Chereads / Above the skies: / Chapter 20 - The grind begins

Chapter 20 - The grind begins

Mingma woke up the next morning with the soreness from his injury still lingering, but he was determined to not let it slow him down. The memory of the Duel Grounds, the intensity of the battles, and his own helplessness gnawed at him. He activated his system to see if it had anything useful to offer.

"System, I need a training plan," Mingma said, bracing himself for the response.

The system chimed, its usual mechanical tone laced with what felt like a hint of challenge:

"Training Plan Generated: Daily Task Assignment."

Training Tasks:

1,000 Pushups 1,000 Squats 100 km Run

Mingma's eyes widened. "What? Are you crazy? That's… impossible!"

"Host requested a training plan. This regimen will push your body to its limits and enhance physical endurance, strength, and stamina. Begin immediately."

Mingma groaned, running his hand through his hair. "Push my limits? This might push me into an early grave."

But deep down, he knew the system was right. If he wanted to survive in this world, he couldn't afford to train like a normal person.

Day 1: The Struggle

Mingma began his training early in the morning, just as the sun peeked over the horizon. He found an open area near the dormitory, a patch of grass surrounded by trees.

First came the pushups. By the time he reached 200, his arms were trembling. At 300, his chest burned with every movement. By 500, he collapsed face-first onto the grass, gasping for air.

"You've got this," he muttered to himself, forcing his arms to push him back up.

The squats were no easier. His thighs screamed in protest by the time he reached 400, and at 700, his legs felt like jelly. He barely managed to finish the last few, collapsing onto the ground again, his breath ragged.

The run was the real killer. Mingma had never run more than a few kilometers back on Earth, and now the system was demanding 100 km in a single day.

"I'll just take it slow," he muttered, starting at a jog. By the time he hit 20 km, his feet were aching. At 50 km, his entire body felt like it was on fire. He stumbled and fell several times but forced himself to keep going.

By the time he completed the full distance, the sun had set, and Mingma was barely standing.

System Evaluation

As Mingma limped back to his dorm, the system chimed in:

"Daily Task Completed. Physical Stats Increased Slightly."

Attributes Gained:

Strength: +1 Stamina: +1 Agility: +0.5

He collapsed onto his bed, his entire body aching. "Slightly? I nearly died for that!"

"Consistent effort yields long-term results. Progress requires sacrifice."

Mingma groaned but couldn't argue. As much as he hated to admit it, the system's training regimen was working. His body felt heavier, more solid, even after just one day.

Days Turn into Weeks

The first week of training was grueling. Every morning, Mingma dragged himself out of bed and threw himself into the relentless routine. His arms, legs, and chest were constantly sore, but the system didn't allow him to skip a single task.

By the second week, his body began to adapt. He could push through the pushups without collapsing halfway and finish the squats without his legs turning to jelly. The 100 km run, however, remained a daily nightmare.

During this time, Mingma started noticing subtle changes. His stamina improved significantly, and his endurance during physical training classes at the academy was far beyond that of his peers. He could feel his strength growing, even if the progress felt excruciatingly slow.

A New Challenge

One day, after completing his tasks, the system chimed again:

"Bonus Task Unlocked: Survival Test."

"What now?" Mingma muttered, still catching his breath from the run.

"Survive in the academy's simulated wilderness for 24 hours while completing daily training tasks. This will test endurance, resourcefulness, and adaptability. Reward: Attribute Boost and Minor Skill Unlock."

Mingma stared at the notification, his exhaustion momentarily replaced by determination. If this world wanted him to struggle, he would struggle. If it wanted him to fight, he would fight.

"Bring it on," he said, his voice filled with resolve.