3 What the heck?!

"Boy, didn't you hear me? Then Die! " yelled the man as he rushed towards him with an iron fist.

"Shit, he is an superpower user. " cursed Sam.

He critically dodged the man only to find the girl was running away. The criminal also saw it and was furious. His face distorted as he became more vicious in his attacks. He really wanted to kill Sam for making him loose his pray!

Sam planned to run but the criminal was in a frenzy. He could only dodge. The criminal's strength was far greater than the present him.. Sam's speed was better that was why Sam was able to survive till now..

"Argh! " A fist finally hit Sam's arm. He felt like he had hit a solid iron. His hand was already bleeding from the impact and the intense pain throbbing through his arms was probably due to fracture and broken bones.

"No I can't defend directly" ..thought Sam anxiously. The only way was to escape and sought help or find weapons.

While escaping as fast as he could, he kept looking at the road to find any humans or weapons to help him. But he found no other soul. He himself didn't notice coming to a isolated alley while running. The road he took was ongoing construction for residents. So no one lived here. He glanced sideways, when he suddenly found bricks and sand in plastic in a construction site in the side of a road. Seeing the criminal on his tail, he grabbed a brick and threw it towards the criminal. Obviously the criminal dodged and was going to smile hideously when Sam sprayed a handful of sand towards his face at the exact moment.

"Argg! You bastard! I will kill you!!" yelled the man rubbing his eyes.

Giving no reply, Sam kicked the criminal straight into his jaw which hit him hard. Sam knew if he didn't strike brutally now then he would be one to get killed. He grabbed the brick and hit the criminal hard on his head with as much as force he could master.. He knew the head was the only weak spot of this guy. As from his observation, this guy could make his both hands into iron. So he hit hard until the criminal bled profusely from his head and fell to the ground clutching his head.

Sam was breathing hard. He knew the man wasn't dead but only immobile due to harsh beating. He didn't want to kill him either. So throwing the bloody brick aside, he fled the area while calling the police and Olson too. Only he could get him a bail, if he was caught by the police..

...

Sam was still wary of the criminal. He walked a slight distance and leaned against a pole.

"Hiss.. So painful! " groaned Sam.

"Probably its broken. Sigh! How did this happen to me? "

He kept mumbling when he heard sirens of police vehicles. The police soon reached the spot of crime. The criminal was soon apprehended.

"Please, come with us for questioning.We will arrange for a medic in the police station." said a young police officer as he glanced at his hands.

Sam nodded. He immediately needed medical attention. The pain was killing him already.

...

"Young man, you have 2 broken bones, numerous small fractures, blood clot, injured skin. I need to remove the blood clot by a small surgery and then join the bones. Just bear with the pain for now. "

The police station had their own clinic. The officer arranged Sam for the doctor there.

Sam nodded. The doctor applied anesthesia on his arm as he proceded for the surgery.

.

.

"Okay. I will connect your bones. Bear with the little pain" warned the doctor again as he applied his healing ability on his bones. Sam felt a sharp stinging pain on his bones as the bones relocated in their places and merged anew like before.

Hiss~~

Sam inhaled a mouthful of air. Even though it was some seconds but the bone connection was so painful.

"Okay young man. All done. You won't feel pain now! Breathe! " coaxed the doctor.

"Uh. ha! "

Soon the fractures, skin injury were also healed.

"Amazing! " thought Sam as his eyes sparkled. His hand was back as before. Yes, healing ability was a superpower too. All the superpowers in this world started weak and one needed to challenge another superpower user to evolve their ability and unlock gene locks in their body. Challenges of auxiliary abilities didn't necessary mean one needed to fight head-on always. One just needed to register the challenge and then can fight head-on, by tactics and many other way. Like the healers with no fighting ability, could challenge other healers on the basis of who cured a dangerous disease/injury or how many patients they could cure in a limited time. This doctor was a peak grade 7 healer. After fulfilling the experience to reach peak 10, he could issue a challenge to another peak 10. If he won he would be level 11 and absorb the gene points of the looser and the one who lost would loose a level.

Sam politely thanked the doctor repeated times and left the clinic to the police station for questioning. When he reached there, he saw not only Olson but Lucy also present there with a lawyer. Sam smiled bitterly. Looked like he was out of luck today.

Seeing Sam at the door, the young officer called him to come in. Sam glanced at Olson and helplessly smiled.

Police officer : Mr. Richards is it? We have seen the CCTV footage of the scene where you met the young girl. We couldn't gather any CCTV footage of the construction street though. I saw you wearing the same uniform as the girl, so did you know the girl?

Sam : No. I didn't know the girl. She ran towards me voluntarily to make me a bait while she run.

Police officer : So you are saying that it was a pure misunderstanding that the criminal attacked you?

Sam : yes.

Police officer : Oh, how did you defeat him then? I read the report of your injury.

Then Sam described the whole process.

Police officer : Mr. Richards is in luck that he met just a level 1 noob today. That guy is a wanted thief with bounty 20,000 Alliance dollars. But don't depend on luck always since you are still unawakened.

Sam nodded. The police officer cleared all the files and even gifted the prize money and a 'brave citizen' certificate from the police station. Sam kinda felt embarrassed yet happy holding the certificate. He cheekily smiled at Olson and Lucy. Olson gave him a thumbs up secrectly while Lucy still coldly looked at him though her degree of coldness was lower than before..

"Seems like Lucy still cares about me.. " thought Sam..

As they walked out of police station, Sam heard a long awaiting mechanical voice..

*Beep*

*Host defeated level 1 iron hand*

*System initialization condition met..1%..3%..10%...50%....100%. System bonded with host. The great 'Art System' is finally at your service. *

*Congratulations host for Awakening Painting magic.*

*Host can see his status in status window*

*Inventory unlocked*

*Novice pack gifted in the inventory. Collect within 24hours.*

*Beep*

Sam froze. But he felt his heart as if thumping out of his chest.

Did he get his reincarnation gift finally?

But what exactly did he awaken? Art system?

What the heck was Painting magic?

Wasn't it just painting?

"Hey bro, why did you stop walking? " yelled Olson who had walked a little far away.. Seeing Sam standing in a daze, Olson shaked his head and turned his way to Sam.

" Dude, c—" Olson was cut short when he heard Sam say..

"I awakened"

"Yeah you di— Holy mf what?!! " screamed Olson, wide-eyed.

"You heard right! "Sam assured him...

Olsin hugged him in joy..

"Hahhaa... today is really a lucky dayy.. Congratulations brother.. congratulations.. Btw what superpower did you awaken?" asked Olson joyfully.

Lucy also came back to them. Her usual coldness was now gone. Sam looked at her as she said, " Congratulations " with a faint smile..

"Woah.. she smiled" ..thought Sam..

To the answer to Olson's question, Sam became somewhat embarrased, "Umm it's Painting magic "

Now it was turn for Olson and Lucy to be dazed. They couldn't wrap their brains at the thought of Sam's ability.

Would Sam draw to entertain his enemies or something else?? It was all obscure...

"Cough.. cough.. "

"Ahem.. Well no problem bro.. We are here with you. Maybe your superpower is unique. Fret not. We will help you in the future.. Lucy will be there too..Isn't right Lucy?" Olson replied somewhat embarrassed as she asked her to confirm..

Lucy just looked at Olson with a complicated gaze for some seconds as she just slowly replied " Yeah" and turned her way back..

" See bro. Let's figure something out for the future. Come let's go to school and register your superpower in the school office and get you registered in the student card. I will explain you about the superpower abilities after that.. " bla bla.. chattered Olson like a mother as they walked their way to school.