James didn't sleep much that night. Not because of fear, but anticipation. The system had given him something to live for—purpose. Every drop of sweat now had meaning.
He sat up before dawn, his body still sore, but his spirit burning.
[Daily Quest Available]
• Sprint: 2 hours
• Push-ups: 50
• Sit-ups: 50
• Jumping Jacks: 3 minutes
Reward: Strength +0.3 | Agility +0.2 | Charisma +0.3
He got moving. By 6:00 AM, his shirt was soaked, and his lungs burned. But when the notification appeared, the fatigue vanished.
[Quest Completed]
[Passive Skill Progress: Resilience I → 52%]
[Hidden Trait Progress: Iron Focus – 71%]
After his shower, he stood in front of the mirror again. He looked… different. Not drastically, but his eyes had a sharpness, his neck a slight definition.
But what caught his attention was the scar under his lip from yesterday's fight. It didn't feel like a weakness—it felt like a reminder.
He touched it and smiled.
School was a different battlefield. People looked, whispered, even stared. The nerds and outcasts gave him nods. The popular ones avoided his eyes.
Clint was still out.
But Chris? He wasn't.
James spotted him near the vending machines, talking to Hadis. They noticed him too, and the energy shifted.
Chris muttered something. Hadis gave a mocking laugh. James didn't flinch. He walked past them like they were invisible.
That was when it happened.
[Charisma Check Triggered]
• Passive Effect: Unshaken Will
• Result: Success
Chris's voice stopped him. "You got lucky."
James turned, expression cold.
Chris continued, "Clint was holding back. He's coming back soon. And when he does, don't think that broken nose will be the end of it."
James replied calmly, "Tell him to aim better next time."
Hadis stepped forward, "Careful, Gun. Don't start something you can't finish."
[Optional Quest: Shadows Stir – Updated]
New Objective: Intimidation Display – Passive route successful
Progress: 1/3 Encounters
+0.1 Charisma | +0.1 Wisdom
James walked off. He didn't need to fight again. Not yet.
After school, James didn't go straight home. He walked to the abandoned basketball court behind the warehouse district. It was quiet, isolated—perfect for training.
He pulled off his shirt and started again.
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Shadowboxing.
The system chimed.
[New Feature Available: Combat Memory]
Description: Based on past encounters, the system records and simulates movements to increase battle proficiency.
Uploading: Clint Fight
Progress: 35%
James could now relive and analyze his own fights. It felt surreal.
"This thing is evolving with me," he whispered.
By sundown, he returned to the garage, wiped out. He lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling, breathing slow.
[Level Up: Level 3 Achieved]
All Stats +0.2
+1 Free Attribute Point
Feature Unlock Progress – 40%
[Current Stats]
Strength: 3.5
Agility: 1.9
Charisma: 3.6
Wisdom: 2.2
Luck: 5
Points Available: 1
Without hesitation, he dumped the free point into Strength.
[Strength Increased to 4.5]
He closed his eyes, letting the numbers fade from his vision.
"I'm not there yet," he whispered. "But I'm getting close."
Tomorrow was another chance.
And James wasn't wasting it.