Chapter 2 - The Fangs

"Come on Micro!" Sugar called from higher up on the rock wall. "Spike already beat us!"

Micro growled and swiped away the window that appeared.

Skill Created!

Climbing (LV 1)

The ability to scale cliffs, walls, and other structures. Skill is that of a basic rock wall climber

'I hope this doesn't keep happening every time I do something new.'

Ping!

Due to rock climbing exercises, you gained 1 VIT.

Micro suppressed a groan as he swiped it away while climbing. If this was a game he hoped there was an options menu to turn off these screens. After he reached the top, Micro repelled down with his friends and they grabbed a bite and sat down at a table in the food court. Micro looked over his food when a random thought popped into his head.

'I wonder...since I'm a game character does that mean everything has a description? Does food heal me like in games?' As if to answer his question, the game decided to send some more screens his way.

Skill Created!

Observe (Lv1)

Scan objects to learn what they are and possible uses for them. Learn more about the world and people around you via this skill.

Current descriptions

-Objects: Name and what it can be used for

-People: Lv, name, and title

Burger Joint Burger

(Common)

A hamburger with ketchup. Ordered by Micro for lunch.

Heals: 10 HP

Burger Joint Cola

(Common)

A soda ordered by Micro. Highly caffeinated

Removes status effect drowsiness for 15 minutes

'For crying out loud I was KIDDING!'

"So," Spike turned to Micro. "You finish that project you've been working on?"

Micro hesitated. He wanted to tell his friends what was going on, but there was no way they would believe him. If he wanted to prove it to them, he would have to come up with some form of evidence, a way to show this wasn't all in his head.

Ping!

For your logical thinking, you gained 1 WIS.

Ignoring the screen he turned to Spike.

"I almost finished it today, but the one piece malfunctioned and I had to scrap it. I don't know if I will try rebuilding it yet." Spike and Sugar nodded while another screen appeared much to his annoyance.

Skill Created!

Bluff (LV 1)

From half truths to outright lies, this is your ability to trick/deceive people. Whether for the greater good or personal gain is up to you.

Chance of Success Determined by: LV of Skill+CHA-Intensity of the Bluff

Micro's eye twitched, though Spike and Sugar didn't seem to notice.

"So," Sugar asked. "You guys ready for classes to start again Monday? It's our first year of high school after all." Spike groaned.

"Don't remind me! I can't believe this is our last weekend of freedom."

"Oh don't be so dramatic," Micro said, smiling. "Classes aren't that bad."

"Coming from the one of us who's gotten straight A's for the past, what, three years!" Sugar pointed a fry at his friend accusingly. Micro chuckled. "Though I do wonder what the girls will be like."

Micro and Spike laughed a bit at that. Their middle school had been all boys, but the high school they were going to was coed, and not just coed, but recently made coed so it was mostly girls. While they were no strangers to being around girls (for example there were multiple attractive ones in the Fun Zone) it would be their first time since getting interested in them that they would be in near constant contact with them. It was honestly a bit exciting. With that thought fresh in their heads, the boys finished their food and made their way out of the Fun Zone, it was getting later in the day, the sun starting to set over the horizon.

"Well we better get back home before we get in trouble," Sugar said. The boys nodded and hopped on their bikes. Micro nearly missed when Spike started to say something when he had to swipe a screen away saying that his biking skill leveled up.

"I almost forgot," Spike said. "My mom wanted me to stop by the store."

"Oh," Sugar said. "We could come with you." Spike shook his head.

"No point in you guys getting in trouble. My mom will understand if I'm late." Sugar nodded, but Micro raised an eyebrow.

'While we were at the Fun Zone, Spike said his mom was heading out on errands so why would she not pick whatever it is up...and I didn't see him answer his phone or text so she didn't tell him she forgot something...what gives?'

Skill Created!

Detect Lie (Lv1)

The ability to determine whether someone is being truthful.

Chance of detection determined by: Lv of Skill+Knowledge of Person-CHA of Liar

Lie Detected

Liar: Spike Drago

Micro saw the screen and bit back a growl. Not just for another screen, but because it confirmed his suspicions.

"Ok man," Sugar said with Micro nodding, pretending nothing was wrong.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Micro said with a smile. Spike nodded and set off on his bike to duck down the alley. Micro turned to Sugar and saw a questioning look on his face. "You think he was lying to?"

"Yep."

"So we are going to follow him?" Sugar just smirked and nodded and they both began biking after Spike. Micro groaned when a screen popped up in front of him.

Quest alert!

Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

-Your friend Spike lied to you about why he was leaving. Find out why.

Cut Off Time

-One Minute

Quest Reward

-100exp

-Learn Spike's secret

-Increase your potential

Quest Failure

-Potential remains locked

-Possible loss of friendship with Spike

Bonus Objective

-? (Reward 200exp)

Micro raised an eyebrow at the rewards and failures, a little concerned, but he wasn't planning on backing down from this so he hit accept.

"So...think he has a girlfriend he doesn't want us to know about?" Sugar asked. Micro was so caught off guard that he nearly lost control of his bike.

"I doubt he would hide something like that," Micro said. "I mean, why would he?"

"Maybe he thought we'd be jealous?" Sugar chuckled.

"Who knows. But either way…" Micro shivered as he felt a weird chill go down his spine. "Either way I don't think he would lie about it. I mean we've been friends for years now, right?"

Micro's question was met with silence. He looked over his shoulder to check on Sugar...only to see the alley behind him empty.

"What the…?" He felt his bike hit something and was sent flying over the handlebars of the bike and skidded along the ground into a trash can. With a grunt he pulled himself up and saw his health bar popped up.

HP 149/150

Micro looked down at his hands and saw that he had no scrapes or bruises.

'So that's what Gamer's Body does…' he was brushing himself off when he heard voices.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone! I don't want anything to do with The Dragon Fangs!" Micro peeked out of the ally and saw Spike standing in the middle of the street facing a pair of older teens. One was blonde and wore a purple leather pants and a black muscle shirt while the other had orange hair that matched his muscle shirt and red leather pants.

Fume

(Dragon Fangs Enforcer)

Lv 16

Garble

(Dragon Fangs Enforcer)

Lv21

'Dragon Enforcer...and what does Spike have to do with them?'

"Come on Spike," Fume, the blonde said. "You know there's no saying no to the Fangs."

"Beside," Garble said. "You can't turn your back on your own kind. Our kind gotta stick together. Not like those humans you hang around." Micro raised an eyebrow at the way Garble said 'humans'. Spike growled at that.

"Leave them out of this!"

"So you actually care about those softies? HAHAHAHA!" Garble and Fume laughed. "You're an embarrassment to our kind!"

"Maybe we should pay them a visit after this," Fume suggested.

"Yeah," Garble said. "I wonder how the would fare against…" Garble was cut off as he was hit in the face with a ball of flame.

"I said…" a low growling voice said. Micro turned and looked over at his friend in shock. His skin seemed to change into scales that grew a purplish tint and his teeth and nails sharpened. A short tail sprouted from his lower back sticking under his shirt. Smoke billowed from the corners of his mouth as his pupils became slits "Leave them out of this!"

"Tough guy huh. Fine!" Garble and Fume both transformed like Spike as well just with Garble's scales being red and Fume's being deep purple. Their shirts and jacket also seemed to have slits in them as wings sprouted out.

'What in the world!?" Micro declared as he felt a strange calmness flow over him. 'This must be Gamer's Mind kicking in.'

Fume launched himself at Spike who ducked underneath him and as he passed over head he grabbed Fume's tail and threw him down the alley...right passed Micro.

"What the heck!" Micro gasped as he saw Garble slam into Spike and start flying up into the air.

"Ugh…" a voice said behind Micro. He turned around and saw Fume pulling himself to his feet. Micro tried to hide but it was too late. "Well what do we have here. One of Spike's little human friends."

Fume flexed his clawed hands and smirked as he began walking toward Micro. The younger boy tried to scramble back but tripped over his fallen bike. Fume chuckled.

"Pathetic. Now Spike will have to join us with you hostage." Something inside Micro clicked.

'They want to use me to get to Spike...I can't let that happen.' He could feel his Gamer's Mind calming him down as his eyes scanned his surrounding. 'Come on Micro, think. He's 10 levels higher. You need a weapon...THERE!'

The trashcan he slammed into had spilt over and laying in the garbage was a dented and clearly used frying pan. Quick as a whip he grabbed the lid of the trashcan and flung it at Fume who caught it no problem. He threw back his head to laugh.

"Nice try kid. Now be a good boy and…" He didn't have a chance to finish as Micro brought the frying pan cracking over his head.

Skill Created!

Surprise Strike (Lv1)

Passive (When undetected)

Catch an opponent off guard.

+50% damage to attack

50% Chance to stun opponent

Skill Created!

Blunt Weapon Mastery (Lv1)

Passive

Your skill at using blunt weapons

+10% damage while using a blunt weapon

"Not now!" He growled as he wiped the screens away. He saw Fume was stunned and so he brought the frying pan back around and brought it up in a powerful uppercut strike to Fume's jaw. He was about to do it again but Fume threw a punch straight into Micro's gut, sending him flying into the street. Micro started gasping for breath as his health screen popped up.

HP 90/150

'Holy...he's that strong,' He struggled to pull himself to his feet when he felt a kick to his side which sent him flying into a nearby building.

HP 31/150

"You little punk," Fume said as he spit out a tooth. "Forget using you as a hostage! I'm gonna…!" A red and orange blur slammed into him. Fume and Garble became a tangled mess as Spike walked up next to his friend.

"I said to leave my friends alone!" Spike growled. "Now...LEAVE!" With that roar, a ball of fireshot out of Spike's mouth and the two others had to scramble to avoid it.

"This isn't over Spike!" Garble growled. "No one turns their back on The Fangs!" The two of them turned and flew off. Spike glared up at them until they were out of sight. When he was sure they were gone, he sighed and his body changed back to normal before he turned to Micro.

"How…" He looked like there were multiple questions running through his head. Fair enough. Micro had a lot of questions himself. Finally Spike seemed to settle on one. "How're you not hurt? I saw Fume kick you! A kick like that should've shattered human bone!"

Micro didn't respond immediately. Another screen popped up.

Ping!

You have gained a level! View bonus points and changes on stats screen.

"You know…" Micro pulled himself into a sitting position while waving the screen away. "Something tell me we both have a lot of explaining to do...and we might as well wait."

"What!? Why!?" Micro looked up at him with a smirk.

"Because whatever alternate realm we entered, Sugar was right behind me and he didn't come in with me and he will demand to know as well." Spike looked at Micro for a moment, before he started chuckling.

"Even thrown into this situation you still are thinking logically. Come on." Spike helped his friend up and lead him toward the alley Micro lost Sugar. "How did you know you were in an alternate realm?" Micro pointed to the Sugar Cube Corner Bakery and Restaurant.

"Sugar Cube Corner is always busy this time of day. Even if they were having a slow day, Mr. and Mrs. Cake would've heard the commotion and come out. Therefore, we must've entered some special place where we are invisible to the outside world."

Spike shook his head in amazement as Micro grabbed his bike.

"Well, time to get Sugar." Spike changed back to normal, raised his hand and an energy surrounded it and the space around them seemed to shatter.

"Please! Have you seen my friends!?" Sugar was out on the sidewalk asking people who were walking by. They all gave him a funny look. "One has spiky green hair the other has black hair with blue highlights and glasses and...."

"You mean like those two behind you?" One person said. Sugar stop mid sentence and turned, seeing his two friends looking bemused.

"Ye...Yeah. Thank you." Sugar walked up to his friends looking a little annoyed. "What the heck just happened!?" Spike sighed.

"Call your parents and tell them you want to spend the night at my house. We have a lot to talk about."

{Written by Twistedphoenix1}

{Edited by SpedaHooves/KenKanekiTheCat/Me}