A skill?

The morning air was sharp, still clinging to the edge of night. The sky was a dull gray, the sun yet to rise fully. But Ryan was already outside, standing at the edge of the footpath near his apartment.

He glanced down at the glowing screen floating in front of him.

[Quest in Progress: Daily Mobility Challenge]

Progress:

[Walk 5,000 steps to school – 0 / 5,000]

[Run 500 meters – Pending]

He exhaled slowly, feeling the stiffness in his legs from the stairs last night.

"Alright," he muttered, tugging the straps of his backpack, "Let's do this."

The moment he started walking, he realized how badly he underestimated this. By the time he hit 1,000 steps, he was already panting.

His shirt clung to his back. His forehead dripped like a leaking faucet.

I never knew walking could be this hard, he thought, wiping sweat off his brow. I always took the train or a cab. This sucks.

His legs felt heavier than bricks. His breath came short and sharp.

[Only 4,000 more steps, host.]

"Fuck you," Ryan growled. "You walk, then."

But he didn't stop.

He clenched his jaw and kept going, trying to keep a rhythm. Left foot. Right foot. Repeat. Every step sounded like a personal insult, each crack in the pavement mocking his very existence.

As he hit 2,500 steps, a new alert chimed in.

[DING!]

[Quest Update – 2,500 Steps Completed – 50% Done]

[Good going, Host. Don't stop now.]

Ryan blinked. A small smile crept onto his sweat-slick face.

Halfway there, he thought. I'm really doing it…

It was the first time in years he'd felt proud of himself.

He picked up his pace, pushing past the ache in his thighs. The streets were slowly getting busier. Schoolkids, street vendors, cyclists—

Cyclists…

Ryan's heart froze.

Up ahead, turning the corner, were them.

Josh. Amit.

The two bastards who kicked the living shit out of him just two days ago. Laughing. Talking. One had a breakfast roll in his hand.

The other was on a cycle, pedaling lazily. Their backpacks slung like nothing mattered.

Ryan's breath hitched. Instinctively, his body halted.

Shit... not now... His heart thudded against his ribcage like a drum. I can't deal with them right now.

He took a few steps back, lowered his head, and waited for them to pass. His eyes stayed glued to the sidewalk.

They didn't notice him. They rode past.

Only after they were gone did he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. His palms were sweaty, fists clenched tight.

He stared at the ground for a second.

Soon, he thought, I'll be strong enough to walk past them without flinching. One day… I'll make them afraid to look me in the eye.

And with that thought fueling him, Ryan continued.

Step after step.

Until finally—

[DING!]

[Quest Progress: Walk 5,000 Steps – COMPLETE]

He stopped in front of the school gate, hands on his knees, panting so hard it felt like his lungs were about to crack.

He leaned against a lamppost, completely drenched in sweat.

"I did it... I fucking did it…"

[Don't stop now, host. You've still got a 500-meter run left.]

Ryan whipped his head up, eyes wide with disbelief.

"You have got to be kidding me."

[I do not joke about fitness. Complete the run before class starts and get a bonus reward.]

Ryan cursed loudly. "This is so much bullshit!"

[Do you want to be strong or not?]

He bit his tongue. His legs were jelly, but his pride was louder.

"Fine. Let's fucking run."

He threw his bag over his shoulder, gritted his teeth, and started sprinting down the sidewalk around the school block.

Every breath burned. Every step screamed. But he didn't stop.

He ran like he was chasing the life he'd never had.

Like he was racing away from the loser he used to be.

And after what felt like forever, Ryan stumbled into the school grounds, gasping, sweat dripping from his nose, arms, chin—everything.

He looked around. No teacher in sight.

The classroom door was still open.

He dragged himself in, collapsed onto his chair in the back row, and dropped his bag on the floor like a corpse hitting the ground.

The bell hadn't rung yet.

Yes... I made it.

[DING!]

[Quest Complete: Daily Mobility Challenge]

[walked 5,000 steps]

[Ran 500 meters ]

[Reached before 9:00 AM – Bonus Objective Achieved]

[Rewards Gained:]

[+2 kg fat burned]

[Boosted stamina recovery]

[Endurance minor upgrade]

[Current Weight: 86 kg]

[Hidden Reward: Skill Acquired – [Boxing Jab – E Rank] (Upgradable)]

Ryan blinked.

Boxing… Jab? he repeated mentally.

"What the hell kind of name is that?"

[A unique skill, host. Grants a spring-loaded jab that scales with speed and weight. Excellent for slapping the smug off someone's face. Upgradable with usage.]

A grin crawled across Ryan's tired, sweat-soaked face.

He looked down at his trembling hands.

86 kgs...

He was losing weight. He was getting stronger. And now... he even had his first skill.

Ryan West — the loser, the fatass, the punching bag — was changing.

And this was only the beginning.