Charles stared at the glowing system window for a long moment, hands trembling slightly.
Two days.
Just two days to complete a quest meant to keep him alive.
"Minor Divine Armor…" he whispered. "I can actually get something like that?"
Midnight blinked at him with judgmental yellow eyes.
Rift pulsed like an excited heartbeat on his wrist.
[Affirmation: Reward quality is high]
[Host survival rate will increase substantially]
Charles rubbed his face.
"I should be excited… but I'm mostly terrified."
Midnight flicked his tail across Charles's cheek—firmly.
It hurt more than expected.
"Ow—okay! I get it! Stop being weak, right?"
Midnight meowed once.
Rift translated immediately:
[Correct]
Charles collapsed backward onto his bed again.
"…I really am not sleeping tonight."
Midnight hissed in agreement, then plopped his warm body directly on Charles's stomach like a furry paperweight.
Rift dimmed.
The room went quiet.
Very quiet.
Too quiet.
Charles stared at the ceiling.
"…Fine. Let's… think."
He mentally reviewed the quest:
• Increase HP by 20%
• Increase Mana by 20%
• Light Barrier ×100
• Light Burst ×200
• Buff an ally ×50
He groaned softly.
"This is going to kill me more than the boss would."
Rift pulsed:
[Incorrect. Training-related death rate is 0.1%]
"…Not helping."
Midnight stretched across his ribs with an adorable little prrrrp sound.
Then he bit Charles's shirt sleeve.
"OW—MIDNIGHT—OKAY—OKAY! I'll get up!"
The cat released him and sat upright like a drill instructor who had no mercy and no regrets.
Rift chimed:
[Host motivation level rising]
[Recommend: Begin warm-up exercises immediately]
Charles glanced at the clock.
It was 2:13 AM.
"Warm-up?! It's two in the morning! I haven't slept!"
Rift pulsed:
[Sleep can be compensated later]
[Quest cannot]
…This damn system.
Charles sat up, rubbing his face for the tenth time that day.
"Fine. Warm-up now. Death later."
Midnight leaped off his chest and marched toward the bedroom door like a tiny black general leading his exhausted soldier.
Charles followed.
---
Late-Night Training Begins
The moment he returned to the practice mat, Charles regretted everything.
His arms shook. His legs ached. His brain was melting.
Midnight stared at him with the energy of someone who had slept 12 hours and just drank an espresso.
Charles inhaled.
"Okay… warm-up push-ups first."
He got into position.
One.
Two.
Three—
thud.
He collapsed.
Midnight meowed in pure disappointment.
Rift chimed:
[Host performance: Very poor]
[Recommend: Increase willpower]
"I am TRYING—!"
He pushed himself up with shaking arms.
One.
Two.
Three.
His elbows wobbled dangerously.
"Come on… don't die yet…"
Midnight placed one paw on Charles's back.
The paw of judgment.
The ultimate pressure.
His pride would not let him fail under a cat's supervision.
"Fine! Fine!! I'll keep going!!"
---
Training Goes On…
Hours passed.
The faint blue glow of dawn crept into the room.
Charles had:
Light Burst: 41/200
Light Barrier: 9/100
Buffs: 6/50
Charles collapsed on the mat again, chest heaving.
"I… can't… feel… my arms…"
Rift pulsed:
[Host may rest for 20 minutes]
"Twenty!? That's not rest! That's a power nap!"
[Sleep efficiency: 27%]
[Quest time efficiency: 89%]
Midnight curled up beside Charles's shoulder and gently kneaded his arm.
It hurt.
But also felt… supportive?
Charles exhaled softly.
"Thanks… buddy…"
Midnight's tail flicked with a satisfied twitch.
Rift dimmed like a heartbeat slowing down.
For the first time in hours, Charles's eyelids drooped.
He drifted off—
---
SYSTEM ALERT
DING.
Charles jolted awake with a yelp.
"WH-WHAT!? I'm awake! I'm awake!! I wasn't sleeping, I swear—!"
Midnight jumped, fur puffed like fireworks.
Rift glowed urgently.
[Warning: The Rift Beast's mark has reacted]
[Host's divine signature slightly fluctuated during exhaustion]
Charles froze.
"Wait… wait… WHAT reacted?!"
Rift continued:
[The Rift Beast momentarily detected your aura]
[Connection duration: 0.6 seconds]
[Risk Level: Rising]
Midnight hissed, spinning toward the window as if expecting a monster to burst through it.
Charles's blood ran cold.
"…I wasn't even in the dungeon yet…"
Rift pulsed with urgency.
[Host must intensify training]
[Divine fluctuation decreases as strength increases]
Charles swallowed hard.
"…So the stronger I get, the harder it is for the Rift Beast to track me…?"
[Affirmation]
Charles clenched his fists.
Exhausted.
Shaking.
Barely awake.
But more determined.
"…Then I HAVE to finish this quest."
Midnight hopped onto his shoulder.
Rift glowed brighter.
And Charles pushed himself back onto his feet.
---