The first light of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and gold as Kazu and Nozue woke up in their cozy orphanage home. The gentle hum of the morning was accompanied by the soft chirping of birds outside, creating a serene atmosphere.
Kazu stretched and yawned as he rose from his bed. The warmth of the blankets was a comforting end to a day of hard work and adventure. He glanced at Nozue, who was already up and preparing for their daily routine.
"Morning, Nozue," Kazu said with a smile, his eyes still half-closed.
"Morning, Kazu," Nozue replied, already dressed in his exercise gear. "Ready for our run?"
Kazu nodded, slipping into his own workout clothes. "Absolutely. Let's get started."
They headed out into the cool morning air, their breaths forming small clouds as they jogged through the quiet streets of Druzka. The rhythmic pounding of their feet on the cobblestone paths was a familiar and comforting sound. As they jogged, the city slowly woke up around them, shopkeepers opening their stalls and the first rays of sunlight illuminating the charming homes.
After their morning run, Kazu and Nozue returned to the orphanage for their strength training. They moved to the small, well-used exercise area in the backyard, where an old, wooden pull-up bar and some weights were set up.
"Push-ups first," Nozue said, getting down on the grass.
Kazu followed suit, the familiar burn in his muscles reassuring him of his effort. They counted out their sets, pushing themselves to maintain form and stamina.
"Feeling good?" Nozue asked, panting slightly as they finished.
"Definitely," Kazu replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "Ready for today's quest?"
"Absolutely. Let's make it count."
After their workout, they quickly had a hearty breakfast, the orphanage's kitchen filled with the smells of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs. Rosalia, their non-biological mother and caretaker, watched over them with a smile.
"Good work this morning," Rosalia said as she served them. "You two are getting stronger every day."
"Thanks, Rosalia," Kazu said, taking a seat at the table. "We're heading out for the construction quest after breakfast."
"I'm sure you'll do great," Rosalia encouraged. "Just remember to stay safe and take care of each other."
With breakfast finished, Kazu and Nozue set off for the Guild. The construction quests were a significant part of their routine, and they took on new projects every two days. Each quest required different tasks: from building structures to clearing debris, their work contributed to the development and maintenance of various sites around Druzka.
They arrived at the Guild and picked up their quest for the day. The foreman handed them a set of instructions and a list of tasks.
"Today's project is rebuilding part of the town wall," the foreman explained. "You'll be working with a team of laborers. Just follow the instructions, and you'll do fine."
Kazu and Nozue nodded, taking the instructions and heading out to the construction site. They worked diligently alongside the laborers, using their skills to efficiently complete the tasks. Kazu's agility and Nozue's magical abilities made them valuable assets to the team.
As the sun began to set, they finished their tasks and returned to the orphanage, exhausted but satisfied with their work.
Dinner was a lively affair at the orphanage, with Rosalia and the children eagerly waiting for them. The room was filled with laughter and chatter as they recounted their day's adventures and the progress of the construction.
Rosalia served the meal with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with pride. "You two have done an excellent job today. It's inspiring to see your dedication."
"Thanks, Rosalia," Kazu said, enjoying the comforting food. "We're making good progress, and it feels good to contribute."
As the evening wound down, the children gathered around Kazu and Nozue, eager to hear more about their day. The stories of their construction work and the challenges they faced were met with wide-eyed wonder.
After the children were tucked into bed, Kazu and Nozue retired to their own rooms. The days blurred together in a rhythm of exercise, work, and family life, each one a step in their journey.
For two months, this routine was their life. Each day brought new challenges and accomplishments, and the comfort of their home and the support of their family made the hard work worthwhile.
The next day
The morning sun cast a warm, golden hue across the orphanage as Kazu and Nozue finished their usual jog and headed back for breakfast. The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon greeted them as they entered the cozy kitchen.
Rosalia was already busy preparing their meal. She smiled warmly at them. "Good morning, you two. You're just in time for breakfast."
"Morning, Rosalia!" Kazu said, his voice bubbling with cheerfulness. "The jog was fantastic. I feel ready for anything today."
As Kazu took his seat at the table, he felt a burst of curiosity. Something about the past two months seemed different, and he couldn't wait to find out what it was. After breakfast, he excused himself to check his status.
In a quiet corner of the orphanage, Kazu's face lit up as he accessed his skill window. The interface was familiar but seemed even more vibrant today. He scanned through his status, his eyes widening with every new detail.
[STATUS]
Level: 80
Name: Kazu Gonomiya
Age: 13
Job Class: God
[Passive Skills]
Divine Knowledge
Infinite Mana
Maximized Self Healing
Sword Play
[Active Skills]
Blink
Explosive Blink
Bloodlust
Blood Steal
Rage: Locked
Quick Wield
Whirlwind
[Magic Spells]
Fire Pierce
Fire Spirit Flare
[???]
[Unique Skills]
Exploration Level: 95
Assassin Level: 94
Cooking Level: 10
Mining Level: 3
Smithing Level: 2
Strength Level: 48
Kazu's eyes sparkled with excitement as he took in the impressive updates. His exploration and assassin skills had made significant strides, and even his cooking, mining, and smithing skills had seen notable improvements.
"This is amazing!" Kazu exclaimed, his cheerfulness impossible to contain. "Look at how much I've improved! I had no idea I was making such progress."
Just then, Nozue strolled by, noticing Kazu's jubilant demeanor. "Hey, Kazu, what's got you so pumped up?"
Kazu looked up, his face beaming with joy. "I just checked my skills update, and the progress is incredible! My exploration and assassin skills are almost at their peak, and my strength is now at level 48. It's so exciting to see how far I've come!"
Nozue smiled, clearly pleased for his friend. "That's fantastic! It sounds like all your hard work is really paying off. I'm happy for you!"
Kazu nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks, Nozue! It's really motivating to see these results. I can't wait to use these new skills in our next quests!"
Nozue chuckled. "With your enthusiasm and progress, I'm sure we'll tackle whatever comes our way. Let's keep this momentum going!"
With his spirits high, Kazu's cheerful outlook was infectious. He and Nozue set out for the day's activities with renewed energy and excitement.
As they left the orphanage, Kazu couldn't help but reflect on the journey ahead. The impressive updates to his status had lifted his spirits even further, and he was filled with anticipation for the adventures that awaited them.
"You know, Nozue," Kazu said with a grin, "I'm really curious about what skill I'll get once my strength hits level 50. I always get something new when my unique skills reach that level."
Nozue looked intrigued. "What are you hoping for?"
Kazu's eyes lit up. "I don't know yet, but I'm excited to find out. Every new skill has been amazing so far."
After breakfast, Kazu headed to his room to check his progress. His strength was at 48, just two levels away from the milestone. He scrolled through his skills, feeling a thrill of anticipation.
Nozue popped in and noticed Kazu's excitement. "What's up?"
"I'm just thinking about the new skill I'll get when I hit level 50," Kazu explained. "I can't wait to see what it will be."
Nozue smiled. "I'm sure it will be something great. Your skills are always impressive."
Kazu nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks! I'm ready for whatever comes next."
"You're always welcome Kazu!" Nozue said calmly.
"Let's go to the Guild and take another quest Nozue" Kazu says it with confident.
Nozue prepare their things before they head up to guild and he asked to store the things to Kazu's Item space. "Kazu, can you store this water and food on your storage skill?" Nozue said.
"Sure, Nozue" Kazu replied.
After jogging and exercising, they set off towards the Guild to pick up their next construction quest. The city of Druzka was beginning to stir with activity, the streets bustling with vendors setting up their stalls and adventurers going about their business.
As they approached the Guild, Kazu's excitement was palpable. He was eager to start their new quest and eager to see if he had gained any updates on his skills since the last time.
Inside the Guild, the familiar warmth and hustle greeted them. Missy was at the reception desk, busy sorting through a pile of paperwork. Her eyes lit up when she saw Kazu and Nozue.
"Good morning, Kazu, Nozue!" she said cheerfully. "Here for a new quest?"
Kazu nodded, setting down a few papers. "Yes, we're here for our next construction quest. We've finished the last one and are ready to take on another."
Missy smiled as she reached for the quest board. "Let me just get that for you."
As Missy handed them the new quest details, her eyes couldn't help but linger on Kazu. She noticed how his physique had subtly changed over the past few months. His muscles were more defined, and he carried himself with a more confident stance. It was evident that his rigorous training was starting to show results.
"You're looking quite fit, Kazu," Missy remarked, her voice betraying a hint of surprise. "I can see all the hard work you've been putting in."
Kazu chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks, Missy. I've been working hard with Nozue. It's part of our daily routine."
Missy's gaze softened, a mix of admiration and something more personal in her eyes. "It really shows. Keep up the good work. I'm sure the quest will go smoothly."
Nozue, catching the tail end of the exchange, glanced at Kazu and then back at Missy. "We'll make sure to give it our best."
As they collected the new quest details and left the Guild, Kazu and Nozue headed to the construction site. They spent the day working diligently, their movements smooth and practiced from their rigorous training.
Kazu, in particular, felt a new sense of strength and agility, his body adjusting to the physical demands with increasing ease. He was more determined than ever to reach his next milestone and discover the new skill awaiting him.
As evening approached and they wrapped up their day's work, Kazu looked over at Nozue with a grin. "I'm feeling stronger than ever. Can't wait to see what new skill I'll get once I hit level 50."
Nozue nodded, clearly supportive. "You're doing great. Let's keep pushing forward."
As Kazu and Nozue worked at the construction site, the day was sunny and warm. They took a break after lifting heavy beams and carrying materials.
Kazu, leaning against a wooden beam, felt a familiar sensation indicating a skill update. He pulled out his parchment to check the new notification.
Notification
[Mining Skill reached level 11]
[Congratulations! Your Strength skill has reached Level 50.]
[New Active Skill Unlocked: Fist Authority]
Fist Authority: A powerful punch that can shatter even the toughest obstacles.
Kazu's face lit up with excitement. "Nozue, guess what? I just unlocked a new skill called Fist Authority. It's a super powerful punch!"
Nozue wiped his hands and looked at Kazu with interest. "That sounds amazing! Have you tried it yet?"
Kazu shook his head eagerly. "Not yet, but I can't wait to test it out. It should be really cool!"
With renewed energy, Kazu continued working, his mind buzzing with the possibilities of his new skill.