chapter 23: Skill Review & Game Chat — The Chain Plan
POV: Zai
I was half way through a Saturday evening gaming session. The house was plunged into darkness other than the illumination from my monitor and the red glow of my mic. My headset was draped over my ears, snug, and I was leaned back in my gaming chair, controller in my hand, gamed out to a quick online game of Call of Duty with the squad.
Gunfire cracked in my headsets.
"Yo, Zai! Flank left!" Darien screamed over static.
"I am flanking, bro—y'all just keep runnin' mid like it's free kills," I growled, clicking my triggers.
Headshot. Another headshot.
Double kill.
But my focus wasn't all there.
Because floating just off to the side of my HUD—like a ghost on the periphery of my vision—was my entire system skill list.
All of them.
And with that combination challenge on my lap, I realized I was going to have to cut the slack and get creative.
[ACTIVE SKILLS]
Fireball Throw (Mario Style)
– Weakly knockbacked projectile that slowly burns.
Boomerang Toss (Link Style)
– Returns after casting; can use to create openings or counterattack.
Flip Jump (ZSS Variant)
– Quick aerial movement; can use to avoid and jump from up high.
Ink Bomb (Inkling Variant)
– Splatter trap captures enemies, slows them down, and makes them take more damage.
Charge Shot (Samus Style)
– Stored and customizable; heavy damage.
Egg Shield (Yoshi Variant)
– Barrier shield. Invincibility with lock-on mobility temporarily.
Short Dodge Roll
– Ground movement burst that happens fast; short invincibility period.
Edge Recovery (Universal Smash)
– In-air recovery from launching points or drops.
Basic Punch (Smash Variant)
– 3 hits can be comboed. Damage is proportional to stat growth.
Parry (Frame-Perfect)
– Requires high Technique Control; cancels incoming damage.
System Scan (Lv. 1)
– Identifies weaknesses, stat trends, and move prediction cues.
"Yo, Zai, you there?"
"Bro, don't rage-quit on us now—!"
"You better not be watching anime edits again."
"I'm here," I replied, firing two additional headshots and reloading. "Just… multitasking."
In actuality, I was already daydreaming outside of the game.
I scrolled over the skill list again, categorizing all in my mind by type:
Mobility / Positioning
Flip Jump
Edge Recovery
Short Dodge Roll
Offense / Pressure
Fireball
Charge Shot
Boomerang Toss
Basic Punch
Ink Bomb
Defense / Utility
Parry
Egg Shield
System Scan
Five-skill chain, yeah.
The system informed me that it didn't need to be all about damage, it just needed to flow and be understandable.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Hmmm," I thought to myself. "What if I started off with Ink Bomb, hindering them for a bit, then dodged around it with a Short Dodge, then strung together a Basic Punch combo, then leaped into a Flip Jump to keep on the move. and finished with a mid-air Charge Shot?"
[POSSIBLE COMBO: INK BOMB → SHORT DODGE → BASIC PUNCH → FLIP JUMP → CHARGE SHOT]
Status: Chain Compatible — Requires precise timing and medium stamina
Expected Result: Skill Link Evolution Trigger (Medium Chance)
"Zai, are you—what are you doing, bro?!"
"Oh, my bad," I laughed as I got camper'd. "Got distracted by something important."
"Man, you always on that 'anime protagonist' energy."
If only they understood.
I clicked "exit match" and pushed my chair back.
Time to shut up.
Time to practice.
I looked over at Marcus, who had stood behind me, arms folded, watching my skill list the whole time.
"You up for trying out this chain?"
He nodded. "Let's level it up."