Bell Cranel's heart still pounded from his near-death experience as he weaved through the crowded streets of Orario. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats filled the air, mixing with the distant chatter of merchants and adventurers alike. Yet none of it registered in his mind. His thoughts were consumed by the image of the Minotaur's blood-drenched axe swinging toward him, the sheer terror of that moment still fresh in his veins.
He needed to see Eina.
Guild Headquarters stood tall before him, a beacon of order amidst the chaos of Orario. Pushing past the doors, Bell found himself face-to-face with his guild advisor, Eina Tulle—a half-elf whose sharp emerald eyes instantly locked onto him with concern.
"Bell Cranel!" she scolded, her voice firm yet laced with worry. "Do you have any idea how reckless you were? Charging into the Dungeon without proper preparation, getting nearly killed by a Minotaur of all things—"
Bell winced, bowing his head. "I know, Eina... I messed up."
Eina sighed, rubbing her temples. "You're lucky to be alive. If Ais Wallenstein hadn't stepped in, you wouldn't be standing here right now."
At the mention of Ais, Bell's face turned scarlet. "She was... incredible," he admitted, unable to hide the admiration in his voice. "She moved so fast, and her swordplay was perfect. I've never seen anything like it."
Eina smirked knowingly. "I see what's going on here. You have a crush on the Sword Princess."
Bell nearly choked on his own breath. "I—! N-no, it's not like that!"
Eina chuckled, folding her arms. "Relax, Bell. There's nothing wrong with admiring her. But if you really want to stand beside someone like Ais, you need to get stronger. Daydreaming won't help you improve."
Her words struck deep, rekindling the fire in Bell's chest. "I will," he said, clenching his fists. "I'll become strong enough to stand on my own."
Eina smiled softly. "Good. Now go home and get some rest."
Bell nodded, leaving the Guild with renewed determination.
—
The old church was quiet when Bell stepped inside. The familiar warmth of home embraced him, the scent of freshly cooked food guiding him to the small dining table where Hestia sat waiting with a bright smile.
"Welcome home, Bell!" she beamed. "I made your favorite—fried potatoes!"
Bell's stomach growled in response, and he wasted no time digging in. The crispy, golden-brown potatoes melted in his mouth, perfectly seasoned and filling him with warmth. Across from him, Hestia watched with satisfaction, the simple joy of sharing a meal evident in her expression.
For a moment, the weight of the day lifted.
But as dinner came to an end, Hestia gestured for Bell to turn around. "Alright, let's update your status."
Bell nodded, pulling off his shirt and sitting forward as Hestia placed a drop of her divine blood on his back. Moments passed in silence. Then—
"Huh?" Hestia's brows furrowed. "There's... nothing?"
Bell sat up, confused. "What do you mean?"
"It's like your Falna isn't there."
Bell blinked. That didn't make any sense. He was sure he still had his abilities. But then, just as he was about to speak, something in his vision flickered.
A translucent screen hovered before his eyes.
[Inbox]
[Congratulations on becoming a Player] (Unread)
[New Daily Quest: The Path Toward True Might] (Unread)
[Notice]
[This system is designed to help the Player grow.]
[Failure to comply with the system's instructions may result in penalties.]
Bell's breath hitched. He had thought he was hallucinating before. He had no idea what exactly he was looking at, but it was real.
"Hestia..." He swallowed. "I— I can see something."
Hestia leaned forward, intrigued. "See what?"
Bell hesitated before reading the messages aloud. Her expression shifted from confusion to curiosity.
"Read message," he said, testing the system's function.
The text changed instantly.
[Daily Quest: The Path Toward True Might]
Objectives:
Push-ups [0/100]
Sit-ups [0/100]
Squats [0/100]
Run [0/10KM]
Note:
Failure to complete daily quests will result in penalties.
"Seriously?" Bell groaned, staring at the list in disbelief. "You're kidding..."
Hestia tilted her head. "A magical system that tells you to exercise? That's... unexpected."
Bell sighed, rubbing his temples. "I think I'll rest first before worrying about this."
Hestia chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Good idea. Get some sleep, Bell."
As Bell lay in bed that night, staring at the glowing text still lingering in his vision, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just changed forever.
—
Bell Cranel woke to a sound that sent a jolt of terror through his body.
Ding!
[Notice: You have failed to complete your daily quest. You will be transferred to the 'Penalty Zone' for an allotted amount of time.]
His half-lidded eyes snapped open, but before he could react, the world around him trembled. The soft comfort of his bed vanished, replaced by the rough sensation of sand beneath his fingertips. A harsh wind howled in his ears, stinging his skin with grains of burning-hot dust. Bell scrambled to his feet, his breath hitching as he took in his surroundings.
He was no longer in the old church.
The sky above was an endless expanse of dull, orange-red haze, swirling with the weight of an oppressive heat. The ground stretched endlessly in every direction, a vast desert with cracked dunes and jagged rock formations piercing through the surface like the bones of some long-dead giant.
And then he heard it.
A deep, guttural rumble.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Slowly, he turned.
His stomach twisted into knots.
Towering behind him was a monster straight out of nightmares—a Poison-Toothed Giant Desert Centipede. The words hovered above its grotesque form, an eerie confirmation of its identity.
Its exoskeleton gleamed in the dim light, each armored segment shifting and clicking as it undulated forward. Its writhing body stretched over twenty meters long, countless hooked legs digging into the sand as it moved with an unnatural, slithering grace. Twin antennae twitched atop its head, sensing his every movement.
And then there were the teeth—rows of jagged, serrated fangs lining its grotesque mandibles, dripping with a sickly green venom that hissed upon touching the sand.
Bell's breath hitched, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Ding!
[Penalty Quest: Survival]
Goal: Survive for the allotted amount of time.
Allotted Time: 4 hours
Time Left: 3 hours, 59 minutes, 57 seconds
Bell's throat ran dry.
There was no Ais to save him this time.
His mind screamed at him to run.
The centipede lunged.
Bell barely reacted in time, diving to the side as the massive creature crashed into the sand where he had stood a second earlier. The impact sent a shockwave through the desert, displacing a storm of dust and debris. Bell hit the ground hard, rolling several times before scrambling back to his feet.
His legs trembled. His arms felt like lead.
The centipede twisted its body, its beady, soulless eyes locking onto him again.
It was playing with him.
Panic clawed at Bell's mind. He didn't have his dagger. He had no armor. No potions. No way out. He was utterly, hopelessly—
No.
A part of him screamed against that despair, pushing back against the fear. If he gave in now, he was dead.
Bell sucked in a sharp breath, forcing his limbs to move. He turned on his heel and ran.
The desert wind roared past his ears as his feet pounded against the sand, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The centipede screeched behind him, its many legs scuttling at terrifying speed as it pursued its prey.
Bell threw himself over a jagged rock formation, using the terrain to slow the beast down. He hit the ground and rolled, ignoring the burning pain in his limbs. His lungs screamed for air, his body already exhausted.
3 hours, 59 minutes, 10 seconds left.
Bell bit back a curse.
Survive for four hours? That was insane. He'd be lucky to last four minutes.
The centipede let out another screech, slamming its massive body against the rock formation. The sheer force shattered the stone, sending debris flying in every direction.
Bell ducked, shielding his face as shards of rock scraped his skin. He had to think. He had to—
His eyes widened.
The centipede's legs.
Bell scanned its movements, watching how it scuttled across the sand. It was fast but relied on sheer weight and momentum to crush its prey. If he could use that against it...
He spotted a large crevice in the distance—an outcrop of stone with a sharp drop on the other side.
It was a risk.
But it was the only chance he had.
Bell sprinted toward the crevice, the centipede hot on his heels. The gap was wider than he liked, but there was no time to hesitate. He leapt.
His arms flailed as he barely caught the opposite ledge, his fingers digging into the rough rock. He gritted his teeth, pulling himself up with everything he had. His muscles screamed in protest, but he didn't stop—not now.
The centipede reached the edge—then lunged forward without hesitation.
And that was its mistake.
Its momentum carried it over the crevice before it realized there was no ground beneath it. The massive beast plunged downward, its screech of rage echoing through the desert as it disappeared into the darkness below.
Bell collapsed onto the stone, gasping for air.
His arms shook. His vision swam. But he was alive.
Ding!
Time Left: 3 hours, 48 minutes, 32 seconds.
Bell let out a dry, shaky laugh. After a few minutes the ground rumbled violently before the centipede thrusted out from the ground.
This was going to be a long four hours.
---
Next: An Instant Dungeon