(Thursday, May 16, 2026 – 11:13 AM)
A sharp knock on the door pulled Adam from sleep. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light filtering through the room. His body ached, not with exhaustion, but with the deep, satisfying soreness of muscles being torn and rebuilt.
He had pushed himself until midnight the night before, stretching and conditioning his body past its limits, using Awà's healing function to force adaptation at an unnatural rate. It worked, but he felt every bit of it now.
Another knock.
Adam exhaled through his nose, sitting up.
'Awà, time?'
[11:13 AM.]
He blinked. Slept in longer than expected.
Swinging his legs off the bed, he stood up and walked to the door. As he pulled it open, Marie stood there, hands casually resting on her hips.
"Morning." she said, tilting her head slightly. "Can I come in?"
Adam nodded wordlessly, stepping aside.
Marie walked in, glancing around the simple room before turning to face him. "The gate got closed this morning."
Adam glanced at the clock on the wall. 11:13 AM.
He nodded. "Guess I can head back home, then."
"Pretty much." Marie confirmed. Then, after a brief pause, she smirked slightly. "Wanna grab breakfast?"
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you already eat? It's almost noon."
Marie smiled, shaking her head. "Nope. Had to deal with a hunter breaking protocol this morning. Just finished handling it."
Adam nodded in understanding. The Hunter Association wasn't just about supporting hunters, they also enforced the rules.
"Alright." he said. "I'll get ready."
Marie gave a casual wave and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Adam grabbed his phone and quickly called the electronics store.
A clerk answered after a few rings. "Hello, this is TechPoint Electronics. How can I help you?"
"Hey, I made a purchase yesterday." Adam said. "I'd like to reschedule the delivery for today at 3 PM."
The clerk checked the order details before responding. "Yeah, we can do that. Delivery will be at 3 PM as requested."
"Thanks."
(11:18 AM)
Adam stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him before pulling off his shirt. The fabric slid over his skin with ease, and as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he paused.
His physique had changed.
His once lean but unimpressive frame was now a bit sculpted with some definition, his muscles taking on the shape of a training youth. Broad shoulders, a defined chest, and toned arms that carried more power than before. His abs were now more visible and symmetrical.
The brutal training from last night had done more than just leave soreness, it had forced rapid evolution. What should have taken a month of professional military conditioning, he had achieved in a single night.
And all thanks to Awà.
His height had also increased.
Adam stared at his reflection, and as if responding to his thoughts, Awà's voice echoed in his mind.
[Your height has now reached 179 cm, exactly as predicted.]
His eyes trailed over the small yet noticeable changes, his features were still his, but something about him seemed sharper, more defined. His black hair, now slightly longer, hung loosely, strands falling over his forehead in a way that made him look wilder.
His deep chocolate-colored skin held a subtle sheen under the bathroom light, the faint traces of yesterday's strain no more visible thanks to the nano machines accelerating recovery.
[As seen from your memories, I have shaped your physique to match the appearance of "Manga Goku." It aligns with both your subconscious and conscious desire.]
Adam blinked before exhaling sharply.
'So you really shaped me like that?'
[Correct.]
He rubbed a hand through his hair, letting the reality of it settle in. He looked… strong. Stronger than he had ever been before.
Still, he had a long way to go.
'How much time until I reach the peak of a unawakened human?'
[29 days of training sessions remain.]
Adam's expression remained neutral, though a single thought crossed his mind.
'So nothing changed even after yesterday's training…'
[Incorrect. I accounted for last night's growth in my original calculation. This level of progress was already factored into the timeline.]
That made sense. The nano machines were inside him, they knew exactly how his body would develop.
Adam nodded to himself, then stepped into the shower. The water cascaded down his skin, washing away the last remnants of the previous night's struggle.
....
(11:49 AM)
Dressed in a simple white t-shirt and jeans, Adam adjusted the strap of his bag, ensuring everything was packed inside. He was heading straight home after breakfast, so there was no need to leave anything behind.
As he stepped out of the Hunter Association building, Marie was already waiting by her SUV, leaning casually against the driver's side.
The moment she laid eyes on him, her expression shifted slightly. She stared at him, eyes narrowing while taking in the changes.
"You really did change overnight." she muttered, crossing her arms.
Adam scratched the back of his head, feigning mild embarrassment. "It's not that weird. People awaken nowadays, so changes before awakening aren't exactly surprising."
Marie hummed, her gaze still lingering on him. "Fair point. If you awaken, I hope you consider joining the Association." Then, with a smirk, she added, "Would be a shame if Mr. Entrepreneur wasted all that potential."
Adam shook his head, ignoring the jab as he opened the passenger door and climbed inside.
Marie chuckled before starting the engine, pulling out of the lot.
(12:06 PM – A Local Café)
The café was small but well-known, tucked into a quiet corner of the city. It had a modern aesthetic, warm lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Adam left his bag in the car before stepping out and walking inside with Marie.
The moment they entered, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air.
They took a table by the window, ordering their drinks and breakfast before settling into conversation.
Marie leaned back, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "You ever watch K-dramas?"
Adam took a sip of his black coffee before replying, "Not really."
Marie clicked her tongue. "You're missing out, well, except for the one everyone's watching right now."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Bad?"
"It's basically romanticized cheating." She rolled her eyes, tapping her nails against the ceramic mug. "I don't get why people eat this stuff up. Feels like genuine relationships don't even exist anymore."
Adam shook his head. "They exist. Just not on social media."
Marie gave him a look, considering his words before nodding slightly. "Guess that's true."
They ate and chatted about random topics, Marie throwing in occasional sarcastic remarks, while Adam kept the conversation flowing with calm, measured responses.
At one point, she asked, "So, what's your hobby?"
Adam rested his forearms on the table. "Knowledge."
Marie blinked. "Knowledge?"
"I like learning. About everything. Science, history, technology, anything useful."
Marie exhaled a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Of course. Should've expected that answer from you."
The meal went by smoothly, and once they finished, Adam paid his share before they both stepped out of the café.
(12:42 PM)
As they approached the car, Adam was about to reach for the passenger door when Awà's voice echoed in his mind.
[Host, mana surge detected. 23 meters away.]
At the same moment, a holographic AR arrow materialized in his vision, pointing toward the exact location.
Adam's head snapped in that direction, and Marie did the same.
Down the street, a blue portal flickered into existence, the air around it warping violently before the swirling mass expanded outward. Within seconds, the portal stabilized into a proper gate.
Marie sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Judging by its size… looks like an E-Rank Gate."
----
This is the gate where he would have meet Leo if he walked inside during the evening, haha, i like to write different perspectives, they challenge me.
Patreon: Mr_Graythorn