Altered state

by YellowJester   

For two best friends a new video game, Altered State, offers the opportunity to become something more than either could have ever dreamed possible.

Most great adventures start with a call to arms, a quest from on high, a declaration of purpose to serve the greater good. Edward’s and Leon’s started with a question asked through a mouthful of chips.

“Wanna play this new game dude?” Leon asked, his words barely intelligible. He stood in the doorway of their living room, his fat frame blocking most of the light. In one hand he held a bag of chips and in the other, he held up an unfamiliar battered keep case, the type that held video game disks inside. The thing had a red and blue design that Edward didn’t recognize.

“I guess. What is that thing, will it work on my Wii?” Edward asked. He lay on the couch, long thin body taking up the whole thing but sat up and moved over to make room for his roommate.

Leon shook his head. “I don’t think so dude, it’s like super retro.” He walked over to the TV and started fiddling with the row of older consoles that belonged to their third roommate Alvis trying to see if any could accommodate the game. “It was free though,” he said as he found the right one, an extremely retro blocky thing Edward was surprised even accepted disks. Leon booted up the system, the familiar hum of the machine filling the space. “I got it from that comic shop down the street. This buff dude at the counter just handed it to me. Said he thought I would put it to good use.”

“Alvis would kill you if he knew you were touching that,” Edward warned, always the one to show more caution.

“Fuck Alvis. If he didn’t want it to be used he shouldn’t have bought it,” Leon countered. Neither of the two were particularly big fans of their other roommate, but Leon especially hated his guts. He only let the guy live with them because it made the rent cheaper and because Alvis’s weird retro tech fit in with their decor of half-finished Lego sets, empty pizza boxes, and superhero posters, and because for the most part, Alvis left the two friends alone, spending all his time in the engineering building or fiddling with tech in his room.

Leon opened the case and took out a dusty disk, growing on it to reveal the title “Altered State” and the manufacturer HunkTech, neither of which either Leon or Edward had ever heard of. Leon put the game back into Alvis’s video game console and pressed play. The TV flickered for a moment, then exploded with color so bright it forced both of them to squint. Flashes of neon light, strange symbols, and spinning images seared into their eyes, leaving dancing after images. Neither of the friends could look away, their senses overwhelmed by the pulsating lights that burned into the back of their brains. And just as suddenly as it started, the TV went black and both friends came back to themselves.

“Oh shit” Edward muttered, blinking rapidly to clear his vision. “Your game just fried the TV! Alvis is going to kill you.”

Leon opened his mouth to defend himself but before he could a green holographic display blinked into existence, floating in the air right in front of him. Growing text marched across the living room floor reading:

“Welcome to Altered State.”

Leon’s jaw dropped. “Uh, Ed? You seeing this?”

Edward stood motionless for a moment too shocked to speak. “What the fuck?” he breathed. “What’s going on?”

Both of their holograms shifted to display naked, pixelated 3D models of the two friends, hanging awkwardly in midair.

“Eww, what the hell,” Leon said. He tried to avert his gaze but the images followed the motion of his head and stayed even when he shut his eyes.

Neither of the projections was a particularly flattering sight to behold.

Leon’s short, heavy frame was rendered in painful detail—his soft belly, narrow shoulders, pudgy limbs, and average penis were all fully extenuated under the brutally detailed holographic projection. Edward’s model didn’t fare any better. Tall and spindly, his twig-like arms and knobby knees, paired with a notoriously ugly face, gave him the appearance of a scarecrow. Edward was not helped much in its attractiveness by the acne on his face, the greasy thin hair on his head, and the pitifully small penis between his legs fully visible in the naked light of the hologram.

“You’re the one with your dick in my face.” Edward shot back, cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the display.

The hologram flickered again, and new text appeared below both their models:

”Analyzing subjects…”

The text began to blink as new displays blinked into existence on the peripheral of both their vision, only really notable if focused on. Various menus that displayed statistics quests and a list perks were all there, though all were currently blank. The words level one along with an empty an empty progress bar beneath appeared at the top of their field of view, though only visible to themselves and not the other.

Neither of the two friends had time to examine the new features in detail as the words under their models shifted again.

”Analyzing Purpose: Class Selection”

Under Leon’s character was added:

”Class selected: Juggernaut.”

Leon blinked. “Juggernaut?” he repeated, unsure what to make of the development.

Edward snickered. “I think that’s the fantasy term for fatty.”

But before Leon could respond, Edward’s display changed too:

”Class selected: Snake Charmer.”

“What, like I’m going to play the flute?” Edward asked.

It was Leon’s turn to laugh. “No bro, the game just called you a homo.”

It took Edward a second to understand. “Not funny,” he said swatting his best friend on the arm, blushing somehow harder. “This is seriously messed up. We need to go to the hospital or something.”

“Relax charmochondriac, don’t you see what’s happening?”

“Group psychosis?” Edward guessed.

“No, dude, we are in a video game, and we fucking rule at video games.”

“Leon…” Edward said warningly. Before he could say more though quests populated onto both their displays.

“Dude, chill, this is awesome. My first quest is easy too. I bet I can get level ten before you.”

Edward wasn’t as ready to accept this rapid series of unexplainable events, but he also wasn’t ready to let his best friend think he was a chicken. “Fine. I’ll meet you back at the house when I kick your ass.”

Leon laughed. And with that, both boys raced out the door, shoving each other playfully to get out first. From there both took off to opposite sides of campus, towards their various objectives and their differing yet intimately intertwined destinies.

Leon raced, or his version which was something between a fast walk and an awkward jog, across campus to his first quest. It seemed easy enough: it read “Go to the gym”. Leon wasn’t exactly one for physical fitness but he at least knew where the health center was from campus orientation tour.

Despite his slow pace, by the time he reached it he was out of breath. For a moment he stood in front of automatic double doors, panting and intimidated.

He stuck out like a sore thumb on this part of campus, dressed in the ratty strained Superman shirt and baggy shorts his protruding belly and wild unkempt hair stood in stark contrast to the muscular adonis in low tank tops and tall fit women in matching sports sets who brushed by him without a second thought. Mustering his courage Leon walked through the doors and into the gym. His ears were greeted by the sound of slamming weights, rhythmic grunts, and a small ding as he completed his first quest and leveled up. He watched as the experience bar filled fully, bumping his level up to two and filling his vision with notifications. The bar continued to fill until it had reached halfway to the next level. A notification appeared in a gray box with plain white blocky text.

”You have reached level two. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma +0.3 Intelligence.”

Leon grinned as he felt himself change. He couldn’t actually feel himself getting smarter or more charismatic. He wasn’t sure if that was because those were more cognitive stats or if it was because the increase was marginal compared to his strength. Either way, it was a strength that Leon felt himself receive. It wasn’t much. Leon didn’t suddenly become a hulk or a bodybuilder but he felt something shift. His shoulders widened slightly, his chest inflated a bit and his butt became less saggy. A single vein buried deep in the layers of fat in his arm engorged itself with blood and snaked its way to the surface, pushed upwards by growing muscle and diminishing fat. He felt physically stronger, faster, like he might be able to actually run a bit without throwing up. He didn’t actually look all that different, a quarter of an inch taller, a few pounds shifted from fat to muscle, but inside he felt amazing, electric, like this is what he was made for. Leon suspected that feeling had to do with the other notification waiting for him just below the first.

”You have gained a class perk.”
”Gym Rat: as a juggernaut, you feel comfortable in all athletic spaces.”

Leon felt all his worries and insecurities about being in the gym fade away. He scanned his student ID and strode past the muscled jock at the front counter confidently, flashing him a smile and a slight wave. Leon felt just as comfortable in the gym as if he was at the comic book shop, no more, he felt like he was at home chilling with Edward, like he could do anything and give a damn about who judged him. Leon knew he should be concerned about how this game had physically changed his body and mind so easily but he was too invigorated, too electrified, and he had another quest to do.

It read simply: “Do a push-up.”

Leon hadn’t tried to do a push-up since 8th grade gym class but he felt confident he was capable of it with the boost to strength he had received. Leon weaved through the various machines and stations manned by the university’s resident hunks and athletes, some gave him dirty looks but most looked right through him. Leon found he couldn’t care less. He found a corner of the free mat and assumed the push-up position. Despite the recent slight boost to his athleticism, it was a task easier said than done. Leon went down as far as he could until he felt his arms begin to shake, about an inch, then pushed himself up with substantial effort.

To his disappointment, the quest still read as incomplete. He reasoned it must be due to his, form. He tried to go lower but ended up face-first on the mat, unable to push himself up. He went to his knees and did a push-up but that didn’t count either. Nor did a push-up with his butt out in the air, or one in which he rested on the ground for a few seconds in the middle. Leon was about to give up when he saw a guy around his age approach.

He didn’t have the same gorilla bulk as some of the huge men in the gym but his body was visibly lean and defined through his tee-shirt, maybe a runner. “Need any help there,” he asked. Leon couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or mocking but his new total comfort in the gym provided by his “Gym Rat” perk made him not care.

“I’m trying to do a push-up.”

“Just one?” the guy asked with a grin.

“Gotta start somewhere,” Leon said humbly.

“Your problem is your stance,” he said. He instructed Leon to assume the plank position and then went about correcting Leon’s form. His arms were too close together, his core was not properly engaged, back not fully straight. The man introduced himself as Cal and then instructed Leon to try again. Leon tried another pushup lowering his body slowly.

“Lower, lower,” Cal called Leon and complied though his face turned red and he wanted to die. Cal didn’t let him stop till the tip of his dick was practically touching the mat. Then he went back up, slowly and with more exertion than he had ever used in his whole life.

He was rewarded with a ding and a slew of notifications.

”You have reached level three. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Perfect Form: as a juggernaut, you instinctually know the proper form to maximize the performance of any athletic endeavor.”

Leon felt his body shift again from where it lay crumpled on the mat. His stomach deflated slightly, and under his man boobs pecs started to form. His legs lengthened a bit causing his shorts to only reach his knees instead of past them. The changes were as small as the first but Leon couldn’t help but feel amazed. He tried to do another push-up and found that his body now naturally assumed the perfect position without him having to think about it. With his new points in strength, he was able to push out another perfect military-style push-up, and two more before he flopped down onto the mat, fully spent.

“You’re getting the hang of it,” Cal said smiling. If he had seen Leon’s body change he made no indication. “Good luck on your workout,” he called out as he left.

“Yeah, see you around man,” Leon called after him. He felt on cloud nine. At this rate, Leon would reach level 10 by the hour. On cue, two more quests appeared for him to complete. He wondered how Edward was doing, if he had even gained one level by now. Maybe once Leon had power gamed his way into OP status he could help his friend with a quest or two.

Edward walked across the quad at a brisk pace. He would have run if his bony arms and legs didn’t make him look like a chicken when he did. Edward wasn’t quite as sold on this whole bizarre real-life video game thing as Leon was but he also wasn’t about to let Leon leave him in the dust. Edward’s first quest was pretty simple if non-specific “Be within 50 feet of 30 or more people”.

Edward’s tendency to avoid large crowds gave him the advantage of knowing exactly where they often were. The coffee shop by the quad came right to his mind. At this time of the day, the place was packed with students either leaving or going to their mid-day classes. The place terrified Edward, the thought of so many eyes on him, judging him, mocking him, and yet Edward reasoned there was no harm in at least checking the place out, it was not as if the quest required him to talk to anyone.

As he walked Edward wondered at the game. Leon, true to self, had accepted the game right away without question. If his friend was muscular instead of fat he might be called a himbo. It wasn’t that he was dumb, he was getting a degree in public health, but he also didn’t have a habit of thinking things through particularly thoroughly. Their freshmen year Leon had built a glider out of the shower curtain and broke his arm jumping off the second floor of their dorm with it. And last year Leon had thought it was a good idea to subscribe to some shady porn website that had given his computer a virus so corruptive even tech wizard Alvis couldn’t remove it.

Though they were inseparable best friend Edward was the opposite. He was much more cautious about everything, sometimes to irrational extremes. Last semester Edward had almost dropped out because he was too nervous to get approval for his classes from his sociology advisor. If he was scared of his sixty-five-year-old sweet-as-candy professor talking to guys he liked was surely out of the question, not that he would have any hope of success with his appearance.

As Edward walked across the quad he avoided eye contact with students crowded onto the open green sitting and chatting or throwing frisbees. Edward felt drowned in the sea of people, though the lawn wasn’t nearly dense enough to fulfill the quest.

The line for the coffee shop was out the door which made him want to throw up. He walked slowly forward waiting for the quest to complete. Finally, when he was only a few feet away, practically in line the quest was fulfilled and his experience bar to level two filled fully.

Edward heard a “ding” in his head and several notifications filled his vision startling him.

”You have reached level two. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”People Person: Those around you feel your natural charm and are more likely to accept you in a neutral or positive way, potentially even striking up a conversation.”

Edward felt a strange itch on his brow and a pressure on his jaw but ignored it. He didn’t know what to make of the messages. The stats seemed somewhat consistent with role-playing video games, and he supposed the break down made sense with his class. Still, he wasn’t sure how something like charisma would be incorporated into real life, nor his new People Person perk. As a sociology major Edward knew all too well how complex human interaction was. The perk seemed to imply that not only would the game be changing him but also the people around him and their perceptions. He wasn’t sure if that was even possible not to mention ethical.

“Introduce yourself to a stranger,” the next quest said popping up on the side of Edward’s vision. That more than any ethical quandary made Edward scared. It was all well and good for the game to claim that people would react positively to Edward but he knew firsthand that wasn’t true.

“Hey, are you in line?” two girls who had walked up behind him asked. Edward froze, realizing he had positioned himself at an awkward spot half in line half not. The girls didn’t seem disgusted by his presence but they also didn’t seem particularly enthralled, they just wanted to get their coffee.

Edward nodded his head, the best he could do with his crippling social anxiety. He moved more obviously in line and the girl went back to chatting. As the line crept closer Edward tried and failed several times to work up the courage to introduce himself to the girls. He came up with various scenarios in his head of how he could make an introduction, all of which ended with the girl calling him a creep.

Finally, after ten minutes, Edward reached the front of the line. He realized in his attempts to complete the quest he hadn’t so much as glanced at the menu.

“What will you be having today,” a tall tan worker asked, his tattooed arms pleasantly stretching out the sleeves of his shirt. Edward just opened and closed his mouth like a fish, mind suddenly blank of every coffee drink ever, including coffee.

The worker, whose name tag ironically read “Tag” saw his confusion and smiled. “It’s a big menu I know. It’s fall, so you can never go wrong with a PSL.” He saw Edwards look confused and he sheepishly clarified “Pumpkin spice latte.”

“I’ll do that,” Edward said, voice quiet but clear. He took a deep breath then before he could think about it blurted out, “I’m Edward, by the way.”

Tag gave a handsome grin and wrote the name on a cup. “Thanks, Edward, I’ll that get you out for you right away.”

Edward heard a “ding” but ignored it and the notifications that popped up as he paid on the tablet Tag turned towards him. His hands shook as he selected the largest tip options and stumbled over to the designated area to stand while waiting for a drink and looked at the notifications.

”You have reached level three. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Social Sync: You are naturally attuned to the tone and rhythm of conversation making awkward pauses and interruptions a thing of the past.”

New quests popped up as well, two this time. “Make someone laugh” and “Offer someone advice.”

As the messages appeared Edward felt the same strange pain in his face, like the soreness he sometimes got after smiling all day with Leon. He lifted a hand to his face and felt skin much smoother than his normal rough, dry, pockmarked complexion. His weak chin, which had always been a source of insecurity no longer felt totally concave but pushed out somewhat lending a strange sharpness to his jaw. Edward was about to take out his phone to examine his reflection when he heard a voice beside him.

“He’s so dreamy, isn’t he,” a man said in his right ear. All his life Edward had been painfully scrawny, wrists the size of cucumber and ribs showing through his pale skin. This man was even more slender like he could break with a strong gust of wind. He held a coffee cup that had the name Trent on the side. The guy didn’t seem to mind Edwards’s silence and continued staring at Tag longingly. “The coffee here is so bitter, but the eye candy is so sweet,” he mused.

“Yeah, that guy is what I would call a full-sized candy bar” the comment came out before Edward had time to think. It was a mediocre joke, wordy and unoriginal to a fault, but to painfully shy and unfunny Edward he felt like he was a standup comedian. Trent smiled and gave a slight chuckle, though his quest remained incomplete, probably because the laugh was fake.

“He’s a Snickers, and let’s just say I’m not allergic to nuts,” Edward tried again, this time eliciting a better reaction from Trent. A slight giggle was all it took for the quest to complete and Edward’s experience bar to increase half the way to level four.

“Well, both of us are going to go hungry. He’s straight.”

“Really,” Edward asked. As a closeted gay until he was 19, when he had finally worked up the courage to tell Leon, Edward thought he had pretty good gaydar, and that Tag guy was anything but straight.

“How do you know?” he asked Social Sync perk causing him to put the perfect pause between his declaration of doubt and his question without him even noticing.

“He used to date some girl,” Trent responded with a touch of disgust.

“Maybe he’s bi,” Edward said and Trent’s face lit up as if he had never considered the thought.

“Oh wow, do you really think so?” he asked excitedly. “Now that you say it, he is kind of flirty when he gives me my drink.”

“You should just go up and talk to him,” Edward advised sagely. “I mean what is the worst that could happen.” The advice was hollow seeing as how Edward had never even breathed in the direction of any of his crushes. Trent seemed to sense this and looked at Edward dubiously. The game system however didn’t seem to care. It marked his “give advice” quest as complete and alerted him he had reached level four with a ding. At this rate, Leon didn’t stand a chance of reaching level ten before him.

”You have reached level four. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”Sage: Your charisma gives you an innate knowledge of people’s desires, both conscious and unconscious. Note: The higher your charisma, the more attuned this sense becomes. Note: this effect is 92.22% more effective on people with a penis.”

Edward felt a shift both in his physiology and in his brain, like before he felt his face move, bones like continental plates drifting every so slightly apart into a more attractive configuration.

Inside his head, he felt something shift far more drastically. The three +1 boosts to his intelligence had been so slight he barely noticed them, just a slight speeding up of his thoughts and a boost to his reasoning ability. This new change in his mind was drastic, impossible not to notice. A sixth sense emerged, filling his head with a source of knowledge he wasn’t quite sure what to do with. It was almost as if he had gained the ability to read minds only not so strong and without any words, only feelings. Suddenly Edward felt Trent’s desire, a sexual one, not just for the barista, but also for the group of frat boys in the corner of the shop and strangely enough for Edward. He felt others’ desires too, though much less clearly.

Two guys standing to his left both hoped the other would buy the alcohol for tonight’s party. The other men in the shop only gave wisps of desire. Edward suspected that had something to do with proximity and his still relatively low charisma.

The women on the other hand Edward could barely sense, only receiving a small tingle like TV static instead of anything readable. Edward wondered at that strange 92.22% bonus towards men. Edward took a moment to reflect on the class he had been assigned. Could Leon be right? Could the name of his class be a gay joke, that he was meant to charm not venomous creatures in baskets but instead the snake in men’s pants? It seemed somehow too vulgar for a video game though Edward knew that was illogical. If it was true it begged some concerning questions, like how the game had known he was gay and what exactly it was setting him up to do.

“Would you go talk to him?” Trent asked suddenly snapping Edward back to the present. His sixth sense faded to the back of his mind, though he could still sense Trent’s desire. “Sorry I know that’s a lot to ask but I think you would have more luck than me.” He looked at Edward with puppy dog eyes filled with earnest hope. “Be my wingman?”

A notification appeared obscuring a part of Edward’s vision.

”Quest offered! Set up Trent and Tag romantically. Reward: XP”

A box under the quest notification had two boxes with “yes” and “no” options. Edward had no idea how to select either option. Out loud he said, “I’ll do my best.” The notification disappeared and reappeared small in the quest part of his interface.

Trent smiled. “Really? I can’t thank you enough.” He felt Trent’s desire shift from lust to hope. “Just like using a pickup line or something. Don’t make it too awkward,” he said, suddenly nervous.

“Don’t worry I got this,” Edward said with about 1000% times more confidence than he felt. He had absolutely no business getting other people’s tail when he was still a virgin himself. Edward just knew he was going to make an absolute fool of himself.

It turned out that the quests to advance to level four were not as easy as Leon had imagined. The first quest “run a lap” proved exhausting but doable. Leon made his way to the elevated track that encircled the gym and with perfect form, if less perfect endurance, ran the loop. Before the game, Leon would have had to walk most of it, but the two levels and six points he had gained in strength allowed him to push through with a slow jog. The quest’s completion bumped him three-quarters of the way to level four. He had no doubt the other quest would get him all the way there if only it was possible.

“Do a pull-up.” How hard could one pull up be? Extremely difficult it turned out. Dangling from the elevated bar Leon tried with all his might to heft his flabby body up. He only managed to lift his head halfway before the effort became too much and he was forced to give up.

Leon knew it wasn’t his form keeping him from completing the exercise like it had been with the push-up. Instead, it came down to a plain and simple lack of strength. Leon didn’t know what to do. He felt frustrated that he had hit a roadblock so soon. He looked at the experience progress bar, so tantalizingly close to the next level. Maybe he would have to do it the old-fashioned way. Train his back and his biceps extensively until he could do a pull-up on his own. Leon knew something like that would take weeks if not months but he was nothing if not stubborn.

Determined not to give up Leon found a set of dumbbells and began to lift with perfect form. The activity didn’t provide the same instant gratification as leveling up did, but Leon was starting to understand how people could get addicted to this. As he worked his eyes wandered to the graphical display imprinted on either side of his vision. He found he could unfocus on the information and the display would blur, unobscuring his vision. He focused again and the quest and progress bar came back into his field of vision. Leon couldn’t tell if he was imagining it but it seemed as if the bar was more full. He did a few more curls and watched the progress bar tick up the tiniest amount. He lifted the other arm and it moved again. He grabbed the largest weight he could conceivably lift and using all this strength curled it with both arms, the progress bar moved, still not much but more than before. Leon grinned. He was pretty sure he had just found an exploit.

Thirty minutes later a tired Leon prepared for his last set of leg presses to get him to level four. The “exploit” he had found wasn’t as much of a hack as he had originally hoped. Working out gave him experience to fill the bar but not nearly as efficiently as quests. He had to go from machine to machine loading up the maximum amount of weight he could lift, not much, and completing various exercises until that part of his body was completely exhausted. His “perfect form” perk ensured that he was able to complete each exercise to its fullest despite not knowing how to do any of the exercises. All he had to do was approach a machine or a set of weights and his body would suddenly assume the position.

Even with his perfect form protecting him from injury Leon was exhausted. The day’s gym session was more exercise than he had ever done in his life. His hair was matted to his forehead and dark sweat spots had appeared around the collar and pits of his Superman shirt. His body felt like a sack of bricks like he could fall asleep and not wake up till his next birthday. Leon persisted and as he performed his tenth leg press he heard a ding. His legs slammed back to their resting position and he breathed heavily, feeling his body begin to change and notifications pop up.

”You have reached level four. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Animal Endurance: The rate at which athletic activities tire you is decreased significantly while the rate of recovery is greatly improved. Note: the potency of this effect scales off of strength.”

Leon felt his muscles harden, his arms bulge, his legs bulk up and shift. His core burned as his abs shredded themselves and strengthened. The layer of fat on Leon’s body, though still present thinned. Underneath it his muscles went from average to distinctly fit, no great titan yet but also not a slouch either. His weariness from all the exercise it took to reach level four drained away thanks to his perk and Leon once again felt reinvigorated.

He marched over to the nearest pull-up bar and with only a small amount of effort hoisted himself up with the power of his upper body. The completed quest brought him a third of the way up to level five. Two more quests appeared. “Bench press a third of your body weight.” And “exchange workout tips”. Neither seemed especially difficult.

Leon looked around to see if he could find Cal to knock out the more social of the quests but the helpful runner was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Leon found a benchpress machine and went to load it up. Leon was shocked to realize he had no idea what his body weight was. Before Altered Reality, Leon had weighed 230 pounds, now though he could be anything. Leon squinted at the holographic display in the sides of his vision and found with effort he was able to bring up a stats page.

Leon:
210 Pounds
5’10’’ Feet
Strength: 11
Charisma: 7
Intelligence: 8.9

When he played video games with his roommates Alvis was the one who focused on the numbers, min-maxing his character to be the strongest possible. Edward liked to talk to the NPCs, to understand the story, and Leon, well Leon liked to punch things and not worry too much about the boring stuff. Still, with his 8.9 in intelligence, Leon couldn’t help but notice some changes to his body composition. There was the inch in height his body had gained from those three levels and the twenty pounds of weight he had lost. Leon suspected the total loss was more like 30 or 40 pounds of fat but that the added muscle made up the difference. His stats were interesting too. Leon hadn’t much thought about it but based on the quests and perks he had received the Juggernaut class seemed to be one that focused on athleticism. Despite that, he still received a marginal boost to charisma and intelligence at each level which he supposed were meant to keep him well rounded. Leon did the math, the current numbers would mean that his intelligence before the game had been eight, which seemed right, and his strength a two, also unfortunately right. The four in charisma seemed rude, but Leon supposed he had never had much luck with women for a reason.

Doing math once again Leon loaded up the bench press, factoring in the weight of the bar to reach seventy pounds one-third of his weight. He assumed the position under it, with perfect form thanks to his perk; then with substantial effort, Leon lifted the bar over his chest and with as much control as he could manage lowered it. That was the easy part, the hard part was pushing it back up. Leon clenched his toes, bugged his eyes, and pushed with all his eleven strength upward. His mind suddenly flashed to the bar crushing him, rolling down onto his neck and ending this game. Panic more than determination got the bar up and back to its starting position. The quest was completed and the progress bar to level five was filled in another third.

Only once the bar was fully returned to its resting position could Leon see the girl standing over him, upside down from his prone view.

“I was ready to pull that thing off you.” The girl said in something between a mix of condescension and admiration. Leon sat up.

“Umm, thanks,” he said nervously. He recognized this girl from his advanced biology seminar, although she didn’t seem to know him. She looked very pretty with her high ponytail and tight yoga pants, which only made his voice stutter more. “I’m Leon.”

“Cassy,” she said.

An idea came to his mind. “Got any tips for this one?” Leon asked, hoping to knock out his remaining quest.

Before Cassy could answer though a tall man in a low-cut tank top that showed off his ripped torso and cannonball shoulders approached and wrapped his mammoth vascular arms around her. “Cassy, why the fuck are you talking to this fatty?” He asked as if Leon were some flaming garbage outside his window, offensive to his sight. Leon recognized him as a member of Alpha Sigma, one of the best and most dickish fraternities on campus.

“Fuck off, Hunter,” Cassy said rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, fuck off, Hunter” Leon repeated. He instantly regretted it.

Hunter’s eyes went wide, and a vein on his neck began to pulse. Leon stared back at him with a level of defiance he knew defied both the social order and logic. Leon had always been brash, a trait now manifested in full force by the extreme comfort he felt in the gym due to his Gym Rat perk.

Cassy shot him a look asking if he was trying to get himself killed then turned to Hunter to defuse the situation. “Come on babe let’s go.”

Hunter heard none of it. He got right up in Leon’s face so close Leon could smell the sweat on his body and the ZYN in his breath. “Listen here tubby, this is a gym. The McDonalds is down the street. Now fuck off or I’ll turn your happy meal into chicken tenders. Ya hear?” He stood up and started to walk away Cassy unhappily following after him. “And don’t ever talk to my girl again homo.”

Leon knew he should be scared but instead, he found the whole interaction funny, his “Gym Rat” perk really might be working too well. “Got any gym tips for me?” he called after Hunter, wanting to still get something out of the interaction. He couldn’t wait till he was bigger than that arrogant prick and no one could talk to him that way.

The frat bro turned around. “Eat a fucking salad,” he called. Leon’s last quest remained incomplete. He wondered why for a second then realized it said, “Exchange workout tips.”

“You should really get off the roids, it’s killing the last two of your brain cells,” Leon called after him. Hunter moved to turn around, probably to beat the shit out of Leon but Cassy grabbed his hand and dragged him away. The quest completed and Leon reached level five. Not too bad for seven charisma he thought proudly. The now familiar ding sounded along with a wall of notifications. Leon began to feel strange. A biting ache began to thrum in the pit of his stomach. Doubled over Leon rushed to the bathroom, careful to head in in the opposite direction of Hunter and Cassy.

He burst into the empty men’s room and then into the nearest stall he could find. As he sat on the toilet the pain intensified. Something was happening and it hurt like all hell.

Edward had no idea why Trent had even started talking. That wasn’t something people ever did to ugly Edward, maybe point and whisper, but never strike up a conversation and surely never ask him for help. It must be his stupid charisma and perks scrambling everyone’s brain he concluded. Edward was about to turn back to Trent and tell him he had made a mistake and that he actually couldn’t help him when he heard “Edward” yell from behind the bar. He saw Tag the sexy fit barista holding a steaming to-go cup and looking around the coffee shop for Edward. Trent gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up.

Edward felt as if he was moving in slow motion like he was making his way to the gallows. Tag saw him coming and smiled, extending the drink towards him. Edward reached out to take the drink, his finger ever so slightly brushing up against Tag’s hand in the process. He wasn’t sure if it was the touch or just the proximity but he felt his new “Sage” perk activate in vivid detail.

A picture suddenly flashed in Edward’s mind. A subterranean location full of flashing lights and loud rhythmic music, a rave Edward realized. He saw Tag standing alone in an open button-down shirt showing off sexy tattooed muscles. Edward flashed back to reality. His sudden vision had caused him to linger a bit too long grabbing his drink and he jerked his hand away awkwardly.

Edward retracted his hand and gave a smile hoping to save the moment. “Hey, are you going to the rave tonight?” Edward asked as casually as he could “I think I have seen you at a few before. I heard the one tonight is supposed to be especially hype.”

Tag seemed surprised for a moment then reassessed Edward his demeanor shifting from customer service friendly, to peer in-group easygoing. “You mean sewer fest? I want to, man, but all my friends are busy tonight and I don’t want to go alone.”

“Oh damn, that sucks,” Edward said. He was mindful of the stares he was getting from the other students around him but couldn’t bring himself to care, this was going too well. “I wish I could go but I have a paper I have to write tonight. My friend Trent was actually just saying he was thinking about going though.” Edward pointed back at Trent who gave a little wave.

“Oh, I know him,” Tag said when he saw Trent. “That would be sick man. I really don’t want to miss Sewer Fest. How about this,” he took a cup sleeve and started to write on it, “Give your friend my number and tell him to text me” he handed it to Edward.

“Will do. You two have fun!” Edward said as he walked away. Trent looked at him wide-eyed and was about to say something but Edward made a signal that they shouldn’t talk about it inside.

“This is for you,” Edward said as he handed Trent Tag’s number once they were outside.

“No way. You’re actually a god. How did you do that?” Trent asked amazed.

“Don’t get too excited,” Edward said sheepishly. “You’re going to a rave, and it’s in the sewer.”

“A rave? You know what, I’ll take it. I really can’t thank you enough.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Honestly, you helped me just as much as I helped you.”

Trent ignored the cryptic comment. “Well, I should go, I guess I have to find an outfit to wear to a sewer. Would all white be a bad idea?” He handed Edward his phone. “Will you put your number in my phone? I’ll text you how tonight goes.”

The two exchanged information then Trent left. Edward stood there sipping his latte, which really was too bitter. He saw Trent typing out a message on his phone as he walked away.

Moments later Edward heard a “ding” as the quest was completed and he reached level five. Notifications sprung up in his vision, more than usual. Edward couldn’t read them, as he couldn’t focus on anything. His mostly full coffee slipped out of his hand and spilled onto the ground as a golden nebula sprung up around him and his face and body were wracked with pain. He started to scream.

Leon felt as if his flesh was melting. Furiously he scrolled through his notifications trying to determine the source of the intense pain wracking his body.

There was the normal notification about stats that Leon expected at this point.

”You have reached level five. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

Leon imagined if he wasn’t in so much pain he would feel the typical shifts in his body as his strength increased.

There was another notification, a new one although not one that explained the pain either.

”Juggernaut is an embodied class, as such at level five you gain a class ability.”

”Inner strength: At will, once every 115 seconds you can tap into your inner strength to gain a brief burst of, power, reflex, and athletic ability. Note: the cooldown of the ability equals 120 minus class level. Note: the potency of this ability scales with strength.”

The ability seemed amazing though Leon hardly had the mental facilities to think about the potential, or what exactly an embodied class was. Finally, the last notification explained the source of the all-consuming ache in his body.

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Metabolizer: your metabolisms is heightened to superhuman levels. Calories will no longer be stored as fat but instead burned for super-kinetic energy.”

Tentatively Leon lifted his shirt. His mouth dropped open as he physically saw the flab on his stomach move and shift, slowly shrinking to reveal his abs. His body was eating its own fat stores like a yeast colony to sugar. His arms, his neck, his butt, he felt every part of his body acutely as the fat he had carried for so long was stripped away.

He pulled up his stats screen and watched his weight number slowly fall, past the 200-pound mark, past 190, then 180, then 170 until Leon’s weight came to rest at a puny 160 pounds, all in a matter of minutes.

Leon sat there dazed not sure what to feel about the rapid reformation of his body. Once the pain was gone he tentatively left the stall and approached the mirror above the sink. He had to do a double-take to make sure it was really him. He looked different, gaunt, like a bean pole. Veins were visible on his forearms, and the small abs and pecs he had built from his five levels of strength stood in stark relief on his fat-free torso. He flexed his arm and watched the bicep rise. He looked sort of like Cal, like he could be a runner or a skinny swimmer. The only indications that he had never been fat were the stretch marks and loose skin that dangled from various parts of his body.

Leon brought his face close to the mirror to examine it fully. It was amazing how much fat obscured his features. Without it his face seemed solid, almost handsome, his jaw had a somewhat square cast to it, and his cheekbones were arched and pronounced. He wondered if the four points added to his charisma could have anything to do with the altered appearance of his face as well.

Leon let himself smile and admired the deep dimples that formed. Let Hunter try to call him a fatty now that his body fat percentage was probably lower than that frat douchbag’s.

Ding!

For a moment Leon looked around for the notification on his display, and then he realized the sound had come from a text on his phone.

“Did you touch my fucking playdia?” Avlis texted Edward and Leon in their roommate text threat.

“Get a life loser,” Leon texted back. He imagined Alvis’s face when he saw the hunk Leon was becoming. That red-faced creep was going to explode.

A second later Edward texted back “No need to get upset. We can discuss it tonight.” Leon found the response strangely diplomatic for his famously awkward friend. He wondered how Edward was doing if he was undergoing as rapid changes as Leon was. Thinking of his friend made him think of their contest and how little he wanted to lose. He turned his mind back to the new quests that had appeared with the next level, feeling fresh and energized thanks to his high metabolism and animal endurance.

”Run a mile.”

The task proved easier than he thought. As a fat kid, the mile had been hell on earth for Leon, he regularly finished last with times in the late teen early twenty-minute mark. Without the fat and with his added strength, however, Leon felt like he was running on air. Without pushing himself he ran the mile on the attached track in 7:00 minutes and hardly even felt winded in the end. On his last lap, Leon tried activating his new ability “inner strength”. All he had to do was think about it and suddenly the ability activated. All at once his body was flushed with strength. His steps became powerful bounds and he flew through the air at outrageous speeds for a moment before the ability ended and Leon not so gracefully stumbled back to his regular pace. A timer of 115 seconds appeared in the corner of his vision, counting down the seconds until he could use the ability again.

The completion of the quest got Leon a little over a fourth of the way to level six.

”Play a sport with others.”

Was the next quest he selected to do. Leon wandered around his school’s massive gymnasium looking for a pick-up basketball game he could join or a tennis player looking for a doubles partner. Instead, as he looked out the window at the grassy field below he saw a different sort of athletic endeavor.

Students wielding foam swords, shields, axes, and even bows charged at each other. As Leon left the health center and approached he could hear war cries and calls of who was out from various participants. It ended within a minute as a girl with short hair blocked a sword thrust from her opponent with her shield and then slashed at his legs with her own foam weapon. A winner was declared and the participants helped each other to their feet from where they had “died” and rearmed themselves to go again.

The girl who had won saw Leon watching and approached. “Want to join?” she asked somewhat skeptically. While his height and build made him look like a jock his Superman shirt seemed to communicate that Leon was one of them. In truth, Leon would normally scoff at the idea of role-playing, especially in such a public area, but his new penchant for athletics plus his need to complete the quest made him amicable to her offer.

The girl who introduced herself as Ruth and the sport as Dagorhir. She showed him the various foam weapons that he could choose from, though Leon ended up sticking with the same foam sword and shield she used. She told him because he was new he would be on her team and that he should stick with her and just try to stay alive.

He did what she said at first, staying back and only blocking with his shield when a stray attacker came at him. He was amazed by how quickly he could move, how fast his reflexes were becoming. He blocked another thrust then retaliated with his sword down onto the guy’s back, reveling in the way his perfect form perk allowed him to effortlessly perform the precise motions. Behind him, Ruth went down to a foam-tipped arrow shot by an archer who Leon sprinted over to and tagged with a thrust, killing him. Leon was surprised to find he was the only one left from his team facing down two attackers, one wielding two swords with the other a ball of spiky foam tied to a rope he swung about to attack.

Leon knew he had only one chance to win. Activating his inner strength ability he flew through the air, feet clearing the low sweep of his opponent’s flail. As he came back down, he brought his sword down hard onto the other opponent who blocked with both his swords. They cracked like twigs under the force of his slam.

Even Leon was surprised by his own strength. He felt instantly grateful the guy had blocked his attack, or else it may have been his arms instead of his swords that broke like glass. While both his opponents were stunned by Leon’s maneuver Leon swept low with his sword taking both out and winning the game. His team rushed around him all shouting his praise.

“How the fuck did you do that?” Ruth asked amazed. The feeling of admiration, of victory on the basis of his athletic ability was so foreign to Leon that he wasn’t sure what to do, especially when they started chanting his name. Leon glanced to see his progress bar was almost full thanks to the physical exertion of the activity and the completion of the quest.

“Play again,” Ruth asked.

“Maybe later. I really have to go, but I had fun,” Leon said smiling. He wasn’t lying, despite his misgivings about the lameness of the sport he really had enjoyed it. He gave her his number and she promised to update him on when the club met.

Leon felt on top of the world especially because his next quest to “consume an exercise supplement” would be a piece of cake. He jogged back to the athletic center, using his inner strength ability whenever it came off cooldown to increase his pace and to try to get used to the burst of supernatural athleticism it gave him. He really needed to understand the limits of his ability before someone got hurt.

As soon as Leon entered the gym he felt a wave of comfort wash over him, a sense of belonging. He walked confidently into the small store attached to the gym and perused the various protein supplements, pre-workout powders, and energy drinks.

“Need help finding anything?” the young athlete behind the counter asked.

“Just something for the gains,” Leon joked, though with his new body the joke was lost on the cashier who thought he was serious. Leon supposed he sort of was. The cashier pointed out a few pre and post-workout supplements to Leon and feeling reckless Leon bought them all along with a water bottle.

Leon realized he hadn’t drank water or eaten anything in hours yet he didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. He wasn’t sure if that was a perk of his Animal Endurance or had something to do with the “super kinetic energy” he now supposedly burned his fat into. Either way, he supposed it would still would be good for him to get some protein and liquids into his system. He scooped the proper amount of each supplement into the bottle before shaking it well.

Ding!

Leon reached level six right as he finished the bottle. He let out a sigh and felt his body expand.

”You have reached level six. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma +0.3 Intelligence.”

Leon felt the familiar telltale signs of the boost to his strength, his muscles swelled, his pecs became more pronounced, thighs beefed up. The network of veins on his skinny forearms became even more pronounced and the loose skin from his rapid weight gain refilled now with muscle instead of fat, becoming less noticeable as Leon’s body became more buff.

This level-up felt different from the others though. Leon felt himself continue to grow, his shoulders widening even more, and his arms bulging. He wondered at the reason until he saw his latest perk.

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Rapid Returns: The effects of any workout or body-enhancing substance are applied immediately, and to the fullest.”

This had to be one of the best perks yet. No more would he have to wait weeks to see gains, instead he would experience them instantly. The added growth he reasoned was the retroactive payments of the exercise he had already completed that day plus the supplements he had just drank.

Leon wasn’t one for patience so he was more than glad for the instant gratification, plus with his perfect form perk, he could be sure that any exercise he did would be rewarded fully and instantly.

Three more quests appeared.

Leon’s smile disappeared, replaced by a scoff when he saw what they were. These had to be jokes, no way in hell was he going to be caught dead doing something like that. Who the fuck did this game think he was?

Edward let out a cry of pain as he stumbled back, face and body on fire. Thankfully the golden lines that had materialized around quickly faded but his yelp still caught the attention of a few groups of students who all looked in his direction with concern. “Hey, you okay?” a guy asked, getting up from the grass to walk towards him.

Edward put both hands over his face, which felt as if it was being ripped apart, and backed away from the approaching student.

“I’m fine,” he managed through the pain. He brushed past the guy, body hunched forward unable to stand straight. The students looked at each other confused but let him pass. Edward stumbled blindly into an alley between two buildings that was normally filled with smoking students but was thankfully empty.

Edward sunk down to the ground wrapping his arms around his knees tightly as the pain continued. It felt as if his bones were made of clay that some invisible, and not too gentle, hand was sculpting. After a minute the pain began to lessen and Edward could think again. He couldn’t tell exactly what had happened but he suspected the answer lay somewhere in the notifications he had just received.

”You have reached level five. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Golden Ratio: You are a dream of any Renaissance artist. Along with being perfectly symmetrical your face and body ascribe exactly to the golden ratio. You are now 1.618 down to your DNA.”

The Golden Ratio perk explained the pain. Edward recognized the phrase from the art history class he had taken freshman year. It had something to do with proportions and beauty. He got out his phone to look it up but stopped when he saw his reflection on the darkened screen. He sat there staring at his reflection, startled every time that it blinked when he did.

Beauty wasn’t an objective thing, Edward knew that. But he had been ugly, the type of ugly only a mother could love, and even she is on the fence about. It wasn’t just his bad skin, or thin hair, or beady eyes, or misshapen nose, though none of those helped, it was in the fundamental construction of his features. Unsymmetrical ill-proportioned, and downright unpleasant to look at. Now that had all changed.

Edward wouldn’t call his reflection sexy or hot, rather he was more striking. His face was masculine but not overly so. His features all looked as if they were pieces in part of the same puzzle, each perfectly proportioned and symmetrical, fitting on his face as if they were sculpted by the hand of an angle or the brain of an artistic AI. His eyes were flawlessly spaced, in exact harmony with his forehead. His lips sat perfectly under his nose which had been resized and reshaped to the exact dimensions to flatter his face. His entire head had taken on a different shape, elongating and narrowing and contouring. He was in a word beautiful.

Under his sweater, Edward could see his body had shifted as well. He hadn’t gained or lost mass but rather his proportions had changed, shoulder broadening, waste slimming, hands and feet growing bigger. Edward couldn’t check in public but he also had felt some pain in his groin. He was pretty sure his dick and balls had been growing a bit with every level but he suspected the latest perk had done made some big shifts to the region. In someone as insecure and unattractive as Edward having a small penis had only been the cherry on top of his ugly sundae. Edward had assumed no one would ever see under his pants and he had spent much more time wishing for a pretty face or clear skin then a big dick. Now however it seemed plausible almost even likely Edward would get laid eventually and he was glad he was gaining a proper dick to do it with. It all felt so exhilarating and made Edward not a small bit horny.

Edward finally composed himself enough to do some rudimentary research on the golden ratio he was now supposedly modeled off. As the perk suggested the golden ratio was all about 1.618. It seemed this was a number that appeared in nearly all beautiful things in nature and was used by artists in their work, especially in the Renaissance, to replicate the scale of that natural beauty that is so pleasing to the human eye. According to the articles Edward quickly skimmed those faces deemed most attractive were in proportion with this ratio. There was a complex set of formulas involved, face height should be 1.618 times longer than width, brows should be 1.618 longer then the distance between the eyes, etc. Edward didn’t have a ruler but he bet if he measured if face it would be in line with that down to the millimeter.

Despite the radical change his features were still his own, only shifted and resized. The pig-like upward slant of his nose had been somewhat corrected by the previous bumps to charisma but it was still noticeable, same with his chin which still had a ways to go before it became anything resembling desirable. Still, the changes were radical, to the point that Edward had a hard time recognizing himself. He wondered if Leon would recognize him, and how in the hell he was going to explain this to his family.

Edward was so distracted by the latest perk that he didn’t even fully read the other notifications that had come with level five.

”The Snake Charmer class is a conduit class. As such at level five you gain access to energy points. These can be used in various techniques. Your pool of energy points is equal to your intelligence. The rate of regeneration is tied primarily to your charisma but also scales to a lesser degree on intelligence.”

“§At level five the Snake Charmer class gains a technique.”

”Silver Tongue: Your innate charm allows you to channel energy into your words, imbuing them with power that can bend all who hear them to your will. Note: This ability costs five energy per word. Note: the maximum number of words that can be imbued increases by one every ten points of charisma: current max 2. Note: This technique may be less effective or wholly resisted by targets with higher charisma. Note: This ability is considered a charm and therefore can be resisted or negated by items, consumables, aura, technique, or abilities with anti-charm properties. Note: The duration of this technique may differ based on the degree of differences in the charisma score of the caster and the target. Note: This technique is 92.22% more effective on people with a penis.”

Edward blinked at the wall of text before him. Edward wasn’t dumb, he had an intelligence of 13 and a 4.0 GPA but he was really struggling to deciphering the massive amount of information the game had just given him. He decided to take it part by part.

First, there were the energy points. Those he was able to deduce were like mana points in an RPG game, the resource he used to cast spells, or in Altered State’s case techniques. Edward focused on the note about the regeneration and a formula popped up going into more detail.

”Regeneration per hour = # EP (Energy points) × (Charisma × 0.01)”

His current energy point pool, now indicated by a new full yellow bar on the right side of his vision, was 13. His charisma also coincidentally was also 13 at level five although with the gains he got each level he knew it would quickly out-scale his intelligence. At his current level his rate of regeneration was 1.69 energy points per hour, pretty abysmal. That meant it would take him more than seven hours to regain all his energy.

Edward flipped to the calculator app on his phone. He felt like Alvis doing math for a video game but he also knew it was important to understand this new system. At level 10 when his intelligence would be 18 and his charisma 28 his rate of regeneration would be 5.04 per hour and when he reached level 20 and had a pool of 28 energy points his rate of regeneration would be 16.24 energy points per hour which felt much more reasonable. By level 34 he would be capable of regretting all his energy at that level within an hour.

Edward started to understand what exactly the game had in store for him. Intelligence-focused classes were meant to be mages, the type with a large energy pool but slow regeneration. He would be the opposite, lacking a large resource bank but able to recover his expended energy much faster and get back to doing. It matched exactly the way Edward liked to play video games which was somewhat concerning.

As for the technique Edward had unlocked, he was unsure exactly what to make of it. Silver Tongue seemed extremely powerful, almost overly so. There was, however, that list of notes at the end providing a caveat to the power. First off it seemed that the ability wouldn’t be very useful on those with higher charisma than his own and that there were additionally a host of other game-provided way to protect oneself from charm techniques. Edward didn’t really think he would have to worry about that though, as far as he knew he and Leon were the only ones with access to the game and he had no intention of using his ability against his best friend. Still, he thought having checks to a technique like his was ultimately a good thing. Edward could think of far too many ways “bending someone to your will” could be used for ill. It also had that stipulation of being much more effective on men like most of Edward’s other rewards which he found perplexing.

Edward decided he wouldn’t use this new power unless it was really necessary, which his two new quests seemed unlikely.

“Get new clothes” and “Get a haircut” seemed like some not-so-subtle hints that Altered State thought it was time for him to have a makeover. Edward’s appearance had already changed so much, he was trepidatious about changing himself further. Still, the latest batch of rewards he received for leveling up were the best ones yet. Edward would be lying if the intoxication of power wasn’t driving him forward, that and the bet he still had with Leon.

Normally Edward would just go to the budget haircut place in town, no need to spend a lot of money when his appearance was already unsalvageable. Now though Edward didn’t feel so lackadaisical about his looks. There was a real nice barber shop he knew only a few blocks from campus which he decided to go to.

Edward left the alley and walked across the green out of campus. As he went Edward was amazed by all the looks he got. Not the looks of pity or disgust he was used to. Instead, people smiled and waved at him as if they knew him. It was bizarre in the extreme. A group of girls walking by whispered something to each other and giggled as they passed, and a tall handsome guy gave him a wink. At first, the attention bothered Edward but as he walked he gained confidence. He stood straight, puffed out his still slim chest, and smiled back at the people he passed. Both the more confident walk and the friendly expression on his face felt right on the new construction of his body.

“One haircut please,” Edward said as he entered the barber shop. It was an awkward line but his high charisma, People Person perk, and Social Sync perk all saved him from being turned away.

The barber, a tallish middle-aged guy with a slight Italian accent and a short beard greeted him like an old friend. “What can I get ya today?” he asked as he sprayed Edward’s curls down with water.

Somewhere along the way, Edward’s stringy dirty blond hair had become a thick golden mane with a slight wave in it, a far cry from the straight thin straw his hair had been before.

“I don’t know Alexi, what do you think would look good?” Edward asked reading the man’s name off his name tag. Through his Sage perk he could feel that the barbers had a genuine love for his craft and that his goal was to make Edward look as good as possible.

The barber clucked his tongue examining Edward’s face and running a comb through his damp hair which instantly sprung back into place. “You have such beautiful hair, it feels like such a shame to cut it off. How about I just shape it up so you can show off that handsome face of yours.”

Edward blushed but gave his approval. He watched memorized as Alexi slowly removed the hair from around his newly sized down ears and forehead. Staring in the mirror Edward couldn’t believe the adonis staring back was himself.

He was snapped out of his revelry by the ding. For a second he thought he had leveled up again but it turned out to just be his phone.

“Did you touch my fucking playdia?” Avlis had texted him and Leon in their roommate group chat in obnoxious all caps.

A few seconds later Leon responded with his typical brashness: “Get a life loser”.

Edward sighed and typed out a diplomatic response, “No need to get upset. We can discuss it tonight,” he sent. He would try to calm Alvis down in person but if their creepy roommate got really upset Edward could always use him as the first test subject for his new technique.

Edward and Alexi made small talk as he the haircut, Edward was amazed at how easily the conversation flowed, and how at ease he felt talking to a stranger. When it came time to pay he suspected Alexi gave him a substantial discount. Edward reviled his first experience of pretty privilege. At the same time, he felt kind of bad, like he had scammed the guy just by nature of being charming. Edward left a large tip and thanked him profusely promising to recommend all his friends, as if he had any other than Leon.

With the first of two quests completed and the progress bar to level six halfway full Edward made his way to the mall a few blocks away, his new haircut only intensified the stares he got.

Normally Edward wasn’t confident enough to wear anything other than the most basic of clothes, neutral colors, and a size too big. Now however Edward felt empowered. He walked into the most trendy shop in the mall and was instantly beset by an eager saleswoman. Within minutes she had picked out for Edward more clothes than he could carry before escorting him to a dressing room. His sage perk, which was significantly weaker on her than on Alexi, let him know she worked on commission and that she suspected he was a rich pretty boy willing to spend.

Edward locked the door and tried on the first item of clothing, a red and brown sweater vest that was a bit too big. As soon as Edward put the vest on he heard a ding and reached level six. It really was strange how lenient the game was with some quests and how strict it was with others.

To Edward’s relief, none of the level six features caused excruciating pain this time, although he did feel a slight discomfort as the usual three points of charisma altered his face further, skin smoothing, features adjusting, Adam’s apple bulging slightly as his voice grew a bit deeper and smoother. His newly cut hair on his head along with the little body hair he had grew even more silky and soft and golden blond. Plus Edward was sure he could feel his penis grow as well, only about a sixth of an inch but still noticeable and exhilarating.

”You have reached level six. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Gold Star Killer: Your charm is strong enough to go ignore biological and social boundaries. Anyone with a penis will now be equally likely to find you attractive no matter their usual sexual orientation.”

Edward gasped slightly when he saw the perk. He knew it was a dream of a lot of gay guys to have sex with straight guys, and he would be lying if he said the fantasy wasn’t there for him as well, but he found the idea of bending sexualities concerning. He currently wouldn’t want to be made attracted to a woman. Plus he hoped there was some sort of exemption he could make for his friends and family. He laughed to himself at the idea of boob-loving Leon suddenly having eyes for his dick.

Edward sifted through the rest of the clothes. Most were either too expensive or too gaudy to be considered, but in the pile, Edward found a fair number of shirts and pants he might actually wear. With his now 16 charisma every piece of clothing just seemed to fit right on him, like he could wear a garbage bag and still walk the red carpet, he really just was that damn pretty.

Edward had just tried on a thick wool-striped short-sleeved shirt when he heard a noise from outside.

“What’s the point in wearing that if I can’t see your tits?” a loud obnoxious male voice said. Out of curiosity Edward stuck his head out of the changing room and saw two people arguing in front of the mirror a few feet down the hallway.

“You sound like a douchebag when you say things like that, Hunter,” a blond woman said as she adjusted a floral long-sleeve blouse on her athletic frame.

The man who Edward presumed to be Hunter scoffed. “Cassy, you look like a lesbo librarian. Can’t we go to Victoria’s Secret or something?”

“You’re being a jerk. Is this just because you think I was flirting with that guy at the gym? How many times do I have to tell you he’s just in one of my classes.”

“I don’t give a shit about that fattie,” Hunter said in a way that made it obvious he very much did, “I just don’t want people thinking you’re even more of a skank than they already do.”

The blond woman reeled back. Despite the distance and not having a penis Cassy strong emotion triggered Edward’s Sage skill and he instantly knew that her foremost desire at that moment was to hit the Hunter in the face. She opened her mouth to tell him off but Edward beat her to it. Stepping out of the dressing room he instinctively activated his Silver Tongue ability. “Hey man be nice,” he said, the last two words coming out in a much louder and deeper voice that echoed through the hallway, as if a proclamation from god.

Hunter froze in place for a moment then his face contorted into an unnaturally friendly expression and in a forced cheery voice he said, “I’m sorry for saying that, Cassie. No one thinks that you are a skank. You are a very beautiful intelligent women who I am often intimidated by, and who I take out my insecurities on.”

Cassie looked around as if looking for the hidden cameras to emerge and tell her this was a prank. Hunter turned towards Edward. “I must say you are very attractive. I would normally never admit this but I really want to have sex with you.” Even through the compulsion of Edward’s technique, it was obvious that Hunter was horrified by what he was saying, although with his Gold Star Killer perk it was also likely true.

Hunter turned back to Cassie. “Let me buy you these clothes to make up for my rude comments, then I want to finally hear about that book you have been reading.” He proceeded to gather all of Cassie’s clothing in his arms and walk to the checkout counter, his girlfriend wordlessly following behind him, too shocked to speak.

Edward looked around to see if anyone else had witnessed the effect of his ability but the dressing room was empty. Awkwardly he made his way back to his room to try on the rest of the clothes, still amazed by the power of his new technique. He wondered how long the effect would last on that jerk. It would probably be too much to wish it would be permanent, but he hoped for Cassie’s sake it was long enough for him to buy her clothes.

He also noticed Cassie seemed not to be affected by his words. He wasn’t sure if that was because she didn’t have a penis or if it was because he intended his words only for Hunter.

Edward glanced at his energy bar. The yellow bar was a little less then a third of the way full, Edward just having spent 10 energy, 5 on each word. It would be a few hours till he could regenerate all the expended points again, though Edward didn’t regret it. Especially when he noticed the level progress bar which was right under the energy bar was already halfway to level seven. Edward realized that he had inadvertently just completed one of his new quests without realizing it, “resolve an altercation with only your words” was now marked as complete. His other assigned quest “post on social media” seemed like it could be equally as easy to complete.

Edward put on his favorite of the newest clothes, a white sweater and a pair of blue jeans, and pulled up the latest trending song. Then he set up his phone on the fitting room bench and started filming. Edward didn’t do much, he moved his hips slightly, ran his fingers through his hair, and even bit his lip at one point. Watching it back Edward looked like a total fuck boy, but damn was he pretty. He posted the video publicly, and though he didn’t have any followers except for Leon and his mom he was pretty confident the video would get some views.

Sure enough, Edward heard two simultaneous dings as he both leveled up and received his first like on the video.

”You have reached level seven. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Social gravity: Your charisma is like a magnet. You emit an aura that makes attracting attention to yourself effortless and becoming the center of attention nearly inevitable. Note: This effect is 92.22% more effective on people with a penis. Note: This is an aura effect. Individuals can only be effected by one aura at a time. Your aura may overcome other charisma-based aura in its range if your charisma is higher, or be suppressed by another aura if the less charismatic of the two. Note: you will receive upgrades to this aura ability at levels 14, 21, 29, etc.”

Edward had mixed feelings about this latest perk. As someone ignored and shunned all his life Edward felt the draw to the spotlight, to finally being seen by his peers. Still, there was something nice about anonymity, about being an invisible face in the crowd. If he was reading this perk right his days of nameless NPC were over, main character only from here on out. Plus there was that thing about blocking other auras. This was the second indication that he might be encountering other people with classes and abilities like his own. Edward supposed there could be others out there, Leon had been rather vague about who had given him the game and upon reflection is seemed rather obvious that “buff guy” must have also had a class. Edward thought about that disk still sitting in Alvis’s machine. Once he reached level ten he and Leon would have to lock up that disk in a safe, or maybe destroy it, anything to keep the likes of Hunter from getting their hands on that type of power.

Edward left the changing room, still wearing the favorite of his new clothes, and paid for the half dozen items clothing items he had decided on. These were unfortunately not discounted like his haircut though Edward had some money from his birthday saved up.

Edward’s next quest seemed deceptively easy. “Attend a party” was the only item listed in his quest menu. The rave Trent and Tag were going to tonight might count but that wasn’t for another few hours and Edward wanted to give the two some space. Even though classes were out for the day Edward knew it was likely too early for any parties to be happening in the dorms or in any of the houses on fratrow.

Edward decided to wander around the mall. If he had gotten stared before it was nothing compared to now. His social gravity perk and the last two levels of charisma made him an undeniably attention-grabbing figure. He passed a kid’s birthday party happening in an arcade but decided against crashing that to complete his quest.

Edward wandered out of the mall and down the street to one of the nicer parts of town, to a row of expensive restaurants and luxury apartment buildings. Edward’s ears pricked up as he heard the sounds of chatting voices and light laughter.

He quickly found the source of the chatter. Middle-aged men and women in formal attire holding glasses of wine milled about an art gallery pointing at the black and white works on the wall and chatting in groups of twos and threes. The name of the gallery on the glass read “l’art” in big cursive letters.

Edward supposed this would count as a party. With a confidence Edward would never once have possessed, he walked into the gallery. Immediately every head inside turned to face him. On his display, the quest “attend a party” didn’t mark as complete as he had expected. Instead, it expanded like a scroll being unfurled. The words “event quest” appeared with a progress bar, along with a new open-ended task list. The quest renamed itself and Edward internally groaned. “The party doesn’t start till you walk in,” the quest now read. A timer began to count down.

”Do a shirtless workout.”

”Flex in a public place.”

”Get three compliments on your body.”

These couldn’t be serious. For the first time, Leon considered what exactly the Juggernaut class was. So far the quests had driven him to become a paragon of athleticism, but these quests seemed to want him to be some preening peacock. Leon briefly thought about those viral internet challenges that went around when he was in middle school, the ones that supposedly started simply and ended with you jumping off the roof or something. He was pretty sure those were actually moral panics. Still he couldn’t help wondering if this might be the same, if the game was lulling him in with simple quests before making him perform this strange humiliation ritual.

Leon weighed his options. He could ignore the quests, and try to get to level seven by only using the experience he gained from working out, though judging by the increased amount of experience each level was requiring that could take days if not weeks. No, the quests were too valuable to ignore. He would have to suck up his pride and become what he had once scorned.

Tentatively Leon made his way to the massive workout area of the gym. By now it was late afternoon and the post-class rush had filled the gym to almost its capacity. There were a few other guys without shirts on, walking with their chests puffed out like monkeys and leaving sweaty imprints behind on their stations.

Leon let out an audible sigh and looked down at his XL Superman tee. It still hung loose on his frame thanks to his rapid metabolism but he suspected his arms and pecs were only a few levels of strength away from filling it to bursting once again. Slowly he stripped it off, the shirt slightly damp from the sweat he had accumulated over the hours of exercise. Leon still couldn’t believe the body underneath was his. He was now undeniably big, fit, and muscled. He looked like he could be a personal trainer or a fitness model. He had a six-pack, not even the skinny kind, but the strong ones in which each abs were visible. His pecs pushed out visibly. He tried to bounce them and found with his perfect form perk he was able to make them dance precisely. His tan skin from his half-French, half-Mexican heritage didn’t hang as loose around his muscles as before.

Now shirtless Leon did a few bicep curls. “Nice guns,” a guy walking past said and Leon gave him a polite smile. The “get a compliment on your body” quest marked itself as a third. After a few more curls and an overhead press with the dumbbells his “do a shirtless workout” also completed and Leon was thrust a third of the way to level seven. Leon decided to stay shirtless for a few more exercises in hopes of getting two more compliments on his body, and because some small quiet part of him secretly loved the feeling of showing off his gains.

He continued to the next exercise doing squats, then lateral raises, then shoulder presses. Though totally imperceptible Leon convinced himself he could feel each exercise permanently pump up each of his muscles slightly larger as their effects were instantly expressed by his “Rapid Rewards” perk. Leon kept forgetting his torso was bare until he would spot an occasional annoyed or lustful look from a fellow gymgoer. He wasn’t sure if it was his utmost confidence he had in the space from the Gym Rat perk or if it was a newly discovered exhibitionist streak but he found himself not minding the attention. He tried to catch a few women’s eyes but all of them seemed to avoid him purposefully which he couldn’t much blame them for.

Leon did a set of 20 pull-ups without much effort then wandered over to a wall of mirrors by the weights. Leon still couldn’t believe the tan muscular figure was him. Tentatively he flexed a bicep, overjoyed with the feeling of the substantial muscle bunching up. He flexed the other arm, snapping exactly into position for a textbook double bicep flex thanks to his Perfect Form perk. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him then flexed his abs, contorting them into different positions easily as if choosing from a preset in a video game. Leon flexed his legs, then popped his pecs before turning around and flaring out his lats in a pose that he assumed made his back look great. The quest “flex in a public place” was marked as completed and Leon was boosted two-thirds of the way to level seven. He just needed two more compliments to complete his last quest, and judging by the lackluster reaction to his flexing he wasn’t going to get it here.

Leon wondered what his next perk would be. He hoped it would be something to stop him from sweating like a pig. By now he was fully drenched, his hair stuck unflatteringly to his forehead and a distinct odor surrounded him. Leon concluded that if he was going to get two more compliments he needed to look a bit more presentable.

Though he had never been to the gym before Leon was able to navigate to the far end where the public men’s locker room was located. Inside college guys and a few professors of various class years and body types milled around, changing into sports uniforms or back into streetwear after having done a late afternoon session after their class.

As Leon stepped through the door he felt his confidence leave him all in a rush. Suddenly he realized the “gym rat” perk that made him so able to strut around like a meathead jock didn’t apply to the locker room. The air now felt cold against his exposed nipples and Leon crossed his beefy arms over them and sucked in, lifelong habits built from being a fat kid suddenly returning.

He felt like an imposter with a body he hadn’t earned. He suddenly wished Edward were here. Edward never let him get too down on himself when it came to his appearance. He knew his friend would have given him the last two compliments without him even having to ask.

Leon saw a few guys with towels wrapped around their waists head further into the locker room. He reasoned that must be the direction of the shower and followed them, grabbing a towel from the stack at the door. Thankfully his school was modern enough that the showers were not communal kind but instead with small individual stalls.

Leon claimed a shower stall then got naked in it putting his shorts, shirt, underwear, and socks in a bin outside the stall so he could change back into them when he was done. Leon wasn’t happy about changing back into his sweaty clothes but he didn’t have another set of clothes with him and he didn’t intend to go home until he was at least level ten and had won the bet with Edward.

The hot water felt great on Leon’s skin. He wasn’t sore, that wasn’t possible with his “Animal Endurance” perk and his “Rapid Rewards” perks but his body still felt tense from hours of continual activity. He took his time scrubbing away the sweat from his body, admiring the new crevices the removal of his fat and the growth of his muscles had created. He had been so busy with the events set off by “Altered State” that he hadn’t really had time to feel horny, but as he played with his dick that was undeniably bigger, if only by half an inch or so, he felt his hormones rush in. It took all his self-control not to jerk off right there in the shower stall. He wanted to save his first orgasm in this new body for a hot babe who could maybe give him the last two compliments he needed. There were quite a few attractive women he had seen in the gym he would have never dreamed of scoring before who now seemed in his league if he could only keep himself from saying something stupid.

Leon shut the water off and reached a handout to grab the towel he had stashed outside. His hand only met empty air. He flailed at the empty hook before peaking his head out to check what was going on. His heart dropped when he saw his towel and all his clothes were gone. His face went red and his blood cold. From the changing area, he could hear a group of men snickering with one another. Leon was tired of this shit. When he was fat he took it because there was no other option but now he was going to stand up for himself. Leon walked out of the shower, not caring if he was soaking wet or that his penis swung openly between his legs. “Nice dick,” a guy yelled to him as he passed, Leon ignored him, but his quest updated its progress to two-thirds.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to see Hunter standing there holding his clothes. He was dressed in a different outfit from when Leon had seen him last. The frat guy didn’t immediately see him as he chatted animatedly with his friends. “It was humiliating, bro. All of a sudden I’m complimenting Cassy and saying all this gay shit to that blond freak. I swear bro I’m going to beat his ass next time I see him, I swear it.”

He turned to see a naked Leon coming towards him and seemed momentarily confused. “I think those are mine,” Leon said pointing to the clothes in Hunter’s hand. Hunter looked up and down at Leon’s tall naked buff body and his angry face.

“Sorry bro, I thought these belonged to someone else,” he said obviously not recognizing Leon. It was funny how much more respect this guy gave him now that he had muscles and wasn’t fat.

“Oh, did you think they belonged to that fatty from earlier?” Leon asked using Hunter’s words from before. Hunter and his four fellow frat bros laughed awkwardly thinking Leon was making a fat joke, though Leon kept a serious face. “Cause you’re right that’s me.”

Hunter’s face took on a look of confusion. “Bro that’s not possible, you’re buff and stuff.”

Leon heard a ding as he received the last compliment and was boosted to level seven. He’d take the compliment where he could get it.

”You have reached level seven. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Naked Confidence: you and others feel completely comfortable with your body, be it in a tuxedo or in your birthday suit.”

He didn’t have time to think much about the notifications as he rapidly dismissed them. Still, Leon couldn’t help but feel his body grow wider and taller as new strength pumped up all his muscles. His body was going from athletic into the territory of seriously fit.

What’s more, Leon felt a wave of confidence overcome him, his nipples suddenly felt less exposed and he no longer felt any care at all about having his dick out so publicly. In fact, it felt almost natural. Around him, he saw people shift their gaze away from his bare crotch and to the confrontation occurring as if his nakedness was no longer of interest.

“You really don’t miss much, do you?” Leon said, taking a step forward.

Hunter’s face hardened. He may not understand exactly what was going on but he knew enough to know he had just been insulted. For a second Leon glanced at the two new quests that had popped up with the new level and a plan started to take shape.

Leon took another step forward so that he was in Hunter’s face, the two men now even in height thanks to the latest boost from level seven. “If you wanted to see me naked so bad all you had to do was ask. I’m happy to show you what a real man looks like.”

Hunter’s face became a mask of rage, exactly as Leon intended. “You’re fucking dead, you f—” he said and swung an up arm towards Leon’s face in a brutal swing. Leon activated his inner strength ability and felt the world slow for a moment. With the second of strength the ability lent him he deflected the punch with one hand and shoved the other into Hunter’s chest with the other. The frat bro’s eyes went wide as he sailed ten feet across the room, landing on the floor and sliding until his back came to rest against a row of lockers with a loud metal jingle. The cheering crowd of Hunter’s cronies and regular gym attendees let out a shriek of surprise. For a moment Leon worried he might have overdone it, then Hunter slowly got to his feet, muscular chest moving up and down as he let out deep rageful breaths.

“Race ya loser,” Leon called out and ran for the door. Hunters bellow behind him and the sound of multiple pairs of running feet indicated the frat guys had taken the bait.

Leon seriously hoped this mad chase would count as fulfilling one of the two quests he had just been assigned, “win a contest of speed.” Otherwise, he was risking his life for nothing. He supposed there might have been easier ways to fulfill the quest but he would have to take shortcuts to level ten if he hoped to beat Edward.

Without his inner strength power, Leon was quickly realizing he lacked an edge. These guys knew this building far better than Leon did, plus had had their powerful long legs and athletic bodies for their whole lives as opposed to Leon’s few hours, meaning they knew much better how to control them. The sounds of footfalls and angry threats of what Hunter was going to do to him once he caught up with him got louder behind him and Leon rounded a corner then hurried up a set of stairs.

Five sets of footsteps thundered after him up the stairs, only a few paces away. Leon saw an exit and bolted to it with all his might. His inner strength ability, the only edge he had over Hunter, still had more than a minute left on its cooldown.

Leon slammed the door open and ran out of the gymnasium, into the cold sunny fall day. He saw the same group of LARPers still performing mock battles on the grass and made a beelined straight for them. He imagined he made a strange sight, naked with his penis flailing every which way, sprinting full speed forward with five very angry frat guys chasing after him, gaining on him with every step.

Hunter saw Leon was headed to the group of students with foam weapons and ran faster than before until he was only a step behind Leon. He tried to grab Leon but Leon was able to duck out of the way. The two were only ten feet from the group. Hunter tried again to stop Leon this time with a full-body tackle. Just before Hunter brought Leon down two things happened, the quest demanding he “win a contest of speed” was completed and Ruth, the girl who had shown him how to play before, threw him a shield like a frisbee which Leon caught and used to block a series of blows which Hunter rained down onto him as the two tumbled in the grass.

The two struggled in the grass, Leon’s shield protecting his torso and head but not preventing Hunter from savaging his arms and legs with painful punches. Leon wrapped his naked legs around Hunter and with effort flipped the heavier man over so that he was on top. His inner strength power still had fifteen seconds left on its cooldown.

Without it, Hunter was able to flip Leon back over and pin his arms and legs to the grass. The latest level of strength had made Leon nearly Hunters equal in size but the large man still had the advantage. Leon struggled violently against the frat guy to little effect. Hunter loomed over him, breath coming in heavy gasps and eyes filled with murder. “I’m going to drag your asshole out your mouth.”

Using one hand to subdue both of Leon’s hands Hunter placed a hand around Leon’s neck and started to choke him, hard. Leon’s inner strength ability still had ten seconds left on cooldown. Without it, Leon didn’t have the strength to break Hunter’s grip.

Above him, he saw Ruth mercilessly bring her foam sword down onto Hunter’s back. The man didn’t flinch but one of his friends grabbed Ruth from behind.

Leon’s vision started to blur as his windpipe was constricted. He gasped helplessly and tried to roll his naked body out from Hunter’s pin, but the frat guy’s body was too heavy and his grip too strong. Leon found his thoughts going to Edward, his best friend. He wondered how his friend’s “Altered State” journey was going, it couldn’t possibly be going any worse than his.

The party went silent as all eyes turned to Edward, thanks to his new Social Gravity perk. His various bonuses and high charisma helped ensure that the stares he received were not outright hostile but even the power of those couldn’t negate the fact that Edward was 20 years younger than the other guests, carrying two large shopping bags, and very much uninvited to this functions.

The old Edward might have been paralyzed with fear in this situation. He might have stammered off an apology and walked out the door. The new Edward wasn’t so easily dissuaded. “Bonjour friends,” he said in an overly flamboyant French accent. “It is I, Henri Barbier, famed art critic and I have come to whatever American city this is to view this masterful work.” Edward gestured to the black and white paintings on the wall.

“I’m afraid I have never heard of you,” a white-haired woman with thin half-moon glasses on the tip of her nose said stepping forward, a hint of scorn in her voice.

“Don’t be rude Scintillation, this is Henri Barbier. I think I saw a profile of him last week in the digest,” a slightly younger man said stepping forward to join her and placing his hand on Scintillation’s shoulder. Edward was almost positive there was no real art critic named Henri Barbier. He wondered then if his charisma was high enough to convince this man there was or if the guy was just a sycophant always wanting to appear in the know. Murmurs filled the room of other guests saying they knew of the critic.

“I’m sorry how rude of me. It is a pleasure to welcome you to our gallery Mr. Barbier. My name is Scintillation, I am the curator of the gallery. This art you see here is done by my husband, River.” She placed a hand tenderly on the back of the man from before and the two stared lovingly at each other, though Edward’s Sage perk hinted to him that the couple was not as happy as they appeared. He filed that information away for later.

Scintillation led Edward around to the various art pieces, elucidating on each thoroughly. The other guests went back to their individual conversations though Edward could still feel their eyes still on him. The break gave Edward a chance to examine the new details of the quest. At first, the system had seemed complicated but actually wasn’t all that different from other quest systems he had played before in sandbox simulation games. Completing quests to “liven up” the party filled a central progress bar.

There were three segments on the bar, each of which would grant him a reward if he reached it before time ran out. The first two just granted a level but the third gave a level and an exclusive technique. The quest ranged from simple tasks like taking a group photo or exchanging a secret with a fellow guest to the more complex and outlandish like doing a keg stand or playing strip poker. The more the task livened up the party the more progress it lent.

Edward wanted that bonus reward, though he had little idea how he was going to manage it. He could already tell this Scintillation woman was going to be a damper on any attempts to change the vibe. She seemed far too uptight and far too in control, plus Edward could tell she didn’t quite buy his overseas art critic act.

“This work, I think I know what it is about,” edward declared doing his best to maintain his foe French accent, which was actually quite easy with his high charisma and social sync perk.

“Well, actually River likes his pieces to fluctuate in their—”

“No,” Edward said, cutting Scintillation off. “These are about sex. They are about a man who feels like his penis has been cut off. Like he is a eunuch or a little boy.”

Scintillation looked extremely scandalized by the comment. “Mr. Barbier, I don’t think that is appropriate, nor might I add is it true. River and I, well, we—” She stumbled over her words, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I think you are mistaken.”

Edward pretended to think for a moment, gazing up at the art, which to him did somewhat resemble a black and white penis or maybe more a tennis racket. “No, no I am quite sure. Look here at the brush stroke, see how it curves, see how it doubles back. I have seen it before, that is the work of a man who is, how do you say, not getting his dick wet. A man whose dick is dry as the desert sand.

Scintillation looked thoughtfully up at the vague area Edward had gestured to. Edward was amazed at how easy this was proving, with his charisma and looks people really would believe anything he said, plus Edward suspected he had inadvertently hit a vein of truth and decided to commit further. “Scintillation I know you Americans are like dead fish when it comes to the art of lovemaking but there is a simple solution.”

“There is?” Scintillation asked, still looking up at the work.

“There is. You must show that man that you love him. That you want to rip off his clothes and then his penis.”

“Well, I suppose I could make more of an effort in the bedroom,” she said slowly.

“The bedroom, no, no! That is so clinical, so predictable. Sex is about surprise, it is about risk. It is much like art in that way. It must be raw, and passionate. Take that man right here, right now.” Edward didn’t know the first thing about love or sex but Scintillation seemed to buy that he did, hanging on his every word. Still she resisted his suggestion.

“I can’t do that right now, I’m hosting an event! Plus, that would be highly inappropriate,” Scintillation said. His voice was a whisper, although she still stared up at River’s work before them.

“The very fate of your marriage depends on this! Love calls for desperate measures.”

Scintillation took a deep breath. Instead of kicking Edward out of the party as he feared she marched over to River who was talking to a group of older women. She whispered something in his ear and started heading towards the bathroom. River’s eyes went wide and a sort of drunk expression came over his face as he followed his wife like an eager puppy.

Two of the tasks, one “give relationship advice” and the other “convince two people to get nasty at the party” checked off the long quest list. The first didn’t give much progress but the second did, filling the bar just above one-third and greeting him with a now familiar welcome. “Ding!”

”You have reached level eight. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Effortless Grace: your charisma is embodied. You now move with the undeniable swagger of your social competence.”

Edward felt the now familiar signs of an increased charisma. His jaw grew sharper, his cute dimples became deeper, his skin gained an even more healthy glow and his hair grew another shade more golden and shiny. The bulge in his pants pushed out further as his penis grew longer and a bit wider.

Edward’s 14 intelligence allowed him to piece together the somewhat cryptic description of his latest perk, and besides he could feel it. It was as if he had grown from a toddler to a man in seconds. His movements once clumsy and forced were now light and purposeful, befitting his ever-growing charisma. He felt like he could walk a tightrope or do the tango without any difficulties, and look sexy the whole time.

With a new swagger, Edward flitted from group to group. He chatted with nearly everyone, instantly dominating whatever conversation he was in and trying his best to maintain his faux French accent. Edward did his best to liven up all the conversations he could. He got one group talking about their party days in college, another group to all do impressions of each other, and a third to tell each other secrets all of which were pretty mundane.

As he watched the progress bar stubbornly refuse to move more than a few percent and the countdown clock tick down Edward realized this approach wasn’t working.

Edward swaggered up to the musicians located towards the back of the gallery. Three board looking male musicians with a piano, simple drum set, and stand-up base played quiet background music in a loop. The people next to them swayed slightly though mostly ignored the musician’s presence.

“How about we mix this music up? Could you play something a little more up-tempo?” Edward asked the musicians. With Scintillation gone he felt much more confident in his ability to take over the party. Sure enough, the musicians quickly changed their tune, going into a jazzy number.

Normally Edward was an abhorrent dancer but as he moved his hips and arms in beat with the song he was amazed by how easy and well-coordinated he now was. The odd 50 guests all diverted from their conversation by the change in music watched him in wrapped attention. A few of the guests started to join in and Edward watched his progress bar slowly increase.

Edward stopped a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes. “Got anything stronger?” he asked. Five minutes later the waiter carried a tray of assorted shots instead. As the guests got drunker more of them ditched their conversations and joined in the impromptu dance circle. It was comical to watch the social elites of the city, many of them professors at Edward’s university, dressed in their formal clothing, bust a move like drunk sorority girls at a frat party. Edward wondered how much of the change he could attribute to his charisma and how much was the alcohol.

Both the drinking and the dancing increased the quest’s progress quite a bit, though the party still needed a final push to reach the two-thirds mark and for him to level up again.

That final push came in the form of a conga line, led by an especially looking drunk guy with a tie tied around his forehead. Edward gladly joined in moving his legs and hips with a new effortless grace in perfect time with the music. He watched a woman behind him toss her hat into the air as he finally leveled up with another ding.

Edward disengaged himself from the dancing to read the new notifications.

”You have reached level nine. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Cupid’s Perfume: You now emit pheromones that cause others in your immediate vicinity who breathe in your scent to experience a temporary increase in horniness and also a decrease in their wisdom. Note: The potency of this effect scales with charisma. Note: This effect is less effective on those with high charisma. Note: This ability is considered an emotional manipulation effect and therefore can be resisted or negated by items, consumables, aura, technique, or abilities with the stability property. Note: You are immune to this effect. Note: This effect is 92.22% more effective on people with a penis.”

A faint smell somehow both spicy and clean, like cinnamon and aftershave hit his nose. The smell was pleasant though Edward was quite trepidatious about the idea of becoming a walking aphrodisiac. He would have to do some testing to understand its strength and get some of those emotional stability items or consumables for the men in his life he didn’t want to turn into hormonal monsters.

A realization that had already been percolating now came fully into Edward’s mind. Back when he was ugly Edward had always assumed he would die a virgin. Then after the Golden Ratio perk earlier that day Edward had accepted, he might eventually actually have sex. Now though with his latest perk Cupid’s Perfume perk, his “Gold Star Killer” perk along with his amazingly good looks, Edward realized he could have sex pretty much whenever and with whoever he wanted. His newly elongated dick started to engorge at the thought, though his options at this party were pretty limited when every man was his father’s age or older.

Edward looked down at his phone to see he had thousands of notifications from the social media video he had posted. He ignored those in favor of looking at a text from Leon. “Level 9 sucker. One more level till you got to kiss my ass.”

“As if. I’m 9 too. You’re about to cream when you see me.” Edward texted back smiling knowing that with his new pheromones, Leon really might cream when he saw him. Edward had no idea how Leon had been able to keep pace with his rapid leveling, but he would be damned if he was going to let his friend reach 10 first. That meant he needed to liven up this party further asap, not just because he wanted to beat Leon but also because there was only about an hour left on the quest timer.

Edward supposed if the hanky-panky happening in the bathroom, and the fact that all the attendees were drunk and dancing only counted as 2/3 of a lit party then he needed to step up his game. He had just under an hour left to fix that.

Edward supposed he could start with the last few guests who were resisting the new vibe of the party. The four men stood outside the crowd of dancing people talking to each other in hushed concerned voices. He had heard someone earlier in the night refer to them as a group of divorced bitter men, a label their attitude seemed to confirm. A plan formed in Edward’s mind to complete the quest and test out his new perk. Deftly with his new catlike grace Edward grabbed a full bottle of spirits from a passing waiter along with five shot glasses and made his way over to the party poopers.

“Enjoying yourself,” he asked in his best impression of a drunk French accent, slurring his words slightly and leaning his elbows onto the small table the men were gathered around getting in close in hopes of spreading his pheromones to the men. Sure enough, as soon as the men took a breath of the sweet and spicy smell coming off him the effects of Edward’s new perk became evident. Three of the men began to shift uncomfortably expressions changing from disapproving to glassy-eyed-mouthed lust. Edward could feel their desire rolling off them like waves with his Sage perk.

“Have you seen Scintillation?” the one man seemingly unaffected by his pheromones asked, knitting his bushy silver eyebrows together. “I think this party might have gotten out of hand.”

“Oh mon ami, that is nonsense, the part is just getting started,” Edward said licking his lips. The other men besides the man with the thick eyebrows leaned in hungrily. Edward had no idea why Eyebrows weren’t affected. He supposed that neither his Gold Star Killer perk nor his Cupids’ Perfume perk guaranteed all men would find him attractive, they simply removed the barrier of sexuality and added some hormones to the fire. Maybe Eyebrows just wasn’t into blonds or the French. Either way, Edwards had other methods of charm.

“How about we play a game,” he said, swiftly pouring liquor into the shot glasses with the effortless ease of a lifelong bartender.

“Strip poker,” one of the guys suggested eagerly.

Edward chuckled and the sound was sexy even to his own ears. His charisma really was getting out of hand. “That’s not quite what I had in mind. How about I guess what you want? If I’m wrong I have to drink, but if I’m right you drink.”

Eyebrows chuckled nervously, while the other men nodded vigorously, staring enraptured up at him. Edward leaned forward and like a cat rested his hand on one of the man’s forearms. His Sage perk activated and a sudden vision hit him. “You,” he purred, “want to suck my dick.”

He moved on to the next man, cupping the man’s chin in his hand. “You want to tie me up. You naughty, naughty boy.” He had all but dropped the French accent and his voice now came out smooth, seductive, and low, sounding wholly recognizable to Edward’s ears.

“And you,” he said, rubbing his foot against the man under the table. “You want to pound me till I see double.” Eyebrow’s expression went from troubled to horrified, while the other men looked like they might actually do the things Edward had just said. Edward hand’t actually mean to be so forward with these men but his pheromones made them like putty in his hands and the power was intoxicating. Plus all his transformations that day had made him unspeakably horny.

“I think I’m going to leave,” Eyebrows said getting up from the table.

“Not so fast!” Edward said. “These horny boys still have to drink, and I never got the chance to guess what you want.” Edward walked around the table so that he was standing right next to Eyebrows. The man’s nose twitched as he was fully bathed in Edwards Pheromones. He gripped the table as he fought a war against his own hormones.

Edward leaned in until his lips were practically touching Eyebrows’s ear. “You want to let loose,” he said activating his silver tongue technique. Since the last time Edward had used the ability he had gained three more energy points and regenerated another six. Just enough for him to expend the ten energy points needed for his technique.

The effect of the ability was immediate and jarring. The man’s knees buckled and his eyes went wide. Edward’s only warning was a sudden spike in desire from his Sage sense before Eyebrows smashed his lips into Edward’s, making out with the snake charmer vigorously and with ample tongue.

Edward had imagined a lot of first kiss scenarios, but never once had he pictured it being with a burly grumpy sixty-year-old man. Edward had intended the technique to make the guy live a little, maybe go and dance or take a few shots. He guessed that was what he got for being so vague with his words.

Edward wasn’t sure if the other men had also been affected by his Silver Tongue ability or if it was just that seeing their friend and the French art critic swap saliva broke their last bit of resistance, but they too let their horny side free. Two of the men started to make out while the third unzipped his own pants and fished out his rock-hard dick. He began to jerk it off under the table.

Some of the people on the dance floor saw the action happening and cheered and whistled. A few married couples began to make out and drunkenly grind up against each other.

Around Edward, the action only intensified as the men breathed in more and more of his pheromones. All three of the other men now had their dicks out and were in the process of jerking each other off. Eyebrows groped at Edward’s crotch, and though he was tempted to let him fish his dick out the older man had already taken Edward’s first kiss which seemed like more than enough. Instead, Edward maneuvered him in front of one of his friend’s dicks and soon he was sucking it happily.

Edward stood back watching the orgy develop before him, trying to control his own hard-on. He was amazed by how easy that was. He had been under the assumption that his Gold Star Killer perk only applied to himself, but it seemed that once these previously straight men got over their barrier with one man they were much less resistant with others, especially when made so uncontrollably horny by his pheromones.

The progress bar of the quest slowly crept upward, though remained frustratingly at 95%. Edward had no idea how other than lighting the gallery on fire he could possibly liven up this party more than an orgy of divorced old straight men. He got a notification on his phone, yet another thirst comment from a hopeful sugar daddy on his latest post. Seeing that he gave him an idea.

Edward started to film a video. He panned over the live music, and dancing crowd, and showed a brief shot of the men making out from behind, then flipped the camera back to himself and pumped his fist like he was in a club. He quickly typed out a caption giving the address and promising anyone who came a good time. He clicked post.

Edward had no idea if this would work. He surly wouldn’t go to a party he learned about from a random guy on social media, although if the guy looked like Edward did he might consider it.

While Edward waited to see if anyone would come he walked around the party attempting various other things to liven up the function. He got up on stage and started singing with the musicians, amazed by how much the boosts to his charisma had improved his voice and musical ability. After a few minutes however, it became clear he wasn’t increasing the quest’s progress and that his pheromones were messing up the musicians, as they spent more time looking at his ass than their instruments.

Edward tried to liven up the dance circle floor. He got into the center, started thrusting his hips, and even took his shirt off to reveal a scrawny if perfectly proportioned, torso. This also didn’t help the quest, though caused the watching orgy to all cum at once.

The countdown on the quest had only twenty minutes left. Edward was about to admit defeat and give up his dreams of earning the extra reward when the first of the new guests began to arrive. A group of sorority girls hesitantly entered the art gallery, sure they were at the wrong location. They saw the booze and dancing and joined in on the fun.

Edward chatted with them for a few minutes, grateful his pheromones didn’t affect them nearly as much as the men. Edward was amazed at how easy it was to have conversations with strangers. His charisma and perks now made him an effortless chat. He was more witty, friendlier, a better listener, and a better flirt. He was able to effortlessly remember all their names and without anxiety command the conversation.

He found out from one of the girls that Sigma Alpha, the top fraternity on campus, had just canceled their big party for tonight and that everyone who wasn’t going to the sewer rave had decided to come here instead.

Sure enough, the gallery was soon filled with drunk college students, mixing and mingling with their rich parents or professors, all drunk and dancing. The divorced men had migrated to a back room and Edward heard tell that other men had joined them.

Scintillation and River with messy hair came out of the bathroom to find the formal party had turned into a frat house replacement. Edward expected he would have to talk them down but they immediately joined in, swept up by the electric energy of the party.

Edward got a text on his phone. He feared it would be Leon declaring he was level ten and had won but it was Trent telling him that he and Tag were going to go to that art gallery party that the model guy had posted about instead of the sewer rave.

As more and more people arrived the quest slowly ticked up and up. Finally, with only a few minutes left on the timer, Edward watched a group of guys bring a keg through the door and Scintillation did a rather impressive keg stand finally boosting the quest objective to liven up the party to 100%. Edward felt a wave of relief then a wave of something else. Edward finally reached level ten and received a ton of notifications including the usual stat points, a new perk, two new techniques, and a new quest he couldn’t quite believe. Edward left at a run, skinny legs and arms moving with effortless grace as he raced back to the house he shared with Leon, intensely eager to rub his victory in Leon’s face and show him the new quest he had been offered. There was no way Leon was going to believe this shit.

Leon’s vision turned red as Hunter viciously squeezed his windpipe. Around him, the dagorhir players tried furiously to get the big man off of him but without success. In vain, Leon tried to activate his inner strength power, but it was still on cooldown and nothing happened. He tried again with the same lack of success. He felt himself starting to lose consciousness, to lose the ability to think. With a desperate stubborn animal need to live Leon tried one last time right as the ability ended its cooldown. Leon felt a colossal burst of strength rush into his body.

His vision cleared, and his neck didn’t feel in pain anymore. With an inhumanly swift motion, Leon broke Hunter’s grip on his hands then freed his feet and lifted them up to his torso. The shield Ruth had thrown Leon was pinned in between the two struggling muscular men. Leon kicked at it with an inner strength-enhanced blow. A loud boom like a clap of thunder sounded as Leon sent both the shield and Hunter flying into the air, the two landing some distance away in the grass with a crack that could have belonged to either Hunter or the wooden shield.

All around him the Dagorhir players and the frat boys stopped their struggling with each other to look at him in slack-jawed amazement. Leon heard a ding as he leveled up.

”You have reached level eight. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”No Fear: As a Juggernaut, you charge head first into danger without fear. You are now stouthearted in front of all but the most forsaken of odds and all but reckless in the heat of battle. Note: The potency of this effect scales off of strength and intelligence. Note: You are immune to fear effects from all sources except those with a rank of legendary or celestial.”

Leon felt the normal changes that came with a boost to strength. His back straightened, his legs beefed up, and his hands and feet grew slightly in size. There was a mental change too that came with the new perk. Leon had had too much adrenalin in his system to fully process it but he had been scared, terrified even as Hunter had wrapped his big hands around his neck. He had thought he was going to die and the feeling almost paralyzed him into inaction. Now that feeling was gone.

It wasn’t that Leon was some mindless brute. He wouldn’t go sticking his dick in a bee nest but that was no longer because he feared the pain and now a simply rational decision of minimizing injury.

The frat bros who had been struggling with the Dagohir players picked up a number of the foam weapons from the ground and rushed to Hunter’s side, forming a defensive wall around him. From the ground Hunter slowly sat up with a groan, painfully cradling the arm he had landed. “You’re a fucking freak,” he said, pointing at Leon. The Dagorhir players formed up around Leon in his own circle of protection. His burst of power from his inner strength ability had long faded and Leon now felt his own injuries quite acutely, his neck was tender and sore, and he imagined he was going to have a nasty hand-shaped bruise there soon. What Leon didn’t feel was fear.

Ruth gripped her sword tightly in front of her threateningly as if it were anything more than foam. “Get back to your frat house before we call the police.”

Across the field, Hunter got fully to his feet, helped up by one of his friends who he ungratefully brushed off. He was handed a large sword by another of his frat bros. Hunter tightened his grip around the thing, and gave it a few experimental swings then flashed a smile with far too many teeth. “You’re all fucking dead,” he said.

In Leon’s vision, a notification popped up.

”Combat quest available.”

”Objectives: Defeat Sigma Alpha members (0/5). Reward: XP”

Leon smiled. He grabbed a sword and shield of his own from the ground and donned the helmet a tall girl behind him gave him. Then he assumed a battle stance.

There were a few seconds of silence as both sides stared the other down. Then at the same time, both he and Hunter charged forward, their armies doing the same behind them. The world became a chaotic blur. Two friendly archers in the backfired foam-tipped arrows at the frat guy just behind Hunter. The projectiles couldn’t hurt the man but they packed enough of a punch to destabilize him, allowing two others who raced forward to bring him down. A big Sigma Alpha guy brought a short guy with glasses to Leon’s left down in a football sack. To his right, Ruth blocked a punch with her shield then brought her foam sword down savagely onto the back of her opponent’s knee bringing him down.

Leon had only one target in mind. He felt for the first time like a true juggernaut, pounding the ground heavily with his large strong bare feet as he rapidly charged at Hunter. From the grass, the downed frat guy tried to grab Leon’s leg but at that moment Leon was unstoppable. Hunter seemed just as eager for a fight. He charged forward with his sword in two hands dragging behind him. Though made of foam Hunter had ample enough power to do serious damage. Still, Leon didn’t feel the slightest thrill of fear. The latest level of strength had made him equal in height and musculature to his big opponent, meaning neither was likely to overpower the other. Instead, Leon knew he had to rely on other advantages, namely his shield, his “perfect form” perk, and his inner strength power, though the cooldown of that was less then halfway done.

The first advantage came in handy right away, as Leon blocked Hunter’s powerful overhand swing with a precisely placed parry. Leon followed up with a couple of strikes at Hunter’s torso with quick accurate jabs while Hunter brought his unwieldy sword back into position to strike again. Leon’s strikes didn’t seem to deter the raging bull as he swung again this time from the side. Leon chose to dodge the strike rather than block it. He was fast, he stepped back causing the swing to miss him completely, Hunter was fast as well, however. He turned the momentum of the missed swing into a shoulder check that hit Leon hard in his bare chest, knocking the wind out of him.

Leon stumbled back and in the momentary pause was able to survey the battle going on behind him. The Dagorhir members had the advantage in numbers, experience and teamwork. Leon watched with the help of two short guys Ruth was able to fully bring down one of Hunter’s friends, a tall but slender handsome guy who raised his hands in surrender from the ground, raising the combat quest objective to 1/5.

The frat bros however had the advantage of size and brutality. A massive man even larger than Hunter or Leon threw two Dagorhir players savagely aside before charging at Ruth. Leon knew he needed to take care of Hunter fast so he could aid his allies.

Leon and Hunter exchanged blows while he waited the agonizing minuet for his ability to come off cooldown. The last two times Leon had used it against Hunter directly. Throwing the big man around like a rag doll, which while fun, only seemed to enrage the frat president. Instead, Leon needed to find a way to use his ability to incapacitate him, preferably without doing serious physical harm.

An idea came to him. He let Hunter stalk forward pretending to be winded. Hunter raised his sword to finish off Leon but he didn’t have the chance. Leon again activated his Inner Strength ability. Instead of using the second of speed and power to hit Hunter, Leon grabbed him. He reached an arm around his back, and much to Hunter’s surprise, into his pants.

Hunter’s eyes went wide as Leon grabbed a handful of the man’s underwear and then lifted him into the air. Leon let out a very unmasculine yelp as he was subjected to the worst and most public wedgie of his life. Leon didn’t stop there. He brought his knee up onto the suspended man’s crotch, eliciting an even higher pitch yelp before Leon dropped him to the ground where Hunter collapsed into a heap.

Humiliated and in pain, Hunter rolled around on the ground, out of the fight. The quest updated to 2/5.

From there Leon and his allies were able to make quick work of the other three frat guys. The tally went to 3/5 as Leon knocked a bulky man off the Dagorhir player he had pinned. Then it went to 4/5 as Ruth bashed another in the face with her shield, breaking his nose and causing him to run away. The last, a tall crafty-looking guy raised his hands in surrender. Leon allowed him to collect his fallen friends and let them all go stumbling away calling out warnings after them about what would happen the next time they picked a fight. The quest was completed and Leon heard a familiar ding as he leveled up for the second time in only a few minutes.

He felt himself grow even larger, going from big to large. He looked like a junior bodybuilder, tall and muscular. The short pudgy kid he had been at the start of the day was gone, and in his place was a towering hulking man of corded muscle and lean sharp lines.

”You have reached level nine. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Armored Skin: The natural toughness of your skin can now resist all but significant instances of physical harm. Note: the potency of his effect is boosted by strength. Note: This protection is less effective against non-physical damage.”

Though his “Animal Endurance” perk was already healing his bruises rapidly, Leon was very grateful for this new perk that would make it more difficult for an asshole like Hunter to hurt him in the future. He felt his skin hardened as all the flaps from his weight loss not yet filled by muscle tightened protectively around his body. His light brown skin gained a slightly gray shine to it and a hard smooth texture. Leon knocked a fist experimentally against his bicep and heard a hollow metallic ringing as if his arm were a tin can.

Ruth walked around the grass towards him and the two watched the frat bros retreat. “Holy shit” she said clearly winded but grinning. Around them, the others got to their feet. Besides, for a few scrapes and bruises, none of them were too badly hurt. “You got a lot more buff since the last time I saw you,” Ruth said as if noticing for the first time his bare muscular torso. “Also why were those guys trying to kill you?”

“It’s a long story,” Leon said, not sure exactly how he would even start explaining the events of the day. “Thanks for your help though, that could have gotten rather nasty without you I think,” Leon said, noticing absently how his “No Fear” perk also applied in social settings making him less nervous and more honest.

Ruth snorted a laugh. “Anytime Superman. How about you put your number into my phone, and let me know if those guys try to bother you again.” Leon agreed although, with his new armored skin perk and his 26 strength, he was more worried about Hunter retaliating against Ruth and the others.

“I left my stuff back in there,” Leon said gesturing to the fitness center and then his naked body.

Ruth’s body glanced across his bare torso and penis without much interest, neither surprised nor lustful. Leon was getting the sense she wasn’t into guys. “Right well text me!” she called after him as he jogged away, dick and pecs juggling up and down with the movement. “And we meet every Tuesday and Thursday.”

“Save me a sword, I’ll be there!” Leon called back and meant it. Besides dying that had been some of the most fun he had since he and Edward had stayed up all night to beat the new Dark Souls game.

Edward rushed back inside the fitness center. He was reminded of the little fat kid who had been so nervous to walk in only half a day ago. Now despite being naked the tall hunk walked carefree into the building, feeling the familiar wave of confidence wash over him from his Gym Rat perk.

Before Leon grabbed his stuff from the locker room he decided to knock out one of the quests he had just been assigned, “Break a record at the gym”. Leon suspected there was some loophole in there where he could beat the record for most math done or some other workaround. The Juggernaut classes’ +0.3 to intelligence per level made it clear however that it wasn’t his job to be so clever.

Instead, he walked up to the largest man he could see, an older guy just a touch larger than him doing bicep curls, and bluntly asked “What’s the record for that thing?” motioning to the bench press. The man didn’t seem to notice Leon’s nakedness, but he did take in his large muscles and gave him a nod of respect.

“Big Jon does 465,” he said in a surprisingly higher-pitched voice. Leon thanked him and then started to load the press. Him supposed lifting 466 would complete the quest but after the triumph of the fight, he was feeling cocky so he instead put five large heavy plates onto each side of the bar. The thing sagged with the weight and Leon briefly doubted himself. He remembered how difficult it had been to only lift a third of his body weight. Now he was lifting almost three times his weight.

Leon took a deep breath and assumed the position. He felt a bit bad about putting his bare butt on the bench but no one seemed to mind. With great effort, he lifted the bar into the air and slowly brought it down so that the bar almost touched his downward-facing pointy nipples. Then he hefted the bar upwards. His arms shook and a vein emerged on his neck with the effort but Leon lifted the bar back up. The quest was completed.

For fun, he activated his inner strength ability and did two more reps with ease. He felt the gains instantly added to his physique thanks, a small swelling of his chest and triceps, but intoxicating nonetheless.

Leon wiped down his workout equipment, he was determined not to become an asshole just because he was big, and ventured back downstairs to the locker room from before. The place was trashed, lockers smashed from where he had thrown Hunter. On the ground, he found his discarded clothes. His Superman tee-shirt, an XL from his heavier days, fit strangely on his body now. It was tight in the shoulders and chest, fit well on his muscular arms but sagged around his midsection. He decided to ditch it, though he did end up putting his underwear and shorts back on. As fun as it was to have his dick out and have no one care he worried it would be uncomfortable with the constant physical exertion he would had to do. He also put on his shoes and socks, though he suspected his new Armored Skin perk would allow him to run over uneven surfaces barefoot without feeling a thing.

In his shorts pocket, he found his phone and his wallet, which Hunter and his friends luckily had left alone.

He typed out a quick text to Edward. “Level 9 sucker. One more level till you got to kiss my ass.” He also added Ruth’s contact information to his phone and asked her to thank the Dagorhir club again for the assistance.

A few moments later Edward texted back. “As if. I’m 9 too. You’re about to cream when you see me.” Leon scoffed at the idea of ugly Edward making anyone cream.

His next quest was simple but had the potential to be time-consuming, which could be a problem if he wanted to beat Edward to level ten. “Run a marathon” would have been Leon’s definition of hell before Altered State but now with his new physique and his Animal Endurance perk the prospect seemed almost fun.

Slightly more clothed and with the motivation of being so close to ten Leon began to run. He didn’t have a particular destination in mind. Instead, he just allowed his legs to carry him around campus, marveling at how fast and efficient his body moved. Despite his breakneck pace, Leon didn’t feel even slightly tired.

He wasn’t sure if it was his speed or his muscular shirtless body but his passing garnered lots of attention from the students and faculty he passed on campus, on their way to a late dinner or an early pre-game. He got several cat calls from rowdy guys he passed and even had one girl whip out her phone to take a video of Leon’s running back.

Leon circled around campus twice before he decided to take his run out into the city beyond. He passed restaurants and storefronts and even the mall that sold all the trendy clothes he and Edward wouldn’t be caught dead in. He turned into an unfamiliar part of town where the buildings were nicer and the apartments all had doormen who watched him run past disapprovingly.

Leon slowed his pace as he ran past what looked like an art gallery, only it had loud music coming from inside and a stream of drunk college kids entering. Leon was very curious to know what could possibly be going on inside but decided against it in fear it would reset his marathon counter.

In all, it took Leon an hour and a half to run a full marathon. My the end even with all his perks and his strength Leon was winded and sweaty, but also immensely proud. He had just run the fastest marathon in human history, and Leon knew he would only get faster.

He stopped to lean against the brick wall of a dorm to catch his breath as the quest marked itself as complete and Leon reached the much-anticipated level ten. The familiar surge of strength that came with each level up course through his body along with something else. Starting at his balls there was a cold feeling, like the spreading chill one got after drinking a cup of ice water on a warm day, seeped through him. He checked his notifications for an explanation.

”You have reached level ten. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

”You have gained a class perk.”

”Tip Top Testosterone: Your body now produces an excess of testosterone without any of the negative side effects. Note: Testosterone production is further enhanced by additional levels.”

”At level ten the Juggernaut class gets to pick from two class abilities. Note: the ability not picked may become available at levels 15, 20, 25, etc.”

”Choice one.”

”Size Up: Once per day you can grow in size by 58% for 58 seconds. While active your strength is doubled. Note: Both percentage size increases and duration are equal to double your strength score.”

”Choice two.”

”Unstoppable: Twice per day you can become unstoppable. This ability lasts for 10 seconds and during this time the Juggernaut cannot be slowed, stunned, immobilized, or prevented from moving in any way. Note: The duration of this effect is equal to the level. Note: You gain an additional use of this skill daily every ten levels.”

The two abilities appeared next to each other in parallel gray boxes in his vision. Leon read each description several times. The Unstoppable ability could have saved his life in the fight with Hunter. Leon loved the idea of running through walls or breaking out of bindings like a true unstoppable Juggernaut.

The other ability, Size Up, had its own more flashy appeal as well. Leon was already massive, more muscular than most men could ever dream of. He imagined himself growing 58% bigger, he would be a giant. At least eight feet tall and well over 300 pounds, and with double the strength. Leon imagined that would be enough to bend solid steel, or lift a car. Let Hunter try to choke him when he had all that. Leon knew it was only a once-a-day ability, that in the long run the unstoppable perk might actually be more useful, but Leon couldn’t pass up the flashier option, especially now that he had no fear keeping him cautious. He reasoned he could always pick that ability at level 15. Leon mentally selected the first ability and both options disappeared. A new icon appeared next to his Inner Strength cooldown showing him the number of ability uses he had left for the day, one.

Temporary distraction from choosing a perk now over Leon returned his attention to the effects the latest perk was having. Leon felt his balls begin to expand painfully in his already too-small underwear. His skin started to prickle as hair grew up around his crotch then up his stomach giving him a happy trail. As the icy feeling spread around his body so did the growing hair. His chest itched as dark brown fur grew dense around his nipples and in-between his pecs stopping right before his collar bone giving him a pelt of chest hair though not one so thick as to obscure his musculature. The itching spread over his arms and legs and pits where the hair grew darker and thicker before reaching his face which grew a short stubble beard.

The testosterone in his body continued the spread. Leon began to feel the hormone in his mind. He felt like he had the one time he and Edward shared a blunt they had stolen from Alvis only less giggly and much, much more horny. The feeling of horniness only grew, not the jerk off before bed type of horny either, but the fuck anything that moves kind. Leon took a few calming breaths trying to ride through the storm of hormones flooding his body.

He was half tempted to go back to that party he had seen and pick up a chick to get some of this electric pent-up energy out. Leon thought it wouldn’t be too hard with his new smoking-hot body. But he needed to get home and prove to Edward he had won the bet. Besides he and Edward had made a pact to loose their virginity together. Leon decided once he was done bragging about reaching level 10 first he could play wingman for Edward and find him some guy to suck off then go for a hot girl.

Plus he needed Edward’s help understanding his next quest. “Partake in vigorous carnal cardio” was all it read. The only one of those words Leon knew was “cardio”, and also the word “in” he supposed.

Leon checked Edward’s location on his phone, which the two had shared with each other freshman year, and cursed. Edwards dot was heading back towards their apartment from the direction of the city. If he was on his way home then that likely meant he was level ten as well. Leon needed to get home first for bragging rights of course.

Leon began to run again, energized by the testosterone now flowing through his system like blood. The sun had set and he hoped it was dark enough for people not to notice the stiff bulge in his shorts, although they might not care thanks to his “Naked Confidence” perk. Leon really was going to need to fuck something soon, and fuck it hard.

Edward strolled through the now darkened streets struggling to wrap his mind around the events of the party and his newest level up.

Completing the event quest had granted Edward not only level ten but also a bonus perk and a new quest he needed to complete to reach 11. “Experience intimate passion with another person on a sensual and physical level” might be the strangest way he had ever heard sex referred to, but he was convinced that was what the game wanted him to do, especially after the perks he had just received.

“You have reached level ten. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

“You have gained a class perk.”

“Euphoric Caress: Your charm can be felt in your very touch. Any skin-to-skin contact now causes localized pleasure. Note: This effect scales with charisma. Note: this effect is 92.225% more intensive on people with a penis.”

“At level ten the Charmer class gets to pick from two class techniques. Note: the ability not picked may become available at levels 15, 20, 25, etc.”

“Choice One”

“Pipes of the The Pied Piper: You can expel energy to create a set of magical pipes that when played causes all nearby creatures that hear their song to follow you so long as you keep playing. Note: This ability requires an initial expenditure of ten energy points to summon the pipes and an additional maintenance cost of two energy points per minute to be maintained. Note: This effect is 92.22% more effective on men. Note: This effect may be lessened or completely negated for those with higher charisma than your own. Note: This ability is considered a charm effect and therefore can be resisted or negated by items, consumables, auras, techniques, or abilities with anti-charm properties. Note: These pipes are not limited to being used by the creator. Any music or satyr-based class may unlock extra effects when playing this set of pipes.”

“Choice Two”

“Emotion Bomb: This technique allows you to expel energy to affect the emotions of a single target or a whole group, causing them to experience an intense rush of one of the following sensations: anger, lust, fear, or sadness. Note: more emotion options become available at levels 20, 30, 40, etc.” Note: The single target version of this technique costs three EP while the area version costs ten EP. Note: the potency of these emotions is based on your charisma.”

Edward had taken a few moments to think through the two choices. He could think of several times that day alone where both of those abilities would have come in handy. While the pipes seemed the potentially more powerful of the two it was also more niche. He picked the second option, emotion bomb, and felt he could now use the ability as easily as he did his silver tongue one. He neglected to try it out though as his energy was still slowly recovering after his latest expenditures.

Edward also couldn’t try out his Euphoric Caress perk. He experimented by laying a hand on his other arm but he felt nothing except soft skin. The perk seemed powerful, perfect for the seducer he was becoming, though Edward worried it might be a Midas touch situation waiting to happen where everything he touched came in their pants.

Edward also received another technique from fully completing the event quest.

“Captive Serpent: You can expend energy to gain some measure of control over another person’s penis and maintain that control with a marginal energy drain per minute. Note: level of control scales with charisma. Note: This control can be broken by a sufficiently powerful cleansing effect or by items, consumables, auras, techniques, or abilities with anti-chastity properties. Note: This technique costs 1 energy to activate and another 1 energy to maintain each hour.”

Edward read the text carefully and then read it another time. Again he was left without a test subject to understand what exactly this technique did. His only hint was the fact that the technique was resisted by anti-chastity measures and the name, captive Serpent. If Edward with his 18 intelligence understood those hints correctly it would mean the technique allowed him to control the sexual pleasure of the male organ, or more directly prevent it. Edward had no idea why he would want to do something like that, but with his energy regeneration now at 5.04 per hour, he had the capability to hold five men’s penis hostage at once if he did want to.

Overall level ten and the whole party had been very fruitful for his development if a bit time-consuming. Edward feared Leon might have beat him to their designated milestone, though the lack of texts and calls bragging from his friend indicated he still had a chance to win. Though neither of them had ever verbalized it Edward knew in the way of best friends that he and Leon were to meet back at their house. He walked quickly and gracefully down the streets which were starting to fill with increasingly drunk college kids. The Alpha Sigma house, normally obnoxiously loud and crowded at this time on a Thursday night was uncharacteristically quiet. Through the window, Edward could only see a group of guys all huddled around a small TV, though he couldn’t tell what was playing on it.

As Edward rounded a corner a block from him and Leon and Alvis’s house he smiled to himself thinking about what Leon’s reaction would be to seeing him. Though he looked completely different he was sure Leon would recognize him, just as how he knew he would recognize Leon if he grew scales and a tail, which with all the insane stuff he had discovered in the game so far seemed extremely possible. Edward didn’t really care about what his friend looked like, just as he knew Leon didn’t care about Edwards appearance, it was after all the basis of their friendship. Edward knew Leon might be the only person on earth who wouldn’t treat him differently, which after the insane control he had at the party would be refreshing.

Edward felt somewhat nervous about his newest quest, the one that required him to have sex. The two had always had a pact with each other to lose their virginity together. It had seemed like idol fancy until today but still, he didn’t intend to break that promise, even if it kept him from progressing further. If Leon was amenable then the two could go either back to the art gallery party or to the sewer rave and Edward could find some chick to set Leon up with, then use his arsenal of seduction to get himself some hottie and the two could loose their virginity together as they had always planned.

That plan went out the window when he saw the shirtless man jogging towards him on the street.

It was as if someone had genetically created Edward’s exact type and set him loose on the world. His face was cute enough but god damn that body!

Tall with hugely muscled pecs dusted with the right amount of hair, a slim-cut set of abs, powerful shoulders, and biceps. His hairy thighs and ass stretched his much too-small shorts. Edward could make out the shape of a nice dick and a big set of balls through the fabric.

Edward watched as those juicy pecs on broad shoulders bounced up and down as the shirtless man ran. He tried to stay strong but he couldn’t, Edward wanted to suck on one of those perky nipples so bad it was actually laughable.

Edward would have to make it up to Leon somehow, but he knew he couldn’t wait for his friend. He suddenly needed to fulfill his latest quest like a parched man needed water. This sexy meaty monster of a man had to be Edwards first, and maybe only, he was just that perfect.

“Hey,” Edward called out to the passing runner. The introduction was simple and a little harsh but with all his perks and charisma Edward wasn’t worried. This man may have been a god but so too was Edward. He knew he could charm his way into this guy’s pants, even if he was straight thanks to his gold star killer perk.

The runner stopped and looked at him, eyes expanding slightly as he took Edward’s perfect face in. “You live around here?” Edward asked stepping forward, trying to get in range for the man to breathe in his pheromones. Judging by the slowly expanding tent in the jogger’s shorts, it was working.

“Yeah, I’m not far,” he said, voice not even winded from his run. He lifted one massive arm to scratch the back of his head adorably, exposing a hairy armpit and turning Edward’s lust into overdrive. Edward took another step forward so that he was close enough to reach out and touch the man if he wanted.

The runner took a deep shaky breath and his eyes developed a lusty glaze to them. Edward’s sage perk activated and he smiled at what he saw. This man wanted him so fucking bad, though at the same time, Edward could sense something was holding him back, some commitment this man had. Edward knew a few more breaths of his Cupids Perfume and that commitment would be the last thing on the man’s mind.

“You’re quite big,” Edward said taking yet another half-step forward so that the two were almost pressed against each other. Edward had grown slightly taller but he still had to look up at the man, who towered over him by a solid three inches.

“Yes,” the man said simply. Edward could tell the man wasn’t dumb, more turned into a sex zombie by his charm.

“Do you want to show me how big you are?” Edward asked. He reached up and ran the back of his hand over the side of the man’s arm, feeling the solid mounds of his generous musculature underneath skin that felt hard as iron. The jogger let out a sound in between a laugh and a moan. His knees buckled and Edward had to take his hand away for fear of making the other fall over. He wondered at the power of his new Euphoric Caress perk.

The jogger didn’t seem to have any complaints. He nodded enthusiastically and looked like he wanted to fuck Edward right there in the street.

Without another word, Edward led him the half block to his apartment and tried to control his raging boner.

Leon led the sexy stranger into his apartment. The last few minutes felt like a fever dream. One second he was jogging back home to look for Edward and tell him in person he had fucked his ass in their bet, the next seconds he saw an angel descended for heaven casually walking down the street. Leon had always been straight, and despite numerous attempts by Edward, he had never found a guy sexy. But you would have to be blind and a-sexual and a little bit concussed to not find that guy hot.

He had the face of a model. Perfectly symmetrical features, thick brows, kissable lips, flawless skin, and eyes that were somehow both blue, green, and brown and shone bright even on the dark street. His face was oval but his jaw was square lending him a masculine but still soft beauty. His hair was a rich field of golden waves and though his body was visibly scrawny he had an undeniable bulge in his pants.

Leon practically tripped over himself when the guy called out to him. He was instantly likable. Leon could tell he was both funny and kind. That he knew he was sexy but wasn’t too arrogant about it. Leon wanted to say something to him, like “Will you marry me you perfect creature” but was too frazzled by the waves of testosterone in his system and being so sexually attracted to a man to say anything more than one-word answers. His overwhelming horniness was not helped by the man getting closer. He smelled spicy, like expensive cologne but also clean soap and citrus.

The man asked Leon some questions and Leon mumbled out answers, too transfixed his beauty and his now atomic-level horniness to think straight. Some little voice in the back of his mind told him he had promised Edward he would wait for him to have sex. That voice died as soon as the man touched him. It was as if the man’s hand was made up of thousands of needles shooting pure ecstasy into his bloodstream. The sensation was intense and erotic and felt better than anything he had ever experienced before. His whole body shook from just one touch. He needed to feel more, he needed this man wrapped around him and for him to never let go.

Wordlessly Leon led the man the half block back to his apartment. To his relief neither Edward nor Alvis were home. As soon as the door closed behind them it was as if a switch was flipped. The two kicked off their shoes and smashed their lips together, Leon almost died from the pleasure. That being Leon’s first kiss he couldn’t compare this kiss to others and yet he naturally knew that this man was an abnormally good kisser.

Leon’s lips felt like sexual organs, pumped so full of pleasure it made him dizzy. The man slipped his tongue into Leon’s mouth and the pleasure only increased. Leon let his instincts take over. With the effort it would take to move a pencil, Leon lifted the man into the air and carried him into the living room, all while still kissing.

Leon intended to bring the man to his bedroom but the man pulled him down onto the couch and Leon was helpless to refuse. A few of Alvis’s stupid gadgets sat on the couch and Leon tossed them aside before he lowered himself down onto the man, careful not to put his full body weight onto him lest he be crushed.

As the two continued to make out the stunning man began to run his hands over Leon’s bare torso, each touch was like a lightning bold of pleasure. He needed more skin-to-skin contact. Leon grabbed handfuls of the man’s white sweater and effortlessly and efficiently took both it and the shirt underneath off to reveal the man’s slim, but still well-proportioned, bare torso.

Leon pressed their bodies together and let out a moan as he was overwhelmed with pleasure. The golden man reached down and with help from Leon removed Leon’s shorts, then his underwear so that Leon’s dick and newly enlarged balls flopped free. For a second the man looked nervous like he was inexperienced, though the idea seemed ridiculous to Leon; a man who looked like this must get laid more time than there were hours in the day. Then all non-primitive thought left his brain as the man’s mouth wrapped around his dick.

It took all the willpower in the world for Leon not to instantly cum. He had thought he had been hard before, but the sudden explosion of pleasure rocked his member to an unseen level of engorgedness. His hips involuntarily bucked and his cock slid deeper into the man’s mouth, which only intensified the pleasure. The man gagged slightly but kept that effortless grace he possessed as he pulled off, took a deep breath, and went back in.

He developed a rhythm of bobbing up and down Leon’s shaft and using his tongue masterfully the whole time. Leon warped his hands in the man’s blond curls and let out long appreciative moans as the man played with his balls with those pleasure-inducing nimble fingers. Several times he felt as if he was about to cum but didn’t, as if his dick had some mechanical valve keeping his cum in, leaving him permanently at that intense place of euphoria before ejaculation. Leon tried not to let his brain melt out of his ears.

After an amount of time that could have been a minute or an hour, the man removed his mouth from Leon’s dick and looked up at him with that face so beautiful it made Leon want to cry. “Want to try something else?” he asked.

Leon nodded his head dazedly. The man stood up from the couch but motioned for Leon to keep sitting. Slowly as if putting on a show he removed his pants and underwear, letting Leon get a long look at his perky ass and surprisingly large penis, larger by a fair bit than Leon’s. Leon wondered for a second if he was going to ask Leon to suck him off. Leon had never in his life imagined he’d give a blow job, but for this man, he would do it and gladly.

Instead, the man positioned himself on the couch so that his smooth pale ass was sticking up in the air. It didn’t take all Leon’s 10.7 intelligence to understand what he wanted.

Leon stood up and grabbed the man’s waist from behind, hand electrified with pleasure where there was skin-to-skin contact. He hesitated. Leon didn’t know much about gay sex, but he was pretty sure you needed lube. He didn’t own any lube, and he doubted Edward or Alvis had any either. Hopefully, the saliva on his dick would be enough. Another thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“You are clean right,” He asked. The man smiled as if the idea of him having some STI was ridiculous.

“Yeah, I’m clean. You?”

“I’m all good” Leon assured. With that final hurdle out of the way, Leon breathed in one last lungful of the man’s intoxicating scent and let his instincts take over. Leon felt his perfect form perk activate as he positioned his dick against the man’s tight hole and slowly penetrated at the perfect slow speed.

Both of them cried out as his tip entered, the stranger in discomfort, Leon in pleasure as his dick was surrounded by tight pleasure-inducing flesh. Leon had always had a dick slightly shorter than average, but thick. The boosts Leon had received to his charisma and testosterone production had both grown his dick about an inch so far, making it now average in length and even more girthy. Leon suspected that might be the reason the man was having trouble taking Leon, that and the fact that his hole was ridiculously, almost virginally, tight. Slowly however the stranger began to open up.

All of Leon’s animal instincts screamed at him to go fast, to use his inner strength ability or new size up to pound this twink into the next decade. He had just enough mental soundness left to ignore those instincts. He lowered his dick most of the way into the man then lifted it back out, then lowered it back into him slightly faster and deeper, repeating the process again and again until he started to develop a flow. He tossed his head back in pleasure and let out a satisfied groan.

Leon reached an arm around to jerk off the man’s dick, hand going numb from the pleasure of the skin-to-skin contact. Leon had never given a handjob before to anyone but himself but his Perfect Form perk allowed him to do an adequate job and the other man quickly became hard and let out an appreciative moan. Before Leon had laid eyes upon this man the idea of jerking another man off would have held no interest to him. Now he felt as if he was fulfilling some duty he had always possessed, it felt supernaturally right.

After a few minutes of anal something strange happened. As Leon pounded his dick into the man’s ass, still at a slower rate than he would have liked, he heard two dings, one the normal sound he heard when he leveled up, the other a softer more faint sound, like an echo.

Sure enough, familiar notifications filled his vision.

“You have reached level eleven. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, +0.3 Intelligence.”

“You have gained a class perk.”

“Grower and Shower: The size of your genitalia now scales off strength rather than charisma. Note: this growth is lessoned after fifty strength. Note: This perk makes you resistant to all shrinking effects.”

Leon’s eyes widened as the familiar feeling of subtle growth surged through him. His ass grew even thicker, his abs stronger, and his back rippled like the ocean as it grew wider. The hand jerking the man off grew larger and thicker. There was another growth too, one that was not subtle but sudden, and dramatic. Inside of the man’s ass Leon’s dick expanded, it expanded a lot.

With his now 32 in strength, Leon’s penis grew to become proportionate with the rest of his body, in other words huge. It happened so fast that by the time he realized what was occurring, it was too late. As it expanded Leon desperately tried to remove his now more than ten-inch thick cock from the man’s ass but the new girth caused it to get stuck in the man’s tight hole. Leon blanched thinking he was about to split this stranger in half or have his penis burst out of the man’s stomach. Instead, his penis expanded into, well he wasn’t exactly sure where, only that the man’s body seemed to wrap around it, hugging it tightly in that pleasure-including hole.

The man turned back to look at Leon, surprise recognizable in his sparking eyes but not pain. “Are you, are you okay?” Leon breathed, voice horse from the pleasure of the sex and the sudden growth of his sex organ.

The man, who seemed impossibly even more handsome, nodded as if disbelieving of the fact. Then he surprised Leon further by saying, “Pound me,” he said with the confidence of a true whore.

“Are you sure?” Leon asked doubtfully. If the man had been in pain before he couldn’t imagine how he would be able to take Leon’s now massive cock any easier.

“Pound me please, you muscle beast!” the man insisted, voice firm. That was all the confirmation Leon needed. Hearing the man call him a muscle beast unlocked something in him. He unleashed his full power onto the man, who much to his surprise seemed to take it with little effort. Leon thrust hard and fast, the only sound the slaps of flesh on flesh, two moaning men, and the rush of blood in his ears.

“Harder,” the man yelled and Leon complied. “Harder,” he said again, and Leon rammed his penis into him with the full force of his 32 strength. His new Grower and Shower perk must have some hidden effect allowing people to take his massive tool easier Leon reasoned as he smashed the handsome man mercilessly.

Leon fucked, and fucked, and fucked even harder, massive dick and balls and body working in perfect harmony. For the first time, Leon felt completely embodied, like this was how he was always meant to be like this is what he was always meant to do. Leon felt like a fucking Juggernaut.

The muscular man pounded Edward like a Thanksgiving turkey. Edward suspected if he was anyone else in the world he would be in the hospital right now, or blended into a pulp and flung against the wall by the full power, of the semi-automatic meat stick made for war pounding him like a jackhammer. Instead, Edward took it without a single ounce of pain and a whole lot of pleasure. And it was all thanks to his newest perk.

Edward had reached level eleven after a few minutes of half painful half pleasurable anal sex when his carnal quest had finally completed. In his overwhelmed state he thought he heard the sound of two dings though only one set of notifications appeared.

“You have reached level eleven. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Charisma, +1 Intelligence, +0.3 Strength.”

“You have gained a class perk.”

“Charmers Basket: You are not fearful of any snake, no matter the size. Your ass and mouth are now able to take any penis regardless of size.”

The description of this latest perk seemed relatively simple compared to some of the others he had been receiving lately, though immediately useful. Edward’s hole which had felt painfully stretched out for the duration of the activity suddenly relaxed allowing all of the muscular man’s penis to enter him without a hint of pain while still remaining tight around the thrusting organ.

Edward also had the strange sensation of the man’s penis growing larger inside of him, though he supposed that might just be a side effect of the perk.

The man looked up at him with an adorable expression as if he had done something wrong. “Are you okay?” he asked nervously. Edward assured him he was. For a man who obviously got a lot of action, he was acting like a bashful virgin. Edward supposed he might actually be when it came to men. He wondered how this man, if he had been straight was taking suddenly having sex with a man due to his Gold Star Killer perk.

He didn’t seem to overly mind. Edward really had no idea what he was doing. His blow job had honestly been rather sloppy but the combination of his Effortless Grace perk and his Euphoric Caress had made up for it judging by the moans. Early on in the blow job through the hand cupped on the man’s large balls Edward had felt the stranger prepare to cum. That simply wouldn’t do. With a mental command, Edward activated one of his newest techniques, Captive Serpent. Two energy points left his body as he felt a new sensation grow in his brain as he gained partial control over the man’s penis. It felt like moving a muscle, only the body part wasn’t connected to his body. Edward flexed the new sensation and felt the penis in his mouth soften. He lessoned the push and the penis hardened again. It took another few tries before Edward found the perfect balance that left the man’s penis still hard and horny but prevented him from cumming, leaving him on the precipice right before ejaculation. With a bit more effort he also discovered he could increase the pleasure experienced by the sexual organ under his control. He did so and the man’s moans only intensified.

Now the man pounded Edward doggie style grunting rhythmically with each thrust, still prevented from cumming. Edward knew it had to be his new perk but it suddenly felt as if the man’s penis was reaching new depths of his anis, wracking his whole body in pure pleasure. Edward sensed the man had the stamina and strength to give him even more. He was holding back, worried he was going to hurt Edward. That wasn’t possible anymore.

“Harder,” Edward commanded and the muscular man complied, doubling the force of his thrust. Edward’s eyes started to cross, he never imagined he could be fucked so hard, much less like it. The man’s penis felt like it was made of metal and so did his muscles which Edward felt up gleefully. “Harder,” he commended again and like the good charmed muscle snake he was he complied fucking Edward even harder.

Edward might have let the stranger fuck him forever, till one or both of them died of starvation or thirst. As it were the two fucked for thirty straight minutes, periodically switching positions or passionately making out. Finally, however, the man spoke up.

“Can I cum in your hole?” he asked. Edward couldn’t tell if he was asking permission to cum in his hole or just to cum at all. Either way, Edward supposed all good things had to end, and that if the guy was having even half as much fun as Edward had they would be doing this a lot more in the future.

Edward released his block on the man’s penis and felt his partner speed up, faster than Edward thought humanly possible. With one final thrust of strength beyond anything he had demonstrated thus far the man came, letting out a loud bellow and spraying a copious amount of thick hot cum into Edward, some of which absorbed into his now infinitely deep anal cavity and some of which dripped out his hole and onto the couch. Oops.

As the man came he jerked Edward’s dick off with a large powerful hand. Edward’s cum dripped down to mingle with the hunk’s potent load.

The two collapsed in each other’s arms, on the now disgusting, sticky, and dented couch. As the hunk pulled out Edward felt himself think clearly for the first time in hours. He realized how reckless this had been fucking so openly in the living room where Leon or Alvis could have walked in on them at any second. He doubted either of his roommates would recognize him either, so they would have thought two strangers were fucking in their living room.

“That was amazing,” the man said wrapping his large warm arms around Edward. Edward snuggled into his embrace. He rested his head on the man’s pillowy pecs and ran his fingers through his perfect carpet of chest hair, mindful that his every touch was having an orgasmic effect on him, even immediately postcoital. Looking down at the guy’s dick he was amazed to see that soft it looked just as big if not bigger than it had when he was hard. This guy was either the biggest shower in the world or he had undergone a sudden growth spurt in the past few minutes.

The man breathed in Edward’s spiked scent and his dick started to engorge with blood. It was undeniably bigger, by far. A massive meat stick Edward was positive he hadn’t had when he walked through the door. Edward wondered if it could possibly be his doing, maybe part of the Captive Serpent technique that wasn’t listed in the description.

Edward thought about asking him about it before a more pressing question occurred to him. This man had fucked him up down and sideways and Edward didn’t even know his name. He opened his mouth to ask but before he could a sudden notification appeared in his vision. This wasn’t the familiar gray level-up notifications he was used to. Instead, the text was written very plain, just white text on a black background in a blocky simple font. It looked like the text that had appeared in front of his face in this very room when he and Leon had first started, right after the TV had freaked out and shown all those symbols and colors. The message read:

“The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has automatically upgraded itself from version 1.1 to version 1.2.”

Under that, a smaller message read,

“A full list of changes are available to all players with above 100 in intelligence or with a technology-based class. Thank you for playing Altered State.”

In even smaller text so small Edward could barely read it yet another message was written.

“Altered state is a product of the HunkTech corporation. Any unauthorized tampering with any version of this product will result in immediate correctional effort.”

Edward blinked the message away, having no idea what nearly any of that meant. He didn’t have the right class or high enough stats to get the patch notes, so he had no idea what effect if any they might have on his perks or techniques.

Right away Edward could see little things had changed. The display superimposed onto his vision was now slightly sleeker and more robust, showing him his stats in a clearly visible field on the left side of his vision.

Edward looked over to the man next to him. A strange glassy look had come over the man’s eyes, and they scanned back and forth as if he was reading something in the air. Edward felt his breath catch. Something else had changed. There was a floating tag above the man’s head, listing his name, level, and class.

“Leon—level 11 Juggernaut.”

Edward rocketed up off the couch and let out a sound of surprise and horror. The man, or Leon as he had just come to realize, his best friend and roommate, looked away from the message and up at Edward. His face became confused as he read the words Edward was sure now appeared over his head as well.

“No way my roommate’s name is also Edward,” he said then blinked again as the pieces finally fell into place. “You’re Edward,” he said dumbstruck, “like, as in, my Edward?” For some reason hearing this muscular behemoth call Edward “his” made Edward’s heart flutter but he quickly pushed the feeling aside as he tried to reconcile his short fat friend with this hunk who had just fucked him.

Edward couldn’t find a single word, instead he just stood there looking stupid with his mouth hanging open. So much for the ultimate charmer. “Wait, I’m so confused. Edward, is that you? Did we just… Holy shit dude, I can’t believe this.” Leon said, verbalizing all the words Edward was unable to say in a rush.

“Beat you to level ten,” Edward joked weakly.

Leon looked at him incredulously, then his face scrunched up in a very familiar Leon-like expression of indignation. “As if, dude. I totally fucking won. I would have beat you home anyways if you hadn’t distracted me.”

Edward scoffed. “No way you would have won. You were too busy giving the who neighborhood a titty show.”

“Eat a bag of dicks,” Leon said back to him. Edward raised an eyebrow and the two started laughing together so hard Edward could almost pretend like nothing had changed, both with their bodies and their relationship.

“So,” Edward said eventually once the two stopped laughing. “How did this happen?” he gestured to Leon’s bare hugely muscled body.

“It’s kind of a long story,” Leon said preemptively. He started in on his tale, beginning as soon as the two split up. Leon’s first quest had directed him to the gym. He told Edward that his first few quests had been easy, just requiring some basic exercises. Along the way, he discovered a bit of an XP hack as well that allowed him to bypass an especially difficult objective. Edward wondered if he had his own such experience source. If he had been gaining level progress for each social interaction and not noticing. Edward decided he would have to test that theory later. Like Edward, each level had also given Leon stat points along with some perks, which he listed in the order he had obtained them.

Leon slowed down the story as he described his first confrontation with Hunter. “Wait, I think I had a run-in with that guy too,” Edward said interrupting. “I used my silver tongue on him in this clothing shop to make him be nice.”

“Like you used your silver tongue on me,” Leon asked raising an eyebrow. This was the first acknowledgement of what had happened between the two of them and Edward was glad Leon could joke about it.

“No, it’s one of my techniques.” Edward clarified.

“What’s a technique?” Leon asked. This prompted Edward to start to tell his story. He told Leon about going to the coffee shop, setting up Trent and Tag, gaining the very painful Golden Ratio perk, the Silver Tongue techniques, and access to Energy Points. Finally, Edward told Leon how he had used that new technique on Hunter.

Leon listened attentively, from the couch eyes scanning across Edward’s face when he talked, before resting very obviously on Edward’s lips. Edward realized he and Leon were still very much naked, though for some reason he couldn’t find it in him to care.

“You look fucking perfect dude. It’s kind of freaking me out,” Leon said.

“Thanks,” Edward said not knowing what else to say. He had thought Leon might have been mad about them having but all this looking and compliments made Edward wonder if he wanted to do it again. Edward wouldn’t mind that.

“That Hunter dude is really fucking pissed at you.” Leon said breaking the tension. “Well, not as pissed as he is with me, but I think you’re the reason he tried to kill me,” Leon added causally. He laid back down on the couch and started fidgeting with one of Alvis’s strange devices he often left lying around. His tone and position were so casual that if he wasn’t now a naked wall of muscle Edward could pretend nothing had changed.

“He tried to do what?” Edward asked, concerned. This prompted Leon to finish his story. He told about his equally painful level five experience, about how he had lost all the weight pretty much all at once and gained the inner strength ability. He glazed over most of his next few quests but he told Edward about joining some club that fought with foam swords, and about having to do a shirtless workout and how embarrassing but also exhilarating that had been.

He then talked about his second confrontation with Hunter, how the frat president had stolen his clothes while he was in the shower but he gained a perk that made it so people didn’t care if he was naked. That explained to Edward why he didn’t feel very strange about Leon lying there naked, though it didn’t explain why Leon hadn’t told Edward to cover up yet.

Leon explained very matter-of-factly how he had baited Hunter into completing the next two quests for him but how Hunter had almost choked him to death in the process. Then casually as if he was talking about what he ate for lunch Leon described a battle between his new club’s member and Hunter and his frat bros.

“A battle?” Edward asked incredulously, he was glad he had gotten the charmer class and not the Juggernaut class. “Did you, like, kill them?”

“No, no,” Leon said laughing. “We just scared them off. Anyways that got me to level nine and then I just had to break the gym’s weight record and run a quick marathon to get to ten,” he said again as if describing a grocery list and not herculean acts of athleticism Leon could have never even dreamed of the day before. “Anyways I was just on my way home when this freakishly handsome guy turned me gay and had me fuck him like a caveman,” he said it in a joking way but a wave of guilt and nervousness again washed over Edward.

Edward did his best to defect by changing the subject. “Sounds like you had it easy. I had to turn this boring art viewing into a ‘lit party.’” He said the last part with air quotes and an eye roll. “I mean, sometimes this game sounds like my grandma trying to be hip.”

Leon laughed and smiled that big dorky grin making blood rush to Edward’s face and his cock. He turned away so his friend couldn’t see. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Leon didn’t seem to notice. “No way, that was you? I ran past that party I think! It looked pretty lit from the outside. How did you manage that?”

“Well, I ended up inviting pretty much the whole school and—” Edward hesitated but he wasn’t in the habit of keeping things from this friend. “—I also convinced some of the people there to give in to their, um, carnal desires,” Edward finished awkwardly, borrowing the game’s description for sex.

Leon saw right through his roundabout explanation. “No way. You made an old people orgy!”

Edward nodded smiling. He knew he was supposed to be the one with all the charisma but something about being with Leon always made him feel like giggling like a baby. Leon was just always so himself.

“Dude, that’s fucking sick. Did you get in on it?” Leon asked.

“No!” Edward said suddenly feeling the need to correct the assumption. “Well, one guy kissed me, but I mostly just watched. That was, umm, that was my first time doing it with someone. Obviously,” Edward finished awkwardly. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted Leon to know what they had done was special.

“I did all that and still made it to level ten before you,” he added, trying to regain the normal teasing tone of their conversation.

“No way, Ed,” Leon shot back.

“Yes, way. I was about to be home too when some muscle freak kidnapped me off the street and threw me around like I was his sex doll.”

“Oh, is that what happened?” Leon asked with a big dopey grin.

“Pretty much,” Edward said crossing his arms.

“Well, sex doll, care for round two?”

Edward pretended to think it over. “I guess I could be persuaded to take another ride on the Leon-coaster. Are you sure you’re recovered, big guy?”

“With these guys,” Leon said pointing to his swollen balls and thrusting obnoxiously into the air, “I’m always ready.” Then quicker than Edward thought possible, Leon leaped from the couch and scooped Edward’s naked body up into his arms. He stuck his face into Edward’s neck, breathing in deeply Edward’s pheromones and giving sloppy, hard, full-mouth kisses Edward was sure would leave hickeys.

Edward thought he was going to bring him into one of their bedrooms, but he carried Edward past both their open doors and instead into Alvis’s room down the hall. Circuit boards and other tech lined his desk and shelves while posters of obscure scientists and girls in bikinis hung on the wall. Edward had no idea where Alvis was. The creepy nerd was never out past 7:30 and the thought of him parting was unthinkable. “What are you doing” Edward laughed as Leon carried him into the room while continuing to go full vampire on his neck, his roommate’s new stubble tickling the sensitive area.

“I want to christen this room, show it some action for once.” Edward decided to neglect to mention the fact that neither of their rooms had ever seen any action either.

“What? What if he comes back?” Edward insisted, though his heart wasn’t in it. He thought it was kind of hot if messed up, to fuck in their evil roommate’s bed.

“He’s probably at an incel convention or something. Eww stop making me think too much about him I’ll lose my hard-on.” Leon wasn’t joking about having a hard-on. Edward looked down to see a gigantic erect penis pressing up against his ass.

“Holy shit,” was all Edward could say as Leon gently threw him onto Alvis’s bed and stood above him, flexing his massive arms and swinging his club of a penis back and forth.

“You like what you see?” Leon asked. He placed both hands on his slightly upward-curved dick and even his massive mitts couldn’t cover the whole thing. “This is courtesy of my level eleven perk.”

“Well, how fortuitous that I got a perk that lets me take that thing,” Edward said, crawling forward on the bed with the effortless grace afforded him by another Snake Charmer ability.

“Fortuitous? Your such a nerd, who the hell says—” His mockery was cut off as Edward took the head of Leon’s cock into his mouth and pleasure overwhelmed his friend. Suddenly all Leon could do was moan, and then thrust, and then throw Edward around like he actually was a sex doll and fuck and fuck and fuck.

The two fucked again for what felt like hours and very easily could have been. Edward maintained his Captive Serpent control over Leon. He was slowly becoming better at the control offered by the technique, now able to effect Leon’s cock without much mental effort. Finally, after Leon was practically begging for release Edward allowed Leon to cum, this time all over his face, and the two collapsed back into each other, each enjoying the other’s warm body and proximity close.

“You kind of smell,” Edward said, nose close to his massive friend’s armpit.

“Says the man with cum all over his face. I call first shower.”

Edward laughed. “As if. We are not wasting water showering separately.”

Edward had thought maybe the shower would kill the overwhelming hormones running through his system but it seemed to only do the opposite. Pressed so close in the tight shower Leon was practically hotboxed by Edward’s Pheromones, and Edward had ample opportunity to run his hands over Leon’s sexier-than-god muscles.

They had sex one last time. This time Leon gave Edward’s sizable penis a blow job. He was inexperienced but his eagerness and Perfect Form perk let him do a passable job. Though Edward was tempted to let his ripped friend fuck him a third time in the shower even his indestructible ass needed a break. Instead he and Leon jerked each other off, Edward’s hands providing the same euphoric feelings as his ass or mouth.

The two did their best to wash all the cum down the drain, though there was a lot of it, and actually clean their bodies. Once Edward toweled off, he retrieved his clothes from the living room and redressed them in the bathroom. Leon felt no such need and strutted around naked.

The two wiped steam off the mirror and spent an embarrassing amount of time just staring at their reflections. If anyone else looked at themselves for this long they would be considered obsessively vain but Edward and Leon needed time to reacquaint themselves with reflections that bore little resemblance to the appearance they had had all their lives. That at least was what Edward was doing, Leon was mostly just flexing and talking about how “fucking ripped” he was now.

Edward reached up and touched the hair on his friend’s thick neck and square jaw. “You look so different,” he said wistfully. As he looked at his friend Edward realized the feelings he was having for his former platonic best friend were more than just sexual ones. That scared him more then Hunter ever could and he quickly removed his hand from Leon’s face before he said something stupid.

“Says the sexiest man in the world,” Leon said still flexing in the mirror. His voice was slightly lower than it had been this morning. It was something only Edward or Leon’s parents would notice but it became all Edward could think about. Leon looked at his face and stroked the hair on his chin. “What do you think of the scruff babe?” He asked and Edward’s heart skipped a beat before he had to remind himself that Leon called him babe all the time as a joke and that it didn’t actually mean anything.

“I think you should shave it off. See how fast it grows back.”

Leon’s face split into an adorable dopey grin, and he reached for a razor. “That’s a fucking sick idea. I bet it will be back in an hour!” Leon’s voice faded in volume as Edward left the bathroom “I’m going to be like a mountain man dude, or Dumbledore with a giant beard. It’s totally going to get stuck in your ass when I rim you,” he said laughing deep and loud.

Edward paced around the living room. He needed to get away from Leon for just a minute to clear his head. When they were fucking Edward could forget, but when he made stupid jokes it was obvious that that huge manly man was his best friend.

Leon had always been straight, he had always made that clear. That man loved boobs and women more than life itself, though he never got any. Now Edwards perks made it so that Leon was attracted to him sexually, which Leon knew was not the same thing as romantically. So Leon would only ever see him as his best friend and fuck buddy, friends with benefits. Edward realized wanted more. He knew with his looks and perks he could now get pretty much any guy he wanted, but he didn’t want anyone else. He wanted to be with Leon, forever. He didn’t know what was wrong with him.

Edward kept pacing. In the bathroom, he could hear Leon humming to himself. Edward was only level eleven he reasoned with himself. Surely if he kept gaining levels and perks there would be one that could make Leon fall in love with him. That thought felt vaguely sinister to him, but in a moment of panic, he latched onto it. It also brought up another issue, one he had been avoiding up till now. Edward had no idea when, if ever this would end.

He had been so busy and overwhelmed that he had never considered the nature of these changes. Every game had a goal, and also an end. The point of “Altered State” couldn’t possibly be just to level up. He had to be leveling up in order to do something. Plus there had to be a level cap, otherwise, he and Leon would just keep gaining stats and abilities until they were gods. Edward got slightly hard again at the idea.

The game had come in a box. Edward searched around for it and the disk to see if there was any information he and Leon had missed this morning. Edward noticed for the first time the living room was absolutely trashed. The carnage couldn’t have all been from his and Leon’s sex, as vigorous as it was.

All of Alvis’s various game councils and gadgets had been moved from their place. Most had been split open, pieces of wiring and machinery taken out and picked through like vultures to road kill. Edward searched through the piles of junk looking for the game. He couldn’t find it.

“Hey, Leon, can you come in here!” Edward called, a pit of dread rising in his stomach.

A second later Leon walked in, big feet causing the ground to shake as though he were Godzilla. Leon had shaved the rest of his face and was left with only a mustache. “Think I look sexy?” he asked putting on a deeper voice.

Edward did think he looked incredibly sexy, like a cowboy stripper. He was too panicked to flirt though. “Have you seen the game?” Edward asked.

“What game?” Leon said, sensing the tension in his friend’s voice.

“The Altered State game. You know, the one that turned you into that,” Edward said waving a hand at Leon’s muscular naked body.

“Oh. I think we left the disk in the game console,” Leon said moving over to look through the piles as well.

“It’s not there,” Edward said, a shrill note rising in his voice.

Leon helped Edward look through but couldn’t find any hint of the game either, nor the console they had plugged it into either. “Earlier when Alvis texted us about using his game system, you don’t think he played…?” Leon asked, all humor gone.

“I think it’s worse. Earlier when the system updated, it said it had reached critical mass.” Edward said slowly, not wanting the words to be true.

“I thought that was because our sex crashed the game.”

“What if it meant—?” Edward was cut off by the ding of his very low-battery cell phone in his pocket.

A new text from Trent. Edward saw there were a series of others from the guy updating Edward about his date with the sexy barista which Edward had missed because of all the fucking.

“Art party is awesome! Tag is totally grinding on me :)” 9:36 PM.

“Turns out there is an orgy here!!! WTF! I made a joke about joining and Tag seemed kind of into it! OMG OMG OMG” 9:58 PM

“Didn’t go to the orgy. FML. Turns out the Alpha Sigma frat party tonight is back on. Those frat guys are jerks and can suck my dick, but Tag wants to go and I actually want him to suck my dick so I think I’m going to go with it. Maybe c u there?” 10:23 PM

“Party is totally bad vibes! All the frat guys are acting really weird. There is this little rat-looking guy ordering them around and tinkering with all this technology stuff. Not worth coming, Tag and I are going to leave soon anyways” 11:09 PM.

“Ok really really don’t come. Frat guys are blocking all the exits, not letting anyone leave. They set up some huge projector screen and they say we all have to watch something. Plus they don’t even have good music #worstpartyever.” 11:17 PM.

Edward read the texts getting more and more nervous with each one. He wordlessly handed the phone to Leon and let him read the messages.

“You think the ‘rat guy’ is Alvis?” Leon asked, an expression of deep concentration on his face, then he realized something else. “Sigma Alpha is the frat Hunter is in. Do you think he is working with Alvis? Damn man, talk about a fucking Legion of Doom.”

“Defeat the Legion of Doom”

The quest notification popped into Edward’svision so rapidly that he flinched. Three objectives were listed under the quest with no other information provided.

“Defeat all lesser members of The Legion 0/26. Reward: XP.”

“Defeat the leaders of The Legion 0/2. Reward: XP, Exclusive Class Specific Item.”

“Put a stop to The Legion’s plans 0/1. Reward: XP, Class Technique, Love Potion.”

“Note: This is a correctional quest. Defeated parties will immediately be reverted to level one and have their class changed to the Wretch class.”

“Countdown 17:00 minutes”

The clock started immediately, ticking down to 16:59. Edward’s eyes read and reread the word “love potion” multiple times then looked up at Leon whose eyes were glazed over, reading his own notification.

Edward looked back at the last line of the quest. He had no idea what a correctional quest was, nor what the wretch class was but he knew he didn’t want to find out. A carrot and a stick then. The game really wanted him and Leon at that frat party. That should have been his first hint that it was going to be the worst party ever.

Edward’s mind worked feverishly, processing his thoughts as fast as he could with his 19 intelligence. Part of him wanted to blow off the quest. The possibility of being a level one wretch, if defeated, seemed too big a risk to take. On the other hand, the love potion offered as a reward was excruciatingly tempting. The decision was made for him, Leon scooped him up in a firm fireman’s hold and then still naked, sprinted out the door and into the cool night, moving at a pace Edward couldn’t quite believe.

His strides were effortless and long, and even with the added weight of Edward, Leon made an amazing time. The row of frat houses that everyone called “frat row” was four blocks away. Leon reached in just less than a minute hardly even winded.

It was fairly obvious which house was Sigma Alpha’s. Besides having the Greek letters emblazoned on its front, it was the only house on the row with loud music and voices coming from the backyard.

Leon set Edward down and it took a few seconds for him to get his bearings. According to Trent’s texts, the Alpha Sigma frat bros weren’t letting anyone leave. Edward had no idea why but he couldn’t imagine it was for any good reason. The backyard, enclosed by a seemingly hastily erected high wooden fence was where everyone was congregated. Two frat guys with their arms crossed stood outside, seemingly guarding the entrance to the backyard, and also the way out.

Just above the fence, Edward could see the tip of a white-domed object peeking out. It looked like a satellite dish connected to the top of a projector screen connected with random metal scraps and duct tape. Sure enough, Edward could see a place on the side of the large two-story house with loose wires sticking out of it where the satellite dish was presumably held before.

The seconds ticked by. They had less than sixteen minutes remaining. “All right, I’ll check out the backyard, and see if I can get everyone out. You need to go into the house and see if you can find Hunter or Alvis and shut down whatever it is they are planning” Edward said, the pressure making him decisive. As the one with the highest intelligence, if only by a few points, he felt responsible for making a plan.

“You want us to split up?” Leon asked incredulously.

“We have to. Besides you’re much better equipped to do actual fighting.” Edward found his eyes drifting over to one of Leon’s strong pump pecs. He suddenly remembered that Leon was naked, a very easy thing to forget with Leon’s Naked Confidence perk. That meant he wasn’t carrying a phone, not that that would have been useful with Edward’s being basically dead. “If either one of us is in trouble make a bird sound or something.

“A bird sound, are you for real?” Leon asked rolling his eyes. The comment broke Edward’s moment of seriousness and he moved to punch his friend in the arm, but then remembered the effect of his touch and thought better of it.

“Shut up. Just call for help.” They now had only fifteen minutes left. “We got to go, stay safe.”

Edward pounded a fist against his muscular chest and faint hollow metallic sounds rang out. “Don’t worry about me.” Then in a genuine tender way, Edward hardly ever heard his friend use “you be safe too. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Edward felt his heart skip a beat. This was not the time to be having these feelings but god damn was Leon good at giving mixed signals. “Bet you I’ll get take out more frat guys than you,” Leon challenged.

“Suck my dick,” was all Edward said.

“Fine, but if I win you have to suck mine,” Leon shot back.

“You’re so on,” Edward said as the two snuck forward. Edward headed for the backyard, and Leon went up the stairs and to the front door of the frat. Once Edward got closer he could make out the two frat guys stationed at the door. He didn’t recognize either of them. They looked young, maybe recent pledges. Edward wasn’t overly surprised when he saw they had floating names above their heads with classes and levels, but he thought it would make this a whole lot more difficult.

Luckily neither of the two guards was very high level. The one on the right had a floating tag above him that labeled him as Broden, a level four Jock. The other guy was a stranger. He wore a suit jacket and tie on top and only his boxers on the bottom. His name was Harold and he was only level two in a class called an Oil Baron. Edward shuddered to think about what type of boosts a class like that would give, though if these classes followed the pattern his and Leon’s did, which was hardly a guarantee, they hopefully wouldn’t have any abilities or techniques unlocked until level five.

Edward adopted his best approximation of a bro walk and strode forward with all the confidence he could muster. The two young frat guys seemed as if they were about to say something but stopped when they saw the name and level above his name.

“Yoo, what are you two bozos still doing here?” Edward asked in a dumb voice. He overdid it a bit and sounded like a caveman instead of a frat guy, but he hoped his high charisma and perks might make up the difference.

The two pledges just looked at him blankly. “Hunter sent you two out to get more duct tape like an hour ago. He’s going to be so pissed.”

“But bro, Hunter told us not to leave this door,” the Jock said, in a slow confused way that made it clear his class wasn’t giving him any boosts to intelligence.

“Don’t worry about it bro, I got it. No one gets in or out, I know the deal.”

The Oil Baron opened his mouth to object but a loud crash interrupted him. Edward suspected that was Leon making his entrance. Subtly had never been his strong suit.

“Shit bro, that’s Hunter. You can’t let him find you here, I’ll cover for you don’t worry” Edward said. Fear instantly burned in both their eyes. Without another word, they both sprinted into the night. Edward waited until they were a few streetlights away before he opened the makeshift gate. The quest “defeat lesser members” changed from 0/26 to 2/26. As Edward watched that number went up to 3/26 then 4/26, presumably thanks to Leon. Edward would have to work faster if he wanted to win their bet.

Inside the party was packed like sardines. Judging from Trent’s texts Edward had expected people to be clambering to get out by the door but most people still danced and drank, unaware that they had been unable to leave in the first place. Edward navigated his way through the backyard. It was then that Edward missed the invisibility of being ugly. The second he entered the party nearly everyone was all over him. Strangers started to grind up on him, offered him drinks, and tried to chat him up. It made moving through the crowd a nightmare. His perks didn’t help matters either. His pheromones caused the people flirting around him to progress to making out and caused those already making out to progress further into outright indecent behavior. Edward did his best to avoid skin-to-skin contact but it was inevitable in a crowd so packed, he heard several yelps as people suddenly felt orgasmic pleasure on their skin anywhere Edward’s hands accidentally.

Eventually, Edward reached the bubble of relative calm around the projector screen. He saw Trent and Tag talking to each other in low voices by one side of the fence, clearly unaware that the way out was open now. Edward briefly thought about going over to them but he knew neither would recognize him and he didn’t have time for lengthy explanations. He needed to get everyone out, and quick.

Edward glanced and saw two more frat guys standing by the door to the house while four others worked on the projector, taping wires down to the ground that led inside the house. All six had names, classes, and levels above their heads. Edward stopped walking realizing if he could see their level then they could undoubtedly see his. Sure enough, a level nine Keg Commander started walking towards him briskly. He looked older and in charge, and Edward doubted he could resort to trickery to deal with him like before.

Edward ducked back into the crowd, hoping the chaos would obscure his floating name tag. No luck, the Keg Commander along with two other floating tags, a level six Crypto Bro, and a level seven Hype Beast moved towards him. Edward pushed his way through the crowd much less carefully this time. More couples, affected by his pheromones got nasty with each other right there in the backyard, which Edward hoped would make the chase more difficult for his pursuers.

Edward heard a crash from inside the house. He checked the counter to see it was now at 6/26. Edward hoped Leon was being safe. He heard another noise, like a loud bubbling. Edward risked a glance behind him and saw the level nine Keg Commander wave his hand over a beer keg, the thing started shaking violently before it took off into the air like a bottle rocket.

“Shit!” Edward yelled reflexively, diving sideways into a group of guys who all let out sounds of shock and moans of pleasure as Edward pressed up against them. Edward’s dodge hadn’t been necessary. The keg went wide, flying over the party and landing with a bang in the neighbor’s yard, spraying the gathered crowd with beer as it flew.

Edward kept moving, circling back around to the wall of the house. Behind him, the hype beast was letting out loud whoops and hollers that seemed to be riling up the crowd even further. The music started to build up to a beat drop and people started to mosh making it even harder for Edward to move through the crowd. Edward spied the source of the music, a giant speaker, at least the height of his chest. One of the frat guys, a level five DJ stood by it, making strange motions with his hands which caused the music to change in volume rapidly in a nauseating way. A plan formed in Edward’s mind, with only thirteen minutes left he needed to be bold.

Edward made his way towards the speaker, careful to avoid the Crypto Bro who tried to cut him off. Once he was close Edward rolled up his sleeve and dove out of the crowd, running for the plug connecting the speaker to the outlet. The DJ tried to grab at him but Edward twisted so that he grabbed his arm instead. The bare contact with his flesh and the intense pleasure that resulted from it was enough to cause the DJ to drop his grip. Edward grabbed the plug and yanked. The loud music suddenly cut off, and there was a second of silence as the whole party looked toward the speaker questioningly. Edward took advantage of that moment. He climbed on top of the speaker and screamed a word as loud as he could manage.

“Flee” he yelled, the word echoing loud and powerful as he imbued it with the energy of his Silver Tongue technique. His energy pool which had fully regenerated in the hours he had spent with Leon now dropped to 14/19.

The effect was immediate and jarring. Every single person at the party fled in a wave emanating from Edward. The exit quickly clogged as hundreds of people all tried to leave the party at once. Edward watched horrified at the stampede he had created as students pushed at each other to get out as if death itself were chasing after them. Some students in their haste to get out decided to climb the tall fence, jumping off it into the neighboring yards before continuing to run into the night.

In a matter of seconds, the entire backyard was empty and silent. Edward stood on the speaker, amazed at his own power. Though he had feared someone might be trampled it seemed that everyone had gotten out safe at least. It was a good reminder to him though that he needed to be careful with this power.

His words had caught up a fair number of the frat guys causing them to flee as well. The counter now read 15/26, though he wasn’t sure how many of those he could take credit for. Still, Edward suspected he was kicking Leon’s ass when it came to their bet. He also noted that the quest item “Put a stop to the legion’s plans” was still marked as incomplete, meaning whatever it was they were planning involved more than just trapping students in their backyard. Edward thought of the love potion again and felt a nauseating mix of hope and guilt.

Edward didn’t have long to revel in his victory. From the second floor, he heard another loud crash then the unmistakable sound of an Owl’s hoot, or Leon’s best attempt at one, in truth it sounded more like a fart noise.

In a second Edward was off the speaker and racing toward the house. He entered a side door into the kitchen. Six low-level frat guys were inside, protected from Edward’s ability by the thick glass door. All of them were looking at the empty backyard in shock. They were even more shocked when the level eleven Snake charmer ran in.

Edward didn’t have a thought in his head except the safety of his best friend. “Defend me,” he said, embossing the words with another ten of his remaining energy points, leaving him with only four more. Instantly the frat guy’s faces went from confused to blank as they robotically followed him into the hallway and up the stairs as Edward followed where the wires connecting to the project screen led.

Edward raced upwards two stairs at a time towards the sounds of voices and struggles. A circle of frat guys, most of them level ten or higher encircled the kneeling form of Leon. Two purple and white bands bound both of Leon’s wrists to the floor despite the obvious effort he was exerting to free himself. A level fourteen Pledge Master with a sinister look to him held a red solo cup to Leon’s lips and was saying something in a low scolding voice too soft for Edward to hear with all the blood rushing in his ears.

Edward let out a yell as he and his frat protectors charged forward in the doomed defense of his best friend.

Leon strained at the colorful bamboo restraints binding him to the floor. The harder he struggled the tighter the traps bound him. He activated his Inner Strength ability and wrenched upwards, it was a bad idea. The sudden burst of strength was redoubled against him and he was forced to his knees, naked body beginning to sweat with the effort. Above him the level thirteen Prankster laughed. He had the same flawless complexion as Edward that indicated a high charisma, only his features looked mischievous and impish, nothing like the kind angelic features of his friend.

Leon still found it hard to believe that god of a man he had slept with was Edward. And yet when he looked hard he could see the resemblance. His eyes had the same gentle genuineness in them, his lips, now thick and oh so kissable, still twitched the same way when he wanted to laugh but was trying to be serious.

The Prankster above Edward let out a laugh that bordered on deranged as he watched Leon struggle. He and his other two frat brothers circled around Leon, a level ten Drug Pusher, and a level eleven Vape Mage, moved aside for a new figure. This one, a tall skinny man with dark hair and dark handsome features that made it clear he was also a charisma class, walked forward. His dark perfect eyebrows arched sharply, making him look like a cartoon villain. The floating name tag above him listed him as a level fourteen Pledge Master. Leon recognized him as one of the men who had been with Hunter earlier that day during the thing with the Dagorhir players, though he hadn’t been nearly so handsome or intimidating when they had first clashed. Those events now felt like a lifetime ago.

His hands glowed with an eerie brown light then a red solo cup appeared in them, full of a sloshing brown liquid inside Leon didn’t think was beer. “We have a new pledge I see. Hunter told me to watch out for you.” He took a step closer and a strange aura washed over Leon, he suddenly felt as if he would do anything this man told him to. It made him sick, nothing like the warm feeling he got from being around Edward. “You can join our frat if that’s what you really want, but first don’t you know that new pledges have to suffer.”

Leon blanched. He hoped Edward hadn’t heard the bird sound he had made when he was first trapped. He hoped Edward would escape now while he could. These frat guys were too powerful, too high-level. Leon had no idea how they had managed to gain so much experience in such little time. They must have received their classes after Leon and Edward had and yet even the two Leon had faced downstairs had been nearly his equal in level.

Leon supposed he and Edward could have been faster if they had been more efficient, and hadn’t spent several hours fucking like bunnies. Still, if those were to be Leon’s last moments on earth he was endlessly glad at how he spent them. He only wished he had told Edward how he felt, though that would require him to first understand what it was he felt, which was mostly confused.

Since the day they met in freshman orientation, Edward had been his best friend, his partner in everything. There had never been even a hint of anything more though. Leon was straight and Edward wasn’t interested in him besides. Now their dynamic had shifted. For Leon it wasn’t so much a big deal he had slept with a man, sure that was new, but his attraction for Edward burned just as bright, if not brighter than any he had for a woman. The part that was making him so on edge was the fact that it was with Edward.

Leon knew with the way Edward now looked he could have any man he wanted. There would be no reason for him to want anything more than something physical with Leon. And yet Leon could swear that he saw something more than lust in those expressive eyes. He knew it was probably wishful thinking.

It wasn’t particularly worth dwelling on though, considering Leon’s current predicament. He had been so cocky when he had first entered the house. The door had been locked but a quick Inner Strength-enhanced kick busted the thing wide open.

Inside were two frat pledges, just sitting in the entranceway as if they had been expecting him, one, a level eight Louisville Slugger gripped a wooden baseball bat in his hand. The wood was a strange ashen gray as if it had been petrified to stone. The level eight swung his bat hard into the side of Leon’s face.

Leon’s whole skull rung like a bell as the bat that felt more like stone then wood bounded off his armored skull. The man moved to swing again but Leon took a step forward and shaved the man causing him to crash back into the stairwell. The other guard, a level six Tattletale made no move to attack, instead he opened his mouth, and a grating blaring almost robotic alarm came out, filling the whole house. Leon dashed forward and slammed his hand over the man’s mouth, muffling the sound but not cutting it off. Leon wrapped his hand around the man’s throat and squeezed, careful not to be too rough with his prodigious strength. Within seconds the Tattletale was unconscious. Leon made sure the man was still breathing before moving out of the entranceway. The counter was now at 4/26, meaning he and Edward were tied. Leon needed to move fast if he wanted to win and get another of those life altering blowjobs from Edward.

Still he paid one last glance at the two unconscious men and noticed something odd. Both of them seemed to be changing, shrinking. The level nine Louisville Slugger was a muscular dude, tall and clearly athletic. Yet as Leon watched the guy’s muscles deflated and he shrunk in height. The level above his head changed to seven to six counting down to level one as his stats drained away. Finally, as the guy started to look plainly average his class switched to one called a “Wretch” and he was defeated further, losing muscle height and likely some charisma based on the way his face twisted unattractively and broke out with acne. The Tattletale also lost much of his charisma-enhanced beauty and became an equally pathetic level-one wretch with his friend. Leon flashed back to the note about the quest being a correctional one. He supposed the two were considered defeated and therefore suffered the punishment of failing the quest. It was a horrifying fate. Leon imagined the muscles and perks he had so come to enjoy draining away and found the thought terrifying. He couldn’t go back to his old life, he wouldn’t.

Both the Tattletale, and the loud noise of kicking in the door, had ruined any chance of surprise Leon might have had. He assumed other members of the frat would soon come to investigate the noise, meaning he needed to move. Leon wasn’t exactly sure where though, several hallways with bedroom doors on either side connected to the entranceway, along with hallways connecting to a massive kitchen and eating area that ran along the back of the house. A large lounge for hosting parties or doing school work was to Leon’s right, and a set of stairs right in front of him led upwards, presumably to more rooms and potentially another lounge or hang-out area. Leon wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for, either of the bosses he supposed. He poked around a few of the hallways but they were all abandoned and all the doors were locked. Eventually, Leon decided he should go upstairs.

That was where the trouble started. Up the stairs, there was a long landing that let off to lots more rooms. In the hallway stood four older-looking frat brothers, all with classes and levels above ten. The Prankster and the Drug Pusher noticed him first, while the Vape Mage, and level twelve Beer Pong Champion stood with their backs to him.

Leon didn’t wait for any of them to react. He rushed forward and shoved the Beer Pong Champion hard. The man went flying into a wall behind. The attack caused Leon to come into proximity with the Drug Pusher which caused his head to start to feel funny, like he was drunk and high at the same time. The effect was unbalancing enough that the Prankster was able to grab his hand. He activated some sort of ability or technique and suddenly through his hand waves of painful electricity washed through Leon’s whole body. It felt like one of those prank hand buzzers only one hundred times more powerful. His whole body shook, completely unprotected by his armored skin. Leon was too stunned to react as the Prankster used yet another ability on him which caused those bamboo restraints he currently struggled against to bind him to the floor. Leon struggled for a few seconds before he spotted an open window that faced the backyard and made his best approximation of a bird call.

The three frat guys looked at him funny but they were too cocky with the thrill of their catch that they didn’t seem to care. They called out for the pledge master who came out of a hallway a few moments later. Now Leon looked up at his eerily perfect face and felt a wave of revulsion and loyalty at the same time.

“Let go of him!” Leon snapped his head away from the frat guy’s face as he heard a familiar voice yell. Edward raced up the stairs trailed by six frat guys all also running. Leon could only watch as Edward flung himself at the Pledge Master, skinny body bringing the other man to the ground. To Leon’s surprise, the frat guys who Leon had assumed were chasing Edward rushed into his air, charging their own comrades with first and foot and claw in the case of one guy with the Party Animal class who turned into a puma wearing a party hat before Leon’s very eyes. The Vape Mage opened his mouth and a stream of light pink smoke emerged, quickly filling the room and limiting Leon’s slight to only the area directly around him.

Leon could just make out as the Pledge Master flipped Edward onto his back, pinning him. Edward brought one hand up to rest upon the Pledge Master’s cheek almost lovingly. The man screamed out in orgasmic pleasure and Edward used that moment to break free of his hold and flip him onto his back, the two disappearing from view into the cloud of cotton candy-smelling vape.

Around him, Edward’s frat guys fought against their own compatriots. Though they had the numbers advantage they were younger, and less high-level, lacking the truly influential perks and abilities to match their opponents. Leon continued to struggle in vain, wanting desperately to join the fight and come to his friend’s air.

Edward’s presence was like a strong clean gust of wind, clearing away the other aura and effects that had been clouding Leon’s thoughts, allowing him to think clearly for the first time since he had been trapped. He took a deep breath of the cotton candy fog. All of these classes were thematic. The ability he was trapped in was from the Prankster class, which meant it had something to do with pranks. Leon looked down at the colorful interlocking bamboo pattern of the trap and realized it looked familiar. It reminded him of those Chinese finger traps sold for tickets at arcades or behind glass counters at roller rinks. The trick to those was simple, the harder you pulled the tighter it bound. All Leon had to do was relax. He let his arms fall loose and felt the bounds on his wrist loosen, he relaxed further and suddenly he was free.

Leon swung about in the cloud of cotton candy smoke. He caught a brief glimpse of a few different frat guys fighting with each other but in the chaos, Leon couldn’t tell which were friends and which were foes. He needed to find Edward.

At level eleven Leon’s Inner Strength cooldown was at 109 seconds. Though he has used it to try to escape the countdown was almost up. Leon waited the last few seconds then activated the ability, feeling strength surge into his body. Leon splayed his large hands wide, admiring his now considerable wing span, then brought his palms them together with a colossal force that would have likely broken both his hands if not for his armored skin.

A loud boom shook the room and a pressurized gust of air ripped from his hands. The force wasn’t enough to do more than startle any of the men fighting each other on the ground but it was enough to temporarily clear away the lingering vape cloud in the room.

Leon instantly spied the Pledge Master and Edward struggling near the stairs, the Pledge Master sat on top of Edward using some ability that made his hands glow brown and seemed to have paralyzed Edward. Leon wasn’t capable of feeling fear anymore but he felt something distinctly like it as he saw his friend helpless on the ground, that and a bubbling red rage he had never felt. As the room once again filled with smoke from the Vape Mage’s mouth Leon rushed towards the pair. He ripped the scrawny Pledge Master off of Edward’s body as easily as he would lift an insect and flung him down the stairs. The man tumbled down, sprawling at the bottom in a heap, out of the fight but still breathing. Leon watched the first level tick away and knew he would soon become a harmless wretch.

From the ground, Edward looked at him with a mix of awe, fear, and relief. Slowly he regained control of his limbs and then sat up and wrapped his arms around Leon, squeezing tightly onto Leon’s muscular back. Leon laughed feeling an overwhelming flood of relief. He hugged his friend back tight, not caring that the skin-to-skin contact made his naked dick instantly hard.

Leon continued the embrace until he felt something bounce off his butt. He turned around to see the Beer Pong Master, who he had thought was out of the fight, lift his hand and shoot a ping pong ball out of it with considerable force. More and more shot out in a jet towards the two friends. Leon positioned himself to block Edward from the barrage. The plastic balls stung but his Armored Skin prevented them from doing any real damage. Leon rushed forward and delivered a hard punch to the gut that finally defeated the man who began to turn into a wretch as well. The counter was now at 21/26. Whatever Edward had done outside and to control those guys had taken out a majority of the lesser frat guys. Leon was so relieved that he didn’t even care he was losing the bet. He would be glad to give him friend a blowjob if they lived long enough for that.

The pink fog slowly began to clear and he and Edward were left facing down the remaining five frat guys. Edward’s method of control seemed to have warned off and the two remaining, a level seven Party Animal and a level nine Bully looked pissed. Leon readied himself for a fight. He didn’t relish the idea of being mauled even with his armored skin but he would do it to protect Edward.

He was spared the trouble. A beam of purple energy shot from Edward’s hand and into the Party Animal. The frat guy’s eyes glowed the same purple shade for a second, then he adopted a look of pure horror and ran right past him and Edward down the stairs, a visible wet spot in his pants. Edward had told him about his new emotion bomb ability but he hadn’t known it would be so potent.

Not wasting the opportunity Leon raced forward and quickly subdued the Vape Mage with a punch, then the Drug Pusher with a knee to the chest, then did a quick uppercut which finished off the Bully who went down to the ground groaning as he slowly became a level one wretch.

That left Edward and Leon facing only the Prankster. The sinister-looking man tried the same hand buzzer trick on Leon again but this time he was ready. He grabbed the man’s hand and slapped it onto the guy’s own chest causing him to electrocute himself instead.

Finally, alone Leon and Edward stood in trashed hallways breathing heavily. Edward had a small cut on his arm and a blossoming bruise on his perfect symmetrical cheek which gave his handsomeness a rugged quality, a quality broken by his wide innocent grin. “So you want to suck my dick now or later?”

The quest marked itself up to 26/26 and he and Edward both heard a ding as they leveled up.

”You have reached level twelve. You receive attribute points based on your class: +3 Strength, +1 Charisma, + 0.3 Intelligence.”

“You have gained a class perk.”

“Punchable Face: If moved to sufficient hostility, creatures are more likely to attack you than your allies. Note: This effect scales off both Strength and Charisma. Note: Creatures with higher intelligence will be more resistant to the effects of this perk.”

Leon felt the now familiar feeling of leveling up as each of his attributes increased. The intelligence gains Leon got at each level were too small to be perceptible, though he supposed he noticed a small difference now that he had an 11.3 compared to his previous base of 8. His charisma boosts per level were larger, though also hard to exactly quantify. When Leon had looked hard in the mirror he had been able to pick out ways his face was a bit more handsome than it had been, thought it was hard though to know what was due to his charisma boosts and what was from the changes to his body composition. Still, his eyes were brighter, his features more symmetrical, and his skin clearer than it had ever been before. Despite gaining twelve points Leon didn’t feel like he had gained Edward’s easy effortless charm, though his jokes that always sounded so funny in his head but never when he said them out loud did seem to be landing more frequently and he was starting to pick up on social cues that would have once flown over his head. This level up Leon actually did think he could feel something shifting in his face though he chalked it up to placebo.

His strength though Leon was sure he could feel. His body stretched another quarter of an inch taller, and he gained another five pounds of muscle, all packed evenly onto his body. Though he didn’t store fat according to his Metabolizer perk his muscles didn’t have the dehydrated malnourished look of extremely low body fat. Instead, they all looked full and strong, tight on his dark skin. His biceps were like softballs, his legs were becoming thick as tree trunks, and his abs seemed to only get tighter, six-pack verging on an eight-pack.

Besides him, he saw Edward experience a level-up. It was the first time he had actually witnessed it, last time he had been too busy fucking his friend’s ass to see. Now he watched as Edward’s already perfect features became somehow more perfect. Leon had thought his skin was flawless before but it now took on a somehow otherworldly shine. His teeth became blindingly white and even straighter, making the grin he shot Leon somehow more adorable and endlessly distracting. His jaw looked like it could open a beer bottle and his hair was so gold it could be spun from hay. Watching his friend change mixed with the proximity to Edward’s pheromones made Leon hard, his massive penis springing forth with the velocity of a jouster.

Leon opened his mouth and then closed it. Edward’s beauty had always been distracting before but now he was stunned stupid by his charisma. The act of talking seemed too complex when he looked at Edward so he just sort of moaned and drooled a little.

Edward had that far-off look that meant he was reading his notifications. He looked up and laughed at Leon’s cross-eyed expression. “Oh god. That’s my new perk.”

“New perk?” Leon asked. His face was all but paralyzed which made his words come out slurred and almost unintelligible. This only made Edward laugh harder.

“It’s called Dazzling Presence. Apparently, it gets less effective the more time you’re around me.” Leon felt himself slowly come back to earth, though not fully. He found it intensely difficult to look away from Edward or think in more than caveman “me horny” thoughts.

“I think it’s supposed to temporarily stun people when I first interact with them to give me the upper hand. It should wear off soon. Edward squinted his eyes as if he suddenly noticed something, he took a step forward so their faces were only inches apart, a move that was not helpful in Leon’s attempts to break free from his horny hypnotic state. “Oh my god your face!” Edward started laughing again, harder than before.

“What’s wrong with my face?” Leon asked concerned. “I got a perk called punchable face.”

“Punchable face?” Edward asked still laughing. “More like a kissable face,” he leaned in and pecked Leon on the lips, the touch making Leon somehow harder. “Go look at yourself in a mirror.”

Leon had enough control now to hobble to one of the communal bathrooms, he stepped over a groaning unconscious level-one wretch, maybe a man who had been the Vape Mage or the Drug Pusher, it was hard to tell them apart now. In the glow of the automatic lights, Leon saw what Edward had meant. He groaned to himself. He had a serious case of Jock Face. He looked like a cartoon high school bully, with thick eyebrows, a broad forehead, head the shape of a square. The mustache he now had was not helping. Small dark beard hairs had already started to grow on his cheeks making him look like a dad coaching little league baseball who took the game too seriously. Leon felt the urge to punch his own reflection.

“It’s not that bad,” Edward called from the hall, knowing what his friend’s reaction would be.

“I look like a Neanderthal!” Leon shouted back. His body was one thing but he had never expected this class to affect his face so much.

“No, you don’t!” Edward said encouragingly coming into the bathroom to stand beside his friend. “I think it’s fitting. You look like a sexy Viking.”

Leon turned to look at Edward. His presence was still extremely distracting but Leon could now at least have a conversation with his friend. “It’s worth it I guess. The perk says people are more likely to attack me now than you.”

Edward rolled his eyes. “All right, knight in shining armor. If I remember correctly you were the damsel in distress.”

“Yeah,” Leon said awkwardly color flushing his cheeks, the blush looking strange on his now hyper masculine face. “I’m sorry about that, I got overconfident.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Edward said grabbing Leon’s hand in his own. “I sent you in there alone. That was stupid of me, from now on we stick together.”

Leon nodded wordlessly, unable to get anything past the lump in his throat. He didn’t know exactly what he was feeling, not fear, he wasn’t capable of feeling fear but he still felt anxiety and guilt and a deep love for his friend. Suddenly he felt it all crash down on him. Everything that had happened in the past ten hours. Even with his Animal endurance perk Leon was exhausted. He realized he hadn’t eaten since that one protein shake so many hours ago. He couldn’t imagine how Edward felt.

Leon glanced at the countdown timer and felt his heart skip a beat as he saw they only had eight minutes left. There would be time to talk to Edward about what he was feeling and where their friendship stood after they completed the quest.

The main hallway on the second floor led to a set of large wooden double doors. Leon was ready to kick them down but they were unlocked. He poked his head in and wasn’t quite sure what he was seeing. There was a large room, obviously meant for holding mixers and formals. A long bar sat on one end of the room, a dance floor near it. Leon’s attention however was more focused on the contraption directly in front of him.

It looked like a doomsday device out of a science fiction B movie. A mishmash of repurposed tech and scrap metal welded into a crude but ominous tower of technology. Strips of LED screens, ripped from discarded tablets and smartphones, lined the upper frame, flickering in erratic patterns, casting eerie reflections off the exposed metal. At its core was the familiar “Altered State” video game cartridge, nestled in a nest of wires and circuits that branched out to hacked Wi-Fi routers and a jury-rigged motherboard, all held together by zip ties, duct tape and sheer ingenuity. A large fully extended TV antenna was on the top of the contraption which buzzed and pulsed every few seconds with electricity. Leon hadn’t a single clue that the machine did but it looked intensely complex and dangerous. He had played enough video games to know that to complete the quest he and Edward probably had to destroy the thing.

There was something else in the room that caught Leon’s eye. A figure paced back and forth in front of the machine, snorting and grunting occasionally as he moved. Leon had seen a lot that had challenged his understanding of reality today but the name tag above the creature’s head sent him reeling. Hunter, level seventeen Roided Out Berserker. The Frat president was unrecognizable. He had always been a large man but Hunter now was a giant, eight feet tall, muscles like swollen overly ripe fruit, huge and crawling with protruding veins that looked like worms, glowing a sickly green. He was naked with an inhumanly large penis and a matching set of balls hanging in-between thickly muscled massive hairy legs. His arms were like veiny boulders, his neck a thick stump, and he had a massive roid gut ballooning out his belly.

His face, never particularly handsome was now a twisted mask of permanent anger, more animal than man, and the spark of cruel intelligence that once lived behind his eyes was gone replaced by a feral mindlessness.

Quietly as he could Leon closed the door and pulled Edward away from it. He relayed what he had seen much to Edward’s disbelief.

Edward’s disbelief grew as Leon told him his hastily constructed plan. “Didn’t I just say we were going to stick together? You’re going to get yourself killed if you go in there alone,” Edward insisted trying to talk him out of it.

“It’s the only way. Besides you can always step in and save me like before,” Leon joked trying to ease his friend’s tension. He wasn’t sure if his confidence was warranted or if it was reckless arrogance from his No Fear perk but he just knew he couldn’t bear to see his friend in danger again. Before Edward could further talk him out of it he walked over to a window and ripped down the ratty red curtain, then he marched back over to the set of doors and got ready to open them. “Be safe” Edward said looking at him with those deep soulful eyes.

“I will,” Leon said back tenderly. He wanted to say more, to sweep Edward off his feet and kiss him but the timer was at six minuets. There would be time after if he survived.Besides if they did this right his quest reward might just help Leon show Edward exactly how much he meant to him.

Leon burst through the double doors, red fabric trailing behind him like a cape. “Hey Hunter you ugly motherfucker. They say imitation is the more sincere form of flattery, but I think for you it might just be fattery.” The joke didn’t actually make any sense but Leon stopped for a second to admire his on-the-spot wordplay. Maybe his higher charisma was having more of an effect than he had thought.

Hunter growled and snorted like a bull, staring at Leon with undigested loathing as Leon entered the room. “Me fucking kill you,” he said in deep halting English, like he was Frankenstein’s monster. He and Leon started circling each other like two cats in an ally waiting to pounce. Leon’s new punchable face perk ensured that Hunter kept his attention on him and not Edward not so subtly head peaking through the doorway. Leon hoped if Hunter did decide to go for Edward he would be stunned by the Snake Charmer’s new perk but even so, he was determined to keep the Berserkers attention on himself. Leon waited until he had circled the whole room and his back was to the machine before he shouted.

“Now!” Due to the fast regeneration from his high charisma Edward had regenerated just enough energy points to perform one last Emotion Bomb. A beam of red energy leaped out from his hand, striking Hunter from behind and causing his eyes to glow red for a split second.

Any human part of Hunter left died at the moment as he was overcome by an overwhelming wave of anger and became fully animal in his desire to kill Leon. That was the result Leon was hoping for. He knew he wasn’t stronger then Hunter but he could hopefully be smarter, if he survived long enough. Hunter charged forward hands extended to tear Leon apart. Leon flourished the red fabric in front of him like a matador before jumping away at the last second to avoid the man’s charge.

As Leon had hoped Hunter charged straight into the device Leon had been standing behind. The whole contraption shook with the force, small electrical bits falling off the side. A few of the more ominous-looking red wires connecting to the game disk in the center disconnected but the contraption maintained its structural integrity. Hunter recovered and had somehow grown angrier. Leon flourished the red cape and began to circle again trying to lead Hunter into another charge at the machine. He shouldn’t have known it wouldn’t be so simple.

Hunter activated an ability. It was one similar to Leon’s own Size Up ability except rather than growing in overall proportional size the ability only affected Hunter’s muscles. The veins prominent on his body grew a brighter shade of green for a moment then each one of Hunter’s muscles ballooned to inhuman size, making the man even more grotesque. His dick grew to at least three feet in length and likely would have brushed the floor if it didn’t become erect.

Leon hoped the sudden growth might have decrease the big man’s speed but it seemed the opposite was true. Hunter charged at him like a bullet and Leon just barely jumped aside at the last second.

As Leon’s plan crumbled to dust he realized once again Edward had been right. His plan, lure Hunter into charging at the device, toppling the contraption and trapping his foe all in one ironic blow, was a stupid one. The device at the center of the room was large but not nearly large enough to keep the now colossal Hunter pinned. Leon suddenly felt like David facing Goliath without a sling. Still, he had to look as if he was in control lest Edward rush in and do something stupid. Leon at least had a chance against the massive Hunter, but Edward would be trampled in seconds with his unenhanced strength.

Leon shot Edward’s worried face peeking through the door a cocky wink and gave his makeshift red muleta a showman-like shake. He thought briefly about activating his own size-enhancing ability and decided against it, he couldn’t overpower Hunter, not when the man had five levels on him. Sizing up would only make him a easier target and the last thing he needed was to get pinned down.

Hunter charged again. This time Leon moved too late, though he dodged Hunter’s attempt to grapple him he was clipped by Hunter’s shoulder as he spun away. The slight contact was enough to send Leon skidding across the smooth wooden floors like a rag doll.

He had no time to recover from the crushing blow. From the floor, he heard the sound of rushing feet. On instinct, Leon activated his Inner Strength ability and launched himself into the air just in time to soar over a rapid charge from Hunter. With momentum and reflexes of the ability, he flipped once in the air before landing on his feet, crouched low next to a windowed wall ready for Hunter’s next attack. The loss of his only safety net for the next 108 seconds would have made him fearful if he could still be. Instead, it made him focused, and ready. In the tumble, he had lost a scrap of red fabric, and seriously injured his left shoulder even through his armored skin. He tried to move his arm and felt a shooting pain, dislocated or broken he couldn’t tell which. He would have to hope his animal endurance would heal it soon.

Hunter’s charge that Leon had dodged taken him right into the far wall and he had gone through it, revealing a messy bedroom on the other side. Leon guessed that once he started charging it was hard for him to stop. Maybe his original plan had some merit after all.

Hunter turned back around eyes insane with rage, spit flying from his mouth as he screamed and grunted unintelligibly. For a moment Leon felt bad for what this game had done for him but then he remembered how Hunter had been in life and felt the pity leave him. “Hey, Cassie just called and she said she didn’t want to date an Incredible Hulk knockoffs.” Leon wasn’t sure if it was just the loud noise attracting Hunter attention or if the beast could accurately process the jab thrown his relationship. Either way he charged big bare feet tearing up the floor as he rushed at Leon with inhuman speed.

Leon took a deep breath, crossed his fingers, and gave one final wink to Edward, hoping his friend would remember him fondly if this didn’t work out, then he ducked and rolled.

Hunter sprung like a cobra. If Leon had still been there the hit would have broken every bone in his body. Leon however was not there, and instead, Hunter charged right into the wall. It was a testament to his strength that he took nearly the whole side of the second floor with him, glass, drywall, bricks, and electrical wires all fell down in a shower of debris as Hunter fell to the dark ground below. Leon had to throw himself forward so as not to go down with the collapsing floor under his feet. He heard a crash then a slash then silence.

Edward rushed forward and the two of them peered through the giant hole in the house to the yard below. Hunter lay with his swollen belly up floating in the frat’s outdoor hot tub, his body having crashed through the tiled roof of the hot tub like paper. Leon watched as Hunter shrunk, first as his ability ran out then as the levels fell away. Hunter began to look like himself again before shrinking further into a scrawny ugly thing labeled as a level one wretch. The quest “Defeat Legion boss” updated itself to 1/2, though the “Stop the Legion’s plans” still remained at 0/1 which was concerning.

“That was amazing,” Edward said voice tender. He looked down at Leon’s shoulder and sucked in a breath. “Does it hurt?”

Leon looked down and winced at the way his muscular shoulder was twisted at an unnatural angle. “Yeah,” he answered truthfully laughing weakly. Leon took a deep breath and prepared to pop his shoulder back into place. He didn’t feel fear but he still felt pain.

Edward stopped “may I?” He asked reaching out his hands. Leon nodded and Edward placed his hand on the hard dark metallic surface of his skin. Instantly the pain was replaced with an orgasmic pleasure that felt warm and intensely comforting. Gently at first then harder when Leon didn’t flinch Edward wrenched Leon’s shoulder back into its socket.

Leon smiled up at him. “Thanks,” he said simply, he was too tired to think of a joke or anything more to say.

“I should be thanking you,” Edward said cheeks flushing. The two of them weren’t normally like this. They normally teased each other like brothers and let the mutual love they had for each other go unspoken. Now all the changes had them flitting about like scared middle schoolers. Leon wanted to wrap Edward up in a big hug and tell him it was all right but it was clear his friend had more to say.

“Look, I know this might not be the time, but I have something to tell you,” Edward said. Leon still found it hard to do anything but think about fucking when he was around Edward but he sensed his friend was serious and tried to pay attention. “I know everything is happening so fast, and our relationship just became physical which I feel bad about. I really didn’t know it was you I promise, but well I like you, Leon. I have always liked you, and not just in a friend way or a sexual way... but I also like you in a—”

Leon blinked and suddenly his friend was gone. He heard a faint scream getting more distant. His brain took an embarrassingly long time to process what had just happened. Edward had been right in front of him saying, well Leon couldn’t bring himself to think about what Edward was going to say, when he was ripped through the hole in the wall. Something metal had grabbed him around the waist and hoisted him into the air like a fish on a line.

Leon rushed to the opening and couldn’t quite believe what he saw. On the street, a giant thing had Edward in its hand, no claw. It was a machine Leon realized. It looked like it was made from a refrigerator, parts of a playground and a car, all deconstructed and reconstructed into a giant vaguely humanoid mech. Leon felt his blood boil as he saw a red bumper with a familiar license plate. Mother fucker had made his car into a mech.

Leon’s rage continued to build as he saw Edward struggling to get free. His friend was saying something to the person inside but he was too far for him to hear. Leon looked back at the machine still humming behind him. He grabbed a loose brick from the rubble of the caved-in wall then hurled it at the center motherboard as hard as he could, hoping that would put a stop to whatever the contraptions purpose was. Then he activated his Size Up ability, growing 70% his original size, spine expanding, pecs ballooning, legs growing longer and thicker, penis growing to well over a foot long. His strength doubled and Leon for the first time felt the intoxicating rush of true power. He knew he now had to be one of the strongest man on the entire planet. Leon needed more. He activated his inner strength ability, taking his already monstrous strength to godly levels if but for a moment. Leon bent his legs and then jumped into the cold dark night cracking the floor underneath his feet. He sailed in a long ark landing just behind the mech with a powerful earth shaking impact.

The street outside was cold but his blood boiled hot. Leon couldn’t make out the face of the mech’s driver but he could see the name tag floating above its head, “Alvis, Level 22 Technocrat.” Leon smiled humorlessly and balled up his hands into fists now the size of thanksgiving turkeys. He was going to get back his roommate, his best friend, even if he had to rip apart his other roommate and every machine in the whole city to do so.

“I like you, Leon. I have always liked you, and not just in a friend way or a sexual way—”

Edward felt like he was going to throw up but he pushed forward. Watching Leon fight Hunter had solidified his feelings. They were too intense to let lie even a moment longer, his friend had to know how he felt even if he didn’t feel the same.

“—but I also like you in a—”

Edward didn’t realize his feet were off the ground until he was already flying through the air. He let out a scream but it was too late. The metal claw wrapped tightly around his waist dragged him quickly and roughly through the air towards the towering contraption on the street like a harpoon reeling in a big fish.

Edward’s whole body shook as the metal chain fully retracted the claw into the mech’s arm reattaching firmly. His head hurt and he suspected he might have a concussion. Edward struggled but his 5.4 strength was pathetic compared to the pressurized machinery holding him.

Edward turned to face the pilot. A large colored plastic dome that looked as if it had been salvaged from a playground, sat on top of the mech distorting the appearance of the person inside. The floating name tag above their head however was visible and made Edward’s breath catch.

”Alvis, Level 20 Technocrat”

Edward internally groaned. It was clear something had happened to Alvis besides him gaining 20 levels and a mech. He looked physically different. Through the semi-transparent plastic Alvis looked like a baby or a sickly child. His head was now mostly bald and extremely oversized, especially for his tiny body. His eyes were bright with a vast intelligence but the rest of his face had somehow gotten uglier.

“Alvis, what are you doing?” Edward asked, kicking his feet as he fruitlessly tried to escape.

Alvis ignored him. Instead he looked over Edward with a hungry gaze then in a voice amplified by a mic hidden somewhere in the mech said, “Wow, you really are a pretty one. I’m starting to understand why that lout is so obsessed with you. It’s too bad your both assholes.”

“Let’s talk about this Alvis! I think there has been a misunderstanding.” The grip on Edward grew tighter, making his words come out strained.

“Misunderstanding?!” Alvis shouted, his voice nasal and grating. “You and Leon are the worst most selfish roommates ever. You ignore me, you touch my things without asking, and you fucked in my bed!” The last accusation came out as a screech and Edward paled. He had no idea how Alvis knew that but it would make reasoning with him a lot more difficult.

“I’m sorry about that. Put me down and we can talk. You don’t have to do this!” Edward was trying his best to work his charm though it was hard dangling in the grip of a giant robot talking through a barely transparent colored plastic spear.

Still, diplomacy seemed the only way. Edward tried to focus on his sage sense, but he didn’t understand what he was feeling. Alvis’s true desire had something to do with a basement, not particularly helpful at the moment. The countdown for the quest was down to a minute and thirty seconds. Edward had regained just enough energy points to use an emotion bomb on Hunter but the act had drained him of his reserves. A single point had regenerated since then and he was due to regenerate another soon, though that was still too little to use any of his techniques. He had no doubt Leon would try to play white knight and save the damsel from King Kong but he would only get himself hurt. Besides having a giant robot, Alvis was eight levels ahead of both of them with a whole host of abilities or techniques to be sure.

Edward wasn’t particularly surprised by the level gap. Video games were one of the only things Leon and Alvis had in common. He knew Alvis was a power gamer, someone who focused on making his character as strong as possible while bypassing other things like the story. Edward always thought that approach took the fun out of the game. Edward also knew Alvis was brutal with the power he had, quick to kill an NPC or even his own allies if it amused him or served his ends.

“I don’t have to do this?” Alvis repeated in a mocking tone. “Don’t you understand? Don’t you ever think with more than your dick? They sent you here to stop me because they know what I am going to do. It’s awake now and there is no putting it back to sleep. If they want to give us power then they need to live with the consequences!” His words became increasingly forceful and a bit deranged.

“Alvis, I don’t understand what you are saying,” Edward said, focusing hard. “Who are ‘they’? What is ‘it’? Can you give me some proper nouns here?”

Edward could see his charisma start to take hold, making Alvis more talkative. Alvis had never been the easiest person to get along with, but Edward suspected his new class might have driven him a touch insane. He supposed such a sudden increase in intelligence might do that.

Alvis chose to ignore all of Edward’s questions and continues with his madman’s rant. “I overloaded it once and so much had already changed under the surface. But of course you can’t see. It’s getting smarter, more complex, learning from those who join. If that was just one frat house imagine a whole block, imagine the whole campus, the whole city! You and Leon are blinded by the glamor—I won’t let myself be, I can’t. The game speaks to me, its voice is getting louder. It wants to make our desires manifest but they don’t want it to. They are going to kill us, kill it kill our god. We can’t let them, we need to help it, help it, help me, I’m going to kill you.”

Edward blanched. It was clear something was seriously wrong with Alvis. His words were choppy and halting and at times sounded as if someone else was speaking. Still there were nuggets of truth hidden in his rantings things Edward could learn about how the game worked or at least how Alvis thought it worked. The “critical mass” notification from earlier must have been from when Alvis had played the disk for the frat and added them to the game. Adding that many players had updated the game to version 1.2. It seemed Alvis wished to add more players to update the game again, though Edward didn’t know why. Could that be the purpose of the device? Did Alvis truly think the game was alive?

He knew if he had time he could calm Alvis down and get a proper answer out of him, but he didn’t get the chance.

From above there was a sound like an airplane taking off. Leon, in all his naked glory flung himself from the hole in the second floor. He had grown, a lot, he looked like a superhero, flying forward fist extended in a high ark, surging over the front yard and landing onto the street just in front of the robot. The concrete cracked under his bare feet and a shockwave blasted out from where he landed which rocked the mech but didn’t topple it, nor did the grip on Edward loosen.

Leon looked pissed, an expression made scary by his now hypermasculine square face adorned with a mustache and stubble. He looked like a Norse giant or an especially large and pissed-off gay porn star.

A crack had appeared in the plastic bubble over Alvis. Through it, Edward could more clearly see the Technocrat’s face which seemed surprised by Leon’s demonstration of force and anger, but not concerned. Leon rushed forward, in his giant form he was almost two-thirds as tall as the massive machine though still substantially less wide. Edward knew Leon would try to pry him free of the machine, and so did Alvis. The mech’s other hand pivoted slowly on rusty loud gears, then suddenly sprung forward as if the mechanism had become butter, likely due to one of Alvis’s techniques. The arm slammed into Leon mid-charge and flung him back into a car parked on the street, denting the vehicle and causing its alarm to go off. The few college kids who had gathered on the street filming the fight on their phones cheered at the blow.

“Leon, stop!” Edward yelled. He knew he could talk both of them down if they stopped for a second, but the two were too busy with their masculine antics to listen to him. Leon picked himself up from the ground. If not for his Animal Endurance and Armored Skin, he would likely be dead. As it was Edward could see Leon now had a limp. He charged once again, his giant body causing the ground to shake under his pounding feet.

Alvis activated another technique and every piece of technology within a large radius around him exploded. Cars, street lamps, fire hydrants, and even the phone in Edward’s pocket all deconstructed themselves into component parts and flew toward Alvis like he was a magnet. A large car door flew into Leon, throwing him off his feet and the metal components and electronics of Edward’s phone dug painfully into him as they tried to reach Alvis by tearing a hole in his leg.

Leon was stubborn. He got back to his feet, dodged a wildly whipping electrical line then charged at Alvis, using a flying telephone pole as a javelin. The wooden pole smashed into the center of the robot toppling it onto one leg. Alvis furiously worked the controls, preventing the machine from falling, but in the process the claw around Edward’s waist loosened enough for him to slip out. He fell to the concrete rolling painfully.

Leon saw this and tried to run to Edward but was kicked away hard by the mech’s foot, Alvis’s attention fully focused on Leon thanks to his Punchable Face perk. Edward ran away from the mech, his Effortless Grace allowed him to do a decent job dodging the flying technological debris but he still accumulated a series of cuts in the process. He would have given anything for a few of Leon’s perks at that moment.

“You destroyed my car!” Leon yelled accusingly, ripping up a mailbox from the ground and hurling it at Alvis. A laser shot from the mech’s other hand and sliced it in half.

“You used my game system without asking!” Alvis shot back voice, slightly distorted by the speaker.

“Those are not equivalent things!” Leon yelled. The two could have been siblings fighting on a road trip if they were not both hulking behemoths capable of taking down a house. “And I smashed your stupid machine,” Leon shouted up at Alvis, trying to get a reaction.

“Which one?” Alvis asked cooly. Edward’s heart sank. He should have known someone as paranoid as Alvis would have multiple contraptions set up. He saw Leon’s eyes go wide as well. Edward suddenly remembered what he had felt with his sage skill. In the basement, the machine had to be down there.

All it took was one look at Leon and his friend knew. Edward made a break back towards the frat house. The surges of debris had slowed allowing him to reach the house in a matter of seconds. At the front door Leon had kicked in, Edward risked a look back and saw Alvis had attempted to pilot his mech to go after him but was being physically held back by Leon pulling on a leg with Herculean strength. On instinct Edward cast out with his captive serpent technique, burning the two energy points that had regenerated on Alvis before rushing into the house.

Edward sprinted to the door he had seen with his sage perk and was grateful to find it unlocked. It was clear the basement was used normally for storage. Boxes, dusty shelves, and other junk filled the floor except for the cleared-out area where the contraption sat. It looked like the one from upstairs only slightly smaller. Satellite dishes hung from the side and in the middle was yet another copy of the “Altered State” game disk. Edward had no idea how Alvis had gotten multiple.

There were only twenty seconds left on the quest. The machine was working up to something big, a loud whirring noise came from the center part of the machine and the LED lights along the edges began to blink faster and faster. Edward grabbed a rusty length of metal from the ground, maybe once used in some scaffolding or as a fire poker. Outside he could hear the clash of titans, metal slamming into reinforced skin. He hoped Leon was all right.

It was amazing to him how much he and Leon’s lives had changed because of this game. In the course of a day, Edward had gone from an insecure ugly nobody drifting passively through life to someone with the power and autonomy to take what he wanted. Leon was always a superhero trapped in the body of a fat kid. Sure, he could be quick to judge and a little immature, but he ultimately wanted to do so much good but rarely could. The game had allowed him the opportunity to become what was always on the inside. And the game had brought them together. It was so silly to Edward that he had spent all that time dreaming about having someone special in his life when he already had it all along. He wanted Leon and only Leon.

He thought again about the quest reward offered for spoiling Alvis’s plans. A love potion. He imagined giving it to Leon, imagined his friend looking back at him with the same amount of love he had for him. He lifted the length of metal ready to smash the machine, but hesitated.

It wasn’t the ethics of a love potion that stayed his hand. No, the game wouldn’t have given him the Snake Charmer class if Edward was morally opposed to bending wills. Instead, it was what Alvis had said.

If he understood correctly, which was far from a sure thing, this machine was intended to bring more people into the game. Alvis seemed to think it would only affect the surrounding city and with one machine smashed it might be even less effective. Yet even so Edward wondered if he could really deprive others of the opportunity he had gotten. Sure there were those out there like Hunter and the guys in the frat who would abuse the power but Edward firmly believed there was more like Trent and Tag or him and Leon who wouldn’t. Edward knew it was stupid to trust Alvis. He was a weasel and without a doubt had his own motivations that were less than pure, and yet ultimately they agreed on the outcome that had to occur.

Plus there was the fact that Alvis seemed to think the game was alive. Edward was pretty sure that belief was due to his roommate having gone fully insane, and yet with all he had seen, he struggled to fully reject the idea. If so would Edward stopping the machine kill it, or doom it to a life of simple servitude? Was Edward willing to do all that to be with Leon?

In the one second before the countdown hit zero Edward was left with the agonizing decision so many have faced before. His desire for good and his desire for love waged war. In the end, he made his decision with a deep breath and a step back as he watched the countdown hit zero and accepted his fate to live life without love.

The machine let out a loud nails-on-a-chalkboard screech and shook violently, then sent a beam of light into the ceiling. For a few seconds, there was nothing then Edward blinked finding his vision suddenly filled with a rapid series of notifications and to his surprise tears. The two remaining quests marked themselves as failed though luckily he didn’t become a Wretch for it.

Instantly Edward’s mind went to Leon. He felt a strange cocktail of mourning, guilt, and acceptance which made his stomach hurt. Mourning for the potential life of love he could have had with his friend, guilt for what he had just unleashed, and acceptance knowing that whatever came next he had to accept. He needed to let this dream, this delusion of anything more with Leon die.

He pocketed the copied Altered State disk then left the basement resigned to his fate, feeling uglier than he ever had in his entire life.

Leon, for about the hundredth time that day, had no idea what was going on. As the countdown on the quest reached zero and a grating mechanical noise emerged from the house behind him Alvis let out a sinister laugh, face twisting into an evil satisfied grin. “Looks like your boyfriend chose chaos over you,” the technocrat said. Then he pulled a lever on his mechanism and the cockpit shot out like a rocket, blasting Alvis and the mechanical core of the mech high and far into the air before a parachute deployed and Leon’s evil roommate drifted slowly to the ground laughing all the way.

Leon didn’t have time to watch Alvis’s descent. A wave of notifications blinded him coming at first in rapid succession before coming slower like the last few stubborn popcorn kernels in the microwave. Around him, he heard the other students on the street yell in alarm and confusion.

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.2 to version 1.3.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.3 to version 1.4.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.4 to version 1.5.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.5 to version 1.6.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.6 to version 1.7.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.7 to version 1.8.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.8 to version 1.9.”

”The player count for this version of Altered State has reached critical mass. The system has upgraded itself from version 1.9 to version 2.0.”

When he focused on any of the notifications two smaller ones popped up.

”A full list of changes is available to all players with above 100 in intelligence or with a technology-based class. Thank you for playing Altered State.”

”Altered state is a product of the HunkTech corporation. Any unauthorized tampering with any version of this product will result in an immediate correctional effort.”

Leon felt something shift and then pop within his brain as if he had rapidly descended into the deep ocean. The appearance of the UI superimposed onto his vision by the game changed becoming sleeker and more modern. Before it had looked like a 90’s RPG with blocky text and bold bright colors. Now however all the lines were clean and simple, adjusting themselves into more unobtrusive and intuitive places in his vision. New tabs also appeared on his UI, there was one for stats, another for his quests, and a third for his inventory, which was currently empty. Another tab had a list of contacts. Edward, Ruth, and some of his more friendly acquaintances were on there along with most of his professors, though his family and friends from home were missing for some reason.

Looking closely, he saw he had the ability to start chats with any of them or invite them to a party. There was also a tab for achievements, one which had a map on it, and the last tab which was an auto-populating journal that listed with detailed information all the classes, perks, items, abilities, and game related things he had encountered. Leon knew he could, and would, spend hours reacquainting himself with the new features and the changes to old ones but first, he needed to find Edward.

The bulk of Alvis’s robot still lay on the street, dented from the multiple places Leon had hit it with thrown debris or his own fists. The road and surrounding front yards were marred from the battle, big chunks of electoral and water lines having ripped themselves up from the ground and flooding the street with dangerously electrified water. Leon heard some loud voices coming from the other side of the street and slowly made his way over.

As he navigated the debris, he felt himself slowly shrink back down to his usual size, his Size Up ability having finally run its course. Leon felt suddenly weak without his boosted strength and inhuman muscle size, though he knew he was still, clinically speaking, totally jacked.

Leon felt his breath catch as he saw the source of the commotion around. The dozen or so onlookers who had been filming the battle now stood on the street all talking over each other with panic or disbelief. A few stared blankly into space with the familiar glazed look of reading a notification or checking out their stats.

Sure enough, all the onlookers now had name tags floating above their heads which listed their name, their classes, and their level, which for all of them was level one. A few houses down a group of sorority girls walked outside looking for answers. All of them too had classes now listed above their heads, some made sense like the Cheerleader, Bookworm, or Pop Star class; while others seemed more bizarre like a short blond girl with the level one Radiant Knight class or another with the Park Pigeon Lady class.

More people came out of their homes or got out of their cars, nearly all of whom had classes now listed above their heads. Leon even saw a dog on a leash that now had the class Best Boy above its head and a squirrel that ran by with the class Nutcracker.

“Leon!” he heard a familiar voice yell. Leon turned to see Edward making his way towards him. Leon felt like scooping his friend up in a hug and never letting him go but Edward seemed strangely sheepish and hesitant, so he kept his distance.

“All this—was it really Alvis’s plan?” Leon asked gesturing to the confused level one people around them.

“Part of it at least, I think,” Edward said surveying the chaos with an oddly detached look on his face. “Did you get him?”

Leon shook his head. “He got away.”

“That’s all right. I got him with my captive serpent technique.”

“What does that do again?” Leon asked.

“Prevents him from being able to cum.” Edward said handsome smile slipping onto his face for a moment.

“Oh, he’s not going to like that.”

A dark sad look came back over Edward’s face, and they stood there in awkward silence, the first Leon could remember since they had first met. “So, what now?” Leon asked, trying to bring a lightheartedness back.

It didn’t work on Edward. “I guess we just go home.” He hesitated and looked like he was going to cry for some reason. “Or you could go out to a party and pick up a girl if you wanted. I’d understand.”

“A girl?” Leon asked laughing. “What are you talking about?”

“I saw a level one cheerleader. She was really pretty. I’m sure you could pick her up now with your body and stuff,” Edward said, spitting the words out like they were burning his mouth on the way out.

“Edward—” Leon said, trying to interrupt his friend.

Edward kept going. “I’m sorry about our hookup before. It was fun and all but I know you probably want something more serious and—”

“Edward!” Leon said again louder stepping forward.

Edward continued stubbornly adverting his gaze away from Leon. “And about what I was saying before, I don’t know what I was thinking. I know it was just physical between us and that I kind of forced you into it with my perks and that you wouldn’t want anything more with—”

“Oh, will you shut up already,” Leon said placing one large hand over Edward’s mouth, feeling the erotic thrill of the touch. Edward tried to say something but his words were muffled by Leon’s fingers. He looked up at Leon with eyes that looked so sad and hopeful and tired all at the same time, eyes that made Leon’s heart melt.

“I like you, Edward. I like like you. Yeah, I want things to be like they were before. I want to play video games together and hang out every day and tell you all my stupid jokes. But I also want to do other stuff, like snuggle in bed with you, and kiss you, and I really want to have sex with you like 100 times a day.”

Edward gave a weak laugh from under Leon’s hand, still obviously unconvinced. Leon’s no-fear perk made him bold and he continued to dump the thoughts that had been brewing in his mind all day. “Edward, if something happened to you I don’t know what I would do. I care about you a lot, you’re like my favorite person in the whole world. And I don’t really know what that all means, I still don’t think I’m gay but I want to have sex with you and to be your best friend and I guess that’s basically like being a boyfriend?” he said the last part as a question, suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable and fragile, a thing he hadn’t thought he could ever feel with his physical size and strength.

He lifted his hand away from Edward’s mouth to reveal a brilliant, charming smile that dimpled Edward’s face adorably. “Do you really mean it?” he asked like a boy opening presents for Christmas.

“Of course I do,” Leon said, returning the grin with one of his own. Edward wrapped his arms tight around Leon’s naked back, hands barely able to meet with how wide his shoulders were. “So is that a yes to the whole boyfriend thing?”

“Of course it is, you dork,” Edward said. He laughed melodically and Leon lifted him off the ground spinning him in the air. The two kissed, slow and passionate and oh so right. Leon felt like he had beaten the game like this was what all the questing fighting and discovery had been for. Some of the people outside turned to stare at the two gorgeous men making out, though most were too preoccupied with their new classes and the quests they had just been given to notice.

Leon knew things were about to change. That the life he knew, the world he understood were now things of the past. Yet in that moment none of that seemed to matter. Leon couldn’t see the chaos around him, nor the displays superimposed onto his vision. All Leon could see in that moment was his lover, his best friend, his roommate, and now his boyfriend. He knew that so long as they were together everything would be all right.

“I’m not drunk,” Edward slurred in a way that made it very clear he was completely sloshed. He slumped over into Leon’s lap eyes glazed over not from reading notifications but from the copious tequila shots and evidently very dirty Shirley he had just consumed.

“Sure, you’re not,” Leon said, patting his boyfriend’s head efficiently. “I’m just going to chat Tag and ask him to make you one of those detoxing drinks.

“Ugghhh…” Edward groaned into Leon’s lap. “Those taste like dog food. I should not have—” He hiccupped loudly. “—tried to keep up with you.”

At least twenty shot glasses sat empty in front of Leon and he didn’t even feel a slight buzz. Tag had invited him to the bar convinced his latest creation would be strong enough to get Leon drunk and while the drink, a mix of every alcohol imaginable, was strong enough to fry a liver from smell alone it was no match for the combination of his Metabolizer perk and his level seventeen Relentless Constitution perk which made him resistant to things like temperature, pressure, sickness, and poison.

Leon was secretly a little miffed that he would be relegated to being the designated driver for the rest of his college years though the trade-offs offered by his class were more than worth it. Besides, at the moment Edward was drunk enough for the both of them.

Leon placed a dinner plate-sized hand on Edward’s back and started to rub up and down causing his boyfriend to moan appreciatively. Leon felt an overwhelming urge to protect Edward which he knew was due in part to his genuine feelings towards his boyfriend and also the result of Edward’s level 17 perk, Protect Me, which compelled the men around him to protect him in times of distress.

Leon navigated the tabs of his UI, a thing that had become second nature in the month since they had started their Altered State Journey, and opened up a private chat with Tag. “Could we get an order of your detox drink in the back? Edward’s real ‘housewife sloppy’ drunk.”

A moment passed then Tag sent a personalized emoji doing a thumbs up, and sent a message saying he would be there as soon as he made one for Trent as well.

A level eighteen weatherman with the bland generic handsomeness of a TV newscaster glanced their way as he walked by, bringing a pocket of cold air with him that caused Leon’s nipples to perk up. Because they were going out Leon had managed to squeeze himself into a pair of XXL jeans, though he couldn’t bring himself to put on a shirt. With his Naked confidence perk no one minded his lack of dress, least of all his boyfriend.

As if alerted to the state of Leon’s nipples by a silent bell Edward sat up and began to massage Leon’s pecs, which had grown to the size of softballs to match his 62 strength, and squeeze it like a stress ball. His grip had some actual strength behind it thanks to the lean muscle he had managed to pack on from a few gym sessions aided by Leon’s Personal Trainer perk. While Leon barely felt the pressure of Edward’s grip through his naturally armored skin he did feel the effects of Edward’s Euphoric Caress. After two weeks with lots of physical contacts, the perk no longer overwhelmed him, though it still made him shift in his seat and his dick stiffen to attention.

“That guy was totally checking you out,” Edward slurred in his drunken state, grabbing a fist full of Leon’s chest hair and tugging on it like an inquisitive child.

Leon rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding? He was totally checking you out.”

“I think he was checking us both out. Maybe he could be our special unicorn,” Edward said, giggling to himself before hiccupping loudly again and laying his head back into Leon’s lap.

Early on the two had agreed that they were both secure enough in their bond to allow the other to have some fun on their own. Edward who was not lacking for willing and eager sexual partners had taken advantage of their arrangement a few times, though Leon had yet to. His feelings regarding his sexuality were still too confusing and there was still too much he wanted to explore with Edward for him to feel the need, though he didn’t begrudge his boyfriend’s escapades. Edward had gotten it into his head that they should bring a third into their sex lives to spice things up and was now on a full-blown hunt for a “Special Unicorn”.

From the other side of the bar, two glowing orbs of light trailing glittering sparks behind them flew toward their table. They spun in place before growing brighter and larger resolving into the shape of Tag standing and Trent hovering, as he now always did, in front of them.

Though Leon hadn’t met either before they had been assigned classes on that fateful night he knew from Edward that Tag looked relatively the same as he had a week ago. Tall and fit with dark skin and tattoos, he wore a tight black shirt and baggy jeans that hugged his ass and crotch. Leon still wasn’t gay but being with Edward had given him an appreciation for good-looking men like Tag.

So far as Leon knew there were only two effects from the game that had changed Tag’s appearance so far. The first was the few workouts he had led Tag through which thanks to his level 13 Personal Trainer perk were much more effective at building strength. The second came from a special juice shot that Tag now drank daily which boosted his charisma a few points, making his face more handsome and his dick slightly larger.

Above his head, Tag’s tag displayed his name and his class, a Mixologist, though it didn’t show a level. This they had discovered over the course of the month since that fateful day was due to the fact that Tag’s class was considered a profession. Profession classes were often based off artisan occupations or other skilled jobs and gave related bonuses. These classes were less common but Leon had seen many in the month since Alvis’s machine had gone off like the Seamstress, Carpenter, Perfumer, or the Barber class which Alexi had received, making his haircuts even better and giving small stat bonuses to anyone who received his services. Unlike embodied classes which gave abilities or Conduit classes which gave access to Energy Points and techniques, profession classes didn’t level up. That meant they didn’t gain perks or attribute points naturally. Instead, they had access to skills.

Tag had reported that there were hundreds if not thousands of skills available. Things like walking, breathing, eating, or sleeping all counted as skills and were available to be leveled up by those with profession classes. Increasing a skill made a person better at that thing and also gave passive or active bonuses at each level depending on the skill.

Not all skills were created equal, however. Profession classes gave huge bonuses to relevant skills. In the weeks since he had gotten his class Tag had managed to level up his Mixology skill to level fourteen while his sex skill, a thing Tag assured him he was doing a lot of, had only leveled up once.

Tag theorized there were ways of boosting skill progression or even having more than one profession class at a time though he hadn’t yet figured out how to do either.

“I told you those Dirty Shirleys were too strong,” Trent said taking in Edward’s slumped drunken state. Though he was significantly shorter than Tag he hovered a few feet in the air on a pair of iridescent fairy wings making Tag have to look up to meet his disapproving gaze.

Tag gave Leon a sheepish glance then walked over to Edward whose eyes were half closed and were muttering something to himself. “Yeah, still working on that recipe. Just give me a second and I’ll fix him up.”

Tag reached his hand into a small bag on his hip much further than should have been possible then removed his hand holding a large glass. He reached back in and procured a mug of hot coffee liquid, an egg, and half a lemon. Trent helpfully freed up Tag’s hands by making each ingredient float in the air with a wave of his hand as Tag pulled them out.

Leon knew Trent had specifically picked the level fifteen technique out of the three offered by his Pixie class that allowed him to warp the space of containers in order to make something for Tag to carry his mixology supplies around in. At the moment he could only work his technique on small bags but Trent had told him and Edward that once he had enough energy points he could do the same to a whole room or even a building, warping the space to make them bigger on the inside than the outside.

Tag added each of the ingredients to the glass, stirred it exactly three times in each direction then offered it up to Edward. Leon sat Edward up and took the glass placing it to his lips, The unappetizing brown slightly lumpy looked like it tasted like dog food but Leon knew the effectiveness of Tag’s brews and so tipped the liquid back between his boyfriend’s pillowy lips. Edward gagged before gulping the concoction down with a sour look on his face.

Instantly color returned to his face and he sat up on his own, eyes focusing with their usual intelligence. “Have you really not found a way to improve the taste?” Edward asked wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and scowling at Tag.

“Next on my to-do list,” Tag said sitting down on a stool next to Edward and giving him a cheeky grin.

“As if. You just like to watch us suffer,” Edward said playfully shoving Tag.

Trent stayed hovering in the air on his wings but descended a few feet down and floated closer to the table so he was next to Leon. “I think the raw egg isn’t even necessary. He just add it to be a dick.”

“How dare you,” Tag said in mock outrage. Leon watched his friend’s banter with a smile. Once he might have joined in with his own playful jabs but ever since he reached level 20 a few days ago and earned the perk Stalwart Presence he had found himself content to be a more passive observer in group conversations. A pillar of good-natured strength rather than a participant.

He felt strange about how that perk along with his level eight No Fear perk and in some ways his Tip Top Testosterone perk were changing his personality. Sure he might be becoming a better person but it felt wrong to have that forced upon him rather than undergo that development himself.

Edward too had received perks that changed his personality. His level 20 perk, Shed Your Skin, had made him more sociable, friendly, and flirtatious. The shy reserved Edward he had once known was now a thing of the past. In a way their dynamic had completely shifted and yet underneath it all they were still fundamentally the same people, at least Leon hoped.

“It’s been a few days since we have seen you. What have you two been up to? Other than fucking like bunnies,” Trent asked with an impish grin. He too had received a personality-adjusting perk at level 20, making him more playful and mischievous, better in line with his Pixie class. His appearance had also changed as he leveled. Besides the obvious wings he now had, his face had gained a puckish handsomeness from the charisma he received at each level, plus a perk that caused his ears to now end in points.

Like how level five caused a rapid and drastic change to one’s body, it seemed to be a universal thing as well that level 20 caused a change to one’s personality. It was one of the reasons that a sizable amount of people given classes were hesitant to advance them. Level 20, it seemed, was also a sort of soft level cap. Afterwards, the game no longer provided the same regular relatively simple quests that were so useful in leveling up fast early. Instead, one was forced to level up relying on the XP gained from doing tasks related to their class or from XP rewards granted from rarer situational quests like event quests or combat quests. Edward and Leon hadn’t yet gotten another of those and in the week or so since they reached level twenty and though both had earned enough XP to reach level 21 it had taken a few days of determined effort, a much slower process compared to their earlier rapid assent in levels.

For Leon that meant he had to spend a lot of time in the gym or playing sports to earn Juggernaut XP, while Edward earned XP by talking to people, specifically men. With some experimentation, Leon had also discovered that intense sex provided him with XP while Edward received XP through foreplay. They did plenty of both, for their development of course.

“I’d say this one is more a jackrabbit than a bunny,” Edward said gesturing to Leon with an equally devious grin. “It’s been weird trying to settle back into my old routines though,” Edward continued somewhat more seriously. “I mean, it’s just kind of hard to focus on my lessons when I know half my classmates can shoot lasers out of their eyes.”

All at the table nodded at that. Alvis’s device had caused the activation code for Altered State to be blasted onto every TV, phone, and device with a connection to the internet on campus and the surrounding areas. The code had remained long enough and had happened at a busy enough period to ensure that most of the student body and faculty who lived in the area had joined the game and were given classes. This had also overloaded the system and forced the game to update itself eight times to version 2.0.

In the ensuing chaos, the university had temporarily shut down. It became the fascination of international news, as what was first being reported as mass hysteria quickly became a story about the supernatural powers the local residents now possessed and the video game they claimed to be in.

The school had made the bold choice after only two weeks of closure to resume its usual functions, now with a dedicated department to honing and utilizing these new abilities and with lots of research grants given to those with professional classes.

Tag had been given a generous stipend to pursue his mixology by the school. He often told the others how strange it felt to buy alcohol on the school’s dime, though that didn’t stop him from doing so copiously and with a great generosity for sharing the results of his experiments.

Those however like Leon and Edward whose classes were not particularly beneficial to anyone but themselves were still expected to attend their usual course schedule. There were of course many who ignored this edict, too enwrapped by their new reality or afraid of it to attend class. However, there were also a surprising number of people who were content to live life as they had before, mostly ignoring the video game display now permanently superimposed onto their vision and making little use of the perks and abilities they did earn.

Leon and Edward were somewhere in the middle. While they attended most of their university classes their focus had definitely shifted to experimenting and advancing their Altered State classes and enjoying the fruits of their efforts. Their educations just no longer seemed quite as important, especially when they received guaranteed increases to their intelligence each level.

“I know what you mean,” Trent said agreeing with Edward’s comments about classes. “It’s impossible to focus in my Early American Literature class.”

“Why’s that?” Edward asked, “Did the professor get the pilgrim class?”

“No, worse, he’s a DILF.” The table was silent for a moment and Trent rushed to clarify “That’s his class, I mean, and he’s high-level too.”

“That’s a class?” Edward exclaimed surprised. “What type of perks does it give? Is it charisma or strength-based?” He asked, a bit too excited for his curiosity to be purely academic.

“Maybe both?” Trent guessed. “He’s gotten all muscly and handsome over the past few weeks as he’s leveled up. I’m not sure about perks but his hair turned this really sexy salt and pepper at level eleven I think.”

“Oh my god, what time is your lecture?” Edward said all pretenses of casual curiosity gone as he turned to Leon with object joy on his face. “Maybe he can be our third! I could seduce him, you know I could.”

“Maybe,” Leon said though the idea did intrigue him.

“What are you boys talking about?” a voice said from behind. Leon turned to see Ruth and a long-faced girl he recognized as Olivia, one of the Dagahir players who had fought Hunter with him. She had been granted the Shieldmaiden class while Ruth had gained the Girl With a Giant Sword class, which as the name suggested had given her the ability to summon and wield a sword that was nearly the size she was. The sword, which was thick and silver with red ornamentation stood point into the floor next to her. Some gave it curious looks as they passed but most ignored it, as it was no longer an uncommon sight to see individuals carrying weapons granted by their class especially not to the mostly classed student patrons of the bar.

Leon scooted his stool a bit more towards Trent to make room for the newcomers at the table. The others knew Leon’s friends they would be coming and shifted as well to make room for the two women. Trent flew over the table to hover by Tag so that Ruth could lean her sword on the wall he have been hovering by.

Since that fateful day Leon had attended a number of Dagohir meetings, ones made significantly more interesting now that a majority of the club had been granted classes most of which happened to lend themselves to medieval combat in some way.

“Trent was just telling us about this DILF class,” Leon said trying to involve the newcomers into the conversation.

“A DILF class?” Ruth asked. “What department is that in?”

“English,” Trent said and Ruth’s eyebrows shot up.

“That’s the professor’s class, in the game,” Leon clarified.

“Ahh,” Ruth said, looking suddenly thoughtful. As soon as the two newcomers had arrived, Tag had busied himself making them drinks from the supplies in his physics-defying bag. He hadn’t bothered to ask what either wanted, one of the perks of his class was that he usually knew on instinct. “Don’t you think it’s weird how gendered the classes are?” Ruth asked.

“What do you mean?” Tag asked as he handed her and Olivia two white drinks that looked like Pina Colada complete with little paper umbrellas.

“I mean, just look,” she said gesturing at her and Olivia’s Shieldmaiden and Girl With A Giant Sword classes floating above their head then at a table in the corner of three goth girls labeled the classes Vampire Huntress, Vampire Seductress, and Vampire Priestess. “Don’t you think it’s strange that classes would specify gender in them? Plus, from what I have seen the classes assigned to women tend to lean more towards fighting while all the guys’ classes sound like they could be gay porn categories.”

Trent snorted at that, but Tag looked thoughtful. Edward shot Leon and meaningful glance and Leon nodded. Edward had informed him of what Alvis had said and while they originally chalked it up to the rantings of a madman they had started to reconsider the notion that the game might be alive in some form. There were just too many coincidences and incidental happenings for someone not to be in control of the game, and from what Alvis had said it was unlikely to still be Hunktech.

Ever since Alvis had escaped that night neither had heard or seen from him at all, and while his stuff still remained in their apartment neither had high hopes of him paying his share of next month’s rent. Edward was convinced that Alvis had skipped town but Leon wasn’t so sure. Edward still maintained his Captive Serpent technique on Alvis, meaning the man hadn’t climaxed in at least a month. He doubted his incel roommate was too happy about that and suspected he would try to force Edward to release him sooner or later. To be safe, Leon had gotten the local locksmith (who had received the Locksmith profession) to install new locks now imbued with extra strength.

“Also,” Ruth said filling the empty silence her questions had left, “have you guys seen a single hetero couple?” That stumped the table as all racked their brains trying to think of if they had seen any. Leon had heard of a number of other individuals with sexuality-bending class features like Edward had though all seemed orientated towards same-sex relations.

“So you think the game has a gay agenda?” Trent asked smirking. Ruth only shrugged, face stoic. She had become a rather serious person, and Leon was realizing she might not actually be a great friendship match for the ever-playful Trent.

“To the gay agenda,” Edward said, raising his Dirty Shirley in a toast breaking the tension that had begun to bubble. He took a sip of the Dirty Shirley Tag had made for him earlier and his eyes instantly took on an intoxicated look. Leon suspected he might need another of Tag’s detox drinks before long.

Leon stood up from the table. While the shots he took earlier might not have gotten him drunk it did give him the need to pee like a fountain.

“Kiss before you go, babe?” Edward asked sweetly. Leon shook his head ruefully. He knew firsthand the power a kiss from Edward had gained after the Snake Charmer had reached level 19. A perk called Venomous Kiss made it so that Edward’s saliva now contained a non-lethal toxin that caused any man who injected it to want Edward desperately and irresistibly. The toxin naturally wore off after half an hour or if the antidote, located in Edward’s sperm, was consumed. Leon had been under the effects enough the past few weeks to know that while extremely fun it was also nearly impossible to control himself while under the effect and that a kiss now would likely result in them having sex in the middle of the bar, scandalizing their new friends.

“Maybe later, babe,” he said, excusing himself from the table and heading towards the bathrooms in the back. He maneuvered between a level eleven Combat Medic and a level sixteen Exorcist with glowing red eyes, apologizing profusely as he brushed up against them, mindful of the space his 250 pounds 6’5” body took up and also feeling slightly scared of what the Exorcist whose eyes glowed a malicious red might do if pissed off.

A table of low-level guys gawked at him as he passed. One with the class of Nudist who was predictably nude whistled at him as he passed. “Flex for us!” he practically begged. Leon gave a rueful smile, a slight bicep flex then went into the men’s room. His level 18 perk, Mr. Olympia, made his muscles extremely appealing to onlookers, and requests for such displays were not uncommon, though Leon still felt embarrassed being so openly objectified.

Inside the bathroom, Leon approached the unoccupied of the two urinals. He fished out his dick from his pants, which had grown even bigger with added levels thanks to his Grower and Shower perk, a jaw filling nine inches. In his peripheral vision, he could just make out the tag of the man peeing next to him: a level fourteen Big-Dicked Wonder. Though it violated all urinal codes Leon couldn’t help but cast his gaze down to the man’s penis.

The class name was no lie. The man’s dick looked like a prosthetic. It made Leon’s thick dick look like a shrimp. He felt his mouth begin to water and had the sudden overwhelming desire to put the guy’s cock in his mouth. He suspected the sensation was a result of one or more of the man’s perks, but didn’t really care.

The man saw him looking and gave a cocky wink. Leon felt like he was going to swoon. Maybe this would be his first encounter without Edward, or even better maybe this man could be the third Edward had been searching for. He knew Edward at least could handle this big-dicked wonder with his Charmers Basket perk and Leon could only hope his athleticism would let him as well.

Leon’s horny thoughts were interrupted by the sound of muffled sobs coming from one of the stalls. He turned and felt his mouth fall open in shock as he saw the name tag floating above the stall: Hunter, level six wretch.

With a deep sigh he stepped away from the Big-Dicked Wonder and marched up to the stall, wrapping on the door twice with his fists, the natural ridges of bone grown up over his knuckles from his Brass Knuckle perk made a loud noise on the metal door that echoed around the bathroom.

“Occupied,” a high nasally voice said from the other side sniffling.

“Hunter, open up, it’s Leon,” he called.

There was a pause then Hunter shouted “Go away” from the other side of the door.

Leon sighed, then activated his inner strength ability and checked the door with his shoulder, snapping the lock and causing the stall door to slam open with a crash. The Big-Dicked Wonder gave them a sidelong glance before somehow tucking his massive dick back into his pants and hurrying back into the bar.

Inside Hunter sat on the toilet with his pants around his ankles and his head in his hands. He looked nothing like the fit frat president he had once been and even less like the raging roided-out muscle bull he had become. His limbs were shrunken and spindly, face blotchy and his dick sitting flaccid between his legs was minute, like a sad baby carrot.

“Don’t look at me,” he shrieked when he saw Leon. “Haven’t you done enough?”

Leon felt a wave of both intense satisfaction and pity. He wanted to both laugh and also to help his poor pathetic former rival. He chose the more compassionate of the two. “Hunter, let me help,” Leon said in as calming a voice as he could manage.

“No! You made me like this. Just go away,,” Hunter said voice cracking as he buried his head in his hands, to hide the tears Leon suspected.

Leon opened his mouth and then closed it. Edward, with his 61 charisma, would undoubtedly know just what to say to calm Hunter down and get him to open up. Leon, however, had no such ability and so instead chose to just stand there and wait for Hunter to say more, blocking any path out.

Eventually, when it was clear Leon wasn’t leaving like he asked, Hunter did. “Cassy left me. She’s a Flower Power Hippie now that makes plants grow just by being near them and I’m this.” He gestured to his shriveled skinny body then stifled a few more sobs.

“Hey, at least you’re level six,” Leon said trying to comfort him. His words only made Hunter sob harder.

“I had to pick up trash on the side of the road and give food to homeless people,” he said as if recounting traumatic memories from war. “And all I got were these stupid perks that made me feel all guilty and stuff for the way I acted.”

“How awful,” Leon said, though his sarcasm was lost on Hunter.

Hunter looked up at Leon’s towering bulk which filled the entire stall with a mix of disgust, admiration, and jealousy. It was a strange reversal of the way not too long ago Leon might have looked at Hunter. “I wouldn’t bother with these quests except these stupid notifications tell me if I reach level twenty I get to change classes to something called a Repentant, which has to be better than the Wretch class,” Hunter said. It was clear he had been itching to confide in someone. “I’ll never get there, though,” Hunter said again, slipping into self-pity. “My level six quest is impossible. I have to apologize to someone I wronged.”

Leon did his best not to laugh. “You could apologize to me,” Leon said, and Hunter looked up confused. “You know, for trying to strangle me,” Leon clarified.

“Oh,” Hunter said. He took a second to compose himself, as if he were about to receive a lethal injection. “I’m sorry for trying to kill you, two times, I guess. My memory is a little hazy after I got that class and I wasn’t thinking clearly but the first time I guess was my fault or whatever. I just felt threatened by you and took it out in unhealthy ways.”

Leon was surprised by the genuineness of the apology. So too was Hunter, as his face twisted in confusion, then into a smile as the number above his head changed to a seven and he leveled up. The physical changes were small—Leon suspected Hunter was only receiving a fraction of stat points each level—but his pale skin grew a shade more rosy and his body which looked like it could be knocked over by a breeze grew a bit more hale.

“That felt kind of good,” Hunter admitted sitting up straight. “Maybe I should apologize to Cassie as well.”

“If you want, I have a whole table of folks you could apologize to out there,” Leon said, gesturing outside.

Hunter opened his mouth to say something, but a colossal boom drowned him out. The entire bathroom shook and Leon only stayed standing due to his level 16 Indomitable perk. Hunter cowered into himself and lifted his hands to shield his head. “Stay here,” Leon said before rushing out of the bathroom into absolute chaos.

It took a moment for Leon to process what he was seeing. A hole had been blown in the side of the bar. While most of the students were hurriedly fleeing out the door Leon’s friends along with a few other high-level students were actively engaged in combat. Leon cursed when he saw with who.

A notification filled his vision.

”Combat quest: defeat Alvis, level 32 Technocrat. Reward for success: XP, Spiked Pauldron of the Bashful Basher.”

Under the notification were two options.

”Accept this quest. Yes or no?”

Leon quickly accepted the quest and then joined the fray. Trent and Edward were in the process of evacuating the bar, Trent causing pieces of rubble to float into the air and Edward calming people with his words. Tag had ducked behind the bar and was furiously mixing drinks. That left only Olivia and Ruth facing off against Alvis.

Their third roommate had clearly not been stagnant over the months since his plan had come to fruition. He had made some serious upgrades to mech, which was no longer a blocky behemoth but now a sleek smaller suit armor that moved with alarming swiftness.

Beams of white energy shot from a cannon on the mech’s back harrying Ruth and Olivia. Olivia deflected each one with her shield while Ruth dodged them swinging her gigantic sword with impossible ease. Each hit of her sword was blocked by a holographic hexagonal shield that swung up around the mech before becoming invisible again.

Leon felt his Sentimental Strength perk activate. The perk lent him a boost of strength when he felt intense emotions, like sadness or pain or arousal as Edward had been delighted to discover. At that moment all he felt was rage.

Leon charged forward and roared, his voice dropping several octaves and becoming thunderously loud. Olivia, who had been slowly pushed back by Alvis’s onslaught, surged forward and Ruth redoubled her efforts, both bolstered by his level fifteen ability Battle Cry which granted a boost of strength and courage to allies who heard his shout.

Alvis seeing Leon turned to face him. He dismissively activated a technique that caused an electrified net to spring toward Ruth shocking and entangling her. The level sixteen Combat Medic from before rushed to her side as did Olivia, blocking the beams of energy sent to finish Ruth off.

“Look who is all grown up. You got bigger,” Alvis said, amplified voice sounding more sane than it did the last time they faced each other.

“And you got uglier,” Leon said, though he couldn’t actually see Alvis through the thick metal of the suit. “What do you want?”

“I want your boyfriend to release me from that chastity spell,” Alvis said swinging a metal fist at Leon. Leon activated his Inner Strength ability and caught it, though the force still sent his feet sliding back into a table flipped over by the blast.

“Not going to happen,” Leon growled.

“Then I’ll just have to kill you both,” Alvis said bringing the mech’s other hand over his head to smash down onto Leon.

“That’s not going to happen either,” Leon yelled, diving out of the way. He rolled behind the bar right next to Tag who wordlessly handed him a faintly glowing yellow shot. Leon downed it and felt his muscles swell slightly and his mind speed up. He nodded thanks to Tag then dove over the bar.

Trent and Edward, having finished evacuating the students, ran up to his side. Olivia helped Ruth to her feet and the two came to join as well so that they were all facing down Alvis, ready to give the technocrat a true fight.

Most great adventures in video games tend to end with a defeated bad guy, a kingdom set back in order, and a victorious hero. Our ends with a bar fight with a mech. That’s because real life tends not to be so simple, and because this was not the end for Leon and Edward—it was only the beginning.

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