Kael stretched, his joints cracking as the cool morning air brushed against his skin. He sat cross-legged near the edge of the village, the faint smell of dew and earth around him. The sun was rising higher, casting a soft glow over the treetops.
He swiped his hand, calling up the familiar blue glow of the system interface. "Alright, system," he muttered, rubbing his face. "Let me see that quest window again."
"Still dragging your feet on your daily quests?" the system teased, its tone almost smug.
Kael groaned. "I already started yesterday. Just show me."
The Daily Quest window reappeared in front of him, the familiar list of tasks lighting up:
Daily Quest:
200 Push-ups (Completed: 0/200)
One Hour of Ichor Training (Completed: 0/60 min)
Acquire a New Skill (0/1 Skills Acquired)
Kael's gaze lingered on the third task. "Right. Guess I can't stall on this one anymore."
"A new skill, hmm? I'd say it's about time. Let's see if you've actually saved enough points to buy something decent this time."
Kael rolled his eyes as he opened the shop, the menu expanding into a grid of glowing panels. The sheer number of options made him pause for a moment. "Damn… looks like the shop's gotten a lot bigger since last time."
"Naturally. Your body can handle more now than it could three months ago, Little Flame. Your training isn't for nothing. The shop reflects your progress—stronger options are available because you're stronger. Well, relatively speaking."
Kael snorted, scrolling through the list. "Alright, let's see what I've got."
Shop:
Current Points: 1,775
Ember Veil – 200 Points
Absorbs incoming damage by channeling ichor, dissipating it as heat.
Flickering Dash – 150 Points
A burst of ichor-fueled speed for dodging or closing gaps.
Ignition Strike – 300 Points
Enhances a physical strike with ichor, causing a fiery explosion on impact.
Everburning Core – 500 Points
Passively increases ichor regeneration rate and improves ichor flow efficiency.
Sapling Guard – 250 Points
Creates a shield of roots and vines to absorb damage temporarily.
Budding Blossom – 250 Points
Boosts ichor resonance with allies, enhancing their growth and synergy with the user.
Ash Mantle – 400 Points
Temporarily cloaks the user in embers, reducing incoming damage and dealing minor retaliation damage to attackers.
Kindled Vitality – 350 Points
A healing skill that accelerates recovery from injuries by focusing ichor into the body's core.
Kael scrolled through the list, his brows furrowing as he weighed his options. "Alright… there's a lot to unpack here. I've got enough points for something big, but I don't want to blow it all at once."
"Good instinct," the system chimed. "But don't play it too safe either. You need to cover your weaknesses, or the next fight could go very badly for you."
Kael glanced at Ember Veil first, tapping on its panel to expand the description. "This one looks solid. Absorbing damage could keep me in the fight longer."
"It's practical," the system said approvingly. "But remember—it's not a crutch. You'll need to manage your ichor carefully. Overdo it, and you'll burn out before the fight's even halfway done."
Kael nodded, then flicked over to Flickering Dash. "Mobility's always a good bet," he murmured. "Can't land hits if I can't get close—or dodge what's coming at me."
"Exactly. Your footwork is still… how do I put this politely?"
Kael scowled. "Don't."
"Fine. Let's just say this one's overdue."
His eyes drifted to Everburning Core, and his breath caught slightly. "This… this could change everything."
Everburning Core- Passively increases ichor regeneration and improves flow efficiency.
"It's pricey," Kael muttered, rubbing his chin. "But having more ichor to work with long-term? Definitely worth it."
"I'm glad to see your brain hasn't melted yet," the system quipped. "More ichor means more options. This one will pay off in every fight moving forward."
Kael hesitated for a moment, then swiped back to the main list. His eyes landed on Budding Blossom.
"Wait. This one says it boosts resonance with companions. Is this… related to Theo?"
"It is," the system confirmed. "By improving your bond with companions, you strengthen their abilities and help them grow faster. Think of it as an investment in your team's potential."
Kael frowned. "And eventually, I can assign them skills directly?"
"In time," the system said. "For now, focus on resonance. Building that foundation is critical. If you're serious about Theo's potential—and the potential of any future allies—you'll want to grab this skill sooner rather than later."
Kael's Final Choices
After several minutes of deliberation, Kael made his selections:
Ember Veil – 200 Points
Flickering Dash – 150 Points
Everburning Core – 500 Points
Budding Blossom – 250 Points
Remaining Points: 675
Kael leaned back, exhaling as the warmth of the newly acquired skills spread through his body. His ichor reserves felt noticeably stronger already, the flow smoother and more responsive.
"Alright," he muttered, flexing his fingers. "Let's test this out."
Kael settled into a seated position, planting his hands on his knees as he let his breath steady. Sweat clung to his skin, but he wasn't exhausted—not yet.
The ichor within him flowed smoothly, stronger than ever after his most recent improvements. His body wasn't fighting against it like before. The energy coursing through him felt natural now, like an extension of himself rather than something he had to force.
One hour of Ichor Training left.
"Alright, Little Flame," the system chimed. "Time to see if you've actually gotten any better, or if it's just your ego talking."
Kael rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with."
Refining His Control
He closed his eyes, reaching inward toward his ichor core.
The first thing he noticed was how quickly he could feel it now. Months ago, it took deep focus to sense that pulse of energy running through his body. Now? It responded immediately, flowing at his command.
Let's see how much further I can push it.
He started slow, pulling ichor into his arms, feeling the warmth coil around his muscles. The sensation was smoother than before—less wild, less unpredictable.
He opened his palm, summoning a small ember at his fingertips. It burned brighter than before, steady and controlled. He flicked his fingers, and the ember stretched, elongating into a thin streak of flame before dispersing.
Kael smirked. Yeah, that's new.
Ember Veil: Full Activation
With a deep breath, he shifted his focus, drawing ichor outward instead of just channeling it to one place. He let it spread over his skin, forming a thin, flickering aura of heat.
The air shimmered around him. A faint warmth hugged his body, absorbing the excess heat instead of letting it escape.
"Better," the system mused. "You're actually holding the veil without it flickering all over the place. About time."
Kael ignored the jab, standing up and rolling his shoulders. The veil moved with him, barely affecting his balance now.
Good. But he wasn't done.
He focused on strengthening the effect, pushing more ichor into the technique—
The veil flared too bright, too fast.
The sudden heat drained his energy almost instantly, and he staggered back, the protective layer dispersing into nothing.
"Damn it," he muttered, shaking off the dizziness.
"Pushed too much ichor at once," the system noted. "It's not just about adding power—it's about control. You need to layer it in slowly, let it build naturally."
Kael exhaled, resetting himself. Again.
This time, he let the energy trickle outward instead of pouring it all at once. The warmth spread over his body, forming a steadier veil—not too weak, not too overwhelming.
He moved again, adjusting to the feeling.
The ichor drain was still there, but this time, he wasn't wasting energy.
Kael grinned. Progress.
With the ichor flowing at a controlled rate, Kael switched to movement drills—sharpening his footwork while maintaining his control.
Every step, every dodge, every slight pivot—the veil remained stable.
For the first time, it actually felt like something he could use in a fight.
An hour passed before he finally stopped, his body aching but stable.
The system chimed.
One Hour of Ichor Training Completed.
Kael let out a slow breath, shaking the tension from his arms.
"That's done," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. His ichor still hummed beneath his skin, but he could tell—he'd reached another level today.
But he wasn't finished.
One task remained.
200 push-ups.
He let out a slow breath, lowering himself to the ground. His palms pressed into the dirt, and he steadied his breathing. Let's get this over with.
The first fifty went by smoothly. His arms burned, but it was the kind of burn he was used to—something manageable.
By the time he hit one hundred, his muscles were aching in protest. His breath grew heavier, sweat dripping down his back.
At one-fifty, he had to stop.
Kael dropped onto his knees, flexing his fingers and shaking out his arms. He was strong—stronger than he was before—but this was still pushing his limits.
"You slowing down already?" the system chimed in. "You're almost there. Don't tell me you're about to stop now?"
Kael groaned, rolling his shoulders. "I hate that you enjoy this."
"I enjoy watching you improve. Now hurry up and finish."
Kael exhaled, setting his hands firmly on the ground again. His body protested, but he ignored it, forcing himself into a steady rhythm.
Each push-up felt heavier, his arms trembling by the time he neared the last few.
196.
197.
198.
199.
200.
Kael collapsed onto his back, arms spread wide as he sucked in deep breaths. His heart pounded, his body felt drained, but—
He grinned. He had done it.
The system's familiar chime rang out.
Daily Quest: Progress Makes Perfect
200 Push-ups (Completed)
One Hour of Ichor Training (Completed)
Acquire a New Skill (Completed)
All Tasks Complete.
Kael let out a slow exhale, swiping the screen away. His body still ached, but he could feel it—he was stronger than yesterday.
The sun hung higher in the sky than he expected. Had it really taken him that long?
He sat up, rolling his shoulders. He still had the whole day ahead of him.
"…Guess I should check on Theo."
With that, he stood, dusted himself off, and made his way toward the village.