"Hey, will you get up?! We have gym class! What did you do last night? I don't th—"
"Hey, chill, man! It's not what you think!" Ethan exclaimed, rubbing his forehead after Trevor's foot met his side. He scrambled up from the floor, disoriented.
They quickly followed the throng of students to the changing rooms, where they swapped their regular clothes for the tight P.E. jerseys—red shorts and white round-neck shirts. The jerseys hugged the girls' bodies, accentuating their curves in a way that drew more than a few glances from the boys.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—today's training was self-directed, with no teacher supervising. They were left to complete the workouts assigned by their instructor. Ethan decided it was the perfect opportunity to tackle the remaining portions of his quest.
The gym was expansive, providing ample space for students to engage in their routines. The only rule: no use of affinity powers within the gym's walls. Ethan and Trevor claimed a spot behind a group of girls who were energetically skipping rope, the rhythmic sound of the ropes punctuating the air.
Ethan positioned himself on the mat, getting into a plank before he began to push his body up and down, each movement taxing his already weary muscles. Sweat trickled down his brow, and he gritted his teeth as he fought through the pain. His body burned, muscles twitching with fatigue, yet he persevered, maintaining a calm facade even as his insides screamed for rest. Finally, he reached the magic number—100 push-ups.
DING!
Another notification chimed in his mind, but he brushed it aside, pushing himself into the next set of exercises.
"Did he really do 100 push-ups?" a voice from the group of girls wondered aloud.
"What the hell?! He looks so calm!" another girl remarked, disbelief etched on her face.
Ethan felt their eyes on him, a mix of admiration and envy, but inside he was anything but relaxed. *Damn this quest! I'm more exhausted than I've ever been!*
Despite his fatigue, he managed to keep going. Trevor watched in astonishment as Ethan—known for his gym class laziness—continued to push himself through sit-ups, hardly pausing for breath. Little did they know, Ethan was nearing his limits, and to add fuel to the fire, his mind began to wander.
His gaze drifted towards the girls bouncing around him, their bodies moving in rhythm as they skipped and did jumping jacks. He couldn't help but let those images motivate him. 'Focus, Ethan! Just finish the quests!'
DING!
At the sound of the notification, he collapsed onto the gym floor, drawing startled stares from his classmates.
"He actually did 100 push-ups and sit-ups each!" someone gasped.
"How is that even possible? I thought he just awakened!" another voice chimed in.
"Maybe that explains his sudden strength. I can't even manage that many without stopping!"
...
'One more to finish, right?'
[Yes, Ethan. Let's see how you handle it. Hahahaha!]
'I'll check the notifications first.'
[As you wish. You still have 12 hours. Haha!]
Ethan lay back, eyes closed, stabilizing his energy as the exhaustion swept over him. He was aware enough to notice a cute girl kneeling beside him, her face inches from his, checking if he was breathing. Trevor had stepped out to grab some fruit juice, leaving Ethan in the spotlight while others around them whispered in curiosity.
Completely oblivious to the tension, Ethan scrolled through his messages:
---
Quests:
Bonus: Surpass Your Limits (Run More Than 102km) => Completed.
Reward: Special Gift Card.
[Do You Want to Access It?]
[Yes/No]
---
'Yes!'
[Gift Card Sent to Storage Space. You Can Check It Out There.]
'Okay!'
---
Quests:
*Daily:
^ Run 100km [100/100] (Completed)
^ Do 100 Sit-Ups [100/100] (Completed)
^ Do 100 Push-Ups [100/100] (Completed)
^ Stay Focused (Pending) 12 Hours.*
Mission Initiated!
*Mission: Fight A Tyrant
Time Limit: 1 Month
Penalty: Backlash on Your Mage Rank at the Time
Reward: Gift Box (Random)*
---
'Woah! That sounds awesome, but the penalty is harsh. Can we negotiate?'
[No! Check your stats. There's a surprise…]
'Sigh. Okay, but can you recon—'
[No! It's a NO!]
'Aww man. I'm still a kid, you know.'
[???]
'Right!'
---
Name: Ethan Smith Junior
Race: Mixed Human
Strength: 06
Speed: 09
Stamina: 11
Perception: 02
Intelligence: 20
Affinity Energy: 35
Level: 1 [02/10]
Stat Points: 10
Current Form: [Mixed Human]
* Affinity(s)
* Spirit Beast(s)
* Skills
* Quests
---
'Woah! My speed increased, along with strength, stamina, and perception!'
[Yes.]
'What's the 02 beside the level bar and the 10 stat points?'
[The 02 is your experience. You use that to level up. The stat points are like coins.]
[You can use them to increase your strength or your perception, for example.]
'That's awesome! Let's see…'
[Before you do anything, remember they are not refundable. If you make a mistake, they're gone.]
'Okay, I understand. I'll put 3 in Stamina, 3 in Speed, 2 in Perception, and 2 in Strength.'
DING!
Ethan felt a rush of energy, revitalized as the new stats coursed through him. He quickly checked his updated stats:
---
Name: Ethan Smith Junior
Race: Mixed Human
Strength: 08
Speed: 12
Stamina: 14
Perception: 04
Intelligence: 20
Affinity Energy: 35
Level: 1 [02/10]
Stat Points: 00
Current Form: [Mixed Human]
* Affinity(s)
* Spirit Beast(s)
* Skills
* Quests
---
Next, he noticed the skills bar glowing:
---
^ Basic
^ Unique
^ Weapon
^ Affinity
---
'A new tab?'
---
Affinity:
Face of Terror: A skill that produces a barrier to block attacks from beasts and the like. The barrier is just an effect; the main skill induces a strong illusion that instills fear in the target. The fear can cause significant backlash for the victim. The higher the user's realm, the more potent the effect.
---
'Damn! This skill is OP. Can I use it?'
[Of course. You even used it this morning, but the main skill is… blocked for now.]
[You are still too weak to use it.]
'How about checking my Gift Card?
Not now. I'm still in the academy. I don't know what might happen.'
[Good thinking.
Mission Initiated!]
---
*Mission:
^ Fight A Tyrant
Time Limit: 1 Month
Penalty: Backlash on Your Mage Rank at the Time
Reward: Gift Box (Random)
^ Level Up to Level 5 to Unlock Main Skill of Face of Terror.
Time Limit: 2 Weeks
Penalty: Unknown
Reward: None
---
'That's more like it... wait! Why is the penalty unknown, and why are there no rewards?'
[Don't know. Hahahaha!]
...
Ethan felt a mix of exhilaration and annoyance, realizing he was being tasked with a mission without any clarity on its consequences. Just as he reveled in his newfound strength and energy, he attempted to rise. That's when he felt something soft, warm, and electrifying press against his lips. The sensation shot through him, revitalizing his very being.
Eyes flying open, he found himself staring into wide, shocked eyes. Clara—her face mere inches from his—had been the source of that unexpected kiss. They both jerked back, faces flushed, the room falling silent as they stared at each other, confusion and surprise etched across their features.
"C... Clara?" Ethan stuttered, his heart racing.
"You! You took advantage of me!" Clara exclaimed, an intense aura radiating from her, her expression shifting from shock to fury.
"I... I didn't mean to! I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Ethan scrambled for words, feeling the pressure mounting. "Trevor! Help me here!"
"Bro, you're already dead. I can save you no more. May your soul rest in perfect peace," Trevor joked, taking a slow step back as strange blue runes began to flicker around Clara, her eyes glowing a bright white.
"Clara, let's talk about this… aaahhh!"