The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56: 56 | The Gambling Date

〘 TUTORIAL COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: 〙

〘 - COMPLETE 5 MAIN TASKS (3/5 COMPLETE) 〙

〘 - ACHIEVE 100% TEMPTATION THRESHOLD WITH AT LEAST ONE HEROINE (PENDING) 〙

〘 - PASS HALLORAN ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION (PENDING) 〙

"So I need to get one of their temptation thresholds to 100% and to pass Halloran," I said. "Then I get my extra slots and graduate from baby mode."

〘 CORRECT. ADDITIONAL NOTE: POST-TUTORIAL DEPLOYMENT WILL INTRODUCE: 〙

〘 - ADVANCED QUEST TYPES 〙

〘 - MULTIPLE SIMULTANEOUS HEROINES 〙

〘 - INCREASED DIFFICULTY SCALING 〙

〘 - COMPETING MALE INTERESTS 〙

"Competing male interests." I laughed, sharp and bitter. "You mean rivals. Other guys who actually know what they’re doing."

〘 AFFIRMATIVE. CURRENT ADVANTAGE IS TEMPORARY. PREPARATION RECOMMENDED. 〙

I looked at Usurper again in my ability list. This legendary skill that could steal powers from defeated enemies.

Maybe that was the System’s answer. Maybe that’s how I was supposed to compete when I left easy mode behind.

Not by being stronger naturally. Not by training harder.

By taking what I needed from people who stood in my way.

The thought should have bothered me more than it did.

"Alright," I said, closing the interface. "Message received. I’m still a baby. Got it."

I grabbed the black hoodie off the bed and pulled it on. My reflection in the mirror looked the same as before. Messy hair. Scar through the eyebrow. Tired eyes that had seen too much in two weeks.

But underneath?

I had twenty-eight strength. Thirty agility. Thirty dexterity. Thirty-seven endurance. Spectral Reach that let me manipulate objects from fifteen feet away. Blitz that could close ten feet in under a second. Boundless Stamina that meant I could fight longer than anyone expected.

And now, sitting in my inventory like a loaded gun?

Usurper. The ability to steal powers from anyone I could break.

I grinned at my reflection.

"Let’s go gambling."

The arcade was downtown. Twenty minutes by car if traffic cooperated. Sloane wanted to drive. I didn’t argue. Her car was nicer than anything I’d ever own, and watching her drive was entertainment in itself. She drove like she fought. Fast, aggressive, no hesitation.

I headed downstairs and found her in the kitchen, keys already in hand. She’d changed into jeans that hugged her legs and a fitted tank top under a leather jacket. Her pink hair was pulled back in a high ponytail.

She looked good. Really good.

The System helpfully provided data I didn’t ask for.

〘 SLOANE FITZGERALD - CURRENT STATUS 〙

〘 Temptation Gauge: 64% 〙

〘 Emotional State: Excited, nervous, anticipatory 〙

〘 Physical Arousal: Moderate (baseline elevated due to morning training) 〙

"You ready?" she asked, spinning the keys around one finger.

"Yeah." I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. "You sure you want to drive? I could—"

"I’m driving." No room for argument in her voice. "You’d probably crash us before we got to the main road."

"I’m a perfectly good driver."

"You parallel parked into a fire hydrant last year."

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