The morning haze of Gotham carried a heavy, bitter chill. Jason stood at the edge of the warehouse's broken window, hoodie drawn tight over his head, eyes scanning the shadowed city skyline. Fog coiled between the buildings like smoke from some sleeping monster's breath. He could hear the city murmuring—honking horns, distant sirens, the shuffle of early risers and late-night drifters.
He turned from the window and cracked his neck.
Another day, another gamble.
---
System Notification:
New Daily Objective: Survey Gotham's Streets
Optional: Locate a source of food
Optional: Practice Stealth (Avoid Detection)
Reward: +1 Intellect (if completed without conflict)
---
His stomach growled in protest, the System's reminder of his priorities hitting too close to home.
Jason exited the warehouse and slipped into the alleys, the System interface subtly present in his periphery. He moved with purpose, yet cautious enough to avoid the gaze of any passerby. His lean frame and tall height made blending in a bit difficult, but his practiced slouch and shadow-walking instincts from a lifetime of gaming helped.
As he walked through the underbelly of Gotham, the city's personality unfurled: homeless encampments built from tarp and trash, flickering neon lights selling broken dreams, and murmured threats exchanged in alleyways. This city breathed crime.
Jason approached a corner bodega, its steel bars rusted but intact. He paused, eyes flickering over the entrance, then slipped inside. The door's bell gave a half-hearted chime.
Inside, the air was thick with stale grease and humidity. The shelves were poorly stocked, the lighting worse, but it was shelter—information central for someone like him. Locals gossiped in whispers. He wandered through the aisles, pretending to browse, eyes absorbing every detail.
But something felt off.
Jason turned to leave—
And the door slammed open.
Three men entered. Two had weapons: a crowbar and a pistol. The third held a black duffel bag.
"This is a holdup!" the one with the pistol shouted.
Customers screamed and dropped to the ground. Jason dove behind the shelves.
---
New Mission: Survive Armed Robbery
Optional: Neutralize Hostiles
Optional: Remain Anonymous
Bonus: Use Pyrokinesis Tactically
Reward: Skill/Stat Bonus
---
Jason's pulse quickened. His burned hand trembled slightly. He reached inward, calling on the flickering fire he'd nurtured the last two days.
A spark lit at his fingertips.
He peered around the corner, spotting a small pile of rags near a half-empty shelf. Perfect. Jason tossed the spark.
Fwoosh!
The fire caught immediately. The sudden burst of flames drew gasps and curses from the robbers.
"What the—fire?!"
In the confusion, Jason rolled out and swept his hand forward. Flame Burst! A jet of fire whooshed from his palm, striking the crowbar-wielding thug in the chest. The man screamed and dropped his weapon.
Jason ducked behind the counter as bullets shattered a snack display beside him. The gunman cursed, trying to take aim.
Jason closed his eyes for a split second, then popped out and threw another Flame Burst at the man's legs. The blast sent him reeling, and Jason charged him, adrenaline surging.
He tackled the thug to the ground and wrestled the gun from his grip, tossing it across the room. A quick jab to the temple and the man was out cold.
The third guy bolted for the door with the bag.
Jason let him go. He was too drained.
---
Combat Resolution: Successful
Hostiles Neutralized: 2/3
Civilians Injured: 0
Identity Compromised: No
Rewards:
+1 Strength
+0.7 Pyrokinesis Mastery
+New Skill: Flame Jet (Directional Burst, Range: 3m)
+1 Reputation (Unknown Vigilante)
---
Jason stood, breath ragged. The clerk stared at him wide-eyed from behind the counter.
"I didn't see your face," he said quickly.
Jason nodded. "Good."
He slipped out the back exit as sirens wailed in the distance. The Gotham Police were coming. Time to vanish.
---
Path Tracking Initiated:
Alignment: Neutral Good
Notoriety: Low
Public Alias: None
---
Back in the warehouse, Jason collapsed onto the mattress, sweat-soaked and spent.
He stared at the ceiling, watching faint light dance from the fire he now felt more connected to.
"I'm not a hero," he whispered.
"But maybe I can be something else."
-
Chapter 4 - Growing Flames
Jason woke late the next morning, body aching and stiff. His right shoulder throbbed from where he'd crashed into the bodega robber. His ribs weren't much better. But the pain was oddly grounding. It reminded him he was alive—and that yesterday wasn't a dream.
He rubbed his face and brought up the System panel.
---
Name: Jason Emmerson
Level: 2
Age: 17
Skill Points Available: 1
Attribute Points Available: 2
Attributes:
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 11.3
Speed: 10.2
Durability: 10
Stamina: 60
Intellect: 11
Unlocked Abilities:
Pyrokinesis - Level: Beginner (Progress: 10.7%)
Flame Burst (Active): 2.5m directional fire blast
Flame Jet (Active): Short sustained burst for repulsion or short-range control
---
The increase was small, but real. More importantly, the progress felt earned.
Jason dropped the system panel and stood, stretching until his spine popped.
"Time to train."
He'd read enough comics and watched enough anime to know that powers didn't grow by sitting around. The System could give him tools, but mastery? That had to be his.
---
The rooftop of the adjacent factory gave him a perfect place to experiment. Out in the open, away from people, with plenty of room for error.
Jason began with the basics. Ignition. Control. Extinguish. His goal was to summon flame without wasting energy—and that meant precision.
The fire curled easily into his palm now. He could keep it alive with only minor focus. But shaping it?
That was harder.
He tried making it into a blade—like a short sword of flame. The results were… disappointing. The fire fizzled or broke apart with every swing.
"Okay," he muttered, breathing hard. "No shortcuts."
He paced, sweat dripping down his neck.
Then he switched tactics. Instead of trying to force shape, he focused on movement. He threw flames like punches—direct, sharp bursts.
Each time he launched a Flame Burst or Flame Jet, he took mental notes. Control. Focus. Heat.
---
+0.2 Pyrokinesis Progress
+0.1 Stamina
---
By noon, he collapsed on the concrete, chest heaving.
---
System Update:
Due to repeated and focused use of elemental power, progression bonus applied.
Pyrokinesis Progress: 13.4%
---
Jason smiled. "Alright… baby steps."
Suddenly, he heard something. A scuffle. Shouting. Then—a scream.
Jason scrambled to the edge of the rooftop.
Below, in an alley behind a small bar, two thugs were cornering a young woman. She was backed against a wall, holding her purse to her chest. One of the men had a knife.
Jason's pulse kicked into overdrive. No time to think. Only act.
He vaulted down the fire escape, silent as possible. Landed behind a dumpster. Peeked around the corner.
"Leave me alone!" the woman shouted.
"No one's coming to help, sweetheart."
Jason inhaled deeply, focusing fire into both hands.
He stepped out.
"Hey!"
Both thugs turned. Jason raised his hands, flames roaring to life.
"I suggest you run."
They hesitated. One lunged.
Jason sent a Flame Burst into his chest. The man screamed and dropped, his jacket smoldering.
The second turned to run—Jason used Flame Jet to cut him off with a wall of fire. The thug skidded to a stop, panicked, then dropped his knife and ran the other way.
Jason exhaled and turned to the woman.
"You okay?"
She nodded, wide-eyed. "Who—what are you?"
Jason hesitated.
"No one. Just… trying to help."
He vanished into the alley before she could ask more.
---
Reputation Increased: +2 (Gotham Unknown)
Heroic Action Logged
+0.5 Pyrokinesis Progress
---
Back at the warehouse, Jason reviewed his interface again.
Pyrokinesis was almost at 15%.
"Slow and steady," he whispered.
He leaned back, staring at the flame in his palm. It danced, no longer wild, but responsive. Tame.
For now.
---
End of Chapter 2