Ethan felt the physical relief provided by his new allies. He had bought himself safety for the night.
"I'm going to take a rest," Ethan told José and Antonio. "Tomorrow will be a better day."
The two men nodded, offering deferential, relieved smiles. Ethan walked over to the thin mattress, but instead of lying down, he sat cross-legged like an ascetic monk from the movies.
"Here I go, System," Ethan said internally. "Let's improve this breathing. The results are truly amazing; my body feels fantastic, like it's full of energy. I want more of that."
The System chuckled, its tone playfully superior. [I only sell premium quality items, Champion. You get what you pay for.]
Ethan smiled. "You're the best, I know. You don't need to remind me. By the way, how strong can I get with the breathing, or how far should I practice it?"
[Check your mind, Rookie,] the System replied. [That information is also in the data you received. Don't be lazy.]
