Trial's Of Strength
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across May's room, each dust mote a tiny, mocking reminder of her wasted time. Her body throbbed, a symphony of aches and pains echoing the chaos in her mind. The system's holographic interface, a malevolent sapphire rectangle, pulsed steadily beside her bed, a silent, almost smug observer. Its presence was a constant, irritating hum beneath the surface of her thoughts.
[SYSTEM]: Sub-quest initiated: Strength Training 1. Objective: 50 push-ups within 2 minutes. Reward: Significant upper body strength enhancement And Dexterity. Timer commencing.
May's breath hitched. Fifty push-ups? In two minutes? The absurdity of it sent a wave of dark humor washing over her. "Seriously?" she muttered, her voice a mere whisper in the stillness of her room. She dropped to the floor, the worn carpet a meager comfort against the hard reality of her situation.
"This is ridiculous," she thought, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Like I'm some kind of superhero in training."
The first ten push-ups were easy enough, a pathetic display of her current fitness level. "I should really start hitting the gym," she grumbled, her cheeks flushed with the first hint of exertion.
But by the fifteenth, her arms were screaming, her chest heaving. Each push-up was a battle against her own exhaustion, a testament to her stubborn refusal to give in. "Come on, May," she urged herself, her voice a strained rasp. "Don't be a wimp."
Twenty… twenty-five… thirty… Her muscles burned, her lungs ached, her vision blurred. The system's calm, almost mockingly calm voice echoed in her mind.
[SYSTEM]: 1 minute, 15 seconds remaining.
At the thirtieth push-up, her body trembled, threatening to give way. She could feel the system's unwavering gaze, a pressure that intensified with each passing second. A wave of frustration threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm not giving up," she whispered, a fierce determination hardening her gaze.
Thirty-five… forty… Her body screamed in protest, but she refused to yield. Forty-five… She could barely lift herself, her muscles burning, her lungs on fire. The timer's relentless countdown was a hammer blow against her already shattered resolve.
"Just a few more," she whispered, her voice a strained rasp. "Just a few more."
She collapsed, just short of the goal. The timer blinked: 1 minute, 1 second. Failure. The system's response was immediate, cold, and utterly devoid of empathy.
[SYSTEM]: Penalty initiated: Temporary paralysis. Duration: 5 minutes. Additional penalties for repeated failure will be implemented.
Before May could even register the message, a wave of paralysis washed over her, a sudden, chilling silence replacing the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat. Her body went completely limp, her limbs unresponsive. She lay there, utterly helpless, trapped in a prison of her own making.
"No!" she thought, a wave of panic surging through her. "This isn't fair!"
The five minutes stretched into an eternity, each second a hammer blow against her pride. She could only lie there, unable to move, unable to speak, unable to do anything but wait. ("Oh, this is awful,") she thought, ("I'm going to be stuck like this forever!")
When the paralysis finally wore off, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, leaving behind a numbing ache. The system's voice echoed in her mind, its tone unwavering.
[SYSTEM]: Strength Training 1: Attempt 2. Objective: 50 push-ups within 2 minutes. Penalty for failure: Playground duty. Duration: 30 minutes. Timer commencing.
May's eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance in their depths. Playground duty? The sheer humiliation of the thought sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through her veins. "Playground duty?" she muttered, her voice a low growl.
She couldn't believe this. She wasn't a child, she was a Grade 12 student, a woman on the cusp of adulthood. Playground duty was a punishment reserved for toddlers, not for someone who had just faced a pack of Alpha Hounds and then died.
"This is ridiculous!" she thought, a wave of frustration washing over her. "This system is playing me for a fool."
But deep down, she knew she couldn't give up. Not now. Not with the memory of those Alpha Hounds still fresh in her mind, a chilling reminder of what she was capable of. She wouldn't fail again. Not this time.
She started again, her movements more precise, her breathing more controlled. Each push-up was a battle, a testament to her stubborn refusal to yield. But her body screamed in protest, her muscles burning, her lungs aching. She could feel the sweat dripping down her forehead, the effort pushing her to her limits.
"Come on, May," she urged herself, her voice a strained rasp. "You can do this. Just a few more."
She pushed herself, fueled by a mixture of stubbornness and spite. She wasn't going to let this system get the better of her. She would prove she could do it.
But...
She collapsed, just short of the goal. The timer blinked: 1 minute, 58 seconds. Failure.
[SYSTEM]: Penalty initiated: Playground duty. Duration: 30 minutes. Supplementary penalties for repeated failure will be implemented.
A wave of despair washed over May. ("No!") she thought, her voice a choked whisper. "Not playground duty! Anything but that!"
The world shimmered, and May found herself sprawled on the rubberized surface of a brightly colored playground. The air was filled with the cacophony of children's laughter, a cruel mockery of her situation. Brightly colored slides, swings, and monkey bars surrounded her, a jarring contrast to the grim determination burning within her.
A group of children, their faces a mixture of curiosity and amusement, stared at her. One little girl, her pigtails bouncing, tugged on her mother's sleeve.
"Mommy, look! That lady's sleeping on the ground!"
Her mother, a woman with kind eyes and a worried frown, glanced at May. "Don't go near her, sweetie. She might be… unwell."
(Unwell? Understatement of the century. I'm currently being punished by a sadistic digital overlord for failing a ridiculously difficult push-up challenge. But yeah, 'unwell' works. At least it's less embarrassing than 'being forced to play on a playground because a computer program is messing with me'.)
May tried to rise, but her muscles ached, her body protesting. She was trapped, forced to endure this humiliating punishment. The system's voice echoed in her mind, a cold, unwavering presence.
[SYSTEM]: Playground duty in progress. Failure to complete the duration will result in extended penalty.
The children continued to play, their laughter a constant reminder of May's predicament. She could hear snippets of their conversations, their innocent words cutting through her frustration.
"Look Mama, she's doing it again!"
"Is she a superhero?"
"Maybe she's a ninja!"
(Superhero? Ninja? More like 'super-humiliated' and 'playground-ninja-fail'. This is actually worse than fighting the Alpha Hounds. At least then, I had a purpose. Here, I'm just… pathetic.)
She started sliding down the slide, again and again, her movements mechanical, her mind a whirlwind of frustration and self-deprecating humor. The slide's smooth surface was surprisingly comfortable, but the humiliation was unbearable. The thirty minutes stretched into an eternity, each second a hammer blow against her pride. She could feel the system's unwavering gaze, a pressure that intensified with each passing second.
Finally, the timer blinked: 00:00. The playground vanished, replaced by the familiar cramped confines of May's apartment. She collapsed onto her bed, her body aching, her spirit bruised but not broken. She had endured cutie humiliation, faced her weakness, and emerged victorious—or at least, she had emerged. The victory felt hollow, however, as the system's voice echoed in her mind, devoid of any hint of congratulation.
[SYSTEM]: Playground duty complete. Strength Training 2 commencing. Objective: 100 sit-ups within 5 minutes. Reward: Enhanced core strength and resilience.
(Seriously? No break? Even, No 'well done'? No 'you've shown remarkable resilience, May'? Just… straight into the next torture session? I'm starting to think this system has a serious personality disorder. And a penchant for sadistic games. And maybe a slight obsession with playgrounds.)
She pushed herself up, her muscles protesting with a chorus of pops and cracks. The thought of another grueling exercise sent a wave of nausea washing over her. She could still feel the lingering ache from the push-ups, the phantom pain of her playground ordeal. Her body felt like it had been run over by a truck, then forced to play on a slide for half an hour.
May sank onto the carpet, her gaze fixed on the holographic system before her.
('But before that...')
"Why haven't I received my reward yet? I've completed the Push ups Quest," she muttered, hand resting on her chin, legs crossed.
Then, a new line materialized on the system's screen.
[SYSTEM]: Reward for Strength Training 1 and 2, and also 3, will be granted upon successful completion of both Sub-Quests.
May's jaw dropped. "What?" she exclaimed, disbelief lacing her voice. "Wait, what? So I have to complete two of these Quests before I even get the reward? That's so unfair!"
She slammed her fist against the floor, frustration surging through her. "This is just like those fantasy novels I read, where the system just throws random challenges at you. This is cruel!" she thought, her voice rising in a frustrated whisper. "Why didn't it say that before? Why am I being treated like a lab rat?" she murmured, a hint of tears in her eyes.
The system, of course, remained silent, its holographic display shimmering with an unnerving, uncaring glow.
(Okay, new plan. Positive self-talk. I can do this. I'm strong. I'm resilient. I'm… slightly less bruised than I was an hour ago. That's something, right?)
"Fine," she muttered, defiance lacing her voice. "I'll do it. I'll complete these Quests just to prove this system wrong."
She took a deep breath, trying to push down her anger and frustration. "I can do this," she whispered, her voice filled with newfound determination. "I can handle this. I will prove this system wrong."
She rolled onto her back, adrenaline surging through her. She was tired, she was frustrated, but she wasn't giving up. She would complete this Quest. She would complete them all. And then, she would get her reward.
The first twenty sit-ups were a blur of pain and exhaustion. By the fortieth, her abdomen burned, her muscles screaming. The rhythmic thump of her heartbeat echoed in her ears, a frantic drumbeat against the oppressive silence of her apartment. The air hung heavy with the scent of sweat and exertion, a grim reminder of her physical limitations.
Fifty… sixty… seventy… Each sit-up was a battle, a test of her will. Eighty… ninety… Her vision blurred, the room spinning slightly. She could feel the sweat trickling down her temples, the taste of salt on her lips. The system's voice, cold and emotionless, was a constant presence in her mind.
[SYSTEM]: 2 minutes, 45 seconds remaining.
She pushed on, fueled by a mixture of stubbornness, anger, and a desperate desire to avoid another round of playground humiliation. Ninety… ninety-five… Her body trembled, threatening to give way. She could feel the system's unwavering gaze, a pressure that intensified with each passing second. A wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm her.
She gritted her teeth, her eyes fixed on the timer. One hundred sit-ups. Done. The timer blinked: 4 minutes, 58 seconds. Success! A wave of relief washed over her, followed by a surge of energy coursing through her veins.
[SYSTEM]: Strength Training 2: Objective complete. Reward granted: Enhanced core Strength and Wisdom.
--
[SYSTEM ]: Flexibility Training: Achieve a full split. Reward: Enhanced Intelligence and Luck.
May took a deep breath, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The image of a full split flashed in her mind, a seemingly impossible feat for someone who hadn't stretched in years. She pushed her doubts aside, remembering the intense pain of the previous challenges. The thought of being frozen in a sudden cold snap was enough to ignite her determination.
With a determined grunt, she slowly stretched her legs, feeling the burn in her muscles. The initial pain gradually subsided as she pushed herself further, her body finding a rhythm, a newfound flexibility. Minutes turned into hours as she persevered, her resolve fueled by the reward that awaited her. Finally, with a deep inhale and a final push, she felt her legs reach the desired position, a full split. The holographic system shimmered, acknowledging her accomplishment.
[SYSTEM]: Flexibility Training complete. Congratulations, user. You have successfully completed Strength Training 1, Strength Training 2, and Flexibility Training. Your initial Quist has been completed.
May's eyes flew open, a smile splitting her face, a burst of relief washing over her. She had done it! The system's words, like a chorus of angels, announced her victory, and an unexpected wave of joy swept over her.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with exhaustion and exhilaration.
She sat up, her body trembling with fatigue, her mind abuzz with a mixture of emotions. But through the exhaustion and relief, there was a burgeoning excitement.
"I did it," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with a newfound confidence. "I actually did it." The previous aches and pains had vanished, replaced by a sense of accomplishment and newfound power. A rush of warmth coursed through her body, an invigorating sensation that spread from her core to her limbs. She felt stronger, more flexible, more balanced. It was as if she had been reborn.
The system then displayed the rewards for her completed Quests.
[SYSTEM]: Your rewards are as follows:
- Enhanced core strength and Dexterity + 10
- Enhanced core strength and Wisdom + 10
- Enhanced Intelligence and Luck + 10
A blissful smile stretched across May's face, despite the fatigue and pangs of hunger gnawing at her. The thought of acquiring these new abilities filled her with a thrill, a sense of limitless potential. She couldn't wait to test her new powers.
The system pulsed with blue light, projecting a new message.
[SYSTEM]: Your rewards have been applied to your status window.
[ "HP: 100/100" ] (The HP bar was now full, bright and vibrant, a solid block of blue.)
[ "MP: 20/100" ] (The MP bar had significantly increased, now a noticeably longer bar of blue.)
[ "STR: 28" ] (The Strength bar had dramatically increased, now a much longer and brighter bar of golden light.)
[ "DEX: 18" ] (The Dexterity bar had also dramatically increased, matching the length and brightness of the Strength bar.)
[ "CON: 7" ] (The Constitution bar had also increased, now a longer and brighter bar of blue.)
[ "INT: 10" ] (The Intelligence bar remained long and bright, but now even more so, pulsing with a subtle, intelligent glow.)
[ "WIS: 19" ] (The Wisdom bar had increased, now almost as long and bright as the Intelligence bar.)
[ "LUK: 15" ] (The Luck bar had doubled, now a noticeably longer and brighter bar of blue.)
Skills :
- RARE : Precognitive Sight (Lv. 1) - Can glimpse potential future events, giving her a brief insight into what might happen.
- RARE : Canine Empathy. (LV. 1) - This passive skill enhances your ability to understand and predict enemy behavior, granting a significant advantage in combat and negotiation.
- PERMANENT : Enhanced Strength (Lv. 1) - May's physical strength is boosted, allowing her to lift heavier objects and strike with greater force. ( can utilize current strength level more effectively, allowing to push past limits and endure longer. )
- PERMANENT : Enhanced Agility (Lv. 1) - May's speed, reflexes, and coordination are enhanced, making her faster and more agile.
May felt a surge of energy, a tingling sensation that ran through her limbs, as the system's power flowed into her, filling her with a newfound strength. She could feel the change in her body, a subtle shift in her balance, a newfound ease in her movements. It was like she had been given a gift, a power beyond anything she could have imagined.
She stood up, testing her strength, feeling a surge of exhilaration as she moved with a grace she hadn't known she possessed. She felt lighter, faster, stronger. It was an intoxicating feeling, a sense of limitless potential.
Suddenly, the system's interface shimmered back into view, a blue rectangle appearing before her.
[SYSTEM]: Your initial Quist has been completed. Further training will be initiated tomorrow. Rest period initiated . Be prepared for the following sub-quests:
- Cardio Training: Run 5 kilometers within 30 minutes. (Reward: Dramatically improved stamina and endurance.)
- Combat Maneuvers: Master basic combat techniques. (Reward: Acquisition of advanced fighting skills.)
She lay there for a long time, the silence of her small apartment amplifying her isolation. Dust motes danced in the weak afternoon light filtering through the grimy window, illuminating the sparse furnishings: a worn futon bed pushed against one wall, a rickety desk cluttered with textbooks and half-empty energy drink cans, a chipped mug bearing a faded anime character sitting forlornly on the floor. The walls, painted a faded yellow that had once been bright, were adorned with nothing but a single, slightly crooked poster of a fantasy novel—a stark testament to her solitary life. The only other decoration was a faded photograph tucked into a crack in the wall, a blurry image of a younger May, beaming alongside a smiling woman and boy. Her mother and brother.
A wave of profound loneliness washed over her, a crushing weight unrelated to physical pain. The image of her family, existing only in photographs and distant memories, sent a fresh wave of sadness. Her mother, working abroad, sent money but never genuine affection. Her brother, completely absorbed in his own life, seemed to have forgotten she existed. She was alone, truly alone, in this cramped apartment, in this city, in this strange, digital world.
(If it weren't for the system, if it weren't for that first trial… if I hadn't almost died… I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be in this… this hell. But maybe… maybe this is better than being completely alone, forgotten. Maybe this is… necessary. Maybe this is my only chance to fight back, to show them I'm not weak.)
She pushed herself up, her muscles protesting. She shuffled to the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly against the worn wooden floor. The kitchen was equally sparse: a small, outdated refrigerator, a two-burner stovetop, a chipped countertop. She opened the refrigerator, the cool air a welcome contrast to the lingering heat of the sit-ups. She pulled out a container of leftover ramen, the simple meal a stark contrast to the extraordinary circumstances of her life.
She ate slowly, the bland noodles offering little comfort. The silence of the apartment was deafening, the absence of her family a constant, gnawing ache in her heart. The thought of her mother, so far away, sending money but never a word of genuine affection, brought a fresh wave of sadness. Her brother, completely absorbed in his own life, seemed to have forgotten she even existed.
(They don't even know what I'm going through. They don't know about the Alpha Hounds, the system, the penalties… They just see the money, the occasional text message. They don't see me. They don't see the girl who's fighting for her life.)
A faint smile touched her lips, a fragile attempt to mask the sadness gnawing at her heart. She was alone, yes, but she was also stronger, more resilient. She had faced her weaknesses, and she was emerging victorious. Or at least, she was trying to.
She was halfway through her ramen when the kitchen plunged into sudden darkness. A sharp crackle filled the air, followed by the eerie, pulsating glow of an intense blue light emanating from the corner of the room. It wasn't a flicker; it was a surge, a wave of energy that seemed to fill the small space, making the air itself vibrate. The blue light pulsed rhythmically, casting strange, dancing shadows on the walls, before abruptly vanishing, leaving behind an unnerving silence and the lingering scent of ozone. May's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden, absolute stillness.
(Okay, that wasn't faulty wiring. That was… something else entirely. And it definitely wasn't subtle.)
She finished her ramen, the bland noodles suddenly tasting like ash. She cleaned the kitchen, her movements jerky and hesitant. She changed into a clean t-shirt and sweatpants, the simple act a small rebellion against the chaos of her life. She climbed into bed, her body exhausted, her mind racing. The system's interface, a steady, unwavering blue rectangle, hovered beside her bed, displaying the time:
[SYSTEM]: Time remaining until Guardian Trial re-entry: 51 hours, 52 minutes. Rest period active.
The 72-hour deadline loomed, a constant pressure in the back of her mind. She had two more sub-quests to complete before she had to face the Alpha Hounds again. She closed her eyes, the image of the intense blue glow seared into her memory, the ache of loneliness a persistent throb beneath the surface of her exhaustion. Tomorrow, the cardio training and the Combat Maneuvers, Tomorrow, the final push. Tomorrow, the fight for survival.