Chapter 7: Day 1 Limits and Breakthroughs
------ October 8th 2024 Sunday
Ain leaned against the wall in his room, the warm glow of his desk lamp illuminating the now-familiar system interface in front of him. His day at the gym had left him sore, but his spirits were high. He'd sparred, trained, and even landed a solid combo. But now, something irked him.
"Let's see," Ain muttered, scrolling to the Attributes tab.
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Status Window
Name: Ain
Age: 14 (Middle Schooler)
Class: Time Travelled Fighter
Status: Alive (for now)
Level: 1
---
Attributes:
Strength: 5.5/15
Speed: 6.5/15
Intelligence: 7/15
Charm: 4/15 (could beg in designer clothes and still make money)
Endurance: 6/15
Stamina: 6/15
Fighting Potential: 3.5/15
---
Ain's eyes zeroed in on Charm.
"Still a four?" he groaned, slumping back in his chair.
He squinted at his reflection in the window. His face, while not unattractive, was unremarkable. Maybe he could try a new hairstyle. Or grow a beard. Then again, puberty was dragging its feet.
"I guess I really was destined to be the underdog forever," Ain muttered. His eyes still focused on the system interface.
After a few seconds the screen blinked, displaying a motivational quote:
> "Charm isn't about looks; it's about confidence. But maybe don't smile too much—you'll scare people."
Ain chuckled darkly. "Confidence, huh? It seems like I should try cracking some 'mature' jokes."
He leaned back, tapping his chin. "Alright, what's the difference between a boxer and a pornstar ?" He grinned, imagining the punchline. "A boxer's goal is to win a belt; a pornstar's goal is lose thier belt.
His chuckles filled the room, though they were short-lived. Outside, unseen by Ain, Jack lingered in the shadows, watching.
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Jack's Observations
Jack adjusted the baseball cap on his head, keeping his presence inconspicuous as he spied on Ain through a crack in the curtains. His Mind Reading System was active, a faint glow flickering in his eyes as he tuned into Ain's thoughts.
The system hummed in his mind, narrating Ain's inner monologue:
> "Charm is overrated anyway. I've got combos. Who needs charisma when you've got fists?"
Jack smirked. The kid had spirit, he'd give him that. But what truly intrigued Jack was his rival's fighting potential. Despite Ain's low stats, he was improving—and fast.
"Let's test just how far he's come," Jack muttered under his breath. He mentally noted the limitations of his system: it could only read the thoughts of one person at a time, with a maximum range of 30 meters. Still, it was enough to keep tabs on Ain without being noticed.
Jack pulled out his phone, sending a quick message his secretary.
" Select the weakest members to find out what this kid can do. Report back. Instructions are to not hold back—don't try to kill him, either. But most importantly make it believable."
A Sudden Encounter: Ain first fight
The evening breeze carried the faint scent of rain as Ain walked down the dimly lit street. His body was sore from training, but he relished the ache. It reminded him he was improving, bit by bit.
Just as he turned a corner, four thugs stepped into his path, their movements deliberate and predatory. Ain's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to stay calm. He scanned the group quickly. They were big—bigger than him—but their postures screamed amateur.
The leader, a tall dude with a cocky grin, cracked his knuckles. "Hey, kid. You're that boxer, right? Let's see if the hype's real."
Ain raised an eyebrow. "Hype? Dude, I'm barely at sparring level. You've got the wrong guy."
The man's grin widened. "Oh, I don't think so. We're here to test you. Don't worry—we'll go easy."
The other three spread out, blocking Ain's escape routes.
"Great," Ain muttered under his breath."Because my day wasn't hard enough but this would probably give me a sense of real combat so I ain't complaining."
He shifted into a basic boxing stance, his fists raised. His mind raced as he analyzed the situation. They're trying to intimidate me, but look at their footwork—flat and lazy. They've probably never had real training.
The leader took a step forward. "Hope you're ready, kid."
Soon after
The leader swung a wild haymaker, his telegraphed motion so slow that Ain had to resist the urge to roll his eyes.
Seriously? That's your opening move?
Ain ducked easily, stepping to the side. He countered with two jabs aimed at the man's ribs, feeling a satisfying thud as his fists connected. The leader stumbled back, clutching his side.
"Damn, you punch as bad as you bark"Ain quipped, shaking his fist.
The man's face darkened, and his friends moved in.
The second thug lunged, throwing a sloppy punch aimed at Ain's stomach. Ain sidestepped, watching the man overextend.
No guard, no balance. They're just throwing punches and hoping one lands.
Ain capitalized on the opening, landing a quick jab to the man's jaw. The thug staggered but didn't go down. Before Ain could press the advantage, another attacker charged from his right, his fists swinging like a windmill.
"Whoa, buddy," Ain said, dodging while moving back. "You boxing or playing tag?"
The windmill thug growled, his wild swings creating openings big enough for Ain to exploit. Ain ducked under a punch and landed a clean hook to the man's ribs, sending him gasping for air.
"Fun fact," Ain said, stepping back. "Your liver's not a punching bag ."
Before Ain could reposition, the third thug tackled him from behind, slamming him onto the pavement. Pain shot through his body as the man's weight pinned him down.
"Gotcha now," the thug sneered, pressing a forearm against Ain's neck.
Ain struggled, his mind racing. He's stronger than me, but he's not using his weight properly.
With a quick shift of his hips, Ain managed to loosen the man's hold. He brought his knee up, slamming it into the thug's side. The man grunted in pain, Ain used this as an opportunity to push him off.
Rolling to his feet, Ain barely dodged a kick aimed at his head. The leader attacked , but this time, he wasn't holding back.
The leader, throwing a flurry of punches, had shown he was more skilled than the others'. But that didn't stop Ain from swatted away all but one stray punch which had manage to graze his cheek, leaving a stinging sensation.
"Not bad," Ain admitted, stepping back to create distance. "You've got some speed. Too bad your technique's trash."
The leader snarled, charging again. Ain's eyes tracked his shoulders and hips, predicting his movements.
He's relying on brute force. No feints, no setups. He's swinging like he's in a bar fight.
Ain ducked under a wild hook and countered with a Guard Breaker Combo. The first punch broke through the leader's guard, the second grazed his jaw, and the third landed cleanly on his solar plexus. The man stumbled, gasping for air, but stayed on his feet.
"Damn," Ain said, shaking his hand. "
The remaining thugs regrouped, forming a loose circle around Ain. Their movements were cautious now, but their lack of coordination was glaring.
They're trying to surround me, but they're not working together. If I keep moving, I can keep them off balance.
The first thug rushed in, his fists raised high. Ain slipped to the side, landing a clean jab to the man's nose. Blood spurted, and the thug fell back, clutching his face.
The second thug hesitated, giving Ain time to reposition. He faked a jab, making the man flinch, then stepped in with a criss cross that hit his chin. The thug like the previous one crumpled to the ground.
Ain said, while panting. " for a second there I almost felt something."
The leader, furious now, charged with a roar. Ain stood his ground, his focus razor-sharp.
He's predictable. Wait for the overcommitment.
The leader threw another haymaker, and Ain weaved low, letting the punch sail over his head. He stepped inside the man's guard and unleashed an uppercut with every ounce of strength he had left.
The punch connected squarely with the leader's chin, lifting him off his feet before he crashed to the ground.
Ain stumbled back, his chest heaving, his vision swimming. The street was silent except for the groans of the defeated thugs. (Ain had made sure to step on each and every one of the thugs baby makers as revenge for wasting his time)
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System Reward
Just as Ain steadied himself, a familiar ding echoed in his mind.
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System Alert!
New Stat Acquired: Combat Power
Description: Combines Stamina, Speed, and Endurance into a unified metric. The highest of these attributes influences the overall Combat Power.
Current Combat Power: 6.5
---
Ain blinked, a tired grin spreading across his face. "Combat Power? Guess I'm leveling up."
Another message popped up:
> Achievement Unlocked: Against All Odds
Reward: +1 Boxing Point
Ain chuckled, wiping blood from his lip. "Not bad for a punching bag."
He glanced at the thugs one last time before limping away. He was battered, bruised, but victorious.
"Next time," Ain muttered, "maybe send fewer idiots. Or better yet, don't send anyone."
As he disappeared into the night, Ain knew this was just the beginning. Real fights were still ahead—but he was ready.
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Jack's Observation
From a nearby rooftop, Jack watched as Ain limped away. His Mind Reading System picked up faint whispers from the retreating thugs, their internal monologues filled with curses and disbelief.
Jack smirked, satisfied with the results.
"So, Ain," he muttered, "you're stronger than I thought. But this is only the beginning. Let's see how far you can go before I crush you."
His phone buzzed. Jack glanced at the message:
> Thugs Report: Kid's tougher than he looks. He's got real fight in him.
Jack pocketed the phone, his smirk widening. Ain was progressing faster than anticipated. But Jack had plans—and Ain was merely a pawn in a much larger game.
When Ain finally got home, he collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion washing over him. The fight replayed in his mind, every punch, every dodge. He wasn't satisfied. He'd barely won against Beginners.