CHAPTER 4: FIRST TRAINING SESSION

The next morning hit like a hammer.

Muscles I didn't even know existed screamed in protest. My arms barely moved. My legs were heavy. To keep my eyes open is struggle.

And yet, when the system screen popped up…

[Daily Tasks Generated.]

[Run 5 kilometers

Perform 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats

Sword practice: 3 hours

Meditate: 1 hour]

…I stood up anyway.

I'm not failing today not after my little win yesterday.

Lyra's Secret

Lyra met me at dawn, as promised. She carried two wooden swords and tossed one to me.

"Time to learn how Foundation Protocol users survive." She said with a little smile playing on her lips.

"You mean suffer," I muttered.

She smirked.

"Exactly. But efficient suffering."

We started with the basics again footwork, posture, breathing. She said getting in full mentor mode.

"Don't swing wildly. Control your motion. Every wasted movement burns energy." She chimed in.

She showed me how to conserve stamina by focusing on core rotation and minimal arm strain.

Hours passed. The sword became lighter in my hand. My swings sharpened. My breathing steadied.

The system being generous blinked in my face with

[Sword Basics: 5% Proficiency.]

The tiny number appeared. My first skill percentage.

It was barely anything but it was mine.

So… this is how Foundation Protocol works.

Everything comes through earned mastery.

The Philosophy of Foundation Protocol

During breaks, Lyra explained more.

"Most systems spoon-feed their users. They hand out skills like candy." She explained.

"Foundation Protocol doesn't believe in freebies. It calculates every movement, every breath, every drop of sweat."

She pointed at her own system interface.

[Sword Basics: 73% Proficiency]

[Advanced Movement: 41% Proficiency]

[Meditation Mastery: 62% Proficiency]

Her system interface does look better than mine. That burned a surge of competitive spirit in me to overcome her.

"Every time I improve, the system logs it. No level ups. No instant skills. Just pure numbers."

It really is like real life training.

But the system tracks my growth, turning my effort into something permanent.

Lyra's eyes narrowed, her tone serious.

"Most people quit. They can't handle the grind. But if you endure long enough… Foundation Protocol evolves." She said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Evolves?" I asked.

She nodded, lowering her voice further.

"There are rumors. Advanced users unlock Pathway Upgrades. Special body enhancements based purely on personal training. They call it the Supreme Pathway."

My heart pounded with excitement thinking of how cool and exhilarating it will be to be among the lucky few to unlock the supreme pathway.

Supreme Pathway…? I asked just to be sure I heard her right.

She goes on to explain how lucky it would be to unlock the supreme pathway and the various boons that comes with it.

Unknown to both her and Lian, the supreme pathway isn't something that unlocks based on luck but something deeper.

A Glimpse of Hope

We trained until sunset.

I completed my run.

I nailed every rep.

I lasted the full meditation.

And when I collapsed into the grass, exhausted but satisfied, the system screen flickered once more.

[Daily Tasks Completed: 100%]

[Attribute Growth: Strength +0.4 | Endurance +0.3 | Vitality +0.3]

[Sword Basics: 9% Proficiency]

And then something new appeared.

[Milestone Reached: 3 Consecutive Days Completed.]

[Foundation Protocol: Micro Adaptation Unlocked.]

[Passive Recovery Speed: +5%]

[Muscle Fiber Efficiency: +3%]

I blinked.

The system actually rewarded me. I thought in surprise.

Tiny bonuses, yes but very real. This was the very first help offered by the system.

This… this is how I grow. This is my path.

The Whispering Crowd

But as I stood there, catching my breath, I noticed a group of adventurers whispering and pointing at me again.

At the center stood a tall figure in silver armor.

A young man, probably my age, surrounded by followers.

His system interface floated boldly beside him:

[Orion - Rank C+]

[Sovereign System: Combat Dominance Lv. 4 | Skill Fusion Lv. 2 | Speed Boost Lv. 5]

His eyes met mine cold, sharp, and amused.

"A Foundation Protocol bottom feeder, huh? How pathetic." He snickered proudly.

His followers laughed.

"You should quit while you're still breathing," one sneered.

Orion stepped forward, voice dripping with mockery.

"No one climbs from the bottom. The system weeds out the weak."

'We'll see about that', I thought, clenching my fists.