15 First Real Fight

From the heat of delight and elation, Pierce's lips reached to his ears. It was still plastered on his face when he turned his back as some unwanted voices called him all of a sudden.

"You there! Stay where your are!" The guy shouted from a short distance.

Seeing their bulky built and unfriendly gazes and appearance, Pierce's rare kind of smile froze. The he found himself swallowing his saliva.

["Kid! What are you waiting for? Run now!"]

A little nervous for the situation he was in, Pierce did what the system said and ran with all his might. But with his current ability, he kinda doubt the idea of getting way from them.

"Stop, you punk!" That coarse voice reverberated in the empty place.

The system sounded as if it was clicking its tongue. ["So sloppy. Can you go any faster?"]

Pierce forehead creased, annoyed. 'Can't you see? I am trying my earnest but this is the fastest I can go. Remember? You said 3 is the average stat for a human and I just reached that state. With above average humans chasing me, they will likely catch up on me. That ring some sense right?!'

Actually, with his speed, Pierce would be surprised if they wouldn't caught up to him. It was undeniable to an extent, as those thugs were physically better than him.

["Oh, my bad, this one forgot. But, if that is the case kid, you better stop now. You will be stupidly consuming your energy for a useless run when you can simply face them."]

Pierce gritted his teeth while sweating profusely. He was already showered with sweat when he was finding a secluded place earlier, and he was running again. Him being quite scared of the situation he was in, might also be a factor why he was sweating a lot.

'Aren't you quite unreasonable? Do you want me to get beaten? Hello, old man, my strength is only similar to a normal person. Following what you've said is only voluntarily delivery my self to death doors. I could already imagine myself being beaten black and blue with that.'

Pierce added. 'I will just choose to run. I might be lucky enough to encounter someone on the way and then ask for help. It's way better of a choice.'

["There is a better choice than that. Come on, trust me kiddo."]

Pierce was a bit puzzled. As what he could remember, he didn't have anything in store to help him fight back. He might have got a job but base on the job description, there wasn't even a bit relation to fighting.

'I won't stop running unless you tell me. You know what, you only run your mouth fast when blabbering nonsense and sluggish in talks with sense. Sometimes, I'm thinking of disposing you old man!'

["As if you could!"]

Wanting to keep the distance, Pierce exerted more effort although he was gasping for air. Moreover, the system was stressing him out. He couldn't help but be frustrated as the system couldn't directly spill the bean even if he was already in such a dangerous situation.

'Then talk sensibly! Quickly! They're already catching up to me! Can't you consider? Your host is in a life-threatening situation right now!'

["Alright! This great system will show the way! Just say in your mind, Gardener's Hands!"]

'Fine! Gardener's Hands!' Left without a choice, nervous and all, he said it as quickly as he could.

At that moment, Pierce felt something changed in his hands. As he continued to observe while still running, He became astonished with the changes. His hands became lighter and as if it became more responsive too. When he began to move his fingers, they became more agile and quite flexible in a way which made him almost stop in the run just to be stupefied by its effects.

["Kid, this is your first fight right? This one means, this is your first real fight since your just a mere loser, a punching bag in the past."]

'Yes. Even if I still feel bitter, I won't deny it.'

Seeing the two bulky and fierce-looking guys coming his way, Pierce couldn't help but still felt some hesitation to fight. He was still nervous, taking deep breaths one after another to keep himself composed.

["But you're way different now. Do not fret. Do not flinch and punch when you have the chance else you'll be the one beaten. This time, turn the table around. You're the subduer, never a pushover anymore."]

He took a deep breath, before forming his hands into fists. 'I, I know old man. I'll trust you this time.'

After gathering all of his courage up, Pierce finally stopped.

["Now show them, what a Superior Skill is! Face your fears kid! You can do it!"]

Stopping in the middle of the alley, those who were seizing him slowed down too. That was the time Pierce was able to look closer to those gangster-like faces.

"Who sent you?" Said a man with a tattoo, filling up almost all of his face.

"I just passed through here and stopped for sometime."

That tattooed man smirked. "Who would believe you? This place is well known as prohibited for anyone. Since you came here, whether you're innocent or not. I will make sure to teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

A tall man wearing a leather jacket, moved forward. By how he acted, he seemed to be the leader of the group.

He pointed out those bulky guys who were at his back who were very likely his lackeys. "You, and you, dispose of this pretty face. Make sure his mother can't recognize him. Got it?"

The quickly nodded and said in chorus. "Yes boss."

"Alright, enjoy." That boss said, leaving his lackeys behind to deal with the petite and pretty young boy.

"Punk, what should I break first?" The one with one sleeved tatoo said while stretching his arms.

"We'll start with the face. It's quite a sore." The other one said while showing his villainous grin.

"Agreed."

Quite furious as they treated him like a toy, Pierce subconsciously clenched his teeth and fists. He then said. "You should ask for my permission first, though."

The bald one chuckled, "You got some courage hah. But it won't get you anywhere bastard. It won't save you. I'd rather, you submit to your fate."

Then as if waiting for nothing, the guy with a tattoo came to him with an attacking form. By the looks of it, he was aiming to punch Pierce's head. As if he already anticipated it, Pierce ducked and tried out something he had only watch from a movie before.

["Give that wimp a solid punch kid!"]

Pierce bore his fist on the tattooed guy's abdomen. The latter staggered and then fell down on the ground while groaning in pain.

["Look at this dork's face, ugly!"] The system's chuckle was all he could hear after that.

When that tattooed guy was about to stand up, Pierce punched his head. Though Pierce's posture was a little awkward, obviously showing his inexperience but the punch was actually enough to make the tattooed guy pass out.

Raising his hand, Pierce was smiling when he said, 'Now I call that Gardener's Solid Punch!'

["One down. Now, let's deal with the other one, kid."]

But before he could turn his head, the system quickly warned, ["Watch out kid!"]

A big fist was coming at his face. For normal eyes it looked fast however, Pierce easily evaded it as if it was something so slow to begin with. His improved agility, made it possible.

That also surprised him but he was still in the midst of the fight. He brushed it all for the meantime. It was all for later to think of.

["Destroy his future kid! This arrogant muscle head. Kick where it hurts the most!"]

'Alright. On it.'

After building enough force on his leg, it then found its destination and trageted the other's manhood.

"ARRRRRGHHH!" That painful shout was then heard.

["Accurate! Splendid! Now your exercise is done. Let's leave this place."] Then the system's laughter was never ending. It seemed like it had watch a wonderful show.

'Having fun, are we?'

["Ah, it has been a long time I witnessed a fight even though it is child's play compared to the battles of my hosts before."]

Pierce lips twitched. He lightly shook his head while sighing. 'Can't you just plainly agree without adding any unnecessary thoughts? A difficult system, indeed.'

Started running away from the place, Pierce, asked. 'Just what is that? Is it a skill or something?'

Pierce was still amused by it. As he was observing his hand, and he could still feel that foreign force that made him feel he was a lot stronger than before was still there.

'I felt my strength increased greatly as if I have almost twice the amount I have before. The same goes for the movement. My stamina, too, I didn't feel so tired at all.'

["Check you Status, quick!"]

'Okay.'

With enthusiasm, Piece quickly uttered, 'Stats'.

Gardener's Hands - A strong and reliable pair of hands that can endure repetitive movements and long lasting labor.

When used, it temporarily gives, Strength +2 Agility+2 Stamina+3

Time Duration: 3 hours

["See? That is how great a system I am. To think, it is just a Superior-Grade Job. Imagine getting a Master or Transcendent grade. You're surely be shocked to death by its wonders."]

Pierce sneered. 'If you are a modern system. You might have said, 'Bragging mode activated', before spouting nonsense. But as you are an ancient, rustic system, not up to standards, no wonder you're like a broken record.'

["Ungrateful! Remember, this one just saved you out of danger!"]

'I believe, for a system, that's the least you could do old man. Besides, if I die, you will wait hundreds of years again before finding a host.'

["Arghh~"]

He cut the system off as it would surely bark again. 'Wait, let's talk for later old man. I got a call.'

But he never failed to make a triumphant smile before answering, "Hello?"