A Cool Burning Sensation

Manley spent the next two days trying to figure out how his powers worked. The interface was intuitive, he didn't have to read it. He just knew, but he must first think about it. You would think that would make it easy but no. For example, in order to use the GROUP function, he had to first think about it. After using it he now knows that Roger is a PARTY member and not a GROUP member. They appear to be two different things. He came to the realization that his power his limited by his own understanding. Meaning that in order to use it he must correctly guess or figure out what's possible.

Manley opened the PARTY chat with Roger.

"Hey, Roger, I was able to get more information after investigating my power. It says here you have Energy projection as a power."

GROUP/PARTY

Roger Barren

Brother's Keeper

Improved Teamwork

Mutant

Energy Projection

"Sorry but…I don't know what that means," said Roger.

"It means that the reason you haven't been able to use your power in the last two days is because you were meant to shoot tiny beams rather than be an exploding ball of light."

"I think I get it..."

"Doesn't matter, you must practice anyways, and I should improve my stats. I will come up with a workout regiment, you go eat, you will need the calories."

"Wah…"

"That's right buddy you get a free personal trainer, besides I am not about to workout on my own, it would drive me crazy."

Manley started cleaning up his room. Living in a two-bedroom home as a family of three has its benefits. As an only child he has his own room and the privacy he needs to come to grips with his situation. As he was finishing up, he could hear footsteps approaching his room.

The door open to reveal Robert Hill his father. Dark hair, brown eyes and an impressive build of a man at 190cm. Behind his father is his mother dressed in an apron, spatula in hand.

"Lay, how are you feeling?" asked Robert.

"I am fine dad, much better now," said Manley.

"Good, your mother made dinner come and eat with us," said Robert.

"You boys hurry up before it gets cold," said Ashly.

"Yes mam…" said Robert and Manley.

Ashly led the way as the father and son duo followed behind.

The kitchen was a modest setup, with a stove, sink and Refrigerator thanks to Roberts new job. The dinning table was a small thing with a tablecloth and four chair setups.

The two sat down while the lady served dinner. "So, Lay, I heard you made a new friend," said Robert. He looked over at his son with a smile.

"How do you know that dad?" asked Manley.

"Judy Barren is a family friend, she works at the bank your father used to manage," said Ashly. She had a flat tone that hinted at something more, but Manley didn't have to right context to figure out what.

"…Yes, well I am happy for you son. You have been stuck in your room for a long time, yet the first time you leave the house by yourself you made a friend. I am proud of you," said Robert.

"I am sorry to worry you both. I feel better and I am going to be spending time outside a lot more often." Manley started to dig into his food with more vigor than ever before.

"Slow down champ it's not going anywhere. You also need to focus on your studies. I know it doesn't seem like it around here but they're people in this world that look down on us because our skin. If you're serious about becoming a doctor like your old man, you must study and prove them wrong."

"Dad, don't you worry, 1931 is my year. The year everything starts looking up for me. Mom, can I have seconds?"

"Yes, sweety but why are you so excited? Not that I mind, I prefer this to before," said Ashly.

"Everything's just different now." Manley kept stuffing his face with a look of determination.

Back to his room, Manley walked around his chair then got down on the floor. Pushups came easy before five but then everything got harder after that. He decided to take a break and let his stamina recover.

"Wait! I don't have a stamina value, but I do have mana. I can do magic but not quickly recover from exhaustion?"

He got back into position and started doing pushups again. "Screw it, this is not a game, and I am not powerful, but I have a chance. I will just do this the hard way, HA!"

Manley did five sets of seven pushups then switched to five sets of twenty crunches. He showered then change before laying on his back with his legs off the bed, feet touching the floor. He stared at the ceiling; he didn't have to check. He already knew nothing changed in his status.

Manley sat up and decided to try something different. "I have no quest option so maybe…" He looked around until he spots something. He then walked over to a corner of his room.

CRUNCH!

EXP Gained 0

"So, I can only get experience from kills for now, but a beetle is too small to give me anything. I can't go around killing animals or people, can I? no, not without a good reason."

Manley decided to forget about it for now. He turned around and moved to his nightstand. Opening the book at the top he planned to get some studying done before going to bed.

Fifteen minutes later.

SKILL Gained READING LV6

"Holly shit! YES! Okay, yeah don't get too excited." He thought about it, why did he get this skill. "This is my first time opening a book after gaining my power. Oh, but why did it take fifteen minutes? Wait it started at level six. Maybe, I must develop the skill before it registered, oh I know."

Manley walked quickly into the living room and grabbing one of his father's books then bringing it back to his room. He started reading, then fifteen minutes later.

SKILL Gained BIOLOGY BASIC LV2

"Ha! It worked, now let's have a look."

SKILLS

READING LV6

Reading Speed +12%

BIOLOGY BASIC LV2

Critical Strikes 130%

"Nice, so after level ten my skill advances to basic. Does it improve after basic level ten? I won't know until it happens." Manley went to bed with a smile on his face. "Medical school wasn't a waste; I can hit harder now."

The next day Manley was dropped of at school with a smile. His parents were very happy that he advances through school faster than other kids. Especially since growing up he was a troubled child, with problems controlling his emotions. Starting school with much older kids must have calmed him down in their eyes. It was at school that he discovered something interesting.

"I can remember everything I read with perfect clarity. This must be an unintended side effect of my power." He always had a good memory but this is different. The same way he knows everything in his status, he knows anything he reads. What could it be but a side effect?

After school he met up with Roger. In an abandoned building, Manley could see Roger approaching. He was wearing some shorts that didn't go past his ashy knees. Socks coming up to meet those shorts.

"Roger…forget it. let's get start—"

"AHH!"

EXP Gained 2

Laying next to a wall is a feral dog, with a hole burned through its side and the wood wall. Roger was staring at this animal with fear in his eyes and legs shaking.

"Did you just kill that thing? Remind me not to scare you," said Manley.

"It was…I didn't mean to…"

"Hey buddy its ok, accidents happen that's why we must train. Plus, I got experience for that."

"Wha—"

"Don't worry about it, now turn around and try to project your power gently forward." He then turned Roger around while holding his shoulders.

"I…okay." Roger relaxed his shoulders then tried his best to pull is power forward slowly. He pushed and pushed until he felt energy about to explode out. He then quickly held it then try to funnel it forward through his chest.

"I am doing it!" Roger was excited because it was working.

"AHH!" Manley quickly removed his burning hand from Roger's shoulder. He could feel energy rushing up his hands. In his panic he pushed a different type of energy into his hands. A cool and burning sensation battle for dominance of his hand.

"I am so sorry, I thought I had it." Roger ran over and try to keep him from falling over while avoiding his outstretched and damaged hand.

Gritting his teeth, Manley stood up. "Its not your fault I should've waited behind cover, but I wasn't thinking."

MAGIC Activated

SKILL Gained REGENERATION LV1

"Oh, what's this." Manley brought his hands to his face and watched as it healed. "So cool, I guess I should thank you and me for being stupid."

"How! Did you do that?" asked Roger.

"I don't know it was an accident, I didn't even know that I could."

MP: 40/100

MAGIC

REGENERATION LV1

Regenerates Damaged Tissue

"That's good but why can I only do it with this hand." Manley waved the previously damaged hand around. "I can't feel that energy anymore and I don't want to experiment with your power. You might kill me."

Manley walked up to Roger and pinched the flesh on his chubby arm then gave it a twist.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Stop being a baby." He batted Rogers other arm away then placed his other hand on his arm.

"Oh, that feels better."

"Ha, it worked. Now back to practice with you, need to find out if this works on muscle tissue. After my MP regenerates." He made to walked far away from Roger.

"Wait, I have another ability."

"Oh, what's that?" asked Manley.

"I can remember anything I read, it's amazing. School is going to be a breeze!"

"Oh, that's interesting but I think its an affect of the PARTY because that's my power."

"Yeah…well it's still great…" Roger deflated then turn around and got back to practice.