Beom Seok awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat. His head throbbed, a lingering echo of the pain from the Rain Monster Forest, but the memory of his brutal survival flooded him with both fear and exhilaration. He slowly sat up, taking in the familiar sight of his bedroom.
His cluttered desk, the dim morning light spilling through the window, the quiet hum of the city outside—all of it felt impossibly normal after what he had endured.
He flexed his fingers and examined himself in the mirror. The boy who had entered the Rain Monster Forest was gone. Staring back was a taller, leaner, more defined version of himself.
His eyes seemed sharper, his posture more confident, and the tension that had always weighed on his shoulders had eased, replaced by a faint sense of pride.
Curiosity and excitement overpowered his lingering exhaustion.
He summoned the status window, the familiar interface glowing before him.
Available distribution points: 10
Beom Seok frowned, tapping his chin as he considered the points. Strength, he realized, would help him survive another punishment if it came; agility would let him dodge attacks; health could save him from fatal blows.
But intelligence—his greatest asset—had kept him alive during the Rain Monster Forest ordeal. Carefully, he allocated points, spreading them across intelligence, health, and strength, leaving a single point to keep agility from being disastrous.
Satisfied, he dismissed the window, only to have it reappear moments later, flashing with a new notification:
[Warning: if tasks are not complete, the host will be punished]
Beom Seok groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Here we go again…"
But there was no time to complain.
He knew the system wouldn't hesitate to punish him if he delayed. Slipping into exercise clothes, he stepped outside into the crisp morning air.
The city was alive with people, yet none of them seemed to notice the quiet determination etched onto his face.
He began with a run, each footfall pounding against the asphalt. Sweat streamed down his face, soaking his shirt, but he pushed himself farther than ever before, imagining the monsters of the Rain Monster Forest chasing him with glowing eyes and sharpened claws.
The fear of failure spurred him onward. Ten kilometers later, his legs burned, but he didn't stop.
He moved on to push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, counting each movement aloud to maintain focus. His arms trembled, his core ached, his legs quivered, but he refused to give in.
Each repetition reminded him of the monsters he had fought, of the dagger and axe in his hands, and of the knowledge that survival required discipline. Hours passed. Passersby glanced curiously at the exhausted young man, whispering among themselves as he continued tirelessly, yet he barely noticed.
Finally, collapsing onto a nearby bench, Beom Seok could feel every muscle screaming in protest.
His chest heaved, his shirt clung to him with sweat, and his hair stuck to his forehead. For the first time in his life, he felt a deep, fulfilling exhaustion—the kind that came from knowing he had pushed his body to the limit and survived.
The status window chimed once more, a soft, cold voice announcing:
Beom Seok wiped the sweat from his brow and stared at the glowing crystal that materialized before him, hovering in midair. Its soft light reflected in his eyes, mesmerizing and enigmatic. His pulse quickened. Could this be a skill? An item? Or something else entirely?
"Reward… huh," he muttered, reaching out. As his fingers brushed the crystal, a sudden warmth spread through his body, and the status window updated itself.
Beom Seok's eyes widened. The title was simple, yet it carried weight. It was proof that he had endured, that he had fought till death and survived. A small thrill ran through him, but it was accompanied by a flicker of apprehension. If the system could assign such a brutal punishment today, what might tomorrow bring?
He flexed his hands and felt a new strength coursing through his body, a subtle awareness of muscles he hadn't fully realized before. Even his mind felt sharper, faster. The Rain Monster Forest hadn't just changed his body—it had honed his reflexes, sharpened his instincts, and tempered his resolve.
For the first time, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. He had survived, adapted, and grown stronger. But even as he basked in his moment of triumph, a single thought lingered in the back of his mind: this was only the beginning.
The system would not grow lenient. The daily tasks, the punishments, and the constant push to adapt and survive—these were only the first steps in a much larger, far more dangerous journey.
Beom Seok rose from the bench, feeling a lightness in his step despite his exhaustion. He flexed his newly strengthened muscles, letting the morning sun warm his skin. He was ready. He didn't know what challenges lay ahead, but one thing was certain: he would face them with the same determination that had carried him through the Rain Monster Forest.
For the first time in his life, Beom Seok felt truly alive.