Chapter 4: Character Drop
POV: Zai
---
The system didn't even give me time to breathe.
As I stared into the grimy school bathroom mirror, the air wavered in front of me again. Another system message slid into place like a game alert—except I wasn't sitting with a controller.
------
------
[LEVEL 2 REACHED — REWARD UNLOCKED]
You have been awarded 3 Random Smash Character Skill Fragments.
Each has been modified to accommodate your human physiology.
I caught my breath as three icons flashed in quick succession, a blur like a roulette wheel.
They came to a halt individually.
[DROP 1: Captain Falcon – Falcon Dash (Human Version)]
[DROP 2: Mario – Fireball Throw (Basic)]
[DROP 3: Sheik – Needle Shot (Single Thread)]
The system then followed with a breakdown:
1. FALCON DASH (Human Variant)
A shoulder charge with burst speed over short distance. Does not explode or catch fire but can knock enemies off balance.
Cooldown: 8 seconds.
Stamina Cost: Medium.
Use Case: To use for quick escapes, shoulder tackles, or to initiate a surprise hit.
2. FIREBALL THROW (Basic)
Hurl a small, heated energy orb forward. Travels in a straight line, weak but can distract or cause light burn.
Cooldown: 10 seconds.
Stamina Cost: Low.
Use Case: Useful for ranged pressure or last-ditch ranged attacks.
3. NEEDLE SHOT (Single Thread)
Throw a single hyper-thin needle with high velocity. Accurate but does low damage unless aimed at sensitive points.
Cooldown: 6 seconds.
Stamina Cost: Very low.
Use Case: Accuracy device. Ideal to use from mid-range to aim strategically.
[Tip: Skills build with use. Keep fighting. Stay awake.]
I took slow breaths, shivering with my hands. Not out of fear. Out of possibility. Fireballs? Dashes? Frickin' needles?
But none of that could possibly prepare me for what happened next.
AFTER SCHOOL — 3:45 PM
Today had been weirdly quiet following the morning.
Guys stared. Others hushed. Even Evan cleaned me up between periods. I wasn't invisible for once. But being seen was not safe. DeShawn was not a boy you messed with.
So when the final bell rang, I tried to sneak out ahead of time. Took the stairs in back, bag closed, hoodie up.
Didn't work.
"You really thought I was finished with you, huh?
DeShawn was posted by the back door, arms crossed, two of his entourage standing guard to either side of him. I could sense that same tension again—the kind that leads to a fight erupting in Smash.
-----
SOCIAL THREAT DETECTED — POTENTIAL COMBAT ENCOUNTER
[Objective: Stay alive. Employ system skills as appropriate.]
"I ain't lookin' for problems, bro," I attempted to walk around him.
He stood in my way.
"You embarrassed me in front of everyone, little guy. You owe it to me."
Then—as if he was making a point—he shoved me hard in the chest.
I stepped back—off balance—and my heel caught the edge of the concrete steps.
There were five concrete steps behind me. Straight drop to the sidewalk.
I fell—
[DANGER: FALL DETECTED – SYSTEM INTERVENTION AVAILABLE]
[ACTIVATE: EDGE RECOVERY? (Y/N)]
Y.
There was time. Time crawled. Time slowed again.
My body twisted mid-fall. A blue tether of energy snapped back with me, like a character stuck to a platform. I landed perfectly on the last step, crouched low, balanced, safe.
Even DeShawn stood transfixed.
"What the hell…?"
[PASSIVE SKILL USED: EDGE RECOVERY (Lv. 1)]
Remaining Uses Today: 0
I slowly got up.
"Don't do that again."
His boys did not find this amusing either. They backed off.
I was done playing defense.
"Falcon Dash," I mouthed to myself.
[FALCON DASH – ACTIVATED]
A quick surge of energy coursed through my legs as I rushed in, shoulder-first. I smashed into DeShawn's side with a firm thud—no anime-style business, but for real. Hurts. He hit the wall behind him with a grunt.
The boys retreated—
[FIREBALL THROW – ACTIVATED]
I hurled a small orange fireball from my right hand. It sputtered out in mid-air but incinerated the grass and halted both of them.
"Yo—this dude's got abilities!"
They ran away.
DeShawn backed off, breathing heavily.
I didn't chase after them. I didn't gloat.
I just stood there—panting, system still glowing weakly in my eyes.
[COMBAT SUCCESSFUL]
+30 EXP
LEVEL UP PROGRESS: 65% → 95%
Skill Growth Chance: FALCON DASH → Lv. 2 (Increased Range)
I stood up to DeShawn, and I knew something.
I wasn't scared anymore.
Not of him. Not of the system.
Not even of what I was becoming.