Not Your Daily Discoveries

After finishing breakfast which nearly devolved into a burnt mess. I set my priorities straight in a simple plan.

Step 1, grind skills and exercise a lot. I mean a whole lot. During the morning, after lunch then dinner. Probably would die but I have a theory that if proven correct, my path to muscles would be set in stone. Step 2 level up like a mad man after getting the desired [Strengthened Body] passive skill and after increasing my base stats to two digits. Step 3, get some supplies and get the hell out of here!

The only path out of Cain village is to go journey to the south. Southwest.

Northeast lies the dangerous Twin Forest. Even Lizardmen can't delve too deep in there. Southeast is the fish lake.

Full of fish people who aggressively attack living things. Ah, the fish people... Slimy scaled folks who look like walking d1ckheads that grew a body! They're really unreasonable and annoying! Anyone who isn't part of their clan is attacked.

Southwest of here, after passing Danzo's plains adjacent to Cain village and the Boulder Fields. Was the Cloud Cap mountains.

Living in Cain village could be compared to a bird trapped inside an iron cage. It's safe inside but stray too far and monsters would attack you at a short notice.

The only place that has a nearby well-defended settlement was the other village sitting within a valley in those mountains. And it was a hundred miles away from the Magan Kingdom. One of the overlords of this continent.

Not sure if I want to go to the Magan Kingdom but for now, just reaching Frost Valley Village inside the Cloud Cap mountains could guarantee my safety from the undesirable bandits. What about Ray?

Uhh... I'll think about that when I get there. He'll be fine! He's a main character after all! One of the future great NPC's who would start storyline quests!

But... The people of Cain Village would all Die... I am here... I know what would happen...

...

Damnit! Knock those thoughts of guilt out of your head then! First thing's first Dominic! Without strength, you can't do jacksh1t! About a child spouting words and warnings about bandits. People would treat you like a looney! These people had been too safe for too long! Ever since the foundation of the Village, the villagers never got their assess raided or attacked by other races nor monsters.

Thinking too much hurts... Stick to the plan Dominic! Stop getting sidetracked! Much better, stop Procrastinating!

Your goal is to reach the other village before two months is due... So I have around 60 days of time before doom arrives at the doorstep.

Frost Valley Village huh...

I probably need to be fairly leveled up to get there. Yet one must not be too hasty even with an invisible threat hanging over my neck. If I leveled up now. My base stats would be cemented into the single digits.

Time to start the good old grind then! It's just exercising. Nothing too much of a burden.

I don't mean to brag but unlike other gamers or beta testers out there. Good old Dominic actually had a ripped body. Both literally and figuratively. I mean... I got ripped to shreds by a damned truck!

Exercise... Let's do it! A five-minute warm-up then 100 repetitions of squats, push-ups, and sit-ups! Wrap everything up with a 10-kilometer run before doing cooldown stretches!

Let's go, Dominic! You may be a twenty-one years old man inside a six year old's body but we can do this!

-----

About an hour later. There I was... Laying on my back against the cold, smooth, stone pavement within my garden. Sweat drenched my clothes, making these garbs cling unto my body.

"I feel like I'm dying..." It was the truth... I forgot one major thing. Beginners should stick to a light exercise load before gradually setting the bar higher and higher!

It was kind of hard to breathe. My head feels a bit dizzy and most of all... My whole body feels sore. I did the 100 repetitions training and added a few more extra types of exercises to target all my muscles. A full body work out in essence.

My conclusions towards this exercise and mode of living could be summed up in a few words.

This is shit! Exercise is fine but since I feel threatened by the soon to come disaster, I'm forcing myself to go through extreme lengths! And I'm not done yet. I have to run 10 kilometers. A few dozen laps around the village should do.

Standing up while my body complained in the form of muscle soreness or burning. My thoughts eventually shifted onto a hypothesis. I know magic... Healing magic to be exact. And since muscle growth is just determined by torn muscles healing and growing back in thicker bundles. My magic should accelerate muscle mass acquisition, right?

If my lesser heal can restore even a good chunk of torn flesh from a lizardman then it could relieve something minuscule as tiny muscle tears?

Welp... Here we go!

Time to put that theory into test.

The gentle, faint green light of healing magic enveloped my hand. I concentrated and felt the flow of mana circulating rhythmically inside me. And as if guided by an invisible hand, I manage to spread the healing effect out of its general area.

Akin to the process of a leaf withering. The green glow soon engulfed my whole body and I could feel small changes happening... The soreness vanished... And that burning feeling popped like a bubble.

Hey... This is pretty good!

"Ack!" And then comes the side effects... I feel... Itchy... So itchy as if my muscles gained sentience and is wriggling, revolting, and readjusting themselves. It's itchy... A bit uncomfortable. But not that bad.

Observing my hands and arms... The skin was turning ash white. Before flaking off and falling to the ground. Revealing smooth, glossy, light-toned skin underneath...

I exhaled... And a small puff of white smoke came out.

I think I just went through body cleansing... No...

Wait... Did I just discover the number one method for clear and supple skin? I could make a living by selling this method to women! Or men!

The itchy feeling stopped... Replaced by this weird... But comforting sensation... Ah... It's like my body is submerged in a warm bath... Or as if I had sunk into the world's comfiest mattress.

But like everything else... Some stuff eventually ends. And the feeling of euphoria washing over me stopped. Replaced by slight soreness and burning muscle sensation again.

Damn! Do it again!

Heal! Heal! HEAL!

After repeating lesser heal all over my body. I just felt normal. No matter how much I spam the spell, the sensations it previously brought to me would no longer surface. Instead, my stomach rumbled and my mouth felt dry.

[Your strength has risen by 1]

[Your tenacity grew by 1]

Notifications rang like bells and I smiled goofily in turn. This seems like a bug in the game or a hidden feature. And what do we do when we find beneficial bugs or glitches?

We abuse it!

I finished the 10km run and healed my body to get rid of the soreness. The notifications didn't pop up but that wasn't enough to make my will waver.

Rushing back home and munching down on some stale bread followed by dowing glasses of clean water. I felt my stomach churn as satiation graced me. Not feeling like that was enough. I cooked up another dish and wolfed it down.

After a few hours... I went at it again. The exercise routine. And after torture was followed by a round of healing. I kept doing it.

Again and Again, while notifications coming from system lady informed me of the growth of my physical attributes. Though it became less frequent as time passed on. Workout, heal, eat, and occasionally meditating to restore mana faster. My body is rapidly changing.

I feel fantastic. But soon enough. My stamina took a great hit.

Stamina: 45/100 (Exhausted)

Once stamina drops halfway. You would feel really tired. And as the status effect dictates, You are indeed exhausted. No matter how much I rest or lay down for a bit. The stamina was only recovering at a slow, snail-like pace.

This isn't too good. The stamina Limit is hampering my progression. As much as I want to keep exercising, gaining muscle, and abusing this cheat. Matters are that I need to rest. Rest or die from over-drafting my stamina.

I'm just an NPC of the game "Reverie" now. I doubt I have the usual player privilege of resurrecting three in-game days later like Jesus.

Looking up at the sky... I just noticed that the two stupid moons are had risen up high again. And with nothing to do. Well what is there to do?

That reminds me. Ray hasn't popped up into my doorstep yet to ask for free heals at the excuse of "I'll pay you back in the future!"

Ah, that adorable little leech. He's a bother sometimes but he's genuinely nice and helpful. And I can easily guilt-trip him into doing some stuff for me.

I'm such a great friend. No matter...

With nothing more to do. I picked up my dirty clothes into a woven, vine basket and headed towards the good old river for a bath and a quick laundry session.

And that river is situated somewhere on the outskirts of the Twin forest. It's relatively safe 24/7 as tall, wooden fences barricade a section away from the green overgrowth.

The river's name is actually Good Old River...

Don't question me why. The elders never tell! They only chuckle and look euphoric as if relieving a past fantasy!

With basket in tow. I headed towards the Good Old River. The houses I passed all had the lights out and doors shut. I guess everyone sleeps early in this world.

Yeah, this is good... No one would question me nor bar my path.

The cobblestone road soon faded into the forest. And after entering the place full of green trees and dense foliage. The river soon came into view.

Ah, this is nice... I can take a great chilly bath and wash my clothes!

Taking off my clothes and setting the basket of dirty ones beside. Leaving it within the grass right next to a felled tree stump. I dove into the water. Feeling the good transparent liquid chill me to my bones and stir me further awake.

"Ah! Nothing beats a good cold bath!" Splashing out of the surface. I fixed my hair up and it was there that I realized that someone was staring at me.

Silky long golden hair like real pure gold that fell up to their back. Crystal clear, blue bright eyes. And healthy, white supple skin.

It was a girl... And she was naked...

I frowned.

"Hey... Why do you look so familiar?"

"AH!" Eyes widening. Body and arms recoiling to hide her chest and sink a little further into the water. She let out a yelp.

And then there was a scream.

Shit.