The First Step To Greatness (2)

Linus stared at the floating text, blinking in disbelief.

[*Mission Complete!*]

- Reward: 50 Exp

- Hidden Reward: Gain access to [Daily Mission]

He wasn't sure what exactly he had done to complete the mission, considering he hadn't even officially joined the team yet. But then, it hit him—he had told his parents about his decision. Maybe that was enough for the system to take as confirmation. Regardless, he was intrigued. The system seemed to move quickly on this, and now, the mention of a hidden reward piqued his curiosity even further.

Suddenly, a new screen popped up in front of his eyes:

[Daily Mission]

- Run 10 km

- 300 Bodyweight Squats

- 300 Push ups

- 10 min Plank

- Reward: 5 Exp

Linus's eyes widened as he stared at the list of tasks. Was this for real? Each exercise felt like a workout plan designed for an elite athlete, not someone who had just decided to play baseball! He shook his head in disbelief. Then, another notification appeared:

[Exclusive First Daily Mission: Completing this will grant you a full level up.]

Linus dropped onto his bed, utterly overwhelmed by what he was seeing. "10 kilometers? 300 push-ups?" he muttered to himself. This was insane. It felt excessive, especially since he'd barely started to scratch the surface of baseball training. He had just made the decision to commit to the sport, and now, the system was demanding he do the impossible—at least, it seemed that way.

"No way I'm doing any of that today," Linus thought, shaking his head again. His legs felt heavy just from thinking about the 10 kilometers. Even Professional football players barely run 10 km in a game. 

Pushing the thoughts aside, Linus got up and changed into his pajamas, preparing to go to bed.

But as he was brushing his teeth, Linus found himself thinking more about the daily missions. "A full level up just for one day's work?" Linus thought to himself. "That's gotta be worth it." It would be hard in the beginning, but it wouldn't be impossible.

The idea of leveling up quickly caught his attention. He wasn't sure how much one level would change his stats—he didn't even know how good his teammates' stats were or how his own would scale compared to other levels of play—but there was something exciting about finding out. 

"Yeah, it's tough," he thought, looking at the long list of exercises again. "But it's something I will get used to after sometime." Linus wasn't one to back down from something just because it was difficult. In fact, the harder it seemed, the more he felt drawn to it. The reward would be worth it. If the system could help him improve faster, why wouldn't he take the chance?

He lay back in bed, letting the excitement settle as his body sank into the mattress. He was tired from the day, but the thought of starting tomorrow with a clear goal in mind gave him energy. He was at the start of something new, and the system was offering a fast track to improvement. 'I will surely be able to improve faster than others with the system', Linus thought to himself.

The system's missions were just the extra motivation he needed to keep moving forward. Sure, the exercises seemed extreme for someone just starting out, but if he could get through them, he knew he'd be stronger for it.

"20 days for a level up," Linus whispered, running the numbers in his head. "Every level means I get stronger." He smiled at the thought.

***

The next morning, Linus woke up at 9 am, ready to start his first daily mission. He decided to tackle the run first, knowing it would be the hardest part. After a quick stretch and a light breakfast, he laced up his shoes and headed outside.

Linus started at a steady pace, completing the first 5 kilometers in around 25 minutes. His legs were burning by the end of it, and he felt gassed. He slowed to a walk, hoping to catch his breath. 

After a while he glanced at the system display, he noticed that it hadn't counted the walking distance. "I guess it only counts when I'm running," he thought with a sigh.

After a few minutes of walking, Linus pushed himself to start running again. The last 5 kilometers felt even harder than the first, but he powered through, finishing the entire run in just over 60 minutes. Exhausted, Linus bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily. "That was... intense," he muttered to himself.

His body ached, the strain from yesterday's baseball practice still lingering. He hadn't fully recovered yet, and now this run had taken everything out of him. Still, as tired as he was, there was a small sense of accomplishment in knowing he had completed the hardest part of his daily mission.

Linus headed back inside and took a long, hot shower. As the water ran over his sore muscles, he reflected on the morning's run. It had been tough—tougher than he expected—but he had done it. And now he still had the rest of the mission to complete. He sighed, realizing the day had only just begun.

After his shower, Linus made himself a quick lunch, needing to refuel after the exhausting run. As he ate, he took some time to email the head coach of the team to confirm that he would join. He mentioned that he had spoken with his parents and gave the coach their contact information if he needed to finalize any details. With that off his plate, Linus turned his attention back to the rest of the mission.

Breaking up the exercises into manageable parts, Linus tackled the bodyweight squats, push-ups, and planks throughout the day. He paced himself, knowing it wasn't about rushing through but completing everything properly. As evening approached, he got into position for the final plank.

His arms trembled as he held the position, eyes glued to the timer. The last minute felt like an eternity. When the timer finally hit the 10-minute mark, Linus heard a *Ding*, and he collapsed onto the floor, breathing hard, every muscle aching.

Just as he laid there, a system notification appeared in his vision:

[*Daily Mission Complete!*]