The October night cloaked Maplewood's edge as Charlie Finch stood atop the abandoned building, the city's lights sprawling below like a shattered constellation. A cool breeze tugged at his fitted jacket—no more hoodies to hide loose skin, now taut over a chiseled frame. His abs, etched beneath a snug shirt, were a testament to six months of relentless training at Iron Will Fight Club and the Better Genes Potion's subtle alchemy. The System hummed in his mind, brighter, sharper: Boxing 3 Stars, Taekwondo 2 Stars, Jiu-Jitsu 2 Stars, MMA 2 Stars, Kickboxing 2 Stars, Muay Thai 2 Stars—a constellation of skills forged in sweat, sparring, and countless bruises. He'd traded blows with Mike, hooks landing crisper each round, and faced Bobby, their gloves clashing in rhythm, old grudges replaced by respect. Charlie smiled, gazing at the city he'd outgrown, not just in muscle but in spirit.
Six months had reshaped his world. Bobby, once the taunter of "Sludge," was now a true friend, closer than Charlie ever imagined. He invited Charlie to dinners, movies, paintball, game nights at his mansion, often offering to pay. But Charlie, flush with System cash, surprised him—covering burgers or tickets, grinning at Bobby's wide-eyed shock. "You don't gotta do that, bro," Bobby said, but his smile betrayed gratitude. Emma Harper drew closer too—her green eyes warmer in class, her soft laughs lingering when they talked, her braid brushing his arm once, twice, maybe not by accident. Katie noticed, her glances sharp with jealousy, but Charlie let it slide. Her problem, he thought, his focus on strength, on scaling the heights the System promised.
The System's rewards had piled high. Agility Spike boosted his footwork by 20%, Stamina Surge climbed from 15% to 30% for grueling rounds, and countless $100 cooking bonuses—meals for his parents, himself—stacked his balance to $10,900, even after gym fees, supplements, and new clothes. The true prize loomed: $50,000 and Unbreakable Body 1 Star, earned at 1,000 hits but unclaimed until now, sealed yesterday in a brutal session with Mike's heavy fists. He'd come to this rooftop—the cracked concrete where the System first chimed—to make it sacred. Leaning against a rusted vent, Charlie traced the faded scars in the stone. "This is where it started, right, System?" he said, a wild yet grounded smile tugging his lips.
Yes, Charlie, the System chimed, its tone almost fond. A flicker sparked—a memory projected like a grainy film: Charlie, slumped on his couch, groaning at the TV, refusing to move; then the first gasping steps, the clumsy jab in the park, fierce despite its flaws. He laughed, the sound echoing off the rooftop. "Man, I was a mess." The System's hum felt like a proud nod, silent but resonant.
Charlie stood, wind ruffling his dark brown hair, feeling stronger—not just in fists or core, but in himself. He let the moment linger, Maplewood's lights winking below, his path clearer than ever. Minutes passed, the breeze whispering across the rooftop. His grin broke wild. Time to cash in.
He thought of his parents—Marge's tired smiles, Harold's proud claps. Half the money, $25,000, would go to them. Gotta sell it right, he mused, grin widening. He'd claim he bet big on a boxing match—his own, maybe, hyped as a one-off gamble. "Won a ton," he'd say. "I'm done—why keep betting when you've won?" The logic felt tight, a clean lie to dodge questions. Victory was enough.
Charlie closed his eyes, focusing inward. "Claim it—Unbreakable Body 1 Star perk, $50,000," he said, voice steady. The System chimed, sharp and clear: Unbreakable Body 1 Star fully activated. $50,000 awarded. Balance: $60,900. A rush surged through him, not just numbers but something primal. His bones tingled, as if steel threaded through marrow, growing denser, harder. Muscles tightened, fibers knitting closer, tendons thickening like cables. His heart thumped stronger, blood surging with new resilience, every organ—lungs, liver, skin—fortifying into something tank-like. He clenched his fists, feeling the shift, a beast awakening within. This is power, he thought, pulse racing, not pain but possibility.
The sensation settled, leaving him solid, unbreakable. The System chimed again, unprompted: Bonus reward unlocked: Leap Ability. Knowledge flooded his mind, a blueprint etched clear: Leap enables enhanced jumping—up to 20 feet horizontally, 10 feet vertically—driven by reinforced legs and back. Unbreakable Body prevents fractures or strains on impact. Your brain trusts your durability, allowing strikes against hard surfaces—walls, posts—denting them without breaking bones. Limits apply: no scaling skyscrapers, no shattering concrete, but resilience is yours. Charlie's eyes widened, testing a small hop. His legs coiled like springs, landing whisper-soft. He imagined it—vaulting a fence, jabbing a steel locker to dent it, fearless. No busting walls, but damn, that's fierce.
He checked the System's display, a faint glow in his mind. Unbreakable Body 2 Star: 10,000 hits required. "Ten thousand?" he muttered, whistling low. "That's a marathon." Another line caught him: Evolution Progress: 10%. His grin faltered, then steadied. Good and bad news. Tomorrow night, Sleep Fighting would return—the Faceless Man waiting in that endless ring to test his new strength. Bring it on, he thought, confidence surging, Unbreakable Body his shield. He'd prove himself, no doubt.
The System chimed, sharp: New Mission: Learn Jungle Survival. Hire a teacher, travel to a jungle, master navigation, shelter, foraging. Survive alone for a weekend. Reward: Jungle Survival 1 Star, $5,000. Charlie froze, jaw dropping. "Wait—what?" he blurted, the rooftop's quiet amplifying his shock. Jungle? Trees, bugs, no gyms? The city lights below mocked him, so far from any wilderness. His mind raced—where to find a jungle, a teacher? The System's silence pressed, expectant. Charlie rubbed his neck, the weight of this new challenge sinking in, his wild grin returning, edged with defiance. "Alright, System," he said, voice low, "you want me to play Tarzan? I'll figure it out."
He turned, gazing at Maplewood's skyline, the city's pulse a faint hum. The rooftop felt smaller now, a starting point he'd outgrown. Jungle Survival 1 Star, he thought, the mission's strangeness thrilling him. He'd need research—local experts, travel options, maybe a survival school. His $60,900 balance could cover it, but the logistics were daunting. One step at a time, he told himself, the same mantra that carried him through Hell Summer. He'd hire a guide, find a jungle—Costa Rica, maybe, or somewhere closer—and master it, just as he'd mastered punches and plates.
Charlie lingered, wind whispering across his unbreakable frame. The Faceless Man loomed tomorrow, but tonight, he was whole—stronger, sharper, ready for whatever the System threw next. He stepped to the roof's edge, testing Leap Ability with a grin. He crouched, legs coiling, and sprang—20 feet across the rooftop, landing soft as a cat, no strain, no crack of bone. "Hell yeah," he laughed, the city below his playground. Maplewood was his past; the jungle, his future. He'd conquer it, one wild leap at a time.