Argh, my head hurts. Leonard woke up in his tattered bed, disoriented and groggy. As he rubbed his eyes, he glanced down and was stunned to see his body had transformed. No longer the flat, scrawny figure he remembered, he now had a well-defined six-pack, and he seemed to have grown taller. The sheer magnitude of his transformation sent a surge of joy through him, but it quickly faded as he tried to rise.
"What the hell is going on? I can't even carry my own body!" he muttered in frustration. The weight of his new physique was disorienting, and he tumbled back onto the bed. "This will take some time to get used to."
Determined, Leonard gradually pushed himself up using the wall for support. Each small movement felt monumental, and it took him nearly thirty minutes to finally stand upright. Feeling like a toddler learning to walk, he took awkward steps, stumbling multiple times before finally reaching the cell bars, eager to open them and resume his work.
He pushed against the bars, but they wouldn't budge. Squinting in the dim light, he saw the lock glimmering ominously. Panic surged as he shouted, hoping someone might hear him, but the mine was likely empty at this hour. After a while, fatigue began to set in, and as he leaned against the bars for support, they suddenly gave way with a loud clang, crashing to the floor.
Surprised and engulfed in dust, Leonard felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. "Great, just what I need. That's going to come out of my paycheck, plus the days I've missed." With a resigned sigh, he made his way toward the mine entrance.
As he entered the dark tunnel, an unsettling silence enveloped him. The usual flickering lights were absent, but surprisingly, he could see clearly in the darkness. His senses had sharpened; he could smell the faint scent of earth and detect traps hidden in the shadows. With newfound agility, he maneuvered through various obstacles, feeling a rush of exhilaration with each successful bypass.
However, amidst his newfound confidence, Leonard misstepped and triggered a trap. A massive boulder rolled toward him with terrifying speed. "Isn't this a little cliché?" he thought as he sprinted, heart racing. Just as he reached a dead end, the boulder barreled down upon him. In that moment of panic, he recalled the weapon he had in the system.
"Wait, it didn't respond earlier!" he thought. "Oh right, the system said I need to reach a certain level to use it. Man, I'm so screwed!" In a last-ditch effort, he clenched his fist, preparing to punch the boulder. To his shock, as his fist connected, the rock shattered into countless pieces. "Damn, that was so cool!" he exclaimed.
Just then, the system chimed in, "Even if the boulder had touched you, you wouldn't have felt a thing; it would have simply shattered." Before Leonard could respond, the system vanished again, leaving him in awe.
He hurried toward the main area of the mine, where he spotted John and the others finishing up their work. As he approached, a guard stepped in front of him, demanding to know who he was. Leonard, aware of how drastically he looked different, replied, "It's me—the guy who collapsed a few days ago. I'm okay now, so I want to get back to work."
The guard stared at him, disbelief etched across his face. "That's impossible. The person who collapsed looked nothing like you. I personally locked your cell to ensure your safety, and I still have the keys."
Thinking quickly, Leonard spotted John heading to fetch water. "Hey, John! Over here! I need your help!" he called out. John turned, confusion washing over his face as he approached, taking in the stranger standing before him who bore his friend's voice.
"Can you tell the guard that it's really me?" Leonard pleaded. John, still skeptical, hesitated but agreed to ask a few questions to confirm Leonard's identity. As they stepped aside, Leonard answered questions only he would know, and soon John's disbelief turned to astonishment.
"What happened? How did you get like this? Did something strange occur?" John asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I don't really know. I just woke up like this," Leonard replied, a mix of relief and apprehension in his voice. Internally, he thought, Thank God I can change my hair and eye color. Otherwise, John might think I was possessed! It would make no sense for a human to transform into something resembling a vampire overnight.
After John confirmed his identity to the guard, he was allowed back to work. But Leonard could sense the guard's lingering doubts, especially after the incident with the gate. He resumed his duties, clearing his portion of the mine ten times faster than before. To his amazement, he even managed to finish up some areas he had previously neglected, all while feeling remarkably energetic. The transformation was definitely settling in.
When the signal for lunch arrived, Leonard followed the others to the cafeteria. As he entered, whispers erupted around him. "Who is that?" "When did he come?" "Look at those muscles!" The attention felt overwhelming, and he tried to ignore the murmurs, focusing instead on getting his food.
As he took a seat next to John, his friend proudly announced, "He's back! This is Leonard—the guy who collapsed a few days ago!" The disbelief on the faces around them was palpable. "How can a scrawny guy who collapsed come back jacked like that? It's not possible!"
"Just let it be," Leonard urged John, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, the chatter faded, and people returned to their conversations and games—some playing cards, others arm wrestling.
After finishing his meal, John suggested they head over to the arm-wrestling area. Intrigued, Leonard accompanied him, discovering it was also a gambling table. John decided to join in, placing a modest bet. To Leonard's delight, John won after a fierce struggle, beaming with pride.
"Do you want to give it a shot?" John asked, eager to see how strong Leonard had become. Leonard hesitated; he wanted to test his newfound strength but realized he didn't have any money on him.
"Maybe another time," he replied, though John quickly offered to back him financially. Leonard agreed, handing over the money John had won. But just as they were about to accept a challenge, an organizer stepped in, saying, "You can't compete against someone you know. We need a different challenger."
Leonard felt a mix of disappointment and anticipation. He was ready to prove himself but would have to wait for the right moment.