Azar looked at the panel, her breath catching in her throat as she absorbed the weight of its demand. The numbers blinked back at her, stark reminders of the daunting challenge ahead. For a moment, she felt a surge of panic, the weight of her own limitations pressing down upon her like a suffocating blanket.
But then, with a steely resolve, she pushed aside her fear and rose to her feet. This was her chance, her opportunity to prove herself in a world where strength and determination were the only currency that mattered. With a deep breath, she dropped to the floor, her muscles tensing in anticipation as she prepared to embark on her journey.
"All I can manage is twenty at a time," she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "So if I split it up and take breaks, I will reach my goal." With that mantra echoing in her mind, she assumed the push-up position, her heart pounding in her chest as she began to lower herself towards the ground.
As the count began to decrease, each repetition marking her progress, she felt a surge of determination wash over her. With each push-up, she pushed herself further, her muscles burning with exertion as she pushed past her own limitations. But as she neared her limit, a familiar ache began to settle in her muscles, a reminder of the physical toll her training was taking on her body.
Yet, despite the pain, she refused to yield, pushing through the discomfort with a grim determination. She gritted her teeth against the agony, her movements becoming slower and more labored with each passing repetition. But still, she persisted, her eyes fixed on the dwindling numbers before her as she fought to reach her goal.
And then, just as she thought she couldn't go on any longer, disaster struck. With a sudden give in her arms, she collapsed to the ground, her points resetting to a frustratingly unyielding 100. Shock and frustration washed over her in equal measure as she lay there, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
But even in the face of defeat, she refused to give up. With a trembling hand, she pushed herself to her feet, her muscles trembling with exhaustion as she forced herself to continue. "I have to get stronger to make it into the game," she reminded herself, her voice trembling with determination. "This is nothing compared to them. They have extraordinary abilities, while I'm stuck with the ability that killed me. But it's better than nothing."
With renewed determination, she made her way to her laptop, her fingers flying across the keys as she searched for a solution. "There's a gym close by," she muttered to herself, a spark of hope igniting within her. "It's maybe not like the big training places, but it's something."
Determined to seize this opportunity for improvement, she quickly changed into her workout attire, her movements swift and purposeful. With her heart pounding in her chest, she ventured out into the darkened streets, her path illuminated only by the dim glow of distant streetlights.
As she walked, her thoughts turned to the stark divide that defined the city, a division between the privileged and the overlooked. "All the cities are the same," she reflected bitterly, her steps carrying her ever closer to her destination. "Out in the outer corners is where all the lesser beings live, in a small space where most of the population lives in small houses that are barely inhabitable. Going towards the center is where all the higher beings live. They don't care about the lesser beings at all; it's like we're dogs to them. And only in this city, Xens, the largest city of all, is where the game tower primordial located."
As she neared the gym, her resolve solidified, her determination unwavering in the face of adversity. "That structure breaks through space and time," she whispered to herself, her eyes fixed upon the towering edifice that loomed overhead. "That is way beyond this world and others."
With a sense of purpose, she stepped through the doors of the gym, her eyes scanning the room for signs of her next challenge. And as she prepared to embark on her quest for strength, a new opportunity presented itself, a chance to unlock her true potential and harness the power that lay dormant within her.
^System panel^
-Quest: Finish this workout schedule. (20 sit-ups, 10 pull-ups, 20 squats reward: unknown)
Her heart raced with anticipation as she accepted the challenge before her, her determination unyielding in the face of uncertainty. With each repetition, she felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her, her muscles burning with exertion yet her spirit undaunted.
And as she completed her quest, a sense of triumph filled her, her efforts rewarded with the promise of new possibilities. With a sense of purpose, she clicked on the unknown reward, her eyes widening in astonishment as a new skill emerged before her.
^New skill^
Mana absorption: you will be able to finally use your ability.
With a sense of wonder and awe,
she marveled at the newfound power that lay within her grasp, her journey to greatness only just beginning. And with each step forward, she knew that nothing could stand in her way as she pursued her destiny with unwavering resolve.
