Chapter 33: Cool, Now I Can Get Beat Up by My Childhood Heroes… Wait.
Even if Elias tried to refuse, he still got force-fed by Chameleon. Despite being his captor, Chameleon was surprisingly attentive. He didn't stop Elias from using the restroom when he needed to. He even temporarily retied Elias's hands from behind his back to the front instead. And though he stood close by to listen, he always turned his back to Elias and didn't stare like a creep, unlike what Elias had imagined.
Elias felt conflicted. While Chameleon could be considered a gentler captor than he'd expected, it didn't change the fact that he was still a hostage. But now he was beginning to understand why people might accidentally develop Stockholm syndrome. Chameleon had a way of scaring him one moment and lulling him into letting his guard down the next.
At one point, Chameleon prepped them both for bed. He tied Elias up again, then forced him into a giant sleeping bag and wrapped rope around it as well.
"If you need anything, just call for me," Chameleon said with a pleasant smile. Then his voice dropped an octave. "However, don't get any funny ideas about escaping. I'm a light sleeper, so I'll definitely hear it if you try something." He pointed two fingers from his eyes to Elias like a silent threat.
Elias trembled under his gaze.
Chameleon pulled an elastic band from his pocket, tied his long crimson hair into a braid, then sat against a tree across from where Elias lay. He watched the campfire blaze before lightly closing his eyes and crossing his arms. The light cast shadows over his face, making him look like something out of a painting.
Elias's face twisted with complicated emotion. He looked down at the warm sleeping bag wrapped around him, then glanced at Chameleon—whose only warm article of clothing was a leather jacket. It was already autumn; nighttime temperatures were dipping into the 30s.
"Don't you feel cold?" Elias blurted before he could stop himself.
A melodic chuckle escaped Chameleon's throat. "Seriously? You're showing pity toward your captor? That's hilarious," he scoffed, opening his eyes again. Amusement flickered in his foxy brown eyes, dancing like the light of the campfire.
Elias flushed awkwardly and buried his face in the sleeping bag. He knew how stupid it was to pity the man holding him hostage. If it had been someone like Jackal, he wouldn't feel so conflicted. But just a few hours ago, he'd been hanging out with this man like they were friends.
Chameleon smirked at Elias's clumsy movements. "This is nothing," he said with a sneer. "People in the guild I'm from have faced far worse conditions—much colder nights than this, and that was just during training. For punishment, you might be chained in a cold, damp cell after a round of corporal discipline, wearing nothing but rags. They'll leave you there for days, your wounds festering, and feed you slop that isn't even fit for an animal."
Chameleon slipped a hand under his collar and touched his shoulder. It was covered in scars and scabs, years of wounds and old injuries etched into his skin.
"So a small chill like tonight is a piece of cake," he snorted.
Chameleon spoke about it all with calm detachment, like it was routine, which left Elias quietly horrified. Chameleon couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction from the kid's reactions, though he wasn't entirely sure why.
"By the way, if you're hoping to tire me out by keeping me up all night, don't bother. I've done assignments where I had to stay awake for several days. One night without sleep won't kill me," Chameleon said, pointing a finger at Elias.
"I wasn't thinking that!" Elias snapped, shifting around so his back faced Chameleon, like he was ignoring him.
"How cute," Chameleon mocked, unfazed, his gaze resting lazily on the teenager's back. Silence returned, and he closed his eyes again to rest. This time, Elias didn't disturb him—he was lost in his own thoughts.
'Do they really treat their own like that?' Elias wondered, snuggling his cheek against the warm sleeping bag to escape the biting autumn air. 'I can't even fathom why they'd be so inhumane to their own members.' He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to get caught up in his enemy's tragic backstory.
He looked up at the star-filled sky, wishing he knew what time it was. He wasn't outdoorsy and had no idea how to tell time without a watch or phone.
Suddenly, his system screen popped up.
[October 4, 20XX | 3:57 A.M.]
'Well, that's convenient,' Elias thought, speechless. At least now he could tell the time without needing a watch or phone. His attention shifted to the new changes on the screen.
---
[STR: 14 → 15]
[END: 15 → 16]
[DEX: 14 → 15]
[WIL: 18 → 19]
[VIT: 25 → 27]
[LP: 417 → 451]
---
Elias stared at his Lucky Points, debating which lucky draw to try. He'd planned to wait a few more days to hit 500 LP, but he didn't have that luxury anymore. A gold-tier draw cost 300 points, but he hesitated. What if he got a skill he couldn't use right away?
He'd already learned his lesson with Mixed Martial Arts and Berserk Sprint. If he drew a gold skill, even if it was perfect for his situation, using it incorrectly could blow his chance to escape.
'Should I play it safe first?' he thought, eyes drifting toward the unranked Lucky Draw. 'Maybe I'll actually get something useful this time.'
---
[Host has chosen to use 50 LP to spin a (UR) Lucky Draw]
[Congratulations! You've received Item (UR) Mini Bomb!]
[(UR) Mini Bomb: Item can blast a radius of up to 25 feet, but can fit in the palm of your hand. Warning: Extremely lethal. Do not stand within the blast radius. Detonates 10 seconds after activation. Dispose of quickly!]
---
Elias's eye twitched.
'What the hell am I supposed to do with a bomb?!'
A 25-foot radius? What if he threw it too lightly? Or it bounced back at him? What if he got branded a terrorist for using it?
He wasn't trying to end up on the FBI's most wanted list.
'Damn, that's 50 points down the drain.' He really wanted to cry, but he didn't dare wake Chameleon again. If his legs and arms weren't tied, he would've kicked himself.
He slumped in frustration, trying to come up with a better plan. What if every draw ended up being useless? Wouldn't that seal his fate?
After a few minutes of brainstorming, something finally clicked.
He was so stupid. Why hadn't he activated this earlier?
---
[Would Host like to activate the active effect of Title (GOD) Child of Fortuna?]
Elias inwardly accepted.
---
[(GOD) Child of Fortuna Activated. Host will trigger an opportunity to directly obtain something they urgently need.
Cooldown Time: 30 days]
'Okay, 401 points left… Maybe I can do one silver-tier draw and two iron-tier draws,' Elias decided. He gritted his teeth and activated the Lucky Draws. Hopefully, activating Child of Fortuna would pay off.
---
[Congratulations! You have received Item (IRN): Atom Knife!]
[Congratulations! You have received Trait (IRN): Bones of Steel!]
[Congratulations! You have received Item (SLV): Time Capsule Card!]
---
(IRN) Atom Knife: A knife so sharp it can literally cut through atoms. Be careful not to touch the blade carelessly!
(IRN) Bones of Steel: Your bones are now as strong as steel! Dairy could never grant you this level of greatness!
(SLV) Time Capsule Card: A consumable item that allows your mind to enter a special space where time is accelerated while no time passes in the outside world. The environment inside can be adjusted to suit your needs. Perfect for skill training or strategic planning without external pressure. Grants 20 years of mental time. Use it wisely.
Note: This card does not cause mental fatigue or increase your mental age. You're welcome.
—
Elias stared at the text: "You're welcome."
'Why does it feel like my system is getting sassier? Am I imagining it?'
Shaking the thought away, he focused on the Atom Knife. 'Isn't this the perfect item to cut myself free?' His eyes sparkled with hope. 'Thank you, all gods of luck!'
As for the trait, he wasn't sure how to test it without waking Chameleon, so he set it aside. Instead, he turned his attention to the Time Capsule Card. 'Could I use this to level up my mixed martial arts?'
He willed the card to activate.
---
[(SLV) Time Capsule Card has been consumed. Host's mind will now be taken to the Time Capsule.]
---
A wave of dizziness slammed into Elias, twisting his stomach and blurring his vision. It felt like being yanked through a vacuum, his balance ripped away as the world spun and morphed into a vast, white space. Looking down, he noticed he was no longer tied up or at least not in here.
"Whoa... so this place can be manipulated, right? How do I control it?" Elias muttered, his voice echoing.
The floor trembled beneath Elias's feet. Dust swirled into the air as the ground split open, releasing the sharp sounds of stone and metal. A massive building rose from the earth, its weathered pillars grinding into place with a heavy groan. When it finally stilled, it resembled a traditional martial arts dojo.
Elias blinked at it for a few seconds, inwardly screaming, 'So freaking cool!' Still, he stayed cautious. He approached the door, gave it a tentative tug, and peeked inside.
His eyes widened. The dojo was fully equipped—complete with practice dummies, mats, and spacious sparring zones. A cool draft swept past him as he stepped inside. The faint scent of old leather lingered in the air. His footsteps echoed softly on the padded floor.
Then a robotic voice echoed.
"Welcome to the dojo. Would you like to practice alone, or with a sparring partner or multiple partners?"
Elias jumped and looked around. A machine stood nearby with a digital screen. Displayed on it was the face of a stereotypical anime dojo master: thick eyebrows, beard, stern lips, and a headband.
"You... what do you do? Are you an AI?" Elias asked, intrigued.
"Yes, I am your dojo assistant," the machine said. "I can simulate battles, generate sparring partners, create tutors, or construct environments tailored to your training."
"What if I want to practice a different skill?" Elias asked.
"Then the dojo will vanish, and a more appropriate training facility will be created."
Elias rubbed his chin, impressed.
"Can you simulate Chameleon for me?" he asked nervously.
"Request denied. There is insufficient combat data for subject: Chameleon. Simulation unavailable."
A large red X flashed across the screen.
Elias sighed. 'That figures.' He'd never seen Chameleon actually fight, only act and disguise himself. And when he was kidnapped, he'd been drugged the entire time.
"What can you simulate then?" he asked, glancing around.
"I can generate as many opponents as you like, adjust their martial arts skill level and stats, and create environments and conditions for training. I can also provide a tutor to help you learn or improve specific techniques," the machine replied.
"What about Jackal? Can I simulate him?" Elias asked, shivering at the memory of that gaunt face.
"Yes. However, your encounter with him was too brief, and he revealed too few techniques. A full combat simulation is not possible. Only the scene from your previous encounter can be recreated."
"Lame," Elias muttered.
"Do I have anyone in the database I can spar with?" he asked, folding his arms as he leaned over the machine.
"You currently have access to 58 simulated opponents. Notable examples include Bruce Lee, Jon Jones, Jackie Chan, Mike Tyson, and more."
Elias nearly jumped. 'Damn! Is that because I used to watch a ton of martial arts movies and matches as a kid?' His face burned in embarrassment. He covered it with both hands, tempted to roll on the ground.
'Still… even if they're not as strong as Chameleon or Jackal, they're way above me. This could work.'
"Do you have a name? What should I call you?"
"I am unnamed. Host may designate a name if desired."
"Alright. I'll call you Gramps," Elias said with a grin. "Gramps, I want to try fighting one of those saved people. Doesn't matter who."
"Registering name: Gramps. Initializing opponent. Please wait..."
A shimmering figure began to take shape in front of Elias.
The man was short and muscular, with a flame-shaped chest tattoo and a larger one on his shoulder. He wore Muay Thai shorts and gloves.
"Rodtang Jitmuangnon..." Elias muttered. The real-world Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He looked so lifelike that Elias almost wanted to ask for an autograph, but he knew it wasn't actually him.
Backing up, Elias took a stance.
"Gramps, start the fight!"
---
"3... 2... 1. Start the battle!" Gramps boomed.
Rodtang charged.
Before Elias could even react, a fist smashed into his face.
He stumbled back and crashed onto the matted floor, head ringing and face throbbing in pain.
'What the hell?! Isn't this all in my head? Why does it hurt?!'
"I can simulate specific conditions, including pain," Gramps replied instantly, reading Elias's mind. "Currently, pain feedback is set to realistic. You feel pain as you would in real life, but no actual injury will occur."
Elias tried to respond, but Rodtang stepped in and unleashed a flurry of blows.
Tears streamed down Elias's face as he was pummeled by fists and feet. He raised his arms to protect his head, but it was no use.
"Tell me that sooner!" he sobbed as the one-sided beatdown continued.