The sun was already high when Lucas woke-up.
Summer heat pressed gently against his skin, The small neighborhood was quiet. Most people were already at work. A few cicadas buzzed lazily in the trees.
Lucas rolled his sleeve and started stretching.
Then—
[DING]
[Daily Physical Conditioning Routine Activated]
Objective:
→ Push-ups: 50 (Sets allowed)
→ Sit-ups: 50 (Sets allowed)
→ Squats: 50 (Sets allowed)
→ Endurance Run: 5 km (Jog/Walk permitted)
System Note:
Consistency outweighs intensity.
Progress will scale with effort.
Lucas stared at the transparent screen for a moment.
"…That's a lot."
In his previous life, he couldn't remember the last time he'd exercised properly. Work had drained everything out of him his body, his mind, his will. By the time he got home, all he could do was collapse.
But this time…
He clenched his fists lightly.
"I'll do what I can."
He dropped to the ground, palms pressing into the floor.
"One…"
"Two"
"Three"
"Four"
"Five"
"Six"
at seventh his arms starts shaking and
By ten, his breathing was already uneven.
He stopped, pushed himself back up, and sat there for a few seconds, sweat forming at his temples.
"…Sets allowed," he muttered.
After a short break,he went down again.
Ten more.
By the time he reached thirty, his arms felt like rubber. At forty, he failed twice before finishing the last rep.
When he finally stood up, his chest was heaving.
[Ding]
Push-ups completed: 50/50.
Then came the situps.
The sit-ups burned deeper than he expected. His core screamed in protest, and he had to split them into five clean sets.
But Squats were even worse.
His thighs trembled uncontrollably by the last ten reps. Each movement felt heavy, slow, deliberate.
By the time he finished the final squat, Lucas collapsed onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling.
Sweat soaked his shirt.
His heart hammered loudly in his ears
[Ding]
Sit-ups completed: 50/50
Squats completed: 50/50
Lucas let out a shaky laugh.
"I'm… really weak."
But there was no shame in his voice.
Only acceptance.
After half an hour he got out him home for a
5 km run.
It wasn't a run.
Not really.
It was a jog…
then a walk…
then another jog.
His lungs burned. His legs felt heavy. A sharp ache settled in his calves halfway through.
More than once, he slowed to a stop, hands on his knees, breathing hard.
People passed him students, joggers, cyclists.
No one paid him any attention.
And strangely, that felt freeing.
By the time he completed the distance, his whole body felt like it was on fire.
He leaned against a tree, eyes closed, sweat dripping from his chin.
[Ding]
Endurance Run completed: 5 km
Completion Rate: 100%
A soft chime echoed in his head.
[Routine Logged]
Rewards Applied:
+1 Strength
+1 Stamina
+0.5 Agility
Minor Recovery Effect Activated
After the effects were applied
Lucas felt a little stronger.
And something inside him felt… steadier.
Like a small brick had been placed at the foundation of something much bigger.
He slowly walked back home, muscles sore, steps heavy.
But his mind was clear.
For the first time in years, the exhaustion felt earned.
As he opened the front door, the smell of breakfast still lingered faintly in the air.
Lucas looked down at his trembling hands.
"This is enough for today," he whispered.
Not impressive.
Not dramatic.
But real.
And tomorrow
He would do it again.