Part-28

  James emerged from Lily's room with a swagger that surprised even himself. He'd not only avoided a potentially world-ending sp, but he'd also mao create a strange sense of camaraderie with his sister. A nervous grin stretched across his face as he repyed Lily's pyful ruffle of his hair – a rare gesture of affe.

  Just as he reached the top of the stairs, the familiar blue window flickered to life in the er of his vision. He braced himself, expeg another impossible mission or a terrifyiy. Instead, a new message greeted him:

  Mission 6: Upgrade your Thundercp Sp skill (9/100). Reward: Skill Kangaroo Cut. Penalty: None.

  James blinked, surprised by the retive simplicity of the mission. Upgrading his "Thundercp Sp" skill? That sounded manageable, almost… desirable. He wasn't sure what a "Kangaroo Cut" was, but the ck of a penalty was a definite plus.

  A flicker of curiosity sparked within him. Maybe this Bully System wasn't all bad. Maybe it could actually help him, make him stronger. The thought of a more powerful "Thundercp Sp", or whatever this "Kangaroo Cut" might be, sent a thrill through him.

  James' steps faltered as he reached his room. The initial excitement over the new mission – upgrading his "Thundercp Sp" skill – fizzled slightly as he recalled the details dispyed on the blue window. It required 91 more uses of the skill to reach the upgrade point. Spping Ryan twid Tony seven times barely made a dent – a mere 9 points out of the daunting 100.

  A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. He remembered the blue window mentioning experience points increased when "spping someone." Could that include himself? The thought was absurd, yet straempting. He extended a hand towards his own cheek, the memory of the power c through him during the fights a potent motivator.

  With a hesitant wince, James delivered a light sp to his own fabsp; A dull thud echoed in the room, but the blue window remaiubbornly bnk. No satisfying "ding" or increase in experience points. Disappoi washed over him. Apparently, self-inflicted sps were off the table.

  He slumped onto his bed, frustration gnawing at him. 91 more sps? The thought of randomly going around school, unleashing thundercps on unsuspeg people, sent shivers down his spine. He wasn't a bully, and the very idea went against everything he believed in.

  But then, a memory surfaced – a memory from gym css. He'd seehletic students practig a strange exercise routihat involved rapid-fire spping of pung bags. Could that be it? Was there a way to train and hone his skill without res to violence?

  Hope flickered within him. He scrambled off the bed, his mind rag with possibilities. He could use pillows, cushions, maybe even a stack of old textbooks! He could practice speed, and accuracy, and maybe even develop some new variations of the sp teique.

  A surge of determination repced his earlier frustration. He wouldn't bee a mindless spper. He would find a way to train, to upgrade his skills ethically and strategically. The Bully System might have thrown him a curveball, but James was no lohe shy, invisible boy. He was ready to py the game, on his own terms.