Chapter 11: Critical Strike
In the early evening, Ace caught the bus back to the city, rain speckling the windows. He wasn’t alone; Mercer had tagged along after stuffing a few clothes into a bag and storming out of his house. The kid clutched his school backpack and refused to meet anyone’s eyes.
On the ride Mercer reeked of the stale cigarette smoke that filled his parents’ home. A few passengers frowned, but Ace’s glare shut them up before they spoke. Mercer already had it rough. Ace stayed silent for the kid’s sake.
Ace focused on the glowing system prompt floating in front of him.
[You have obtained a new passive skill—Critical Strike (I)]
I pounded half the dojo and cracked a few noses, yet Critical Strike never showed. It only triggered after I poured every ounce of anger into the punch that decked Mercer’s dad. Guess emotions matter more than I thought.
[Critical Strike (I)—Whenever you land a critical strike, your damage rises by 20 %. The bonus applies only to that hit.]
Sounds about right.
At first people called Critical Strikes lucky hits. Later they learned a shot to a vital point could force one. Now Ace suspected raw emotion could spark the bonus too, which was handy. He was an emotional guy; the multiverse had already slapped him with an emotional flaw to prove the point.
Ace and Mercer got off the bus and headed straight for the dojo. The crew should be there, sharpening their skills for the looming apocalypse. With Mercer’s knack for swords, Chaewon would end up his teacher, so he figured she’d be excited.
Five minutes later...