Chapter 38: Parkour!
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Chapter 38: Parkour!
A blue screen appeared in Jacks face; it was the skill recommended by ArTazul, the one that wasnt even in the catalog.
Parkour Skill 3,000 credits
Parkour: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.
You have got to be kidding me.
Its a skill formed from information we found on this planet, ArTazul replied. Its not properly tested yet, so there might be some deficiencies, but it should last you through the F-Grade. The lack of testing makes it cheap; I can let you have it for three thousand.
But its parkour.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.
I am not aware of the names cultural implications. I just know its a movement skill and your best bet right now. You might be able to gather a couple thousand credits before the Tournament if you work hard, but you wont be able to get a good movement skill.
I guess Jack considered it. Parkours description sounded simple but suitable, and ArTazul recommended it. After all the free information hed just given, Jack was inclined to trust him on this, though his general motives remained doubtful. After all, he wouldnt get anything if he lied to Jack here.
Okay. Then, lets leave Earths powerful factions for later. Ill gather some cash till then. I will only buy the advanced information package and the Parkour skill. This brings us to six thousand, right?
Seven, including the confidentiality term for the coin. ArTazul grinned. And thats where the discount comes in.
Jack couldnt help but laugh. You sneaky bastard. Fine. Deal.
ArTazul smiled widely and shook his hand. Always a pleasure, Jack. Come back for more!
After watching his credits drain away to 0, Jack got two information crystals. One of them was filled with a ton of information he didnt want to go through right now. The other held nothingbut the moment he asked about it, the crystal broke into pieces.
Wha
Something entered his head, grabbed his synapses and moved them around, then carved information into his muscle memory. It was the most invasive, violating thing he'd ever felt. And then it was over.
From one moment to the next, Jack knew how to parkour.
Congratulations! New Skill unlocked:
Parkour I: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.
He shook his head. No matter how many times he experienced it, this feeling remained disorienting.
Have fun, Jack! ArTazul waved him off cheerfully.
Jack looked at his hands, then a nearby rooftop. He turned to Edgar. Ill be back soon. Take care of the others.
Will do.
Jack nodded and burst into a sprint. The crowd parted amidst shouts, but he ignored them. When he approached them, and therefore the street, he pushed hard against the ground and shot up with more force than any pre-System human had ever achieved.
He grabbed the ledge of a rooftop and let himself roll on it, then burst into a sprint without breaking pace. He jumped over gaps. He stepped against vertical walls and flew around columns. The wind buffeted his face, and the finesse required only accentuated the joy of speed.
Pre-System, hed seen some Red Cow events where people parkoured on the rooftops of Greek islands, but it was nothing like this. Those athletes were much better than Jack, but they were limited by their pre-System bodies. How much strength could they have had? Ten? Twenty? Jack had close to a hundred.
Under his sure feet and smart hands, the town became a playground. He jumped, rolled, twisted, and jumped again. He even performed tricks. All the while, he grinned; this was great fun.
The people below stared at him pass overhead. Their mouths hung open. His speed was such that they werent even sure what they were seeing.
Is that a bird? asked a man.
Is it a plane? asked a woman.
No! replied another man. Its
His response was lost to the wind as Jack sped past. He laughed out loud. Children looked at him starstruck, and he even saw teenagers mutter breathless wows.
As he got used to the movement, he sped up. The skill became more and more integrated into him until they became a seamless existence. Jack felt in control.
In truth, the first tier of Parkour wasnt enough to control his current strength. He misstepped at times and landed awkwardly at others. He could barely react as he practically flew over the rooftops, but even that was orders of magnitude better than simply running like normal.
Moreover, as time passed, Jack realized with glee that parkour was helping him deal with another problem: his increased control over his body.
The last upgrade of his Fistfighting skill had expanded his conscious control of his body. He could now perceive and control an extra layer of mental processes, allowing him to finetune his bodily responses to any given situation. On one hand, it was great.
I see, she replied with an amused smile. Does that make you our new mayor?
No. Thats you.
Excuse me?
I said, you are the mayor. I have no desire to manage a town or a faction. How about I make you the vice-leader? Youll have authority over everything, and youll be able to use that bright head of yours to help the people of Valville. I think youre the best person for the job.
You want to make me the general manager?
Yes.
Her eyes narrowed, and she stayed still for a moment. Jack knew this stance. This was her reaction when receiving a lot of information at once. Right now, her mind was pulling everything apart at incredible speeds, analyzing and understanding the situation.
It took her only a few seconds to consider her options.
Fine, she finally replied. I can do that. You go fight monsters without a care in the world; Ill handle everything else.
Thats gre
But, she cut him off, under one condition.
What?
You must do what I say. I have decades of experience leading complex research teams, so if Im running an entire town, I dont want a novice doctor of biology in my feet.
Almost doctor, Jack muttered, but yeah, thats fine. I trust you.
Good. Then, we have a deal.
Jack smiled. System, invite the professor to my faction, and give her the rank of faction vice-leader.
She accepted the invite, but the role he tried to give her apparently didnt exist. Well, what ranks are there? he asked in irritation.
Available ranks:
Leader: Jack Rust
Supervisor: -
Just leader and supervisor? Nothing else? He frowned. Seems terribly inconvenient.
Not really, the professor disagreed. The System generally takes a hands-off approach. Most things are arranged by people. For example, you can just name someone your vice-leader; you dont need System approval. The supervisor role is probably there to let people access some faction-related System screens.
I see. Then, System, appoint Margaret Rust as faction supervisor.
The moment he said it, it was done. She grinned. Very well. I will explore the available screens and handle everything. Can you also tell me what exactly happened with Henrys Fang?
Suddenly, Jack realized he was tired. Too many things had happened in too short a timespan.
Yes Just, give me a moment, please.
He walked back to the living room and took a seat on the floor; no sense in ruining the furniture with Henrys blood. With that amused smile still on her face, the professor followed.
After a moment of rest, Jack spent the next few minutes filling her in with the specifics of his town adventure so far. In the end, Professor Margaret had all the information she needed to get to work.
I think I get the idea, she said. You can leave everything to me.
Great! Have this, too, he said, handing her the crystal containing the advanced information package. You can read it first. Ill take it after youre done; youll be faster than me, anyway.
Okay.
Plus, I need to take a shower. Ill get going now. I think thats all.
Yes. And Jack the professor hesitated for a moment. I know youre strong, but you really should be more careful. Valville is only a tiny dot on the map. There are many strong people on Earth, like that Gan Salin that Henry White mentioned. I havent heard of him before, but he should be fearsome.
Dont worry. I know my limits. Ill be careful, Jack reassured her. And if that Gan Salin holds a grudge against me when we meet, either now or in the Integration TournamentI will gladly kick his ass.
She cracked a smile. Youve changed.
We all have. Lets go, Brock. See you around, Professor.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 38: Parkour!
A blue screen appeared in Jacks face; it was the skill recommended by ArTazul, the one that wasnt even in the catalog.
Parkour Skill 3,000 credits
Parkour: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.
You have got to be kidding me.
Its a skill formed from information we found on this planet, ArTazul replied. Its not properly tested yet, so there might be some deficiencies, but it should last you through the F-Grade. The lack of testing makes it cheap; I can let you have it for three thousand.
But its parkour.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.
I am not aware of the names cultural implications. I just know its a movement skill and your best bet right now. You might be able to gather a couple thousand credits before the Tournament if you work hard, but you wont be able to get a good movement skill.
I guess Jack considered it. Parkours description sounded simple but suitable, and ArTazul recommended it. After all the free information hed just given, Jack was inclined to trust him on this, though his general motives remained doubtful. After all, he wouldnt get anything if he lied to Jack here.
Okay. Then, lets leave Earths powerful factions for later. Ill gather some cash till then. I will only buy the advanced information package and the Parkour skill. This brings us to six thousand, right?
Seven, including the confidentiality term for the coin. ArTazul grinned. And thats where the discount comes in.
Jack couldnt help but laugh. You sneaky bastard. Fine. Deal.
ArTazul smiled widely and shook his hand. Always a pleasure, Jack. Come back for more!
After watching his credits drain away to 0, Jack got two information crystals. One of them was filled with a ton of information he didnt want to go through right now. The other held nothingbut the moment he asked about it, the crystal broke into pieces.
Wha
Something entered his head, grabbed his synapses and moved them around, then carved information into his muscle memory. It was the most invasive, violating thing he'd ever felt. And then it was over.
From one moment to the next, Jack knew how to parkour.
Congratulations! New Skill unlocked:
Parkour I: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.
He shook his head. No matter how many times he experienced it, this feeling remained disorienting.
Have fun, Jack! ArTazul waved him off cheerfully.
Jack looked at his hands, then a nearby rooftop. He turned to Edgar. Ill be back soon. Take care of the others.
Will do.
Jack nodded and burst into a sprint. The crowd parted amidst shouts, but he ignored them. When he approached them, and therefore the street, he pushed hard against the ground and shot up with more force than any pre-System human had ever achieved.
He grabbed the ledge of a rooftop and let himself roll on it, then burst into a sprint without breaking pace. He jumped over gaps. He stepped against vertical walls and flew around columns. The wind buffeted his face, and the finesse required only accentuated the joy of speed.
Pre-System, hed seen some Red Cow events where people parkoured on the rooftops of Greek islands, but it was nothing like this. Those athletes were much better than Jack, but they were limited by their pre-System bodies. How much strength could they have had? Ten? Twenty? Jack had close to a hundred.
Under his sure feet and smart hands, the town became a playground. He jumped, rolled, twisted, and jumped again. He even performed tricks. All the while, he grinned; this was great fun.
The people below stared at him pass overhead. Their mouths hung open. His speed was such that they werent even sure what they were seeing.
Is that a bird? asked a man.
Is it a plane? asked a woman.
No! replied another man. Its
His response was lost to the wind as Jack sped past. He laughed out loud. Children looked at him starstruck, and he even saw teenagers mutter breathless wows.
As he got used to the movement, he sped up. The skill became more and more integrated into him until they became a seamless existence. Jack felt in control.
In truth, the first tier of Parkour wasnt enough to control his current strength. He misstepped at times and landed awkwardly at others. He could barely react as he practically flew over the rooftops, but even that was orders of magnitude better than simply running like normal.
Moreover, as time passed, Jack realized with glee that parkour was helping him deal with another problem: his increased control over his body.
The last upgrade of his Fistfighting skill had expanded his conscious control of his body. He could now perceive and control an extra layer of mental processes, allowing him to finetune his bodily responses to any given situation. On one hand, it was great.
I see, she replied with an amused smile. Does that make you our new mayor?
No. Thats you.
Excuse me?
I said, you are the mayor. I have no desire to manage a town or a faction. How about I make you the vice-leader? Youll have authority over everything, and youll be able to use that bright head of yours to help the people of Valville. I think youre the best person for the job.
You want to make me the general manager?
Yes.
Her eyes narrowed, and she stayed still for a moment. Jack knew this stance. This was her reaction when receiving a lot of information at once. Right now, her mind was pulling everything apart at incredible speeds, analyzing and understanding the situation.
It took her only a few seconds to consider her options.
Fine, she finally replied. I can do that. You go fight monsters without a care in the world; Ill handle everything else.
Thats gre
But, she cut him off, under one condition.
What?
You must do what I say. I have decades of experience leading complex research teams, so if Im running an entire town, I dont want a novice doctor of biology in my feet.
Almost doctor, Jack muttered, but yeah, thats fine. I trust you.
Good. Then, we have a deal.
Jack smiled. System, invite the professor to my faction, and give her the rank of faction vice-leader.
She accepted the invite, but the role he tried to give her apparently didnt exist. Well, what ranks are there? he asked in irritation.
Available ranks:
Leader: Jack Rust
Supervisor: -
Just leader and supervisor? Nothing else? He frowned. Seems terribly inconvenient.
Not really, the professor disagreed. The System generally takes a hands-off approach. Most things are arranged by people. For example, you can just name someone your vice-leader; you dont need System approval. The supervisor role is probably there to let people access some faction-related System screens.
I see. Then, System, appoint Margaret Rust as faction supervisor.
The moment he said it, it was done. She grinned. Very well. I will explore the available screens and handle everything. Can you also tell me what exactly happened with Henrys Fang?
Suddenly, Jack realized he was tired. Too many things had happened in too short a timespan.
Yes Just, give me a moment, please.
He walked back to the living room and took a seat on the floor; no sense in ruining the furniture with Henrys blood. With that amused smile still on her face, the professor followed.
After a moment of rest, Jack spent the next few minutes filling her in with the specifics of his town adventure so far. In the end, Professor Margaret had all the information she needed to get to work.
I think I get the idea, she said. You can leave everything to me.
Great! Have this, too, he said, handing her the crystal containing the advanced information package. You can read it first. Ill take it after youre done; youll be faster than me, anyway.
Okay.
Plus, I need to take a shower. Ill get going now. I think thats all.
Yes. And Jack the professor hesitated for a moment. I know youre strong, but you really should be more careful. Valville is only a tiny dot on the map. There are many strong people on Earth, like that Gan Salin that Henry White mentioned. I havent heard of him before, but he should be fearsome.
Dont worry. I know my limits. Ill be careful, Jack reassured her. And if that Gan Salin holds a grudge against me when we meet, either now or in the Integration TournamentI will gladly kick his ass.
She cracked a smile. Youve changed.
We all have. Lets go, Brock. See you around, Professor.
Chapter 38: Parkour!A blue screen appeared in Jacks face; it was the skill recommended by ArTazul, the one that wasnt even in the catalog.Parkour Skill 3,000 creditsParkour: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.You have got to be kidding me.Its a skill formed from information we found on this planet, ArTazul replied. Its not properly tested yet, so there might be some deficiencies, but it should last you through the F-Grade. The lack of testing makes it cheap; I can let you have it for three thousand.But its parkour.NvlRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Novln.I am not aware of the names cultural implications. I just know its a movement skill and your best bet right now. You might be able to gather a couple thousand credits before the Tournament if you work hard, but you wont be able to get a good movement skill.I guess Jack considered it. Parkours description sounded simple but suitable, and ArTazul recommended it. After all the free information hed just given, Jack was inclined to trust him on this, though his general motives remained doubtful. After all, he wouldnt get anything if he lied to Jack here.Okay. Then, lets leave Earths powerful factions for later. Ill gather some cash till then. I will only buy the advanced information package and the Parkour skill. This brings us to six thousand, right?Seven, including the confidentiality term for the coin. ArTazul grinned. And thats where the discount comes in.Jack couldnt help but laugh. You sneaky bastard. Fine. Deal.ArTazul smiled widely and shook his hand. Always a pleasure, Jack. Come back for more!After watching his credits drain away to 0, Jack got two information crystals. One of them was filled with a ton of information he didnt want to go through right now. The other held nothingbut the moment he asked about it, the crystal broke into pieces.WhaSomething entered his head, grabbed his synapses and moved them around, then carved information into his muscle memory. It was the most invasive, violating thing he'd ever felt. And then it was over.From one moment to the next, Jack knew how to parkour.Congratulations! New Skill unlocked:Parkour I: A mix of finesse and bodily strength can allow you to navigate obstacles efficiently, have better control of your body, and move unpredictably.He shook his head. No matter how many times he experienced it, this feeling remained disorienting.Have fun, Jack! ArTazul waved him off cheerfully.Jack looked at his hands, then a nearby rooftop. He turned to Edgar. Ill be back soon. Take care of the others.Will do.Jack nodded and burst into a sprint. The crowd parted amidst shouts, but he ignored them. When he approached them, and therefore the street, he pushed hard against the ground and shot up with more force than any pre-System human had ever achieved.He grabbed the ledge of a rooftop and let himself roll on it, then burst into a sprint without breaking pace. He jumped over gaps. He stepped against vertical walls and flew around columns. The wind buffeted his face, and the finesse required only accentuated the joy of speed.Pre-System, hed seen some Red Cow events where people parkoured on the rooftops of Greek islands, but it was nothing like this. Those athletes were much better than Jack, but they were limited by their pre-System bodies. How much strength could they have had? Ten? Twenty? Jack had close to a hundred.Under his sure feet and smart hands, the town became a playground. He jumped, rolled, twisted, and jumped again. He even performed tricks. All the while, he grinned; this was great fun.The people below stared at him pass overhead. Their mouths hung open. His speed was such that they werent even sure what they were seeing.Is that a bird? asked a man.Is it a plane? asked a woman.No! replied another man. ItsHis response was lost to the wind as Jack sped past. He laughed out loud. Children looked at him starstruck, and he even saw teenagers mutter breathless wows.As he got used to the movement, he sped up. The skill became more and more integrated into him until they became a seamless existence. Jack felt in control.In truth, the first tier of Parkour wasnt enough to control his current strength. He misstepped at times and landed awkwardly at others. He could barely react as he practically flew over the rooftops, but even that was orders of magnitude better than simply running like normal.Moreover, as time passed, Jack realized with glee that parkour was helping him deal with another problem: his increased control over his body.The last upgrade of his Fistfighting skill had expanded his conscious control of his body. He could now perceive and control an extra layer of mental processes, allowing him to finetune his bodily responses to any given situation. On one hand, it was great.I see, she replied with an amused smile. Does that make you our new mayor?No. Thats you.Excuse me?I said, you are the mayor. I have no desire to manage a town or a faction. How about I make you the vice-leader? Youll have authority over everything, and youll be able to use that bright head of yours to help the people of Valville. I think youre the best person for the job.You want to make me the general manager?Yes.Her eyes narrowed, and she stayed still for a moment. Jack knew this stance. This was her reaction when receiving a lot of information at once. Right now, her mind was pulling everything apart at incredible speeds, analyzing and understanding the situation.It took her only a few seconds to consider her options.Fine, she finally replied. I can do that. You go fight monsters without a care in the world; Ill handle everything else.Thats greBut, she cut him off, under one condition.What?You must do what I say. I have decades of experience leading complex research teams, so if Im running an entire town, I dont want a novice doctor of biology in my feet.Almost doctor, Jack muttered, but yeah, thats fine. I trust you.Good. Then, we have a deal.Jack smiled. System, invite the professor to my faction, and give her the rank of faction vice-leader.She accepted the invite, but the role he tried to give her apparently didnt exist. Well, what ranks are there? he asked in irritation.Available ranks:Leader: Jack RustSupervisor: -Just leader and supervisor? Nothing else? He frowned. Seems terribly inconvenient.Not really, the professor disagreed. The System generally takes a hands-off approach. Most things are arranged by people. For example, you can just name someone your vice-leader; you dont need System approval. The supervisor role is probably there to let people access some faction-related System screens.I see. Then, System, appoint Margaret Rust as faction supervisor.The moment he said it, it was done. She grinned. Very well. I will explore the available screens and handle everything. Can you also tell me what exactly happened with Henrys Fang?Suddenly, Jack realized he was tired. Too many things had happened in too short a timespan.Yes Just, give me a moment, please.He walked back to the living room and took a seat on the floor; no sense in ruining the furniture with Henrys blood. With that amused smile still on her face, the professor followed.After a moment of rest, Jack spent the next few minutes filling her in with the specifics of his town adventure so far. In the end, Professor Margaret had all the information she needed to get to work.I think I get the idea, she said. You can leave everything to me.Great! Have this, too, he said, handing her the crystal containing the advanced information package. You can read it first. Ill take it after youre done; youll be faster than me, anyway.Okay.Plus, I need to take a shower. Ill get going now. I think thats all.Yes. And Jack the professor hesitated for a moment. I know youre strong, but you really should be more careful. Valville is only a tiny dot on the map. There are many strong people on Earth, like that Gan Salin that Henry White mentioned. I havent heard of him before, but he should be fearsome.Dont worry. I know my limits. Ill be careful, Jack reassured her. And if that Gan Salin holds a grudge against me when we meet, either now or in the Integration TournamentI will gladly kick his ass.She cracked a smile. Youve changed.We all have. Lets go, Brock. See you around, Professor.
