Ben 10: The System

Ned scanned the street, his eyes darting around. He needed food, and the system was pushing him to be proactive, so he needed a plan. He saw a small bakery, the smell of fresh bread wafting out. It was a family-owned place, and he knew the owner was usually distracted in the morning, getting everything ready. 

This was his best bet.

'Okay, plan,' he thought, talking to himself. 'Distract, grab, and go.' He was no master criminal, but he knew the basics of getting things done in this kind of situation. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

He walked into the bakery, trying to look casual. The owner, a short man with a flour-dusted apron, was busy arranging pastries in the display case. A tray of warm bagels sat on the counter, unguarded. It was almost too easy.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Do you have… uh… any day-old bread?" He knew they wouldn't sell it, they always give it to other homeless people, but he needed a distraction.

The owner looked at him, frowning. "Day-old bread? I don't sell that. We give that to the shelter." He turned back to his display.

He saw his chance. 

He reached over the counter, snatched two bagels, and turned to run. "Thanks!" he shouted, already halfway out the door.

The owner yelled, a mix of anger and surprise. "Hey! You little thief! Get back here!"

Ned sprinted down the street, his heart pounding. He could hear the owner yelling, and he was not alone. Two other guys who were helping him, were now on his tail, shouting and chasing him.

'This is not good,' he thought, the bagels clutched in his hand. 'They are fast!' The bagels were warm and the smell was making him hungry. He was already taking bites as he ran.

[YOU HAVE CONSUMED FOOD] 

[MISSION COMPLETED: FIND FOOD] 

[REWARD: 20 EXP + ITEM: RUSTY KEY]

A small notification popped up in his mind's eye. He was too busy running to check what the rusty key was.

He could hear the bakery owner and his friends closing in. "I need to get away from them now."

[LEVEL UP! 2 -> 3] 

[STATS INCREASED!] 

[SELECT STAT TO INCREASE] 

Another screen appeared. He focused on it, his mind going blank for a second. "Agility! I need to be faster!" He tapped on the word in his mind.

[AGILITY INCREASED!]

He felt it instantly. His legs moved faster, his steps lighter. It was like a sudden burst of energy flowing through him, and he didn't felt that tired anymore. He increased his speed with every second. He wasn't just running; he was gliding, effortlessly navigating around the other people on the street.

He looked back and saw the owner and his helpers, who were now farther away than before. He could see the frustration on their faces, they were struggling to keep up. One of them tripped over a trash can, and the other, was way more slower.

'This is amazing!' he thought, a wide grin spreading across his face. He took another bite of the bagel, the taste of warm bread and the thrill of the chase making him feel like a superhero for a second.

He weaved through the crowd, dodging people with surprising ease. He jumped over a newspaper stand, landing lightly on the other side. He was faster, more agile, all thanks to that weird device and its system. 

He reached a dark alleyway and turned into it, disappearing from the street view. The bakery owner and his helpers were still chasing him, but he had more space to move, to breathe. He wasn't just running away now; he was using his surroundings. He climbed over a dumpster, jumped across a fence, and disappeared into the maze of alleys.

He kept running until he was sure they weren't following him anymore. He finally stopped, leaning against a brick wall, catching his breath. The bagels were gone, he had ate them all in the run. He chuckled.

He pulled out the rusty key, curious about it. "What the hell is this thing for?" He stared at it, turning it around in his hand. It was a normal rusty key. He put it in his pocket. "I'll figure it out later."

"I really need to figure out how this whole thing works." But for now, he felt like he had won. He had food, he was faster, and he had another mission to do.

He smiled, a genuine smile. He actually was living an adventure.