Kael dropped to the ground, bracing himself on trembling arms. His chest heaved with every breath, and his muscles burned, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through.
"Ninety-eight," he muttered, lowering himself.
The tips of his fingers dug into the dirt, but he forced his body back up. His arms shook violently, but he didn't stop.
"Ninety-nine," he hissed, sweat dripping into his eyes.
One last push. He lowered himself slowly, muscles screaming, before forcing his body up again with a final burst of effort.
"One hundred," he gasped, collapsing onto his back.
A soft chime echoed in his head, and the familiar glowing screen appeared.
Daily Quest: Complete
100 Push-ups: ✔
5 Minutes of Ichor Control: ✔
Run 5 Kilometers: ✔
Rewards:
10 Points
Kael let out a breathless laugh, staring up at the sky. His chest rose and fell heavily, but a faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Well, well," the system chimed in, its tone laced with amusement. "Three months ago, you couldn't even do one proper push-up. Now look at you—Mr. Hundred."
Kael smirked, wiping his forehead. "You're never gonna let me forget that, huh?"
"Absolutely not. It's one of my favorite memories," the system replied cheerfully.
The stat screen appeared beside the quest log, catching Kael's attention.
Flame Rank: Little Flame
Level: 19
Strength: C
Speed: C
Endurance: D
Ichor: E
Willpower: D
Kael nodded to himself, rubbing his chin. "Not bad. I might just stand a chance against those bastards."
"You? You're starting to scrape the bottom of average. Baby steps, little flame."
Kael rolled his eyes, pulling himself to his feet. "Keep talking. I'll remind you of this when I'm strong enough to knock someone's teeth in."
"Bold words for someone still at Little Flame," the system teased.
Kael stretched his arms as he wandered toward the edge of the village, his boots crunching softly on the cobblestone streets. The air smelled faintly of tilled earth and smoke from distant chimneys, a peaceful contrast to the faint ache in his muscles.
The village was simple but full of life. Children ran between the weathered houses, their laughter carrying on the breeze. Women haggled over fresh produce at the market stalls while older men repaired fishing nets near the well.
But amidst the liveliness, there were signs of the past everywhere.
A crumbling stone altar sat on the outskirts, its once-pristine carvings weathered and faded. A toppled statue of Hestia, its face cracked and unrecognizable, lay half-buried in wildflowers near the road.
Kael paused to study it, a faint frown crossing his face.
"Still thinking about the glory days?" the system asked.
"Not really," Kael muttered. "It's just... strange. This place is supposed to be under the House of Hestia but look at it. No one really cares anymore. They've let it fall apart."
"Including your family," the system pointed out.
Kael scowled. "Not for much longer."
The sharp sound of a cart crashing interrupted Kael's thoughts. He turned toward the square, where shouts and screams echoed.
A massive boar stood in the center of the street, its bristled hide gleaming like polished bronze. Its tusks curved like scythes, gouging deep into the ground as it rampaged through the village, knocking over barrels and stalls.
"What the—?" Kael started.
"That," the system said, almost bored, "is a Nemean Boar. Haven't seen one of those in a while."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What's it doing here?"
"Tearing up your village, obviously," the system replied. "You might want to do something about that before it kills someone."
The boar let out an ear-splitting roar, charging toward a terrified villager. Kael didn't hesitate. He broke into a sprint, summoning his ichor.
The boar turned its attention toward Kael as he approached, snorting aggressively. Its eyes gleamed with a feral rage, and it pawed the ground, preparing to charge.
Kael skidded to a stop, holding his hand out. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the ichor flow in his body. The warmth gathered in his chest, spreading downward to his palm.
A tiny spark flickered to life in his hand.
The boar charged, its massive tusks aimed directly at him. Kael waited for the last possible moment, then dodged to the side, slamming his ichor-powered fist into the boar's flank.
The flame in his hand flared on impact, sending a small explosion rippling through the beast's hide.
The boar stumbled, letting out an enraged bellow. It spun to face Kael again, its movements slower and less coordinated.
Kael grinned. "Not so tough now, are you?"
"Big talk for someone using the skill he called useless three months ago," the system quipped.
Kael snorted, dodging another charge. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."
He darted around the boar, using Spark Flicker repeatedly to create flashes of flame that disoriented the beast. The boar grew more hesitant with each blow, its rage giving way to caution.
Finally, after one last burst of fire to its face, the beast let out a frustrated roar and turned tail, bolting out of the village.
Kael let out a breath, wiping sweat from his brow. His arms ached, and his chest burned, but a triumphant grin spread across his face.
"Well done, Kael," the system said. "Scared it off without getting yourself killed. That's progress."
As the dust settled, the villagers began to emerge from their hiding spots.
"He really did it," someone whispered.
"I thought for sure it was going to kill him."
An older man stepped forward, nodding reluctantly. "Thank you, Lord Kael."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "I'm not your lord," he said, brushing dirt off his hands. "Just call me Kael."
The man hesitated before nodding. "Kael, then. Thank you."
A few villagers approached cautiously, offering Kael small gifts of food and supplies as thanks. Some smiled warmly, while others seemed reluctant, but Kael accepted their gratitude with a quiet nod.
Kael returned home with his arms full of supplies. His mother looked up as he entered, her eyes widening.
"What happened to you?" she asked, frowning.
Kael set the food on the counter, giving her a faint grin. "Just doing my part."
Callia sighed, shaking her head. "You're going to get yourself killed one day, you know that?"
"Not today," Kael replied, leaning against the wall.
As he collapsed onto his bed that night, the system chimed in softly:
"You've come a long way, Kael. Not bad for someone who couldn't do one push-up."
Kael smirked, closing his eyes. "And I'm just getting started."
*******
The forest was quiet as the Nemean Boar trudged through the undergrowth. Its massive frame moved slowly, each step sinking into the damp earth. The faint gleam of its bronze hide was marred by black scorch marks streaking its sides.
A boy sat perched on a low boulder in a clearing, absently holding a wooden pipe to his lips. As the boar approached, his sharp eyes flicked toward him, and he lowered the pipe, a small frown forming on his face.
"Where were you?" he asked, sliding off the rock to meet it.
The boar let out a low grunt, dipping its head. The boy stepped closer, scanning the beast for any signs of injury. His gaze stopped at the dark marks across its hide.
He crouched beside the boar, running his hand over one of the scorched streaks. His brows furrowed.
"Burns?" he muttered, glancing at the boar's head. "What happened out there?"
The boar huffed softly, shifting on its feet.
The boy stood up, brushing his hands on his pants. "Those idiots from Artemis again?" he said, his voice sharpening. "They're always chasing after you like they've got something to prove."
He turned his eyes back to the burn marks, his frown deepening. "No… this isn't their style. They don't use fire."
His hand drifted to the wooden pipe hanging from his belt. For a moment, he stood in silence, his jaw tightening.
"Whoever it was," he said quietly, "they're dead."
The boar let out a low growl as if in agreement.
The boy took a step back, patting the beast's side. "Come on," he said. "We'll figure out who did this. And when we do…" He paused, glancing toward the shadows.
"They're going to pay for it."
The boy turned, leading the boar into the darkness of the trees.
*****
Kael lay motionless in bed, his arms sprawled across the rough blanket. Moonlight spilled through the window, bathing the room in a pale glow.
The system lingered at the edge of his thoughts, silent and watchful.
"So it begins," it murmured, its voice faint.
Kael shifted in his sleep, his face scrunching briefly before relaxing again.
"He's finally caught someone's attention," the system continued. "I wonder if he's ready for what's coming."
The system pulsed faintly, almost like a sigh. "He's growing stronger, but it's not enough. Not yet."
Its awareness drifted outward, brushing against the quiet village, the darkened woods, and the distant ripple of something that felt like anger.
"Rest while you can, Kael," it murmured, dimming as it retreated into silence. "Your time to rise is coming soon."