[Host speed decreases. Please maintain pace.]
The mechanical voice issued a reminder.
"I—I'm already going as fast as I can…"
Luffy gritted his teeth and threw another punch.
(1000/5000)
Only one-fifth done.
He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
"I can't… I really can't…"
He felt like he was about to pass out.
[Rest period exceeding 10 seconds. Warning issued.]
[If rest exceeds 10 seconds again, electric punishment will be administered.]
Luffy: "..."
He didn't even have the strength to curse anymore.
All he could do was grit his teeth, struggle to his feet, and continue punching.
"One thousand and one… one thousand and two…"
His speed slowed further and further.
But he didn't dare stop.
He knew that damned system would really electrocute him.
After an unknown amount of time—
(2000/5000)
Luffy's consciousness was beginning to blur.
He was punching purely on instinct now.
His arms had long since gone numb. He couldn't feel pain or soreness anymore.
He just repeated the motion mechanically.
The sun gradually dipped below the horizon.
Darkness fell.
(3000/5000)
Luffy could barely keep his eyes open.
"So… so hungry…"
Only two thoughts remained in his mind: hunger—and don't stop.
(4000/5000)
The moon rose.
On the beach, there was only Luffy, the sound of his heavy breathing, and the sharp swish of his punches cutting through the air.
(4500/5000)
He felt like his soul was about to leave his body.
"Five hundred… left…"
He bit his lower lip until it bled, using the pain to force himself awake.
(4800/5000)
(4900/5000)
(4950/5000)
Fifty punches left.
Luffy could no longer see clearly.
He relied purely on instinct, throwing one punch after another.
(4980/5000)
(4990/5000)
(4995/5000)
Five punches left.
"AAAAAH—!!"
With every ounce of strength he had left, Luffy roared and threw the final five punches.
(5000/5000)
[Task 1 complete.]
The text on the screen flickered.
With a thud, Luffy collapsed onto the ground like a pile of mud.
He couldn't even move a finger.
[Please proceed with Task 2: 50 km long-distance run.]
Luffy: "..."
He wanted to die.
He really did.
"L-let me… rest… a little…"
His voice was barely audible.
[Rest time must not exceed 5 minutes.]
[If Task 2 has not begun after 5 minutes, electric punishment will be administered.]
Luffy closed his eyes. Tears slid from the corners.
"Makino… grilled meat… I want grilled meat…"
Five minutes later.
[Rest period ended.]
[Please begin long-distance running.]
Luffy didn't move.
He truly couldn't.
[Host detected engaging in passive resistance. Executing Level 1 electric punishment.]
"Wait! I—"
CRACKLE—!!!
"AAAAAAH—!!!"
Luffy was blasted upright again.
Strangely, when the shock ended, he felt… slightly recovered?
[Electric stimulation can activate muscle tissue and relieve fatigue.]
[Please make use of this state and begin running.]
Luffy wiped his face and staggered to his feet.
"I'll run… I'm running…"
He started jogging along the shoreline.
At first, every step felt like walking on blades.
But after ten or so minutes, his body gradually adapted.
Under the moonlight, a lone boy ran across the beach.
One lap, two laps, three laps…
Luffy didn't know how long he ran.
He only knew the numbers on the screen kept changing:
(10/50)
(20/50)
(30/50)
When he reached thirty-five kilometers, he started failing again.
His lungs burned like they were on fire. His legs felt like they were filled with lead. Every step took everything he had.
"I can't… I really can't…"
His speed slowed more and more.
[Speed below standard. Please accelerate.]
"I—I can't go faster…"
[Warning: If speed remains below standard, it will be considered negative training. Electric punishment will follow.]
Luffy wanted to cry.
But he didn't even have the strength for that.
All he could do was grit his teeth and force his legs to move.
(40/50)
The last ten kilometers.
He felt like a walking corpse.
He moved forward step by step on pure instinct.
(45/50)
(48/50)
(49/50)
One kilometer left.
His consciousness was fading.
Hallucinations began to appear before his eyes.
He saw a huge piece of grilled meat swaying in front of him.
"Meat…"
Luffy licked his cracked lips.
Then, using the very last bit of strength in his body, he charged toward the "grilled meat."
(50/50)
[Task 2 complete.]
With a thud, Luffy collapsed onto the sand and passed out.
—
Who knew how long had passed.
Splash… splash…
The sound of waves woke him.
He opened his eyes and found himself still lying on the beach, soaked through—the tide had risen and washed over him.
The sky was beginning to brighten.
Luffy struggled to sit up. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony.
And yet, strangely, although he was exhausted and sore, he didn't feel as weak as he expected.
He even felt… a little sturdier than yesterday?
[The host has completed Day 1 basic training.]
[Physique rating increased from D to D+.]
[Reward: Today's sleep time increased to 1 hour 30 minutes.]
New text appeared on the screen.
Luffy stared at the words "sleep time increased to 1 hour 30 minutes" and suddenly felt like crying.
An extra thirty minutes of sleep… was a reward?
"I want to go home…"
He staggered to his feet and headed toward the village.
Right now, he just wanted to eat something—and then sleep… for an hour and a half.
As he reached the village entrance, a rich aroma of grilled meat drifted into his nose.
Makino's tavern!
Luffy's eyes lit up. Drool instantly pooled at the corners of his mouth.
He quickened his pace and stumbled into the tavern.
"Makino! I want meat—huh?"
Several people were seated inside.
At the bar, a red-haired man was holding a cup of sake, chatting with a scar-faced man.
Hearing the noise, the red-haired man turned around.
Their eyes met.
Shanks raised an eyebrow.
"Well, if it isn't Luffy. What happened to you?"
Luffy looked absolutely miserable:
Soaked from head to toe, clothes torn in several places, skin slightly charred, a few strands of hair still sticking straight up, and his eyes bloodshot.
"Sh-Shanks…"
Seeing Shanks, Luffy's eyes brightened.
But the next second, his stomach growled loudly.
"I… I'm so hungry…"
Makino came out from the kitchen. When she saw Luffy, she gasped.
"Luffy! What happened to you? Did you fall into the sea?"
She quickly grabbed a towel and started wiping his face.
"I… I did some training…"
Luffy muttered vaguely.
"Training?"
Shanks looked at him with interest.
"What kind of training leaves you looking like that?"
Luffy opened his mouth, unsure how to explain.
Was he supposed to say he'd been forced by some system to throw five thousand punches and run fifty kilometers?
No one would believe that.
"J-just… normal physical training…"
He lowered his head.
Shanks stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
"Interesting."
He stood up, walked over, and patted Luffy on the shoulder.
"Hiss—!"
Luffy sucked in a sharp breath.
Shanks had hit a sore muscle, and the pain made him bare his teeth.
"That painful, huh? Must've been quite the workload."
Shanks withdrew his hand, his gaze turning more serious.
"Luffy, why are you training this hard?"
Luffy looked up at him.
"Because… I'm going to become the Pirate King."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was firm.