[Rewards]
[Agility: +3
Force: +1
Fortitude: +0.0099]
Right, after all that fight and almost dying, the system rewards me with such low stats. 0.0099? Was that even supposed to mean anything?
[Pro Reward!]
[Analytical Eye— Passive Skill]
"Analytical eye?" I asked. "What's that?"
"It's a low-level observation ability that lets you read physical coordinates on opponents faster than normal." Amelia seemed to have noticed the excitement in my face, because she continued with this. "Technically, it's not considered a gene ability. Everyone has this. Yours is just faster, a subtle edge. It allows your brain to process movement patterns a fraction faster than normal."
"I came up with it anyway, so it's safe to call it an ability," I said regardless, with a shrug.
By now, the system world was starting to morph away, being replaced by reality. The dark alleys and flickering street lights disappeared, and I was back in the school gym. Empty, just like it'd been before.
I never thought I'd miss being here.
"Shall I announce your next challenge?" Amelia announced, pointing at the system screen in the right corner.
"The fuck?" I gasped. "I'm not doing that again. At least not until I recover from what just happened."
"Do you think this is how you're going to become stronger—"
I raised my hands, halting her words. "Spare me the load of crap, Amelia. This is not a training. It's just murder wrapped up in some elaborate system mechanism."
Maybe I chose the wrong thing to say, because Amelia's hologram disappeared, and I was just standing there like a fool, staring blankly at a system screen and feeling guilty at the same time.
Well, anyway, she'll be back, like she always does.
Shrugging it off was probably the best course of action. If anything, I'd only planned to become stronger, not die while trying to. If I died, then the whole thing would become meaningless.
****
THE NEXT DAY
"—New abilities are formed through the combination of the DNA of two contrasting parents. But there becomes an exception when two separate ability types are combined. Let's take for example, a physical type and special type ability users combine their DNA, nine out of ten times, a hybrid is formed instead of a new ability."
Biology class was generally boring to everyone. Well, everyone except me. Mr Chen had a way of prompting vivid images through his explanations, like a former comic writer who quit and decided to teach biology instead.
But aside from the fact that he was really good at that, vivid imagination was also the way I got through every class. It was easier to answer questions while visualising yourself at the realistic angle of that question.
That technique maintained good grades in all my subjects. Well, every one of them except math. That subject was impossible, a bunch of equations you couldn't quite put yourself into. And what made math very unrealistic was the turnout of answers. Sometimes, the expected right answer could end up being wrong.
"A hybrid, as most of you may know, is the concentration of two abilities in a human body." Mr Chen continued. "These kinds of abilities are rare, and as recorded, they could sometimes have dangerous side effects on the user's body— including certain disabilities—"
The bell rang across the hallway, an indication of the end of the period. Now Mr Chen wasn't the kind of person to chip in some extra free time. He just closed his note, about to leave the class.
But then he stopped, like he suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, I was asked to pass an announcement to class A-3." He said and returned to the front. "Maybe it's a rumour or confirmed information, but we believe that the BHA is planning an entry examination this year."
BHA. The Bureau's Hunter Academy. It was the most important academy in the whole world as it was being funded directly by the government. A VIP school where you couldn't just enrol unless you had a private invitation from them.
BHA was only for the powerful. People who are skilled enough with their abilities and had potential to become hunters. That was the main reason for their recruitment. To train and raise hunters.
Mr Chen continued, "Like every entry year, BHA plans their practical examinations for every high school student in their final year, as long as they are registered. This is an opportunity to show your abilities and wits, to prove that you're qualified to enrol in the academy and become a hunter."
Qualification? Like every other piece of information, this one wasn't exactly being passed to me. The BHA's strict requirement for an enrollment invitation was that you had to have an ability.
One thing life had forgotten to grant me from the very moment I was born.
"The examination is said to begin next month. But we probably won't confirm that until a week beforehand. So we're informing you against the odds to practice ahead of others. The bureau commonly sums up all high schools in the country and selects ten students from the total aggregate. If we're lucky, Silvic High would be under the top 10."
This wasn't a question of being lucky. It was certain. Silvic High was one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Not only famous for scholarly students, but also feared for their powerful high tiers.
With characters like King, Queen, Ace and Jack, no other school had actually ever tried to start a fight with us. The last attempt was from Royal High, but rumours said that King had singlehandedly handled them on his own.
Against the BHA examination? Silvic High would probably top the charts. All the tendencies could happen.
"That'll be all. If there's any new information, it'll be communicated to all of you." That was the last thing Mr Chen said before leaving the class.
"Hey, Ren."
Gosh, there it was. That consistent annoying voice of Tyler. Ever since I challenged him about that cheat note, he'd always been so interested in me. And apparently, he wasn't going to stop until I got suspended.
He walked up to me, casually placed a palm on my right shoulder. Like we were supposed to have a friendship that I never agreed to.
"Don't bother me," I said simply.
"Relax, I was only going to ask about our deal." He walked over to my desk, leaning on it with crossed arms. "So, what's your decision. Are you staking, or are you getting suspended?"
Rule no 1 on how to survive a fight. Walk away before it happens. Well, at least, I tried to. I stood up, ignoring his stupid face.
Maybe a walk away from him would soothe things out.
And just when I took my first step, he gripped my shoulders and pulled my back down to my seat. Then he brought his face closer, sheer evilness written all over him.
"You have only two days, Ren. Do you really want to risk yourself being suspended when I'm right here? The guy you want to beat so bad?" Honestly, he was right about that last part.
"And who knows, I just might make it easier for you." He laughed mockingly. "Come to the arena on Friday, and save yourself. This is your last chance, Ren."
He stood, then looked towards his gang. "Let's go grab lunch guys."
Six guys noisily followed him out of the class. Among them was Rowan, tailing behind like an obedient pet. He hadn't stopped fidgeting with his glasses, always looking downwards. Even when our eyes met for a moment, I could clearly read his timidity.
Tyler. That bastard. I'm going to—
"Amelia," I called.
There was no response at first. Usually, I'd never summoned her, but if she was part of the system, then I'd expect her to respond immediately— well, only if she was ignoring me on purpose.
Maybe she was right after all. There was no easy approach to getting stronger. The sacrifice and commitment were the real drive I needed to beat Tyler.
"Alright. Let's do it your way." I said with a sigh. "Announce my next challenge."