Lucas stared at his phone screen, the numbers 7:00 PM seeming to mock him. Five hours. He had five hours to complete what felt like an impossible task with his current physical capabilities. His hand trembled slightly as he set the phone down on his desk, the quest notification still burning in his mind.
The original Lucas hadn't been particularly athletic, his memories showed a life largely spent indoors, avoiding the growing monster crisis through screens and games. Now that avoidance might cost him dearly.
Footsteps echoed from downstairs, followed by a woman's voice. "Lucas? Are you awake, honey?"
His new memories supplied the information: Sarah Hollow, his mother in this world. She worked as a high school teacher at one of the few remaining schools in the safe zone. His father, Marcus Hollow, managed a construction company that specialized in reinforcing buildings against monster attacks. Neither of them had ever stepped foot in a dungeon, they were civilians through and through.
"Coming!" he called out, quickly pulling on a pair of track pants and a t-shirt from his closet. He'd need appropriate clothes for the physical tasks ahead anyway.
The kitchen smelled of beef stew when he arrived downstairs, his mother stirring a large pot while his father sat at the table reviewing work documents. His mother's worried eyes scanned his face, likely looking for signs of yesterday's depression. The original Lucas had been in a dark place for months, and the acceptance letter to the Delver Academy had been his breaking point.
"You seem... different today," she said carefully, setting down her wooden spoon.
Lucas managed a small smile, trying to act natural despite the pressure building in his chest. Every minute spent here was one less minute for his quest. "I had some time to think. About the Academy."
His father looked up from his papers, eyes sharp. "And?"
"I'm going to make it work." Lucas grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, knowing he'd need the energy. "In fact, I'm starting training today."
His mother's face lit up with such hope that Lucas felt a pang of guilt for not being her real son. But he pushed the feeling aside. He had more pressing concerns, like avoiding whatever punishment the system had in store for quest failures.
"That's wonderful!" She stepped toward him, arms outstretched for a hug. "We were so worried after... well, after yesterday. Do you want to talk about it?"
Lucas accepted the hug briefly but pulled away before it could linger. "Actually, I need to start now. Is it okay if I skip dinner?"
His father frowned. "It's getting dark, Lucas. Maybe wait until—"
"Please," Lucas interrupted, trying to keep the desperation from his voice. "I need to do this. I'll stay in well-lit areas, and I have my phone."
His parents exchanged a look, one of those silent conversations that only long-married couples seemed capable of having. Finally, his mother nodded.
"Be back by midnight," his father said firmly. "And keep your phone on."
Lucas was already heading for the door, the quest screen floating persistently in his vision. Outside, the summer evening was still warm, the sun hanging low on the horizon. He pulled up the quest details again, his heart racing.
[Quest: Physical Growth]
[Time Remaining: 4:57:23]
He started with the run, knowing it would take the longest. His new body's muscles protested from the first step, unused to any serious exertion. The local park was three blocks away, its paths well-lit by street lamps. Lucas had walked here countless times in his new memories, but never with such purpose.
The first kilometer nearly broke him. His lungs burned, his legs felt like lead, and every step sent jolts of pain through his joints. But he couldn't stop. The system's warning about punishment echoed in his mind, driving him forward despite the agony.
By the third kilometer, something strange happened. The pain didn't lessen, but his mind seemed to disconnect from it. He found a rhythm, each footfall matching his heartbeat, each breath measured and controlled. Time became fluid, marked only by the steady decrease of numbers on his quest tracker.
Two hours and four water fountain breaks later, he finally completed the run. His legs shook uncontrollably, but a pleasant chime sounded in his head.
[5 KM Run: 1/1 Complete]
[Time Remaining: 2:52:41]
Without allowing himself more than a moment's rest—he couldn't afford to—Lucas found a secluded spot near the park's exercise area and began his pushups. Each one was torture, his arms trembling by the fifteenth rep. But slowly, methodically, he continued.
The night grew darker. Other park-goers passed by occasionally, giving him odd looks as he counted under his breath. "Forty-seven... forty-eight..."
His arms gave out at sixty-three. Lucas lay face-down on the grass, fighting back tears of frustration. The system offered no encouragement, no hints, just the steadily decreasing time counter in his vision.
"Get up," he whispered to himself. "Get up or face the consequences."
He managed ten more before collapsing again. Then five. Then three. One by one, he clawed his way to completion, each pushup taking nearly twice as long as the ones before.
[100 Pushups: 100/100 Complete]
[Time Remaining: 1:23:15]
The sit-ups were somehow worse. His core muscles, already taxed from maintaining proper form during pushups, screamed in protest. But with the threat of punishment looming, Lucas forced himself through them, counting each rep aloud through gritted teeth.
When the final chime sounded, he had less than three minutes to spare.
[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards:
2 Upgrade Points, Trait Unlocked: Minor Recovery Boost
(Passive: Reduces recovery time from physical exertion by 5%)]
Lucas collapsed onto his back, staring up at the stars through the park's trees. The new trait immediately made itself known, the burning in his muscles began to fade slightly faster than before. It wasn't much, but it was something. More importantly, it was proof that the system worked, that this wasn't all some elaborate hallucination brought on by interdimensional travel.
His phone buzzed: 11:47 PM. He needed to head home soon, but first, he pulled up his status screen.
[Name: Lucas Hollow]
[Age: 17]
[Skills: ]
[Traits: Minor Recovery Boost]
Attributes
[Strength: 1]
[Agility: 1]
[Endurance: 1]
[Mana: 1]
Nothing had changed except for the new trait. But now he had two Upgrade Points to spend, and something told him he'd need to use them wisely. The Delver Academy wouldn't wait for him to catch up naturally.
A notification appeared before he could fully process his success.
[New Quest Available: First Steps]
[Time Limit: 24 Hours]
He groaned, but opened it anyway. After all, what was the point of having an Upgrade System if you didn't use it?