Morning sunlight streamed through the hospital window, brushing Jinwoo's face with gentle warmth.
He opened his eyes slowly, every muscle in his body throbbing in dull pain. The memory of last night—the endless desert, the centipedes, the agony of running until his legs felt like lead—came rushing back in vivid flashes.
He exhaled shakily. So it really wasn't a dream.
A soft ding echoed in his mind. The familiar blue window appeared again.
> [Daily Quest: Training for the Weak — Available]
100 Push-ups
100 Sit-ups
100 Squats
10 km Run
Penalty for Failure: Assigned Dungeon]
Jinwoo sat up on the bed, grimacing as his muscles protested. "Guess you're serious about this, huh?"
The faint blue glow reflected in his eyes as he clenched his fists. "Fine. I'll play by your rules."
He opened another window.
> [Status Window]
Name: Sung Jinwoo
Level: 1
Class: None
HP: 100
MP: 10
Strength: 11 (+1)**
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 10
Sense: 10
Unspent Points: 0
That single point in Strength felt insignificant, but he could feel it — a faint difference, like his body had grown a fraction sturdier overnight.
He smiled faintly. "Even one point makes a difference… that means it's real."
He rolled out of bed and stretched, pain shooting through his back and arms, but he didn't stop. The nurse had already commented yesterday that his recovery was "miraculous," though she had no idea why.
Now, Jinwoo knew the reason.
> If this System can make me stronger… then it's worth every ounce of pain.
He began again — slowly, methodically. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats.
At first, his body screamed in resistance, but unlike last night, he didn't stop. He had faced death already. Pain was nothing.
"Twenty…" he gasped, arms trembling. "Thirty…"
He fell, caught his breath, and started again. Sweat dripped down his chin, pooling on the tile floor.
By the time he reached the last squat, his entire body felt like it would collapse — but he did it. All of it.
A faint chime rang in his ears.
> [Quest Complete!]
Reward: +3 Stat Points, Random Box (1)]
He sat back on the bed, panting heavily but smiling for the first time in days. "I actually did it…"
He opened his hand as another window appeared.
> [You have received: Random Box (1)]
Open Random Box? (Y/N)
"Yeah. Why not?"
The box shimmered, then burst into light.
> [You have obtained: Recovery Potion (Low)]
A small glass vial materialized in his palm, filled with blue liquid that glowed faintly in the sunlight.
Jinwoo stared at it, stunned. "It even gives me items… like a real game."
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But one thing was certain — the rules of the world had changed.
He took a deep breath, setting the vial aside carefully.
His gaze hardened, filled with resolve.
> I've lived as the weakest for too long. No more.
From this day forward, Sung Jinwoo would walk a path no one else could follow — the path of the Player.
Outside, the morning city stirred to life, unaware that in a small hospital room, the weakest hunter in the world had just taken his first true step toward power.
......
Days passed quietly in the hospital.
Every morning, without fail, Jinwoo completed the System's daily quest. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and the 10 km run — though he had to improvise for the last one, jogging laps around the hospital corridors when no one was watching.
At first, the nurses thought he was just trying to speed up his recovery. But after the third day, whispers began to spread through the ward.
"Did you see him this morning?" one nurse murmured near the door.
"Yeah… I thought he was supposed to be the patient who nearly died!"
Even Jinwoo noticed the stares. His once frail body, scarred and fragile, was now firm and toned. Veins traced lightly across his forearms, and the faint outline of defined abs showed whenever his shirt shifted.
He didn't pay much attention to it — but the change was undeniable. His body had become lean, athletic, balanced with both strength and agility. Every movement felt lighter, sharper, alive.
Standing before the small mirror beside his bed, Jinwoo flexed his hand, watching how his reflection responded.
"This… is me?" he muttered, almost disbelieving.
Gone was the weak hunter who could barely lift a sword. The man staring back looked… confident. Capable.
He pulled up his Status Window once more.
[Name:] Sung Jinwoo
Level: 7
Strength: 20
Agility: 18
Stamina: 19
Intelligence: 10
Sense: 12
Unspent Points: 0
Each number told a story — every drop of sweat, every second of pain, every moment of resolve.
One nurse entered quietly with his meal tray, then froze for a second as she caught sight of him stretching. "M-Mr. Sung… you, uh… seem to be recovering very well," she stammered, setting the tray down a bit too quickly.
Jinwoo gave a small, polite smile. "You could say that."
She smiled nervously and left, cheeks flushed, while Jinwoo just sighed softly and sat down to eat.
He wasn't training for attention. He was training for survival. For power. For the day he'd face something like that temple again — and this time, win.
Looking at his hands, Jinwoo clenched them slowly.
It's only been a few days… and I can already feel it. This System is real power.
Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky orange.
In that quiet hospital room, Sung Jinwoo continued his training, body and will sharpening with every passing day.
The weak had died in that temple.
What remained now… was something entirely new.