It's All According To Plan!

"Haa… haah!"

A brown-haired young man was running while sporting an exhausted expression on his face. It was already six in the evening yet he was exercising at night.

The young man's clothes and body were drenched with sweat as if he didn't use an umbrella during rainy days. A hint of madness glistened in the eyes of the young man and he kept on running despite his body on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

-Ding!

[Task has been completed!]

[Task- Get Started In Training! (Completed)

100/100 Sit-ups

100/100 Push-ups

100/100 Squats

10/10 Running (km)

Time Limit: None

Task Penalty: None

Task Reward: Baldy's Training Regiment]

[Baldy's Training Regiment has been stored in your system inventory.]

The system notification sound was akin to the sound of salvation in Derick's ears.

For comparison, it was like when a gacha enthusiast heard the sound effect of receiving an SSR character after countless draws. It was truly a pleasing sound to hear.

"Fi… nally! Haah… Hah…"

Derick was panting crazily as he attempted to catch his breath. His chest kept on heaving as it followed the rhythm of his breathing pattern. Due to his exhaustion, he didn't even mind lying like a dead rat on the asphalt road.

After several minutes' worth of lying on the cold asphalt road, Derick lifted his body and wiped the sweat on his face. His current appearance was that of a madman who took a shower with his clothes on.

"System, can you display the information of Baldy's Training Regiment?"

[Okay, wait.]

[Training Manual: Baldy's Training Regiment

Grade: N/A

Description: A simple training manual but using it for three years can allow a human to break the physical limiters of the mortal body. Thereby, achieving the body of a god.

Effect: Unlimited Physical Growth Potential.

Weakness: Takes a lot of time for the effects to be displayed on the user's body. Not to mention, only the body can achieve godhood, so the user will be vulnerable to mind and soul attacks.

Side Effect: For unknown reasons, a year after training using this training manual will render the user bald.]

Reading the description of the training manual that he had received, Derick felt hopeful that he would become powerful in this modern world. He didn't even mind becoming bald as long as he could become stronger.

'Heh, the weakness is not a weakness at all. How is it possible for a human to have supernatural skills that can attack the mind and soul?'

'In other words, as long as I faithfully use this training manual for three years, I can break the limitations of the human body. With that kind of power, even those nuclear bombs would be like a mosquito bite. I will become invincible in this modern world!'

[Do you want to integrate with the Training Manual- Baldy's Training Regiment?]

[Only one training manual can be equipped with your current system version.]

The system's reminder snapped Derick out of his reverie.

'Yes, not like I had any other training manuals aside from that.'

-Ding!

[Training Manual- Baldy's Training Regiment has been integrated into your body.]

[As long as you train for three years with the Baldy's Training Regiment, becoming a god would only be a matter of time and training!]

After integrating with the Baldy's Training Regiment, Derick didn't feel anything within his body that changed.

But he did feel that his body's potential was restricted by countless chains and locks. And as long as he completed his training, he would be able to obtain the key that could open all of those locks.

'The system is right. As long as I become a god, even Raymond Bitch and whatever backer he had would be defeated by me. Even if they managed to acquire a nuclear bomb, I can just slap that back to them.'

With that thought in mind, Derick ignored the exhaustion and pain of pushing his body to his limits. He returned to his home with satisfaction.

***

The sun was shining brightly while the warm breeze made the leaves dance gracefully. The blade-like grasses swayed and the cicadas screeched with a constant rhythm.

It was already morning.

Despite the pain he experienced in his body, Derick went out of his bed to make breakfast.

'Damn! My body felt stiff, especially my limbs. Moving it is like my muscles are having a tug of war but the rope is on the verge of breaking.'

Filling his mind with his thoughts to distract himself from the pain, Derick finished preparing his breakfast which was a simple toasted bread with fried eggs.

Placing his plate with his breakfast on the living room table, Derick fetched the remote control and turned on the television.

\Breaking News! A group of corpses of American descent was fished by fishermen on Tokyo Bay. Is this the Japanese provoking the Americans or their revenge to honor their ancestors?\

\Although we don't know about the cause of such a conflict, the Corpse Party Group, a group of morticians and crime detectives, has managed to identify the identities of some corpses.\

Afterward, the scene on the television screen changed and displayed the picture of a teenager whose appearance was deeply etched within Derick's heart.

\16-year-old Raymond Beach was found dead along with his family and other people. From our experts' background check, Raymond is a student from Mint High and…\

Derick immediately turned off the television as he was in no mood to watch it.

Deep in his heart, he felt emptiness. As if his goal was snatched from him.

But afterward, his heart was filled with disappointment. Disappointment of being incapable of taking revenge on his own.

Shaking his head and slapping both of his cheeks, the pain made him regain his composure.

"So what if Raymond is dead? That doesn't change my goal of becoming a god. If I can't use my power for revenge, then I will use it to protect the ones I held dear in my heart!"

After changing his goals and resolving to achieve his new goal, Derick took a toasted bread and ate it!

***

Unbeknownst to Derick, someone was keeping tabs on his actions.

A little birdie told Keith about Derick's current situation as well as the change that happened to Derick yesterday and today. The little birdie was none other than the Training System, the so-called 'trustworthy' system of Derick.

The television in Keith's house was turned on so he had known about the recent news on Brick News. And coupled with the Training System's recent info about Derick, he couldn't help but don a grin on his face, which made him look ridiculously appealing.

"As expected of my subordinates, they did their job a lot faster than I expected. And they even made it look like a conflict between America and Japan would occur. It seems that owning a share of Brick News was worth it so I could sway public opinion."

Thinking about his subordinate's excellent work, Keith felt that every penny spent on paying their wage was worth it.

"To think that Derick managed to obtain a training manual that can break the limitations of the mortal body…"

"It's all according to plan!"