The Hero Code

After a grueling session completing the Hero's Warm-Up, Zik collapsed onto the mat, utterly exhausted. He'd pushed through every exercise — the 100 push-ups, the sit-ups, the squats, and even the 10-kilometer run, each step and rep fueled by his desire to finally gain super strength or at least a hint of it.

But when he checked the Hero System interface, he saw:

> Quest Complete!

Reward: +30 EXP.

That was it. No +1 Strength, no speed boost, no increase in stamina — just the experience points.

Zik's blood boiled as he stared at the screen. All that hard work, and just experience points? he thought, his fists clenching. He'd imagined his biceps bulging and his legs stronger than ever, but here he was, still the same Zik, minus a bit of energy and patience.

"This is ridiculous!" he shouted aloud, directing his frustration straight at the Hero System. "I just did all that, and I don't get any super strength or speed? Are you kidding me?!"

The Hero System, surprisingly, responded.

> "Hero can create one ability per level."

"Current level: 2. Current abilities: Stealth, Regenerate."

Zik blinked in surprise. "Wait… I can create an ability every time I level up?"

The system seemed to confirm it with a quiet, pulsing glow. Suddenly, he felt the gears turning in his mind. At Level 2, he was allowed two abilities, and since he already had Stealth and Regenerate, that was his current limit. If he wanted more, he'd need to reach Level 3 and unlock the next slot.

He grinned, feeling a renewed surge of determination. This wasn't just about training for stats — it was about unlocking potential, about carefully choosing and creating abilities to shape himself into a true hero. The idea sent a thrill through him.

"Alright," he said, clenching his fists in resolve. "If I'm going to earn strength and speed, then I'll build the abilities myself. And this time, I'll make sure I pick something useful."

In that moment, he knew he'd found a new goal: not just training blindly, but leveling up strategically, crafting the abilities he needed to survive and thrive in this world.

Zik realized his path forward depended on leveling up, and that meant earning more EXP. He needed to hit Level 3 so he could finally craft an ability that would bring him closer to the powers he'd dreamed of. But how? Completing quests was the only way he knew to earn EXP, and that meant he needed to find a way to trigger one.

"Alright, Hero System," he muttered, scanning through the interface for any hint or clue on how to activate quests. He was met with the same simple layout, his stats, and the Hero's Warm-Up quest listed as "completed." Nothing hinted at the next quest, no blinking icon or notification.

Zik frowned, then decided to experiment. He jogged outside the gym and looked around, trying to think of something that might trigger the system. Maybe I need to be in certain places… or maybe it's based on actions I take?

He spotted an alleyway nearby, where a few shady figures huddled in a circle, murmuring to each other. Instinctively, he felt a bit wary, but then an idea crossed his mind. If quests involve risks, maybe I need to take a risk myself.

With a deep breath, Zik took a few steps toward the alley. Almost immediately, he felt a twinge in his mind, a soft notification sound.

> New Quest Unlocked: Street Patrol!

Objective: Observe the group in the alley and determine if a threat is present.

Reward: 10 EXP.

Failure: -5 Health.

Zik smirked. Looks like it worked. His heart thumped with excitement. He was finally on the right track — if he could trigger quests on his own, he might actually have a shot at leveling up quickly.

Determined, he activated Stealth, the skill he'd unlocked previously, and crept forward, his footsteps nearly silent. He edged closer to the group, his mind focused on the objective. Maybe if he observed enough "threats," he'd be able to complete even bigger quests, stacking EXP until he hit Level 3.

As he listened in on their conversation, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of pride. This was his path, his way to becoming the hero he'd always dreamed of, and each step brought him closer to crafting the power that would finally set him free from the bottom ranks.

As Zik activated Stealth and crept closer, his heart pounded in his chest, loud enough that he worried the group might hear it. The alley was dimly lit, casting shadows over the figures who seemed completely engrossed in their conversation. Zik swallowed, nerves getting the better of him as he crept closer, straining to hear what they were saying.

The air felt tense, charged with a kind of unease he couldn't quite place. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he positioned himself behind a trash can, close enough now that he could make out their hushed voices.

One of the figures, a tall man with a hood drawn low over his face, glanced around before leaning in to whisper something to the others. Zik held his breath, every muscle on edge, terrified that even a slight move might give him away. He could just make out snippets of their conversation.

"We'll make our move… tonight. No witnesses."

Zik's stomach dropped. No witnesses? His mind raced. He'd stumbled onto something serious, something dangerous. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but the system's quest still hovered in his field of vision, urging him forward. Observe the group… determine if a threat is present.

Swallowing hard, he leaned in closer, desperately trying to catch the rest of the conversation. Every word felt loaded with danger, every second ticking by felt like it could be his last. But he needed that EXP, needed to complete the quest and level up.

"We strike at… midnight," the tall man continued. "I'm thinking… extra pepperoni this time."

Zik blinked, his mind scrambling to process what he'd just heard. Pepperoni?

Another figure chimed in, "I'm more of a mushrooms guy. Last time we ordered without asking me, and it's not cool. Not cool at all."

Zik felt his tension slip as he stared, realization dawning on him. They weren't plotting a heist or some sinister ambush—they were debating toppings for a pizza order. He stifled a laugh, but it was hard to keep quiet. The whole scene was so absurd that it was hard to believe he'd been so scared.

And then, in his silent laughter, he stumbled backward, knocking over a pile of cans. The noise echoed through the alley, and all three of the "mysterious" figures whipped around, startled.

"Hey! Who's there?" one of them shouted, squinting into the darkness.

Zik panicked, instinctively crouching lower, but it was too late. The men spotted him, confusion mixing with irritation on their faces. One of them, the tall "ringleader," rolled his eyes. "Kid, you're spying on us… for a pizza order?"

The others burst into laughter, and Zik's face flushed red. He didn't even know what to say. He'd been trying to complete a quest for EXP, thinking he was in some dangerous situation, and here they were, just hungry guys bickering over pizza toppings.

Without another word, Zik mumbled an apology, bolting out of the alley as fast as he could. The laughter of the group echoed behind him, but he couldn't stop himself from grinning. The Hero System notification appeared again:

> Quest Complete!

Reward: 10 EXP.

He might not have saved the day, but at least he'd earned his points and learned a valuable lesson: not every shadow hides danger. Sometimes, it's just pizza toppings.

As Zik sprinted out of the alley, cheeks still burning from embarrassment, he thought back to his days in class at the academy. One of the earliest lessons had drilled into them the importance of the Second Code—a fundamental rule taught to every would-be hero:

"Avoid much assumption, for assumption can be sin."

It was simple enough on paper, yet surprisingly hard to follow in practice. And tonight, he'd learned that firsthand. He'd leaped to conclusions about the "shady figures," convincing himself they were plotting something sinister when they were really just arguing over pizza toppings. It was a reminder that sometimes, diving into assumptions could leave you red-faced—or worse.

But, then again, he'd earned EXP for it. Even if I made a fool of myself, I leveled up, he mused, slowing his pace as he replayed the incident in his mind. Maybe I just need to be more careful… or not care at all, he rationalized with a shrug. If spying gives me EXP, I should do it a bunch more times…

A mischievous grin crept over his face as he considered the possibilities. He could watch people, lurk around, and if anyone asked, well, he'd just say it was "field training." After all, he hadn't been totally wrong—he had picked up on a gathering in the alley. If he kept at it, maybe his observation skills would level up, too. Besides, he reasoned to himself, I'll stop if I find it's definitely a bad thing.

Within minutes, he found himself near a row of street vendors. A small crowd had gathered around one vendor who was performing a magic trick with cups and a ball, moving his hands rapidly as he challenged onlookers to guess where the ball was hidden.

Zik slipped into the shadows, activating Stealth again as he crouched behind a trash bin. He watched intently, carefully following each move the man made. The Hero System pinged softly in his mind, registering his actions.

> Observation in Progress.

Objective: Determine if any deceptive activities are taking place.

Reward: 5 EXP.

Zik's heart skipped a beat in excitement. Another quest! He leaned forward, studying the vendor's movements closely. The cups moved faster and faster, almost a blur. Zik squinted, trying to keep up, and just as the cups stopped, he caught a quick flick of the vendor's hand, slipping the ball into his pocket.

Busted, Zik thought, satisfied. He had found something after all! A small notification appeared in his field of view:

> Quest Complete!

Reward: 5 EXP.

As he watched, a man placed a bet on the cup, choosing the wrong one. The vendor smirked, pocketing the money and continuing his "performance." Zik chuckled to himself, realizing he'd actually done some good here. Sure, I'm spying, but it's giving me EXP—and I might even be helping some people along the way.

Maybe the Second Code has more layers, he thought, standing up and brushing off his pants. Avoiding assumption isn't just about not jumping to conclusions—it's about staying open to possibilities, and maybe sometimes, those possibilities lead to surprises.

A little wiser and definitely a little braver, Zik decided he'd continue his "field training," learning from each new encounter. After all, it wasn't truly spying if it was for experience and… education. And the more he did it, the closer he'd get to leveling up—and finally creating the super strength he'd always wanted.

Zik's excitement over leveling up and uncovering the con man's trick quickly turned into steely resolve. I need to confront this guy, he thought, taking a deep breath. If he really wanted to be a hero, he couldn't just watch from the shadows forever. He had to act, to use this knowledge and make a difference.

He approached the vendor boldly, interrupting the next trick as the crowd murmured, watching the strange kid step up to the con man.

"Hey!" Zik called out, pointing a finger at the vendor. "I saw what you did—you're hiding the ball in your pocket! You're tricking these people!"

The man raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and turned to face the crowd with a sly smile. "Oh really? And where's your proof, kid?" he asked mockingly.

Zik hesitated for a moment, but then he remembered his Hero System. "I have powers," he declared, trying to sound confident. "I was spying on you with my Hero System, and I saw everything!"

A grin slowly spread across the man's face, his gaze darting between Zik and the crowd. He raised his voice, his tone dripping with false outrage. "Did you hear that, everyone?" he called out, gesturing to Zik. "This kid was using his powers to spy on all of you! Creeping around, watching you without you even knowing it. What a creep!"

The crowd's initial surprise quickly morphed into anger, suspicious looks settling on Zik. People started muttering, shaking their heads in disapproval.

"That's just wrong," someone murmured.

"Yeah, what kind of hero spies on people?" another voice added.

Before Zik could explain himself, the crowd began to close in, a wave of disapproval and fury directed at him. Panic seized him. His Stealth ability was useless against this many people, and running seemed like his only option.

"Hey, kid! Think you can just spy on us and get away with it?" one of the bystanders shouted, shoving him backward. The others seemed all too eager to teach him a lesson, their faces dark with anger.

Run! his mind screamed, and with that thought, a new notification pinged in his field of vision.

> Congratulations!

You have unlocked a new ability: Super Speed!

Level 1: Increased running speed for short distances.

Zik barely had time to register the message before his feet seemed to move on their own, carrying him out of the alley faster than he'd ever run in his life. The crowd chased after him, but Zik was a blur, weaving through the streets at a speed that left them gasping for breath behind him.

Though he'd always dreamed of super strength, the exhilaration of his newfound speed sent a thrill through him. He darted around corners, through alleys, and across streets, barely touching the ground as he raced away from his pursuers.

Eventually, he slowed down, ducking into a quiet alley far from the market square. He leaned against the wall, catching his breath, his heart racing as the excitement and relief flooded over him. He'd escaped, but the lesson was clear: spying was a double-edged sword, and it was clear now that EXP from "creeping" was not worth the risk.

I really need a new way to grind EXP, he thought, wiping the sweat from his forehead. If the crowd had caught him, they'd have made sure he never tried anything like that again.

As he caught his breath, he promised himself he'd find a new approach — one that didn't rely on trickery or sneaking around. After all, he wanted to be a hero, not just a level-up junkie. And if he was going to rise through the ranks, he'd have to do it with honor, not shortcuts.