Chapter 8: Declaring War
Ethan arrived at school early, stepping through the entrance with a calm, steady pace. The usual morning chatter filled the hallways, but something was different.
The way people looked at him.
Before, he had been invisible—just another weakling no one cared about. Now, eyes lingered on him. Some in curiosity. Others in caution.
Word had spread.
The fight with Logan. The way Chase had backed down. The fact that he was still standing while Logan wasn't doing anything.
Ethan smirked. The silence from Logan's side wasn't just coincidence. It was hesitation.
And hesitation was weakness.
He pulled up his system interface.
[User: Ethan Walker]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 9]
[Agility: 11]
[Endurance: 10]
[Intelligence: 12]
[Skills: Intimidation (Passive), Analyze (Active)]
[Current SP: 150]
After last night's ambush, he had earned 150 SP in total.
He tapped the system upgrade menu.
[System Level: 1]
[Upgrade to System Level 2 – Cost: 200 SP]
Fifty short.
Ethan exhaled through his nose. He needed one more mission to push him over the threshold.
And he knew exactly where to get it.
The system flickered with a notification.
[New Optional Mission: Seize Control]
[Objective: Publicly establish dominance over a major figure in the school.]
[Reward: 100 SP]
Ethan's smile widened slightly.
Perfect.
He already had the perfect target in mind.
Logan.
If Logan was too scared to act, then Ethan would force his hand.
By the time second period started, the atmosphere had shifted.
Ethan walked through the halls with confidence, moving as if he already owned the school.
And people were noticing.
He spotted Madison Reed near her locker, talking with her usual group. She wasn't just some random student—she had influence.
More importantly, she had been watching him.
Ethan walked past, glancing in her direction just long enough to make direct eye contact.
She didn't look away.
She was testing him. Trying to understand what had changed.
He smirked slightly, then kept walking.
Let her wonder.
For now, he had more important things to handle.
He turned the corner—and there he was.
Logan.
Standing with Chase and Tyler, leaning against the lockers like he owned the place. Like nothing had happened.
It was an act. Ethan could see it immediately. Logan was pretending to be in control, pretending that he wasn't shaken.
Ethan wasn't going to let him pretend any longer.
He stepped forward, approaching them directly.
Logan noticed him instantly. His jaw tightened, but his smirk didn't fade. "Look who finally decided to show up."
Ethan stopped a few feet away, tilting his head slightly. "Took you long enough to try and act normal again."
Chase and Tyler glanced at Logan. They weren't expecting Ethan to be so direct.
Logan's smirk twitched. "You think you won or something? That was just a fluke. You caught me off guard. You really think you're some kind of big shot now?"
Ethan chuckled. "I don't think, Logan. I know."
Logan's smirk disappeared.
The students nearby went silent. More people had started paying attention, sensing something was about to happen.
Ethan took a slow step forward.
He activated Intimidation.
Logan stiffened. His breathing hitched for just a second. A hesitation so small that no one else saw it.
But Ethan did.
And that was all that mattered.
"You had your chance to fight me again," Ethan said, his voice calm. "Instead, you sent other people to do it for you. You're not a leader, Logan. You're just a coward hiding behind muscle."
Logan's teeth clenched. "You—"
"Go ahead," Ethan cut him off. "Swing at me right now. Let's finish this."
Logan didn't move.
The hallway was dead silent now.
Chase and Tyler exchanged glances.
And Ethan smiled.
Because he had won.
Not through violence. Not through intimidation alone.
But because he had forced Logan into a no-win scenario.
If Logan fought now and lost, his reputation would be destroyed. If he did nothing, it would be even worse.
Ethan leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only Logan could hear.
"You already lost," he whispered.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Mission Complete: Seize Control]
[Reward Earned: 100 SP]
[Upgrade available]
Ethan walked away from Logan, feeling the weight of the moment settle over the hallway. No one spoke, but their silence said everything.
Logan had lost.
Not in a fight, not in a way that left bruises or broken bones—but in the one battle that mattered most. Control.
The whispers started as soon as Ethan turned the corner.
"Did you see that?"
"Logan didn't do anything. He just stood there."
"Is he scared of Walker?"
Ethan kept his face neutral, but inside, he was satisfied. The system recognized victories beyond just physical combat. And the proof was right in front of him.
A new notification flickered into his vision.
[You have defeated an opponent (Logan Carter) through psychological dominance.]
[Reward: 50 SP]
That was on top of the 100 SP he had already earned from the mission.
His total was now 250 SP.
Which meant one thing.
It was time for the upgrade.
Ethan exhaled slowly, his fingers twitching with anticipation. He had been waiting for this moment ever since he first saw the system's potential.
The halls were still filled with students, and he didn't want to trigger anything in public. He needed a quiet place to do this.
He made his way outside, heading toward an old maintenance building near the back of the school. No one ever went there. It was the perfect spot.
Once he was sure he was alone, he pulled up the system menu.
[System Level: 1]
[Upgrade to System Level 2 – Cost: 200 SP]
Ethan pressed the option without hesitation.
A strange sensation rushed through his body.
It wasn't painful. It wasn't even uncomfortable. But it was… intense.
Like something inside him was unlocking, expanding.
His vision blurred for a moment, then cleared as new messages appeared.
[System Upgrade Complete.]
[New Features Unlocked:]
System Store Access (Basic Tier Items)
Passive Skill Slot Unlocked
New Mission Types (Chain Missions & Hidden Quests)
Ethan's heart pounded.
The store was finally open.
And hidden quests? That meant there were missions he wouldn't normally see—things he had to discover on his own.
He immediately tapped the store menu.
[System Store - Basic Tier]
[Current Balance: 50SP]
[List of Available Items:]
Minor Strength Booster (+2 Strength) – 50 SP
Minor Agility Booster (+2 Agility) – 50 SP
Pain Resistance Serum (Reduces physical pain) – 75 SP
Adrenaline Spike (Temporarily enhances speed and reflexes) – 100 SP
Shadow Cloak (Reduces presence, makes user harder to notice) – 150 SP
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the list. These weren't just basic stat boosts. Some of these were tools for stealth, combat, survival.
The Shadow Cloak in particular stood out. If he could reduce his presence, he could move through the school unnoticed when needed.
But he had 50 SP.
That would change soon.
He backed out of the store and checked the passive skill slot.
[Choose a Passive Skill to Unlock:]
Heightened Awareness (Increases perception of surroundings, enhances reaction speed)
Fear Aura (Amplifies the effects of intimidation, making weaker opponents panic)
Enhanced Recovery (Speeds up healing from minor injuries)
Ethan hesitated.
All of these were useful.
Heightened Awareness would help him detect threats before they acted. Fear Aura would make his Intimidation skill even more powerful. Enhanced Recovery would allow him to push his body further without worrying about lasting injuries.
He had to think long-term.
Fear Aura could help him take over the school faster. If he could make people afraid without even touching them, then they would fall in line without him lifting a finger.
He selected it.
A cold wave of pressure washed over him, like an invisible force settling into his body.
[Passive Skill Acquired: Fear Aura]
[Enemies with weak willpower will experience increased anxiety and hesitation in your presence.]
Ethan exhaled slowly.
This was it.
He is getting stronger thats what he need right now.