Power

The first rest day arrived, but it wasn't the paradise Nathan had hoped for. His body was so sore he could barely move, let alone enjoy the free time. Every muscle in his body protested at the slightest motion. Even breathing felt like work.

Still, it was a break.

The next day, the torture resumed.

Each morning, he woke before dawn. Each morning, he stumbled out the door, only to be chased by the Velygrins. Each morning, he barely made it to the Goliath by 9 AM. And each morning, Garrick found new ways to destroy him.

Day 3 was endurance. Running miles with a water buckets, lunges across scorching stone, carrying boulders up a hill. By nightfall, his legs felt like they would snap in half.

Day 4 was pure strength. Lifting stones, flipping logs, holding impossible stances for hours while Garrick casually sipped tea.

Day 5 was reaction speed. Dodging swinging logs, evading wild attacks from Kaela, and—worst of all—catching arrows mid-flight. He failed miserably and ended the day covered in bruises.

Day 6 was technique. Punching, kicking, blocking, countering. His hands bled against the stone dummies, his knuckles raw and split. By the time he collapsed that night, he could barely lift his arms.

And through it all, Garrick grinned.

"This is hell," Nathan muttered, dragging himself home.

But by Day 7, something changed.

His legs still burned, but they didn't buckle as easily. His punches still hurt, but they weren't weak. His body still ached, but he was moving faster, reacting sharper.

That morning, he reached the Goliath at 8:55.

That night, he carried the boulder home without stopping.

A week ago, that would have been impossible.

By the time the second rest day arrived, Nathan lay on the ground, staring at the sky. The stars blurred. His entire body was a mix of pain and exhaustion, but beneath it, something else stirred.

Strength.

Real strength.

He clenched his fist. He had survived the first week.

And this was only the beginning.

Timeskip: Two Months Later

Nathan stood before the stone dummy—the same one he had struggled to break. He had spent weeks hammering his fists into it, inching closer to breaking through.

Today, he wasn't just aiming for an arm.

He took his stance, inhaled, and punched.

The stone shattered.

A deep silence followed. Even Garrick looked impressed.

Nathan exhaled. He had done it.

But just as he felt that victory, his system flared to life.

New Quest: Ascension Phase 1 CompleteObjective Updated: Face the Next Trial

Nathan wiped sweat from his brow. He had no idea what that meant.

But he knew he was getting stronger.