Unknown Threat
Somewhere in the dark valley of Seoul, deep within the city's shadowy buildings, the wind hummed softly. Stars glittered in the sky like scattered diamonds, and the moon peeked through the drifting clouds, casting a faint silver glow over the desolate streets.
In the heart of the dark valley, a small, bluish portal flickered with an ominous hue, its edges crackling with hollow purple energy like an electric storm contained within a single point. Beside it stood a figure, cloaked in the darkness, lurking amidst the towering buildings.
Minutes passed before a drunk man stumbled into the valley. He was an older man, perhaps in his late 30s, bald, with a stomach that bulged like a balloon. He wore a stained white shirt and loose black shorts, his gait unsteady as he mumbled incoherently, reeking of alcohol.
The drunk man wandered aimlessly, completely unaware of his surroundings. Suddenly, the unknown figure emerged from the shadows and appeared in front of him, silent and motionless.
"Hey, wanna fig—"
The man's mocking words were cut short. In an instant, the lurking figure vanished into thin air, only to reappear behind the man as if materializing from the air itself. Before the drunk could react, the figure's hand plunged into his stomach, piercing through flesh and bone with unnatural ease. Blood gushed out, soaking the man's once-white shirt, turning it into a gruesome shade of crimson.
The man let out a strangled cry, his face contorted in pain and confusion, but it was too late. The unknown entity leaned in, its jaw unhinging unnaturally wide, and bit into the man's head as if it were a marshmallow. The horrific sound of flesh tearing echoed in the empty valley as the figure devoured its prey.
When the deed was done, the figure stepped back, its face now coated in blood. Without a sound, it turned and retreated into the depths of the valley, disappearing into the bluish-purple portal from which it had come.
The wind carried the faint metallic scent of blood, and silence once again blanketed the dark valley as if nothing had ever happened.
Only blood remained, staining the cracked pavement where the body had been devoured within mere seconds. The dark valley, silent once more, swallowed the horror, leaving no trace of the gruesome scene except the faint metallic scent of blood lingering in the cool night air.
---
Morning came, sunlight spilling across the city, washing over the chaos and destruction as though trying to erase the horrors of the previous night. The hum of life returned: trucks rumbled down busy streets, birds chirped from their perches on telephone wires, and people began their daily routines.
Inside a small apartment, an alarm clock blared relentlessly. Vanitas stirred, groaning as he fumbled to silence it.
"It's morning already," he muttered groggily, his voice thick with sleep. He blinked at the clock, and his drowsiness turned to panic.
"8:12 AM?! What the hell!" he exclaimed, springing out of bed. His stomach growled loudly, a deep rumble that demanded attention.
With a resigned sigh, he trudged to his modest kitchen. The fridge creaked open, revealing its sparse contents—eggs, a strip of bacon, and leftover rice from the previous night. He grabbed what he had, determined to make it work.
The crack of eggshells and the sizzle of oil filled the air, accompanied by the mouthwatering aroma of breakfast. Steam rose from the pan as the bacon curled, its edges crisping to a golden brown.
After a few minutes, he sat down to a humble yet appetizing meal of bacon, eggs, and rice. "Time to eat," he mumbled, his voice muffled by a yawn. He dug in, shoveling the food into his mouth as if it were his last meal.
Halfway through his breakfast, a familiar chime interrupted him. A notification materialized in front of him, its bright light momentarily blinding.
---
[Daily Task System]
Push-Ups: 0/100
Pull-Ups: 0/100
Planks: 0/3 minutes
Throw Punches: 0/100
Time Left: 16h
[Failure Results in Penalty!]
---
Vanitas stared at the holographic text in disbelief, his fork frozen mid-air. "Sixteen hours?! Are you kidding me?" he shouted, nearly choking on his food.
He resumed eating with newfound urgency, shoving bites into his mouth as fast as he could. Time seemed to stretch painfully slow as he chewed and swallowed, but he finally managed to finish.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he stood up and cracked his knuckles. "Time for some workout," he muttered to himself, letting out a small burp before heading to his designated training area.
"Hmm... where should I start?" he pondered aloud, pacing back and forth. His eyes scanned the list of tasks displayed before him.
After a moment, he decided to start with the simplest one: Throw Punches.
"Four days left," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I'll make sure to defeat that monster."
He planted his feet firmly on the ground and began throwing punches into the air. His fists cut through the space with precision, each punch growing sharper and faster. One, two, four… and the count climbed steadily.
The minutes ticked by as sweat began to drip down his forehead, his breath growing heavier with each movement. By the time he reached his final set of punches, his arms burned with exhaustion, but he pushed through.
"Finally done," he gasped, wiping his face with the hem of his shirt. His relief was short-lived, however, as he glanced at the remaining tasks.
Planks were next. He dropped to the floor and braced himself. The timer started, and the seconds dragged on like hours. His core trembled under the strain, but he gritted his teeth and held firm.
"Just... one more minute... and I'll be done with this stupid plank!" he growled, his voice shaky from exertion.
When the timer finally beeped, he collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. "Finally… two more to go," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
The next task was pull-ups, but he lacked the necessary equipment at home. With a sigh, he decided to head to Guro-gu Park, where public workout equipment was available.
---
The park was alive with activity. Children raced across the open space, their laughter echoing through the air, while adults lounged on wooden benches, chatting or scrolling through their phones. Joggers passed by in rhythmic strides, and the scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the distant aroma of street food vendors.
Vanitas strolled along the cemented pathways, his sneakers crunching against the occasional patch of dirt. The pull-up bars came into view, a small but functional setup nestled in the park's open gym area.
"Here we go," he muttered under his breath, approaching the bars. His hands gripped the cold metal, the rough surface biting into his palms.
"Another day, another painful workout. This sucks," he groaned, steeling himself for the challenge ahead.
---
[Daily Task System]
Push-Ups: 0/100
Pull-Ups: 0/100
Planks: 3/3 minutes
Throw Punches: 100/100
Time Left: 15h
---
Vanitas glanced at the task list and exhaled deeply. His muscles ached, and he hadn't even started the pull-ups yet. But he clenched his jaw and pulled himself up, determined to finish what he'd started.
***
Pulling and pulling, minutes of effort dragged on as if time itself had slowed down. Each pull-up felt like a mountain to climb, the seconds stretching into eternity. Vanitas clung tightly to the cold, unforgiving metal bar, his hands red and trembling under the strain. The crisp air bit into his skin, sending chills through his already exhausted body. His mind raced as he counted silently, 'Fifty more to go,' gripping the bar with every ounce of his remaining strength.
The crowd at the park had thinned out as the hours passed, but a few curious onlookers lingered. Small groups of children watched in awe as Vanitas fought through his exercise.
"Wow! You're so strong, mister!"
"Are you a hunter?"
"Can you teach me? I want to be like you!"
Their innocent admiration lit a faint spark of pride in Vanitas, though he quickly dismissed it. If only they knew I'm just an F-rank hunter, he thought, suppressing a bitter smile. The weakest of the weak.
Ignoring the children's chatter, Vanitas steeled himself for the task at hand. Minutes felt like hours, but at long last, his arms gave one final push, and he dropped from the bar, landing unsteadily on the ground.
"Finally!" he muttered breathlessly, collapsing in a heap. His body felt heavy, muscles trembling from overuse. A few of the children clapped in excitement, their eyes wide with admiration.
"Mister, you're so cool!" one of them cheered.
But admiration soon turned to mockery as a group of adults recognized him. One of them sneered loudly, "Hey, isn't that the F-rank hunter who couldn't even handle an F-rank creature? What a joke!"
Laughter erupted from the small crowd, and the children's parents quickly pulled them away, shielding them as if Vanitas were some kind of disease. The once-supportive atmosphere soured, leaving Vanitas alone in his struggle.
Clenching his fists against the insults, he gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, 'Just wait. I'll make you all swallow your words.'
He dropped to the ground again, this time to tackle the final set of his daily tasks: push-ups. Though simple in theory, each repetition burned with effort. His body screamed for rest, but he forced himself to continue.
"Wow, mister's doing push-ups now!" a child called out before being hurriedly silenced by their parent.
Vanitas blocked out the noise, focusing on the rhythm of his movements.
'Thirty-one… Thirty-two… Thirty-four…' Sweat poured from his brow, dampening his clothes as his arms quivered under his weight. The heat of the afternoon sun bore down on him, making the already grueling workout even more unbearable.
From the sidelines, the same group of onlookers jeered at him.
"Look at him! Struggling to do basic exercises. Typical of an F-ranker."
The mocking words stung, but Vanitas didn't stop. His body felt like it was on the verge of giving out, his arms trembling uncontrollably as he continued the push-ups. His mind screamed at him to stop, but a voice deep within kept him going.
'You can do this, Vanitas. Don't let them win. Prove them wrong.'
---
"Ninety-eight… Ninety-nine…" he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. Every fiber of his being burned, but he refused to quit.
'Just one more. Just one more!'
With a final burst of strength, he completed the last push-up and collapsed onto the ground. His arms felt like jelly, his breath ragged as he gasped for air. He lay there motionless, staring at the clear blue sky above.
"Finally…" he murmured, his voice hoarse.
The afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the park. The warmth of the sun mixed with the gentle breeze, soothing his aching body. He closed his eyes, letting the moment of peace wash over him. And then, breaking the silence, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his ears.
---
[Task Completed. Rewards for completing the task: Recovery Potion x3 and 5 Attributes to distribute.]
---
Vanitas smiled weakly. It's done. Another day, another step closer. He clenched his fist, determination filling his heart despite the ache in his body. Four days left. Just four more days until I prove them all wrong.
And then, another notification appeared it was brighter.
---
End of Chapter