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Zack entered the nearest fast-food restaurant, looking for a quick meal to satisfy his hunger. The dim lighting reflected Gotham's grim nature, but the warmer atmosphere inside made him breathe a small sigh of relief.
He walked toward the cashier to place his order, but before he could speak, his eyes drifted to a nearby table… and there, he saw something he never expected.
Beast Boy and Cyborg!
The first, with his signature green hair and pointed ears, was laughing while ordering a Margherita pizza with childlike excitement. The other, the giant half-cyborg, was ordering a massive meal fitting for his size.
Zack froze for a moment.
Before he could react, the system's voice rang in his head—this time, speaking in a more serious tone than usual:
"Alright, listen carefully, Zack. These aren't just regular heroes; these are members of the Titans! In the future, you'll need to build a good relationship with them. They could be your enemies if you mess up… or they could become very useful allies."
Zack swallowed hard, thinking quickly. "Damn… I didn't expect to run into famous characters this soon."
The system chuckled mischievously:
"Oh, this is just the beginning… Do you want to say hi? Or are you going to ignore them and eat in peace?"
Zack looked toward the table, considering his next move.
As he ate his double cheeseburger, he kept an eye on Beast Boy and Cyborg from the corner of his vision. They were talking and laughing, completely carefree, but Zack didn't want to take any risks.
"Right now, it's not smart to approach them. If I make a mistake, I could raise suspicions, and that's the last thing I need."
The system let out a fake sigh before saying:
"Damn, I was hoping for a socially disastrous move so I could laugh, but fine, at least you have some sense! Well, since you're busy chewing, why not take a look at your stats? Just say 'My Stats,' and I'll show you how weak you are! Hahaha!"
Zack raised an eyebrow and said flatly:
"My Stats."
"Tnnng!"
A translucent blue screen appeared before him:
Name: Zack Murky
Level: 1 (300/1000 XP)
Health: 100/100
Strength: 7
Agility: 9
Intelligence: 8
Vitality: 7
Skills:
Master of Mixed Martial Arts ( not upgradable)
Basic Accuracy (Slightly improves aiming)
Observation (Level 1 - Helps in detecting small details)
Available Money: $225
Zack examined his stats while taking another bite of his food.
"Alright, this isn't the worst start, but I need to improve these numbers soon."
The system chuckled mischievously:
"Oh, don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances for that… But first, finish your meal! We've got work to do after that!"
Zack wasn't sure what the system meant, but he didn't like the tone of its voice…
As he chewed another bite, he muttered under his breath:
"How do my skills 'Basic Accuracy' and 'Observation' work? Do I have to activate them manually?"
The system's voice returned with a hint of sarcasm:
"Hah… Do you think you're in some game where you have to press a button to activate skills? No, no, genius! These skills work automatically; they're now part of your senses. You won't feel them directly, but you'll notice the difference when you need them."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
The system continued in the tone of an expert teaching a child in elementary school:
"Take 'Basic Accuracy' for example. Every time you use a weapon—whether it's a gun, a knife, or even a bow—you'll find that your aim is slightly better than you expect. It's not superhuman, but it's better than nothing."
Zack nodded; that made sense. "What about 'Observation'?"
"Observation helps you notice small details that others might miss. Remember how that arrow appeared to guide you to the door in the theater when you were following it? That was the effect of 'Observation,' even at its first level."
Zack stared at the table for a moment, processing the information. Then another question popped into his mind. "What happens if I reach Level 2?"
"Hah! That's when things get interesting! At Level 2, you'll be able to see some information about the people you observe, like their level and health status. That'll be useful, especially when you enter fights and have no idea how strong your opponent is. The max level for this skill is 5."
Zack smirked slightly—this ability sounded extremely tempting. "Then I need to upgrade it as soon as possible."
The system laughed:
"Oh, don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to level up your skills… especially if you plan on surviving in this place."
Zack didn't like the system's tone, but he decided not to think too much about it… at least, not before finishing his meal.
He stood up and headed to the cashier to order another meal to take with him—just in case he didn't find anything to eat later.
When Zack reached the cashier, he quickly glanced around, making sure that Beast Boy and Cyborg were still busy with their food. Once he confirmed that, he said to the cashier:
"I want a double chicken burger meal with large fries and a salad."
The cashier nodded and started preparing the order, but at that moment, the system's voice rang in his head with clear sarcasm:
"Oooooh, look who's becoming a fast-food lover! What's next, Zack? Are you signing up for a burger-eating contest? Or are you planning to become the number one champion of emotional eating?"
Zack sighed and replied coolly, "I just need some extra food. I don't want to starve later."
"Ha-ha, of course! That's how it always starts! First, you take an 'extra meal just in case'… then you start thinking, hmm, maybe I need a small dessert? … And before you know it, you'll become 'Zack the Great Belly'!"
Zack ignored the remarks, took his food after paying, and then left the restaurant, heading back. Though he wouldn't admit it, it was kind of nice hearing this kind of sarcasm from the system… at least, it made him feel like he wasn't entirely alone in this new world.
As he walked out, he whispered while holding the food, "Store."
He moved slowly through the alleys, making his way back to the base, when suddenly, he heard a voice growing louder—a person calling for help.
Zack stopped at the street corner, observing the scene ahead. Three men surrounded a helpless man, pushing him into a back alley. One of them grabbed him by the collar, another was rummaging through his pockets, while the third kept watch on the street.
"Ooooooh! Zack, this is perfect timing! Three targets, a golden opportunity! You can finish your mission and get your reward easily!"
This time, Zack didn't argue. He simply muttered, "Agreed."
Quietly, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his Beretta pistol, feeling its weight in his grip. But it wasn't enough, so he calmly said:
"Withdraw: Dagger."
In an instant, a dagger appeared in his other hand. Its grip felt comfortable—almost as if it was designed just for him.
The system clapped with fake enthusiasm:
"Oh, look at him! Fully prepared! Alright, now all you have to do is go in there and send these scumbags to prison… or the hospital, either works, as long as you complete the mission!"
Zack took a deep breath, then started walking straight toward them. He didn't try to hide. He didn't try to sneak. He was confident in himself… and in his newly acquired skills.
"Hey, you bastards."
The three men turned to him all at once, momentarily stunned by the sight of someone barging into their situation with such confidence. But their surprise quickly faded, replaced by anger.
"What's it to you, idiot? Get lost before you end up next to him!"
Zack smirked, slowly raised his pistol, and aimed it directly at one of their heads.
"I have a suggestion—why don't you leave the man alone… before you start losing some limbs?"
The system burst into laughter in his head:
"Hahaha! Now you're getting the idea, Zack! Let's see how this night ends!"
The three men exchanged glances… then, without warning, one of them lunged at him!
In an instant, the conversation turned into a real fight.
The closest man moved instinctively, and Zack, with his newly acquired experience, read his movement instantly. He had only a fraction of a second to decide. He raised his gun, aimed straight at the farthest man, and pulled the trigger. A single shot rang out, piercing the man's leg and sending him crashing to the ground, screaming in pain.
But there was no time to celebrate. The closest attacker was already closing in. Zack swiftly moved his dagger, slashing at the man's leg tendon with a quick and precise motion.
"AAAH!" The man screamed, collapsing to his knees, unable to stand.
"Hah! That's what happens when you mix mixed martial arts with dagger combat!" the system said excitedly, as if watching a top-tier action movie.
Zack didn't have time to reply, because the third man—the strongest of the group—seized the opportunity and landed a powerful punch to Zack's face, followed by another strike to his side, forcing him to step back, tasting blood in his mouth.
"Damn it…" Zack muttered, shaking his head to regain focus.
But he didn't retreat. Instead, he quickly turned and, rather than dodging the next attack, rushed forward, slamming his shoulder into the man's chest, making him stagger backward. The moment the man's defense opened up, Zack aimed his gun at his feet and fired two rapid shots.
"AAAH! Damn it!" The man screamed as he collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"Oh my god! That was amazing! Zack, I want to give you a gold star, but I don't have one! Maybe I'll make it up to you with a prize later!"
Panting, Zack looked down at the three men lying on the ground, all injured and incapable of running away. Then, his gaze shifted to the man they had been attacking earlier—he was frozen in place, staring at Zack with eyes full of fear and shock.
Zack quickly scanned his surroundings, then muttered, "Call the cops and tell them there's some trash that needs cleaning up."
Without waiting for a response, he calmly walked out of the alley, leaving behind his first real accomplishment in this world.
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If you liked the story and want to read more
or just to support me, copy the link below.
You will find a special membership for:
3 chapter
and another one for:
7 chapters.
patreon.com/zakx205
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