The system already had another screen before Nathan could finish asking.
[Fortitude is a skill that restructures the host’s body to peak human physique. The body must be maintained through exercise to preserve peak performance.]
Nathan rested his chin on his hand. He wasn’t in terrible shape but it wasn’t close to being fit either. Being fit meant eating good food and going to the gym.
Two things he didn’t have the luxury to afford. That is, before he got the system.
’How do I use it?’
[The skill can be activated whenever the host wishes.]
’I want to activate it now. You mentioned a cost?’
[Yes. The skill activation will tax a one-time fee from your system balance.]
Nathan frowned.
’So I’ll spend money to activate the skill?’
[Yes. A one-time fee]
’You’re giving millions but require a setup fee for a skill?’
A part of Nathan was unsteady. The way the system mentioned the activation didn’t sit well with him.
What if the fee took everything from his balance or was so high he couldn’t pay
He let out a breath.
’How much is the fee?’
There was a moment’s pause. Almost like the system was carrying out calculations. Then it displayed the balance.
[$69.69]
Nathan stared at the balance for a brief moment, his facial features morphing into a mix of surprise, disappointment and relief.
’Seriously? Of all the numbers you could have picked?’
[The system performed extensive calculations before arriving at this amount. The Host seems to find this funny.]
Nathan shook his head smiling.
’I’m sure you did. Now let’s activate the skill’
[Warning! The first time activation of this skill will cause pain to the host.]
[Do you still wish to activate the skill: Fortitude?]
[Yes] [No]
Nathan shrugged then tapped the ’Yes’ option. The system flashed a deduction message and a loading icon popped up.
No pain, no gain. Besides, if the activation fee was that low, the pain probably wouldn’t be that bad.
The moment the loading icon finished animating, Nathan regretted thinking that.
Without notice, a wave of pain hit Nathan like a truck and flowed through his entire body. He could feel his muscles stretching and snapping back, almost as if they were being worked out.
The pain forced him to drop to the floor. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes but a couple of groans escaped from him.
And after what felt like an eternity, it was over.
Nathan’s body felt like he’d just finished the most brutal workout of his life. Every muscle burned and his lungs begged for air.
"Oi, Nathan. You alright?" Theo called from his cell.
"Yeah, I was working out," Nathan replied in between breaths.
Theo wished him good luck and went quiet. Nathan got up from the ground and unzipped his jumpsuit slowly. His eyes widened at the sight.
His arms, legs and abdomen were all defined and glistening with sweat. He poked a finger at them and felt the firmness. He checked himself from all angles as best as his eyes could see.
"Woah," he whispered.
And as if the system had been waiting for him to finish his examination, a screen popped up.
[Congratulations on activating your skill]
[Spent: $69.69]
[System Balance: $30,007,930.31]
Nathan smiled at the screen.
’My apologies system. I wasn’t familiar with your game.’
[You’re welcome, host.]
The screen vanished. Nathan took a few more minutes to inspect his body and flexed his muscles. When he was satisfied, he sat down.
With a body like this, I could be a model.
"Too bad, I’m in here," he murmured.
The crucial piece of his escape plan now seemed to be Veronica. Nathan was partly certain she was willing but she still hadn’t decided.
An uneasy feeling grew within him that the woman he didn’t like now seemed to be the key to his entire plans and even worse, he didn’t know what she wanted yet.
His phone chimed. A Critter notification.
[@ISimpForLadyMight: What’s up, been busy but I got your messages]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: My info broker seems to be having an attitude so I don’t have information on the detective. For now anyway.]
Nathan sent an alright message and a thumbs up. He was about to ask Moe the cost for his escape logistics but he was already typing. Nathan waited for the typing indicator to disappear and a message appeared in its stead.
[@ISimpForLadyMight: so I heard there was an incident at the prison today and a certain hero showed up.]
Nathan read the message with a smile then typed his reply
[Yes, Lady Might. Anything?]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: As you’re aware she’s like my favourite hero and Theo knows this too so what I want to know is]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: Did he take a picture?]
[Yes he did. Though I’m wondering why you didn’t ask him yourself.]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: Because he’s gonna make a joke about it and laugh. Plus I did mock his favourite hero the other day.]
Nathan’s fingers tapped the screen in response.
[I understand.]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: Glad to hear this. So can you help me ask and send it to me but don’t say it’s for me.]
Nathan hesitated for a moment. It seems Theo was right about Moe’s obsession with the Superheroine.
Could I use that?
[Why do that when I can show you the one I took?]
[@ISimpForLadyMight: Wait, you took a pic of her?]
[Yeah, do you want it?]
For a few seconds, Moe didn’t respond which made Nathan wonder if he had gone offline. Then the three dot indicator appeared
[@ISimpForLadyMight: What do you want in return for it?]
Nathan furrowed his brows at the statement. If Moe was asking this, then he was further gone than he expected. It would be better to get in Moe’s good graces instead of trading it.
[I don’t want anything. You can have it for free.]
[ - Image Attachment]
Elsewhere, in a room littered with posters and images of a red-haired heroine, Moe got a message from Nathan with an image attached.
It depicted Lady Might, mid-flight above the prison yard. Veronica was partly in the frame with her arms crossed.
Moe traced his fingers around it as if it was some renaissance work of art. He got on his knees before speaking again, raising his hands in some pose of reverence.
"It’s so peak," he muttered.
He typed a message to Nathan
[Thanks man. You are the best]
[Now I’ll be bragging to Theo if you don’t mind.]
On the other side of the screen, Nathan smiled and sent a response.
[No I don’t]
Moe reacted with a thumbs up and a few minutes later, Theo yelled his name and got into a lighthearted banter with Moe about how he saw his hero in person.
Minutes later, their argument faded out. Moe typed one more reply and then sent a strange message.
[@ISimpForLadyMight: Now I’ll have to ensure it goes smoothly. Goodnight.]
Nathan frowned at the statement, wondering what that meant.
He sent a message to Moe asking what he meant by that but all he got was a thumbs up.
He stared at the emoji before putting his phone away.
Whatever Moe meant, it could wait until tomorrow. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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