Monday hit like a bucket of ice water. The weekend's intellectual gains felt distant in the chaotic rush of Oakridge's halls. Li moved with purpose, [Situational Awareness] on high alert. Brad was bound to make a move after the cafeteria standoff.
He spotted them near his locker after second period. Brad, Derek, and a new addition – Mike, a wiry kid with a reputation for cheap shots. Li's stomach tightened, but he forced his breathing steady. [Stubborn Resolve] activated automatically, a familiar warmth bolstering his defenses (DEF: 9 +2 = 11). He approached his locker, pretending not to see them.
"Hey, Calculator Brain!" Brad called out, stepping into Li's path. "Heard you been studying real hard. Gonna be teacher's pet now?" Derek and Mike fanned out, blocking escape routes. The hallway crowd thinned, sensing trouble.
Li kept his expression neutral, meeting Brad's eyes. "Just trying to pass, Brad. Unlike some." The jab slipped out, fueled by [Quick Thinking] and rising anger.
Brad's face flushed crimson. "You little—" He lunged, not with a fist, but to shove Li back into the bank of lockers, aiming to replicate the first day's humiliation. It was fast, brutal.
But Li was ready. [Theoretical Combat Lv.1] flashed in his mind. Root your feet. Use his momentum. Instead of bracing stiffly, Li shifted his weight slightly back and down, planting his feet wide. He turned his shoulder just a fraction, not meeting the shove head-on, but deflecting it.
Brad's shove connected, hard. Pain bloomed in Li's shoulder (HP: 92/100), but he didn't crash into the lockers. He skidded back a step, grunting, but stayed up. His feet remained planted. Shock registered on Brad's face.
[SUCCESSFUL DEFENSIVE MANEUVER: BRACE/DEFLECT!]
Theoretical Combat Lv.1 Effect Triggered!
XP Gain: +50
"Whoa, he didn't fall!" Mike snickered, but it sounded uncertain.
Brad roared, embarrassed. He swung a wild haymaker. Li saw it coming – [Situational Awareness] screaming – but his body couldn't react fast enough (AGI: 11 wasn't dodging speed). The punch clipped Li's jaw (HP: 84/100). Stars exploded. Pain, hot and bright.
[CRITICAL HIT RECEIVED! STATUS EFFECT: Dazed (Duration: 10 seconds) - PER/AGI reduced by 20%]
Li staggered, vision blurring. Derek grabbed his arm from behind. "Hold him, Mike!" Brad yelled, winding up for another punch. Panic surged. Trapped. Dazed.
Think! Quick Thinking! The skill name flashed desperately. Leverage! The Krav Maga book. Against a grab...
Li didn't try to yank free from Derek's grip. Instead, he dropped his weight suddenly, like a sack of potatoes, surprising Derek. At the same time, he stomped hard on Derek's instep with his heel.
"OW! SONUVA—!" Derek yelped, grip loosening instinctively.
Li exploded upwards with all his boosted STR (10), driving his elbow straight back into Derek's solar plexus. It wasn't textbook-perfect, but it connected solidly.
THUD!
"UUNNGGHH!" Derek gasped, doubling over, releasing Li completely.
[SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE MANEUVER: ELBOW STRIKE!]
Damage Dealt (Estimated): Moderate (Target HP reduced significantly)
XP Gain: +100!
Skill Level Up: Theoretical Combat Lv.1 -> Lv.2! (Success chance +5%)
Li spun, adrenaline screaming. Brad was momentarily frozen, shocked by Derek's collapse. Mike looked hesitant. Li didn't wait. He channeled every ounce of his [Stubborn Resolve], every point of his newly tested STR, and shoved Brad with both hands, hard, right in the chest. Not a fighting move, just pure, desperate force.
Brad, off-balance and unprepared, stumbled back. Not far, but enough. He crashed into Mike, sending them both sprawling in a tangle of limbs and curses.
The hallway was dead silent. Kids stared, mouths agape. Li stood, chest heaving, knuckles stinging (he hadn't even realized he'd clenched his fists), blood trickling from his split lip. Derek was wheezing on the floor. Brad and Mike scrambled up, faces purple with rage and humiliation.
"You're dead, Li! DEAD!" Brad screamed, spittle flying. But he didn't charge. He looked at Derek, still gasping, at the gathering crowd, at Li standing there, bruised but defiant. Security guards were pushing through the crowd.
Li didn't say a word. He met Brad's furious gaze, blood on his lips, a fire in his eyes he'd never felt before. He didn't smile. He just looked... dangerous.
[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVE THE HALLWAY AMBUSH!]
Reward: +250 XP, +2 STR, Skill: [Fighting Spirit Lv.1] (Temporarily increases STR/DEF when HP drops below 50%)
Level Up! Level 5 Achieved! All Stats +0.5!
Level Progress: Level 5 (75/500 XP)
Strength surged through Li, almost overwhelming the pain. STR: 12.5! DEF: 9.5 base! He felt like he could punch through a wall. The guards reached them, grabbing Brad and Mike, helping Derek up. Li just stood, breathing hard, watching his tormentors get hauled away. He touched his bleeding lip. It hurt.
But it was a good hurt. The hurt of first blood drawn. Not by them. By him. The Underdog had just bitten back. And the whole school had seen it.