Aggro 4.10

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

"So, anyone have any thoughts about the rise of the the far-right in Europe in the 90s? Like, what that says about their politics right now? Or, what that could mean for us… here?" The short man standing in the front of the class spread his arms out, clapping them together as his smile dimmed a little. "Anyone? No one… nobody?"

No hands went up, the classroom nearly silent apart from a few muttered responses and several quiet groans that rang with boredom. The general vibe of the classroom rang of boredom, really, and even the teacher could feel it, his smile not as earnest as it usually was.

"Wow. Well, then…" the man clicked his tongue, one hand playing with his tie as he spoke. "I guess I'll just go over it again. Probably went by it too fast for you guys, huh?" He asked the question with a chuckle, grin growing slightly before fading again as no one laughed. "Huh."

Scratching his chin for a moment, Francis Gladly shook his head again before picking up the textbook on his desk and glancing down at it as he prepared to go over the information again. "Okay. Well, the state of Europe as a whole after the Cold War was generally…"

Greg blinked slowly as he sank further into the seat of his desk, the feeling of cold metal against his neck nothing more than slightly uncomfortable. He stared with half-lidded eyes as Mr. Gladly continued to speak, only paying a modicum of attention to whatever it was that came out of the teacher's mouth, despite how lively the man tried to be.

Oddly enough, Greg usually didn't mind Mr. Gladly's class, actually enjoying the energetic teacher's view on World Issues and the way he didn't blindly stick to the textbook. Even when most of the class obviously couldn't care less about the topic, Greg was usually the one kid asking questions, to his classmates constant annoyance.

Today was different, though.

Today, he was famous.

Even a day after the video dropped, he was still the talk of the school.

Well, not him. Greg doubted he'd actually be able to attend school if everyone knew who it really was behind the costume. White Knight, the moniker PHO had given him, was the one Winslow was all abuzz about. Apparently, as good as the footage from U&L's drone was, the sound quality was just as good. What else would you expect from a crazy Tinker like Leet? So, all of Greg's taunts, jokes and shouted attacks were all over the interwebs, inspiring memelords and internet commentators by the bucketload.

In short, the "White Knight" wasn't only popular, he was also quite meme-able. What more could a guy ask for, really, than to be eternalized in meme form?

Greg turned his head to the side, casting a glance at his friend. Sparky had taken to ignoring him all day simply to give Greg a dose of the silent treatment as punishment for… well, a lot of things, all of them related to Sunday night's events. Right now, his friend's head was down against the desk, Sparky laying down with his hair completely in his face like a curtain of brown.

"Sparky," Greg hissed his friend's name under his breath, covering his mouth with a single hand to avoid detection. "Sparky. Sparky. Spark-keeeeeeee..."

Hazel eyes snapped open, barely visible behind his hair. Even then, Greg saw it anyway. Sparky's hand rose, pulling his hair back to shoot Greg a glare that told him in one look what some people would need a long-winded rant for.

Greg winced, shutting his eyes for a moment as he leaned further back in his seat. Glancing back to the front of the class and dropping his own head onto the table chin-first, he let out a heavy, quiet sigh. This blows.

It did, in fact, blow. Apparently, Sparky's annoyance at his antics hadn't ended with the long-winded string of texts the other day, the long-haired teen carrying a chip on his shoulder into the next day solely to show Greg his displeasure. He didn't even care when Greg told him he'd fixed the costume he made, obviously not believing Greg could do that without at least learning how to work with clothes first.

Greg gave a slight "harumph", blinking languidly, as he looked toward the front of the class. Mr. Gladly was still talking, of course, trying his very best to teach a class that couldn't give damn about fascism in Europe at any point in history.

"And you guys have to understand how insane this is, that less than thirty years after World War II ended, only one generation, another far-right group using the same symbolism…"

Greg blinked for a moment, pursing his lips as he lifted his head slightly.

"Observe."

Francis David Gladly Lv 8

Teacher

HP: 210/210

A teacher at Winslow High School, Mr. Gladly is a young man in his mid-twenties who basically peaked in his senior year of high school and is still chasing that same high. Tends to favor the girls in the class, especially the prettier ones. Drives a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle.

Greg blinked again, bored by the lack of interesting commentary on Mr. Gladly. Glancing around the class, his gaze landed on a head of thick, voluminous black hair. The sight actually brought a slight frown to his face, memories of their last encounter coming to the forefront of his mind.

Sighing, Greg rolled his eyes. "Observe."

Taylor Anne Hebert Lv 12

???

HP: 125/125

A girl you had a crush on for about a year and a half. Kind of a raging bitch who thinks you're a total fucking idiot but you don't let it bother you. Really, you're perfectly fine with that. Really not a fan of gingers. Beautiful head of hair, though. For some reason, you have the strange feeling that you've seen that same head of hair somewhere else.

Greg blinked, tilting his head at both the odd question marks and Taylor's strangely high level. Level 12? What did she do to get that high? Mr. Gladly's almost thirty and he's still level eight. Do levels actually mean anything? Is it all just bullshit?

His lips curled again, slight frown almost turning into a full-blown scowl as he shook his head, deciding to shelve that line of thought for later. Glancing back at his friend, Greg stretched a hand out and poked the teen in the shoulder.

When Sparky didn't acknowledge the action, Greg did it again, repeatedly jabbing his friend with his outstretched index. After ten seconds of this, the olive-skinned teen sat up in his seat for the first time since he had entered the World Issues classroom and gave Greg a pointed look.

Greg returned his look with a closed-mouth smile, dimples out in full force. "Hey, Sparky."

Hazel eyes narrowed as Sparky continued glaring at his friend. "Do you not have a fucking off button?" Sparky hissed in response, voice low as he kept his attention on the progressively bored-looking teacher at the front of the class.

Greg lifted his shoulders and dropped them, still smiling angelically at Sparky as his friend rolled his eyes and turned back to the front of the class, pretending to pay attention to whatever Gladly was talking about now as he continued to whisper at his friend.

"You know my godfather called yesterday?"

"..."

"Yeah, me too. I haven't seen him in like two years so it was kinda weird."

"..." Sparky adjusted his position in his seat, still acting as if he couldn't hear his friend.

"The one who gives great presents, you know. Sent me the year's supply of ice cream last year for my birthday. Kind of a lazy gift, really. I mean, you get it, right?"

"..."

Greg snickered under his breath at Sparky's continued silent treatment. "Fine. Be like that. Anyway, I didn't talk to him but he called my mom almost out of the blue. I thought I was getting an early birthday gift or something but no dice, apparently."

"..."

"You know, this would be more interesting if you engaged me."

"..."

"So, basically, my godfather asked mom if she was interested in having me spend time with my godbrother, because for some reason, his dad figures he needs to set up a playdate. Weird, right?"

"..."

"Anyway, he basically convinced my mom to come to this dinner thing next month."

"..."

"Yeah, it's supposed to be pretty darn fancy too so I gotta get fitted f-"

"The stats."

Greg blinked as Sparky interrupted him, raising an eyebrow at the words that left his friends lips. "What?"

There was another roll of the eyes and a slight sigh before Sparky repeated himself. "I'm still mad at you, dickweed. So, all I want to hear from you is your stats. You said you got sixty points, right?"

Greg nodded back, tapping his fingers on his desk. "Sixty-three, but who's counting?" He replied, trying to seem nonchalant about the whole thing. On the inside, though, he was slightly giddy. Despite how much his friend tried to hide it, Sparky loved to see him mess with his powers. Then again, Sparky did like to nag him more than usual now.

His friend shot him a disdainful look. "Don't give me that. You've probably been drooling about all your points all day yesterday."

Greg tilted his head in acknowledgement of his friend's point, fighting the grin on his face. "Maybe a little."

"Uh-huh," Sparky replied, rolling his eyes again. "So… what'd you do with them? The perks, too. I wanna know." Sparky slid back in his seat again, pulling his black beanie down far enough to shadow his eyes. "Don't try and say you didn't use them either, you fake-ass King Arthur wannabe."

Greg raised an eyebrow, his mouth shifting into a grin. "You're just jealous."

For a moment, Sparky didn't respond, giving Greg an imperceptible glance. A moment later, he clicked his tongue. "Jealous of what, brah?"

"Me in general. I mean, at least I'm not single."

Sparky raised an eyebrow, resting his chin on an upraised fist as he leaned forward on his desk. "I'm pretty sure Barnes is just attracted to morons, G. You've gone on multiple dates and been a complete doof on each one."

The wince on Greg's face was utterly unintentional and it spoke to the truth of Sparky's statement, Greg not even denying it as he hissed slightly. "Your point?"

Sparky smirked slightly as Greg reneged on the fact that he did, actually, have a point. "My point is, brah, that I bet one day you'll ask her where toast comes from and her clothes will just come flying off."

Greg narrowed his eyes at the smirking form of his best friend, smugness clear in his expression. "I maintain that you're just jealous of my awesomeness."

"Awesomeness?" Sparky let out a low hiss of air from between his lips, almost as if he were smoking a cigarette. What's awesome about some white knight with a shitty light-up sword? King Arthur can eat a dick. Lancer forever."

Unable to hold it back, Greg let out a loud snort of a laugh as he slapped one hand against his desk, only to quickly try and cover the sound up with a faked coughing fit as a classful of eyes glanced back at him. Even Mr. Gladly had looked up from the book for a moment, pausing mid-sentence to stare at Greg.

Utterly unperturbed, Greg smiled back at the faces in front of him, chuckling slightly. "Sorry, uhhh... allergies."

After a few seconds of staring at Greg as he smiled, Mr. Gladly shook his head. "You sure about that, Greg?"

"Hundred percent, Mr. G," Greg replied, still beaming. "Mild allergies are still allergies."

"If you say so." With that, the teacher went back to reading, some of the class rolling their eyes as they turned back around in their seats.

Free from Gladly's scrutiny, Sparky turned and cast him a glance, eyes narrowed. "Stats. Talk."

Greg grinned.

– o – o – o – o – o – o – o – Spoiler: STATUS Greg Lucas Veder Age: 15 (and three-quarters!) Title: Ninja - In Training Level 19 Experience 1510/32000 Health 1447/1447 Mana 480/480 Willpower 486/86 STR 61 SPD 62 (+2) VIT 82 INT 50 WIS 14 (-80%) CHA 18 (+9) (-90%) Stat Points: 20 Perk Points: 3 Cash: $20068.57

Traits

Nerd-Geek Hybrid: Your obsession with video gaming, computers, fantasy/sci-fi literature and 80's/90's pop culture has left you in the rare middle of two circles; the obsessive fandom-loving geek and the intelligent, knowledge seeking nerd. Sadly, your hobbies have left you with an aversion to physical exertion. (50% bonus to INT gains, -50% penalty to STR, SPD & VIT gains.)

Ambiguous Disorder: Ever since you were a little kid, you've always been a little bit off. Impulsive, obsessive, socially obtuse and emotionally needy, you're a bit of a weirdo. It was easily written off as normal behavior when you were younger but now you're fifteen. Yet, you still come off as someone over five years younger. Maybe Mom should have had you tested like Dad said? (-80% reduction to overall WIS, 90% reduction to overall CHA.)

Casanova Bloodline: As a Veder man, you have a great smile, natural charm and a confident approach to life that draws the ladies in like a moth to a flame. Your great cheekbones don't hurt either. It's how your dad got your mom to go out with him while dating at least three other girls and sleeping with two others, at least that's what he always told you - even when you didn't ask - all the time. (+ 9 CHA)

Dragon-Blooded

Fire and fury flows through your veins, blood of the dragon.

The mythical hero Siegfried was baptized in the blood of a magical dragon and became nigh-invulnerable, immune to nearly all forms of damage. You, on the other hand, were splattered in the blood of a not-so-magical dragon. (+ 250 HP, + 10 STR, + 10 SPD)

Dragon-Souled

For some, baptism by fire tends to be a symbolic term. Not for you, though.

Facing the heat of Lung's flames head-on has purified the strength of your will and the power of your soul. The beginnings of draconic power grow throughout your being. (+250 MP, +250 Will, +10 INT, +10 VIT)

Peak Human

What is peak human, anyway?

Somehow, you have surpassed the physical threshold of humanity, surpassing those inherent limits man is beholden to. (Unlocks perks for STR, SPD, VIT and INT once a stat crosses a benchmark of 50 pts)

Perks

Baby Steps (1/3) [Ranked Skill]

With Catlike Tread...

Allows very light movement across surfaces, allowing you to move or stand on surfaces that would normally not support your weight.

Bulwark

Facing off against an opponent who far outclassed you has given you an ability to withstand impossible pain in the face of impossible odds.

Takes 50% less damage from opponents over five times your level.

Danger Sense (2/10) [Ranked Skill]

My common sense is tingling.

You gain a sixth sense that allows you to sense the presence of incoming danger.

Developed Mind (1/10) [Ranked Ability]

I like to think of myself as enlightened.

Every time you gain a level, you gain an additional 5 MP for each rank of this perk.

Dragon Blood's Gift

What is a knight without armor? A dragon without scales? A lion without teeth?

All equipped armor and gear is self-repairing at a rate of 1% a minute, so long as it is constantly being fed mana or will in some manner.

Fire Dragon's Aura (1/10) [Ranked Skill]

Bathed in Dragon Fire and Blood, I shall fear no flame

At a rate of 1 MP per second per rank, draw upon your pyrokinesis to generate an aura of fire. Your equipment and body are immune to the heat, of it and anything cooler than it. It is, however, actual fire, so try not to burn down your house. In addition, you can literally breathe fire instead of air while this is active.

Growing Will (1/10) [Ranked Ability]

Some people say you're rather willful.

Every time you gain a level, you gain an additional 5 Will for each rank of this perk.

Lifegiver (3/10) [Ranked Ability]

Health is more than just not getting sick.

Every time you gain a level, you gain an additional 5 HP for each rank of this perk.

Not Quite Dead

People die when they are killed… usually.

Survive after your HP sinks below 0 and a harmful status effect is active.

10% Chance to recover with full health when HP drops to 0.

Quick Healer

Don't worry, it won't scar.

You heal rather fast, at a rate of a tenth of your VIT every fifteen seconds.

Surefooted

I don't trip.

Allows perfect traction over any solid ground, eliminating the chance of slipping and falling over your own feet.

Toughened Body

Charles Atlas would be proud.

Simply put, you're already tougher than most people. Now, well, look at the title of this perk. All physical damage is reduced by half your level number, in addition to all other damage reduction.

Transformation Sequence (1/3) [Ranked Skill]

"It's Morphin' Time!"

By willing yourself to transform, you can equip any full outfit within your inventory, transforming in a flash of blue light, mana glitter and/or a whirlwind of aerokinesis obscuring you.

Skills

Gamer's Body (Passive) Lv. MAX

Allows you to live life as if were a game.

Sleeping restores HP, MP, Will and removes most negative status effects.

Gamer's Mind (Passive) Lv. MAX

Grants immunity to mental status effects, emotional and mental trauma and severely dangerous emotional states.

Basic Aerokinesis Lv 12

"Winds, guard me!"

Exert the force of your air control over a range of 35 meters. (140 mph)

Cost: 20 mp per second of sustained use at max range & power.

Basic Pyrokinesis Lv 3

Burn, baby, burn!

Generate flames and control them up to a range of 3 meters.

Cost: 20 MP per second of sustained use at max range.

Dash Straight Lv 11 (XP: 35%)

Force equals Mass times Acceleration.

You may suck at physics, but you know that much.

Through reinforcing the body, you smash your fist into a target while moving at high speed. Damage scales based on distance moved. (1.5x Damage Cap)

Damage: 165

Cost: 25 Will + 2 Will for every meter power sprinted

Mana Glitter Lv 4 (XP: 65%)

Sparkle like the pretty bishounen you were always meant to be. Or a princess. Or a pedophilic slightly-rapey vampire. Who's judging you?

Release particles of mana from your body in the form of iridescent sapphire sparkles. Max Range increases by 25% with each level. (2.5 meters)

Cost: 1 MP per second

Mana Platform Lv 1

I call it walking on air.

Using raw mana, you create semi-solid platforms under your feet that last only as long as you remain still. (.25 m)

Cost: 1 MP per 2 seconds

Observe Lv 9 (XP: 15%)

A skill to find out basic information relating to the chosen object.

Cost: 1 MP

Raging Combo Lv 13 (XP: 15%)

A blistering barrage of belligerent blows built to batter baddies.

By repeatedly using weaker forms of Angry Straight, you pummel your target with raw frustration and anger. (36 Hits)

Damage: 390

Cost: 65 Will

Reinforcement (Apprentice) Lv 13 (XP: 15%)

A discount version of the Kaio-Ken for the squishy wizard.

Increases your effective strength, speed and health by 5% per level with this technique from a base of 50%. Does not increase actual points of vitality or willpower. Improved control means that weaker usages of Reinforcement is within your grasp for lower costs. (110%)

Cost: 5 Will every 2 seconds

Subskill: Burst

Cast from hit points. Yeah, it's one of those skills. A short, yet extremely concentrated and focused burst of reinforcement applied to the extremities for an insane burst of ability lasting 1 second (x 2.5 top Reinforced SPD/STR Cost: 20 Will, 40 HP Subskill: Layer Reinforcement Increases the quality of non-living items, increasing their sharpness, durability, and hardness. This form of reinforcement can be used on non-living substances for a base quality increase of 250% Each level improves this by 25%. (550%) Cost: 2 Will every 5 seconds.

Surface Adhesion Lv 9 (XP: 35%)

You ever wanted to be Spider-Man? Don't lie. Of course you did.

This skill allows you to stick to walls and hang on to ceilings and vertical surfaces without a risk of falling. While not denying gravity, this allows you to adhere to surfaces unaided.

Cost: 2 MP per second

Structural Analysis Lv 5 (XP: 35%)

Judging the concept of creation, Hypothesizing the basic structure...

Grants the ability to gain a rudimentary understanding of the internal structure and functional design of simple, non-living objects.

Cost: 2 mp per square half-meter of object.

Weapon Charge Lv 17 (XP: 75%)

Conceptually do twice as much damage with a weapon. Broken?

What's that mean?

Boosts weapon damage x 2.

Length of charge increases by 1/2 second for every level. (8.5 sec)

Cost: 8 MP

Abilities

Acrobatics Lv 21 (XP: 35%)

Parkour!

An ability that enables you to pull off backflips, frontflips and any manner of jumping-based ground-movement technique with greater ease.

Awareness: Mana Lv 8 (XP: 25%)

Mana, magic energy, magicka, prana, ether, thaum, spiritual energy, magatsuhi or even chakra… Call it what you want. It's all the same in the end.

You have gained awareness of Mana, the spiritual energy found within the human mind and soul. Gaining awareness of your magical energy has given you some semblance of control over it.

Awareness: Willpower Lv 6 (XP: 15%)

Willpower, ki, chi, qi, stamina, aura, mantra, physical energy, life energy, od, or even hamon… Call it what you want. It's all the same in the end.

You have gained awareness of your Willpower, the physical energy found within all living organisms. Gaining awareness of your physical energy has given you some semblance of control over it.

Ballroom Dancing Lv 1

I wouldn't call it dancing yet. More like a full-body dry heave set to music.

Represents your skill in the art of dancing in a fancy, romantic manner when with a partner.

Basic Anatomy Lvl 5 (XP: 85%)

Anatomy is to physiology as geography is to history.

Gain a basic understanding of the human body.

Increases [Critical Hit] damage by 10% per level. (50%)

Beginner Combat Lvl 4 (XP: 5%)

I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

The next level of combat, Beginner Combat is a fusion of fighting and footwork into the ability to learn new styles of combat, fusing them into a novice martial combat capability.

Increased bare-handed damage by 2% per level. (8%)

Blunt Weaponry Lv 5 (XP: 4%)

Carry a big stick. Speaking softly is optional.

Measures your skill with using a blunt weapon.

Increases damage with a blunt weapon by 2% per level. (20%)

Breath-Holding Lv 13 (XP: 15%)

Asphyxiation is a terrible way to die.

Increases time able to stay conscious without air by 30 seconds per level. (6.5 min)

Bullshitting Lv 6 (XP: 15%)

First, you tell a lie; then you believe it; then you become it.

Increases chances that any lie you tell is successful by 2% with every level. (12%)

Disarm Lv 3 (XP: 55%)

Take their weapon from their warm, living hands.

Increases chance of disarming the enemy by 2% with every level. (6%)

Driving Lv 4 (XP: 25%)

NASCAR, here we come.

Measures your skill at operating a four-wheeled motorized vehicle.

Gunplay: Rifles Lv 3 (XP: 35%)

Slightly better than a stormtrooper.

Improves aim/accuracy/stability with a rifle by 5% per level. (15%)

Improves damage with a rife by 2% per level. (6%)

Kissing Lv 5 (XP: 75%)

Looks like practicing on a peach actually paid off.

Represents your skill in the art of smooching.

Language: Japanese Lv 7 (5%)

Gratuitous Japanese indeed.

Reflects your speaking skill, and understanding of, the Japanese language.

Meditation Lvl 10 (XP: 30%)

Breathe in the good shit. Breathe out the bullshit.

By finding your inner focus, you push out all earthly distractions and enter a state of mental and physical harmony, allowing a greater understanding of your mind and body. While meditating, your Mana and Will recover at a rate of 10% faster per level into this ability. You retain this bonus for a period of ten minutes post-Meditation. (100%)

Parry Lv 8 (XP: 60%)

To deflect an attack is a double-edged sword;

Risking more damage for the chance to inflict the same.

Increases the effectiveness of any attempt to divert or deflect a physical attack by 2% with every level. (16%)

Reflexes Lv 14 (XP: 15%)

DODGE!

Increases your innate reaction speed by 10% per level. (140%)

Resistance: Blunt Force Lv. 56 (XP: 25%)

Going from punching yourself in the face to actual self-mutilation?

Bold move, Veder. Let's see if it pays off.

Reduce all blunt force damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (42%)

Resistance: Cold Lv 6 (XP: 80%)

The cold never stopped bothering you.

Increases resistance to cold temperature by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (6%)

Resistance: Electricity Lv 8 (XP: 25%)

Everyone knows electrocution is harmless.

Increases resistance to electrical damage by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (8%)

Resistance: Heat Lv 46 (XP: 75%)

"You have to respect anything that can just stand there, on fire."

Increases resistance to heat damage by 1% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (46%)

Resistance: Piercing Lv 21 (XP: 50%)

The thrust or stab is risky because it can kill and yet not stop

Reduces piercing or stabbing damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (15.75%)

Resistance: Poison Lv 3 (XP: 15%)

I wonder what counts as a poison...

Reduces damage and effects caused by poison by 1% every level that will cause damage less than 100% of your health, in any way, shape or form. (3%)

Resistance: Slashing Lv 9 (XP: 90%)

The cut will stop but not kill.

Reduces slashing or cutting damage by 0.75% with every level from attacks less than 100% of your health. (6.75%)

Seduction Lv 1 (XP: 5%)

I didn't mean to turn you on… or did I?

Manage to draw the attention of a member of the opposite sex using your innate attraction skills. Increases chance of [Critical Hits] on enemies by .5% every level. (.5%)

Sneaking Lv 11 (XP: 20%)

Ugh… stealth missions suck.

Allows for 2% quieter movement per level while trying not to be heard. (22%)

Stamina Lvl 11 (XP: 15%)

Whatever I lack in talent I have in stamina.

Increase Will by + 5 with every level. (55 Will)

Swordplay: Single Blade Lv 25

All swords are the same.

Represents your martial skill with the art of a single blade.

Increases damage with a blade by 2% per level. (50%)

Taunt Lv 10 (XP: 10%)

"And this! Is when I taunt you!"

Draw the attention of a target through nonsensical, idiotic, but occasionally piercing, verbal attacks. Increases chance of Critical Hits on enemies by 2% with every level.(20%)

Thrown Weapons Lv 4 (XP: 75%)

Throwing your sword always works. Except, you know, when it doesn't.

Increases the skill, range and force by which items and weapons can be thrown by 2% with every level. (8%)