The Hero Code

Zik woke up early, determined to tackle the Hero's Warm-Up quest again. Even though all he'd gotten was experience points last time, he couldn't afford to skip it. He was painfully aware of the system's threat — failure would mean losing his hair, which he was definitely not willing to risk. He pushed through the 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and even the grueling 10-kilometer run. The exhaustion was brutal, but as he finished, he felt a flicker of satisfaction.

> Quest Complete!

Reward: +30 EXP.

Not exactly a thrilling reward, but he took it anyway. He needed as much EXP as he could get if he was ever going to reach Level 4 and start crafting better abilities.

After a quick shower and breakfast, he made his way to school, feeling a bit sore but determined. He walked through the gates with his usual low profile, hoping to avoid anyone who might provoke him. But, just as he entered the main hallway, a guy he recognized from the higher classes smirked at him and stepped in his way.

"Hey, Zik! You gonna level up today, or still stuck on the tutorial?" The guy was Level 7, and he loomed over Zik with a smug look that made Zik's fingers twitch. He could almost imagine using his Super Speed to dash past him or dodge any swings, but he'd learned his lesson yesterday. Messing with someone that much stronger than him wasn't worth the risk.

Forcing a tight smile, Zik brushed past the guy, ignoring the mocking laughs that followed. His restraint seemed to trigger something within his Hero's Perception, and suddenly a new wave of information flooded his vision.

> Hero's Perception has leveled up!

New Detail Available: Ability and Skill Grades.

Now he could see more than just levels and health bars. He could see that each student's powers and skills were labeled with grades — most of them between D and C, a few hitting B. Zik's own abilities, Stealth and Regenerate, were clearly marked as F-grade. The realization struck him hard. Everyone else has powers that are stronger than mine, he thought, frustration bubbling up. How do I upgrade them?

As he wandered through the hall, lost in thought, Zik began to wonder how skills and abilities differed and if he could create skills from his own limited abilities. His mind raced, forming questions faster than he could answer them. He was so focused on this line of thinking that he barely noticed when he shuffled into his first class of the day.

Ms. Korr, the stern mind-reading teacher, was explaining something at the front, but Zik wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was caught up in trying to decipher what he'd seen. If nobody here has anything above a B-grade power, what does it mean to have something higher? He hadn't even known there was a ranking system for abilities. And why are my abilities graded F?

Just as he was speculating if F-grade abilities were the norm for beginners, a sharp tap on his desk jolted him out of his thoughts.

Zik jolted back to reality as a sharp tap on his desk snapped his attention to the front of the class. Ms. Korr stood before him, arms crossed, her piercing gaze locked on his face.

"I see you're lost in thought again, Mr. Toporiya," she said, her tone a blend of annoyance and amusement that only a teacher could pull off. "Care to share what's so captivating that it's keeping you from today's lesson?"

Zik gulped, feeling the eyes of every student in the class turn toward him. His mind raced for a way to salvage the situation. But then, he saw a notification pop up in his field of vision:

> New Quest: Engage with the Teacher

Objective: Answer a question from Ms. Korr without upsetting her.

Reward: 15 EXP

Failure Penalty: -10 Health (Mental Fatigue)

Swallowing hard, Zik took a deep breath. He had to say something that sounded thoughtful but didn't reveal too much. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I was just thinking about… how people grow and improve. How we get better at things, like, uh… leveling up in life."

Ms. Korr raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "An interesting line of thought," she replied, leaning against her desk. "Improvement is indeed an important part of life. It requires reflection, dedication, and a willingness to challenge oneself."

Zik let out a breath of relief as he saw the notification flash in his vision:

> Quest Complete!

Reward: 15 EXP.

He relaxed slightly, grateful he hadn't messed that one up. But just as he thought the exchange was over, Ms. Korr continued, a slight smile playing on her lips. "That being said, I wonder, Mr. Toporiya, if you understand the true nature of growth. It's not simply about collecting rewards and climbing to the next level." Her gaze sharpened. "It's about recognizing your flaws and working to overcome them."

Zik nodded politely, but the words stirred something in him. Growth wasn't just about leveling up; it was about taking real risks and making tough choices. Ms. Korr was hinting at something deeper — something he knew he had to understand if he ever wanted to be more than just a kid trying to survive.

The bell rang, and Ms. Korr dismissed the class. As Zik gathered his things, he thought back on her words, determined to make sense of them. He needed to find a way to push his abilities beyond F-grade, and the only way to do that might be by truly confronting the things he feared most.

As he walked out of class, a new notification popped up:

> New Quest: Seek True Challenges

Objective: Face real obstacles that test your limits. Push beyond your comfort zone.

Reward: Unlock Ability Upgrades

Zik's heart thumped. This quest sounded different. It wasn't about spying or sneaking around. It was about something bigger, something that might finally help him move from being a powerless underdog to the hero he'd always dreamed of becoming.

Zik mulled over the Seek True Challenges quest as he left Ms. Korr's class. He knew exactly where to start. If he wanted to push himself to his limits, he'd need to confront someone stronger than him, and the Level 7 jerk who'd taunted him earlier was the perfect candidate. Sure, it might hurt, but if he wanted real gains, he couldn't back down anymore.

As soon as he spotted the guy in the hallway, Zik took a deep breath and walked right up to him. The jerk looked down at Zik, smirking. "You lost, Bonehead? Or do you have a death wish?"

"Actually, I'm challenging you to a fight," Zik said, ignoring the nerves gnawing at his stomach. He could practically feel the eyes of students around him turning in interest. "Let's go to the sparring ring. Right now."

The jerk laughed, clearly entertained. "Oh, this is too good. I'll try not to hurt you too badly, kid," he sneered, following Zik down the hall to the academy's training arena.

---

In the sparring ring, Zik could barely contain his nerves as they faced off. His opponent didn't even bother to activate any special abilities, confident that his raw power was more than enough. When the match started, Zik dodged the first blow using his Super Speed, but the jerk was faster than expected. Zik managed to land a few jabs, but each one barely affected the larger boy.

It didn't take long before the jerk caught him off guard, delivering a powerful punch to his side that sent Zik sprawling. Pain flared, and for a moment, he lay on the mat, gasping for breath. But he forced himself back up, gritting his teeth and refusing to stay down.

Each time Zik tried to get close, the guy threw him back down. He knew he was outmatched, but he kept pushing himself to stand, taking hit after hit, until his vision blurred and his legs barely held him up.

Finally, as the match came to an end with Zik clearly beaten, a small notification appeared in his field of vision:

> Congratulations! Regeneration has upgraded to Grade D.

He felt the slightest surge of satisfaction as his bruises began to mend a bit faster, the pain receding slightly. But even as he healed, he realized the grim reality: At this rate, I'm going to be the punching bag hero, he thought bitterly, staggering to his feet as his opponent left the ring with a smirk.

Zik exited the arena, fuming with frustration. He wasn't going to let his only strength be taking hits. He needed offense, not just recovery. He thought back to what he'd noticed about his classmates. Many of them didn't just rely on their primary abilities — they had skills that boosted them further, like the students with super speed who could execute a skill called Fast Punch, delivering multiple blows in seconds. Skills layered on top of abilities, refining and focusing them. If he wanted to stand a chance, he needed to unlock something similar.

Determined, Zik headed straight to the gym. If he wanted offensive skills, he'd need to start training his body like he meant it. He didn't want to be the underdog anymore, and he definitely didn't want to be everyone's favorite punching bag. So he stepped up to the nearest punching bag and began hitting it over and over, pushing through the soreness in his arms, refusing to stop until his fists burned.

Minutes turned into hours as he threw punch after punch, each strike sharper and harder. He channeled his frustration into every hit, the feeling of helplessness from the fight, his frustration with his F-rank powers, and the determination to prove himself. He didn't care if his knuckles throbbed or if his shoulders ached; he was going to train until he unlocked something real.

And then, just as he delivered one final, powerful punch, a notification flashed before him:

> New Skill Unlocked: Power Strike

Level 1: A stronger, more focused punch, increasing impact by 20%.

Zik grinned, his heart pounding with exhilaration. Finally, an offensive skill — something he could actually use to fight back. As he looked at the punching bag, he felt a sense of purpose unlike anything before. He was no longer just taking hits. He was building himself, piece by piece, skill by skill, and this was only the beginning.

As Zik stood there, catching his breath and admiring his new skill, he realized something. He'd just unlocked Power Strike… but he hadn't actually activated his powers when he did it. This was just a well-trained punch — no wonder it still felt normal. He chuckled at himself, half-amused, half-exasperated. So, what happens if I use it with my abilities actually turned on?

Grinning, he activated Super Speed, feeling that familiar rush as the world seemed to slow down around him. The punching bag in front of him swayed gently, almost frozen in time, every detail sharp and clear. With his speed ability coursing through him, he focused on Power Strike, feeling a strange warmth build in his arm as he pulled back his fist, the skill ready to unleash.

He threw the punch, watching as his fist tore through the air, moving faster than he'd ever seen it. His knuckles crashed into the bag with a solid, satisfying impact, sending it swinging wildly, its chain rattling with the force of the blow. The shock from the punch reverberated through his arm, and Zik staggered back, blinking in surprise.

He checked the system screen, and to his amazement, a new notification appeared:

> Skill Combination Unlocked: Speed Strike

Level 1: A powerful, high-speed punch combining Super Speed with Power Strike, increasing impact and speed by 40%.

Zik's eyes widened. So I can combine skills with abilities? He hadn't even considered that as a possibility. It was a massive revelation, opening doors to a whole new way of thinking about his powers. If he could stack skills and abilities, then his current toolkit was just the beginning.

Excitement bubbling inside him, Zik took a few steps back and threw another Speed Strike, watching the bag swing violently as if hit by a sledgehammer. He couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. He was no longer just training blindly; he was creating real power, discovering combinations that could make him a true force to be reckoned with.

And now, armed with Speed Strike, he knew he was on the right path. This wasn't just about taking hits and healing anymore. This was about striking back — and maybe, just maybe, proving to himself and everyone else that he could rise above the bottom tier.

As Zik stood there, catching his breath and grinning at the sheer power of his new Speed Strike, he heard a deep voice from behind him. Turning, he saw a towering man with a broad, muscular build and a calm but intense expression watching him. The man gave a nod, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"That's some serious improvement in a short amount of time," the man said, crossing his arms. "You must be working hard. How about I teach you how to really punch?"

Zik's eyes widened as he activated Hero's Perception to scan the man. To his shock, the man's power was listed as Super Strength, and it was an A-grade ability. He'd never seen anyone with an A-grade ability in person before, let alone Super Strength. In awe, Zik immediately nodded, eager to learn whatever this powerhouse had to teach.

The man stepped up, demonstrating the basics of a jab-cross combination with precision and power. "This is the jab," he explained, showing a quick, straight punch that whipped through the air. "And this is the cross — follow it through with your whole body." The cross was powerful, delivering impact with weight and momentum behind it.

Zik followed along, practicing each punch slowly and focusing on his form as he mirrored the movements. He could feel the difference immediately — the moves had flow and force that his previous punches had lacked. His fists snapped out in sharp jabs, followed by solid crosses, and he could sense the increased control and impact building in his strikes.

"Good, good," the man said, his tone shifting as he watched Zik, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Keep going. Try to pick up speed."

Encouraged, Zik increased his pace, his punches gaining rhythm and momentum. But just as he got into a groove, the man suddenly lunged at him, throwing a playful but powerful punch. Zik barely managed to sidestep, his heart racing as he realized the man was attacking him.

"Come on, show me what you've got!" the man laughed, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and challenge.

Zik instinctively activated Super Speed, his senses sharpening as he dodged another punch, the man's massive fist just missing him. The thrill of the spar surged through him, adrenaline pumping as he realized he was actually sparring with someone who had Super Strength.

"Don't just dodge!" the man bellowed, grinning wide. "Counter! Show me that jab-cross!"

Zik's heart pounded, but he didn't back down. He threw a quick jab at the man, followed by a cross, activating Speed Strike as he did so. His fists connected, sending a shockwave of force rippling through the man's arm. But the man barely budged, laughing as he brushed off the blow.

"Not bad!" he said, a note of genuine approval in his voice. "You've got potential, kid!"

The man continued to throw attacks, each one a test of Zik's reflexes, pushing him to his limits. As they sparred, Zik could feel himself improving with every move, his punches gaining speed and power, his dodges becoming sharper. It was as if he were leveling up in real-time, his skills evolving under the pressure.

After what felt like an eternity, the man finally stepped back, clapping Zik on the shoulder. "You've got guts, kid. Keep working on that jab-cross, and maybe one day you'll be as strong as me."

Zik, drenched in sweat and aching from head to toe, could only grin. This sparring session had pushed him further than anything he'd ever done, and he felt stronger for it.

And as he watched the man walk away, he knew one thing for sure: he was on his way, one punch at a time.