Chapter 3 (Re-Written): The Genius Baby and the System Upgrade that Broke the Rules

With a dazzling smile only someone with a borderline-insane amount of hope could wear, Ra-One whispered, "Gabee, it's good to hear your voice after one month. Now tell me you succeeded."

The voice of his loyal system companion crackled to life, sounding proud but also a little annoyed, like a grumpy old butler. "That much time passed, but fear not, master; I acquired the one-time upgrade option on my system… though it comes with some restrictions."

In Ra-One's mind, fireworks exploded. F** yeah!* he mentally shouted, barely resisting the urge to squeal like a fangirl at a K-pop concert. "Gabee, come on, spill it out—everything!"

As if summoned by his excitement, Gabee's interface flashed, a blue screen materializing with a single, tantalizing new option: [Upgrade].

Gabee continued, voice laced with suspicion. "Master, I now understand why the one-time upgrade system was considered garbage. It can only upgrade anything once. After that, it goes into cooldown for a month. My function now also follows the same rules."

Ra-One frowned, then quickly shrugged. "So, does it upgrade anything—anything—even abstract things?"

"Yes, master," Gabee confirmed. "It can upgrade anything. But again—just once."

Ra-One's mind spun like a casino wheel high on caffeine. This is enough—more than enough. It's time to break the system… no, it's time to hijack fate itself. His eyes narrowed. "Without any further restraint, upgrade my body talent: Human Adaptability."

Gabee didn't even pause. "Good choice, master. Executing now."

The screen began a dramatic countdown. Ra-One found himself nervously pacing his crib—yes, crib—because he was technically still just one year and a month old. A hundred seconds never felt longer. He inhaled, exhaled, tried some toddler yoga.

DING!

"Master, Human Adaptability is upgraded to Perfect Adaptability. You now have 100x the adaptability of a normal human."

"F*** YEAH!" he cheered, scaring a nearby houseplant into permanent trauma.

He opened his status window like a kid unwrapping a Christmas present. His eyes lit up as he saw Red Hood Template Completion: 6%. It had jumped by 5%. Blessed be the garbage gods!

And with Perfect Adaptability merging with his Hanma bloodline, reality took a sudden turn. By the next day, Ra-One was walking like a buff baby Yujiro Hanma, exuding menace in his diaper. He also began speaking toddler-level words—"eat," "poo," "da," "ma"—with the calculated precision of a miniature genius.

Alicia, his mother, screamed in joy the first time he walked over and said "ma."

Then she wept when he turned to his father and called him "da."

His father? He burst into an impromptu South Indian dance routine that made even the ceiling fan blush.

Months passed.

But every month, without fail, the so-called "Bumper Garbage Drawer" delivered new items. And by items, we mean absolute trash: Superman-themed underpants, cursed doujins, vibrating spoons, malfunctioning gadgets, and a comb that summoned a raccoon ghost.

Despite that, Ra-One grew up fast. Nearly two years old now, he could talk fluently, run like a speedster on a sugar rush, and convince adults he was a tiny reincarnated Nobel laureate.

At his second birthday and New Year bash, he entertained guests with magic tricks, mimicry, and fake baby stumbles followed by dramatic recoveries. People clapped. One grandma cried. An uncle passed out from disbelief.

That night, Grandma Carter made a surprise visit.

Ra-One, sensing an opportunity, activated "Innocent Baby Mode." He declared with wide eyes, "I wanna be a superhero! Like Captain America! Save da world!"

Carter's eyes twinkled. "You're a good boy, Ra-One."

"Oh, and look! I can do this!" Ra-One immediately performed a handstand, then recited the English alphabet backward, followed by explaining the numbers and calculations in a way that made sense to her.

Carter turned to Alicia in wide-eyed horror. "Your son… he's a genius. A strong one. Has he… he seems inherited something from Steve?"

Alicia blinked. "What? You mean the super soldier serum from the father's blood?"

Carter nodded slowly. "Maybe... he should be homeschooled. If word gets out, people might start snooping."

Ra-One's parents agreed, but he had already stopped paying attention because his yearly garbage drop had just arrived.

This one? Oh boy.

T-Virus Serum (Unperfected)

Flawed Predator Gauntlet (Powerless)

Brain Development System (Also flawed)

He narrowed his eyes. "Why does my garbage drawer look like it's been shopping in a Resident Evil x Sci-Fi crossover fanfic?"

He ignored the serum for now. Instead, he examined the Predator Gauntlet—just a burnt-out high-tech glove. Maybe I can fix this. But he needed research tools.

Then his eyes landed on the flawed Brain Development System. According to the description, it would train the Brain releated skills one after another Ex. Eidetic Memory, Hyperthymesia etc.

Then came the idea. The most wicked, multiverse-breaking idea ever to emerge in a toddler brain.

"Gabee… can we upgrade this flawed system?"

Gabee hesitated. "Master… I've never heard of someone upgrading another system. Not without administrator rights. But also… I've never seen anyone receive trash-tier systems through a garbage lottery, so logic is clearly optional in your life."

Ra-One smirked. "Exactly. I was thinking of upgrading you, but your source code is off-limits. This thing is wide open. Let's try."

Gabee paused. "Thank you for thinking of upgrading me, master. Okay, let's do this."

She placed the Brain Development System into the Upgrade bucket. The countdown began.

100... 99...

Ra-One bit his pacifier nervously.

1... 0!

DING!

"Upgrade complete! You now have: [Superior Mind Development System - Tier ???]"

Ra-One grinned. "Let's assimilate it."

Gabee, needing three months, went into system sleep mode. Ra-One spent the time being tutored in kindergarten topics. He made sure to act just smart enough to amaze, not terrify. He also began using Red Hood's basic skills—stretching, gymnastics, and stamina building. The results?

Red Hood Template Completion: 8%

Three months later, Gabee reawakened.

"Master, I have perfectly assimilatied the Superior Mind Development (SMD) source code and made it part of my secondary fucntion like the upgrade!"

Ra-One, unfazed, nodded. "Tell me about SMD what function it posses."

"Yes Master, the normal Brain developement system will help the user to gain the Brain releated skills like Perfect Memory (Photographic + Eidetic), Mnemonic Mastery, Mental Multitasking, Hyperfocus Mode etc by training the user brain with special tasks."

Ra-One said, shrugging. "what about Now "

" Now, after the upgraded to SMD, It unlocks the new branch of mind releated super powers like telepathy, Telekinesis or Psychokinesis, Omni-Linguist, Intuitive Genius etc."

Ra-One frowned. "What you are saying that I can train my brain and unlock super powers of X-men Cypher, Forge, Sage and Proffesor X" 

Gabee added, "Yes master, the only flaw is training your Brain may take years time, But we can use NZT-48, to clear the task related to getting the skills like Perfect Memory, Mnemonic Mastery etc, We need to develop NZT-48 ourself and use in a way that your Perfect Adaptability make you Immune to the side effects."

Ra-One then had brilliant idea, " Gabee upgrade the NZT-48."

"Perfect idea Master, we can use upgraded NZT to tackle the important tasks in breakneck speed."

"NZT-48 becomes NZT-Perfect, Now it has non lethal side effects and the focus mode is reduced from 24hrs to 12hrs Master."

Ra-one stunned " Gabee How do you know that, you even tell the specific details of drug."

" Master, SDM has given me "Analyze" function, but it is in intial level to further develop the function, you need to complete the tasks."

So he returned to his grind: body training (streching and running only), Mind training (completeing the Brain related tasks), and pushing the Red Hood template.

Ra-one at night uses the NZT-Perfect, try to complete the brain related tasks, and acquired the skill like Eidetic memory in just 12 hrs, he got a minor headache, heavy calorie and nutrion intake, due to his Perfect Adaptability it only last 10 minutes.

Ra-one continued the same process for 7 days straight accquired multiple brain related skills like Hyperthymesia, Mnemonic Mastery, Selective Recall, Accelerated Learning, Memory Compression and Mental Multitasking.

He left last 3 NZT-Perfect pills, for research and experiment and in future creating his Own NZT-pill.

The monthly garbage continued. One month it was cursed pixie dust. Another time, someone's lingerie (don't ask). It was chaos.

On his third birthday, Ra-One received his most "WTF" garbage drop yet:

Cursed Allspark (Transformers)

Felix Felicis Potion-5 (Liquid Luck from Harry Potter)

Body Building System (flawed)

He looked at the items and then at Gabee.

She blinked. " It seems Lady Maya has a soft spot for you master."

Ra-One chuckled. "It seems so. Gabee we can't disappoint Lady Maya and Lord Chaos Emoji."

And with that, Ra-One turned to his training and studies once again, slowly pushing the Red Hood template closer to completion, one absurd item at a time.