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The morning sun broke through Leo's curtains, washing his room in pale gold. For a moment, he lay still, half-forgetting the weight of yesterday's revelations.
Today was the day. The Academy.
He sat up slowly, nerves and anticipation warring in his chest. The Legacy Families—those mysterious giants of power—were the ones who had built it. His father had made it sound like the Academy wasn't just a school, but a gateway. A place that would shape the future of every youth chosen to attend.
"Leo! Hurry up!" Samantha's voice floated from downstairs, impatient as ever.
He exhaled, running a hand through his newly changed red hair, the deeper hue glinting faintly under the sunlight. He wondered how many others would walk into that Academy with hair, eyes, and bodies transformed by the System… how many would walk in already stronger than him.
The smug, ever-watchful voice of the system purred in his mind.
{Don't be so tense, Host. Today is just the beginning. You'll see soon enough… you're not like the rest of them.}
Leo frowned, but he didn't answer.
Something told him he was walking into a place where secrets would be sharper than swords—and the wrong move could decide not just his fate, but the fate of everyone around him.
A sharp ting echoed in Leo's head.
{Surprise, Host. I have a gift for you.}
Leo groaned, rubbing his eyes. "A gift? This early?"
The panel shimmered before him, shifting from the usual translucent glow to a new tab. Letters etched themselves in bold across the top:
[Quests]
Curiosity flickered in Leo's chest. He leaned closer, scanning the screen.
[Daily Quest]
100 Push-ups
100 Sit-ups
100 Squats
10 km Run
Reward: 100exp
Leo froze. Then, slowly, a grin tugged at his lips.
"…Really? This routine? Isn't this way too cliché? I've seen this exact setup in like a hundred novels."
The system chuckled darkly, its voice dripping with mockery.
{Cliché? Oh, poor little Host… what do you know?}
Leo rolled his eyes. "I know that if I finish this, my hair won't suddenly fall out and turn me into some caped bald superhero."
{Hmph. Mock all you want. That so-called 'cliché' will rebuild your body, strengthen your foundation, and awaken things you can't even dream of. Do you think power comes wrapped in ribbons? No. Power is born from sweat, pain, and persistence.}
The words carried an edge that made Leo's grin falter. For once, the System didn't sound smug—it sounded deadly serious.
Leo glanced at the glowing list again, his smile fading into a grimace.
"...10 kilometers, huh?" He sighed, dragging himself out of bed. "Guess my life really has become a novel."
The panel shimmered one last time before fading, leaving only the echo of the System's sly voice.
{Step by step, Host. Let's see if you survive the first one.}
Leo laced up his worn sneakers, muttering under his breath as he stepped outside. The early morning air was crisp, almost mocking him with its freshness.
"Ten kilometers… yeah, sure. No big deal," he lied to himself.
The first kilometer felt fine. The second was okay. By the fifth, his legs burned like molten iron.
"Why… the hell… did I read so many system novels…" he wheezed, dragging one foot in front of the other.
{You're slow, Host. Even a crippled snail would pity you.}
"Shut up," Leo gasped. "Why don't you try running with actual legs?"
{Because I don't need to. You are my legs, my arms, my vessel. Now run, unless you want to stay weak.}
Leo cursed under his breath, forcing himself onward. Somehow, step after agonizing step, he pushed through. When the faint outline of his house finally came into view, he collapsed against the wall, sweat pouring down his face.
"…That's… ten," he panted, half-dead.
The System hummed in satisfaction. {Acceptable. Barely. Now for the rest.}
Leo staggered back into his room, collapsed onto the floor, and forced himself into push-up position. His arms trembled before he even hit seventy. By hundred, he wanted to scream.
Sit-ups weren't any kinder. His abs felt like they were tearing apart by the time he completed the 100.
Squats? They turned his legs into jelly, his muscles shaking with every dip until he collapsed onto the floor like a rag doll.
When the last rep was done, Leo lay flat on the ground, staring up at the ceiling with glassy eyes. His entire body screamed in rebellion.
"System…" he croaked. "…this routine is hell."
The System's laughter slithered into his ears, low and smug.
{Hell? Oh, Host, this was nothing more than the first step. But congratulations.}
The panel blinked into view, glowing brighter than before.
[Daily Quest Complete!] Reward: Granted.
Before Leo could even ask, a warm surge spread through his body. His aching muscles soothed, his lungs expanded with fresh vigor, and his heartbeat steadied. It was as if invisible hands had rebuilt him from the inside out.
Leo sat up slowly, blinking in .
"…Oh just like solo leveling buh this time around I am not given an elixir the system itself does the work...not bad"
{Indeed. Your body has been strengthened, your foundation tempered. Repeat this every day, and soon you'll realize why clichés exist… because they work.}
For the first time, Leo didn't argue. He simply clenched his fists, marveling at the faint strength thrumming beneath his skin.
"…Maybe being cliché isn't so bad after all."
The System chuckled knowingly.
{Welcome to Day One, Host.}