Lucian's POV:
It has been an hour since I tried standing but failed.
Forget standing — I can barely move my legs. It feels like trying to lift a mountain with threads of muscle that have forgotten what they're meant to do.
I can now feel my entire body, but when I want to move something, there's a delay — like my mind and body exist in different time zones. My muscle memory is trash.
But still, I tried. Again and again.
Finally, trembling, I tried to stand. Every fiber of my body shivering, sweat running down my temple…
My torso barely rose before collapsing again. I rested, tried again — time blurred into a haze of effort and gasps.
And then—
"Aaahh!"
I fell.
My head slammed onto the floor, a dull pain spreading through my skull. The room spun around me, blurring into a dizzy mess.
"Fuck! It fucking hurts!" I cursed.
"Akasha, I'm not dying again, right?"
[No. But you might if you keep hitting your head like that.]
"Nice offer, but no thanks." Even talking is difficult — my head is still spinning.
[If you have the time to talk, then use that energy to stand up.]
'I don't want to.' I mean, everything's spinning. Is this what being drunk feels like?
[If your sister arrives here and sees you like this, then—]
"Ah— fine."
Trying to calm my breathing, I started to move my body. My limbs felt like they belonged to someone else. My fingers clawed at the sheets, dragging my half-numb frame upward.
Leaning on the bed, I managed to stand after what felt like an eternity of failed attempts.
[1... 2... 3... … 8... 9... 10]
"Fuck!" Cursing, I collapsed face-first onto the bed again. My legs were still trembling violently, refusing to cooperate.
[Ding!]
"Ah, the holy chime!"
Rolling over, I looked at the glowing screen that appeared before me.
[Quest Completed!]
Rewards Granted: +1 AP
Bonus Reward: +1 AP
—
[Congratulations,] Akasha said with a gentle voice—
[—on doing something that even a five-year-old child can do.]
"…I'm almost convinced you're a Tsundere," I teased back.
[Hmph! I just don't want you getting complacent over small things.]
"Don't worry, I won't," I said with genuine determination.
"So, should I increase my Strength or Constitution? I don't really want to do that, though."
If I increase my stats through the system, then how is that my progress?
I don't like that. I want to improve — at least physically — through my own effort.
"I can increase my stats on my own, right? Or do I have to add points?"
[You don't have to. It's even beneficial to train naturally, since the stronger you get, the harder it becomes to increase them through effort alone.]
"Good. Though it'll take time to do that on my own... Is there no quest for something like that?"
[Ding!]
[New Quest Generated]
Objective:
– Increase all your physical stats on your own.
– Minimum of 6 for all physical stats.
Reward: +10 AP
Bonus Objective (Optional):
– Reach all physical stats to a minimum of 9.
Bonus Reward: +20 AP
Difficulty: D
Time Limit: The start of the Apocalypse.
Failure: -2 to all stats.
—
"Akasha, I might fall in love with you," I said honestly, half teasing, half serious.
[Oh, you can,] she replied in a teasing tone.
I didn't fall for her words. I knew she was teasing me.
More importantly—
"So what stats can I increase right now?"
[I advise you to increase Will,] Akasha commented.
"Why?" I sort of knew why, but just wanted to confirm if it did what I thought it did.
[Will represents your mind's strength. The higher it is, the harder it is to break you — pain, fear, manipulation, even despair can't shake you. It's what keeps you you, even when everything else falls apart.]
Listening to her explanation, I thought it was fair and valid — especially when I kept giving up for no reason again and again. Now I knew the reason.
"Put 2 points in Will."
[Will: +2]
Suddenly, it felt as if a fog had been lifted from my mind — not entirely, but enough to bring clarity. It felt like I could do anything now, as long as I willed it.
But along with it, something else stirred.
A faint ache in my chest. A flicker of memory.
My heart tightened, my breathing grew ragged.
Why does it feel like I'm forgetting something?
"Akasha? Does increasing stats feel like this?" I couldn't help but ask.
If this is what it feels like after increasing the stats, then…
[No, you're just... slowly remembering what you once forgot.]
"You mean my lost memories?" My eyes were growing blurry.
[Yes. Rest for now,] she said softly — her voice warmer than usual.
Listening to her words, I let my body relax. The pain dulled, the spinning stopped, and before I knew it, sleep took over me.