The "Calculator" rep opened unexpected doors. Kids Li didn't know started asking him for math help. Sarah Kim, the previous math queen, gave him a respectful nod. Even teachers treated him with a new deference. It was strange, heady, but Li stayed focused. He knew the academic shield was thin. Brad watched him from across the cafeteria, the gym, the hallways – a silent, simmering storm. Football season was in full swing, and Brad's status as a star running back only amplified his arrogance. He didn't approach Li, but the threat hung heavy.
PE class was Li's physical proving ground. Dodgeball. Li hated it. Usually, he was target practice, eliminated within seconds. Today felt different. Level 7. AGI 13.5. PER 13.5. [Situational Awareness Lv.1] combined with his heightened senses made the whistling balls seem slower, their trajectories clearer. [Muscle Memory: Defense Lv.1] made his dodges fluid, almost automatic.
He weaved, ducked, rolled. Balls whizzed past him, thudding harmlessly into the wall. Gasps and cheers erupted from his teammates. "Go Li!" "Dude's untouchable!" He wasn't scoring hits, but his evasion was buying his team time. Brad, on the opposing team, scowled. He wound up and fired a vicious fastball straight at Li's head.
Li saw it coming. [Quick Thinking] calculated the trajectory. [Muscle Memory] prepped the dodge. But a new instinct flared – not just evade, but control. He shifted his weight, not away, but into the path, just slightly. Instead of dodging, he brought his hands up, palms open, meeting the ball not head-on, but at an angle, absorbing its force and redirecting it downwards. THUMP. It hit the floor harmlessly between his feet.
[SUCCESSFUL DEFENSIVE MANEUVER: REDIRECT!]
Theoretical Combat Lv.2 Effect Triggered! Muscle Memory: Defense Synergy!
XP Gain: +75
The gym exploded. "WHOA! Did you see that?!" "He caught Brad's kill shot!" Brad looked apoplectic. Li met his glare across the court. No defiance, just calm assessment. STR 14.5 vs Brad's maybe 16? AGI 13.5 vs his raw speed? Possible. Risky, but possible.
The final whistle blew. Li's team won, largely thanks to him surviving the longest. As they walked off the court, Brad deliberately bumped Li's shoulder, hard. "Lucky deflection, Wei," he growled. "Real fight ain't dodgeball."
Li stopped, turning slowly. The gym noise faded. Everyone watched. "No," Li agreed, his voice calm, carrying. "It's not. But it's about knowing angles, Brad. Force. Leverage. Physics." He tapped his temple, echoing his math triumph. "Maybe you should study harder." He walked away, leaving Brad speechless, fists clenched, surrounded by teammates who looked suddenly less impressed with their star player.
[REPUTATION UPDATE: "Oakridge Enigma" -> "The Cerebral Gladiator"]
Effect: Significant boost to perceived competence (academic & physical). Intimidation attempts less effective. Attracts genuine curiosity and tentative respect from neutral parties. Significantly increases aggro from primary antagonist (Brad Jenkins).
[OPTIONAL QUEST: THE GAUNTLET THROWN]
Objective: Maintain composure and avoid physical escalation for the next 48 hours despite heightened tension.
Reward: +150 XP, +1 PER, Skill: [Calm Under Fire Lv.1] (Reduces mental penalties from intimidation/surprise)
Failure: High chance of forced confrontation with unfavorable odds.
Li felt Brad's hatred burning into his back like a laser. He'd poked the bear. Deliberately. Calculatedly. He needed Brad off-balance, angry, making mistakes. The gym challenge wasn't just survival; it was psychological warfare. Li walked out, the whispers following him – "Cerebral Gladiator?" "Did he just diss Brad's brain?" – a small, hard smile on his face. The battle lines were drawn. Not in the locker bay, but across the entire school. And Li Wei was playing a much smarter game.