Intermission: Novices.

The lights around the track were almost blinding. Shining in bright hues of red and green and blue. They were placed along the ground on either side of the dirt road. Acting as improvised borders for us and automatically docking points whenever we veered off into them.

‘Not like anyone’s actually done it though. I have to say, it feels a bit silly to have them there.’

Any normal person would have had more than enough coordination to avoid tripping outside the wide dirt track. Given that half the people here were Enhancers, the likelihood of such a scenario was even lower.

‘Though I guess some people have been showing up drunk to these events. Honestly, what a waste.’

I mean, I’d had a drink or two before coming too but that hadn’t been enough to give me a buzz. No, the problem came from people who really let themselves go. Guzzling down four or five pitchers of beer and relying on [Enhanced Constitution] or [Regeneration] to keep their livers running.

I looked to my left and right. Assessing my current competition.

Oscar didn’t seem drunk at first glance, but a closer inspection revealed the telltale signs of a hangover. Meaning he’d spent the night partying it up at Mindy’s place before coming here. Which was rather silly on his part, since it was no secret that he was quickly running out of points.

Patricia appeared sober as well, bouncing up and down on her heels as if she couldn’t contain all the excess energy her new levels granted. There was still a bruise on her right cheek. A testament to her overconfidence during the boxing matches last week. It would seem that she was determined to show off in this race in order to wash away her previous shame.

Then, there was Cassandra. Her face still as stone and her eyes focused on the finish line off in the distance. That was troublesome. Her being a Telepath meant that she was at a severe disadvantage when it came to physical contests. However, that also meant that quite a lot of her abilities were judged as non-direct-attacks. Which meant that, unlike the rest of us, she could spam out crow-control with impunity.

The lucky one would fall on her first round of [Sleep]. The other ones would last until she started dishing out [Blind] and [Indigestion]. Both of which very not fun to experience.

My hand went to my stomach as memories resurfaced and I started feeling sick all over again.

‘It is good to see her so relaxed though. She’s doing a lot better these days.’

I briefly recalled the last time I saw her prior to our entrance into the Tutorial. Me and Sully looking down on her as she lost her mind on the street below. She’d seemed mortified back then. Ranting and raving about a tyrant and gnomes and other things.

Back then, I had assumed that she was smashed on a strong vintage or three. Now though, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Neither did she for that matter. She kept repeating that visions only showed the most likely future, instead of a future that was certain to happen. However, she also refused to put any points into [Precognition] or [Premonition] and was horrified when she got them without spending points.

‘Yeah, people really didn’t like that. Hard to sympathize with someone who gets freebie levels and extra ability points when you have to scrape for any advantage you can get.’

A blast from the overhead trumpets stole my attention away and I refocused on the race at hand. Noting all the hurdles between us and the end.

‘Right. I can do this. Just keep sprinting forward and don’t let the illusions get to me. Also, hope against hope that Cass doesn’t target me first.’

“All right students! Welcome to today’s event! The wacky obstacle course! The setting is thus! You must reach the end of the course within 10 minutes in order to receive the bare minimum of 500 store tokens. Those that fail to meet this requirement will get zilch. Zero. Nothing. First place yields 5, 000 store tokens. Second place yields 3, 000. Third place gets a measly 1, 000 store tokens to spend on houses and good food and those cute hairy dogs you all like so much. As always, show your athletic spirit by not engaging in untoward behaviour. Direct attacks of any kind will be severely punished.”

Most of the current contestants beside me began to glower at Cass. She didn’t look at them. Acting as if they weren’t there. Which only served to inflame them further.

“Also! This little event will have a surprise rule! Yay!”

‘No. Not yay. Very much not yay.’

That got people’s attention off the Telepath and many of my peers looked up with horror in their expressions. So did I, for that matter.

Surprise rules had been fun things during the first week. Asking us to do push-up in our pajamas or running a marathon while holding a melting ice-cream cone in one hand. After that, the surprises had slowly gone from silly and humorous to downright sadistic.

Demanding that we forgo food for half a day while jogging or that we spar without the safety suits on.

‘Someone’s going to break a bone one of these days.’ I though bitterly. Once more thanking whatever power was out there that none of my friends were taken alongside me. I had a distinct feeling that they wouldn’t have been able to handle things here.

‘Especially Sully. He’s always been a goody-two-shoes. And a little immature for all that.’

“Our surprise rule will be the complete ban on active abilities! Passives only! So that we can see how all of you do when we take into account situation in which Psy will be, slow to come back, shall we say. Now don’t make those faces. Its completely within the realm of possibility and passives will be lifesavers when you inevitably find yourselves in these situations. So, better to train up now while you still have the chance. With that out of the way, go on and have fun! Race starts in three!”

I looked back at Cass. Noting how her already pale face had lost what little color it had. The others around her were in a much more jovial mood at the news however. Going so far as to snicker at the arbitrary changes.

“Two!”

“Guess you won’t be able to pull of your usual tricks, spook.” Patricia muttered. Sneering as she did so.

Cass said nothing in response.

“One!”

I sucked in a breath and spread my awareness out over my whole body.

“Go!”

The ground nearly exploded behind me. Dust flying in every direction as I kicked off with preternatural speed. Constant training and natural athleticism meant that I quickly outpaced my competitors. [Enhanced Training] once more showing off its stuff.

I ran and ran. Growing the distance that separated me from those who would claim second and third place. My confidence only grew after I’d cleared the first couple of hurdles and I chanced a backwards glance as I began to sprint up the hill that rose from the otherwise even terrain.

Patricia, for all her cockiness, couldn’t keep up with the frontrunners, as her build was focused on strength. As it was, she was floundering with the latter half of the trailing mass of students. Desperately keeping her impulse to shove others out of her way in check, lest she lose even more tokens than she had already.

Oscar, was nowhere to be found. At least, not anywhere close to the middle.

Meanwhile, Cass. Was not dead last. In fact, she was holding her own and managing to remain a few dozen metres behind Patricia.

I turned back to the track and kept advancing up the incline. Considering what I’d just seen.

‘I guess hero programs aren’t just for show. Her keeping up with other Enhancers and Shifters, even slow ones… That pace can’t have been easy to maintain.’

I leapt over more hurdles on my way to the finish line. Clearing them with an ease that would have made pre-emergence Olympians blush.

All the while, my breathing remained even. Steady in the face of constant exertion. I felt, strong. Sure, of myself. In total control of my own movements and faculties in a way that would have been unthinkable back home.

‘No wonder guys like Mason were total (Surprise). I can’t imagine what being born with this kind of power does to you growing up.’

Only a few hundred metres stood before me and my goal. The black and white awning beckoning me forward from all the way up at the top of the hill.

I jumped over a trench dug into the ground. Safely landing on the other side without breaking a sweat and pushed myself past the final stretch.

Going past it in a blur.

“We have a winner my dear students! First place goes to, Henry Cornwall! Let’s give him a round of applause!”

There was some cheering at that. The few people who’d opted out of the day’s event calling out to me from the stands far off to the side.

I waved at them. Moving to clear the sweat from my brow as I’d done back home, only to once again realize there wasn’t any moisture atop my brow.

Then, I made my way over to the nearby washrooms. Picked up a fresh towel and had a nice refreshing shower. Indulging in the warm water while the rest of my peers finished up the race. There was a ruckus waiting for me afterwards. People in the stands rushing over and congratulating me on my performance.

“Nicely done Henry!”

“Way to go man!”

“The others didn’t have a chance!”

“I guess it was a good thing that I didn’t participate. No sense in going up against you.”

I cringed a little at that last comment. Wondering whether or not to say something. The speaker was a young man whose name escaped me at the moment. With a natural tan that reflected his previous life as a surfer bro. He’d done well enough in the beginning, when the going was easy, but had lately made a habit of skipping any events he saw as too much of a bother.

‘That’s a stupid mistake.’ I thought to myself. ‘It’s the reason why you’re still level 5 after all this time.’

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

In truth, the reason why I was the second-highest levelled person here was precisely because he was so lazy. The advantage he’d had in the beginning having shrunk into nothingness as he idled. In contrast, I’d been working my (Surprise) off for the better part of our six-week stay. Pushing my body harder and harder until I was almost as strong as Cass. Which was saying something, as she’d been a literal pro-hero before the Tutorial.

‘That reminds me…’

Name:

Henry Cornwall

Psy:

110 / 110

Type:

Enhancer Level 12

Enhancer Abilities:

[Enhanced Strength] 2 / [Enhanced Dexterity] 3 / [Enhanced Constitution] 3 / [Enhanced Training] 3 / [Enhanced Learning] 1 / [Enhanced Processing] 1 / [Enhanced Flexibility] 2 / [Enhanced Reflexes] 2 / [Enhanced Stamina] 2 / [Enhanced Toughness] 1 / Enhanced Agility] 2

Ability Points:

0

I clicked my tongue.

‘Man, it’s been a whole week without a level. What am I supposed to do to get more points?’

“Out of my way.” Patricia growled from behind me.

I turned to see her shoving passersby aside. Glowering at them as if she was preparing to eat them for breakfast. I made the mistake of frowning and that was all it took.

“What are you looking at, hot shot? You looking for a fight?”

“No.” I said at once. “I don’t want to fight with anyone. I’m good.”

Her face twisted further. Until it resembled a dried out prune someone had left out in the sun.

“Yeah. You’re good. You’re real good aren’t you. Maybe a little too good. Tell me, how did you convince the spook to help you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

She stepped closer.

“I’m asking you how you got the spook to help you. Dumb(Surprise). How did you get her to cheat?”

‘Oh. That’s where this is going.’

I sighed in defeat. Realizing that this day wasn’t going to get any better.

“Come on Pat. Don’t do this to yourself. You know the organizers have their (Surprise) together. They’d have caught on to any cheating taking place.”

“So, you, say. Funny that. I have no way to tell whether or not you’re lying and the best mind-reader around happens to be your girl.”

“Cass hasn’t been my girlfriend for a long time.” I repeated. Knowing full well that nothing I said would change her mind.

“Yet you still call her by that pet name. Again. Funny that.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I feared they might pop out of my skull.

‘My goodness. What I wouldn’t give to have my friends here with me. Me and Luigi would roast the ever-living (Surprise) out of her and watch as Sully and Vince tried not to laugh. Actually, you know what? I’m done with her. I’m done with this. Time to go to town.’

“Look, Pat. Stop it. It was funny the first few times you did it. Now its just sad. So what if Cass kicked your fat (Surprise) up and down the ring a few times? So what if she stood up to you when you were running your sad little take on a mafia? So what if she’s proven that she’s better and more good-looking than you every single time the two of you have come up against each other? That’s no reason to make a scene. You’re acting like the disgruntled president of a homeowner’s association after their husband and their kids left because of their terrible personality. Its sad to see. You’re literally making me cry for you. And I don’t want to cry for you. Because you’re a sad, angry little person who spreads misery and cholera wherever she goes. Maybe one more than the other, but that’s your business, not mine.”

The crowd surrounding us had gone silent.

Meanwhile, the look on her face could have brought smiles to grieving widows. Her mouth hanging open as if she was waiting for flies to make her way inside.

“Close you mouth Pat.” I gently admonished. “Your breath is liable to kill someone. Or a whole host of someones.”

She shut her trap. The opened it again. Making weird noises while her cheeks reddened.

“Look, why don’t you leave Cass and I alone and use that time to train. That way, you won’t be humiliated quite as often. Maybe. If you’re lucky. As for this race; if you’ve got a problem, take it up with the organizers. I hear a new one was just appointed that might take your seriously. Granny something or other.”

It took a full minute for her to recover.

Once she did, she sneered.

“I will do that. Don’t think your little games will go unpunished.”

She shoved her way past me and down the brightly colored street of the town. Making her way towards the school.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Cass admonished. Her tone as even as always.

I shrugged in response.

“Maybe not. But I wanted to. You’re… well. Maybe not a girlfriend anymore. But at friend at the very least. I had to say something.”

She shook her head. Her hair gently swaying from side to side.

I looked at her again and made not of the faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

I smiled a goofy smile.

“And since we’re still friends. Do you fell like having a drink? Its on me.”

“No.” She sighed. “We have to go find this Granny Golden and set the record straight.”

“It’ll be fine.” I waved her off. “Do you honestly think anyone who’s officially working for the System is going to believe her lies?”

“Maybe not. But she’ll probably want to read our minds to make sure her story is false. I wouldn’t want this to snowball into a bigger incident later.”

I shook my head.

“Fine. After you princess.”

She elbowed me in the ribs.

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

“I know.” I snickered. “That’s why I keep doing it. I want to get your attention.”

She elbowed me again. Drawing ‘oos’ and ‘aahs’ from the crowd.

There were more and more people gathering the closer we got to the main school building. Familiar faces making their way over to elective classes and lessons on the practical use of abilities.

The two of us eventually reached the storefront. Finding the new merchant set up across the principal’s office. Moreover, it would seem that principal Banerid, this two and a half metre were-fox humanoid, was having a rather heated conversation with the comparatively smaller were-crow called Granny Golden.

“I don’t see why I should get involved in the humans’ spat.” Granny Golden assented.

“I keep telling you dear. We, who have been so generously assigned to this instance, take our jobs far more seriously. We have a duty to listen to the students and to hear out their woes and complaints.” He placed his clawed hands behind his back. Swishing his two tails back and forth.

He chuckled lightly. Causing his fangs to become visible.

“Perhaps you would know this already, if you’d bothered to listen. But then again, I suppose I shouldn’t have expected much from someone that had to flee from a student. I should keep in mind that your species’ standards have dropped considerably.”

Granny Golden bristled.

“You don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, fool! These primates have a Savant among their number! A true, honest Savant!”

He rolled his crimson eyes.

“Indeed. Savants seem to be popping up all over with this lot. Why, our dear Cassandra was a Telepath before she came here too. Her level and abilities are quite advanced.”

Granny stopped dead in her tracks. Her beak opening and closing again. Then, she began to shake. So violently that even the principal seemed taken aback.

“W-what’s her level?”

“21.” Patricia supplied. “Almost twice that of Henry, who happens to be the runner-up.”

She pointed at us.

“She’s cheating the System somehow. Getting new levels faster than we are. Its not fair. I know there has to be something she’s been taught or some cheat she figured out. We should know it too, or else, this whole Tutorial is pointless.”

Granny Golden’s tension had left her frame the second she found out about Cass’ level. Her feathered body almost dropping to the ground like a deflated balloon.

Patricia didn’t notice. Instead, her eyes found me and Cass and the distaste became plain to see on her face.

“She’s also found a way to cheat the rules during events! That’s how she and Henry keep winning! I want someone among the staff to review the footage so that they can be caught and punished!”

The principal was nodding along slowly. His eyes looking at Patricia in the same way that one might look at a chimpanzee flinging their own feces around their enclosure. A mixture of barely contained revulsion mixed with no small amount of fascination.

Granny Golden only showed revulsion.

“Listen here. Young one.” She chirruped in between what I thought were sighs. “Your accusations are not only baseless. They showcase how moronic you are and how your teachers have done a fair job at keeping you ignorant.”

Patricia whirled. Reddening further.

“You’ve been bought already.” She spat.

“No.” Granny Golden said, flatly. “I am speaking nothing but the truth. The System is an ability. Kept running by the will and psychic might of the ascended. To manipulate it, you would need to have power comparable to that of an ascended. That is, an ability that was at least Tier 10. I made sure to double check the profiles of all the students her before taking this job. In fact, I go over those documents twice every day to avoid…”

She paused. Choosing her words carefully.

“Unwelcome surprises.” She finished. Shivering as she did so.

“Now, while the faculty in this difficulty and this difficulty alone can use their abilities to actively attack the students, we are carefully kept in check by each other’s interests so that we only do so during sparring matches. For your instruction.”

She pointed a clawed thumb at principal Banerid.

“This one would report me for a reward within a second of me doing such a thing. Meaning he and every other teacher here have nothing to gain and everything to lose by showing favouritism. I’m not saying that favoritism doesn’t happen here in the Labyrinth. I’m just saying that none of you weaklings could hope to afford all of our prices. If you wanted to get away with bending the rules, you’d need to have enough clout to convince all of us at once, so that none of the teachers reported each other. So, get on with your life. And stop wasting my time.”

Patricia retreated a few steps. But marshalled her courage soon thereafter.

“Is that so?” Patricia growled. “Well then, let me tell you this. The school will not last forever. I don’t know what level you guys are, but I know all of you have stopped growing a long time ago. I will get stronger than you someday and then, you will be sorry you all treated me like garbage.”

Principal Banerid roared with laughter.

“Of course! Of course! We do love to see this much gumption from our dear students! Oh, I have no doubt that you will achieve great things Patricia! Great things!” He leapt forward to pinch her cheek and pull it slightly. So fast that his movements created a shockwave that sent air in every direction.

I flinched, as I realized that I had caught less than a quarter of his movements.

“Did you see that?” I whispered to Cass.

She shook her head.

‘Damn. How strong would you have to be to stand next to guys like him?’

I knew we might get there eventually, but the prospects seemed wildly out of reach. The second Tier was, like an impenetrable wall. One where only the monstrously strong managed to break through.

“Let go of me!” Pat shrieked.

But her efforts were futile.

Her punches might have been fearsome for us, but the principal didn’t seem to feel them at all.

Instead, he kept laughing merrily.

“Look here. If you really want to challenge someone, challenge this Granny here. I always thought she was far stronger than me, but it turns out she was defeated by a human student recently. Take your chances with her.”

Contrary to him, Granny Golden had not been laughing when Patricia made her threats. Instead, she was chewing on some of her fingers. Using her beak to bite into them at changing intervals while shaking.

“Possible.” She mumbled. “Beauty standards. Marriage. Connections. Possible. Possible. (Foxxan).”

She turned her head to address all of us, as well as the onlookers.

“Before this conversation goes on any further… would anyone here happen to know a certain… Solomon Carter?”

My jaw dropped.

“Hey! That’s my best friend!”

Granny Golden’s entire being focused on me. Her eyes digging holes into my soul.

Then, the shaking redoubled. To the point where all the pins and ornaments hidden within her robes were clattering and clanking against each other like maracas.

Patricia looked around, confused. Before regaining her momentum.

“Aha! I knew it! You were cheating using this (Cassandra)hole’s clout!”

Granny Golden didn’t say anything. Instead, she took out what looked like a spiked bat out of a ring and swung it at Patricia’s face.

Teeth went flying.

Principal Banerid’s jaw hit the floor. As did Patricia’s.

“What are you doing you cow!? I was joking! How could you actually hurt a student!?”

Granny Golden shoved a piece of paper into his face, causing the werefox’s eyes to refocus on it. Then they almost popped out of his skull.

“WHOOAOAOAOAAAAAA!!” He shrieked. Before starting a set of backwards cartwheels. Hands finding the floor over and over again as he kept leaping in retreat.

“WAAAAAAAOOAAAA!!! WAAAAAUUU!!! WAAAAAAGH!!!” He kept up, all the way to the door and out of sight.

Granny Golden turned to me. Nodding sagely and prostrate herself.

“Master Henry. Please. Have mercy on us poor fools. I am yours to command. All I beg in return is that you stay your dear friend’s hand when the time of your reunion comes.”

She went so far as to kowtow. Forehead planted firmly down on the floor.

“Please. Please. Please.”

Cass eyes snapped to Patricia’s crumpled form. Then to me.

“Henry. Who the (Surprise) is this, Solomon Carter?”

I was taken aback. Retreating while putting my hands up.

“I told you! My best friend! He, he’s a bit on the taller side. Mostly in shape. Has a big hooked nose. Grey eyes that look like they know what you’re thinking before you say it out loud. Good guy overall. Bit uptight. Little bit of anger issues.”

Granny Golden sobbed harder. Sounding like a whole host of toddlers put together. All while Principal Banerid was still doing cartwheels outside the windows and hollering his furry head off.

A closer inspection revealed that the tiled floor beneath her was wet and getting wetter by the second.

“Did you just piss yourself!?”

“I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry master Henry! It won’t happen again I swear!”

“Henry…” Cass began again. Her tone becoming dangerously low. “Who. Is. This. Person.”

I sputtered. Not knowing how else to explain.

“He’s, my friend! I keep telling you that! He’s a good guy and a good buddy to have! We’ve been friends forever! Ever since we were like, six or seven or something and our families survived an encounter with some monster crabs and a rogue Telepath villain. A tall one.”

Cass flinched. Then her eyes went over to the note on Granny Golden’s hand.

When she read it, a single word escaped her full, cherry lips.

“Tyrant.”

Then she dropped the note and fell down unto the floor. Spasming, as she had back then.

When Sully had been at my side.