Attributes Advancement

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[Daily Routine Has Officially Commenced Today]

[5:30 HYDRATION & MEDITATION: Host will get out of bed and stretch to loosen his muscles. Taking a full glass of water will kickstart your metabolism. Afterwards, you will sit quietly for a few moments. By breathing deeply, you will help release all forms of stress.]

[6:00 WORKOUT & GROOMING: Your daily workout routine includes Jumping Jacks, Cardio, Strength Training, and Gentle Stretches. Afterward, you'll take a shower to refresh yourself.]

[7:00 BREAKFAST & NUTRITION: A nutritious meal and more water to stay hydrated.]

[You have five minutes to begin your Daily Routine.]

[While defiance from you might not lead to immediate punishments, ignoring your daily routine will ultimately hinder your progress.]

Luca grumbled as he pushed his tired arms up, his fists sinking into the comfort of his bed. His legs throbbed with pain, as if the very muscles were on the verge of bursting, and here was the System, dragging him awake even earlier than his usual 6:15 on other days.

Glancing around the dim room, he noticed Sophia still sleeping soundly, undisturbed by his early rise. He reached for the bottle of water on his nightstand, pouring himself a cup and drinking greedily before exhaling deeply. Meditation, you say?

[Yes, host. A brief time alone with your thoughts early in the morning helps to calm your nerves, as F1 drivers often feel tense while on the track. This may be your only quiet time before a busy day ahead.]

Luca nodded and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. After several inhalations and exhalations, he felt a surge of relief wash over his chest. This really is good. I should make this a habit.

[I believe the next phase will involve the gym you applied to last night. Your home is quite small and lacks the necessary equipment and facilities.]

"In other words, it's not a gym," Luca muttered, finding it hard to believe he would have to go to the supermarket once again with his tired legs.

Turning in his bed, Luca placed his bare feet on the cold floor and attempted to rise. Just as he had expected, his legs buckled under his weight like a loose pillar, sending him back down onto the bed. His legs felt like overcooked spaghetti—numb and nearly non-existent.

How do you expect me to do Jumping Jacks in a gym, when I can't even get there?!

[This is a justifiable response from your legs. With your +1 Endurance, I believe you can push yourself to walk to the gym as planned.]

Luca sighed in defeat, gathering his resolve, and pushed himself to his feet, nearly falling back down again as his wobbly legs protested. They felt like jelly, completely unable to support him. He dragged them into the dressing room and managed to pull on a fresh pair of sportswear, sticking with the same sneakers he had worn yesterday. Stomping his foot on the floor several times, he hoped that he might overcome the pain with pain.

Thankful that his mother was still sound asleep, Luca left the house and dashed into the streets once more, his muscles pulsing with discomfort. The morning air was fresh and crisp, a welcome relief as people had already begun their day before 6 a.m.

Navigating through the brisk dawn air, Luca made his way toward the supermarket. Upon entering, he was greeted by Josh, who couldn't help but commend him again on this surprising new path he had chosen.

"Still can't believe you're hitting the gym now, Lukey," Josh remarked with a playful grin, handing Luca his ticket and gesturing toward the new gym situated just behind the building. Luca forced a quick smile, trying to mask the growing nerves churning in his stomach.

As he pushed through the doors into the gym, a gust of cool air greeted him like a refreshing welcome. The place was enormous—like a parking hall expertly repurposed into a bustling fitness arena. Rows of treadmills buzzed with the rhythm of runners, stationary bikes whirred in sync, and free weights clanked under the strain of dedicated lifters. The bright lights illuminated the space, but the mirrored walls made it feel even larger, reflecting countless bodies drenched in sweat and determination. Luca felt a sense of unease creeping in, but he decided to push through that feeling. Alright, he told himself, acknowledging the fact that this was his first time in a gym, and from this day forward, he would be spending more time here—or in another gym, for sure.

Josh led Luca to a spot where he could carry out his exercises with relative ease. After giving his thanks, Luca jumped right into his workout, eager to keep pace with the time duration for each phase of his daily routine.

Removing his outer jacket, Luca wasted no time and launched straight into Jumping Jacks. Despite the simplicity of the movement, every landing sent a jolt of strain through his leg muscles. He could feel the lingering contraction and pain from the lengths his System had pushed him the day before.

Within a minute, he completed the set and swiftly moved on to stretching. This was crucial for the flexibility he'd need inside the cramped cockpit of an F1 car. The tight space and sensitive controls demanded precision, and Luca knew that limber muscles would enable him to respond quickly behind the wheel. Stretching, at least, came naturally to him, and within two quick minutes, he was done and headed over to the pedaling bike.

[This exercise will help with your endurance and stamina, host. These two attributes are essential when you're behind the wheel for 52 laps.]

He took a deep breath, settling onto the bike, and forced his legs into motion. The pedals turned beneath his feet, and immediately, the burning sensation in his calves returned. The rhythm was painful, but steady, as he forced his weak feet to push down on the pedals, determined not to let his fatigue win.

After five grueling minutes on the bike, Luca exhaled loudly, the sound cutting through the hum of the gym's AC and momentarily attracting everyone's attention. His legs felt like they were on fire as he caught the stares of some other gym-goers. Embarrassed, he slowly dropped his head to the bike's controls, breathing through his mouth as pain pulsed relentlessly through his legs.

[Rehydrate, host. Let's move on to increase your core strength.]

[Core Strength is essential while in the cockpit. It goes hand in hand with endurance, helping you control the car effectively through high G-forces and maintaining stability during tight corners and fast acceleration.]

[EXERCISE: SUSPENDED PLANK WITH WEIGHTED SWINGS]

[EQUIPMENTS: TWO RESISTANCE BANDS & A KETTLEBELL]

What? What do I need those for?

[Be ready, host. You are going to push yourself now.]

[With your feet suspended in the resistance bands, you will be positioned in a traditional plank, your lower body in the air and upper body holding you up.]

[You will maintain the plank while swinging a kettlebell with one hand across your body to the opposite side, alternating hands with each swing.]

[You will do this for 30 seconds, 5 repetitions with 1-minute rests in between.]

What?! I am not aspiring to be a bodybuilder! Why would I have to do such strenuous exercise?! I thought Formula 1 racers didn't have to go through such. I never saw my father lifting kettlebells; he had a lean figure!

[Though most Formula 1 racers are graced with a lean body stature, there is a lot of work involved in attaining such a figure, host. That is the truth.]

[Let us proceed with SUSPENDED PLANK WITH WEIGHTED SWINGS.]

Luca shook his head, heaving a sigh as he dropped to the ground and lifted his wobbly legs into the air. He hung them into the resistance bands fixed from the ceiling above him. Steadying himself in a plank position, he could already feel the strain approaching, wondering just how long he would survive swinging that heavy piece of metal below him.

Once he formed a perfect diagonal line, Luca inhaled deeply and reached for the kettlebell. Pushing his right hand against the gym floor, he lifted his upper body as his left hand grabbed the kettlebell's handle.

With a deliberate swing, he guided the kettlebell across his body, feeling his chest and abdomen tighten. He gritted his teeth, letting out a silent agonized growl as he repeated the action, his muscles screaming with every swing. His right hand pressed firmly into the gym floor for support while his left arm moved in controlled, rhythmic arcs.

Though Luca wished he could stop, a part of him understood this wasn't just a test to fortify his strength; it was a lesson in core balance as well. All parts of his upper body, crucial for steering a vehicle, were engaged in this exercise.

Why am I so pained?! I work tirelessly everyday, carrying hundreds of sheets of metal. This shouldn't be too hard, but it is!

[Host, just because you carry heavy loads at work doesn't mean this will be easy. Your job strains your body, but it doesn't target your muscles in a healthy or balanced way. It's constant stress without proper conditioning, which can actually wear you down over time.]

[The kind of exercise you're doing now focuses on controlled strength, balance, and endurance. That's different from merely lifting sheets of metal—this is about building the right kind of strength gradually and efficiently for high-intensity situations, like the path which I am guiding you toward.]

Luca huffed and puffed, swinging the kettlebell beneath him like a pendulum, barely managing to push through. Finally, he collapsed to the floor when he was done, his body trembling and muscles aching after being stretched beyond their limits.

[Good job, host. You can now head over to the next phase of your daily routine.]

Luca rolled over, lying flat on the gym floor and staring up at the ceiling. This should have earned me a few points, right?

[Unfortunately, host, you haven't gained any points from today's exercise. If you had, I would have notified you instantly.]

"Are you kidding me?" Luca exclaimed, a sad frown on his face as he struggled to speak between harsh breaths. "After all that effort?"

[You made progress, host, and your strain has been acknowledged. However, the progress achieved wasn't sufficient to gain a point toward your attributes. Perhaps your next Daily Routine or Quest might change that.]

Luca sighed and sluggishly rose to his feet.