The morning of March 18, 3024, dawned as Sebastian rose from his bed, his muscles still humming from the intense training of the previous day. With only ten days left until he would leave for Aetheria Academy, he knew he had no time to waste. After completing his usual routine, he tackled his daily quest:
[Daily Quest]
Run 10 km (10/10)
Do 100 Push-ups (100/100)
Do 100 Squats (100/100)
Reward: 100 EXP
The tasks had become significantly easier after his recent level-ups, and within 30 minutes, Sebastian had completed the quest. Feeling energized, he checked his status screen to review his progress, especially after defeating four more Rockback Frogs in the Mistwood Forest the day before.
[Status]
Name: Sebastian Nightshade
Bloodline: Human ???
Level: 5 (Mid Rank 1)
EXP: 400/800
HP: 150/150
MP: 50/50
Strength: 18
Agility: 18
Endurance: 18
Intelligence: 18
Free Stat Points: 3
Free Skill Points: 5
After a quick bath and a simple breakfast, Sebastian settled on the couch, feeling the momentum of his growth pushing him forward. Just as he began thinking about his next move, a new notification appeared in front of him.
[Quest: Become Stronger]
Objective: Walk 10 steps on the Path of Life.
Time Limit: 3 hours.
Reward: ???
As Sebastian inspected the quest, a map appeared, marking the location of the Path of Life deep in the Mistwood Forest—a region populated by dangerous Rank 2 beasts. The task seemed simple enough—walk 10 steps—but the location and the time limit added a layer of danger. He knew that getting there would not be easy.
With little time to spare, he quickly packed his gear into his inventory and left for the forest. It took him 15 minutes to reach the edge of Eclipsia's protective walls. Once outside, the forest stretched out before him, dense and wild. Sebastian pushed forward, keeping his eyes on the map as he moved deeper into the wilderness.
The territory of Rank 2 beasts was notorious for its dangers, but Sebastian remained cautious, avoiding unnecessary noise and sticking to the shadows. The forest was alive with the sounds of distant growls and the rustling of leaves, making every step feel tense. He scanned the map regularly, adjusting his route to steer clear of the beasts' hunting grounds.
An hour later, he finally arrived at the location marked on the map. The Path of Life lay before him—a line of 11 emerald tiles glowing faintly in the undergrowth. At the end of the path, resting on the final tile, was a large, light-green egg. The quest timer showed that one hour remained. Sebastian took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead.
He stepped onto the first tile, and immediately, the world around him shifted. A barrier of some kind enveloped the path, cutting off the sounds of the forest. He could no longer sense anything beyond the boundaries of this strange place. The isolation was unnerving, but he focused on the task at hand.
With his second step, the change was immediate—gravity tripled, pressing down on him with unexpected force. However, his strengthened body handled it with ease. Confident, he moved forward to the third tile, where the gravity increased by another threefold. It was harder, but still bearable.
By the fourth tile, the pressure became more noticeable, and with the fifth step, gravity multiplied again, becoming a weight that felt like a boulder pressing on his shoulders. His breathing grew uneven, but Sebastian pushed through it, gritting his teeth against the strain. His muscles ached as he reached the sixth tile, where gravity tripled once more, making him feel as though he were dragging a mountain behind him.
His knees began to buckle under the relentless pressure. Sweat poured down his body, and his arms trembled from the effort. His lungs strained for breath. By the time he took the seventh step, his legs felt like they were being crushed. His knees throbbed in pain, and his entire body screamed for him to stop. But Sebastian refused to give in.
As he took the eighth step, the overwhelming force finally brought him down. His legs collapsed beneath him, sending him crashing to his knees. The weight was unbearable, like trying to lift a mountain, and he couldn't gather the strength to stand. For a moment, he lay there, gasping for breath, his vision blurring from exhaustion.
No. I can't fail. Not now.
With shaky hands, Sebastian opened his status screen and quickly added his three remaining stat points to Endurance. The sudden increase gave him a surge of renewed stamina, but it wasn't enough. Desperation clawed at him as he reached into his inventory and equipped his Ember Forge Gauntlet. The moment it materialized, he felt the boost—his strength and endurance increased.
Gathering his resolve, Sebastian forced himself to stand. The gauntlet's power flowed through him, and with a groan of effort, he took the ninth step. Gravity, now multiplied even further, crushed him again. He fell to his knees, his arms trembling violently. His entire body burned with fatigue, and each breath felt like knives cutting into his chest.
For a few agonizing moments, he lay on the ground, completely drained. Every muscle screamed for him to give up, to let the pain end. The timer was ticking away, and he had little time left.
But deep inside, something stirred—an ironclad will, a refusal to surrender. Sebastian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
I have to do this. For myself. For her.
Ten minutes passed as he lay there, his body barely recovering enough to move. Then, with every ounce of strength he could muster, he slowly stood. His knees wobbled, and his lungs burned, but his resolve was unwavering. The pressure in his veins felt unbearable, but he knew he had to take the final step.
His body screamed as he forced one foot forward, placing it on the tenth and final tile. The gravity was beyond comprehension, pressing down on him with the weight of thirty times the normal force. He collapsed again, his knees buckling, the pain radiating through his legs and spine. His vision darkened, his body at its breaking point.
But even as the pain consumed him, his eyes remained locked on the egg. It was so close, just out of reach. With what little strength he had left, Sebastian stretched his arm forward, willing his body to move. He felt himself falling, his vision fading, but he aimed his fall toward the egg.
With a final surge of effort, his fingertips brushed the smooth surface of the egg as he collapsed, his body giving out completely.
He touched the egg.