The next day, Zachary Quinn was discharged from the hospital.
Miraculously.
Doctors whispered among themselves, confusion written all over their faces. Injuries like his weren't supposed to heal overnight—let alone leave no trace behind.
A few of them tried to stop him, clearly wanting answers.
But before any real questions could be asked—
Zachary was already gone.
He found himself walking through the same market he had passed just days ago on the way to his awakening ceremony.
Everything felt the same.
The noise, the crowds, the colorful stalls.
But he wasn't.
This time, he didn't even bother stopping.
Not because he didn't want to—
But because he couldn't afford to.
The smell of grilled meat, sweet pastries, and freshly made snacks filled the air, making his stomach tighten painfully.
He slowed down for a moment, his eyes lingering on a vendor spinning cotton candy.
Then he looked away.
He didn't even have enough money for that.
"…Tch," he clicked his tongue quietly and kept walking.
By the time he left the market, the noise faded behind him.
But something else took its place.
A thought.
No—
A reminder.
The system.
-[Strength: training for an increase in points by 10]-
-[Agility: running for an increase in points by 10]-
-[Recovery: injure yourself]-
-[Durability: get hit by attacks for an increase in points by 10]-
-[Mana and casting speed: enter dungeons for an increase in points by 10]-
Zachary frowned slightly.
"…This system is insane," he muttered.
Even as he walked back to his apartment, the conditions kept replaying in his head.
It didn't feel like a game. It felt like something forcing him down a very specific path.
A harsh one.
By the time he reached his room, the thought still hadn't left him.
"Well… it didn't specify a time limit, so…" he mumbled, glancing around his small apartment.
He pulled out his phone.
"11:34… huh?"
He stretched his arms back, letting out a long yawn.
"Yyaawwnn… guess I'll train."
He dropped to the floor.
Push-ups.
At first, they were easy.
Too easy.
His body didn't feel any different, no matter how many he did. No sudden strength.
No visible change. Just the same old him.
So he kept going.
When his arms got tired, he switched.
Shadow boxing.
Punch after punch, swinging at nothing but air.
Then back to push-ups.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Time passed.
One hour.
Two.
Three.
Sweat soaked through his clothes, dripping onto the floor. His breathing grew heavier, his arms trembling slightly with each push. His punches slowed, but he didn't stop.
Because he knew—
This wasn't about instant results.
This was about accumulation.
Six hours later—
His body finally gave in.
He dropped onto his back, staring at the ceiling, chest rising and falling rapidly.
"…That's… insane…" he breathed out.
Then—
The system appeared.
-[Congratulations! Strength stat has now increased by 10 points]-
-[Stats]-
-[Strength: 39 points +10]-
-[Agility: 16 points]-
-[Recovery: 25 points]-
-[Durability: 10 points]-
-[Mana: 29 points]-
-[Casting speed: 35 points]-
Zachary's eyes widened slightly.
"…It worked."
A small smile formed on his face despite the exhaustion.
Not because it was easy.
But because it wasn't.
And that meant—
It was real.
Slowly, he lifted his arm, clenching his fist.