Advanced Physics with Dr. Chen was normally my favorite class—not because I was good at it, but because the teacher actually treated scholarship students like human beings. She was Sophie Chen's aunt, but unlike her billionaire niece, Dr. Chen had earned everything through merit.
I slid into my usual seat at the back just as the bell rang.
Dr. Chen wrote on the board: **"Projectile Motion - Quiz Next Week"**
Groans echoed through the classroom. Projectile motion was brutal—parabolic trajectories, velocity vectors, air resistance calculations. Last semester, half the class had failed the quiz.
"I know, I know," Dr. Chen said, adjusting her glasses. "But this is essential for understanding real-world physics. Who can tell me the formula for maximum height in projectile motion?"
Silence.
I knew the answer. With the Studying skill active, the formula was crystal clear in my mind: *h = (v₀²sin²θ)/(2g)*
But I never raised my hand. Never drew attention. That was the survival strategy.
Not anymore.
My hand shot up.
Dr. Chen blinked in surprise. "Ethan? Go ahead."
"The maximum height is equal to the initial velocity squared, times sine squared of the launch angle, divided by two times the gravitational acceleration," I said clearly. "Or h equals v-sub-zero squared, sine squared theta, over two g."
Dr. Chen's eyebrows rose. "That's... correct. Very well explained."
Sophie Chen, sitting three rows ahead, actually turned around to look at me. Her expression was confused, like she'd just discovered her furniture could talk.
Then I saw it:
---
**[INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE DETECTED]**
**Successfully answered advanced academic question in public setting.**
**Mental capability demonstrated.**
**INTELLIGENCE SHARD EARNED: +1**
**Current Intelligence Shards: 1/100**
---
My pulse quickened. So *that* was how Intelligence Shards worked—not just studying alone, but demonstrating knowledge. Answering questions. Solving problems. *Proving* my intelligence to others.
Dr. Chen continued. "Alright, next question. If I throw a ball at 20 meters per second at a 45-degree angle, how far will it travel before hitting the ground? Ignore air resistance."
Several students pulled out calculators. I did the math in my head, the Studying skill making the calculations effortless:
*Range = (v₀²sin(2θ))/g*
*R = (20² × sin(90°))/9.8*
*R = (400 × 1)/9.8*
*R ≈ 40.8 meters*
I raised my hand again.
Dr. Chen looked even more surprised. "Ethan?"
"Approximately 40.8 meters."
She pulled up her calculator, punched in the numbers, and nodded slowly. "Correct. Did you just do that in your head?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Whispers spread through the classroom. Marcus, who sat near the front, turned to stare at me with narrowed eyes.
---
**[INTELLIGENCE SHARD EARNED: +1]**
**Current Intelligence Shards: 2/100**
**[SKILL USAGE DETECTED]**
**Studying EXP: 37/100**
---
I got both rewards—an Intelligence Shard for demonstrating knowledge, and Studying EXP for using my skill. This was better than I'd hoped.
Dr. Chen spent the next thirty minutes working through projectile motion examples. I raised my hand for every single question. I answered every single one correctly.
By the end of class, I had:
---
**Intelligence Shards: 8/100**
**Studying EXP: 44/100**
---
But I'd also earned something else: attention.
As students filed out, Sophie Chen deliberately walked past my desk. "Since when did you get smart?" she asked, her tone more curious than hostile.
"I've always been smart," I replied calmly. "You just never noticed."
She studied me for a moment—really looked at me, maybe for the first time ever. Her expression was unreadable. Then she walked away without another word.
---
**[CHARM INTERACTION DETECTED]**
**Successfully engaged in conversation with high-status individual without submissive behavior.**
**Social confidence demonstrated.**
**CHARM SHARD EARNED: +1**
**Current Charm Shards: 1/100**
---
I almost laughed out loud. So Charm Shards came from social interactions—but not just any interactions. *Confident* ones. Standing my ground. Being seen as an equal, not a servant.
Three years of being invisible, and all I had to do was act like I deserved to exist.
The rest of the morning followed the same pattern. In every class, I volunteered answers, participated in discussions, and even corrected the teacher once in History when he misquoted a date.
By lunch, my stats looked like this:
---
**[STATUS UPDATE - MIDDAY]**
**Strength:** Level 1 (7/100 Shards)
**Stamina:** Level 1 (0/100 Shards)
**Intelligence:** Level 1 (23/100 Shards) ⬆
**Charm:** Level 1 (4/100 Shards) ⬆
**Studying Skill:** Level 1 (61/100 EXP) ⬆
---
I was more than halfway to leveling up my Studying skill. And I'd made serious progress on Intelligence and Charm just by refusing to stay invisible.
But lunch was always the hardest part of the day.
The cafeteria at Silverbrook was segregated by wealth, though nobody officially said it. The rich kids claimed the center tables near the windows—the prime real estate. Scholarship students like me ate at the back tables near the kitchen, where the smell of industrial cleaning products mixed with overcooked vegetables.
Usually, I grabbed my food and ate quickly, avoiding eye contact.
But today, I had an experiment to run.
I got my tray—the free lunch that marked me as poor—and walked straight toward the center tables. Toward Marcus Whitmore's table.
The conversation died as I approached.
Marcus looked up from his phone, his expression shifting from confusion to anger. "What do you think you're doing, Carter?"
"Looking for a seat," I said evenly.
"The charity tables are in the back," Jake Morrison said, not even trying to hide his sneer.
"I know where they are. I've been sitting there for three years." I met Marcus's eyes. "I thought I'd try something different today."
For a long moment, nobody moved. The entire cafeteria was watching now—hundreds of students waiting to see if the scholarship kid would get humiliated again.
Marcus stood up slowly. He was taller than me by three inches and probably forty pounds heavier. "You really want to do this?"
My heart was hammering, but I kept my voice steady. "Do what? Sit down and eat lunch?"
"You think because you answered some questions in class, you're one of us now?" Marcus leaned in close. "You're not. You'll never be. Your mom cleans my dad's toilets. You're *nothing*."
The old me would have walked away. Would have apologized. Would have gone back to being invisible.
But I wasn't the old me anymore.
"You're right," I said quietly. "I'm not one of you. Thank God for that."
Then I turned and walked to an empty table near the windows—not Marcus's table, but not the charity section either. Middle ground. Neutral territory.
I sat down alone and started eating.
---
**[SIGNIFICANT CHARM INTERACTION DETECTED]**
**Stood ground against high-status aggressor without backing down.**
**Demonstrated self-respect and confidence under pressure.**
**Social hierarchy challenged successfully.**
**CHARM SHARDS EARNED: +5**
**Current Charm Shards: 9/100**
---
Five shards! The bigger the social risk, the bigger the reward!
I could feel eyes on me from every direction. Students whispering. Some looked shocked. Others looked... impressed?
A moment later, someone sat down across from me.
I looked up, expecting trouble.
It was Daniel Park, a junior I recognized from AP Chemistry. He was also a scholarship student—his family had immigrated from South Korea five years ago. He was brilliant at science but kept his head down even more than I did.
"That was either really brave or really stupid," Daniel said in accented English, unpacking his lunch.
"Probably both," I admitted.
"Marcus is going to make your life hell."
"More hell than it already was?" I smiled grimly. "At least now I'm choosing my own hell."
Daniel studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Fair point." He extended his hand. "Daniel Park. I don't think we've ever actually talked."
"Ethan Carter." I shook his hand. "And no, we haven't. I think the rich kids prefer we don't form alliances."
Daniel laughed—a surprised bark of amusement. "Divide and conquer. Classic strategy."
---
**[CHARM INTERACTION DETECTED]**
**Successfully initiated friendship with peer.**
**Social network expanded.**
**CHARM SHARD EARNED: +1**
**Current Charm Shards: 10/100**
---
We spent the rest of lunch talking about classes, comparing notes on teachers, and carefully avoiding the topic of our families—the unspoken rule among scholarship students. Don't talk about what you can't afford.
But it felt good. Normal. Like maybe I could have friends here, not just survival strategies.
By the time lunch ended, I'd gained another 3 Charm Shards just from maintaining genuine conversation and making Daniel laugh a few times.
---
**[STATUS UPDATE - AFTERNOON]**
**Strength:** Level 1 (7/100 Shards)
**Stamina:** Level 1 (0/100 Shards)
**Intelligence:** Level 1 (23/100 Shards)
**Charm:** Level 1 (13/100 Shards) ⬆
**Studying Skill:** Level 1 (61/100 EXP)
---
The afternoon classes continued the pattern. I participated actively, answered questions, even volunteered to solve a particularly nasty differential equation on the board in Calculus.
Mr. Pemberton looked at me like I'd been replaced by a pod person. "Mr. Carter, I don't know what's gotten into you today, but keep it up."
By the time the final bell rang, I'd pushed my Studying skill to 89/100 EXP and my Intelligence Shards to 47/100.
I was close. So close to my first level-ups.
On the bus ride home, I studied Advanced Chemistry, pushing through complex reaction equations and thermodynamics problems.
*Ding. 90/100.*
*Ding. 91/100.*
My apartment building came into view, but I stayed on the bus for two extra stops, too focused to care.
*Ding. 98/100.*
*Ding. 99/100.*
One more. Just one more EXP point.
I read through a chapter on electrochemistry, making sure I genuinely understood every concept. The Studying skill made it effortless—like the knowledge was downloading directly into my brain.
*Ding.*
---
**[SKILL LEVEL UP!]**
**STUDYING: LEVEL 1 → LEVEL 2**
**New Effect: Proficient in high school subjects**
**Learning Speed: +110% (increased from +100%)**
**Next Level: 0/100 EXP**
**Note: Skill effectiveness has increased. You will notice enhanced comprehension and retention.**
---
I felt it immediately—like someone had upgraded the processor in my brain. The textbook in my lap seemed even clearer, the concepts even more intuitive. It was a subtle change, but definitely real.
"First level up," I whispered, grinning. "Ninety-nine more to go."
I got off at the next stop and walked the six blocks back to my apartment, not caring about the detour. I felt too good to care.
But I wasn't done for the day.
I changed into workout clothes and headed back down to the courtyard. My muscles were still sore from this morning, but I pushed through.
Pushups: My record was 25. I gritted my teeth and forced out 28.
---
**[PERSONAL RECORD BROKEN!]**
**STRENGTH SHARD EARNED: +1**
**Current Strength Shards: 8/100**
---
Squats: Record was 50. I hit 56.
---
**[STRENGTH SHARD EARNED: +1]**
**Current Strength Shards: 9/100**
---
I kept going, cycling through different exercises, breaking records, earning Shards. My body was screaming, but I didn't stop.
By the time the sun set, I could barely stand.
But the results spoke for themselves:
---
**[DAILY PROGRESS REPORT - DAY 2]**
**Strength:** Level 1 (18/100 Shards) ⬆
**Stamina:** Level 1 (0/100 Shards)
**Intelligence:** Level 1 (47/100 Shards) ⬆
**Charm:** Level 1 (13/100 Shards) ⬆
**Studying Skill:** Level 2 (7/100 EXP) ⬆
**Total Shards Earned Today:** 44
**Average per day needed for Level 2 in one week:** 14.3
**Status: AHEAD OF SCHEDULE**
---
I dragged myself upstairs, every muscle burning. Mom still wasn't home—another double shift at Whitmore Industries.
I heated up leftovers and collapsed at the kitchen table with my laptop, planning tomorrow's strategy.
At this rate, I could hit 100 Shards in any single stat within a week. Maybe less if I pushed harder.
And when I did—when I leveled up just ONE stat to Level 2—Equal Growth would kick in.
All four stats would jump to Level 2 simultaneously.
I'd become stronger, tougher, smarter, AND more charismatic all at once.
The thought made me smile through the exhaustion.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
*"You made Marcus really angry today. Watch your back. - D"*
Daniel. He must have gotten my number from the school directory.
I texted back: *"Thanks for the warning. Worth it though."*
His reply came immediately: *"LOL yeah probably. Same time at lunch tomorrow?"*
*"See you there."*
I set my phone down and looked at the system screen still hovering in my vision.
Two days ago, I was nobody. The invisible scholarship kid who took beatings and swallowed his rage.
Now I had a system that rewarded effort with guaranteed growth. I had a plan. I had my first friend at Silverbrook.
And most importantly, I had hope.
Marcus Whitmore thought he could keep me down forever.
He was about to learn what happened when you gave the underdog a cheat code.
I finished my food, took a hot shower that did nothing for my aching muscles, and fell into bed.
Tomorrow, I'd push even harder.
Tomorrow, I'd break more records.
Tomorrow, I'd get closer to Level 2.
And when I finally hit that milestone, when Equal Growth activated and all my stats jumped simultaneously...
Everything would change.
---
**[END CHAPTER 3]**
**[CURRENT STATUS - END OF DAY 2]**
**Strength:** Level 1 (18/100 Shards)
**Stamina:** Level 1 (0/100 Shards)
**Intelligence:** Level 1 (47/100 Shards)
**Charm:** Level 1 (13/100 Shards)
**Studying Skill:** Level 2 (7/100 EXP)
**Days Until Projected First Stat Level Up:** 4-5 days