Daily Quest

[Daily Quest: Preparations to become stronger]

Press-up, 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)

Sit-up, 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)

Squat, 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)

Running, 10 km: Incomplete (0/10)

⚠ Warning: Incompletion of Daily Quests will result in appropriate levels of punishment. 

If given a choice between exercising, reading, and playing video games, I would choose the latter two nine times out of ten. 

Although in reality, wouldn't most people choose the same thing? 

After all, humans were creatures of comfort, always looking for the most pleasurable way to spend their time.

However, that had to change. For a while, I supposed, when I looked at what the System had called the Daily Quest.

But when I got to the end and read the warning, I was immediately alert. Since it was daily, it was understandable that it would be completed within 24 hours.

And fortunately, this System was not activated at 23:59 PM. That could well be evaluated as a lost case immediately.

The real problem lay in not completing this Daily Quest and receiving as a result the corresponding punishment, which could be as severe as death.

Or not; that uncertainty gripped my heart tightly and tensed my nerves.

Not only that, my below-average physical condition, partly due to my sedentary lifestyle, induced a sense of crisis as well.

With that in mind and without taking a second longer, I set out to perform all the stipulated exercises, cursing in my head for not receiving an Idle System.

Of course, I could not constantly curse out loud, as this would have detracted from my air and thus stamina, which I did not have to spare.

"Press-up, 100 times," I read again on the System screen and let out a sigh before starting the push-ups.

One, two, three... Throughout the process, I concentrated on maintaining proper technique so as not to waste energy or cause injury.

Tti-ring!

[You have completed a push-up.]

Press-up, 100 times: Incomplete (4/100).

Tti-ring!

[You have completed a push-up.]

Press-up, 100 times: Incomplete (5/100).

That decision turned out to be a good one. Each correctly executed push-up caused the number in the System window to increase.

Conversely, a poorly executed push-up did not count, and the counter did not go up.

Of course, as I progressed, the effort became more noticeable. By number fifty, I could already feel my arms burning. 

"I won't stop," I told myself, forcing each repetition. Until finally, I completed the 100 push-ups, breathing heavily. 

Ti-ring!

[Total push-ups completed: 100]

[You have completed push-ups, 100.]

That notification was useful to ensure that I was on the right track.

I allowed myself a few minutes to catch my breath before continuing with the sit-ups. "Sit-up, 100 times," was the next task on the list.

...

"Pant, pant, pant, pant, pant..." 

After an effort that, even in P.E. classes, I never used to make, much less in my daily life, I felt intense physical exhaustion and pain.

At that point, I was jogging, almost walking, home; when I arrived, I would have finally completed the 10 km. 

My muscles ached severely, and I was panting heavily; with each exercise performed, the next one became even more difficult. It was almost a miracle to get to this point.

Then, a few minutes passed, and the Daily Quest was fully completed, just as I had thought along the way.

Tti-ring!

[Total distance ran: 10km.]

[You have completed Running 10km.]

More than happiness and anticipation for accomplishing it, as well as the rewards that would come with it, I exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

It was late at night when I fell to my knees as my breath reeked of something sweet and bitter. My back was drenched with sweat.

Then, as I tried to regulate my harsh, heavy breathing, a window projected in front of me with the usual mechanical ringing sound.

[You have completed the 'Daily Quest: Preparations to become stronger.']

[Completion rewards have arrived.]

[Would You like to confirm?] (Y/N)

I would have liked to confirm immediately, but I kept my head calm and went straight home to my room carefully to not wake my mother.

A little more comfortable being in a more private place, I thought, 'Confirm.' Immediately after, a new window popped up.

[You have received several rewards.]

Reward 1: Status recovery.

Reward 2: Stat points + 3.

Reward 3: Random box x 1

[Do you accept all the rewards?]

My gaze inevitably focused on the first reward given my current condition, but the others didn't go unnoticed either. 

"It's certainly very similar to a video game," I muttered. "So a status window shouldn't be missing, right?"

I postponed my doubts for later and accepted all the rewards. A subtle blue glow enveloped my body when I uttered the words of acceptance.

The feeling was like breathing fresh, invigorating air after being trapped in a damp, stuffy room.

That lasted only a short time, though. Gradually, the glow diminished, and along with it, that wonderful feeling. But it wouldn't be the last time.

I decided to move my body while doing some stretching. 

Just a moment ago, I felt like my heart would burst, but now it was calm, and the shortness of breath was gone. All traces of fatigue were wholly gone. 

A body on the verge of fainting felt rejuvenated as if it had just woken up after a refreshing rest. 

The effects were truly unique! 

And there were still other rewards to be discovered. If this was so magical, what would the others be like? My imagination began to run wild.

I looked back to my bed, and on top of it rested a small box. The third reward is a random box.

Still, I should check something before that, while I ignored one thing, in this case, a box, that shouldn't be here.

With how similar this System was to those I'd read about in the past, I was disappointed that I hadn't checked the fabled Status Window until now.

'Status Window.'

Tti-ring!