The classroom buzzed with whispers the next day. Everyone had heard. Word traveled faster than wildfire in San Pedro High. James Gun had fought Clint Reyes—and won.
Not with cheap shots. Not with tricks.
He stood his ground and walked away without a scratch on his spirit.
James entered the room like nothing had happened, but his presence changed everything. The silence that followed him now wasn't mockery. It was… respect. Or fear. Maybe both.
Clint wasn't in class.
He didn't show up that morning. Or the next.
James sat in his usual seat and stared at the board while the teacher spoke, but he wasn't listening. Not really.
The system had been quiet all morning.
No new quests. No status alerts. Just stillness.
[System: Awaiting Input]
You have unspent stat points: 1.5
You have unlocked a new trait: Predator's Calm
Trait Description: Remain mentally focused during high-stress encounters. Bonus: Reduced emotion-based stat penalties during combat or intimidation.
James opened his menu mentally and stared at his stats.
[Status]
Name: James Gun
Age: 18
Weight: 99kg
Strength: 1.6
Agility: 1.5
Wisdom: 2.1
Charisma: 1.9
Luck: 5
It hadn't been long. Just days, really. But he already felt the difference.
His heart didn't race the way it used to when people looked at him. His stomach didn't twist at the sound of footsteps behind him. His breath was steady.
[Spend Stat Points?]
You have 1.5 points available.
Let's hold onto them," James whispered to himself. "I'll know when I need them."
The bell rang.
James gathered his things and walked out of the room, ignoring the stares, the quick whispers, the questions. He had no time for that.
Hehad bigger things on his mind.
The rooftop was quiet again.
James stood near the edge, looking out at the town. The distant hills, the clustered homes, the faded blue of the afternoon sky—it all looked the same, but he didn't feel the same.
His body was changing.
So was his soul.
The fight hadn't solved everything. Clint was just one demon. One ghost.
There were others.
He thought of his parents. Of their silence. Their disappointment. Their absence.
Hethought of the mirror, the reflection he used to hate. The fat, scared boy who flinched at shadows and choked back tears every night.
He was still there.
Somewhere inside.
But something new was growing around him.
A second skin. Stronger. Sharper. Focused.
New System Alert]
Milestone Reached: Defying the Alpha System Path Branching Initiated
Path Selection Available]
Your actions have shaped your growth. Choose your path:
1. The Warrior's Path – Focus on combat stats. Gain faster skill progression in physical techniques.
2. The Strategist's Path – Focus on planning, manipulation, and long-term control. Boosts Wisdom and passive income quests.
3. The Phantom's Path – Focus on stealth, precision, and information gathering. Unlocks exclusive stealth-based quests and perks.
James hesitated.
He had to choose.
This would shape everything from here on.
He closed his eyes.
Felt the blood in his veins. Remembered the rooftop. The fists. The pain. The silence afterward.
"I want to win," he muttered. "But not just with fists."
He tapped the option.
[Selected: The Strategist's Path]
[Confirmation…]
Path locked in.
Wisdom +1
Trait Unlocked: Tactical Insight
Skill Tree Unlocked: Mental Fortitude I | Pattern Analysis I
Questline Branch: Rise of the Ghost
A slight shiver crawled up his spine. The air felt colder.
[New Passive Active: Pattern Analysis I]
You gain +10% accuracy in reading enemy behavior.
Weak points and habits will become more visible the longer you observe a target.
Unlocked Questline: Rise of the Ghost]
Objective: Establish dominance in three separate social encounters
Progress: 0/3
Rewards: +2 Wisdom | Reputation Bonus | Strategic Trait Unlocked
James smiled faintly. This wasn't about strength alone anymore.
It was about playing the game better than everyone else.
He looked down at his hands—once shaky and soft, now firm, scarred, and steady
Later that evening, James stood outside a convenience store, sipping water, watching people pass by.
He had been following someone.
Not stalking. Just… watching.
Hadis.
One of Clint's lackeys. Loud. Angry. Easily flustered.
James had been watching him for ten minutes. The way he shoved his friend playfully, talked with his hands, glanced over his shoulder every few seconds. Nervous energy.
[Pattern Analysis: Active]
Behavioral Weakness Detected: Impulsive | Vulnerable to Social Pressure | Prone to Panic in Conflict
James walked forward.
Yo," he called.
Hadis turned fast, startled.
"Gun?"
James didn't flinch. He stepped into Hadis's space, just enough to press tension into the air.
I'm not here to fight," James said calmly. "I'm here to talk."
Hadis scoffed, masking fear with swagger. "What? You wanna square up now that Clint's not around?"
James smiled.
Clint's done. You know it. He won't be the top dog for long."
Hadis narrowed his eyes. "So?"
You can stick with him and go down with the ship—or start thinking smarter."
[Passive Triggered: Predator's Calm]
Enemy Emotion Reading Enhanced
Detected: Fear (42%), Pride (30%), Uncertainty (28%)
"I don't take orders from you," Hadis muttered.
"I didn't give you any," James said, already walking away. "But I will remember this talk. One day, you'll wish you'd listened."
Behind him, Hadis stood frozen, unsure of what had just happened.
James didn't look back.
One down.
Two more to go.
The storm wasn't over.
It had just begun.