[Ding]
[System Notification: Multiverse Chat Group – Daily Challenge Unlocked]
[Challenge: Hit Yourself!]
Objective: Successfully land 10 blows on your shadow clone.
Reward: +2 Agility, +1 Perception
Kaito groaned. "Hit myself? What kind of nonsense—"
[Note: Shadow clone is 75% your current power. Good luck. 😏]
"Ah... Crap."
Within the private simulation space of the system, Kaito faced off against a mirror version of himself. Same build. Same size. Same cocky grin. His clone smirked, bouncing lightly on its toes like it had just stepped out of a martial arts tournament and is ready to give a beating.
"Ready to get owned, shorty?"
"We're literally the same height!"
"Mentally, your right, but physical, you're still crawling."
Before Kaito could reply with something witty, the clone vanished in a blur. He barely ducked in time as a spinning heel kick sliced through the air above his head. The shockwave blew his hair back. Kaito flipped backward, ki bursting around him like static electricity, painting his silhouette in a pale golden hue.
"Jeez, my own clone is trying to murder me."
"Duh, you're annoying." the clone said, reappearing mid air.
Kaito growled and launched forward. Their fists met perfectly, each jab and counters where naturalized with perfection. Every move he made, the clone anticipated. Every feint was returned with mockery.
He ducked under a punch, spun into a low sweep, and finally he managed to clock his clone with a palm strike to the jaw.
[1/10 Hits Landed]
"Ugh. This is going to take a while."
The simulation flickered as the clone danced backward, holding its face. "Ow! and rude!"
"You're me!"
"Exactly, which means I know all your moves. Try something original next time, smartass."
Back in the real world, Kaito trained obsessively. He practiced ki threads—delicate energy strings invisible to the naked eye. A stolen screwdriver danced in the air like a baton between his fingers. He used it to subtly unscrew a vent cover, then reattached it before Dr. Gero's camera drones floated by.
[Ki Thread Control: +1]
His control was improving. He could manipulate multiple threads now, even tie small knots in mid-air useful for sabotage... or tripping up guards.
Later that evening, he flopped onto his cot and opened the group chat.
[K-18]: "Got a quick question. How do you learn flight? I've got ki control down, but it's like I'm missing a step."
[Captain Sogeking]: "Point your feet at the ground and scream real hard. Worked for me."
[Crimson Alchemist]: "Focus on balance. Ki is energy, but flight is direction and flow. Think like a leaf gliding on wind—not a missile."
[Rider of the Storms]: "Don't overthink it. Jump. Push. Fall upwards."
[Senpai Noticed Me]: "If that fails, scream the name of your move. Works 70% of the time, every time."
[Goddess of Explosions]: "Try adding a backflip. Everything's cooler with a backflip."
Kaito blinked. "Fall upwards? What kind of—"
But he tried it anyway.
He gathered his ki into his legs and jumped, concentrating it into a subtle push against the pull of gravity. The first attempt slammed him into a wall. The second made him bounce off a pipe. The third—he got stuck in a ceiling vent.
But on the fourth try… he hovered.
Only for three seconds. But he was off the ground.
[Skill Unlocked: Flight (Novice)]
"YES!" he whispered, fist-pumping midair. His joy lasted all of half a second before he lost balance and slammed into a crate labeled "Organic Android Components – Fragile. Handle with care."
The crate burst open, revealing a severed robot leg that kicked him reflexively.
[+1 Toughness][+1 Humiliation Resistance]
Back in the VR, the clone was not letting up. Kaito had managed three more hits, but it was a battle of attrition. He was sweating, gasping, and his body was already fully of bruises.
"You getting slower or just old?" the clone teased.
"You're literally 30 seconds younger than me."
"Yeah, but I aged better."
Kaito grunted and tried a feint, but the clone sidestepped and elbowed him in the ribs.
[Health -3]
He needed to do something unexpected, or he was going to get his ass handed to him on a sever plater.
"Alright, time for toddler tactics." Kaito muttered.
He dropped his guard completely.
The clone hesitated.
"What, giving up?"
"Nope."
As the clone lunged, Kaito reached out with his ki threads. Like spider silk, invisible strands laced through the air and wrapped around the clone's ankle.
The clone tripped. Kaito didn't waste the chance and gave one punch to the gut, a kick to the shin, and a headbutt (which hurt both of them, but whatever).
[Hits Landed: 6/10]
[Ki Thread Usage: Creative Application +1]
He grinned. "Surprise, bitch. What do you think of that."
"You punched yourself in the face. You proud of that?"
"...Kinda, yeah."
Back in the lab, Dr. Gero had gone into recharge mode. His creepy blinking red light turned off. Kaito seized the chance to explore the AI hub, an obscure feature he'd only just unlocked.
[System Notification: You have summoned your Personal AI – Default Appearance: Chibi Maid]
A floating maid with oversized eyes, twin pigtails, and a clipboard materialized in front of him.
"Hello, Master Kaito! I am here to assist with your genius level development and juvenile hijinks. Also, snacks?"
"Uh… sure?"
A holographic pudding appeared in his hand. Warm, jiggly.
He decided to take a bite and surprisingly it was delicious
Kaito blinked in disbelief while stuffing his face full of pudding.
"Okay, this is the greatest thing ever."
[System Tip: Emotional balance increases system synchronicity. Eating pudding = happiness. Happiness = power.]
He squinted at her. "Are you seriously gamifying snacks?"
"Yes, Master. Pudding is life. And nothing beats Pudding"
[+1 Emotional Stability]
[Mood Buff: Happy Toddler Genius]
"...Fine. Carry on."He said, while licking the spoon clean.
He opened the group chat again.
[K-18]: "Anyone else have a weird AI maid? Mine just handed me pudding and told me snacks increase combat power."
[Senpai Noticed Me]: "OMG I want one. Mine's a cat with glasses and keeps talking about philosophy and other confusing things."
[Rider of the Storms]: "Mine yells motivational phrases. It's like living with All Might."
[Goddess of Explosions]: "Mine sings theme songs and explodes when I'm sad. It's awesome."
[Captain Sogeking]: "Mine gives me daily dad jokes. I hate how much I love it."
[Master of Cards]: "Why do I feel like mine is silently judging me? It just nods disapprovingly."
Kaito chuckled.
Back in VR, the clone had begun adapting.
"You're using tricks now? Tsk tsk."
"I prefer creative strategy, thank you very much."
Kaito dodged, redirected his clone's punch, and sent a jab to the shoulder.
[7/10 Hits Landed]
"Almost there…"
The clone frowned. "I'm not letting you win this easily."
"Oh yeah, we will see about that."
He focused, threads whipping through the air. This time, he used five. They coiled around the clone's arms, restricting movement. His clone snapped one, but the delay was enough.
Kaito vaulted forward, spinning in a tight corkscrew, and landed a blow to the chest, another to the stomach.
[9/10 Hits Landed]
"You're predictable, and I know everything about you!" the clone growled, bursting free.
"Yeah, but I've got something you don't." Kaito smirked.
"...Oh?"
"I've got pudding."
The clone blinked in confusion.
Kaito sucker-punched him in the face.
[10/10 Hits Landed – Challenge Complete!]
[Reward:+2 Agility, +1 Perception]
[Bonus Reward: Toddler Title – "Clone Slayer" Acquired]
The clone vanished in sparkles, leaving behind a tiny medal labeled "You Beat Yourself."
Kaito's moth twitched for a second while looking at he medal, before dropping to his knees.
"That... was exhausting."
[System Notification: Emotional Stress Levels High. Deploying Comfort Protocol.]
His AI maid floated over and gently set down another pudding.
"Here you go master, please enjoy."
"...I love you," Kaito muttered.
"And I am programmed to love you too, Master."
"..."