Chapter 29: Severe Training

Chapter 29: Severe Training

[Daily Quest]

**<Drink three liters of water>

*Rewards: 1 Exp

*Difficulty: None

*Time limit: A day

**<70 Pushups>

*Rewards: 5 Exp

*Difficulty: E

*Time Limit: A day

**<7 Km run>

*Rewards: 5 Exp

*Difficulty: E

*Time Limit: A day

<70 sit-ups>

*Rewards: 5 Exp

*Difficulty: E

*Time Limit: A day

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"If I complete all my daily quests properly, I should level up in the next 13 days!" Ruthar thought, trying to motivate himself. But it wasn't working.

[70 sit-ups quest has been completed]

[Reward 5 Exp]

Ruthar collapsed on his back, breathing heavily. His back and hands were stiff from the exercises. Up until now, he had never thought he could push his body this far. It was only the second day of the exercise quest, after all.

Ruthar was surprised that Vance hadn't interfered in his training. Perhaps she thought he was motivated to defeat Tomaha and wanted to speed up his progress. However, this training was brutal.

[7 Km run is the final quest]

Ruthar bit his lip harshly, frowning at the notification. "Whenever I think of resting or quitting, I recall the penalty area!"

Ruthar raised his heavy hands to unbutton his shirt, which was soaked and uncomfortable. As he took it off, he noticed his body's improvement. "My body is more toned than in my previous life? What the hell, I was as skinny as a rail."

He slowly climbed to his feet and calculated his route. Like the previous day, he had to run around the forest path three times to reach 7km. Without wasting time, he started jogging into the forest.

"Sometimes I wonder if these daily quests are the system's way of telling me to train harder for the future—not just for Tomaha, but for something worse."

Ruthar recalled the horrors he faced in the penalty zone and increased his pace, driven by rising fear. "I should at least practice circulating the dark Mana throughout my body," he recited, trying to manifest Mana within him. The concentration of dark Mana made him even more exhausted, causing him to stumble and fall face-first to the ground.

"Move!" he commanded his body, but it wouldn't respond. "Move... Move... Move!" he continued, trying to get up, but his body refused to listen.

"AHHHHH!!!" Ruthar panicked, thoughts of the penalty quest flooding his mind. "Why can't I stand? Why am I so damn weak?"

[Fatigue: 87]

Ruthar's expression dimmed. That explained why his body had stopped; he was beyond exhausted. Any further effort would result in deep slumber and the penalty quest.

"Even Earth doesn't overwork people like this! What's wrong with this system? Why must I work hard for every single ounce of strength?"

Ruthar stopped struggling, realizing his ranting wouldn't help. He began to think of ways to complete the final quest in his current condition. But none came to mind, especially since he had no idea how long he'd be incapacitated.

[Four hours till body fatigue disappears]

"Damn, it's worse than I thought. The run will take at least an hour, and there are only four hours left till dark! I can't run in the dark, especially with how dangerous it is..."

"You truly are a waste of resources, sperm, and childbirth!" Vance's familiar voice came from behind him. With some effort, he managed to look at her. She appeared very disappointed.

"Shut up, you demonic fool. I'm just getting started!" Ruthar was urged to try moving his body again. "If you can't help me, then get lost, Vance."

"Your progress is too slow for your feeble body. You are just a four-year-old, but I admire your hard work and detest your lack of talent," Vance said. She crouched down, holding his face and forcing him to look at her.

"It's always what I lack," Ruthar thought. "Apparently, the only thing I'm good for is donating my organs or my life."

"Would you like to pay ten years of your life to gain power, Ruthar Hellborn?" Vance's long, treacherous tongue licked his face erotically.

Ruthar didn't mind her actions; he was plunged into thought. "She's offering me power in exchange for ten years of my life? In this second chance at life, I wanted to make the most of it... Ten years out of a life I might not live fully."

He imagined growing old, enjoying life, and fulfilling his aspirations. "No, I can't lose ten years! I still have dreams of not being a virgin, having a girlfriend, tasting the delicacies of this world, inventing a PC... I still haven't seen the world. I can't sell ten years for nothing..."

But then he thought of Elara, Kimara, Gandara, Hendricks, Rotexa, and his honor. "I have to forsake all my aspirations for what matters now."

Ruthar toughened up, looking at Vance, who was grinning. She must have been reading his thoughts.

"What power are you offering?"

"The demonic eye of enhancement and adaptation," she whispered.

Ruthar gasped. "B-but..."

"The demonic eye of enhancement and adaptation doesn't need training, just Mana. So do you agree, Ruthar?" She awaited his reply.

After a moment of thought, Ruthar replied, "Yeah, give me the e__"

Ruthar's words turned into a shriek as Vance's tongue tore into his left eye socket, sending a wave of blood out.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HIEEEEKKKK!!!" Ruthar screamed, breaking free from Vance's grasp and rolling on the ground, clutching his burst eye with both hands.

"What do you think, Ruthar Hellborn?" Vance retracted her tongue, savoring the taste of his blood. It was a miracle she had held her thirst as a demon; otherwise, she would have consumed Ruthar.

"Damn! I can't see, but it doesn't hurt... My stiffness is quickly leaving me. What sort of bizarre phenomenon is this? The demonic eye..."

A few seconds later, Ruthar's left eye regenerated, and he could see more clearly than usual. "My sight feels uneven, but the pain is gone. It must be working."

Ruthar quickly sat up and faced Vance. "Why did you eat my eye?"

"That was the only way to transfer the demonic eye to you and take those ten years from you."

Her words left a mental scar on Ruthar. "Just like elders say, you'll regret the bad things you do in your youth. I just lost ten years of my life."

"Ruthar, your new eyes will help in the battle with Tomaha. I can finally teach you how to use the other eye, if you're interested." Her suggestion was strange; of course, Ruthar was interested. Why else would he sacrifice ten years?

"Why wouldn't I be? I didn't sell my final years for nothing!"

He climbed to his feet with zest but then remembered his 7km quest. Waving at Vance, he began to run.

"I have to finish my jog first." This time, he ran at a relentless speed, covering more ground in less time. His fatigue grew slower than usual, and as he kept running, it reduced. He adapted to his pace and could increase it momentarily.

"I feel like the Flash!" Ruthar was reassured he hadn't sold ten years for nothing. "Another step toward defeating Tomaha, and apparently dying earlier."

Meanwhile, Vance watched Ruthar disappear from sight. "The demonic eye bonded with him quickly. This is very unusual, like he has an invisible force protecting him. The same goes for some of his thoughts, where I can barely see a single word."

Vance quickly dismissed the thought. "Ruthar Hellborn, you have the potential to be a very powerful puppet. I was right to spare your father's life. You will do well as a great slave."

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**Author's Note:**

I packed today's chapter with a lot of words... Please I am shamelessly beg for a lot of gifts.

Please be a loyal fan! Don't leave the book, or I'll send Vance to get you back.