POV: Zai
I laid there, flat on my back, staring at the ceiling of my room. Sweat clung to my skin like armor I couldn't shed. That trial… It felt like I'd fought gravity itself.
But I won.
I survived.
And I leveled up.
[LEVEL 4 REACHED]Passive Slot Unlocked. Skill Cooldowns Reduced. Stat Sync Improved.
"Yeah," I muttered. "Time to see what all that really means."
🧠 SYSTEM MENU: OPEN
→ [STATS]→ [SKILLS]→ [PASSIVE SLOT: EMPTY]
📊 ZAI — LEVEL 4 STATUS PANEL
EXP: 180/200Current Rank: Human (Enhanced)Stat Sync Level: +10% Agility, +10% Perception
🔷 CORE STATS
STRENGTH: 5– Average for a teen, slightly enhanced by system muscle memoryAGILITY: 7 (+10% from Sync Boost)– Reflexes now edge above human averageSTAMINA: 6– Can fight at high output for short burstsPERCEPTION: 6 (+10% from Sync Boost)– Enhanced reaction time, motion awarenessTECHNIQUE CONTROL: 5– Governs timing for perfect parries, dodges, and charge releasesCOOLDOWN REDUCTION: 3 (NEW STAT from Passive Sync)– All active skills now cool down ~10% faster
I whistled. These weren't superhuman stats—but they weren't normal either.
A few more levels, and I'd be fighting like a tournament-level pro.
🎮 ACTIVE SKILLS (12 SLOTS UNLOCKED)
Basic Punch (Smash Variant)– A direct, forward punch with slightly exaggerated knockback.– Cooldown: 1s → 0.9s
Short Dodge Roll– Quick lateral roll. Invincibility frames if timed right.– Cooldown: 4s → 3.6s
Parry (Frame-Perfect)– Must be timed within a 0.3s window to nullify damage.– Cooldown: 5s → 4.5s
System Scan (Lv. 1)– Read threat level, scan basic target data.– Cooldown: 8s → 7.2s
Falcon Dash (Lv. 1)– Short burst of high-speed movement. Slight shock impact.– Cooldown: 10s → 9s
Fireball Throw (Mario Variant – Lv. 1)– Small fireball that arcs and burns lightly.– Cooldown: 8s → 7.2s
Needle Shot (Sheik Variant – Lv. 1)– Quick, sharp projectile. Low damage, great for spacing.– Cooldown: 6s → 5.4s
Charge Shot (Samus – Condensed Variant)– Small, focused energy shot.– Charge Time: 2s– Cooldown: 12s → 10.8s
KO Counter (Little Mac – Light Read)– Auto-retaliation if timed perfectly.– Cooldown: 15s → 13.5s
Egg Shield (Yoshi – Single Use per level)– One-time hard defense.– Recharge: Only refilled on level up or system recharge.
Quick Zap (Pikachu Variant – Lv. 1)– Short burst electric stun.– Cooldown: 7s → 6.3s
Paint Dash (Inkling Variant – Lv. 1)– Slip-slide dash with an ink trail that reduces opponent traction.– Cooldown: 9s → 8.1s
Aura Vision (Lucario Passive – Lv. 1)– See hostile intent as red outlines.– Duration: 10s– Cooldown: 20s → 18s
I paused at the bottom of the list.
Wait.
The system moved one of my active skills into the new slot.
🧩 PASSIVE SLOT UNLOCKED
Aura Vision (Lucario Passive – Lv. 1) has been automatically assigned to Passive Slot.
– Allows always-on awareness without burning an active slot.– Hostile presences glow faint red when Aura Vision is on.– Controlled via mental toggle: ON/OFF– Enhanced by perception stat.
I turned it on.
Suddenly, my room shifted. I could feel the buzz of motion through the window. The light hum of someone walking outside on the street—even two apartments away—flared red in the back of my mind. Not because they were enemies, but because they could become one.
It was subtle. But I knew.
I could never be snuck up on again.
[NEW FEATURE NOTE – Passive Slot (1/1)]→ Passive slot upgrades to 2 at Level 10→ Aura-type and "Always-On" skills are best optimized here→ Using passives improves long-term synchronization
I sat up straighter, a grin forming.
Cooldowns shorter. Skills growing. New awareness.
And only one level away from something even bigger:
Subordinate Creation.
What the hell was that gonna look like?
Would I summon allies? Like… actual CPU fighters?
Could I build a team?
A crew?
I leaned back and opened my window, the D.C. breeze hitting my face like a reset button.
Whatever this system was, it wasn't just changing how I fought—it was changing me.
One level at a time.