The sun hadn't even risen.
Zane lay half-curled on the cracked courtyard stones of the abandoned training field, bones aching, mind fogged, breath slow.
He'd fallen asleep face-down in dirt after a failed rock-lifting attempt and a cold stale sandwich meal that tasted like regret.
But somehow... he was still alive.
Barely.
> Ding!
S.A.S.S. System Alert – Second Day of Survival Commences
> "Welcome back to the waking world, Host. Your current condition is: 64% useless. That's a 2% improvement over yesterday. We're on the path to greatness."
Zane groaned.
His muscles screamed.
His foot throbbed.
His pride? Still buried somewhere under lap three from yesterday.
"Tell me, system," he muttered, peeling his face off gravel, "is there a refund policy on this magical Isekai trash heap?"
> "Refund denied. Host's soul is already past warranty."
He smirked weakly. "Figures."
---
System Analysis – Morning Status
> Zane Kingslay – Mage Class: Dormant (Tier 0)
Stats:
– Strength: 2 → 3
– Agility: 3 → 4
– Vitality: 2 → 3
– Mana: [Sealed]
– Spirit: 5
– Mentality: 7
New Trait: Pain Resistance I
You flinched slightly less today. Congratulations, masochist.
Perk Active: Recovery by Consumption (Tier 0)
Healing minor wounds by eating trash-tier food. Flavor still awful.
> Mission Tier 0 – "No Chickens Allowed"
Complete 10 laps
Perform 30 proper pushups (no knees)
Perform 20 body squats
Rock Lift endurance: 1 full minute
New: Hold Combat Stance I for 5 minutes
Bonus Objective: Trigger Mana Flicker via breath control
Penalty for Failure: Shame. Stunted growth. Hallucinations of your own funeral—again.
Zane rubbed his shoulder and stood with a stagger.
"This again…"
> "Yes. Because your body still resembles a sentient broomstick. Progress demands pain. And I demand progress."
"Why do I feel like you're enjoying this?"
> "Because I am. It's the only entertainment I get while bound to a sentient dumpster fire."
Zane started running.
Well—jogging.
Okay—limping in vaguely circular motions.
Each lap still hurt, but his muscles didn't collapse instantly this time. The soreness had turned into something deeper. Numb. Like his body was slowly accepting the abuse as its new normal.
Lap 3: He stumbled, skidded across gravel, then stood again.
Lap 6: He heard a voice behind him.
"You call that running? You're moving like Yamcha after a bad date."
He froze.
Turned.
A tall, lean figure leaned against a boulder, arms folded, long green hair waving lazily in wind that didn't exist.
Zane blinked. "Zoro?"
The illusion nodded. "I've been lost before, but this? This is directionless."
Zane wheezed. "Why are you here?"
"You summoned disappointment. I came naturally."
Then vanished.
Zane rubbed his eyes. "Great. I'm being judged by fictional hallucinations now."
> "Your subconscious is smarter than your conscious self."
Zane dropped to the ground again.
This time, he managed seven real pushups before his arms trembled.
At pushup twelve, he collapsed. Waited. Pushed again.
By the end, he'd done 28 pushups total—with proper form.
He stood up and immediately regretted it.
His thighs still felt like molten lead.
Squats?
Agony.
But he completed 20. Slowly. With the grace of a dying goat.
> "Update: Congratulations. Your glutes are now 7% less pathetic."
The same 10kg rock.
It still glared at him.
He grabbed it. Exhaled.
Lifted.
One second…
Ten seconds…
His muscles shook.
Thirty seconds.
Veins bulged. Eyes watered.
Fifty-five seconds…
The stone slipped.
He screamed.
But didn't let go.
One minute.
He dropped the rock and collapsed backward, laughing.
Not victory. Just madness.
> "Rock Endurance Goal Complete."
> "Reward: Minor Strength +0.5. Self-respect +1 (temporary)."
---
The system dinged again.
> New Training Unlocked: Combat Stance I – Beginner Form (Non-Magical)
"Bend knees. Back straight. Arms raised. Core engaged. Hold position. No whining."
Zane tried.
His knees wobbled.
His spine protested.
But he held.
One minute.
Two.
He began sweating.
Three.
He trembled.
Four…
> "If you drop now, I'm playing sad violin music in your soul."
Zane growled.
Five minutes.
He fell.
Face down. Unmoving.
Breathing in dirt again.
"System…"
> "Yes?"
"…Tell me I'm getting stronger."
> "You're still trash."
"…But?"
> "…Now you're trash with slightly better posture."
Zane smiled into the dirt.
---
Nightfall – Burned, Bruised, and Breathing
He didn't go back to the dorms again.
He lay on his back, staring at the moon. Muscles tight, bones rattling. His body was broken.
But not beaten.
Somewhere deep inside, he could feel something stir.
Not magic.
Not power.
But will.
> "Hey, Zane," the system said casually.
"Yeah?"
"You survived two days. If you survive five more, maybe I'll let you punch something."
"A person?"
"A dummy."
"Same thing."
He chuckled.
> System Log – End of Day Two
> Laps: 10 / 10
Pushups: 28 / 30
Squats: 20 / 20
Rock Lift: 1 minute (Success)
Combat Stance I: Completed
Stat Progression:
– Strength: 3.5
– Agility: 4
– Vitality: 3
Passive Gains:
– Muscle Conditioning I
– Combat Stability I
– Pain Resistance I (Upgrade Pending)
> "Tomorrow: You learn how to fall properly. Because you'll be doing a lot of it."
Zane whispered under the stars:
"I'll crawl if I have to. But I won't stop."