Chapter Nine: The New Regimen

Jiwon woke up the next morning, the sun filtering through his curtains and illuminating the clutter of his room. But there was no warmth in his heart today—only a sense of dread as he opened his eyes to the next set of challenges.

[New Task: Complete 10 Hours of HIIT Training. Fasting Mode Activated: Water Only.]

His heart sank at the sight of the notification. Ten hours? How was that even possible? He could barely move after the previous day's training, and now the system expected him to push even harder?

He glanced at the clock—6:00 AM. The day stretched out before him like an endless desert, and all he could think about was the grueling exercise that awaited him.

[Appetite Suppressant Provided: Use Sparingly.]

A second notification caught his eye, and he felt a flicker of frustration. What kind of system put someone in fasting mode while demanding such extreme exertion? He opened the message, and a small vial appeared on his screen, labeled with the words "Appetite Suppressant."

"Just great," he muttered, feeling the weight of despair settle in. His stomach was already grumbling from the hunger, but the thought of using the suppressant felt like a risky gamble. He couldn't afford to fail; he had worked too hard to let his progress slip away.

After a quick shower, he filled a water bottle and stared at the vial of appetite suppressant. With a deep breath, he decided against using it, at least for now. He needed to be strong, to prove to himself that he could endure this without resorting to shortcuts.

[Training Protocol Initiated: 10-Hour HIIT Training.]

Jiwon's body sprang into action, and he found himself moving through a series of high-intensity workouts. Burpees, mountain climbers, and sprint intervals filled his morning, the rapid-fire exercises pushing him to his limits.

Each round left him gasping for breath, his muscles burning, but the countdown clock kept ticking, reminding him of how far he still had to go.

[Warning: Hydration Levels Critical. Drink Water to Continue.]

He took quick gulps from his water bottle, the cool liquid offering little comfort against the relentless demands of the system. The hours dragged on, the exhaustion mounting with each passing minute.

[5 Hours Remaining.]

Halfway through, Jiwon collapsed onto the mat, his body trembling from the exertion. "I can't do this," he panted, the weight of despair threatening to overwhelm him. But deep down, he knew giving up wasn't an option. He had come too far to back down now.

He forced himself to stand, pushing through the fatigue. As the clock ticked down, he began to count the seconds until the end.

[4 Hours Remaining.]

[3 Hours Remaining.]

[2 Hours Remaining.]

With every tick, he felt the hunger gnawing at his insides, each contraction of his stomach reminding him that he was fasting. But he couldn't let it distract him.

Just when he thought he might collapse, a notification broke through his haze.

[Reminder: 1 Hour of HIIT Remaining. Prepare for Final Push.]

He gritted his teeth, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. "Just one more hour," he told himself, focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel.

As he went through the final exercises, he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Each jump and sprint was punctuated by the voice of the system urging him on, pushing him past the limits he had thought were insurmountable.

Finally, the last minute ticked down, and Jiwon collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

[Task Complete: 10-Hour HIIT Training Successful.]

His heart soared at the notification, but the victory felt bittersweet. The hunger in his stomach was relentless, and he hadn't used the appetite suppressant. He felt like he had been pushed to the brink of his endurance, and the fasting was taking a toll.

[Warning: Hydration Levels Low. Consume Water to Recover.]

Jiwon forced himself to sit up, his body trembling. He grabbed the water bottle, taking slow sips, grateful for the reprieve, but it wasn't enough. The hunger pangs gnawed at him like a beast, a constant reminder of his deprivation.

He glanced at the vial of appetite suppressant again, a part of him screaming to use it. It promised a way to ease the hunger, but at what cost? Would it be worth sacrificing his hard-earned progress?

As the day wore on, Jiwon struggled to distract himself from his hunger. He flipped through his textbooks, trying to focus on studying, but the constant gnawing in his stomach made it impossible to concentrate.

The clock ticked on, and soon it was evening. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and the hunger only intensified.

[Reminder: Your progress depends on your choices. Maintain discipline to continue your journey.]

The system's reminder felt like a double-edged sword. It pushed him to stay focused, but it also amplified his desperation.

As the hours stretched on, he decided to finally use the appetite suppressant. With shaking hands, he opened the vial and took a small sip, praying it would help curb his hunger without jeopardizing his progress.

[Appetite Suppressant Activated: Hunger Levels Stabilized.]

Instantly, he felt a wave of relief wash over him, the hunger dissipating slightly. It was a temporary fix, but for now, it would have to do. He could focus on his vocal training for the night without the distraction of gnawing emptiness.

With renewed determination, Jiwon set up his practice area once again, ready to tackle the next round of vocal exercises. As he began to sing, he poured all his energy into the notes, fueled by the hope that he was inching closer to his dream of becoming an idol.

But as he practiced late into the night, the question lingered in the back of his mind: How long could he maintain this grueling regimen without breaking?

He knew he was walking a fine line, and the IDOL System wouldn't hesitate to push him further if he faltered. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: he was in this fight for the long haul, no matter what it took.