After Lucas quietly woke up he saw
That he doesn't feel any pain or stiffness
Nor any heaviness dragging him back into the bed.
He blinked once, then slowly clenched his right hand.
"…Huh?"
His grip felt firm. Not powerful but steady. When he sat up, his body moved smoothly, without any muscle pain he had been expecting.
He remembered yesterday clearly.
The shaking arms.
The burning legs.
The exhaustion he was feeling after the workout.
Yet now
Lucas stood up.
His balance was solid. His breathing calm. His heartbeat normal.
"…my body should be sore right now."
He rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms, bent his knees slightly.
Nothing hurts.
Instead, there was a faint sensation under his skin, like his body was better aligned, more responsive than before.
Then the familiar chime sounded.
[DING]
[Post-Training Recovery Complete]
System Adjustment Applied:
→ Accelerated Muscle Repair
→ Minor Permanent Physical Reinforcement
Current Effects:
• Strength slightly above baseline
• Stamina recovery improved
• Fatigue resistance increased
System Note:
This system optimizes growth efficiency.
Effort converts directly into adaptation.
Lucas stared at the screen.
"…Permanent?"
That word stuck with him.
This wasn't borrowed power.
It wasn't temporary.
His body had changed.
He exhaled slowly and looked down at his hands again.
"So this is what proper recovery feels like…"
In his previous life, exhaustion stacked endlessly. His body never had time to heal. Even the rest felt insufficient.
But now
One day of effort had already left a mark.
A small one.
But real.
The house was filled with soft morning sounds when Lucas stepped out.
Maria was in the kitchen, humming quietly while cooking. Daniel sat at the table, kicking his legs as he waited impatiently.
"Big brother!" Daniel called.
"You're up early again!"
Lucas smiled faintly. "Morning."
Maria turned, spoon in hand.
"How's your body? Didn't you say you exercised a lot yesterday?"
Lucas paused, then answered honestly.
"I feel…good even Better than before."
She looked relieved.
"That's good. Here eat this first."
She made an omlette between two slices of bread and a glass of warm milk
They all sat at the table and started eating the breakfast but,
As Lucas ate, his mind drifted to a certain memory.
Dates.
Numbers.
Broadcasts.
His hand stopped.
"…It's today," he thought.
After poundering about that for some minutes his mother asked
"Lucas is there something on your mind you are looking so lost in thoughts".She said.
After that Lucas said.
"No..it's nothing I was just thinking about something on my mind " hesaid.
The day moved at an easy pace.
Lucas didn't train again. The system didn't push him.
Instead, it stayed silent watching.
He helped with chores. Walked through the neighborhood. Let the sunlight soak into his skin.
Every movement felt just a little smoother than before.
Not enough for others to notice.
But enough for him to know.
By evening, the family gathered in the small living room.
The TV was on low volume. News. Advertisements. Then
"Next, we'll announce today's national lottery results."
Lucas's eyes sharpened.
His heartbeat didn't spike.
He already knew.
Colored balls began rolling on the screen.
Numbers appeared, one by one.
Lucas whispered them before the announcer did.
"…7123."
"…1439."
"…1224."
"…3223."
"…4433."
The final number appeared.
"...4435."
Match confirmed.
For a brief moment, the room was quiet.
Then
"Congratulations to today's second-tier winner! The prize amount is 30,000 USD."
Daniel blinked. "That's a lot, right?"
Maria tilted her head. "Second-tier?"
Lucas leaned back slightly, letting out a slow breath.
Not huge.
Not world-changing.
But for them
It was more than enough.
The TV continued talking, but Lucas's focus drifted inward.
[DING]
[Future Event Confirmation]
Status:
→ Memory accuracy verified
→ Financial path unlocked
System Note:
Small capital can create large momentum.
Use it wisely.
Lucas's lips curved into a quiet smile.
This wasn't luck.
This was preparation meeting opportunity.
He looked at his family still unaware, still smiling at the screen.
"This is just the beginning," he thought.
Outside, the cicadas sang again.
Summer continued.
And Lucas Cole had taken his first real step forward.