Striking balls.

John just had gotten +2 Strength and +1 Endurance from the push ups, but it was now time for the real test.

Coach Conroy loved to make them play dodge ball which was only a pretext to let the more athletic students hit the others with hard balls for hours.

John's hope was that he could use Move to deviate incoming and outgoing balls, in order to avoid being hit and hit the opposing team.

The jocks and bullies knew how to take advantage of this and usually threw the ball really hard, aiming for the face, crotch, or other sensible area.

John had another advantage, contrary to the other weeks he was not tired by the running and push ups. He knew he would be a target but he wouldn't be an easy one.

The class was divided in four teams of 7 and there would be two matches happening simultaneously. John ended with a team of students he didn't particularly know or cared about and none of them were in good physical shape.

Anna was in Vanessa's team playing in the other match, but Frank was in the team opposing him.

Without surprise he was the first to be aimed at. He jumped to the side but also tried to use Move to deviate the ball. It worked perfectly except that his jump put him in the trajectory of another ball that hit him hard in the ribs. The impact was so strong that he lost 7hp. Without his gifts he would have a cracked rib for sure. Remaining cool headed thanks to the Gamer's Spirit skill he managed to use move and his reflexes to catch this ball before it fell to the ground. Taking out Travis, one of Frank's best friends who threw the ball.

He just gained a rank in Physical Resistance too. It was the first time he ever got someone out in this game.

He threw the ball, as hard as he could on an easily avoidable low trajectory towards Wallace and when he dodged it used Move to make it speed up.

The ball ended bouncing on the ground and going right in Frank's crotch. The bounce meant he wasn't out but his balls, already trapped in his punishment device, had just been crushed by the fast ball, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

This lucky shot made him a target and the whole opposing team started shooting at him, they had members of the football and basketball team.

After his third successful dodge John saw a pop up open and nearly got hit by an incoming ball. he also got +2 Agility points from all of what he just did.

New skill: Dodge lvl1, passive.
+20% chance to evade physical attacks.
This skill is based on Agility.

John had managed to strike back and even to get Raoul out of the field, after a shot on his leg he nearly escaped.

John began dodging balls left and right at an increased pace. He quickly gained another level of his Dodge skill.

His Observe skill went up again and he could now see the trajectory of the balls mid air all around him.

He was in the zone and had to calm down a little to not look too conspicuous to others. With the whole opposite team targeting him, his own had a chance to strike back and the few players on the court managed to strike out a few of the jocks facing them.

John could even take the time to watch the match taking place on the other court.

On a few occasion he helped Vanessa's shorts falling down (little actual help was needed without the string to keep them up), provoking laughs and taunts from the whole gymnasium.

He could see Frank and his pals throwing balls at him. Three incoming balls hard to avoid without some acrobatic move and all he could think about was the fourth one.

The one on the other court, flying away towards Anna's face. He could see that she didn't notice it and would be hit with the full blow of it.

Move