Ding.
[Phoenix system booting up...]
[Congratulations on acquiring the Phoenix system.]
[Host's status: Alive and well.]
[Current goal; None.]
[Overall goal; save the realm.]
Xavier stood at the edge of a clearing, his gaze fixed on the distant building where he had met his untimely end. It stood there, looming in the distance like a haunting memory, a silent witness to the cosmic forces that had just resurrected him. Xavier felt a sense of profound confusion wash over him, like a swirling maelstrom of thoughts and emotions.
He took a hesitant step forward, his feet sinking into the soft earth beneath him. The world around him seemed somehow different as if he had crossed over into a parallel reality.
The air was charged with a peculiar energy, and the colors of the world appeared more vivid and surreal, like a dream that refused to fade.
As he continued to gaze at the distant building, Xavier couldn't help but wonder if his resurrection had been intentional. Had the cosmic forces deliberately placed him at this precise location, far from the threat that had claimed his life? Or was it merely a twist of fate, a roll of the cosmic dice that had landed him here?
The words of the system that popped up on a screen "save the realm." kept bothering him. It was a perplexing statement, for he couldn't fathom what it truly meant. How could he, a mere mortal and a very unlucky one at that, be tasked with saving anything, let alone an entire realm?
"Save the realm," he muttered to himself, the words sounding both daunting and absurd. "While I'm yet to save myself from poverty?" Xavier asked while shrugging his shoulders.
As Xavier approached the familiar gates of the mercenary guild, his footsteps echoed in the quiet courtyard. He had been absent for some time, and his return was tinged with uncertainty.
He stepped through the entrance, he was met with a mixture of curious glances and indifferent stares from the mercenaries. Ever since he joined the mercenary guild he knew that he had been something of an enigma to them, a solitary figure who rarely spoke to anyone.
But there was one face that he had missed, one person who had been a constant in his life within the guild, Travis. A fellow Handyman, Travis had become his closest friend, a comrade who had shared the trials and tribulations of their dangerous profession. They had faced trials together, celebrated victories, and consoled each other in moments of loss.
And now, as Xavier entered the guild's common area, he spotted Travis rushing toward him. His friend's eyes were red and teary, and his expression was a mix of relief and anguish.
"Xavier!" Travis exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion as he enveloped Xavier in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead. When we escaped that building, I turned around, and you were gone. I searched everywhere, but there was no sign of you."
Xavier listened to Travis's words, his heart heavy with the weight of his friend's grief and confusion. He knew that explaining his miraculous resurrection would be a daunting task, one that might strain the bounds of belief. He had decided that he would keep the details of his encounter with the Cosmic Phoenix to himself, at least for now.
With a calm and reassuring tone, Xavier responded, "Travis, I... I am too tired to explain now, but I'm here. I'm alive." He paused, searching for the right words. "I was separated from you during our escape, and I found my way out. It's... it's a long story, but I'm here now."
Travis gazed at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and joy.
Xavier reached out and clasped Travis's shoulder firmly. "I'm not sure what happened back there, but I'm grateful to be here with you now."
Travis blinked away tears and nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm glad you're okay, Xavier. You made me worried sick."
Xavier returned the smile, his gratitude for Travis's friendship overwhelming. "Let's catch up later," he suggested. "For now, I need some rest."
With a heartfelt farewell, Xavier bid his friend adieu and made his way back to his dorm. The events of the day weighed heavily on his mind, and he knew that he needed time to process everything that had transpired.
As he lay down on his simple cot, he couldn't help but think about the encounter with the Cosmic Phoenix and the enigmatic message he had received.
"To think I would be bestowed with great power. I can even rise from the dead. Imagine opening a cult or something by displaying this power." Xavier muttered thoughtfully.
"Nope. I'm yet to understand how this whole thing works. The last thing I would like to do is commit suicide unknowingly in front of hundreds of people. No one deserves to go that way." He decided.
Lots of thoughts invaded his mind, but for now, Xavier pushed those thoughts aside, closed his eyes, and allowed the exhaustion of the day to lull him into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Xavier's eyes blinked open, and for a moment, he lay in the dim light of his room, his mind still clouded by the remnants of sleep. But something was amiss. There was a persistent sound in his head, a ringing like a distant bell that refused to fade.
As he tried to shake off the last vestiges of slumber, Xavier became aware of an odd sensation. It was as if there was something floating in front of his face, something that shouldn't be there. He rubbed his eyes and blinked several times, trying to clear his vision.
To his astonishment, he saw it, a floating text, suspended in the air just inches from his nose. It glowed softly as if made of pure light, and the words seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.
[Complete 30 push-ups or be punished.]
Xavier's heart quickened as he stared at the words, his mind racing to make sense of this surreal phenomenon. How could there be text floating in his room, and what did it mean by "be punished"?
With a mixture of curiosity and a touch of trepidation, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The text remained suspended in the air, its message unchanged. Xavier took a deep breath and decided to comply with the strange request.
He moved to the center of his room, his bare feet on the cool wooden floor. With doubt clouded by fear of the unknown, he lowered himself into a push-up position. The room seemed to shimmer around him as he began to perform the push-ups, his muscles straining with the effort.
Counting each push-up in his mind, Xavier reached fifteen when he felt a subtle change in the atmosphere. It was as if a presence had entered the room, a presence that watched him intently. He couldn't see anything, but he could feel it, an unseen observer.
With each push-up, the weight of that presence seemed to grow, and Xavier's body began to tremble with exertion. He pushed through, determination overriding his discomfort. Twenty-five... twenty-six... twenty-seven...
And then, as he completed the thirtieth push-up, the ringing in his head ceased abruptly. The text dissolved into a wisp of light, dissipating into nothingness. Xavier stood there, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest.