The sun was sinking, leaking orange light through the slit of the curtain in the living room. My stomach growled loud enough to make me wince, reminding me I hadn't touched a scrap of food all day. Still, hunger wasn't the real problem. The real problem was that damned quest I had to finish before midnight, or I'd lose everything.
My eyes fell on five slices of bread scattered on the floor. Pathetic dinner, but it would have to do. I picked them up, dragged myself upstairs, and collapsed onto my squeaky bed. I chewed them down one by one, almost choking on the dry texture. It wasn't enough, but I swallowed my complaints along with the last bite.
Half an hour passed. I spent it leaning back on the bed, my eyes fixed on the Status Interface still displayed before me. A faint, lopsided smile appeared on my lips. Depraved Time Master. A fitting name for a scumbag like me.
Then, the time came. No more excuses to delay.
I slid off the bed and assumed a position on the floor, which was littered with my clothes, next to my messy bed. My knees and palms pressed against the cold floor. I started with push-ups.
I took a deep breath, then bent my elbows, lowering my skinny frame close to the floor. The muscles in my arms and shoulders screamed in protest immediately. They weren't used to this kind of strain. Trembling, I pushed my body back up and started counting.
"One."
.
.
.
[Daily Quest Completed]
[You have received a reward of 50 EXP]
The notification blazed before my dizzy eyes as my body collapsed onto the park bench. Gasping breaths tore from my burning lungs, each gulp of air feeling like it was shredding my throat. My entire body trembled uncontrollably, muscles twitching in agonizing protest. It felt like my whole body had been put through a grinder repeatedly.
I then stared at my shaking hands. Sigh! I managed to finish the quest today, but tomorrow I'd have to do it all over again.
Still, I figured it was a decent start. I could feel a tiny bit of pride in myself for managing to complete that simple quest.
But yeah, of course, with help. A little while ago, when I was on the verge of collapse, I dumped all five of my stat points into Strength and Vitality. The moment I applied those points, I felt a significant change in my body — denser muscles, deeper breaths. Without that, it would have been impossible for a couch potato like me to finish 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, 50 squats, and a 5 km run.
But in the end, I still ended up a living corpse sprawled on a park bench.
I exhaled long and hard.
Home. Shower. Sleep. Those were the only three things circling in my head right now. Even the sexual arousal that had been raging in my groin earlier was now buried under crushing fatigue.
Suddenly, another notification popped up, cutting through my daze.
[You have successfully reached Level 2]
[You have received a reward of 5 Stat Points]
I forced a thin smile onto my sweat-streaked, haggard face. Still breathing heavily, I opened my Status Interface.
________________
NAME: Adam Socheron
CLASS: Depraved Time Lord
LEVEL: 2
EXP:0/60
Available Stat Points: 5
SKILLS:
[Time Stop]
[Eye of Desire]
[Lustful Touch]
________________
"Level 2..." I murmured softly, looking at the new 5 stat points.
Maybe tomorrow would be a little easier. Or maybe not. But at least I was one step closer to getting my revenge on everyone.
It was late at night. I observed my surroundings with a disgusted look. Intimate couples were hugging everywhere, laughing and whispering. It was a truly nauseating sight. I tried to focus on the fatigue still gnawing at every muscle in my body, trying to ignore them.
Then someone sat down far too close. That was my cue to stand. Enough. Time to leave.
I dragged my tired body through emptying streets, then turned into a narrow alley lit by a single flickering streetlamp. Shadows twitched and stretched on the concrete walls.
That's when I heard it.
Harsh laughter, followed by a broken protest.
"Please... leave me alone," the girl's voice was hoarse, almost like a suppressed sob.
"Relax, sweetheart. We just wanna help. You're drunk, it's dangerous to go home alone," replied a grating male voice, full of barely concealed falseness.
I turned towards the source of the sound. Under the dim light, I saw a girl in a black hoodie that covered most of her face, her body unsteady as she leaned against the wall. She was surrounded by five large, unkempt men. One of them was touching her arm.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled, trying to break free, but her steps were too unsteady.
"Hey, don't be so loud. We're the good guys here," another man said, laughing, his eyes roving inappropriately. "We'll take you home. Or... you can come with us, we'll find a more comfortable place."
The girl shook her head, her voice trembling with fear. "I don't want to go with you! Go away! Help, somebody!"
The tallest one, who seemed to be the leader, stepped closer.
"Listen, sweetheart. These streets are dangerous for a pretty girl alone. Let us take care of you. You'll... enjoy it later."
His grimy hand reached out, about to touch the girl's cheek.
Ignore it!
The command popped into my head instantly. I'm not a hero. Not once in my life had anyone cared when I was beaten half to death, when my bones cracked, when I bled in the dirt. So why the hell should I care now?
I'm not a hero, and I have no intention of becoming one.
I took two steps away. But suddenly—
[Revenge Quest Generated]
_______________
[VENGEANCE QUEST]
TARGET: Sonya Treybern
OBJECTIVE: Save and fuck her!
REWARD: 800 EXP, 1 New Skill, 1 Random Item
[Accept: y/n]
_______________
My brow furrowed. I had no ties to this woman. But then I read her name.
Sonya Treybern. Treybern… Maximus Treybern. Was she connected to that bastard?
And the rewards... the rewards offered made the daily quest seem like a joke. 800 EXP? A new skill? An item?
"Save and fuck her." My own murmur sent a thrill through my blood. No penalty was listed for refusal. But... passing this up? Impossible. The rewards were too valuable. And if this woman was connected to that bastard... she could be the perfect tool for my revenge.
A thin smile curled across my lips.
Fine.
Time to play hero.
I turned around, my steps now firm as I approached them. The thugs narrowed their eyes, displeased by my arrival. One of them stepped forward and said,
"Get lost kid, before you—"
But he didn't get to finish his threat.
Because I had already used my power the moment I arrived before him.
[Time Stop]
The world stopped. Their laughter froze in the air. The girl was locked in a perfect expression of fear. And in the midst of that unnatural silence, only I could still move, the smile on my face growing wider.