Leo pushed himself to his feet, still buzzing with the afterglow of strength humming through his body. A grin tugged at his lips as he staggered toward the bathroom.
But then it hit him.
A sudden stab of pain tore through his muscles, sharper and deeper than anything the workout had inflicted. His knees buckled, and he fell against the wall, clutching at his chest as if his very bones were being ripped apart.
"Arghhh—!" His cry choked out, raw and hoarse. His vision blurred as the agony spread, searing every inch of him.
And then came the smell.
Pungent. Acrid, like burning tar mixed with spoiled blood. A thick, sticky black substance oozed from his pores, coating his skin in grotesque streaks. It dripped onto the floor in clumps, reeking so badly he almost gagged.
The torment lasted a full minute, each second stretching into eternity. When it finally ebbed, Leo collapsed onto the ground, trembling, drenched in sweat and slime. He stared at the revolting mess.
"…What… the hell was that?" he rasped, his voice weak but edged with disgust.
The System chuckled, maddeningly calm.
{Congratulations, Host. You've just leveled up.}
"Leveled… up?" Leo echoed, still gasping for air.
{Correct. Your body has been tempered. The impurities—the waste, toxins, and filth built up over years of weakness—have been expelled. What you see before you… is the price of evolution.}
Leo grimaced, staring at the black sludge smeared across his arms. "Price? This is revolting! I smell like a dead sewer!"
{Hmph. Mortals are always bound by appearances. Do not complain. You should be grateful. Every drop of that filth is proof that you are now greater than you were yesterday.}
Leo pinched his nose, muttering through gritted teeth. "Greater or not… I'm taking the longest bath of my life."
{Do so. When you're done, check your panel. You may find yourself… pleasantly surprised.}
Leo didn't need telling twice. With a groan, he dragged himself toward the bathroom, desperate to scrub away every trace of the nightmare clinging to his skin.
The hot water ran down his skin, washing away the last of the stench and slime. Leo scrubbed until his body burned, determined to erase the memory of that disgusting black goo. When he finally stepped out, the mirror reflected a boy reborn—his muscles firmer, his features sharper, his whole frame humming with newfound vitality.
He slipped into fresh underwear and sat cross-legged on his bed. His heart beat faster as he whispered, "Panel."
The translucent screen blinked into existence before him.
[Status Window] Name: Leo Harrynader Level: 1 HP: 100/100 MP: 100/100 Strength: 10 Agility: 10 Intelligence: 10 [More stats]
But what caught his eye immediately wasn't the level. It was the faint new tab glowing at the corner of the panel.
[Notifications]
Leo tapped it, his pulse quickening.
A scroll of text appeared:
[Daily Quest Completed] 100 Push-ups- complete 100 Sit-ups- complete 100 Squats- complete 10 km Run- complete
Reward: 100 EXP
Level Up Achieved → Current Level: 1
EXP: 0 / 100
Leo blinked at it, stunned. "So… that entire insane routine gave me the experience points I needed to level up?"
{Naturally,} the System replied.
Leo leaned back against the headboard, a slow smile spreading across his face despite his exhaustion. His eyes lingered on the empty bar at the bottom of the panel.
0 out of 100.
It meant one thing.
This was only the beginning. Leo dressed himself in a dark hoodie and black sweatpants, his outfit rounded off with white kicks that looked like futuristic Air Force 1s—so sleek, almost as if they belonged to another era. The casual look, coupled with his sharp hair and striking eyes, gave him an edge he hadn't noticed before. Grabbing a simple bag, he slung it over his shoulder and headed downstairs.
At the bottom of the steps, his sister paused and looked at him with wide eyes. "Is it just me, or did big brother suddenly get more handsome?" she teased with a grin.
Leo smirked, puffing out his chest just a little. "Well, my little angel has also become more beautiful."
She rolled her eyes at his cockiness, but the smile lingered on her face. With their playful exchange done, they both moved toward the door.
As Leo stepped outside, the morning air brushed against his skin. It was crisp, new, and full of weight. He glanced at the distant academy that awaited him.
For the first time since the world had changed, Leo was taking his first true step into it.