Without thinking, Noah swung his fist. It connected with a dull, meaty thud. Pain shot through his knuckles, but the mugger staggered backward, clutching his jaw. Noah stood there, frozen in shock. He had never hit anyone before in his life, and the realization of what he'd just done left him trembling.
"Well done. First successful attack registered. Strength experience gained."
The Grindstone's voice rang out, calm and clinical, as if this were all part of a carefully orchestrated program.
"Y-you…" The mugger spat blood and glared at Noah. "You're gonna regret that!"
He lunged again, this time with reckless desperation. The knife gleamed under the flickering streetlight. Noah's instincts screamed at him to move, but his legs felt like lead.
"Host is advised to block. Utilize your environment."
Noah's eyes darted around. His foot brushed against a discarded piece of metal pipe near the swings. He dove for it, grabbing the cold, wet steel just as the mugger's blade came down. The clang of metal against metal echoed in the park as Noah blocked the strike with the pipe.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. He swung wildly, the pipe whistling through the air. The mugger dodged the first few strikes but was clearly caught off guard by Noah's sudden aggression. Finally, Noah landed a solid blow to the man's shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Stay down!" Noah shouted, his voice trembling but firm.
The mugger groaned, clutching his shoulder. He glared at Noah one last time before scrambling to his feet and running off into the shadows.
Noah stood there, panting, the pipe still clenched tightly in his hands. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.
"Threat neutralized. Combat tutorial complete. Reward granted: Basic Combat Skill unlocked."
The translucent screen appeared again, this time displaying new information:
[Noah Greene - Level 1]
Strength: 6 (+1)
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 6
Skills: Basic Combat (Novice)
Noah stared at the screen, his mind racing. He wasn't sure what shocked him more—the fact that he'd just fought off a mugger or the fact that the Grindstone had actually helped him do it.
"Is this… real?" he whispered, looking down at his hands. They were trembling, but not from fear. For the first time, he felt something else—confidence.
"Host's performance was satisfactory. Further grinding will improve combat proficiency and overall stats."
"Grinding, huh?" Noah muttered, a wry smile creeping onto his face. He leaned the pipe against the swings and dusted off his hands. The rain had stopped, and the air felt fresher, cleaner.
The Grindstone's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Quest progress: 4,126/5,000 steps. Host is advised to continue moving to complete the current task."
Noah sighed. "No rest for the wicked, I guess."
He started walking again, his steps lighter than before. The encounter had shaken him, but it had also awakened something inside him—a spark of determination. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had a purpose, even if it was just completing these strange, game-like tasks.
As he neared his rundown apartment building, the screen updated:
[Quest Progress: 5,000/5,000 Steps]"Quest complete. Reward granted: Beginner Agility Upgrade."
Another wave of energy surged through him, this time lighter and more fluid. His movements felt smoother, more coordinated. He jogged up the stairs to his apartment, barely noticing the usual creaks and groans of the old wood.
Inside, he collapsed onto his worn-out couch, staring at the Grindstone in his hand. It pulsed faintly, as if waiting for his next move.
"Alright," he said aloud. "What's next?"
The screen flickered again, displaying a new quest:
[Next Quest: Find a source of income. Reward: Enhanced Skill Integration.]
Noah groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You've got to be kidding me…"
But deep down, he couldn't deny the excitement bubbling within him. For the first time in years, his life felt like it was going somewhere.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 3.