Level 5!

Two days later.

[Exp: 21/25 | Level 4]

[HP: 20/20]

[New Task: 225 push-ups, 20 sit-ups]

While everyone slept; only Jin was astir. He stood amid his bedroom with his hands on his waists. "Finally … a different type of exercise!" excitement to his tone.

With that said, he started to do the exercises. He descended to a plank position. Both his palms collided with the floor. On his toes. His body weight withstood by his limbs.

He constantly pushed himself up from the floor. And then down again. Up and down. Repeat. Sweat trickled down his face like water droplets running down a car glass in the rain.

Having finished the push-ups, he heaved, and quickly advanced to the next exercise. No time for breaks. His knowledge was a trifle nescient with regards to exercises. Because he never had to do them when he was crippled.

However, exercises on the whole were a part of the average person's everyday life, and so, he saw others doing them. Thanks to this, he knew how to do them.

He sat on his behind, his feet still touching the floor. He descended until his back touched the ground. He was looking up at the ceiling. He placed both his hands behind his head.

He pulled his body up. His body curled. Then carried it back down. He repeated this several times until the task was completed.

[Progression: 225/225 push-ups, 20/20 sit-ups]

[+5 Exp]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up!]

[+5 UP]

[Exp: 1/30 | Level 5]

[Inventory unlocked]

Jin thrust a hand in the air. "Let's go! Finally, level five!" crystallized exhiliharation.

He stood, placing his hands on his waist. He heaved. Pain riddled his muscles. He felt the most agony in the area of his abdomen: in that it was his first time doing sit-ups.

There was a new area in his field of view. It was a circle with the letter 'I' in the middle. It had to be the inventory he had only just unlocked. "I should be able to open it through thoughts, right?"

Immediately a new screen manifested before his eyes. There were nine huge empty squares before him. One occupied. The occupied slot housed Laevateinn.

However, the box that accommodated the weapon was red and displayed:

[Not available (in use)]

That's when he remembered summoning Laevateinn last night. His heart throbbed upon the thought. He quickly went over to his weapons tab.

[Weapons in use: Laevateinn]

Not taking a moment to think, he tapped a finger upon the text, and clicked on the text 'Laevateinn'. A new screen appeared:

[Are you sure you want to expel this weapon?]

"Yes," he blurted.

[Laevateinn, Mistress of Evil has been expelled]

[Kills: 1 (+1 exp)]

[Exp: 2/30 | Level 5]

Jin's eyes expanded at the screen. Chills bolted down his spine. His brows gradually furrowed upon dawning recognition. Kill? When did he use the sword to kill something?

[Kills: 1 / 3]

He grimaced. "One out of three kills? When I do get the three kills, what's gonna happen? Is it a task?" he shook his head. He knew it was no use. Nothing but vain. He wouldn't get the answers from the air. No … he had to find them himself.

He slowly opened his Stats screen.

[Stats]

[Strength: 5]

[Health: 20]

[Speed: 7]

[Skill: 5]

[Available UP points :5]

[Exp: 2/30 | Level 5]

Then, he started tapping on the plus after the 'Strength: 5' text. He tapped five times until his upgrade points were all consumed.

[Strength: 10]

An enigmatic smirk manifested on his elegant visage. His body flickered green, then halted. Anticipation quelled him. He could feel his muscles strengthening under his skin, heedless of the little points he spent.

His smirk lingered. "I feel stronger … already…" his tone, deliberate.

[Exuberance! Your senses increase]

"Bonus," he smiled, "I'll take a bonus. Spidey-senses maybe?" his smile turned to a grin.

[One of your active skills strengthens]

[+1 Exp]

[Exp: 3/30 | Level 5]

Jin's got even wider. "Waw. It's raining down on me today … I'm on a roll!" his voice rose.

Dobby opened the bedroom door and walked in. "Jin? Who are you talking to? Where's your shirt?"

Jin quickly turned around. "N-no one. And uh … I was just doing some early exercises."

Dobby, eyes kept to slits, stood there. He rubbed his eyes. "Exercises?" he looked down at his phone, "It's not even seven in the morning yet…"

"So…?"

Dobby heaved. "Nothing. Just forget it. Be sure not to over-work yourself. You needn't put extra strain on yourself. Relax. I'll go make us something to eat. I'll feed your grandma." he turned around.

"Wait," blurted Jin, "Why not just let me feed my own grandma?" a brow ascended.

Dobby had not turned around to face him again. He paused. "'Cause I," he quickly amended, "we … don't want you worrying about her too much. Tristan got her the tablets at a pharmacy. The most expensive ones—it never worked."

"They didn't."

"Nope. We might have to take her to the hospital. In fact, that's what we're gonna do," he started walking away again. "Just feed your bloody dog!" his distant voice resounded.

Jin halted. His lips parted.

***

In short, Jin had still visited his grandmother. Just as Dobby said, she was even worse than before. After feeding her the soup Tristan bought for her yesterday, Jin left.

He went to the room next to hers. The one where Benjamin was being kept. He clutched a hand to the door handle and opened it. A clicking noise sounded. He pulled the door open.

There, laying on the floor, laid Benjamin. It was much wider than Jin could remember. Its stomach was swollen. Its fur was dropping out. Its eyes were almost completely closed.

Jin approached it. "Benjamin."

Having heard Jin's voice, it raised its head, looking up at him.

Jin crouched. A remorseful frown molded itself on his countenance. "Benjamin, boy. I'm really sorry. This is all my fault. I'm really, really sorry." he carried a hand toward it.

Muscles now tauten, the dog peered at the nearing hand in silence. Then, it slowly relaxed its tensed muscles.

Jin placed his hand on its body. He began to rub it. "That's it. Relax. I used to pet you all the time…"

[Effect: Deceptive Delusion]

He frowned again upon seeing the screen.

"He's been like that pretty much all week." remarked a voice from behind.

Still crouching, Jin turned his head only to see Dobby. He stood, leaning against the doorframe. His feet crossed. Arms folded. "It's like he's sad. He eats anything that he sees. That's why Ash cleared the room of everything."

Jin averted his eyes. "Thanks … for taking care of my problems." His most hated 'thanks' that ever left his mouth. Seething in rage.

Dobby changed the topic. "Jin? Flint's coming to take us somewhere tomorrow, right?"

Jin stood, and turned around to face him. "That shit totally slipped my mind!"

Dobby leaned off the doorframe. "Not mine. I've been wanting to go outside for a while. I mean … who lives in New York and just stays indoors all day long?"

It was obviously a rhetorical question, to which Jin needn't answer. He remained silent.

"I guess we should get ready for tomorrow then?"

"Yeah … I'll call Ash. Tristan says he's not gonna make it. Going to some rich golf game with his family apparently."

"Then tomorrow it is …"