The pale light of dawn seeped through the tall windows, casting elongated bars of gold across the cold marble floor. Roman stirred awake, the stiffness in his limbs greeting him before his eyes fully opened. This body — the frail vessel he now inhabited — felt like it was built from brittle sticks and damp cloth. Even drawing in a full breath left him feeling winded.
He sat up slowly, letting his gaze sweep over the room. It was spacious, almost absurdly so, lined with heavy bookshelves, ornate carvings, and furniture that looked like it belonged more in a noble's reception hall than a bedroom.
But Roman wasn't admiring the décor.
He was searching.
Every inch of the place was inspected — the bed frame, the desk drawers, the corners where dust gathered, even the space beneath the rug. His instincts, honed in another life, whispered that there was more to this room than met the eye. The sensation was faint, almost imperceptible, but it had the same taste as the moments before an ambush: a quiet promise that something unseen was waiting.
If there's a power hidden here, Roman thought, running his fingers along the smooth surface of the desk, I'll find it.
Minutes bled into nearly an hour of methodical searching. But nothing revealed itself. No false walls. No secret compartments. Only the gentle ticking of the clock and the sound of his own breathing.
A wave of exhaustion hit him, forcing him to sink back into the high-backed chair. The body's weakness gnawed at his patience — a reminder that no matter what mind or soul it carried, flesh dictated the limits.
That was when it happened.
The air thickened.
A faint hum vibrated against his skull, as though invisible threads were being plucked around him. Then, in the center of his vision, a translucent pane of light flickered into being.
[ System Awakening Protocol Initiated ]
The words burned faintly, like symbols etched into the inside of his mind. Roman froze, breath caught in his throat.
[ New Task Generated ]
Complete 200 push-ups within 5 minutes
Perform pull-up stretches for at least 10 minutes
Failure Penalty: Immediate transfer to the Darkness — immobilization and prolonged torture.
His jaw tightened. The letters dissolved into ash, but the weight of them remained heavy in his mind.
He had been in the Darkness before. Once was enough.
The memory was still raw — a void without light, without sound, without movement. The sensation of his own body unresponsive, locked in some unseen prison, while cold hands — or something like them — trailed over his skin. Hours passed there like days, his mind clawing at the edges of sanity.
He didn't need to think twice.
Roman dropped to the floor and started the push-ups. His arms trembled from the very first set, breath sharp in his lungs. The system made no sound, but he could feel it watching, counting each motion with perfect, merciless precision.
Thirty push-ups in, his muscles were already screaming. By fifty, his arms felt like lead. Still, the thought of the Darkness drove him forward.
Don't stop. Not yet.
Minutes stretched into an eternity. Sweat beaded on his forehead, stinging his eyes. His breath came ragged, shallow.
The push-ups ended only for the next trial to begin.
He moved to the pull-up bar set into the wall — something he hadn't even noticed before this moment — and gripped it tight. The stretch burned in his shoulders and back. Ten minutes of this felt longer than the push-ups, each second dragging past with deliberate cruelty. His body quivered, threatening to betray him.
But it didn't.
When it was finally over, Roman collapsed onto the bed, limbs useless, lungs pulling in greedy gulps of air.
The door creaked.
A maid stepped in — a young woman in simple black-and-white livery, her brown hair tied back neatly. Her eyes widened when she saw him sprawled on the mattress.
"Lord Roman!" she gasped, hurrying forward. "Are you—?"
"I'm fine," he rasped, waving her off. "Just… water."
She fetched it quickly, her hands trembling as she passed the cup. He drank deep, the cool liquid soothing his throat.
And then, as the glass left his lips, the system reappeared.
[ Task Complete ]
Reward: +5 Physical Attribute Points
Bonus: Mana Circulation Efficiency Increased by 12%
Roman froze, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He could feel it — the subtle shift in his body. The air flowed into his lungs more easily. His heartbeat felt stronger. Even the quiet hum of mana in the room seemed clearer, threads of power brushing against his senses.
Progress.
He leaned back against the headboard, letting the tension drain from his body.
The maid lingered awkwardly.
"Why are you here?" he asked, voice softer now.
Her eyes lowered. "The Lord sent me to deliver a message. Your eldest sister will be returning from the Veylan Imperial Academy today… She graduated first in her class. The Duke requests your presence at the family dinner tonight."
Roman arched an eyebrow. "First in her class, hm? I suppose I'll have to see for myself if the stories are true." He waved a hand lazily. "Tell him I'll be there. But first… bring me breakfast."
The maid nodded quickly and left.
Roman sat in silence for a moment, fingers drumming against his knee.
The body was weak, but it was changing. The system was dangerous, yes — but it was also a weapon. And he had no intention of being a weakling when the real games began.
Not when darkness was waiting for its next chance.