Tae-min sighed, closing the door behind her. "Can this wait? I just—"
"No, it can't." Her voice cut through his protest like a blade. She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "You're not who you say you are. A D-class healer? Don't make me laugh."
He ran a hand through his damp hair, his exhaustion bubbling into irritation. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb," she snapped. "I saw you. I felt the power you unleashed in the King's Dungeon. You killed a monster that even S-class hunters would hesitate to face. And then there's what the King said." She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his. "You're not just hiding your strength, Tae-min. You're hiding something much bigger. So I'll ask again. Who are you?"
The room fell silent, the air between them heavy with tension. Tae-min looked away, avoiding her gaze. How could he explain it? The system, the quests, the way his powers seemed to grow at a terrifying rate—it wasn't something he could just put into words.
Jun-hee sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, but her resolve didn't waver. "Tae-min, I'm not your enemy. But if you keep lying to me, I won't be able to trust you. And if I can't trust you, how can I protect you when the time comes?"
"Protect me?" he scoffed, finally meeting her eyes. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "You've got it backward, Jun-hee. I'm the one protecting you."
Her jaw tightened, but she didn't look away. "Then prove it. Tell me the truth."
Tae-min hesitated, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him. He glanced at his hand, still faintly trembling from the battle, and clenched it into a fist.
"I don't know what's happening to me," he admitted finally, his voice low but steady. "The power, the abilities… I didn't ask for any of it. It just… started. And now I'm stuck in this cycle of fighting and surviving. It's like the universe decided to drop a ticking time bomb in my lap and said, 'Figure it out.'"
Jun-hee's expression softened slightly, though her guard remained up. "That's not an answer, Tae-min. What are you fighting for? What's driving you?"
"It was like it chose me the time we confronted an Archfiend. It was called the Ascension Protocol. I don't even know what it is. But since then, I've been facing and defeating things I'm not even meant to face or defeat at all. Things stronger than me. And the way I see it, this is just the beginning."
"So this Ascension Protocol chose you?" Jun-hee asked, her voice steady but her eyes searching for any hint of deception.
"Yes," Tae-min replied, his tone resolute.
Jun-hee sighed deeply and sat down, folding her arms across her chest. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"No one. Just you," Tae-min said, his gaze meeting hers. "You're the only one I've told."
Jun-hee nodded, her expression softening but her mind racing. "Alright then. We keep this a secret for now. If this Protocol is tied to something larger, we need to understand it first. I'll try to dig into anything related to the Ascension Protocol, but you need to stay on guard."
"Okay," Tae-min agreed, his voice calm but his mind weary.
Jun-hee stood, adjusting her coat. "Take care of yourself, Tae-min. This thing—whatever it is—has painted a target on your back. Don't get yourself killed before we figure out what's going on."
With that, she left, the door closing behind her. The weight of their conversation lingered in the air.
As silence reclaimed the room, Tae-min exhaled heavily, the tension in his shoulders finally releasing.
[System Notification]
[User Status: Physique Below Optimal Parameters for Advanced Combat Scenarios.]
Recommendation: Initiate Physical Optimization Training.
Tae-min groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Of course. You couldn't even let me have a moment, could you?"
[System Update: Physical Optimization Protocol Activated.]
Training Objectives:
Push Beyond Limits: Perform 1000 push-ups, 1000 sit-ups, and 500 squats.
Agility Mastery: Run 20 kilometers in a mana-enhanced state.
Endurance Testing: Sustain Shadow Flux Blade activation for 10 minutes straight.
Bonus Objective: Eliminate three Rift Beast constructs generated during training.
Rewards:
Enhanced Strength (+5)
Enhanced Stamina (+5)
Unique Passive Skill: Battle Hardened (Reduces stamina drain by 15% during prolonged combat scenarios.)
Tae-min stretched his arms, his muscles already aching in anticipation. "Alright, let's get this over with."
Tae-min started with the basics, his apartment barely large enough for the grueling workout. Each push-up sent sharp jolts of pain through his arms, but he pushed past the burn. By the time he hit 800, sweat poured down his face, pooling on the floor beneath him.
"I'll need a bigger place if this keeps up," he muttered, dropping onto his back for sit-ups
The sit-ups and squats were no less brutal, his legs trembling by the end. But the real challenge came when he stepped out into the cool night air, his body already protesting.
Activating mana in his legs, he launched into a 20-kilometer run. Each step sent shockwaves through his already worn-out body, the mana compression amplifying his speed but draining his stamina like a leech. The streets blurred past him as he pushed harder, the cool wind biting at his face.
By the time he returned to his apartment, his vision was swimming. He collapsed against the wall, gasping for breath.
[System Notification: Objective Complete – Agility Mastery.]
The final task, activating his Shadow Flux Blade for 10 minutes, required every ounce of his willpower. Summoning the weapon, the volatile energy crackled and pulsed in his hand, sending shivers up his arm.
The system, ever cruel, materialized three Rift Beast constructs, their growls reverberating in the room.
"Really? Here?!" Tae-min shouted, dodging as one lunged at him.
He moved instinctively, activating Flash Step to blur past the creature. The Shadow Flux Blade roared to life, tearing through the first construct's defenses like paper. Its form dissolved into wisps of energy, but the remaining two closed in.
The second beast lashed out with claws, but Tae-min's Reactive Instincts kicked in, allowing him to sidestep and counter with a deadly Phantom Slash. The blade's shadowy afterimages confused the beast, leaving it vulnerable to a lethal strike.
The last beast was larger and more aggressive. Its attacks were relentless, forcing Tae-min to activate Vision Breaker, glimpsing its movements seconds before they occurred. With precision, he ducked under a sweeping claw and drove his blade into its core.
As the final construct faded, Tae-min fell to his knees, the blade disappearing from his hand. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his entire body screamed in agony.
[System Notification: Training Complete.]
Push Beyond Limits: Success.
Agility Mastery: Success.
Endurance Testing: Success.
Bonus Objective: Success.
Rewards Unlocked:
Enhanced Strength (+5)
Enhanced Stamina (+5)
Unique Passive Skill: Battle Hardened (Reduces stamina drain by 15% during prolonged combat scenarios.)
Tae-min leaned back against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. "One of these days, you're going to let me rest, right?"
The system remained silent.
He dragged himself to his bed, collapsing onto the mattress. As exhaustion overtook him, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at his lips.
"This… is only the beginning."