The Hero Code

The next morning, Zik pulled his cursed yellow shirt from his closet, hesitating only briefly before slipping it on. He'd seen enough to know this shirt brought misfortune, but it also brought him challenges — and right now, he was ready for both. Today, he wouldn't avoid the obstacles in his path. He'd face them head-on, even if he had to scrape his way through. He tugged at the shirt, half-grinning to himself as he braced for whatever the day would throw at him.

Stepping outside, Zik felt the morning sun on his face, the chill of the early hours mixing with his anticipation. As he walked, he kept his senses alert, scanning his surroundings. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a small figure up ahead: an older woman clutching a purse, her frail hand barely holding onto it. And then — a masked figure darted forward, snatching the purse and tearing down the street.

Zik felt the familiar thrill of a quest notification pop up:

> New Quest: Catch and Interrogate the Thief

Objective: Retrieve the purse and question the suspect and the victim.

Reward: +30 EXP

Without a second thought, Zik activated Super Speed and sprinted after the thief. The world blurred around him as he closed in on the masked figure, his heart racing. Within seconds, he'd caught up, tackling the thief to the ground in one swift move.

"Gotcha!" Zik shouted, feeling a rush of victory.

But as he wrestled the purse from the thief's grip, he felt something unexpected: a sudden, sharp pain in his back. Stumbling forward, he turned around in shock just in time to see the old lady — the supposed victim — staring him down with a twisted smile. Her wrinkled features shifted and morphed, her frail form transforming into a completely different person. Zik's jaw dropped. A shapeshifter!

"What…?" he managed, confusion clouding his thoughts.

Then, before he could react, a figure landed in front of him with a thud, sending a shockwave of dust through the air. Zik looked up, his eyes widening as he recognized the new arrival. It was a man dressed in a familiar superhero costume — one he'd seen dozens of times on social media and YouTube, where the so-called "hero" posted flashy videos of his "heroic" exploits. He was a local sensation, a public icon known for his super strength and carefully curated stunts.

Zik scrambled to his feet, still clutching the purse, his mind racing. He stared at the man, feeling a strange mix of admiration and disappointment.

"What's going on?" Zik demanded. "Are you actually working with this thief?"

The hero looked at him, chuckling with a smug grin. "Oh, kid, don't you get it? This is the show. People eat this up. Why waste time chasing real criminals when I can make a quick setup with a friend here?" He gestured to the shapeshifter, who grinned and waved mockingly.

Zik's fists clenched, anger bubbling up inside him. "That's against the first hero code! The most important one — 'don't lie!'"

The man rolled his eyes, chuckling, clearly amused. "Oh, those codes. Kid, they're just stories we tell children. All those so-called rules are just to give people a nice fantasy. This world doesn't care about truth. It cares about spectacle. Look around — people love the act. They love us. Fame, money, respect… that's what it's about. All the other heroes you see? Most of them are just actors playing a role."

Zik felt his heart sink. This was what it meant to be a hero? All the dreams he'd held onto felt hollow in that moment. Fame, respect, money — he wanted those things, too. But he wanted them for something real, not for putting on a performance.

He took a breath, standing a little taller as he looked the so-called hero in the eye. "I want those things, too," he said, voice steady. "But I don't see why I can't want them for doing something real."

The hero raised an eyebrow, his grin faltering for a split second. Zik noticed it, a crack in the confidence. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and unfollowed the hero's account right there. It was a small gesture, but it felt like reclaiming a piece of his own dignity.

The hero's face turned to stone, the grin completely gone now. "You think you're better than me, kid?" he sneered. "You're just some nobody in an ugly yellow shirt, trying to be something you're not." His expression twisted into something darker, angrier. Without warning, he lunged forward, fist swinging. "Let's see how real you think this is!"

Zik barely had time to react before the punch landed, sending him sprawling to the ground. The hero's super strength was no joke. Zik could feel the bruises forming instantly, but he wasn't about to back down. He activated Regeneration, pushing himself back up, and threw his own punch, channeling Speed Strike with everything he had. His fist connected, and for a moment, the hero staggered, caught off guard.

But the hero recovered quickly, his face twisted with irritation. "That all you've got?" He advanced, landing blow after blow. Zik fought back with every skill he had, his calf kicks and Speed Strike barely making a dent. His Regeneration worked overtime, keeping him conscious, but he knew he was outmatched.

Just as the hero was about to throw a final punch, two of his fellow "actors" stepped in, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him back.

"Come on, man, you've already made your point," one of them said, clearly uncomfortable. "Let's get out of here before people start asking questions."

The hero gave Zik one last sneer, leaning close. "You're lucky they're stopping me. But remember this, kid: you don't get anywhere by being real. That's not how this world works."

As they walked away, Zik lay on the ground, bruised but alive. His system flashed with notifications:

> Regeneration leveled up! Now Level 4.

Speed Strike leveled up! Now Level 4.

He forced himself to his feet, feeling the aches in his body but refusing to let them break him. Maybe he didn't have fame, respect, or a flashy following. Maybe he didn't have anything but a cursed shirt and a lot of bruises. But he still had his goal, and he still had his own truth.

He dusted himself off, looking in the direction the hero had gone, and clenched his fists. If people loved a show, he'd give them one. But it wouldn't be fake. He'd make sure that one day, they'd remember his name — not because he was the loudest or the flashiest, but because he was the real thing.

As he was healing and standing once more, he set off for school. After yesterday's bruising encounter with the "hero," he felt tired but determined. School was a routine, sure, but right now he had nowhere else to be. If he could pick up quests, level up his abilities, and maybe learn a thing or two, then it was better than wandering around with no direction.

Besides, he thought with a wry grin, he could always blame the shirt if things went sideways. This cursed yellow shirt seemed to have a knack for stirring up trouble, and trouble was one thing he could count on to push him forward.

As he walked through the gates, Zik felt the stares of a few classmates, the faint whispers and laughs as he passed by. He wasn't exactly popular, but he was learning to let it slide. He just kept his head down, determined to avoid provoking anyone. But it didn't seem to matter. Fate — or maybe just the bad luck radiating from his shirt — had other plans.

During lunch, a student from one of the upper grades brushed past him in the hallway, purposefully shouldering him into the wall. Zik clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to retaliate. He reminded himself of his new skills, his growth. Fighting these petty battles wouldn't get him closer to his goal. Still, the constant taunts and shoves were wearing him down.

Then, as if the universe decided to cut him a break, he felt his system ping with a notification during his afternoon classes. It was something small, but every bit of EXP counted.

> New Quest: Focused Study

Objective: Complete your homework and engage with classwork actively.

Reward: +20 EXP

Zik let out a quiet sigh of relief. A straightforward quest, something he could actually complete without getting hit or embarrassed. With Super Intelligence on his side, he dove into his homework, finding that equations and sentences he'd once struggled with were now much easier to handle. When the teacher handed out a pop quiz, he felt that surge of confidence again. Super Intelligence made each question feel like a puzzle he was solving effortlessly.

He focused on each problem with a new level of clarity, and as he filled in the answers, he could feel his ability sharpening. With every correct response, he was gaining something, growing stronger in a way that didn't leave him with bruises or cuts.

As he handed in his quiz, he saw a small notification pop up:

> Super Intelligence leveled up! Now Level 2.

He couldn't help but smile to himself. Leveling up from something as simple as studying felt good, different from the fights and physical training that usually left him feeling beat up. It was proof that he could progress in multiple ways, that his abilities weren't just for combat but for bettering himself in every way.

Zik left class that day feeling an unfamiliar sense of satisfaction. He'd leveled up his mind, faced challenges without needing his fists, and for once, the cursed shirt hadn't led him into disaster. Maybe he was starting to find a balance, a way to move forward without relying on trouble alone.

As he walked home, Zik realized that being seen didn't have to mean being the loudest or the strongest. Sometimes, it just meant standing firm and moving forward, one small victory at a time.

The next day, Zik sat in his math class, waiting as the teacher passed back their pop quizzes. He felt a faint surge of anticipation, a sense that his efforts with Super Intelligence might finally be paying off. When he glanced down at his paper, his heart skipped a beat. He'd scored a mark equal to that of the first in class — a kid named Brian who, up until now, had held the top position without competition.

Brian was more than just a top student; he had a reputation. His Super Intelligence was Level 15 and Grade D, a rare and highly developed ability. In a school where few had managed to unlock even Level 5 on any ability, he was known as the untouchable "brainiac" who stayed at the top. But now, for the first time, he was sharing the top score with someone else… and it was Zik, a "nobody" who had seemingly come out of nowhere.

As the class buzzed around him, Zik noticed Brian staring at him, his gaze sharp and unreadable. Zik did his best to ignore it, but as he left the classroom, he felt someone's presence following him through the halls. He turned and found himself face-to-face with Brian, his expression a mixture of shock and anger.

"What did you do?" Brian asked, his voice laced with irritation. "Did you cheat? There's no way you matched my score."

Zik blinked, genuinely taken aback. "I didn't cheat. I just… recently unlocked Super Intelligence, that's all. But it's only Grade F."

Brian's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Zik thought he saw a flicker of… something. Frustration? Envy? It didn't make sense; Brian's Super Intelligence was a whole eleven levels above Zik's, and a few grades higher, too. But for some reason, his face twisted in anger.

"So you're telling me you're catching up with me, a random loser I can't even remember? With a Grade F ability?" Brian's tone was icy, his fists clenched at his sides. Without warning, he reached out, his eyes glinting as a wave of invisible energy hit Zik. Zik staggered back, his vision swimming as he realized Brian was using Telekinesis.

Zik blinked, trying to process what was happening, his mind reeling. Telekinesis, and at Grade B — Brian wasn't just intelligent, he was powerful. Zik felt the pressure of Brian's ability, like a weight pressing down on him, each wave trying to overwhelm his senses.

"Just admit it," Brian sneered, leaning closer. "Tell everyone you cheated. Admit you'll never actually catch up to me."

Zik forced himself to steady his breathing, trying to focus as his system flashed a new notification:

> New Quest: Defeat Brian

Objective: Win the battle of wits and level up Super Intelligence to Grade C.

Reward: +50 EXP and Ability Upgrade.

Zik felt his nerves steady, a newfound determination flaring within him. He looked up at Brian, feeling a quiet resolve build. "I didn't cheat, Brian," he said calmly. "Maybe you're just upset because you think someone's finally catching up to you."

The remark hit a nerve. Brian's face twisted with rage, and the invisible pressure of Telekinesis intensified. Zik could feel his limbs growing heavy, his mind clouding as Brian forced more focus into his attack. But Zik realized that Brian was channeling Telekinesis with raw strength, not finesse. He was leaving gaps — opportunities that Zik's sharpening Super Intelligence was beginning to spot.

Stay calm, stay focused, he told himself. Zik started sidestepping the attacks, predicting the next wave before it landed, using Brian's erratic movements to anticipate where the force would come from next. With each dodge, Zik could feel his Super Intelligence working overtime, mapping out patterns, finding loopholes. His head ached, but he pushed through, piecing together a way to turn the tide.

"Brian," Zik said, breathing heavily but standing his ground, "maybe you're scared of something, too. Not of me, but of losing the title you've built for yourself. You're so focused on being at the top that you're not even using your power right."

Brian's face paled, his composure cracking as Zik continued. "People have achieved amazing things without Super Intelligence. Hard work doesn't just come from powers; it comes from effort, from learning how to handle losing as much as winning."

Brian clenched his jaw, struggling to keep control. Zik, sensing his hesitation, took a final step forward, using the same calm tone. "Look, you're stronger than me, and maybe you'll stay that way. But holding on to this insecurity? It doesn't suit you. If you want to stay at the top, then make it real. Don't hide behind excuses."

For a moment, Brian seemed speechless, the telekinetic pressure lifting as he dropped his hands, his eyes narrowing with a mix of confusion and self-reflection. The tension faded as he muttered something under his breath and turned away, too frustrated to respond. Zik watched him walk off, feeling a strange sense of victory, not from winning a fight but from standing his ground with a real challenge.

As Brian disappeared down the hall, a notification flashed in Zik's vision:

> Quest Complete!

Reward: +50 EXP and Ability Upgrade

Super Intelligence leveled up! Now Grade C.

Zik felt the familiar warmth of leveling up spread through him, his mind clearer than ever. He hadn't just leveled up an ability; he'd stood toe-to-toe with someone more powerful, relying on his wits rather than brute strength. He knew now that his journey wasn't just about gaining abilities or leveling up. It was about facing the fears that had once seemed insurmountable, and finding a way to make his own mark.

With a final, quiet confidence, Zik turned and headed back to class, feeling for the first time that maybe he didn't need to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe he could bring the light with him, wherever he chose to go.