The familiar grounds of the Kaiser estate stretched before Jack like a canvas painted in memories. Three days had passed since his return from the capital.
The morning mist clung to the training grounds where he now stood, sweat beading on his forehead as he completed the final repetition of his daily regimen.
His muscles ached with the satisfying burn of exertion, each movement precise and controlled despite the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. The enhanced difficulty of his exercises had increased dramatically since acquiring the Ring of Stats, pushing his body to limits he hadn't thought possible just weeks ago.
'One hundred squats,' Jack counted silently, his breathing controlled despite the fire in his legs. The small raven perched on a nearby fence post watching with those glowing eyes.
The system's familiar chime echoed in his consciousness as he completed the final exercise, bringing with it the rush of power that had become as addictive as the finest wine.
