Chapter 7: A Day of Eggs, Jokes, and Power
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The golden rays of dawn filtered into the small, creaky house as Kent stretched with a loud yawn.
His muscles felt a little different tighter, stronger— since consuming the Spiritual energy and Physique Enhancement Fruit the other day.
"Time to hustle," Kent muttered, slipping into his old coat and grabbing the woven basket full of eggs.
Outside, the morning air was crisp, and faint mist lingered in the quiet streets. Kent made his way to the local market, where small vendors were already setting up their stalls.
He picked a familiar spot near the corner, set his basket down, and arranged the eggs carefully.
"Fresh eggs! Best eggs in town! Only one dollar for dozen!" Kent called out, putting on his brightest, salesman smile.
An elderly lady approached, leaning on her walking stick as she eyed Kent skeptically.
"You again, Kent? How fresh are these eggs?"
Kent grinned, holding up an egg dramatically. "Auntie, these eggs are so fresh that if you crack one open, the chick might still say hello!"
The lady snorted, trying to suppress a laugh. "You cheeky brat."
Ding!
+15 Spiritual Energy copied (Joy).
"Alright, I'll take a dozen," the lady said, shaking her head with a small smile.
A grumpy old man wandered over next, his wrinkled face pulled into a scowl. "Why are your eggs so expensive today? I could buy gold for this price!"
Kent crossed his arms and sighed dramatically.
"Uncle, these aren't just eggs they're miracle eggs! You eat these, and your bones might stop creaking. You might even feel young again!"
The man glared at him, but a faint chuckle escaped his lips. "Hmph! Miracle eggs, my foot. Give me ten."
Ding!
+20 Spiritual Energy copied (Joy).
A young couple stopped by next. The man picked up an egg and squinted at it. "Are these organic?"
"Brother, these eggs are so organic they make grass- fed chickens jealous," Kent quipped.
The girlfriend giggled, elbowing her boyfriend. "Just buy them already."
Ding!
+30 Spiritual Energy copied (Joy).
Within an hour, Kent had sold almost all his eggs, earning enough for the day and gaining a nice chunk of spiritual points (SP) in the process.
"Thank you for your donations!" Kent whispered under his breath as he packed up his basket.
Back home, Nima was still curled up under her blanket when Kent walked in. The soft sounds of her snoring filled the quiet house.
Kent set the basket down and headed to the kitchen. He cracked open some of the remaining eggs, frying them up with the leftover rice from the night before. The rich smell of cooking food wafted through the air.
"Breakfast is ready!" Kent shouted.
A moment later, Nima stumbled into the kitchen, hair messy, rubbing her eyes. "Big brother, you're too loud…"
"Too loud? Then you don't get breakfast," Kent teased, waving the plate of food in front of her.
Nima's eyes snapped open. "Wait, no! I'm awake now!"
She pounced onto the chair, grabbing her fork eagerly. "You're lucky you can cook, big brother. Otherwise, you'd be hopeless."
Kent smirked, sitting across from her. "Lucky for you, I'm a man of many talents. Eat up!"
Ding!
+10 Spiritual Energy copied (Joy).
After breakfast, Kent grabbed his worn-out backpack and headed to school. The familiar clamor of students greeted him as he entered the gates.
Today is the first day of school after new year. Groups of kids laughed and shouted, and a few were still buzzing about the New Year carnival.
Kent slipped into his classroom and took his usual seat near the back. He tried to keep a low profile, but whispers about awakened powers were already spreading.
"Did you hear? Someone awakened their powers yesterday!"
"Yeah, I heard it was Ryan from Class 10-C!" "Ryan? The muscle-head? What power could he possibly awaken—super punching walls?"
Kent raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Ryan, huh? That's the last guy I'd expect to get powers," he thought.
Just as the bell rang, the door slammed open.
BANG!
A towering figure stepped inside—Ryan, a broad-shouldered guy with short-cropped hair and an intimidating glare.
His shirt sleeves were torn, revealing bulging muscles that didn't seem normal for a teenager.
"Morning, losers!" Ryan barked, grinning as he flexed his arm. "Guess what? I awakened my powers. Strength type, baby! Who wants to see me punch a desk in half?"
Without waiting for a reply, Ryan grabbed an empty desk with one hand and—
CRACK! —snapped it clean in two.
The class erupted in chaos.
"WHOA!"
"Ryan, chill! You're gonna destroy the classroom!"
"Is this guy serious?!"
Kent leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "Yep. Classic Ryan."
Ryan turned his attention to a skinny student near the front. "Hey, you! I bet I could throw you across the room. Wanna try?"
The poor kid paled. "N-No thanks…"
Kent sighed, shaking his head. "Here we go again."
Ryan's antics continued as he flexed and threatened to "test his powers" on random students. The teacher walked in, took one look at the scene, and immediately backed out.
"I'll… have to call for help…"
Meanwhile, Kent couldn't resist taking advantage of the situation. He raised his hand casually.
"Hey, Ryan!" Kent called out with a grin. "With all those muscles, can you lift your grades too?"
The class burst into laughter.
Ding!
+40 Spiritual Energy copied (Joy).
+55 Spiritual Energy copied (Frustration from Ryan).
Ryan's face turned red. "What did you say, egg boy?!"
Kent leaned back, unfazed. "I said, don't let your brain skip leg day."
More laughter exploded through the room. Even Ryan's friends couldn't hold it in.
"SHUT UP!" Ryan roared, but his loud voice only earned more giggles.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. Two men in Black coats entered the classroom, their serious faces silencing everyone instantly.
"Ryan?" one of them said firmly.
Ryan turned, his bravado faltering. "Uh… yeah?"
"You're coming with us."
"What?! Why?"
"You used your powers without permission. The government needs to register all awakened individuals."
Ryan tried to protest, but the men grabbed his arm and dragged him out.
"Hey! Let go of me! I'm not done flexing!"
The classroom watched in stunned silence as Ryan disappeared down the hallway.
"Well," Kent muttered, "there goes our entertainment for the day."
Ding!
+600 Spiritual Energy copied (Mixed Emotions from Classmates).
After school, Kent returned home, kicking off his shoes and collapsing onto the couch.
"Time to see what I can get with all this SP," he said, opening his system panel.
Current SP Balance: 15,650
His eyes lit up. "Let's spin the lottery!"
The glowing wheel appeared, divided into empty slots and hidden prizes.
Spin 1… Empty.
Spin 2… Empty.
Spin 3… Physique Enhancement Fruit Won!
"Nice!" Kent cheered, watching the glowing fruit appear in his system inventory.
He kept spinning, determined to test his luck.
Spin 4… Empty.
Spin 5… Physique Enhancement Fruit Won!
Spin 6… Empty.
Spin 7… Physique Enhancement Fruit
After more than 50 spins, Kent had collected 10 Physique Enhancement Fruits.
"Alright, let's max out my body," Kent whispered eagerly. He summoned the glowing fruits one by one, each the size of a large grape.
Gulp! .... Crunch!
The moment he ate them, heat surged through his muscles. His bones crackled, his body pulsed with energy, and every fiber of his being felt like it was strengthening.
Ding!
"Physique Enhanced. Strength and Endurance +1 +1 +1…."
"Maximum Physique Reached."
Status:-
Host: Kent
Physique: level 10 (max.)
Cultivation: level F
Skills: Copy spiritual energy. (SSS)
Kent stood up, flexing his arm experimentally. His once scrawny body now felt solid, his muscles lean and powerful.
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