Eron finished the apple. The last bite slid down his throat, warm and sweet.
He was still enjoying the moment But something felt different
He suddenly noticed the room in a way he never had before. The air wasn't just empty anymore—he could feel it moving against his skin, cool and refreshing, like a soft current flowing around him. It sank into his lungs with every breath, filling him with something clean and alive. The tatami mats pressed gently against his legs. The faint herbal smell from Julie's earlier food lingered in the corners. The crimson light through the rice-paper screens felt warmer, steadier, like it was touching him directly.
He sat up straighter. No fog in his head. No exhaustion pulling at his bones. Energy filled him—full, steady, like his whole body had finally woken up after days of sleepwalking.
He closed his eyes for a second. Let the feeling spread.
Then he opened them and started putting the pieces together.
The world had changed—sky bleeding red, technology dying in one loud boom, houses twisting into old wooden shapes. His parents gone, the house empty and silent. No system at first, while everyone else got theirs. Then this golden one—different, hidden, nothing like what Julie described. And the reward—double, even though he barely managed the task.
It all fit now. Heavy. Real.
*This is my truth.*
But he still didn't know what was happening outside. In the streets. In the new schools. In the world that had moved on without him.
He remembered Julie's warning about penalties—harsh ones for failing tasks. But his system hadn't punished him. No pain. No warning. It had waited. Guided him. Given him more than he earned.
*Maybe I should keep it hidden.*
His system was strange. Different. If others found out… what would happen? He had no friends left. His only family was missing—gone somewhere in this broken place.
He stood up. His legs felt solid. No shaking. No fear gripping his chest.
The fruit had done more than fill his stomach. It had cleared his mind. Steadied his thoughts.
He walked to the door. This time there was no knot of terror in his gut. No voice whispering to hide. He reached for the latch. Pulled.
Nothing.
The door didn't move. Not even a creak.
Then the golden screen appeared , right in front of him. He still didn't know how to call it. How to make it come. It just… arrived.
Words formed on the panel—simple, unyielding.
**You can leave after finishing the trial.**
Eron stared.
*Trial? But what trial?*
The thought barely finished before the screen answered.
**Trial will be given every day for 30 days continuously.**
The words landed like a stone.
*Thirty days trapped here? Why?*
Hopelessness settled in his chest—cold, thick. Thirty days alone. No parents. No Julie. No way out.
He let go of the latch. Turned back into the room.
The futon waited—simple, unmade. He lay down. Stared at the ceiling beams.
Nothing to do. Nothing to fight.
Sleep took him fast—deep and heavy.
He woke to a sound.
Creepy. Dangerous. Low growl mixed with something wet and sharp—like claws dragging across stone, too close.
His eyes snapped open. Heart slammed in his chest.
The room was dark—night had fallen. Crimson light gone. Only faint starlight through the rice-paper.
The sound came again—closer, guttural.
Curiosity pulled him up. The door was still locked, still sealed.
But the window.
He crossed the room quietly. Pushed the rice-paper aside.
Outside was pitch black. No lights. No houses glowing. Just shadows and stars hanging low and bright.
Then he saw it.
A creature moved in the street below—mix of dog and lion. Body low, tense. Horns sprouted all over its head and back—twisted, sharp like broken bone. Four legs ended in claws that clicked on the ground. Two tails whipped behind it, long and spiked. Not huge. Not muscular. Just wrong. Scary in its unnatural shape.
Eron felt a chill run down his spine—cold sweat on his neck.
The creature paused. Lifted its head.
Their eyes met.
Yellow slits glowed in the dark—locked on him.
But it didn't move. Didn't charge. Didn't roar.
It looked right through him. Like he wasn't there.
Eron held his breath. Watched as it turned away, tails lashing, and padded off into the shadows.
*Maybe the system locked the house. Locked me in… and locked the world out.*
He let the paper fall back. Pulled away from the window.
He walked to the far corner of the room—old habit. When he needed to think deeply, he always sat alone. Cross-legged on the tatami, back against the wall, knees drawn up.
He sat now. Let the quiet wrap around him.
Usually this time of night… he would be with his family. Lira setting plates on the table. Harlan coming home late with that tired smile. Food steaming. Laughter over nothing. TV flickering in the background.
The memory hit soft and heavy—ache in his chest, throat tight.
Then another thought came.
*Usually I'd be hungry right now. Dinner time. Stomach growling.*
But he wasn't.
Not even a little.
Everything was a mystery. The fruit. The system. The locked door. The creature outside.
He closed his eyes. Focused.
*System.*
He didn't speak. Just thought it—clear and firm.
The golden screen appeared—silent, waiting.
A new panel hovered above the main one.
**Trial Period**
Below it, his details glowed steady.
**Eron**
**Hybrid (Human and God)**
**Age – 18**
**Body – Mortal+ (lack of qi, polluted, strong vitality)**
**Cultivation – Star 0**
**Technique – None**
**Unique Ability – No Restrictions**
**Hidden Ability – Locked**
**Task Time – 30 days**
Eron stared at the changes.
*Strong vitality.*
Before, it had said "very weak, lack of blood." Now those words were gone. Replaced with "strong vitality."
He did feel it—relaxed, exhaustion-free, energy steady in his limbs. The fruit had done that. Numbered it—1% improvement—but it felt like more.
He saw two new things.
**Trial Period** written at the top.
**Task Time – 30 days** at the bottom.
He reached out. Touched **Task Time**.
The screen shifted.
**Limit: 6 hours 32 minutes until new task.**
Morning. 6 a.m.
He had to wait.
Since there was nothing else to do, he lay back on the futon. The bed was hard—nothing like the soft modern mattress he was used to—but exhaustion pulled him under anyway.
He slept.
He woke to sunlight—bright, warm, spilling through the rice-paper.
10 a.m.
He had never felt this good in his whole life. For the past few days he had been in hell—weak, starving, collapsing. Now… sunlight felt like a gift. Energy hummed in his veins. No pain. No fog.
But happiness never lasted long.
The screen appeared in front of his face—sudden, golden.
His status glowed. Below it: **Task – 19 hours 50 minutes remaining.**
He clicked it.
**Task:**
**Meditate for 1 hour**
**Reward:** Hidden (depends on progress)
Eron stared.
*Too easy.*
He sat cross-legged on the tatami. Closed his eyes. Tried to meditate.
Five minutes in—he got bored.
His body itched. Legs cramped. Mind wandered to food, to his parents, to Julie.
He tried again. Failed again.
*How do I calm my mind?*
The screen appeared—answering without him asking.
**Additional Task:**
**Do 100 handstand push-ups**
**Reward:** Meditation Technique
Eron blinked.
He had never done a normal push-up—let alone a handstand one.
But he felt lighter now. Stronger.
He decided to try.
He placed his palms on the mat. Kicked his legs up. Shock hit him—he balanced easily.
He lowered his body. Pushed up.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Twenty—in ten seconds. Very easily.
He kept going.
At 50—sweat dripped down his face. Body shook a little. But not like before. This time it felt… good. Like he was enjoying the struggle.
He continued.
At 80—arms burned. Breath came hard. But he was smiling.
He had never felt this before—pushing his body, feeling it respond.
It was like finding something he should have done years ago.
At 99—his arms trembled violently. Blood rushed to his head. Hands shook uncontrollably. Form broke.
But he didn't stop.
He remembered the words on the task: **non-stop**.
If he stopped, he'd have to start over. All this pain would be wasted.
He pushed through 100.
Completed.
His body was red—blood from burst vessels under the skin. Arms refused to move. Pain was unimaginable.
He didn't scream. Didn't complain.
He smiled.
Consciousness slipped—darkness pulling at the edges.
But he fought it.
*No more collapsing. No more weakness.*
Even if the world ended. Even if gods rose. Even if hope died.
He would stand.
His mind hardened—stronger than his body. Willpower pushed against the pain.
The screen flashed.
**Task Complete.**
Golden light washed over him—warm, soothing.
First reward -:
Pain vanished. Arms healed. Strength surged back—deeper, fuller. He felt like he could do a thousand more.
Main reward appeared: **Meditation Technique**
A brief guide flowed into his mind—stabilize breath, feel surrounding air like water, guide it through every part of the body, from brain to toes, in sitting position.
Only 5 hours remained until the next task.
He sat again. Cross-legged.
First minute—nothing.
Then he felt it—something other than air. Refreshing. Alive.
The screen flashed.
**Congratulations to Supreme Ruler for sensing qi.**
He understood.
That feeling was qi.
A brief introduction appeared:
**Qi: Like air you can feel it—but unlike air (you cannot touch air), you can touch qi. Manipulate it. Use it. Infinite possibilities.**
He meditated again. Felt it—faint, but real.
After 30 minutes, the technique deepened in his mind—step-by-step.
First—break restriction on lungs. Breathe in deep. Hold qi in stomach (the core).
Then—guide flow to every nerve. Repeat.
He tried.
Failed the first time.
One hour passed.
The screen appeared again.
**Congratulations.**
A gift icon glowed.
He thought *open*.
Two fruits materialized.
One apple—same as before (restore blood, improve body constitution by 1%).
One large banana—reduce hunger, improve qi sensation.
He didn't know what "qi sensation" meant, but he felt he should eat it before meditating again.
He ate the apple and stored the other.
Night fell.
He was tired—body and mind worn from the day.
He lay on the futon. Closed his eyes.
Outside the house—surrounded by dark forest, pitch black, strange noises echoing through the trees—two moons hung low in the sky, pale and watchful.
To be continued…
STATUS
Eron (18 years old)
Physical Appearance: Black hair (shoulder-length, messy waves), dark brown eyes, now visibly stronger and more defined body after the mysterious change (broadened shoulders, toned muscles, improved posture). Height: 6'1"(tall, lean but powerful build—his new physique stands out more, and he carries himself with growing confidence, less hunch even when tired).Mental/Emotional State: Shifting fast and deeply. Old cowardice is breaking—he used to hide and fear everything, but now challenges feel like fun. Pain, struggle, pushing limits excite him. He smiles through blood and shaking arms, enjoys the burn, feels like he's finally found something he should have done years ago. Grief for his family remains (quiet, heavy ache), but determination burns hotter. Regrets past weakness and is letting it go. Mind is sharp, logical, awakening—bending rules, seeing patterns, embracing the unknown. No longer fears collapse or failure the way he did; willpower feels unbreakable now.Current Condition: Physically strong and refreshed after eating one Spirit Fruit Apple before sleeping.Blood fully restored (normal levels).Hunger completely gone (no trace).Body constitution improved by 2% total (1% from first apple + 1% from second apple before sleeping). Still Mortal+, but noticeably tougher—strong vitality active, exhaustion-free, relaxed, full of steady energy. No more near-collapse weakness. Pain from handstand push-ups healed by system reward (full recovery). Feels like infinite stamina right now. Still lacks qi (but can sense it faintly and is actively cultivating it). Polluted overall (not yet resolved).Possessions:One large banana (Spirit Fruit) — stored in unlimited storage (properties: reduce hunger, improve qi sensation).Two bamboo sticks (basic defense, still in the house).Family silver pendant → Missing (likely merged with him or absorbed).Supreme Ruler book → Missing (disappeared after golden space vision).Power/Status: Has his own hidden system (golden screen).Hybrid (Human and God)Age – 18Body – Mortal+ (lack of qi, polluted, strong vitality)Cultivation – Star 0Technique – Meditation Technique (reward from 100 handstand push-ups task; basic guide: stabilize breath, feel air/qi like water, guide it through body; actively training—can now sense qi faintly, breaking lung restrictions slowly, guiding flow to core/stomach and nerves).Unique Ability – No RestrictionsHidden Ability – LockedStorage (Unlimited) — Activated via mind command; currently holds 1 large banana (Spirit Fruit).Task Completed:1 push-up (modified/sitting version) → Double reward (2 Spirit Fruit Apples). Ate 1 before sleeping.100 handstand push-ups (non-stop) → Reward: Meditation Technique + full recovery.Meditate for 1 hour → Reward hidden (depends on progress; still training, no final reward yet).Trial Period: Active (30 days continuous daily trials).Current Task Time: 19 hours 50 minutes remaining until next task (morning 6 a.m.).Location: Inside his transformed traditional house (locked/sealed by system for 30-day trial period). Currently in his room, after waking up at 10 a.m. from sleep, feeling refreshed, energized, and actively meditating/training.Goal: Find his missing parents (Lira & Harlan) at any cost. Now layered with survival (strength, qi, food) and understanding his hidden system (Hybrid, Star 0, No Restrictions). He is embracing challenges as enjoyable, pushing his body and mind without fear—determined to transform completely.