something seemed to go wrong: he'd trip over his own feet, get an extra assignment, or run into one of the many jerks who found it fun to pick on him. He hadn't thought about it much until now, but maybe there was a reason it seemed cursed.
He focused, activating Hero's Perception, and immediately, a small window popped up:
> Item: Faded Yellow Shirt
Defense: +2 (Worn)
Heat Resistance: +3
Cold Resistance: -5
Luck: -15
Zik's jaw dropped. -15 Luck? He stared at the shirt, half in disbelief, half in horror. No wonder I always had such horrible days when I wore this thing! It's literally cursed with bad luck.
He was tempted to throw it out, imagining how much better his life might've been if he'd never put it on. But just as he was about to chuck it into the farthest corner of his closet, a wild idea stopped him. Wait… bad luck means struggle, right? And struggle means quests, and quests mean… EXP.
His mind raced. If wearing the cursed shirt led to bad luck, maybe that bad luck would open up more challenges. Sure, he'd probably suffer through some misfortunes, but if it meant stacking up quests, he could rack up EXP faster. His grin returned, excitement replacing his hesitation. What if this shirt could actually be a tool for leveling up?
Zik slipped on the yellow shirt, bracing himself. Today's going to be rough, he thought, but it might just pay off. He grabbed his jacket, ready to face whatever unlucky disasters the day might throw at him. If he was going to become a hero, he figured, he might as well start by making his own luck — even if it was the bad kind.
The moment Zik stepped out of the orphanage, braced for whatever misfortune his cursed yellow shirt might summon, he didn't expect immediate results. Yet, before he even took two steps down the sidewalk, a loud horn blared, and he barely had time to look up before a truck screeched around the corner, skidding out of control and slamming into him.
Zik's world turned upside down. He hit the ground, pain radiating through his body, but within seconds he felt the telltale warmth of Regeneration kick in. His bruises faded, his bones mended, and he gasped as his body knit itself back together. As he staggered to his feet, he noticed a small notification:
> Regeneration has leveled up! Now Level 2.
He coughed, staring at the truck speeding off around the corner. With a mixture of disbelief and regret, he muttered, "It's… working." This shirt really was cursed. But, against all logic, it was also helping him level up.
As he stumbled forward, shaking off the last bit of shock from the impact, he was greeted by a low, menacing growl. He looked up to see a stray dog with bared teeth, hackles raised, creeping toward him. Of course, he thought, sighing. The yellow shirt wasn't done yet.
The dog lunged at him, and Zik quickly sidestepped, channeling his newfound Speed Strike ability. His fist moved faster than he could process, and with a sharp punch, he managed to fend off the dog. The creature yelped and retreated, disappearing down the street. Just as he caught his breath, a new notification popped up:
> You have gained enough EXP to level up! Now Level 4.
Zik grinned, almost delirious with victory. The cursed shirt had just brought him two levels, and it wasn't even 8 a.m. yet. He was tempted to head to the gym and work off some of this wild energy, but then he remembered — he still had school.
As much as he wanted to skip, he knew he couldn't afford to. Being an orphan with no family or backup meant he had no safety net. If he dropped out, there'd be no forgiving parents letting him crash in their basement, no one to give him a second chance. He had to stick to the rules, stay in school, and keep his record clean. It was his only chance of clawing his way out of the life he'd been handed.
With a reluctant sigh, he adjusted his backpack, now more than aware of the cursed shirt's dangerous potential. He steeled himself for whatever unlucky surprises awaited him next and set off for school, determined to make every misfortune count.
As Zik entered the school, he spotted a girl he hadn't seen before, someone who stood out with her easy confidence and a quick smile that seemed to brighten the hallway. He realized, a moment too late, that he'd been staring a little longer than was wise.
A voice snapped him out of it. "What are you looking at?"
Zik turned, only to see her boyfriend — a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a glower that sent a shiver down Zik's spine. Before Zik could even apologize, the guy gave him a hard shove, clearly irritated. Zik's Hero's Perception activated instantly, and his screen filled with information that made him wince.
> Level 10
Abilities: Teleportation (Grade C), Super Strength (Grade B)
Skills: Multiple; Intimidation Aura activated
Zik took a slow breath. Super Strength, he thought wryly. Why do I keep running into this power?
The guy's expression darkened, noticing Zik's confidence waver. "You think you can just stand around and stare at whoever you want?" His tone was challenging.
Zik was about to back off, but the boyfriend didn't give him the chance. In a flash, the guy closed the distance with startling speed, his Teleportation letting him move faster than Zik could react. A heavy hit landed squarely on Zik's shoulder, sending him staggering back. Zik activated Speed Strike and tried to defend himself, but each hit barely made the guy flinch. With every blow he received, his Regeneration ability was working overtime, bruises fading even as more appeared.
But, amidst the chaos, Zik's system was pinging with notifications, and he caught glimpses of upgrades:
> Regeneration leveled up! Now Level 3.
Speed Strike leveled up! Now Level 2.
After a few more tense moments, the guy finally stepped back, shaking his head, visibly annoyed that Zik was still on his feet. "Get lost, man," he muttered, walking away, his girlfriend looking over with mild interest before following.
As Zik hobbled down the hall, nursing his bruises but proud of his level-ups, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. This cursed shirt was doing its job all too well. He might be the school's favorite punching bag, but he was gaining power with every hit. One day, he promised himself, he'd be ready to give as good as he got.
Dragging himself to his first class, math, Zik slipped into his seat, still feeling sore from the earlier "training" session he'd had with the girl's boyfriend. But just as he settled in, he noticed that today was no ordinary day. His math teacher looked particularly tense, pacing at the front of the room with a glare that dared anyone to challenge him. Zik had barely taken out his notebook when the teacher's eyes landed on him.
"Zik! Get up here and solve this problem."
Zik's heart sank as he glanced at the board. It wasn't just any problem — it was several steps above anything they'd covered, a tangled mess of symbols that felt like another language. But with the teacher staring him down, Zik knew he didn't have a choice.
He approached the board, nerves buzzing, trying to piece together anything he'd learned that might help. He worked through it slowly, step-by-step, feeling the pressure build as he scribbled out each line. His mind raced, doing its best to keep up, but it still felt like he was missing something — like he was fighting uphill.
And then, suddenly, a warm sensation bloomed in his head. A familiar notification appeared in his vision:
> Congratulations! You have unlocked a new ability: Super Intelligence.
"Nooo!" he blurted out in horror, realizing what this meant.
He'd lost his last open ability slot. The "emergency slot" he'd been keeping free for something vital was now filled with Super Intelligence. But as the rush of clarity hit him, the math problem that had felt impossible just seconds ago became clear, like puzzle pieces falling into place. He worked through it fluidly, his mind easily piecing together solutions he'd never even considered before.
The teacher watched, slightly impressed but still grumpy, as Zik finished the equation. Zik turned back to his seat, feeling a strange mix of regret and excitement. Super Intelligence might not have been the ability he wanted, but he had to admit, it was already useful. If nothing else, maybe he'd avoid making certain… staring mistakes.
And as he sat down, a thought struck him. With this new intelligence, maybe he could plan his next moves carefully, find a way to level up faster, and — just maybe — figure out how to make the best of this unexpected new power.
As Zik settled back into his seat, his mind began to buzz with a flurry of new ideas, questions, and strategies. The world around him seemed sharper, more connected, and he couldn't stop himself from analyzing everything through this new lens of Super Intelligence.
A stream of questions popped up in his mind, almost faster than he could keep track of. How do abilities actually get created? he wondered. What exactly are the requirements for each power? Are they tied to specific experiences, or maybe emotions?
He realized that, up until now, every ability he'd gained had been linked to something he was actively doing or feeling in the moment — Super Speed had come from his desperate need to escape, Regeneration from his resilience against getting hurt, and Super Intelligence from his struggle to solve a problem far beyond his normal capacity.
So, logically, could he purposefully create situations that might unlock other powers? His mind whirred with possibilities. Maybe I could unlock more powers by putting myself in intense situations, pushing my limits in ways I hadn't thought of before.
Zik's thoughts spun further. What if certain abilities only activate under specific conditions, or with specific mindsets? And what about the people he'd encountered? The Level 10 guy with Teleportation and Super Strength, for example — what had unlocked those for him? Was it natural talent, or did he have his own unique story?
Even more questions filled his mind: Is there a limit to how many powers I can gain? Could I improve my existing abilities further, or even fuse them with new ones? This entire system he had access to — the Hero System — it was designed to be gamelike, but Zik realized it wasn't bound to a traditional "game" logic. He might be able to experiment with it, bending it in unexpected ways.
As he scribbled down notes, a small but thrilling realization hit him: he might be one of the few people with both the ability and intelligence to analyze his power system. This was something he could truly use to gain an edge.
The teacher was still lecturing at the front of the room, but Zik barely noticed. His mind raced as he outlined a plan to test his theories, to uncover all the requirements he could for unlocking and combining abilities. If he could understand the "rules" behind his system, he might just find a way to climb beyond everyone else. This wasn't just about luck, or curses, or strength anymore. This was about uncovering a whole new level of possibility.