Chapter 6: First True Test

Ethan woke up feeling different.

It wasn't just physical. It wasn't just the strength he had gained or the agility that made his movements smoother. It was deeper than that.

For the first time in his life, he felt in control.

As he sat on the edge of his mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling of his apartment, he pulled up the system menu.

[User: Ethan Walker]

[Level: 1]

[Strength: 8]

[Agility: 11]

[Endurance: 9]

[Intelligence: 12]

[Skills: Intimidation (Passive), Analyze (Active)]

[Current SP: 0]

[System Upgrade: Available at 200 SP]

Last night, he had spent everything on unlocking Analyze, and now it was time to see exactly what it could do.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him that his first test subject wouldn't be at school.

It would be the mirror.

He stood up, stretched out his limbs, and walked toward the small, cracked mirror above his desk. His reflection stared back at him, looking just a little sharper than before. His eyes weren't the dull, exhausted ones he had been used to seeing his whole life. They had focus. Intent.

Time to see what the system thought of him.

He activated Analyze.

[Target: Ethan Walker]

[Condition: Healthy]

[Emotional State: Focused, Curious]

[Physical Strength: Slightly above average]

[Agility: Noticeably enhanced]

[Endurance: Developing]

[Mental Resilience: Increasing]

[Potential Weaknesses: None currently detected]

Ethan's lips curled into a small smile.

So, the skill could give him a general breakdown of people. Physical, emotional, and even potential weaknesses. That was useful, but it also meant something else.

If he could see his own weaknesses, then he could also see the weaknesses of others.

And that? That was dangerous.

---

The walk to school felt different.

It wasn't that the streets had changed, or that the sun had decided to shine brighter. It was the way people reacted to him.

They noticed him.

They didn't just brush past him like he was invisible. Some even stepped aside when he walked their way, as if sensing something off about him.

That was the effect of Intimidation. It wasn't overpowering yet, but it was there, pressing on the minds of those weaker than him.

Ethan reached Lincoln High's front entrance, stepping inside and immediately catching the whispers.

"That's him, right?"

"The guy who made Logan look like an idiot?"

"Yeah, but Logan's not gonna let that slide. He's probably planning something."

Ethan ignored them, heading straight to his locker. As he opened it, he pulled up his mission list.

[Daily Missions]

[Complete a full workout – Reward: 20 SP]

[Go an entire day without avoiding eye contact – Reward: 10 SP]

[Win a confrontation – Reward: 30 SP]

[Optional Missions]

[Defeat a stronger opponent – Reward: 100 SP]

[Break an opponent's will – Reward: ???]

He had zero SP right now, which meant today was all about building points.

A light thud against his locker caught his attention. He turned, meeting the smug smirk of Chase Carter. Logan's second-in-command.

Ethan activated Analyze.

[Target: Chase Carter]

[Condition: Healthy]

[Emotional State: Confident, Testing]

[Physical Strength: Above Average]

[Agility: Normal]

[Endurance: High]

[Mental Resilience: Moderate]

[Potential Weaknesses: Slight arrogance, Relies on group power]

Ethan's mind processed the information instantly.

Chase was strong, stronger than Tyler, but he wasn't a leader. He was a follower. His confidence came from who he was standing next to, not who he was.

"Logan sends you now?" Ethan said casually, closing his locker.

Chase scoffed. "Logan doesn't need to send me. Unlike you, I don't have to pick my fights carefully."

Ethan just looked at him.

He held the stare.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Chase's smirk twitched slightly. The first crack.

Ethan didn't blink.

Fifteen seconds.

Chase shifted his weight slightly. "What, you gonna keep staring at me all day?"

"Maybe," Ethan said.

Twenty seconds.

The hallway felt a little quieter.

Chase's body tensed, and Ethan saw it. The hesitation. The moment Chase realized something was off.

He stepped back. Just a little.

But it was enough.

[New Optional Mission: Establish Psychological Dominance]

[Objective: Force an opponent to back down through sheer presence.]

[Reward: 30 SP]

Ethan smiled.

"Nothing to say, Chase?"

The bigger teen let out an irritated breath, rolling his shoulders. "Tch. This shit's boring."

He turned and walked away.

[Mission Complete: Establish Psychological Dominance.]

[Reward Earned: 30 SP.]

Ethan exhaled through his nose, closing his mission menu.

Chase wouldn't be the last.

And Logan?

He was coming.

---

Ethan made his way to the cafeteria, grabbing a tray and taking a seat at an empty table. He wasn't eating, just watching. Studying the way the groups interacted.

The strong ones gathered together. Athletes, rich kids, anyone who had social power.

The weak ones sat alone, or in small clusters, keeping to themselves.

And then there were the outliers.

People who weren't at the top but weren't at the bottom either. People who could be pushed or pulled, depending on who reached them first.

Ethan's eyes flicked toward one table in particular.

Madison Reed.

They had once been friends. Years ago, before high school and status had separated them. She wasn't the most popular girl in school, but she had influence. People listened to her.

If Ethan was going to expand his control, he needed to start somewhere.

A new notification appeared.

[New Optional Mission: Establish a Connection]

[Objective: Begin forming relationships with potential allies or assets.]

[Reward: 20 SP]

Ethan smiled slightly.

The system was pushing him in the same direction he was already thinking.

That only confirmed one thing.

He was on the right path.

Ethan's eyes followed Madison Reed as she sat at her usual table, surrounded by a small group of friends. Unlike Logan and his pack of followers, she wasn't openly cruel or involved in school politics.

She was an observer. Someone who watched everything but rarely took sides.

And that made her valuable.

He activated Analyze.

[Target: Madison Reed]

[Condition: Healthy]

[Emotional State: Neutral, Curious]

[Physical Strength: Below Average]

[Agility: Normal]

[Endurance: Average]

[Mental Resilience: High]

[Potential Weaknesses: Conflict Avoidance, Concern for Reputation]

Ethan tapped his fingers against the table.

So Madison wasn't physically strong, but she wasn't weak either. Her high mental resilience meant she wouldn't be easily manipulated, but her concern for reputation?

That was a crack he could work with.

He had two options.

The direct approach—talk to her, bring up their past friendship, and see if she was open to reconnecting.

Or the indirect approach—create a situation where she had no choice but to interact with him.

Ethan leaned back slightly, considering. He had Intimidation now, but that wasn't the right tool for this. Making Madison afraid of him wouldn't be useful. He needed her to see him as interesting. Unpredictable. Worth paying attention to.

And then an opportunity presented itself.

A girl carrying a tray of food walked past Madison's table, only for someone to stick a foot out and send her crashing to the floor.

Gasps and laughter erupted as mashed potatoes and juice spilled across the cafeteria tiles. The girl, a quiet underclassman Ethan didn't recognize, scrambled to gather her things, her face burning red with embarrassment.

Logan's group laughed the loudest.

Ethan's gaze flicked to Madison.

She wasn't laughing.

She wasn't moving either.

Just watching.

He made his decision.

Ethan stood up.

The cafeteria wasn't silent, but enough people were still focused on the scene that when he walked toward the fallen girl, a few heads turned.

He crouched down, picking up her tray and handing it to her. She hesitated before taking it, avoiding eye contact.

Ethan didn't say anything.

He didn't need to.

The point wasn't about helping her. It was about making everyone see him do it.

A subtle action. Small. But one that challenged the status quo.

And Madison noticed.

Her eyes flickered toward him, just for a second, before she leaned toward one of her friends and whispered something.

Ethan returned to his seat, feeling the ripple effect unfold.

It wasn't about being a hero. It was about control.

Logan and his group enjoyed ruling through fear and humiliation. But Ethan had just proven there was another way to hold power.

One that people weren't expecting from him.

And that unpredictability?

It was his greatest weapon.

[Mission Complete: Establish a Connection]

[Reward Earned: 20 SP]

Ethan smirked.

The game had begun.

The rest of the school day passed without incident, but Ethan could feel the undercurrents shifting around him.

By the time final period ended, he had 50 SP. Not enough to upgrade the system yet, but enough to consider another stat boost.

He pulled up his upgrade menu.

[Strength Boost (+1) – Cost: 10 SP]

[Agility Boost (+1) – Cost: 10 SP]

[Endurance Boost (+1) – Cost: 10 SP]

[Intelligence Boost (+1) – Cost: 15 SP]

[Skill Unlock – Cost: 100 SP]

Ethan tapped Endurance Boost.

A warmth spread through his body, subtle but noticeable. His muscles felt denser, his breathing deeper.

More stamina. More durability.

If he was going to push himself further, he needed to last longer.

By the time he reached his locker, he was already thinking about his next steps.

And then he saw Logan.

Standing at the end of the hall, arms crossed, talking quietly to Chase and Tyler.

He wasn't looking at Ethan. Not directly.

But he didn't have to.

The tension was there.

Ethan could feel it.

Logan was planning something.

Good.

Let him.

Ethan smiled to himself as he grabbed his bag and walked out of the school.

He was ready.