Chapter 5: The Chosen Successor
Ariz opened his eyes.A blinding white stretched endlessly in every direction — a void where nothing existed.
He looked around, confused. His body felt strangely light, yet something weighed on his chest — a pressure he couldn't describe.
Ding!
[Welcome to the Training Ground.][Starting Training Manual...]
Ding!
[Host, before we proceed, we must strengthen your physical body. Your first task is as follows:]
100 push-ups
100 sit-ups
100 pull-ups
10 km running
[You have limited time to complete this. Failure is not an option.]
Ariz's jaw clenched as he stared at the list.It felt impossible.
How am I supposed to finish this?! he thought, his heart pounding.
Self-doubt whispered in his ear, but another voice roared louder — the memory of Zayen and his minions laughing as he sank into the river, powerless and broken.His hands curled into fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms.
No.He would not be weak anymore.If he couldn't even handle this... how could he dream of revenge?
Taking a deep breath, Ariz dropped to the ground and began.
The first few push-ups were easy.By the fiftieth, his arms trembled. Sweat poured down his forehead, blinding him, but he gritted his teeth and kept pushing.
Every fiber of his being screamed at him to stop.His muscles burned, his breath came in ragged gasps.He collapsed onto the ground — but only for a second.
Get up, he ordered himself.GET UP!
He forced his body up again, even if it moved like a broken machine.Each movement was pure pain, but pain was better than weakness.Pain was a reminder that he was still alive — and still fighting.
After completing 100 push-ups, Ariz fell onto his back, panting hard.There was no time to rest.
Next: sit-ups.
He placed his hands behind his head and began the brutal climb.Up, down. Up, down.Each repetition hammered the pain deeper into his core, but he refused to stop.
When he finished the 100 sit-ups, his stomach muscles felt torn apart.Then came pull-ups.He found a metallic bar floating in the empty space — summoned by the system — and leapt up, grabbing it with both hands.
Pull-up after pull-up, his arms shook violently.At the seventieth pull, he nearly lost his grip and fell — but at the last second, he tightened his fingers and pulled with everything he had.
His vision blurred. His body screamed. His heart thundered in his ears.
When he finally finished the pull-ups, Ariz collapsed to the floor, gasping like a dying man.
And yet...It wasn't over.
10 kilometers running.
Ariz wiped the sweat from his face, his hands trembling.He stood up on shaky legs.
The white space stretched endlessly before him, like an infinite track.Without thinking, without doubting, he took the first step.
Then another.Then another.
At first, his body resisted every movement. Every step felt like walking with a thousand weights strapped to him.But soon, something strange happened.
Somewhere deep inside, something awoke.A fire he didn't know he had.It fed on his hatred, his regret, his need for vengeance.
He ran faster.And faster.And faster.
Every time he thought he would collapse, he thought of Zayen's face.He thought of the humiliation.He thought of the betrayal.
And he kept running.
Meanwhile, in another realm shrouded in darkness, three figures stood before a massive throne.The atmosphere was heavy, thick with tension and resentment.
They argued fiercely:
First Man: "It was my plan! Only I have the right to sit on the throne!"
Second Man: "Ha! If it weren't for me poisoning him, we wouldn't even be standing here. I deserve the throne!"
Third Man: "Shut up. I fought him after he was poisoned. He still almost killed us. Only I have earned this!"
The other two gritted their teeth but knew they couldn't win.If they fought, they would be slaughtered.
They lowered their heads in silent defeat as the Third Man stepped forward arrogantly.
Third Man: "Now, the throne is mine... and its power shall be mine too."
He walked toward the throne.With each step, his heart pounded with greed and excitement.
Just as he reached out to sit—
WHOOM!
The throne burst into light, a powerful force blasting him backward across the room.
First Man: "What the hell?!"Second Man: "What's going on?!"Third Man: "Impossible! I killed him! He should be dead!"
They stared, horrified, as the throne's old symbol faded away.In its place, a new emblem blazed into existence — one none of them recognized.
Second Man: "The throne... it has chosen a new owner."
First Man: "No... it can't be. That's impossible..."
The Third Man roared, his voice echoing with pure rage:
Third Man (screaming): "WHO?! WHO DARES TO STEAL MY THRONE?!"