The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Eiji Mizuno walked home, the sounds of the city fading into the background. His heart still beat heavily in his chest from the fight with Kaito Ishida, but it wasn't fear or guilt that filled him—it was excitement. For the first time in his life, he had stood up for himself, fought back, and won. Not because of luck or brute strength, but because he had trained. Because the system had given him the tools to change.
As he crossed the threshold into his house, dropping his bag near the door, he half-expected his mother to scold him for coming home late. But the apartment was silent. His parents were still at work, as usual, caught in the endless grind of life.
Eiji didn't mind. It gave him time—time to explore what had just happened.
He tossed himself onto the worn-out couch in the living room, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. The memory of the fight replayed in his head: the way he had dodged, countered, and struck with precision he had never known before. His body, his reflexes—they had responded instinctively, almost as if he was no longer limited by his old self.
And then, as if reading his thoughts, a chime echoed in his mind, clear and resonant.
"Congratulations, Host. You have successfully completed your first physical confrontation."
A glowing panel appeared in his vision, semi-transparent but vibrant, filled with golden light.
System Notification:
Achievement Unlocked: First Victory
Reward Unlocked: Daily Spin - Wheel of Fortune
Eiji blinked at the notification, sitting upright. A Daily Spin? Like a gacha wheel in a mobile game? Was this really happening?
Before he could process it further, a giant wheel materialized in his mind's eye. It was divided into many colorful sections, each labeled with different rewards:
+1 Strength
+1 Agility
+1 Martial Knowledge
Random Martial Art Move
Weapon Mastery (Basic)
Temporary Stat Boost
Mystery Box
The wheel shimmered, and at its center was a glowing button.
"Would you like to spin today's Wheel of Fortune?" the system asked.
Eiji hesitated for only a moment before thinking, Yes!
The wheel began to spin, the sections blurring together into a kaleidoscope of colors. His heart raced with anticipation. Around and around it went, slowing down bit by bit, until finally—click—the pointer stopped.
The section lit up brightly:
Reward: Random Martial Art Move - "Dragon Fang Strike"
A surge of information poured into Eiji's mind, similar to when the system had first activated. Images flashed before his eyes: a sharp, explosive punch technique designed to pierce through an opponent's guard with brutal efficiency. It wasn't just about strength—it was about timing, precision, and channeling momentum at the perfect instant.
He gasped as the knowledge settled in, his body almost instinctively understanding the basics of the move.
"You have learned a new martial arts technique: Dragon Fang Strike," the system confirmed.
Eiji stood up, pacing the living room. He clenched his fist, feeling the phantom sensation of the technique running through his muscles.
"This is insane," he muttered, his excitement barely contained.
He needed to practice it—he had to.
Without thinking twice, he grabbed his sneakers and sprinted back out into the evening air, heading toward the old abandoned gym that had become his sanctuary.
The streets were quiet, the usual noise of the city dulled by the creeping darkness. As he reached the gym, the rusted gate greeted him like an old friend. He slipped inside, the faint scent of rain lingering in the air from the earlier drizzle.
Once inside, he moved toward the mats. He took a deep breath, centered himself, and let the system's instructions guide him.
The Dragon Fang Strike wasn't about brute force. It was about speed, precision, and a sudden, piercing thrust of energy. Eiji dropped into his fighting stance, fists raised, weight balanced evenly.
He exhaled sharply—and moved.
His right hand shot forward in a straight line, his body twisting slightly to add torque, his hips snapping into the movement. The punch was fast, sharper than anything he had ever thrown before. He could feel the air split around his knuckles as the strike cut forward with deadly focus.
Not bad, but not perfect.
The system chimed in his mind again.
"Tip: Focus your center of gravity. Timing is essential. The Dragon Fang Strike is most effective when used as a counterattack."
Eiji nodded to himself and reset his stance. He spent the next hour drilling the move again and again, refining the motion, perfecting the snap of his hip, the twist of his torso, the alignment of his fist. Sweat poured down his face, soaking his shirt, but he didn't stop.
Every successful execution made the technique feel more natural. More his.
And the best part? With each correct strike, he could feel the system quietly registering his improvement, subtle upgrades flowing into his body—better balance, faster recovery, stronger core muscles.
This wasn't training that would take years. The system accelerated everything.
By the time he finally collapsed onto the mats, panting for breath, he felt different again—sharper, more dangerous.
"Skill Proficiency: Dragon Fang Strike - Level 1."
Progress.
Real, tangible progress.
As he walked home that night under the faint glow of the streetlights, a new notification slid into his vision.
System Alert:
New Quest Available:
"Skill Application: Test Dragon Fang Strike in Combat."
Condition: Use Dragon Fang Strike to win a confrontation.
Reward: +2 Strength, +2 Martial Knowledge, Unlock new Martial Art move.
Eiji smiled to himself. Another quest. Another chance to grow.
But that brought up a bigger question: who would he have to fight next?
The next day at school felt surreal. Everything looked the same—the chatter in the halls, the hum of the fluorescent lights, the endless rows of lockers—but he was different.
As he walked toward his classroom, people glanced at him differently too. Word of his fight with Kaito had spread fast. No one openly said anything, but the subtle looks of surprise, respect, and even fear were obvious.
Even Kaito himself avoided Eiji, lowering his head when they crossed paths.
It was strange—after all this time being invisible, now everyone seemed to see him.
As he slid into his seat by the window, he tried to focus on his lessons. But his mind was elsewhere.
The system. The quest. The Dragon Fang Strike.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn't just sit around waiting for an opponent to fall into his lap. If he wanted to grow stronger, if he wanted to make use of the system, he needed to seek out challenges.
And soon, one would present itself.
During gym class later that day, the coach decided they would be doing sparring drills in pairs. Normally, Eiji would have been paired with some random student, going through the motions awkwardly.
But today, fate—or the system—had other plans.
The coach clapped his hands. "Alright, listen up! New rule today. Anyone who wants to challenge someone can do so."
The moment the words left the coach's mouth, Eiji felt a presence step toward him.
Riku Tanaka.
He wasn't as much of a bully as Kaito, but he had a reputation—he was aggressive, rough, and he loved fighting. Especially against people he thought were weak.
Riku grinned as he approached Eiji. "Heard you took down Kaito yesterday. Guess you're feeling brave now, huh?"
Eiji stood up calmly. "I'm always ready," he said, surprising even himself with the coolness of his voice.
The coach raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright, Mizuno versus Tanaka. Light sparring rules. No serious injuries."
They moved to the center of the gym, the other students gathering around to watch.
The system chimed softly in Eiji's mind:
"Quest Progress: Opponent Identified. Opportunity to complete quest detected."
Eiji dropped into his stance, fists raised. He could feel the Dragon Fang Strike humming inside him, ready to be unleashed.
Riku wasted no time. He charged in, swinging a heavy right hook aimed at Eiji's head.
Too slow.
Eiji sidestepped effortlessly, his mind crystal clear. He remembered the system's tip—the Dragon Fang Strike was best used as a counter.
He waited, baiting Riku in.
Another punch came—this time a straight jab to the chest. Eiji saw it coming, and in that perfect instant, he moved.
His right fist shot forward like a bullet, his hips snapping, his body twisting just right.
Dragon Fang Strike.
The blow landed squarely in Riku's solar plexus with a brutal impact. Riku gasped, the wind knocked out of him as he staggered backward and fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
The crowd gasped. The coach rushed over but quickly realized that Riku wasn't seriously hurt—just shocked and winded.
Eiji stood tall, breathing evenly, his hand still slightly extended from the strike.
"Quest Complete. Reward: +2 Strength, +2 Martial Knowledge, New Martial Art move unlocked."
Another surge of energy rushed through him. He was stronger again. Faster. Sharper.
But the best reward was the look in Riku's eyes—the look of someone who realized he had seriously underestimated his opponent.
The students whispered excitedly among themselves. Eiji Mizuno was no longer invisible.
He was a fighter now—and he had only just begun.