The alarm went off.
Ethan didn't bother hitting snooze. His body already ached from the self-imposed training session he'd forced on himself before collapsing the night before. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running drills around the Stark estate—he was already slipping back into the routine. He knew the System well enough to expect it. The quests would come.
And he wasn't about to let them catch him unprepared.
Still, dragging himself out of bed felt harder than fighting a dungeon beast. He muttered, "High school… the true S-rank dungeon."
By the time he reached Midtown High, Hope was waiting outside the gate, arms folded. "You're late again."
Ethan shot her a lazy grin. "Fashionably late. Adds to the Stark brand."
Hope raised an eyebrow. "You're lucky teachers already gave up on scolding you."
Danny bounded up next, shoving his backpack higher on his shoulder. "Bro, you look wrecked. Did you pull an all-nighter again? Let me guess… 'research.'"
"Something like that," Ethan said with a shrug, falling into step with them. He could never tell if Danny bought his half-truths or just didn't care. Either way, it worked.
Classes passed in a blur. Ethan pretended to take notes while half his attention mapped escape routes, scanned for hidden power fluctuations, and catalogued the oddities of his classmates. He didn't miss the way Hope's reflexes were sharper than most girls her age, or how Danny never seemed to tire even when everyone else did. This world's seeds of power were everywhere—future heroes and villains still pretending to be normal teens.
At lunch, Danny plopped down across from him. "You seriously look like a zombie. If you're gonna keep staying up, at least share what game you're playing."
"Not a game," Ethan said, biting into a sandwich. "Training."
Hope narrowed her eyes. "Training for what?"
Ethan smirked. "For being me. You think this physique just happens?"
Danny nearly choked laughing. Hope shook her head but couldn't quite hide her smile. "You're impossible."
After school, Ethan waved his friends off with an excuse about Stark family errands. The truth was less wholesome.
The walk home took him past a quiet street with shuttered shops. That's where he heard it—raised voices, the sharp clatter of glass. He slipped into the shadows without hesitation.
Two masked men were inside a convenience store, shoving the cashier toward the counter. One had a bat, the other a knife.
Ethan sighed. Really? Again?
He stepped inside, voice light. "Afternoon, gentlemen. You know, this is a really bad time for a career change."
"Get lost, kid!"
The shadows stretched, creeping up the walls. One robber tripped as if the floor itself betrayed him. The other dropped his knife when a dark claw pried it from his grip.
Igris appeared behind Ethan, towering and silent, eyes burning blue. The robbers froze at the impossible sight. Ethan just leaned against a shelf, smirking.
"You've got two options," he said. "Run now, or… actually, that's it. Just run."
They bolted. The clerk collapsed behind the counter, muttering a shaky thank you.
Ethan left without waiting for gratitude. He didn't need it. He just needed the city to stay standing.
By the time he reached home, exhaustion hit him like a truck. He collapsed face-first onto his bed.
That's when the System text finally appeared.
[System Synchronization Complete.][Daily Quests Unlocked.]
Quest: Preparing to Become Stronger• Perform 100 push-ups (0/100)• Perform 100 sit-ups (0/100)• Perform 100 squats (0/100)• Run 10 km (0/10)
Rewards:• +3 Stat Points• 1x Random Box (Low)
Penalty for Failure:Transport to Penalty Zone.
Ethan groaned into his pillow. "Of course. The damn push-up contract from hell. Couldn't forget you even if I wanted to."
He rolled onto his back, staring at the glowing letters. He knew what awaited him if he slacked, and he knew what he'd get if he endured. Pain, sure. But also power.
With a weary grin, he muttered, "Fine. Round two, then. Let's see how far I can push this time."
The System, cold and merciless, said nothing.
Status Window
Name: Ethan Stark
Level: 5
Class: ??? (Pending)
HP: 350/420
MP: 110/130
Fatigue: 42
Strength: 20 (+15) = 35
Agility: 17 (+15) = 32
Vitality: 16 (+15) = 31
Intelligence: 22 (+15) = 37
Sense: 18 (+15) = 33
Skills:
Passive:
Tenacity Lv.1
Unarmed Combat Basics Lv.2
Active:
Arise Lv.1
Shadow Storage Lv.1
Shadow Storage:
Capacity: 5/5
Igris [Lv.1 | Rank: Knight]
Demon-Goblin x3 [Lv.1 | Rank: Normal]
Corrupted Ogre [Lv.1 | Rank: Elite]
Quest:
Daily Quest: Preparing to Become Stronger (0/100 Push-ups, 0/100 Sit-ups, 0/100 Squats, 0/10 km Run)