The normally peaceful path was now crowded with people, all standing around in a loose circle.
At the center of the circle, there was a teenage boy — maybe 16 or 17 — who seemed to be arguing with a much larger group of older guys.
Their postures were tense, the conversation clearly escalating.
At first, Alex was going to keep walking, but something about the situation made him stop.
The group wasn't just talking; it was clear the boy was being cornered.
The bigger guys were towering over him, blocking his exit.
The tension in the air was palpable, and Alex could hear bits and pieces of the conversation as he drew closer.
"You think you can talk to me like that?" one of the older guys said, sneering at the boy. "You're gonna regret it."
The boy was shaking his head, his hands raised in a defensive posture.
"I don't want any trouble, man. I just… I just wanted to pass through."
Alex's gaze flickered around the scene.
There were a few other people nearby, but no one was stepping forward to help.
He was no hero, but he couldn't just walk away. The boy was clearly outnumbered and outmatched, and it looked like things were about to get worse.
"It's definitely not because of the quest, alright," Alex muttered to himself, pulling his earbuds out and stuffing them in his pocket.
His heart was pounding in his chest. "Here goes."
He walked toward the group, his usual easygoing smile replaced by something more resolute.
As he neared them, he put his hands in his pockets and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Hey, is there a problem here?"
The group turned toward him, the biggest guy eyeing Alex with a mixture of surprise and irritation.
"Who's this?" he asked, sizing Alex up.
"This is none of your business."
Alex stayed calm, unaffected by the intimidation.
"Well, it's kinda my business when you're bullying someone half your size in broad daylight."
He stood tall, making sure he wasn't backing down. He wasn't exactly a fighter, but he wasn't going to let this opportunity slide.
The big guy chuckled, clearly amused.
"And what are you gonna do about it, tough guy?"
Alex looked him right in the eyes, a glint of confidence in his voice.
"I'm just gonna make sure you're not bothering him anymore. So how about you all walk away and we call it a day?"
There was a brief moment of silence.
The group of older guys exchanged looks, as if weighing their options.
Alex wasn't giving them any room to back out now — he wasn't about to let the situation go unchecked.
"You're either with us or against us, man," one of the other guys said, taking a step forward, trying to close the space between them.
Alex didn't flinch.
"Then I guess I'm against you."
He made a show of cracking his knuckles, but there was no real aggression in his stance.
It was a simple gesture, but it conveyed enough that the group seemed to hesitate.
The larger guy eyed him one last time before letting out a loud sigh.
"You don't know what you're messing with."
"Trust me," Alex said, his voice calm but firm, "I know exactly what I'm messing with. And I'm not going anywhere."
There was a brief standoff, then one of the guys muttered something under his breath and nudged the others.
"Whatever, man. Let's go."
To Alex's surprise, they actually backed off, muttering insults but not willing to escalate the situation further.
The group turned and started walking away, their tension dissolving as they distanced themselves from the confrontation.
The boy, who had been frozen in place the entire time, looked up at Alex, wide-eyed.
"Uh… thanks," he said, his voice still shaky.
Alex gave him a friendly nod, offering him a quick smile.
"No problem, man. You alright?"
The boy nodded slowly, still looking a little shaken.
"Yeah, yeah. I… I just didn't want to get into it. I didn't know what to do."
Alex clapped him lightly on the shoulder, trying to reassure him.
"Hey, no worries. You did good by not fighting back. Sometimes it's just about standing your ground and getting the right people involved."
He paused, looking at the boy's torn-up jacket.
"But hey, maybe avoid the park when those guys are around next time, yeah?"
The boy cracked a small grin.
"Definitely. I won't be back here for a while."
As the group of bullies disappeared into the distance, Alex turned to leave, but the boy called out.
"Hey, wait! You… you really saved me back there. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't stepped in."
Alex waved him off, still walking.
He was almost at the exit of the park when the boy's voice rang out again.
"I'll never forget it. Thanks again!"
Alex turned back with a grin, tipping an imaginary hat.
"No problem. Just make sure next time, you're the one doing the protecting."
[Quest Completed: A Protector's Resolve – Reward: Guardian Spirit.]
The morning sunlight filtered through Alex's curtains as he leaned back on his desk chair, scrolling through the Quest App.
It had been a whirlwind month, and the progress he'd made felt surreal.
"Man," he muttered to himself. "If someone told me I'd be stronger, faster, and smarter because of an app, I'd have called them insane."
"Hold on, though... I don't sense any change in my intelligence. Did I actually get smarter?"
He opened his status panel, staring at the stats he'd gained.
Growth Reflected
[+15 Stats]
Charisma: +3 → 5
Health: +2 → 9
Strength: +2 → 7
Wisdom: +3 → 9
Dexterity: +2 → 7
Luck: No increase.
Creativity: +1 → 4
Cooking: +1 → 3
Empathy: +1 → 3
[Name: Alex]
[Charisma: 5]
[Health: 9]
[Stamina: 7]
[Wisdom: 9]
[Dexterity: 7]
[Luck: 1]
[Creativity: 4]
[Cooking: 3]
[Empathy: 3]
[Passive Skill: Lucky Bonus]
[Spirit: Name:? - Guardian Spirit]
He ran a hand through his hair, marveling at how much things had changed since the app entered his life.
In just a month, he had completed dozens of quests, each pushing him further out of his comfort zone.
There were social tasks, like holding conversations with strangers, which boosted his Charisma and Empathy.
Physical challenges, like running laps at odd hours or practicing balance exercises, had increased his Health and Stamina.
Creative quests, like sketching landscapes or cooking something "artistic," gave his Creativity a nudge—though his attempts often veered toward chaotic.