Chapter 25: Stat Drop — Zai's Custom Build Begins
POV: Zai
I was in my room now.
The fight was over, the combo done, and the evolution activated.
But now I had to get to something I'd been putting off for too long.
Stats.
The thing I kept putting off like a kid in a straight outta Commo would receive a PlayStation promotion.
I now had 21 points.
And with Level 8 secured, I knew I couldn't stay basic for much longer.
I sat back in my chair at my desk and invoked the interface.
[STAT PANEL – ZAIVIEW ACTIVE]
CURRENT STATS:
STRENGTH: 6
Basic physical damage, punch force, lift weight
AGILITY: 8 (+10% Sync Boost)
Movement speed, attack animation speed, dodge reflex
STAMINA: 7
Endurance, action duration, energy pool
PERCEPTION: 7 (+10% Sync Boost)
Reaction time, motion prediction, enemy read
TECHNIQUE CONTROL: 6
Expert parry timing, comboing, and charge management
COOLDOWN REDUCTION: 4
Reduces cooldown to reuse active skill
STAT POINTS AVAILABLE: 21
I cracked my knuckles and told the system in a whisper, "Show me recommendations according to playstyle trends."
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS – 62% Close-Range Aggression | 24% Aerial Mobility | 14% Ranged Harassment]
Recommended Core Focus: AGILITY + TECHNIQUE + STAMINA
"Sync fighting is best when your body can react fast, recover fast, and chain without dropoff," Marcus said from the corner of the room, arms crossed, leaning on my closet door.
"You don't want to be a brawler, you want to be a blur."
I slowly nodded. "Right. I don't need to punch hardest—I need to punch smart."
Final Allocation:
AGILITY: +6 → 14 (pre-Sync Boost)
TECHNIQUE CONTROL: +5 → 11
STAMINA: +5 → 12
PERCEPTION: +3 → 10
STRENGTH: +2 → 8
COOLDOWN REDUCTION: +0 → still 4
[FINAL STATS – LEVEL 8:
STRENGTH: 8
AGILITY: 14 (+10% Sync Boost) → 15.4
STAMINA: 12
PERCEPTION: 10 (+10% Sync Boost) → 11
TECHNIQUE CONTROL: 11
COOLDOWN REDUCTION: 4
As my stats set, my body buzzed.
Like receiving new muscle memory installed into my bones.
I leapt up and hurled a jab.
The speed was tangible.
My reflexes no longer trailed behind my thoughts—now they preceded it.
Marcus watched carefully. "You're evolving faster than expected."
"Think I'm ready for Level 9?"
"You will be," he said. "The real question is: which Mii class is going to awaken in you?"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]
Progress: 94% → 95%.
Next challenge available soon.
Projected Class Manifestation: Pending evaluation of next skill execution pattern.
I smiled.
It was almost time to choose:
Brawler. Swordfighter. Or Gunner.
But for now?
I booted up the Training Sim again.
Because tomorrow.
I hit Level 9.
And the system would finally tell me who I was meant to be.