The Hero Code

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the schoolyard as the students wrapped up gym class. Zik stood by the lockers, sipping water and trying not to draw attention to himself in his cursed yellow shirt. It had already caused him to trip twice that day, and he wasn't in the mood for more embarrassment.

Nearby, Aiden was rummaging through the lockers, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced with confusion. "Hey, has anyone seen my bag?" he called out, his voice carrying across the room. A few students shrugged, uninterested.

Zik walked over. "What's up?"

Aiden sighed, scratching the back of his head. "My gym bag's gone. Probably just someone messing around."

"What's in it?" Zik asked.

"Just clothes and stuff," Aiden said casually, then hesitated. "Oh, and a stopwatch my grandfather gave me. He used to time all his races with it. It's old, but, you know… special."

Zik's expression grew serious. "I'll help you find it."

Aiden waved him off. "It's not a big deal. Probably just Cal playing a prank."

"No way," Zik said firmly. "If it's important to you, we'll get it back. I promise."

---

The search began immediately. They started near the gym, but the cursed yellow shirt struck again when Zik slipped on a mop bucket, crashing into a stack of chairs. Aiden burst out laughing. "Dude, what's up with you and bad luck?"

Zik grumbled, brushing himself off. "It's the shirt. I'm telling you."

Aiden smirked, but Zik ignored it, determined to keep looking.

---

Their first clue came from a passing student, who mentioned seeing Cal near the gym earlier. They tracked him down in the cafeteria, where Cal was laughing with a group of friends.

When confronted, Cal grinned. "Oh, that bag? Yeah, I might've borrowed it for a second. Don't worry, though—it's safe and sound. On the gym roof." He leaned back, clearly enjoying their frustration.

"What?" Aiden groaned. "Seriously?"

"Relax," Cal said. "It's just a joke. Besides, you've got stretchy powers, right? Should be easy for you to grab."

---

Aiden and Zik headed to the gym, where the bag was stuck high on the roof, held fast by Cal's Glue Bind ability. Aiden used his super speed to scale the wall and stretched his rubber body to reach the bag. But the glue was stronger than expected, and even with Aiden pulling, the bag wouldn't budge.

"Let me help," Zik called, activating his Speed Strike to jump higher. But the cursed shirt betrayed him again, causing him to miss and land in a heap below.

By the time they regrouped, the janitor had locked the gym for the night. Aiden sighed. "Guess we'll try again tomorrow."

Zik clenched his fists. "Don't worry. I promised, remember? We'll get it back."

---

The next morning, Zik's Hero System chimed as he got ready for school:

> Quest Unlocked: Recover the Gym Bag

Reward: Minor Ability Upgrade

Zik sighed. "Minor upgrade? Seriously? Well, a promise is a promise."

---

In the schoolyard, they spotted one of Cal's friends holding the bag. When confronted, the boy panicked and tossed it into a tree. Aiden stretched his arm to grab it, but Zik, trying to help, accidentally knocked over the ladder. The groundskeeper spotted them and chased them off with a stern warning.

Aiden crossed his arms, frustrated. "Zik, maybe I should just handle this myself. It's not worth the trouble."

"No," Zik said, shaking his head. "I made a promise, and the 8th Hero Code says to keep your oaths. I'm not quitting."

Aiden sighed but nodded. "Alright. Let's finish this."

---

When they finally retrieved the bag, they found it empty. The stopwatch had fallen out when Cal glued the bag to the gym roof. To dissolve the glue and search properly, they needed a solvent. But their attempt to raid the chemistry lab ended with them getting kicked out by the teacher.

"That didn't work," Zik muttered. "But I've got another idea."

---

Using his Crafting ability, Zik improvised a dissolving gadget from materials in his utility belt. After a few tests (and a near disaster with his cursed shirt), he got it working. "This should do it," he said, holding up the small device.

---

That afternoon, they sneaked into the gym after hours. Aiden boosted Zik up with his rubber body, and Zik used the dissolving gadget on the glue. It worked perfectly, and the bag came free. Inside, they found the stopwatch, still stuck.

"Careful," Aiden said, activating his Solid Body ability. With steady pressure, he freed the stopwatch without damaging it.

---

As they stepped outside, Cal appeared, laughing. "Wow, you guys really went all out for a bag. You're more dedicated than I thought."

Zik smirked. "You're lucky I don't glue your shoes to the floor."

Aiden stretched his arm, swiping Cal's soda can. "Let's call it even."

Cal laughed, waving them off.

---

As they walked home, Zik's Hero System chimed:

> Quest Complete: Recover the Gym Bag

Reward: Minor Stealth Upgrade

Aiden glanced at him. "That's it? A stealth upgrade? After all that?"

Zik shrugged. "It's not about the reward. I made a promise, and I kept it. That's what matters."

Aiden smiled. "You're alright, Zik. Thanks for sticking with me.And maybe next time, we leave the cursed shirt at home."

Zik grinned. "Hey, it's what heroes do. And you get used to the bad luck."

They both laughed, their friendship stronger than ever, ready for whatever challenges came next.

As Zik and Aiden walked home, the tension of the day had finally eased, leaving behind a sense of accomplishment. Aiden held his stopwatch tightly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks again, Zik. I mean it. Not a lot of people would've stuck it out like that."

"Don't mention it," Zik replied, hands in his pockets. "I made a promise, and heroes keep their promises."

Aiden chuckled, glancing at Zik's cursed yellow shirt. "Speaking of promises… what's the deal with that shirt? I swear it's cursed. You trip, stumble, and attract every kind of disaster when you wear it."

Zik grinned, his eyes lighting up with a mix of humor and conviction. "Oh, it's definitely cursed. But that's why I wear it."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? You're wearing it on purpose? Why would anyone do that?"

Zik stopped walking for a moment, looking down at the faded yellow fabric as if it were an old friend. "I took an oath," he said, his voice steady. "The kind of oath you don't break."

Aiden crossed his arms, waiting for more. "Go on. I'm listening."

Zik started walking again, his pace slower, more thoughtful. "Look, not everyone's born with talent or luck. Some people, like you—" he gestured at Aiden, "—you've got B-grade abilities, speed, and strength. People notice you. But guys like me? We don't get that kind of head start. We have to work harder. Rise through the bad breaks. Fight for every step."

Aiden nodded, listening intently. "So what does that have to do with the shirt?"

"The yellow shirt," Zik continued, tugging at the hem, "is my reminder. Good luck is for the naturally gifted, the ones who already have a leg up. But bad luck? That's where the real growth happens. Every time I trip, every time something goes wrong, I learn. I adapt. I get stronger."

Aiden looked skeptical. "So… you're intentionally putting yourself through bad luck? Just to grow?"

"Exactly," Zik said, his grin widening. "I promised myself I'd wear it until I didn't need it anymore. Because if I can handle the worst luck, then when things finally go right, I'll be unstoppable."

Aiden laughed, shaking his head. "You're either the most determined guy I've ever met… or completely insane."

"Maybe a little of both," Zik admitted, laughing along. "But I've got a plan, and the shirt's part of it."

Aiden glanced at the stopwatch in his hand, then back at Zik. "You know, I think I get it. My grandfather used to say something similar. He believed the hardest challenges teach you the most. Maybe there's something to your cursed shirt after all."

Zik smirked. "Told you. It's not just a shirt. It's my secret weapon."

They walked the rest of the way home, the cursed yellow shirt no longer a joke between them but a symbol of Zik's resilience. For the first time, Aiden saw Zik's bad luck not as a hindrance but as a source of his strength. And Zik, bolstered by the day's events, knew he wasn't just wearing the shirt for himself anymore — it was part of the hero he was becoming.

As the two neared Aiden's block, the conversation drifted to lighter topics — the funniest thing Cal had ever glued to the ceiling, Peak's most impressive moves, and how Zik's cursed shirt could probably ruin even a perfect birthday party. But as they stopped at the corner, Aiden glanced down at the stopwatch in his hand, his smile fading into something quieter.

"Hey, Zik," Aiden said, turning the stopwatch over in his palm. "You ever think about what you're working toward? Like… what all this training and effort is really for?"

Zik shrugged. "To be a hero, I guess. Someone who keeps their promises and helps people. You?"

Aiden hesitated, rubbing the edge of the stopwatch with his thumb. "I don't know if I've ever thought about it that much. For the longest time, I've just… gone with the flow, you know? Training because I can, using my abilities because it's fun, hanging out because it's easy. But… this stopwatch, my grandfather… he was all about doing things with purpose, even small things. He didn't talk about being a hero, but he always said the way you live day-to-day matters as much as the big moments."

Zik tilted his head, curious. "So… what's your purpose?"

Aiden laughed, scratching the back of his head. "That's the thing. I don't have some big, dramatic goal like saving the world or becoming the next Peak. But today, with you sticking by me, I realized maybe it doesn't have to be big. Maybe it's enough to make a promise to yourself to just… do right by the people around you."

"That's not small," Zik said. "That's hero stuff."

Aiden smirked, his usual confidence returning. "Alright, then. How about this? I promise to keep showing up for the people who matter. No flaking, no excuses, no 'I'll do it later.' If I say I'm in, I'm in."

Zik nodded, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sounds like an oath to me."

"Guess it is," Aiden said, pocketing the stopwatch. "Small dream, big effort. That's how it starts, right?"

"Right," Zik agreed. "And if you mess up, don't worry. I'll remind you. Constantly."

Aiden laughed, shoving him lightly. "Deal. And if you trip over that cursed shirt one more time, I'll glue it to the ceiling myself."

As they parted ways, Zik couldn't help but feel like they'd both taken a step forward, not just as friends but as heroes in their own way. Aiden's promise wasn't flashy, but it was real, grounded in who he was and who he wanted to be. And Zik? He'd make sure they both kept their word, one small dream at a time.

As Zik walked home, he decided to pull up his Hero System's status window. After everything that had happened with Aiden, he was curious to see where he stood. The familiar translucent screen appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the evening light.

Zik's Status Window

Level: 6

EXP: 85% to Level 7

---

Abilities

1. Super Speed

Grade: D

Level: 4

Description: Allows Zik to move at speeds up to 90 km/h, with enhanced reaction time and agility.

Recent Upgrades: Can sustain high speeds for longer without fatigue; improved control at top speeds.

2. Regeneration

Grade: D

Level: 5

Description: Passively heals injuries over time, with accelerated recovery for minor wounds and bruises.

Recent Upgrades: Faster recovery rate; improved stamina during combat; ability to quickly heal moderate injuries.

3. Telekinesis

Grade: D

Level: 2

Description: Allows manipulation of objects within a medium radius. Effective for creating obstacles and managing objects in combat.

Recent Upgrades: Enhanced control and range; improved focus during intense situations.

4. Super Intelligence

Grade: C

Level: 2

Description: Boosts analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and complex processing speed, allowing Zik to learn and adapt quickly.

Recent Upgrades: Can sustain high-level focus for longer durations without mental fatigue; sharpens accuracy in complex skills.

5. Stealth

Grade: E (Previously F)

Level: 2

Description: Allows Zik to blend into shadows and move quietly, making it harder for others to detect him in low-visibility situations.

Recent Upgrades: Minor grade upgrade to E, improving effectiveness in low-light areas and reducing detection radius.

6. Crafting

Grade: F

Level: 2

Description: Enables Zik to dismantle and assemble items, creating basic gear with minor enhancements. Has a low chance of imbuing F-grade abilities into items.

Recent Upgrades: Faster dismantling (Auto Dismantle); improved efficiency and speed when crafting with multiple abilities (Auto Produce).

---

Skills

1. Speed Strike

Level: 4

Description: A high-speed attack that combines Zik's Super Speed with a concentrated punch, maximizing impact.

Recent Upgrades: Increased power and accuracy; less energy drain per strike.

2. Power Strike

Level: 2

Description: A stronger-than-average punch or kick, ideal for breaking through defenses or delivering a strong blow in combat.

3. Calf Kick

Level: 1

Description: A precise, low kick targeting an opponent's leg to disrupt balance.

4. Spinning Speed Kick

Level: 1

Description: A powerful spinning back kick enhanced by Super Speed, combining rotational force with speed for a devastating impact.

---

Inventory

1. Reinforced Gloves

Special Property: Enhanced Grip (F-grade Ability) — Boosts grip strength, aiding in holding onto objects and resisting disarms.

2. Padded Bracers

Special Property: Deflect (F-grade Ability) — Minor chance to deflect small projectiles, helpful in tight situations.

3. Utility Belt

Special Property: None, but provides storage for small tools, materials, and crafting components.

4. Reinforced Boots

Special Property: Shock Absorb (F-grade Ability) — Reduces impact when landing from jumps or falls, improving agility.

5. Lightweight Cloak

Special Property: None, but complements Stealth by helping Zik blend in low-light environments.

6. Stamina Shoes

Special Property: Endurance Boost (F-grade Ability) — Grants a minor endurance boost, useful for prolonged physical activity.

---

Zik couldn't help but smile as he read the notification about Stealth getting its minor grade upgrade to E. It wasn't a massive leap, but it showed he was making progress, slowly turning even his weaker abilities into reliable tools even though he never heard of an E grade ability, must be the peak of an F ability.

"Alright, one step closer," Zik said, closing the window. "Maybe I'll stop tripping over my own feet someday. Or not."

He chuckled to himself as he walked on, ready for whatever challenges the Hero System would throw at him next.