Night was when the world forgot about him and when he worked.
The cottage was silent. The fire had fallen to embers. His parents slept, unaware. And he continued.
Now each breath pulled deeper. It wasn't magic simply lung capacity, earned through discomfort. He no longer tired as quickly. His heartbeat remained calmer. The System recognized it with quiet acknowledgment.
> +0.02 Training Progress
His body did not grow faster. It simply endured longer. That alone already placed him above every infant in the district — though no one knew.
At dawn, his mother lifted him from the cradle.
She paused.
He was… silent. Not crying. Not screaming. Just watching. Steady, unnervingly calm aware.
Her hands hesitated, just for an instant.
Then she smiled gently and carried on. She assumed he was simply "a quiet child."
She was wrong.
That night, he pushed further. Not just breath neck control. He tried to lift his head. It trembled. Muscles screamed in sharp pain down the spine.
He did not stop.
He held.
Lowered.
Held again.
Pure, intentional effort.
> Effort exceeds expectation
+1 Training Point earned
His next reward appeared.
> • Basic Grip Enhancement
• Minor Pain Resistance
• Infant Muscle Growth Efficiency (new)
He didn't hesitate.
Pain Resistance.
Warmth spread subtle, not miraculous just the nervous system adapting intelligently. Pain became cleaner, tolerable. His limits extended slightly.
He stopped there.
Not out of exhaustion but discipline.
He rested because it was efficient.