CHAPTER SIX
Malik was halfway through a lopsided set of dumbbell curls when his vision flickered — not from fatigue, but from a ping.
A new SYSTEM message lit up across his HUD in bold, glowing letters:
🆕 SYSTEM UPDATE: XP TRACKER UNLOCKED
• You now gain EXP (Experience Points) through training, missions, and significant actions.
• EXP fills the System Progress Bar. When full, you LEVEL UP.
• LEVELING UP grants:
+5 Stat Points to allocate
+System Feature Upgrades
+Possibly a protein shake (joking… unless?)
"Finally!" Malik grinned, sweat dripping off his nose. "Grinding just got gamified."
Another window slid open:
🎯 Daily XP Sources (Until Tournament - 7 Days Remaining):
• Basic Gym Workout (Weights/Cardio/Drills): +20 XP
• Completing Full Daily Gym Routine: +50 Bonus XP
• Winning Sparring Match: +30 XP
• Studying 1 Match via Memory Archives: +15 XP
• Cutting a Promo That Impresses at Least 3 People: +25 XP
• Not Skipping Leg Day: +10 XP (Stackable)
A glowing XP BAR appeared at the corner of his vision.
[CURRENT XP: 0 / 100]
"Okay," Malik muttered, wiping his forehead, "time to go full anime training arc."
Training Week Begins: XP Overload
Day 1: Grind Mode Activated
Morning: Weights, cardio, suicide sprints, burpees. Sweat. Pain. Regret.
✅ Gym Workout: +20 XP
✅ Full Routine Completed: +50 Bonus XP
[TOTAL: 70 XP] Evening: Watched Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle classic.
✅ Match Studied: +15 XP
[TOTAL: 85 XP]
Next Morning:
Malik cracked his knuckles as the XP bar blinked excitedly.
[XP: 100 / 100]
🆙 SYSTEM LEVEL UP!
🔼 LEVEL 2 REACHED!
• +5 Stat Points Gained
• Minor System Optimization (+5% Training Efficiency)
• New Passive Unlocked: "Keep Rollin'" – Slight stamina boost during long workouts.
A new stat screen appeared:
📊 STAT ALLOCATION MENU:
• Strength: 18
• Agility: 14
• Endurance: 16
• Charisma: 13
• Technique: 15
Available Points: 5
Malik thought for a second.
"Alright. Let's go balanced with a side of beast mode."
📌 He allocated:
+2 to Strength (for those power slams)
+1 to Technique (because ring IQ matters)
+2 to Endurance (because sweat was now his cologne)
XP Grind: Highlights of the Week
Day 2:
• Sparred with Randy "Meat Grinder" Baxter — barely escaped with ribs intact.
✅ +30 XP
• Did his full gym circuit and did not skip leg day.
✅ +20 +50 +10 = +80 XP
• New XP Total: 110 XP → LEVEL 3 UNLOCKED!
• +5 Stat Points again (Malik was leveling up faster than a streamer on double XP weekend).
By Day 4:
Malik had reached LEVEL 4.
His updated stats now looked like this:
📊 STAT SHEET — LEVEL 4
• Strength: 22
• Agility: 16
• Endurance: 19
• Charisma: 13
• Technique: 17
Unspent Points: 0
XP to Next Level: 40 / 200
"I'm built like a boss battle," Malik muttered proudly, flexing in the mirror. The mirror cracked slightly. Coincidence?
New Routine: Grind Team Formation
Malik wasn't grinding alone anymore.
Caleb "The Technician" kept him sharp on counters and holds. Vanessa "Viper" Cruz ran him through reaction drills so fast he started seeing afterimages. Sweet Danny insisted Malik add a little flair to his entrances. (Malik vetoed jazz hands. Twice.)
Group Training Bonus Activated!
• Extra +10 XP/day when training with teammates.
The crew started calling their makeshift squad "The Undercard Army."
Malik preferred "The Relevancy Empire," but he was vetoed 3–1.
Final Countdown: 2 Days Before the Tournament
Coach pulled Malik aside.
"You're looking sharp, kid. Whatever training plan you're on? Keep it up."
Malik smirked.
"Oh, I intend to. Just wait till you see what I've got left."
The SYSTEM pinged one more time that night:
🔥 Micro-Mission Unlocked: Finish Strong.
• Goal: Reach Level 5 before tournament.
• Reward: +5 Bonus Stat Points. Unlock Finisher Slot.
Malik cracked his knuckles, already dressed for the gym.
XP. Sweat. Growth.
He wasn't just going to show up to the tournament.
He was going to show up leveled up.
Ready.
Grimy.
And on the verge of becoming Eastwood's first high school-level wrestling final boss.
[End of Chapter 6]