Zilon stretched up with his legs and moments later dropped his hands.
"Let the challenge begin!" Zilon said with a smirk.
A soft breeze drifted through the quiet clearing, rustling the grass at his feet. Above him, the apple-like tree swayed gently, its leaves whispering like they were watching too. A single loose leaf floated down, landing near his shoes.
Zilon stood still for a moment, letting the wind cool the sweat on his neck. His eyes,focused, traced the pale blue sky, where faint clouds drifted lazily across the sun.
" Firstly, I should decide on which stat I should test on, second, which exercise I will perform," Zilon said.
Exercise, that was what Zilon came up with when he remembered Rivor's words to him.
Since his stats were directly linked to his real attributes, he was certain that activities that he did on earth which were used for training could benefit him here right?.
Hence he thought of performing exercises to increase his stats.
" Besides I have read a lot of system related books and they confirm my theory too "
Zilon took a deep breath as he clenched his fists.
He then summoned his panel once more...
[Status....]
- **Name:Zilon
- ** Level : 1
- **Race: ???
- **Age: 15
- **STR: 7
- **AGI: 8
- **ACU: 17
- **STA: 14
- **MAG: 52
- **MAN: 62
- **SLP(Soul power): N/A
.
.
.
]
" I think I will focus on the strength stats first, and pushups should be my starter "
Zilon thought about it more and nodded his head
There were 2 stats that bother him the most which was his strength and stamina, stamina being the most worrisome.
While doing this pushups mainly focuses on his arm muscles,he knew that it also directly affects the stamina stats.
" It's the energy your body use, the more you exhaust it, the more your body produces more as a way for adaptation " Zilon said.
He then rubbed his hands together, looked around to see if there were any stones or other objects that may hinder him while he starts.
Since this is outdoors and a grassy place he has to make sure there aren't any stones or sharp objects beneath that could injure him.
Confirming that there was indeed nothing he removed his shoes and got on his knees.
Then spread his hands wide and his legs, entering the position.
Setting his hands appropriately while twisting it slightly he began, using his hands to push himself up and down.
He remembered being able to do 30 back on earth.
1...2...3...4
" I wonder how many I might be able to do now ".
.....5.....6....7.....8...9...10
Zilon could feel his hands shaking as he tried to push one more but failed.
In the end he collapsed, forced to take a rest.
"Hah*Huff*,*Huff*"
Zilon breathed heavily with eyes closed,taking in air from his mouth as beads of sweat rolled down his face.
" Are...*HUFF*serious*HUFF* "
Zilon lay there for a while,his hands wide as he opened his eyes.
" *Ahem*There's no way 10 is my max " Zilon immediately sat up still breathing heavily but now calmer.
Then he checked his status.
[.....
.
**STR:7
.
.
.
**STA: 13/14
]
"It's still the same...." Zilon sighed.
" My stamina stats dropped though, that means I can still keep on going"
After catching his breath he went to position.
He did another round but still ended up with only 10.
" How can 7 stats be this small " Zilon thought
If 7 STR points couldn't give him more than 10 pushups then he didn't have much hope even if he increased it to ten.
"i had the thought that +10 points were significant but I may have to revaluate "
From his calculations, 7 points in Strength allowed him to do 10 pushups, costing 1 stamina point each time.
" I guess that's how it was also differentiated, I was wondering how this things worked "
Zilon opened his status and confirmed his stamina stats to have dropped by one more.
If he wanted to do 30 like he did back on earth then he will have to have about 21 status points in strength, 21 only too do 30 pushups seems lame.
" but who knows, maybe that's how my own body works "
He exhaled once more feeling more energy return to him as he went another round.
He went again.
And again
And again.
And.... again
...
The exhausted Zilon layed limp on the ground as his stamina stats blinked at him with the last 2 points.
"Still.....no.....progress "
He was extremely tired and he could feel his body shutting down on its own.
"Why....Why am I.....so weak..."
But before he knew it, he had drifted into darkness his head weakly falling to the side.
-----------------
Zilon opened his eyes and deliberately found himself in the familiar dark space.
" You have got to be kidding me "
Zilon stared wide eyed around him,looking left and right , trying to see if he will catch anything.
He just sat down staring below at the transparent liquid beneath him, that rippled with each slight movements he makes.
He didn't think, he didn't move at all just sat still on his knees.
" So you think you can escape me huh? " A dark and hoarse voice reached Zilon's right ear.
His eyes, which where already wide began to tremble as he slowly faces the direction he heard the sound from.
There not to far away from him was a tall shadowy figure with ghost like horn, sharp fangs that emit purple dust, red eyes and a sinister smile.
That was the last he saw before a loud sound of water drop startled him.
-------------
Zilon opened his eyes abruptly and his gaze met with the orange sky.
He sat up and rubbed his temples as he looked around him and noticed how the second sun was already up.
"I guess there is a pattern to me seeing him " he thought ,after a long while of silence.
Zilon, after this encounter could finally understand the reason why he was reacting that way to this demon in his sleep.
The demon was definitely real,it wasn't a dream just like Lyla explained but there was specific reason why felt fear from all fiber of his being when he comes in contact with the being.
" The next time I see you I won't be trembling any more , and that's a promise " Zilon thought as he stood up and began to experiment with other exercise.
Because the front yard was big, even a casual walk around it drained a lot of his stamina.
Not long after Zilon found himself exhausted.
Still he didn't give up,the moment he regained his energy he continued running around in jogs and jumps, trying maximize the effect on his legs and even muscles.
" No matter what I will become stronger "
It doesn't matter if his body is weak, he will train it to be strong.
Just like he did on earth.....
He might lack it all,but there was something that he never lacked,he was proud of it and was very confident of it, it was his determination.
Memories flooded in his mind as he kept on running with his eyes closed going faster and faster even as his stamina dropped rapidly.
Back then it was this same determination that saved him from despair, the despair of not knowing whether you will survive the next day , and now it will be his driving force to succeed, just like it has always been.
----------------
Sitting in a room lit by several candles was a woman so elegant you might call her a noble.
Her brown hair fair skin, oval face and small nose made her the representative of beauty itself.
This woman had a cup of tea in her hand and every now and then was brought it to her lips.
She took several sips,one after another,the second one being more flawless than the first.
At some point she stopped mid way and held it longer than usual.
Then suddenly a smile that was enough to warm even the coldest ice bloomed on her face.
" I will like to see that "Lyla said with her familiar honey sound voice.
Finally sipping it one more She placed the tea next to her and everything remained silent afterwards.
----------------
Time seems to fly at speed that Zilon couldn't really understand.
"It's .... almost the first sundown.." Zilon said as he tried to catch his breath while bending down his hands on his knees.
He stood up cleared his throat and felt slightly thirsty but it wasn't really a bother so he decided to rest up close to the tree.
He leaned his back on the tree and took a deep breath , his eyes becoming unfocused for few moments.
" Still nothing " Zilon sighed.
Still he wasn't ready to give up yet, he could feel changes in his body, but he doesn't really know where the problem is.
Right now even though his stats haven't increased he was able to do 12 pushups per 5 stamina points, after he does it five times consecutivly he will have to rest if not he will keep on doing 10.
As for running he could now circle half of the yard before a stamina point drops.
The accuracy stat wasn't the one he could actually improve directly though he still made some practice.
By picking up nearby stones he was able to aim at a distance to strike the tree.
" Not like that has much of any effect"Zilon supported his head with his hand.
His stamina stats was currently on 5 so he needed to rest before he can continue.
"Wait...I think I remember something" suddenly a Memory formed in his head and deciding to test it , he sat properly looking alittle excited.
One might think that he found a solution to raising his stats after seeing his excitement but in reality it was quite different.
" I don't know if I can do it properly,but it's worth a try "
Crossing his legs he closed his eyes and began to breath in controlled breaths.
Breathing in from his mouth and exhale out word through his nostril.
He did this severaly, and the moment he felt lightheaded he stopped.
Opening his eyes he summoned his status panel.
"Yes!, I can't believe it really worked ! " Zilon exclaimed as he stared at one particular stat.
He felt his body relaxed and his muscles which were trembling, were more energized.
" I managed to recover up to 7 stats by just breathing, *hehe* thank you sensai, for this amazing technique " Zilon said remembering an old man in a dojo he usually visits when he travels to Japan.
The technique he used was something that an old man he had helped with money to raise his dojo gave him.
Initially a technique passed down only to direct successors, but in the form of gratitude was given to him.
Of course he didn't teach him it's full form and only taught him the basics but that was what he used now and was able to recover his stamina.
Back then he used to think that the man just tricked him, but after some use he re evaluated his thoughts about it.
Still he wasn't expecting it to work here, this also gives him the confirmation that stats, just like Rivor said, resents your attributes in real life.
" Okay....." Zilon stood up and dusted his black trowsers.
" Let's continue the grind"
--------------
Night came in a blink .
Zilon found himself panting with streams of sweat flowing down his face and body.
Parts of his clothes like armpit,muscles on both arm and legs were wet from sweat.
The little energy he had, was used to sit down and stare at the beautiful setting sun.
Soon Zilon stood up with an unreadable expression on his face.
His throat felt dry from all the running,he wanted to just go and drink water,but he needed to review something.
He summoned the panel in front him and slowly a smile found it's way on his lips.
Because right were his strength and stamina points were displayed , there was a sign and a number that appeared.
" Plus one..."